Please reassure Me!

[deadharbor.livejournal.com]

I'm more than 200 pages into the first novel and Damien is so poking me to death with his stiff straightness. Oh where is the slash that so many fans promised me? I'm not anti-female characters, or at least I don't think I'm really bad, cos' I love Lynn Flewelling's and Sarah Monette's women and quite some others as well, but I'm just not taking to Ciani at all. I just totally do not feel anything for her and Damien's constant "Oh I'm so in love with her" declarations is annoying me because of that. Senzei's not that bad but between the two guys, they're really doing a great job of making me see Ciani as a Mary-Sue.

I've already ordered the next two novels from Amazon but they've not been shipped yet so I'm thinking if maybe I should cancel them first. I really don't know. I'm kinda disappointed. Please, I need some reassurance! Does Damien and Senzei become less flat as characters? Will I see less of Ciani, or will she become more interesting?

I hope I didn't offend any fans. I do love the universe created by Friedman and thinks it's very original and interesting and that is why I really don't want to give up.

Comments

[carmentalis.livejournal.com]

First off, how much do you want to hear? Because most of what I could tell you about Senzei and Ciani will come with major spoilers, and I can't see a way to avoid that.

You haven't gotten to the fun bits yet, trust me. :-) The pages you covered so far are a bit slow, but I promise it gets better from now on.

Assuming that you have the same paperback as I do, and are just moving into the Forest, then you have about another 100 pages to go for the first bit of good slashiness, and you'll get a few great revelations about Tarrant along the way. Generally, the slash factor tends to increase as you go along - second half of WTNF has a good bit of it already, and CoS is full of it. Damien also eases up considerably along the way, and distracting female characters go their own ways, too.

[alice_montrose]

Yeah, what alighiera said. Things really get better with the second half of "Black Sun Rising", and they'll keep getting better through the next books. "Crown of Shadows" is particularly filled with slashy bits, especially after something (that would be quite the spoiler so I won't say anything) happens that will make the two even closer.

The way I see it, Damien keeps deluding himself that he loves the women. Oh, he does have feelings for them, but as much as he claims to hate Gerald he does a hell of a to to assure his survival and well-being.

So don't give up now, keep on reading. You won't be sorry!

[geek-muffin.livejournal.com]

I actually had a lot of trouble getting into the first book too--I don't think it was until about halfway through that it REALLY grabbed me. And I don't think there's a single female character in the series that I actually like, so you're not alone in that, either.

But with that said, stick with it. I promise, it does get better. I could say more, but I don't want to spoil the storyline for you. ;)

[blackletter]

As everyone else said, the first bit of "Black Sun Rising" is slow and not very slashy. But over the course of the three books, the most important character relationship is that between Damien and Tarrant.

(And Damien does change--dramatically--throughout the series. In fact, his change is part of what the whole story is about.)

There's no overt slash like Llyn Flewelling's books, but there's oodles of subtext for those of us who like to see the world through slash-colored glasses.

[keeloca.livejournal.com]

I actually quite like the female characters. Rasya, Ciani - yeah, they're find. Strong, independent (okay, so Ciani was until she lost pretty much everything she was) and no problems with the casual sex (so, yes, I do identify).

Of course, nothing holds a candle to the slashiness of these books. Actually, what I really like about them his how much BOTH Gerald and Damien change during the course of the story. Re-reading the first one for the first time, I pretty much: bloody hell, I didn't remember the two of them being such bastards...

[trobadora]

As everyone has said - the first book just gets a bit of a slow start. The first time I read it, I skimmed rather a lot of the first couple hundred pages. Now I love that part as well, but it helps to have it in context, as a prelude to what's to come. And believe you me, what's to come is just about the slashiest thing I've ever read in my life. Just keep going - don't give up! :-)

[allysonsedai.livejournal.com]

Keep on with it - I hated Ciani as well for all the reasons you mention: Boooring, no chemistry, etc.

Just wait until Tarrant shows up then you won't be able to put the book down. Promise.

[harukami]

Ciani's not in the other books.

Though if you're only reading it for the gay, you're going to be disappointed anyway. I mean, I wasn't, but I was also reading it for the plot and characters, and I have a fondness for subtext that isn't, like, overt. It's got subtext, but not text -- though if you're just looking for generic "strong bond between men" you'll enjoy how the other books do develop. Regarding women, though? Damien's that kind of guy, and Gerald himself has his own interest in the womens, albeit of a different kind.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

what harukami said, it's not a canon gay novel à la Flewelling, it's a buddy story (with awesome worldbuilding and great characterization) which can be easily slashed. If you don't enjoy the rest of it, I'm not sure it's the best story for you.

[deadharbor.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the great replies. I feel better now. :-) They're just going into the forest now so I guess it gets much better from now on. I actually do not like overt gayness. Alec and Seregil were much better when it was UST, hehe, So I think I'll enjoy Tarrant and Damien's relationship.

Glad I'm not alone in the Ciani hate too. I hate not liking characters. I always want to like the characters I'm supposed to like so it's good she's not in the other books.

The other thing that's great is that this seems like a really active fandom so I look forward to participating when I'm done with the books.

[spoke.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's so much that Ciani is a mary sue, as that Damien really is stupidly in love. Like, he's got a blind to her faults almost teenage crush thing going on.

Senzei is just too wrapped up in his own obsessions to see anything, poor guy. XD

Bit late for a reply for this, I know - but I love all the female characters in this series, and I wanted to come to her defense. It just took me awhile to work out what I wanted to say.

By now they should be stuck with Tarrant, and everything is excellent. :D

[(Anonymous)]

The only woman even worth liking is Hesseth anyway. I could see a bit of Damien/Hesseth going on. :P The rest of the women just annoyed the hell out of me.

Damien/Gerald ftw, though. He is SO in love with Tarrant. ;]