Liu, Marjorie M. - A Taste of Crimson

[oyceter]

In the future (or possibly an alternate world), Los Angeles is populated by humans, vampires and werewolves. The vampires are slightly more accepted, thanks to their romanticized image, and they get to live in luxury. But they're kept in line by the Ventrix, a vampire who executes other vampires. The werewolves, on the other hand, live in poverty in tunnels below the city. To make matters worse, the humans have been growing less and less tolerant of both the vampires and the werewolves, and a series of vampire murders that look like they were done by werewolves isn't helping matters.

Keeli Maddox, granddaughter of the Grand Dame Alpha of the LA werewolves, ends up helping Michael, the vampire Ventrix, investigate the murders. Given that this is a paranormal, they unsurprisingly end up attracted to each other, despite the strong animosity between the vampires and the werewolves. Even so, a lot of plot goes on, as some factions are trying for a vampire-werewolf alliance, foreseeing a human effort to get rid of both of them, while others are vehemently opposed and want to stand back and let the humans get rid of the other side first.

Anyway! As you can tell, there's a lot of plotting, which isn't atypical of a Marjorie Liu novel. But what is atypical is that it all makes sense and comes together! I suspect this is the benefit of writing a one-off; the Dirk and Steele series is getting so convoluted and involves so many different mythologies that it can be very difficult to follow.

Also, I was hesitant to read this at first because I'm so sick of vampires and werewolves, but I really like Liu's take on them. I like that the focus is on vampire-werewolf relationships, not on vampire-human or werewolf-human relationships, and I like that neither the vampires nor the werewolves are romanticized. Instead, there's a little commentary on the human propensity for vampires and the vampire image of wealth and luxury and beauty. And I love that the heroine is a werewolf and that she has problems with anger management and violence.

Michael's attractive like most of Liu's heroes; he's silent and has a lot of angst but attempts to be kind and just instead of wallowing. And as mentioned, I love Keeli and her Grand Dame Alpha grandmother.

In conclusion: despite some misgivings at first, this ended up being one of Liu's books that I really liked. It does have more plot than relationship, but on the plus side, the plot is fun and engaging, and I love having a romance heroine who's violent and powerful and not reined in by the hero.

Comments

[oracne.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed this one, too.

[oyceter]

Yeah, it just.. worked well. I now sort of wish she'd write more stand-alones.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Will have to try this one. Didn't get into some previous.

[oyceter]

Oh, which ones have you tried before?

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I don't remember, just that I lost interest. The impression I retain is of humorless, overly lush prose, confusing bits, and sloowwwww pacing.

[oyceter]

Oh huh! I definitely think some of her prose can be too flowery, but I think her pacing tends to be pretty fast, and I like that her characters are funny. But YMMV, this one is definitely lighter on the funny side, though I did like the pacing.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

He. It's very possible I'm mixing her with someone else, too. This was maybe three years back."

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Wait, the Ventrix is male? Help, my poor English language!

For an alpha granny, I might read this. I snickered my way through my first Liu, but perhaps that's the kind of thing I need here in Stresslandia right now.

[oyceter]

Oops, not Ventrix, Vendix! Is that still feminine?

The alpha granny is awesome. And Liu's prose is sometimes too purple, but I like that she consistently has cool heroines and non-pushy heroes and stronger older women.

[akycha.livejournal.com]

...Tunnels? Under Los Angeles?

Seriously?

They tried to build one, but it caught on fire. (Just as well, really. A subway over the San Andreas is destined for disappointment.)

...Tunnels.

[oyceter]

Heeee!

And vampires and werewolves. And yes, tunnels!

[akycha.livejournal.com]

For some reason it's the tunnels I'm having a hard time suspending my disbelief over.

This is probably because I grew up in L.A., and believe me, vampires and werewolves are tame compared to some of the sorts you meet out there. They'd fit right in.

[parallactic.livejournal.com]

It does have more plot than relationship, but on the plus side, the plot is fun and engaging, and I love having a romance heroine who's violent and powerful and not reined in by the hero.

I'll have to give it a try. Paranormal romances sound good in theory, but I end up not liking the execution. I keep wanting a sense of the world outside of the relationship (not necessarily action or sf/f worldbuilding, but what about the couple's friends, family, hobbies?), and it drives me nuts when a heroine is supposed to be able to take care of herself but ends up having to be repeatedly rescued for romantic reasons.

[oyceter]

Yeah, I had been leery of paranormals for a while, although some of that is because the SF/F fan in me always wants more and better worldbuilding, as opposed to worldbuilding that's there to bring the couple together.

I like Liu's heroines a lot. They don't always get a lot of action, depending on the book, but I like that they have lives. And I really liked that this book was a lot about Keeli and her decisions.

[parallactic.livejournal.com]

You said it better about being an sf/f fan and paranormals.

I only want action when the character is billed as an action heroine like when she's a cop, hunter, guardian, assassin, martial artist, superpowered hotshot, etc. It's when the story tells you that she's an elite hereditary ninja bounty hunter, but she keeps getting rescued by the hero. For example, there was this manga where the heroine could get herself out of duels to the death, desert ambushes, lion pits, and the plague--but when it came to pretty boys attacking her she couldn't fight them off and ALWAYS had to be rescued. It's hard to buy a romance when one love interest acts like kryptonite.