Has Anyone Read Tanya Huff?

[Forty-Two]

Tanya Huff is a Canadian fiction author who is often praised for having great, three-dimensional characters who are always free to love anyone they wish. There's a lot more to her writing than just sexuality, fun stories, good humour, lots of urban fantasy characters, settings in Canada (woo!), and more. I would highly recommend any of her books to people who love modern fantasy and adventure.

 

I have just recently read the Blood Books, (Blood Price, Blood Trail, Blood Lines, Blood Pact, Blood Debt) and am half way through the short stories (called Blood Bank in the omnibus edition) about private investigator Vikki Nelson who in the first book stumbles upon a demon committing murders and meets Henry Fitzroy, bastard son of Henry VIII, vampire, romance writer, and enlists his help to solve the murders. I don't usually love detective stories/murder mysteries a whole lot, but due to the fantasy element and great characters I love this series to absolute bits and am dying to discuss it with someone.

 

Previously I have read the Smoke series, (Smoke and Shadows, Smoke and Mirrors, Smoke and Ashes) which is a actually a sequel to the Blood books and follows Tony Foster after he has moved out of Henry's apartment and is trying to live life on his own, but still remain "friends" with Henry. Some spooky stuff starts happening on the TV set he works as a production assistant at. I absolutely love Tony and find that my whole reading of the Blood books and Tony's relationship with Henry was coloured by reading the Smoke series first. And of course Tony has a crush on one of the TV show's main actors, Lee, who is straight as a board...

 

The books that got me into Tanya Huff was the Chronicles of the Keeper Series (Summon the Keeper, The Second Summoning, Long Hot Summoning) about Claire who is a Keeper, someone with magical type abilities who exists to keep the balance between good and evil, well, balanced. In the first book she has lusty feelings for Dean, who is too young, and Jaques, who is too dead, and tries to figure out how to get rid of the sleeping body of an evil witch without accidentally giving power to the sentient hole to hell in the basement of an old hotel in Kingston with the help of her 17 year old cat. It is as ridiculous and as wonderful as it sounds.

 

I haven't yet read anything else, but The Enchantment Emporium is next on my bookshelf.

[Toast]

Yes, I have read the Smoke and Blood series. Love.

 

[Forty-Two]

Yes, I have read the Smoke and Blood series. Love.

 

 

I found it really interesting that the first three Blood books had fantasy villains where the last two had human villains with a fantasy element. Huff says that she truly wanted to write a horror story for Blood Pact, where her mom is a zombie, and although I didn't find it actually scary, I really appreciated how she delved into each character's personal horror. It's was hard but good to see Henry have such a breakdown when he's captured.

 

I know it's not relevant, but I wish she would give us a bit more of the relationship stuff with Tony and Henry and Tony and Lee in the Smoke series. I really loved the dynamic between Tony and Henry in the first book, the pulling away yet still all flustered inside, Tony's defiance and determination to be his own man. I wish there had been more of that kind of tension between them in the second and third books. And c'mon, a threesome to save the world? How awesome is that? (That it didn't happen in a porn book and was actually relevant to plot, lol).

[Toast]

It has been a few years since I read the series, but I loved how they evolved from a story about Vicki, to one about Tony and Lee. I wish there would be a fourth Smoke. I even bought the dvd of the tv series for Blood, season one of Blood Ties. But I love Smoke and Shadows and Tony's job at a production company. I have read the Keeper's Chronicles and the Quarters series, but honestly I would have to read a synopsis to refresh my memory. But, I know I watched all the time for the release dates for Smoke. I was hooked.

[Rilbur]

I love Tanya Huff I haven't ready her blood / smoke series yet, but I've read the keeper ones, and loved them to pieces. I've also read the quarter's series, and those are good too. Enchantment Emporium was great, and so was Valor.

 

Um... I think I like her too much, perhaps?

[Cia]

Someone gave me some of her books, 5 of the Blood series but I haven't read them yet. Maybe they shall be my next 'I'm bored' day project.

[Former Member]

I've read a couple of independent titles and the Conferation series and really liked those, as I like military sci-fi, but I don't care for vampire anything so I've not read the others mentioned although I think she is an excellent writer in general.

[Forty-Two]

It has been a few years since I read the series, but I loved how they evolved from a story about Vicki, to one about Tony and Lee. I wish there would be a fourth Smoke. I even bought the dvd of the tv series for Blood, season one of Blood Ties. But I love Smoke and Shadows and Tony's job at a production company. I have read the Keeper's Chronicles and the Quarters series, but honestly I would have to read a synopsis to refresh my memory. But, I know I watched all the time for the release dates for Smoke. I was hooked.

 

I really wish there'd be a fourth Smoke too... There's so much that COULD be done with problems with Lee's closetedness or becoming more aware of/getting tangled in the supernatural stuff. And Tony has been my favourite protagonist so far. The Smoke series is perfect mix between the lighthearted ridiculousness of the Keeper Chronicles and the detecting mystery of the Blood books.That's the frustrating thing, is that she ties off an emotional story arc which is satisfying but she still leaves room for a lot more plot, ('cause hey, until the character is dead you can always write one more), which is how the Blood series ended up with so many short stories after the didn't-plan-to-write-it fifth book. And it really was great to see Tony come into his own... my heart just broke for him every time it was brought up that Henry didn't feel the same way about Tony as he did for Vikki because he never chose Tony to be in his life. When Henry wakes up in the last book and Tony isn't there and Henry just feels that it's nice to be alone...

 

How is the Quarters series? Worth buying? And how is Blood Ties? I'm waiting for it to finish downloading and haven't read any reviews for it. Does it do justice to the books?

 

I love Tanya Huff I haven't ready her blood / smoke series yet, but I've read the keeper ones, and loved them to pieces. I've also read the quarter's series, and those are good too. Enchantment Emporium was great, and so was Valor.

 

Um... I think I like her too much, perhaps?

 

Which would you recommend reading first, Quarters or Valor series?

 

Someone gave me some of her books, 5 of the Blood series but I haven't read them yet. Maybe they shall be my next 'I'm bored' day project.

Yes, do read! You won't be able to put them down! Lucky there's five because you'll be so sad when it ends!

 

I've read a couple of independent titles and the Conferation series and really liked those, as I like military sci-fi, but I don't care for vampire anything so I've not read the others mentioned although I think she is an excellent writer in general.

 

Confederation series, that's the Valor books, right? I don't think I've read military sci-fi before... although I suppose Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series would count and I Loved those. What in particular made this series stand out for you over others?

[Palantir]

Hi there Forty Two,

Yes, Tanya Huff stories are great!

IMHO her best books of all are the two that got her going - 'Child Of The Grove' - and 'The Last Wizard'. - pure magic.

[Toast]

I have Enchantment on my nightstand. I think I will begin reading it tonight. This thread has reminded me how much I love Tanya.

[Forty-Two]

Hi there Forty Two,

Yes, Tanya Huff stories are great!

IMHO her best books of all are the two that got her going - 'Child Of The Grove' - and 'The Last Wizard'. - pure magic.

 

Really? How interesting. From what I've read, I've liked her newer things a little better, as it seems her writing and style simply improve over time. But those books are straight fantasy, not urban fantasy right? And I've heard they are a lot more straight forward drama. So maybe the change in genre and tone makes a difference? What do you think is the best thing about them that makes them stand out over her other work?

 

I have Enchantment on my nightstand. I think I will begin reading it tonight. This thread has reminded me how much I love Tanya.

 

Awesome I'm only three chapters into it so far. I'm finding it a little hard to get into... there's too much that is unexplained and a little confusing. But, I have friends who swear by this book and say it gets way better once you get into it, so it'll be interesting to see how it goes....

[Palantir]

Really? How interesting. From what I've read, I've liked her newer things a little better, as it seems her writing and style simply improve over time. But those books are straight fantasy, not urban fantasy right? And I've heard they are a lot more straight forward drama. So maybe the change in genre and tone makes a difference? What do you think is the best thing about them that makes them stand out over her other work?

 

 

 

Awesome I'm only three chapters into it so far. I'm finding it a little hard to get into... there's too much that is unexplained and a little confusing. But, I have friends who swear by this book and say it gets way better once you get into it, so it'll be interesting to see how it goes....

 

Yes, both books are 'straight fantasy'. lol maybe that's why I like them? - not really, I think she has extraordinarily complex and wonderful ideas in these two books -her lover is 'Death' - wow!.

I love her newer books too - especially the 'Blood' series - but I think they're written in a much more direct and simpler way.

I just looked at my collection of her books on my shelves and realised I forgot the best one of all - 'Gate of Darkness. Circle of Light'.

 

By the way, I hope you've read Charles DeLint (another Canadian author). His urban fantasy stories are magic. Try 'Moonheart' and 'Greenmantle'.

Also, Mercedes Lackey has some very readable u/f stories.

[Forty-Two]

Yes, both books are 'straight fantasy'. lol maybe that's why I like them? - not really, I think she has extraordinarily complex and wonderful ideas in these two books -her lover is 'Death' - wow!.

I love her newer books too - especially the 'Blood' series - but I think they're written in a much more direct and simpler way.

I just looked at my collection of her books on my shelves and realised I forgot the best one of all - 'Gate of Darkness. Circle of Light'.

 

By the way, I hope you've read Charles DeLint (another Canadian author). His urban fantasy stories are magic. Try 'Moonheart' and 'Greenmantle'.

Also, Mercedes Lackey has some very readable u/f stories.

 

As long it's not TOO complicated it will be interesting to see the different style. I can't stand the epic fantasies that need a dictionary, history book, and character tree all laid out for reference just to get through each page. Sex with Death eh? Sounds interesting...

 

I haven't read any of Charles DeLint or Mercedes Lackey, but I will definitely look them up. Thanks for the recommendations!

[Forty-Two]

So I finished The Enchantment Emporium. It was good but not as good as the Blood or Smoke series. Any thoughts? I love the dragons. If I were a dragon I'd totally be trying to eat my family (literally - no gross innuendos intended).

[VickyS]

Sounds very interesting, I will read now.

[Russianrat]

I have read some of Tanya Huff's books. The one thing that stands out in my memory (besides the very sexy Henry Fitzroy) is the way Vikki's eyesight is deteriorating at the beginning, then is magically cured once she becomes a vampire. And here I spent my money on cataract surgery, when I should have just let the eye doctor bite me. Hmmm!

[Forty-Two]

I have read some of Tanya Huff's books. The one thing that stands out in my memory (besides the very sexy Henry Fitzroy) is the way Vikki's eyesight is deteriorating at the beginning, then is magically cured once she becomes a vampire. And here I spent my money on cataract surgery, when I should have just let the eye doctor bite me. Hmmm!

 

Lol, so true! I had a lot of trouble adapting to Vikki as a vampire. I actually didn't like it a whole lot. So much of what made Vikki Vikki was her human challenges, and reading her as a vampire was too much like just reading Henry. She seemed less whole without her eyesight problems and having made the choice between Henry and Mike.

[EvaShandor]

Big Tanya Huff fan! I've read all of the Blood and Keeper books, and I've read the first two Smoke books.

 

Re: Vicki/Vikki, when I read the Smoke books and then went back to the Blood books, I started to like Vicki a lot less. Don't get me wrong, I understand why she was an interesting and important character. Maybe it was the jump in perspective between Vicki and Tony, as even with some of Tony's experiences, he seems to have a brighter outlook. Also I find that she is very smug in the second Blood book.

 

Did anyone else just get this feeling, or is it just me?

[Forty-Two]

Big Tanya Huff fan! I've read all of the Blood and Keeper books, and I've read the first two Smoke books.

 

Re: Vicki/Vikki, when I read the Smoke books and then went back to the Blood books, I started to like Vicki a lot less. Don't get me wrong, I understand why she was an interesting and important character. Maybe it was the jump in perspective between Vicki and Tony, as even with some of Tony's experiences, he seems to have a brighter outlook. Also I find that she is very smug in the second Blood book.

 

Did anyone else just get this feeling, or is it just me?

 

Heh, funny how I read all the books, saw her name so many times, and then started spelling it wrong :wacko:

 

I dunno... smug isn't really a term I would give Vicki... until she fries the vamp in her territory and goes on about how much her pre-vamp life experience makes her better than older vamps who were turned young... so okay, maybe I see what you're saying. I liked Tony better too, I think mostly because he is a lighter character. I liked the humour in the Smoke books better and I found Tony to be a more lovable character. Although there is something to be said for Vicki's straightforwardness. Her frankness is great and I love that she never falls prey to emotional moments - she always swears or whatever to Mike or Henry and just moves on. I think they captured that aspect of her personality perfectly in the show Blood Ties.

 

The third Smoke book is awesome! You have to read it!

[B1ue]

So I finished The Enchantment Emporium. It was good but not as good as the Blood or Smoke series. Any thoughts? I love the dragons. If I were a dragon I'd totally be trying to eat my family (literally - no gross innuendos intended).

 

 

I think after reading The Enchantment Emporium, you can be forgiven for making gross inuendos about your family. I liked it well enough, but you're right the Smoke series was better. My sister has stolen my copy, but I spent much of the book wondering if Allie's best friend had at some point in their past hooked up with her brother. I think Ryan was my favorite character though, nearly tied with Auntie Ruby, and all the Aunties in fact.

[pollin63]

I love Tanya Huff. Seems to me there was an older series that I read that I really liked. I'll check into it.

[Forty-Two]

I think after reading The Enchantment Emporium, you can be forgiven for making gross inuendos about your family. I liked it well enough, but you're right the Smoke series was better. My sister has stolen my copy, but I spent much of the book wondering if Allie's best friend had at some point in their past hooked up with her brother. I think Ryan was my favorite character though, nearly tied with Auntie Ruby, and all the Aunties in fact.

 

Hmm, I think Mike just had a crush on David, I don' t think anything actually happened, but I wouldn't be surprised if it had...

 

Yeah, Ryan was hilarious. He'd be a fun character to follow around for a while because he has no idea how to act in "our" world and wouldn't care to adapt. I wasn't into the Aunties so much... but I think it's hilarious and awesome that they get their powers from menopause