Since We Have an Instant Turn-Offs Thread, How About One For Turn-Ons?

Jess Haines · May 9, 2013

Thought it might be fun to look at the subject from the other side of the coin.

So, what creatures instantly draw you to a book? If you see it in the title, on the cover, or in the blurb, what kind of monsters always grab you and draw you in?

For me, it's vampires. I'm a sucker for them (*rimshot*). If I see a mention in the blurb or a hint of fangs on a cover, I'm sold. Ditto with dragons. Though, I am specifically referring to UF--it's a different ballgame with romance. If the book turns out to be a PNR, forget it.

You?

Liosse de Velishaf · May 9, 2013

Vampires and Dragons.

Normally I'd add fairies, but I only like specific variants of those.

Werewolves are generally not a complete deal-breaker, but I've just seen so many of them.

uhstevedude · May 9, 2013

Witches do it for me. I just enjoy them more than anything else. I'm probably one of the foremost fictional Witch Experts in America and I'm only 18. Witches in series are just good to me because they're not only basically a step above humans, but they have personalities. They are purely driven by their own motives and as long as the magic isn't over the top or just a gimmick, it can give the story a certain amount of umpf.

Not just witches either, Mages and Wizards are included too.

Jess Haines · May 10, 2013

Liosse de Velishaf said:
Vampires and Dragons.

Normally I'd add fairies, but I only like specific variants of those.

Werewolves are generally not a complete deal-breaker, but I've just seen so many of them.

Fellow vamp/dragon aficionados, unite! *fistbump*

Rhoda Nightingale · May 10, 2013

Vampires, dragons, witches*, and anything I haven't seen much of before--like wendigos or gargoyles or chupacabras or something.

*meaning any human who can use magic; I'm not picky on the rules of how that magic works, long as it's not too "easy"

On a slightly different note, WTF does "rimshot" actually mean? I see that everywhere, and I've never bothered to look it up. (And would feel too embarrassed to ask elsewhere.)

Nox the Many · May 10, 2013

Rhoda Nightingale said:
On a slightly different note, WTF does "rimshot" actually mean?

It's that ba-dum-bum thingie on the drums to indicate a joke.

I used to be a sucker for vampires, but they've been a little overexposed lately for me. I still like a good zombie story, preferably something that changes things up a little. Also, the Good Folk. The ones you *have* to call Good folk for fear of angering them.

UndergoingMitosis · May 10, 2013

Dragons and Space Westerns. Probably not at the same time, though now I'm thinking how a dragon would behave aboard a space ship. Hmm...

ETA: Just realized this was an Urban Fantasy thread. In that case, space western doesn't really apply. Still totally into it, though.

Polenth · May 10, 2013

I think if there was a book about a slime mold, I'd probably read it. But usually, it isn't the creatures that interest me. Settings and characters I don't see too often are my main draws.

Silver-Midnight · May 13, 2013

Fore me, I would have to say witches. I really like witches, like a lot. I've enjoyed them more in UF than PNR though. (Granted, I've enjoyed a lot more things in UF than in PNR, including the "classic" creatures, like vampires and werewolves).

bearilou · May 14, 2013

Don't care if werewolves are overdone, I will love them until the end of time.

CAMueller · May 14, 2013

Vampires. Always vampires. *school girl swoon*

WriterTrek · May 14, 2013

The young protagonist who is completely out of his depth but manages to rise to the occasion anyway, despite everything going against him.

Yeah, I'm a sucker for that kind of story. The kind where the hero is out of his depth but rises to the occasion. I'm not as big a fan of when he manages to bumble his way through on luck, or by being stupid/not-understanding, or whatever else.

Hard work and skill, for the win. Particularly if the protagonist is young. Loads of fun potential there, and I'll give almost any story featuring this a try (all of them aren't good, but you never know til you try).

Jess Haines · May 14, 2013

You know what I don't see enough of in UF that I adore? Pegasi and unicorns.

I loved the pervy, cat-sized unicorn that lived in the heroine's underwear drawer in Allison Pang's Abby Sinclair series.

Diem_Allen · May 14, 2013

Vamps and werewolves are great and yes, I am going to read them but what truly grabs me and holds me is a male role that appears strong dominate to the public but still has an ounce of compassion for another persons emotions and well being....yeah chick genre 100%. I'm a sap.

PeteMC · May 14, 2013

Goetic magicians. Evil angels. Snarky demons. Sorted.

Rhoda Nightingale · May 14, 2013

Oh, since it was mentioned in another thread--the Badass Normal protagonist. Ordinary person taking care of business through non-magical means, in a supernatural situation. I'd love to see more of those.

Eeveette · May 14, 2013

I'm a bit of a sap for sinister vampires. They need to have that hint of darkness about them—an actual dark side, rather than just being brooding.

OJCade · May 14, 2013

Socially well adjusted protagonists who have friends and get on well with their families. Like Peter Grant in the Rivers of London series. Rare as hen's teeth, they are.

Am sick of grouchy cynics who feel their lone wolf status is some sort of crucial indicator of their bad-assery. I feel like telling them "You don't lack friends because your life is too dangerous and complicated. You're just an arse no-one wants to hang out with".

MormonMobster · May 21, 2013

I'm a sucker for combining fantasy (especially urban fantasy) and history. Stuff like Abraham Lincoln hunting vampires (to give a famous recent example of the combination) and a secret Confederate vampire aristocracy is awesome. Or Nikola Tesla being a sorcerer or whatever. Or Area 51 being the meeting place for an order of star-worshipping mystics, or whatnot.

I also love the idea of supernatural crime, like drug-dealing vampires, or troll gumshoes, and etc.

Oh, and snarky protagonists. Can't go wrong with that.

ChrisElfy · May 23, 2013

I'm yet to see it, and I did mention my deep and undying love for these creatures in the other thread, but nixies. No one ever does nixies. Seanan McGuire came close with an undine and Rachel Caine mentioned the mermaids and the sirens as being part of her draug race, but the nixies never got a look in

.

ChrisElfy · May 23, 2013

Jess Haines said:
You know what I don't see enough of in UF that I adore? Pegasi and unicorns.

I loved the pervy, cat-sized unicorn that lived in the heroine's underwear drawer in Allison Pang's Abby Sinclair series.

You like pegasi? I've got one in my WIP. Okay he doesn't appear much, but he's there.

Cairo Amani · May 30, 2013

I am THIRSTY for two things; Black women and Queer women.

But all of that can be ruined if 1. the book is romance (especially when the woman falls in love with the enemy

and 2. it's badly written (with quippy characters)

hillaryjacques · Jun 15, 2013

OJCade said:
Socially well adjusted protagonists who have friends and get on well with their families. Like Peter Grant in the Rivers of London series. Rare as hen's teeth, they are.

Nicole Peeler's Tempest series has this kind of protag. A normal-ish, MC deeply connected to family and friends.

Marian Perera · Jun 15, 2013

OJCade said:
Socially well adjusted protagonists who have friends and get on well with their families.

A lot of Lawrence Watt-Evans's protagonists are like this - normal, likeable Everymen.

My personal favorite things:

1. Dragons that are not evil, not subservient to humans in any way and not giant firebreathing horses with wings.

2. Unusual weapons (I watched Kill Bill because I saw a picture of Gogo Yubari and her meteor hammer).

3. Gothic horror tropes in a fantasy setting, a la Ravenloft.

4. Protagonists who survive because of their intelligence and wits, rather than because they're the best fighters. Though it doesn't hurt for them to kick some ass on occasion.

5. Naval warfare, like the Battle of the Blackwater, or the Armada vs. the New Crobuzon Navy in The Scar.

Marian Perera · Jun 15, 2013

C.J Bluestone said:
I am THIRSTY for two things; Black women and Queer women.

Nenisi Conor in Suzy McKee Charnas's Motherlines is both. Though, of course, that goes for all women of the Conor Motherline.

Since We Have an Instant Turn-Offs Thread, How About One For Turn-Ons?

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