I will tell you the real problem with Fifty Shades of Gray.

[snarp]

The problem is that the softcore Twilight BDSM fanfic has apparently outsold the softcore Lymond Chronicles BDSM fanfic. This is sad.

(I base this assertion regarding Kushiel's Dart's true nature on 1) general plot structure, and 2) there being dudes named "Piero" and "Strozzi" in close proximity in the fourth book.)

Comments

[salinea]

Noooooooooooooooooooooo I will never be able to enjoy Kushiel as much as I used to D:

[snarp]

I personally feel that this adds to the series's appeal. Somewhere in Terre d'Ange there is an overly-loquacious man named Francis fucking everything up.

[salinea]

I tried reading the Lymond Chronicles once. I stopped in the third book. It was not an enjoyable experience. The only reason I stuck with it so long was because everyone spoke of it in such glowing terms. I even still have some of the books because they are very difficult to sell in bargain sales where I live. here are amounts of manpain that I have absolutely no tolerance for. Thinking that Francis may hang out in Terre d'Ange makes me want to trash the place.

Questions?

[snarp]

Well, if he's there, then he and the people who resent him for being too perfect and talking too much are probably somehow responsible for all the political chaos that accumulates between books for Phedre/Imriel/Moirin to tidy up. (The stuff Melisande didn't do, I mean.) Like, Raphael in the Moirin books is just bad because Lymond didn't love him.

So, he's trashing things for you! How considerate of him.

[salinea]

Lol

[vass]

To be fair, the original Twilight also outsold the original Lymond Chronicles. And Lymond had a hell of a head start.

[snarp]

Oh, my god. Does this mean that market forces aren't always right?

[metaphortunate]

HOW CAN THIS BEEEEE

Also, I would love the shit out of genderswapped Lymond BDSM fic, but I don't think the Kushiel books are it. Everyone adores Phedre/Imriel/Moirin too much.

[snarp]

Well, I don't think they're supposed to be Lymond. Just that he and Phillippa could plausibly be somewhere nearby, following the same basic geographical circuits as the protagonists, but getting into somewhat different sorts of adventures. The kind with more sexual shaming.