wich series did you people prefer ? those have so many resemblances, hard to not ask the question.

I totally prefer the Sylvia Day Crossfire series. The writing is WAY better. I think the story is better too - the characters are more believable. For me, EL James invoked the odd image that I found appealing, but I think all the good stuff could fit in less than 50 pages.

I couldn't decide whether her repetition of the same words and phrases was her trying to use it as some kind of hook, or just really bad writing and decided it was the latter. I know that it started out as fan fiction, but that is no excuse for really poor writing. I blame the publisher - if they are charging such high prices for their books (particularly the electronic versions), they should have, invested in decent content and line editors and a thesaurus.

I toughed out the EL James only because I was listening to the audio version, whilst doing other things, so I didn't really feel I had wasted my time, just my ability to tolerate the expression "oh my". I wouldn't have made it through even the first chapter if I tried to actually read it.

Another point on the negative side for EL James is how she portrays kink. In this case, I think she is the poster child for "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing"

Bottom line, I recommend Day and tell people not to bother with James.

I prefer EL James Fifty Shades, for me Sylvia Days Crossfire series are darker and story lines of the two are very identical.

I haven't read Sylvia Days' bared to you or the next book yet. Actually i have put them off because i really didn't care for 50 shades and didn't want to be disappointed again. The books just dragged on to me! I found the last 100 pages of the 3rd book to be the best. I couldn't agree more with what Dblreedr posted above. I thought the righting was poor and soooo many repetitive lines. I like a little darker read sometimes so i will def give sylvias books a try after reading Dblreedr's comparison. thanks! I really enjoyed Captive in the Dark and Seduced in the Dark---much darker reads but I liked how it got me emotionally worked up----that's what good writing does and takes you out of your comfort zone sometimes!

I've read the 50 shades series again after finishing the Crossfire series latest book because maybe I was just misleading myself when I liked Sylia day's book compared to EL james but my opinions are still the same after repeating the series. The Crossfire series has way better story line and personality for the characters, though I find this series darker because of the twisted background of the couple and the lovely grown trust between the two on the last part of the latest book. I have to agree to sherriwl though that the 50 shades freed has the most amazing part of the series when it was on its final parts.

[la joce]

I'll Day over James any day of the week.

[la joce]

I'll take Day over James any day of the week.

I think both story are good in it own different way... day are a better writer but James story isn't bad, if you don't compare the writing style... the story are pretty close in line but when the twist added the two story are completely different...

i still like both^^

I liked both series as well, although to me even though they are similar there are distinct differences.

Day is definitely a better writer, or at least has a much better editor.

I still found the James books interesting, and liked that she tried to write them from the POV of a very innocent young lady. I do think they could have been edited down to 1-2 books vs 3, and some of her plot devices made me cringe.

Day's second book was a bit of a disappointment to me, in that it seemed to take forever to have any forward motion in the book.

[sindyjoe]

I started to read EL James and stopped. I did not like it. At first I put off reading Sylvia Day but kept being told by friends "you should read them" so I did and am glad I did. Sylvia Day is Crossfire series is much better. She is a better writer. I recommend Sylvia Day to anyone who asks.

ive read both of them. im not a fan of either. but if I HAAAAAAAAAAD to pick. it'd be Day. better writing. not as infuriating.

[tennisfan]

ive read both of them. im not a fan of either. but if I HAAAAAAAAAAD to pick. it'd be Day. better writing. not as infuriating.

My thoughts exactly! Force me to choose under mortal danger , and I'll pick Day, but both of them are not as good as the current trend of sales may suggest.
Anyway, James should be ashamed of herself for publishing that dreadful fanfiction she wrote: not a single original idea in her "books"! And her publishers should be in jail for scam: you can still find the fanfiction online for free and they are charging huge amounts of money for it!

Day over James allday. The 50 shades is obvious fanfic. You really do have to turn off certain parts of your brain while reading it.

Defo Sylvia Day Crossfire series!

[scarletledder]

Hated Fifty Shades. I wasn't sure if I wanted to even bother with the Crossfire series because so many people recommended it if you liked Fifty Shades. Bared to You and Reflected in you were the first book series that I have immediately re-read in years. I'm a big reader and for me to go back and re-read a series it has to be something that I couldn't stop thinking about. Can't wait until May!