For me, it doesn’t get any better than a well-choreographed fight scene. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m a fan of hot and heavy between the sheets action as well. But there’s just something about an action scene that gets my blood pumping. Reading a great fight sequence can be better than foreplay. When I read a book, I want the characters to fight as hard as they love.
Both fight scenes and sex scenes are detail oriented. Both won’t work if body parts don’t connect in the right way. And both are highly emotional. In an urban fantasy, you get sex and fighting. More bang for your buck.
I’m going to break down the anatomy of a fight scene and show you it can have everything a sex scene has. (And I don’t have to worry about describing impressive man parts or those secret lady parts, either!)
Fight scenes are fast. The rhythm of movement draws me in. I love the pacing of a fight scene. The words fly from my fingers and I can perfectly envision how my characters should look when they fight. The scene unfolds in real-time to the action. I’m on the edge of my seat, my stomach knotted and anxious. I feel the same way when I write a sex scene. The emotional roller coaster is the same. I anticipate every word, every action, each touch and whispered word that sends the characters into a frenzy of shed clothes and greedy hands and mouths. Am I on the edge of my seat? You bet I am.
With a great fight scene, come strong emotions. Maybe the hero is trapped in a supernatural cage match to the death. Maybe our heroine’s life is in danger and she’s fighting for survival. Or more likely, the protagonist has a death to avenge, a wrong to right, or a score to settle. Either way, there is emotion tied to this action. A strong enough emotion that it fuels our hero or heroine and gives them the strength and conviction that they need to throw caution to the wind and risk their lives. A well-placed fight scene can be the foreplay a character needs to carry her into a steamy, knock-your-socks-off sex scene. Nothing is sexier than coming out of a life-or-death situation all sweaty and worked up, with so much extra energy built up that it needs an outlet, like, NOW.
Fighting, like sex, can produce a burst of adrenaline. As a reader, you feel that rush as your eyes fly over the words, absorbing every thrust, blow, jab, or takedown, just like the characters do. See? Even the descriptive words of a fight scene are sexy!
Yeah, you heard me. Fight scenes, just like sex scenes have penetration. And unlike sex scenes, the act of penetration, stabbing someone with something sharp, is pretty easy to describe. If your character is the one getting stabbed… it hurts. It hurts like hell. Like ohmygodholyshitsonofabitchmothereffer hurts. But… when the bad guy gets what’s coming to him—that sharp blade right between his ribs—it can deliver the same sense of fulfillment that a sex scene can. It’s the finale to all of the build-up. Completion.
All of that jabbing, thrusting, and rolling around can really tire a character out! At the end of a fight scene, the hero or heroine is more times than not, stumbling, unbalanced, and light-headed. Sounds like the after effects of a really great orgasm, doesn’t it? And even though the character is ready for a well-deserved nap, there’s always a second wind, the chance that her opponent isn’t quite done yet. Just like a great sex scene, in a fight scene, the character is ready for round two.
At the end of a fight scene, the warrior is sated. He’s basking in the post-battle glow. Satisfied, and yes, maybe a little roughed up. The hero or heroine feels satisfied. Sounds a lot like what happens right after a mind-blowing sex scene, right? Awesome. And nothing follows up a near-death situation like affirming the fact you’re alive by grabbing your honey and heading straight for the bedroom. See? Foreplay.
How do you feel? Does a great fight scene leave you feeling tingly and exhilarated? Or do you prefer the slow burn of a steamy sex scene?
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Author Bio
Amanda Bonilla lives in rural Idaho with her husband and two kids. She’s a part-time pet wrangler, a full-time sun worshipper, and only goes out into the cold when coerced. She loves the outdoors, black clothes, pink appliances and thinks junk food should be a recognized food group. In the summer, she can be found sitting by the lake, enjoying the view from her dock. |
   
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| Read Molly Harper’s ROMP post and then VOTE via the poll on my sidebar on who you think should win today’s showdown!
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About the Blogger
I review Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance books with a focus all things werewolf. Based out of Ottawa, Canada
Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!
I would definitely go with a great fight scene every time! But this is why I’m reading more UF than PNR *shrugs* 🙂 Wonderful post, I loved it!
@kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviews Amanda did a great job on this post. Thanks for supporting TEAM STOMP! 😉
I’m sorry. Once I read the word pumping my mind went to a ROMP scene.
@Jennifer TheBookNympho LOL Why am I not surprised! :p
I would have gone with the Romp scene but after Amanda’s post, I’ve changed my mind. I’m Team Stomp! Great post! Love it! I’ve read both these novels already and this series is seriously amazing!
@SmittenWithBadBoyHeroes Yay! I’m happy to hear that Amanda was able to sway your vote! Hehe
Thanks for a great post!!!! I love, love, love this series. Amanda has definitely mastered balancing both!
Loved this!!! Amanda, you rocked it! Action is so fun to write and I believe it’s just as emotionally charged as a sex scene. Rock on!
Amanda Carlson
I love stomp but i neeeeed romp! =) and def. a HEA, i won´t read anything too depressing.
best wishes, Linda xo
@erin She is indeed! I’m a huge fan of her books too. Thanks for commenting!
@Amanda Team Amanda for the win! :p
@Linda Hehe oh well, at least you’re honest!
This post almost convinced me to go Team Stomp, buuuut the way she described fighting made me think of Team Romp, so as much as I loved the post my dirty little mind needs her Romp. 😉
LOL you suck @Amber I @ Awesomesauce ! 😉
A great fight scene will definitely have my attention. It’s such a rush to see the bad guys going down!
@Na AGREED!
Great post, I now have to look at the fight scenes a whole new way!
Amanda, I lived in Utah my whole life until 6 months ago when we moved to the East coast. It is my goal to moved to rural Idaho after we retire because it is so beautiful there. Thanks Carin
@Linda
Linda,
Come on over to the ROMP side with me. LOL
@Carmel @ Rabid Reads
That’s what I’m talking about Amber!!
Come on, after a great Stomp you always crave a ROMP afterwards. All that excitement that you build up form the fighting, you need to channel it into another kind of action.
@Na
A really good ROMP scene has people going down too……
Just in a more pleasurable way.
;p
@Jennifer TheBookNympho Hey now, no poaching. That’s cheating!!
@Jennifer TheBookNympho Zip it YOU! No swaying the votes!
@Carin Thanks for commenting! 🙂
@Carmel @ Rabid Reads
Scared?! You should be.
@Carmel @ Rabid Reads
I believe she said she was for ROMP before I showed up…
Great post!!! LOL…I am definitely ROMP all the way!! 😉 Thanks for the chance to win!! Have a great day!! 🙂
@Mariann at Belles Book Bag Too bad you picked the losing team! 😉
@Carmel @ Rabid Reads
Mariann…come on over to the ROMP side. We are mean. We are lovers not fighters.
I love the way Amanda describes STOMP! Lol. I don’t know how anyone could read this and vote ROMP! *sigh* It’s tingly and exhilarated all the way for this gal! Sorry Jennifer!
After reading both, I have to go with STOMP! Both have their places, but I love a good fight, and sometimes a STOMP leads to a ROMP!
@J.J. Bonds Hehe yup. Amanda sure brought her A-game for this post!
@Laurie Well said! 🙂
I went into this on the ROMP side, but this post just may have me convinced that fight scenes are better. 😛
Excellent work Carmel!!!
Although I like fight scenes, I really have to say that I love the Romance side better (Guess that’s why I read so many romance books, lol). The action scenes do help move a story, and keep me interested, but if the fight scenes are too long or complicated, I get kind of bored of them (and start skimming to the end of the action) but with the romance/loving scenes, I don’t skim, lol.
I love a great action scene over a sex scene any day. I don’t mind some steamy scenes, but I enjoy action and adventure the most.
@Angie I should hope so! Amanda is pretty darn convincing!
@Loupe Duffy Thanks but I just put the post together. Amanda did the hard part. 🙂
@June M. Blasphemy! I can’t believe you skim fight scenes!
@Barbara E. I’m with you!
I would like to thank you for a fantastic book giveaway, that i would love to have the oportunity of reading & reviewing. x
Email: lfountain1(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk
@Miss. Lucinda Fountain Good luck! 🙂
Very convincing! I was already inclined to a great fight scene, but your argument really strengthened my inclination.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I’ve really been wanting to read this series. It sounds so great! Thanks for doing this giveaway 😀
wow this book sound like great read and then i love to read and blog i am on all site and then i blog on before and then after the site for the book im on fb but have to many followers is you want me to follow send the invite
desi theblonde at msn dot com