Jeez, if I knew how many people disliked Harry Potter, I would have compared Laurell K Hamilton to, say, Umberto Eco or Émile Zola. I only made the connection between Harry Potter and Anita Blake because they're two series that hold a similar place in my heart. I read them for pure fun. The other books I read are mostly historical and classic fiction. Now, THESE would compare even worse to Anita Blake simply because they are so so vastly different. :/

You described Jean-Claude so well. :)