Dead Forever

Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse, #13) by Charlaine Harris

Well, that’s the end of that series.  I hate that I am not upset, after reading this series for years, I mean, years.  You would think that I would be lamenting, but I’m just sort of shrugging my shoulders and looking at my shelf wondering what to read next.  I have felt more for characters in a standalone book with no sequels than I do for almost all of the characters in these books. 

I guess what I don’t understand and am the most upset about is the fact that these books started so strong.  I read the first five books in 7 days.  I ate them up, I read the first 10 books in no time, and then I stopped.  Read books for a couple of years, I received book 11 from paperback swap and it sat on my shelf.  Just in the last couple of weeks, I picked it up and finished the series.  At the beginning I loved the romance between Sookie and Bill, then he broke her heart, so I officially wrote him off as did Harris.  Then the show came out and I decided that Eric was more my style, well lucky me, he became Sookie’s number one in the books and I loved that.  Then there were some distractions in there, a weretiger, a werewolf, some others of different natures, but Eric was the leading attraction of me staying with this series and then book 11 was read.  Poor Eric.  I don’t know if the fictional character of Eric would ever want to be called “Poor Eric,” but I could feel Harris changing Sookie’s heart and longings.  And “Poor Eric” was being left out in the cold.

Ok, here are my thoughts on Dead Ever After, spoilers ahead. Beware!

Plot holes.  Like major holes.  It was hard to decide when specific situations happened because it seemed like the next day, but then Harris would make it sound like it was a week ago.  The main bad guy was “a devil” but he just disappeared, we didn’t meet him or hear from him again after the preface. Weird. 

I hated that Sookie ends up with Sam.  Why did Harris want that from the beginning?  Why did Eric have to go to Oklahoma? Ugh, it was utterly ridiculous! Actually I shouldn’t say I hated the ending.  It was predictable.  As I finished Deadlocked I realized quickly how it was going to end.  Sookie’s enemies were back and they wanted to kill her, but not in an action packed way, in a normal Sookie bashing way. 

I feel like this blog stinks, so I’ll just end it here by saying goodbye to Sookie and the Bon Temp gang.  I am so glad I still have the television show and that it is taking a totally different route than the books, I hope with some creativity Sookie won’t turn into her grandmother and her and Eric will be together soon!

Would I suggest this book?  Sure, if you’ve been reading all these books, finish the series.  Would I suggest the series?  Yes, just get them from the Library.  Keep Reading my Friends!

Dead and Over It.

Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12) by Charlaine Harris

This poor series.  I remember reading the first 5 or 6 books in a week.  It was thrilling learning about this new world of shifters and weres and vampires.  I loved the characters and growing with them, now it’s just bla.  Deadlocked was not the worst book I’ve ever read, but there is nothing that really happens.  Without giving spoilers I will just say that I’m upset about how things are going with Eric… oh wait, Eric who?  There were no love scenes, there was no romance, just Sookie’s inner monologue about how confused she was about Eric and their relationship.  I miss Eric.  He used to make me laugh and make me happy, but now he just enters and leaves a scene with no existence.

Deadlocked seems to be just a day in the life of Sookie, where we see her go to work, and come home and get invited to hang out with her vampire husband and then she goes to bed and does it all over again, or she just yells at Eric and goes to bed. 

I did appreciate the twist in the end.  Not the very end, but who done it (grammatical error intended).  We knew from the beginning that Jannalyn was a horrible Werewolf that was evil, but we didn’t know the why’s.  So, that was a good twist, I did not see that coming. 

I can feel the series coming to an end.  I didn’t realize that the next book is the last.  I’m kind of glad.  I need for this series to end, the last two books have been dreadful and I can only hope that the last book is excellent.  I fear that it will just be Quinn, Sam, Alcide, Eric, and Bill fighting for Sookie’s affections.  I have a thought of who she will end up with in the end.  I promise to tell the truth if I’m right or wrong with my guess. 

Again, I would only read this book if you love the series, and if you want to complete the series.  I’m ready to see what happens in the end.  What about you?  Keep Reading my friends! 

I Reckon I'll Continue Reading

Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse, Bk. 11) by Charlaine Harris

Disappointed.  I hate to say it, but I was disappointed by the plot, the writing, the characters, the story, the whole book.  I do not place these books on a high pedestal, and this book was reported to me as not the best one of the series.  So even with low expectations, I was still sadly disappointed. 

I do not read Sookie Stackhouse books because they are intellectual, interesting or even time consuming.  I read these books because they are fun, easy, and they have some great romance in them.  This book was none of those things.  There was one sex scene in the entire book and the love theme between Sookie and Eric was sadly missing.  Where did the Eric that we love go?  Sarcastic and independent with his draw to Sookie that is so strong we feel it through the pages?    

One personality trait that I had not seen before while reading this series was that Sookie talks like a 70 year old woman sometimes.  I know she is supposed to be southern and she is supposed to have these southern sayings and such, but I am also southern and I have been reading Sookie Stackhouse books since I was her age or younger and with this last book I felt like she was an old woman.  I know no 25 year old that talks like that and I have lived in the south my entire life.  It’s just weird.  Sookie’s personality has changed and not for the better. 

It had been a very long time since I read the book previous, Dead in the Family, and therefore I had forgotten about the blood bond that came along with the marriage between Eric and Sookie.  I did not forget how angry I still am with Bill and how much I do not like him as a character, so please let me know why there is a nude scene between Sookie and Bill?  This is just a way for Harris to make her Bill fans happy.  Well Bill sucks and does not deserve Sookie, keep Bill out and keep Eric in!  Just my opinion, it’s my blog, you don’t have to agree. 

I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, I would recommend this book only to those who are fans and wish to continue with the rest of the series.  I am reading on with the series because I still love the characters, but there better be more to sink our teeth into (pun intended) or I may have to give Sookie and the gang an eternal rest from my reading list.  Keep Reading my friends. 

The Kitchen's on FIRE!

Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

Since Sookie Stackhouse found her brother Jason in a shed bitten all over his body by a werepanther, she knew that the change was coming. Jason has a pretty good outlook on his coming future, more than most Weres Sookie knows. Everything is going pretty well in Bon Temps until a sniper decides to focus his murderous attention on the dual natured in the small community. Sookie not only has to worry about her brother becoming a victim of the sniper, but she also knows that Jason’s fellow werepanther’s think that the shooter is him. She has to settle the score before the next full moon or his brethren may be after him too.

A few big changes take place in this book, one being Jason, another is Sookie’s house is caught on fire. While she’s sleeping in it, by someone she doesn’t know, and drama as always with the vamps and weres. Another is Eric. He can’t remember his time that he spent with Sookie and she refuses to tell him about his little confession that he wanted to stay with her forever. I can relate to this, if the man said he wanted to quit his life and start anew with me and couldn’t remember it, I think I would wait it out and see what would unfold. Dead as a Doornail also gives a big intro to the relationship with Quinn the Weretiger. I enjoyed Quinn it puts another dynamic into what Sookie’s looking for in a relationship, gives some character to what she may be missing with the vamps.

Largely I can’t remember what happens between the books. This series is not something that will blow your mind or even give you a minor head ache from thinking. They are purely entertainment. If you are looking for a series that blows your mind, you’ve come to the wrong place, but if you want a fun series that keeps you entertained, enjoy!

I am so TEAM ERIC!

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

I have to ask what you would do… if you saw a man running down the road in his bathing suit. So, what would you do? I have to be honest, I would punch on the gas so hard that rocks would probably fly in his face, but Sookie, kind hearted Sookie, stopped to find that it was no man at all, but it was Eric the vampire. He not only was running naked down her road, but he also has no memory of how he got there or even who he is. Without his memory of who he is, he’s a much kinder, gentler Eric. Quickly they realize that whoever took his memory wants to do more than that to him, they want to take his life. As Sookie investigates into what happened to Eric she is continually drawn into the world of the supernatural. Witches, vampires, and werewolves may have to battle it out in order for Eric to get his life back, but is that what Sookie wants? This new Eric is so different from his normal self and she wants this sensitive Eric to stick around.

When I first borrowed this entire book series from a couple of friends of mine, I noticed after I read the first few books that the forth book had a blonde vampire on the cover, I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. After all I was no Bill fan, but I also hate change, but I was pleasantly surprised by the change that takes place in this book. This is my favorite of the entire series. This book is the hinge book. Everything changes after Sookie catches Bill in the act of being unfaithful to her in Club Dead, now things change even more. With Sookie baby-sitting Eric, it’s easy for her to forget her disdain for the vampire and free her emotions and open up her heart to someone she never expected.

Something that I’m enjoying about the books is that when you think that the danger is over there is probably going to be at least one or more horrible things that’s going to happen after that. Of course anything that happens at the end of a book is not the end of that subject, it will be revisited in a later book.

So, what did you think? Did you like the change of characters? Are you on Team Bill or Team Eric?

Finally Werewolves come into the picture...

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

Bill has gone missing. He’s in another state and Eric thinks he knows where he is at and he’s not vacationing, he’s in trouble. Next thing Sookie knows, she’s off to Jackson Mississippi to investigate her missing vampire at the supernatural’s only bar called Club Dead. When she finally does find Bill it’s going to change their relationship forever.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the new character of Alcide Herveaux, the sexy werewolf. He was a rock when Sookie was in a lot of pain and needed a friend. Even though nothing happened between them, this is the beginning of a great relationship between Sookie and the Were’s. This book also introduces a lot of new information about the vampire world that Sookie had no idea existed. Of course Eric is not a very large role in this 3rd book, but he’s still charming and helps Sookie out even though she didn’t know she needed it. What I enjoyed about this book is the dynamic of Sookie’s relationships are changing.

Road Trip to the Big D

Living Dead in Dallas by: Charlaine Harris

In the second installment of the Sookie Stackhouse novels, Sookie has a brush with death as a creature sends a message to Eric Northman, the vampire bar owner of Fangtasia in Shreveport. She is torn to pieces by this monster and to save her life, the vampires, including Bill and Eric, have to suck the poison out of her blood stream before it kills her. Because they did this great service to her, she now owes them. There has been a vampire in their nest go missing. Eric sends Bill and Sookie to Dallas to read the human minds around the situation so that they can find the missing vamp. Also, back home in Bon Temps, one of her co-workers winds up dead and no one seems to care about who the murderer is and maybe who is next. With some crazy twist and turns, Sookie is in some crazy trouble while she’s in Dallas and then when she comes back home as well.

I enjoyed Living Dead in Dallas. There were some more introductions to not just new vampires, but new creatures as well. Sookie has quickly realized that her comfortable world where she was the freak, is not as normal as she once thought.

We get to know Eric a lot more. We were introduced to him briefly in Dead Until Dark, but within this installment we get to know his character a little better. Eric is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. He is drawn to Sookie, I can’t tell if there is something about her that draws her to him or if he just wants her because he can’t have her. I love his sarcasm, and whit. He says things to Sookie that I just can’t believe, but he keeps me laughing. There are a couple of great scenes with him at the end of the book that are great! There is one great Love triangle beginning to take place right before my eyes.

Vampire Bill Changes Everything...

Dead Until Dark by: Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse is rumored to be a simple girl in the small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. She and her family have lived in the area her entire life. If anyone had a different opinion about Sookie it may be that she’s not only simple minded, but a little crazy. See, Sookie has a sort of disability. She can read people’s minds, as a telepath, you don’t get real close to the people around you. She has always been able to know when someone liked her, or didn’t, when someone was being fake or real. This has always put a damper on her love life. All of this changed the night Bill Compton came into Merlotte’s bar, where she’s a waitress. She knew at the very moment he walked in that he was not of the living. Bill is a vampire. Since vampires “came out of the coffin” two years prior, Merlotte’s had never had a vampire patron. Sookie knew in the instant they had contact that things were about to change. There was something besides the vampire issue that was different about Bill, she couldn’t read his mind. Quickly things go from normal to horrible as “Fang Bangers” start turning up dead. Jason Stackhouse, Sookie’s older brother is the main suspect, since he had slept with most of the victims. Sookie has to use her disability to clear her brother’s name and make sure that Bill doesn’t get blamed as well.

Dead Until Dark is riveting. I picked it up and couldn’t put it down. It’s southern living meets Interview with a Vampire. I must also say that it is rated NC17. It’s erotic and sensual, but not trashy. There is great suspense and it keeps you guessing who the murderer is all the way through. There are quite a few characters in the book, and all of them are memorable no matter how small the character is in the book. Harris does a great job of making sure whenever she mentions someone she gives you just enough about them to keep them fresh on your mind. We meet a few other vampires in this first installment of the series.

It’s hard for me to pick out things that I didn’t like in the novel. I guess as the reader progresses you just want Sookie to be happy, you feel with her and learn of a new world with her. She is always curious about how faithful Bill is to her, but still loving their time together. I know if I would have read through the book (and the entire series) a little slower, I could have picked out a few things, but I’m not going back now.

I very much enjoy Sookie. She is a brave, spunky character that doesn’t get into too much trouble where it is unbelievable, but you still wonder what her life would have been like if she hadn’t met Vampire Bill. Bill awakens this person in Sookie that she doesn’t know exists.

So, what do you think? Have you watched True Blood? Have you read the series? What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment.