Book Review: Dead Ever After

Book Description: (from Amazon)

THE FINAL SOOKIE STACKHOUSE NOVEL
There are secrets in the town of Bon Temps, ones that threaten those closest to Sookie—and could destroy her heart....

Sookie Stackhouse  finds it easy to turn down the request of former barmaid Arlene when she wants her job back at Merlotte’s. After all, Arlene tried to have Sookie killed. But her relationship with Eric Northman is not so clearcut. He and his vampires are keeping their distance…and a cold silence. And when Sookie learns the reason why, she is devastated.
Then a shocking murder rocks Bon Temps, and Sookie is arrested for the crime.

But the evidence against Sookie is weak, and she makes bail. Investigating the killing, she’ll learn that what passes for truth in Bon Temps is only a convenient lie. What passes for justice is more spilled blood. And what passes for love is never enough…

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Book Review:

It’s time to say goodbye to another series. I finished this several days ago and have been letting it sit and find the longer it sits, the more satisfying the ending.

Sookie’s been through the wringer in the last few books, both physically and emotionally. People have developed very definite ideas about which character Sookie should end up with romantically. The bottom line is, not everyone will be satisfied with the ending; it will leave a sour taste in some people’s mouths. My purpose here is not to give spoilers or to join in any argument about the ending to Ms. Harris’ series, as it is hers to write and end as she chooses. Other quibbles I’ve read that people have with the book is parts have a different PoV (3rd person omniscient in addition to the normal 1st person—Sookie). I’m used to series jumping around PoV to PoV, so this didn’t bother me.

The murder was to a character I didn’t mourn at all though the family did garner a bit of sympathy. I THOUGHT I had figured out who was to blame, but I was only partly correct (have to add that I love it when I’m surprised at least a little bit!). Most of the loose ends were tied up in a satisfactory manner, but I still look forward to this fall, when the book that wraps everything up with everyone in Bon Temps is released.

I feel like I can’t say much more without giving anything away. If you’ve read the series, read this book. It’s a really good conclusion to the series, highly recommend.  The best line in the book, bar none was: “Life should imitate romance literature far more often.” The last 2 paragraphs remind me of why I love this series. Sookie is a strong, independent woman who doesn’t lose her head in a crisis. Thank you for introducing us to Sookie, Ms. Harris.

Sensuality: some sex, would let older teens read.

Rating: 5 stars

Books I’ve read recently (mini-reviews)

I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately and not much reviewing.  I know, I know, I’m slacking even more than usual.  My to-read list keeps getting longer and longer!  Some of the following books have been on my can’t-wait-to-read list for a year and some of them are starts to new series by authors I have not heard of or have heard of and simply have not read yet.  Some of them are young adult and some adult, some mystery, some urban fantasy, some light, some dark, but all worth reading.  So sit back and enjoy a beverage while I tell  you about some books you should add to your to-read list!

50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom
Entertaining read about a feisty witch with anger problems and her vampire lover.  Throw in a ghost who smokes, a client who smells so bad the  main character has to throw away her clothes and some fuzzy attack bunny slippers and you have a recipe for a a wild ride of a story.  You should probably consider having the next in the series ready to start when you finish this one.
Rating: 3 stars
Sensuality: some brief semi-graphic sex scenes



Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire

This is a dark urban fantasy set in San Francisco, about a half-fae, half-human named October Daye, who tries to pass as human.  The world-building is rich, and well-done, but Toby didn’t really grab me as a heroine.  I get that the author was probably going for an everyday heroine and I whole-heartedly approve of that, it’s a nice change of pace from the super-warrior heroines usually found in urban fantasy but she just seemed too weak.  She also made some really dumb personal decisions that had me shaking my head at her.  I will probably read more in the series but they aren’t on my immediate read list.  It’s a clean book, lots of fairy politics, a good murder mystery and angst.  I loved the setting: it made me want to visit San Francisco even more than I already do!
Rating 3 stars
Sensuality: mentions a few kisses that happened in the past.  No sex.


City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Book 4 in the Mortal Instruments Series for young adults, this continues the adventures of Clary, Jace, Simon, Isabelle and Maia with brief scenes with Magnus and Alec.  I enjoyed this book, no spoilers, but I will say I was screaming in my head at the author for how she ended this book.  This was pretty heavy on teen angst and internal drama but was an enjoyable read.  If you liked the first 3 books in the series, you won’t want to miss the fourth.  Also, if you like the author’s style, you might consider reading a related series, the first of which is out now (the second will be out in December I believe), The Infernal Devices.  I can’t wait until Book 5 comes out!
Rating: 4 stars
Sensuality: a few make-out sessions

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

This book is the first in a trilogy for young adults.  The main character goes to a very exclusive (and small!) private school.  The author introduces us to Maya, her family and friends and introduces some mysterious occurrences.  The book doesn’t go much further than that and sets up the second one, which comes out who-knows-when, to be full of action and mystery with a splash of romance thrown in.  I would probably wait to read this one until  the next one comes out, but it was an enjoyable read.

Rating 4 stars
Sensuality: main character is drugged at a party and makes out with a boy but no sex

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Sookie, where do I start?  Life certainly has gotten complicated for our favorite telepath from Bon Temps!  Her cousin and uncle live with her, she has a telepath cousin that she tries to mentor a bit, work responsibilities, someone who repeatedly tries to kill her, the blood bond with Eric (mmmm Eric) and friendship with Pam and various other supernatural beings.  It will certainly keep a girl busy!

Book 11 in the series begins with a Molotov cocktail thrown into Merlotte’s and the action continues with very little downtime.  We have some surprises in store for us, some are nice some not so nice.  Ms. Harris wraps up some story lines, answers some long-standing questions and appears to be gearing up for a fantastic end to the Sookie series.  Rumor has it there are two more books to come (2 more years to know how it ends waaaaaaah).  I am eagerly awaiting book 12 which will probably be out in May 2012.

Rating: 4 stars
Sensuality: I remember one sex scene, not very long.

Review: Sookie Stackhouse Series

Dead Until Dark

Product Description

Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out....
Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn't such a bright idea.

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Living Dead in Dallas

Product Description

When a vampire asks Sookie Stackhouse to use her telepathic skills to find another missing vampire, she agrees under one condition: the bloodsuckers must promise to let the humans go unharmed.

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Club Dead

Product Description
Sookie's boyfriend has been very distant-in another state, distant. Now she's off to Mississippi to mingle with the underworld at Club Dead-a little haunt where the vampire elite go to chill out. But when she finally finds Bill-caught in an act of betrayal-she's not sure whether to save him...or sharpen some stakes.

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Dead to the World

Product Description
When cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse sees a naked man on the side of the road, she doesn't just drive on by. Turns out the poor thing hasn't a clue who he is, but Sookie does. It's Eric the vampire--but now he's a kinder, gentler Eric. And a scared Eric, because whoever took his memory now wants his life.

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Dead as a Doornail

Product Description
Small-town cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has had more than her share of experience with the supernatural—but now it’s really hitting close to home. When Sookie sees her brother Jason’s eyes start to change, she knows he’s about to turn into a were-panther for the first time—a transformation he embraces more readily than most shapeshifters she knows. But her concern becomes cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population, and Jason’s new panther brethren suspect he may be the shooter. Now, Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who’s behind the attacks—unless the killer decides to find her first…

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Definitely Dead

Product Description
Sixth in the Anthony Award-winning Southern Vampire series. Spiked with a frothy fusion of romance, mystery, and fantasy, this bestselling series sends the supernaturally gifted cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse to New Orleans, where she has to deal with the legacy of one of her own family and a host of potentially dangerous characters.

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All Together Dead

Product Description
Betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse must now not only deal with a possible new man in her life-the oh-so-handsome shapeshifter Quinn-but also contend with a long-planned vampire summit. With her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans, the local vampire queen is vulnerable to those hungry for a takeover. Soon, Sookie must decide what side she'll stand with. And her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe.

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From Dead to Worse

Product Description
After the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina, and the manmade horror of the explosion at the vampire summit, Sookie Stackhouse is safe but dazed, yearning for things to get back to normal. But her boyfriend Quinn is among the missing. And things are changing, whether the weres and vamps in her corner of Louisiana like it or not. In the ensuing battles, Sookie faces danger, death…and once more, betrayal by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood ceases flowing, her world will be forever altered.

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Dead and Gone

Product Description
Now an HBO original series, True Blood-the New York Times bestselling Sookie Stackhouse series continues. Except for Sookie Stackhouse, folks in Bon Temps, Louisiana, know little about vamps-and nothing about weres. Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to reveal their existence to the ordinary world. At first all goes well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found near the bar where Sookie works-and she feels compelled to discover who, human or otherwise, did it. But there's a far greater danger threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings-older, more powerful, and more secretive than vampires or werewolves-is preparing for war. And Sookie finds herself an all-too human pawn in their battle.

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Dead in the Family

Product Description
The #1 New York Times bestselling Sookie Stackhouse series- the basis for HBO(r)'s True Blood-continues! After enduring torture and the loss of loved ones during the brief but deadly Faery War, Sookie Stackhouse is hurt and she's angry. Just about the only bright spot in her life is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman. But he's under scrutiny by the new Vampire King because of their relationship. And as the political implications of the Shifters coming out are beginning to be felt, Sookie's connection to the Shreveport pack draws her into the debate. Worst of all, though the door to Faery has been closed, there are still some Fae on the human side-and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry...

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Series Review:

Sookie Stackhouse is one of my very favorite characters out of all the books I’ve read in the past few years.  She is one tough cookie, as she has learned to be growing up a telepath (I REALLY don’t want to know what people are thinking!).  She’s strong emotionally, thinks fast on her feet (she flashes a bad vampire before she knees him in the groin to get away in one of the books), she is one of the most “normal” heroines (despite the whole telepathy thing), she’s funny, loyal, determined to do the right thing (Miss Manners doesn’t always have the answer for the problems she deals with regularly though to her chagrin) and be a good person in this crazy world. 

The  world and the characters are all exceptionally well-thought out.  Bubba is an excellent addition to the Sookie world, one of my favorites.   Dead to the World is my favorite in the series, but  From Dead to Worse and Dead and Gone are also excellent installments to the series. 

If you like series with “real” heroines you will probably love this series as much as I do.  I wouldn’t recommend for young teens to read the series as some of the sex scenes would  be too much for them, but they are well-done, not overly graphic and they blend in well with the story.   Another reason this series would not be appropriate for younger teens is it deals with some other adult themes.  There’s a lot of violence throughout, torture in one book, supernatural politics and more.  For older teens and adults however, the stories are rich and entertaining, deeply moving at times, and linger in your memories as you await the next Sookie adventure.

Sensuality:  sex scenes in most books, not overly graphic

Rating: 5 stars