Book Review: Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris (Series, #9)

Summary:
Now that the pieces seem to have been picked up from the bombing at Rhodes, Sookie is hoping to just get back to her normal life and adjust to living with her two roommates, the witches Amelia and Octavia.  Of course, that can’t last for long.  After seeing how well things are going for the vampires being out, the shifters decide to come out as well.  Soon there’s what appears to be a hate crime against a shifter Sookie knows, and the FBI comes knocking wondering how Sookie was able to find survivors at Rhodes.  On top of everything, a fae war is brewing, and Sookie can no longer hide from the fact that she’s part fae.

Review:
This is without a doubt my favorite Sookie Stackhouse book so far.  It’s dark and (I know this sounds odd to say about a paranormal story) realistic.  Harris doesn’t let Sookie hide from her problems.  She has to truly face reality and deal with it in a way she’s never had to previously in her life.  She can’t hide from her telepathy, her exes, her friendships, her coworkers, or her enemies.  In a way this book is all about Sookie having to grow up and deal with it.

Readers who started out loving the beginning of the series might not like the dark direction Harris has turned.  I for one love dark, disturbing tales, but those who don’t should be aware that there are a few scenes they may find upsetting.  I thought these scenes were quite creative, particularly for a series that is being told in the first person.

Of course, this book still faces the writing issues seen in the earlier books in the series.  Mainly, some of the writing is painfully simplistic or uses the obvious analogies.  Then again, Sookie isn’t exactly super-intelligent, so it fits her voice.  Additionally, the sex scenes continue to be a bit cringe inducing.  I know other reviewers have pointed out multiple times how the sex scenes are a bit ridiculous.  That continues to be true, but they aren’t exactly the focus of the series, so I’m ok with that myself.

Overall, Harris has taken an idea that could have worn out quickly and moved it gradually to a much darker tale that is quite thrilling.  The series continues to be complex, and readers who’ve enjoyed the series thus far won’t be disappointed as long as they can handle some disturbing scenes.

4 out of 5 stars

Source: PaperBackSwap

Previous Books in Series:
Dead Until Dark, review
Living Dead in Dallas, review
Club Dead, review
Dead to the World, review
Dead as a Doornail, review
Definitely Dead, review
All Together Dead, review
From Dead to Worse, review

Buy It

Counts for R.I.P.V Challenge

Book Review: From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris (Series, #8)

Summary:
Hurricane Katrina and the bombing of the vampire assembly at Rhodes have left the Louisiana supernatural community reeling and disjointed.  This naturally creates the perfect atmosphere for attempted violent takeovers in both the were and vampire communities.  Sookie finds herself smack in the middle, as usual, both due to her telepathic abilities and her desire to help her friends.  Of course her telepathic abilities can’t tell her where her boyfriend, Quinn, has disappeared to.  In the middle of all this, she also finds out some interesting family secrets.

Review:
Not only is Sookie’s character developing and changing, but the series is as well, and that’s what’s keeping it interesting this many books in.  If you’ve stuck it out this long, then you’re clearly enjoying something that Harris is doing; however, I would say that the previous book and this one mark a stark change in the style of the series away from paranormal romance to just paranormal fiction.  I’m actually not sure what exactly one would call this genre, but From Dead to Worse definitely reads like modern-day fiction just with supernatural characters tossed in.  I really enjoy this partly because Harris’ sex scenes are cringe-inducing anyway, but also because it allows for that modern day connection but with problems that I will never have.  This makes it a relaxing read.

Unlike some paranormal series, the main character of Sookie has gone through significant character developments.  She went from a naive girl desperate to fit in to sadder but wiser woman who enjoys being different.  In the first book, we see Sookie being cared for by her grandmother; in this one, we see Sookie caring for not only the witch, Amelia, but also an elderly woman, Octavia.  It’s not just this that’s changing, however.  Sookie’s experiences leave her wondering if she’s a good person or not, and frankly the reader is left trying to figure that out as well.

Some readers will be thrown by the absence of sex in this book.  However, I enjoyed the various types of sexual and romantic interest tension Sookie has with the various men in her life.  It is evident that she’s attempting to figure out which direction she wants to go in her life before settling on a man.  Racking up this tension throughout one book is a great set-up for the next one.

My only gripes with this entry in the series are two-fold.  First, I really don’t like the Jason/Hotshot storyline.  Jason could be a very interesting character, as we know from the direction they’ve taken him in True Blood.  He’s not used well in the books, though, and I hope Harris fixes this soon.  I’m tired of cringing over the Hotshot scenes.  Also, this book yet again features a northern woman who yet again is an evil bitch in Sookie’s eyes.  This is obviously Harris’ own prejudice coming through as Sookie has been established as a person who is staunchly not prejudiced against anyone.  What is with this hating on northern women?  It says a lot about Harris that this prejudice seeps into her writing even when writing a character who is not prejudiced.  I’m sick of seeing it, and it stings as a northern female fan of the series.

However, in spite of these short-comings, the series is still enjoyable.  This book marks a distinct change in the writing from paranormal romance to simply paranormal.  Readers who’ve stuck it out this far will either enjoy this change as I do or give up on the series due to its lack of romance.  If you’re reading it for the characters and the world Harris has created, you will enjoy this entry into the series.  If you’re reading it for paranormal romance, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere.

4 out of 5 stars

Source: PaperBackSwap

Previous Books in Series:
Dead Until Dark, review
Living Dead in Dallas, review
Club Dead, review
Dead to the World, review
Dead as a Doornail, review
Definitely Dead, review
All Together Dead, review

Buy It

Book Review: All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (Series, #7)

Summary:
Against her fairy godmother’s better judgment, Sookie accompanies the Louisiana vampire contingency to Rhodes, Illinois for the vampire summit to work for the queen reading human minds at the various wheelings and dealings.  She is excited that Quinn will be there as well, but a wrench is thrown in the works of their relationship when she is forced to exchange blood for a third time with Eric.  To top it all off Sookie and fellow telepath Barry have the odd sensation that something isn’t quite right at the summit.  It’s a lot for small-town girl Sookie to handle in one week in the north.

Review:
I want to say the action in this entry into Sookie’s adventures is excellent, but it isn’t quite there.  The minor side-mysteries are quite good, but they are meant to distract from the main event, which frankly I had figured out way way way before Sookie.  It was pratically hitting her in the face, and she didn’t get it.  So the mystery leaves a little to be desired.

On the other hand, the plot point where Andre is trying to force Sookie to exchange blood with him, and Eric steps up to exchange blood with her instead is excellent.  Quinn is unjustifiably angry, and Sookie discovers that trading blood three times is a magical number.  She is more closely tied to Eric than she is comfortable with, and she is left incredibly confused about her feelings for him vs her feelings for Quinn.  This is a love conflict that is bound to prove interesting because she has feelings for Eric but intellectually believes Quinn is a wiser choice.  Now this is juicy romantic conflict!

Something that has been bugging me about the series that is featured epicenter of this book though is the whole idea of the vampires arranging their kingdoms based on the states.  There’s the King of Tennessee and the Queen of Louisiana, and they even call each other simply by the state (as in, “Oh hi, Louisiana”).  This makes zero sense.  Why would the super-powerful and, for the majority of existence, hidden vampires arrange themselves based on arbitrary human dividing lines?  Sure having multiple kingdoms in the US makes sense, but not arranged based on the human-created state lines.  It doesn’t fit into the characterization of what a vampire is.

I think what really bothered me about this book though was that it made me dislike Sookie.  I don’t like how she behaves, her superficial focus on clothing, or her prejudiced view of northerners.  (Not a single northern woman she runs into does she view as anything other than a rude bitch).  I don’t always need to like my main characters, but I think in a paranormal romance that’s problematic.

Overall, the action is excellent, even if some of the world-building doesn’t make sense and the characterization can be off-putting.  I think this may be a set-up for a major, character-changing circumstance in Sookie’s life, which would make it more understandable.  We’ll see if I’m right.

3 out of 5 stars

Source: Bought on Amazon

Previous Books in Series:
Dead Until Dark, review
Living Dead in Dallas, review
Club Dead, review
Dead to the World, review
Dead as a Doornail, review
Definitely Dead, review

Buy It

Book Review: Definitely Dead By Charlaine Harris (Series #6)

Summary:
Sookie needs to go to New Orleans for both personal and business reasons.  Her cousin Hadley had been a vampire but died her second death leaving everything to Sookie, so she needs to go clean out her apartment.  As far as business goes, the queen of Louisiana has also requested her presence to figure out if she will require Sookie’s services for the upcoming vampire summit.  When Sookie finds out that Hadley was the queen’s lover, a connection between the two purposes for the visit shows up that may be more significant than she at first realizes.

Review:
I’m glad I learned on some blog (wish I could remember which one) that a short story comes between the previous book and this one in the series, otherwise I would have thought I missed a book or something.  That annoying tendency to retell things that already happened?  Actually awfully helpful here, since I haven’t read that short story.  You don’t need to read the short story to enjoy this book, but I wish I had and advise you to as well.  If you’re interested, some investigation reveals that short story is contained in the collection of Sookie short stories called A Touch of Dead.

Also thankfully, my prediction that Dead as a Doornail was a random clunker and not a death toll for the series was correct.  Definitely Dead is a step back up in quality.  The multiple storylines actuall do reveal to be related and not just random throwaways designed to throw you off the scent of the main mystery.  We also get the addition of a new supe–part-demons–and some serious reveals.  I mean makes you rethink how you look at the entire story reveals.  To give you non-spoilery hints, you learn something about Bill and something about just why Sookie is so darn appealing to the supe guys.  I personally love that sort of thing, and I’m hoping these two reveals will help the series continue to grow and expand.

On the minus side, I have to come right out and say it that I am not impressed with Quinn.  I’m glad Sookie has become a bit more savvy about pursuing a long-term relationship, but with Quinn? Really?  The man’s looks don’t match what has been established to be Sookie’s type at all–tall and lean–he is instead the muscle-bound guy.  That suits some women, but it comes out of the blue that Sookie’s at all attracted to him.  Also, what’s with the purple eyes?  On what planet is it sexy for a man to have eyes not only an unnatural color, but an unnatural color that’s girly?  I of course dislike him for nonsuperficial reasons too.  He seems far too perfect.  He says those puke-inducing gushy things to Sookie that, I’m sorry, perfectly nice men just don’t say in real life, and you know why they don’t say them?  Because they sound corny and false and how the man treats you is far more important than what he says to you.  There’s also the fact that he originally came on to her when there was a fight to the death going on in front of them, something I find indicative of just how sympathetic he really is to other people.  Frankly, I just don’t find Quinn or Sookie’s interest in him believable.  Something just rings false about the whole thing.  It isn’t like her interactions with Eric, for example, that are full of witty banter and internal conflict about liking this person on both sides.  Quinn and Sookie’s conversations literally make me want to puke at how disgustingly sweet and false they sound.  Reading their conversations is like eating a twinkie.  A deep-fried twinkie.

Thankfully, there isn’t much Quinn in this book, so it’s still an enjoyable read and a sign of better things to come in the series.

3 out of 5 stars

Source: Bought on Amazon

Previous Books in Series:
Dead Until Dark, review
Living Dead in Dallas, review
Club Dead, review
Dead to the World, review
Dead as a Doornail, review

Buy It

Friday Fun!

Reading other people’s blogs (most notably The Story Siren and Medieval Bookworm) made me decide my blog needs a bit of a consistent humanizing element to it.  Non-opinion posts that just give you a general sense of who the hell this person is who’s yacking to you about books, movies, and general opinions.  To that end I’ve decided to start this new (hopefully consistent) feature–Friday Fun!–in which I will ramble about general Amanda-stuff.  I hope you enjoy.

This week I became the proud owner of both a menorah and a 3 foot tall fake Christmas tree.  I can hear my family now.  “Whaaat?!  You bought a fake tree?!”  But you see, a fake tree is easier and cheaper, so I’m happy.  I’ll also need to skip the tinsel for the first year ever due to the presence of the kitty.  She totally would eat the tinsel and we’d get to spend a lovely night in the MSPCA ER.  As for the menorah, it’s the first time I’ll be the one in charge of lighting it.  For the last five years, it was always a roommate or hallmate who did, so I’ve taken it upon myself to learn the Hanukkah prayers.  My friend Nina helped me get the basics, but I found this website last night to help me practice when she’s not around.

I am a major online holiday shopper, and a lot of the presents I’ve been buying arrived this week.  I have quite the stash in my closet, and I need to acquire wrapping paper so they can wind up under the tree.  Seeing all the wrapped presents is one of my favorite things.  I’ve looked for wrapping paper twice so far, but finding non-holiday-specific ones for my Chrismukkah celebrations hasn’t been going too well.  And no, I don’t like snowman paper.

On the sour note, last night my downstairs neighbors complained about me walking around my apartment.  Yes, walking.  Personally my first reaction is that they should suck it up and deal because they knew what they were getting into when they chose an apartment that’s not on the top floor.  It’s not like I was dancing or running circles or something.  Upon reflection after she left, however, I realized that the new kitty addition does have a tendency to run circles (and bounce off walls and randomly do dances) in the evening, and perhaps this is what the neighbors have been hearing.  I can sort of sympathize with this, but it doesn’t seem to me there’s much I can do about it.  It’s not my fault the landlord has wood floors on the top floor of the apartment building.  I’m thinking of stopping by and letting them know it’s probably the cat they’re hearing, so they at least know (unless that’s unnecessary?), but in the meantime, any suggestions on how to deal with the neighbors?

This weekend my plans are a bit up-in-the-air, but I do plan on decorating the tree, hanging out with my boyfriend and maybe some friends, and reading more.  It’d been a long time since I’ve read a series, and I’m really enjoying the cozy familiarity I’m starting to feel with the main characters in both The Dark Tower and Sookie Stackhouse.  Of course I also have a couple of movies on my radar to watch.  You’ll just have to wait til next week to find out what they are!

Peace!

Book Review: Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris (Series, #5)

Summary:
Someone is shooting shifters in the parish, and the Werepanthers are suspicious of Jason.  Sookie sets out to clear his name, but things get a bit more complicated when it becomes clear someone has their eye not only on the shifters, but also on her.

Review:
Although the back cover claims this entry into the Sookie-verse is full of entertaining plot-twists, it actually reads as a been there, done that, plot.

Jason is in trouble, again.  Sookie’s fairy godmother has to save her, again.  Someone isn’t what they seem. Again.  Sam still has the major hots for Sookie (though I’ll never understand why.  She seems to just use him repeatedly when she needs help).  Bill still wants Sookie even though he’s sleeping with someone else, and Alcide is still kind of a jerk.

I think the problem with this book is that it doesn’t move the overarching plot forward much at all.  There is a tiny development in the Sookie/Eric plotline, but that’s all.  I guess I could forgive this if the individual storyline was new and exciting, but it’s not.  Ooo, someone’s targeting the supes.  Big deal.

In spite of all these complaints, I still want to keep reading the series.  This book read more like a clunker episode of a tv series you really love than a death toll.  I expect things will improve in the next book, and this was just a mystery idea that went bad for Harris.

2 out of 5 stars

Source: Bought on Amazon

Previous Books in Series:
Dead Until Dark, review
Living Dead in Dallas, review
Club Dead, review
Dead to the World, review

Buy It

Book Review: Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris (Series, #4)

Summary:
Just because Sookie has broken up with Bill doesn’t mean her relationship with the supernatural world is over–especially when she finds Eric naked and suffering from amnesia on the side of the road.  When she discovers from Pam that a league of evil witches have their sights set on ruling Shreveport, she agrees to hide Eric while the vampires, werewolves, and Wiccans attempt to fend off the witches.  To top it off, Sookie’s brother has gone missing, which may or may not be related to the near-war going on.

Review:
While the books in the series so far have been improving, Dead to the World is definitely a step back.

The individual plot lines aren’t so bad, but Harris doesn’t do a good job of keeping them integrated and flowing.  The book reads as if it has too many sticks in the fire.  Just too much happens in such a short book.  The reader is left feeling a bit of whiplash from the rapidly changing storylines and situations.

I knew Sookie would have a rebound after Bill, but I’d hoped Harris would be more creative than having that rebound be Eric.  Don’t get me wrong.  I like Eric better than Bill, but I also enjoyed the tension between him and Sookie.  I wish that had lasted longer.  Similarly, I don’t think giving Eric amnesia was a wise character development choice.  I’m pretty sure anyone with amnesia plopped into the supernatural world would be a cowering mess.  That doesn’t tell us anything about who Eric is underneath his persona.  Sookie’s interactions with him therefore felt so fake that I not only couldn’t take real interest in them, I was also a bit grossed out by the falseness of them.  I didn’t expect Sookie’s rebound to be emotional, but I did expect it to be more real.

On the other hand, Sookie’s character development takes a nice turn.  Without Bill in the picture, she may have expected the supernatural world to pretty much leave her alone.  Instead she finds out they still depend on her.  Through the various situations, she starts to become a more empowered version of herself, and I enjoyed seeing that.

The best part of the book by far is Jason’s plot-line.  I can’t say much more or I’ll give away the secret, but suffice to say that I hope True Blood gets to this part of the story sooner rather than later.

While I’m irritated by some of the character development choices Harris has made, I am still enjoying the world she has created.  I am hoping though that the series returns to the tight, witty writing found in Club Dead.

3 out of 5 stars

Source: Bought on Amazon

Previous Books in Series:
Dead Until Dark, review
Living Dead in Dallas, review
Club Dead, review

Buy It

Book Review: Club Dead by Charlaine Harris (Series, #3)

Summary:
Bill has been acting oddly distant with Sookie lately, so she isn’t exactly pleased when he announces he’s going to Seattle on a mission for the vampire queen of Louisiana.  She soon finds out from Pam and Eric, though, that Bill lied to her.  He’s actually been in Jackson, Mississippi with his one-time vampire lover, Lorena.  He’s also been kidnapped.  Something he’s been secretly up to has put them all in danger, so Sookie must put aside her anger for now and try to help the vampires free Bill and prevent a vampire war between the kingdoms of Mississippi and Louisiana.  Along the way, Sookie gets to know a whole lot more about the werewolves–not to mention about Eric.

Review:
I have to hand it to Harris, I expected there to be trouble in paradise for Bill and Sookie, but I didn’t expect it this soon or this serious.  Reading Club Dead made me realize this series isn’t about Sookie’s relationship with Bill, but about Sookie’s gradual entry into the supernatural world.  Bill just kind of served as a door.  I tend to be a bit of a romantic, but I’ve never really liked Bill nearly as much as the other supernatural guys, so let me just say–woohoo!

The plot is complex.  There are multiple mysteries for Sookie to figure out on top of dealing with her emotions about Bill’s betrayal and her odd popularity among the supernatural guys.  I enjoy the fact that she was never desired by human guys, but is among the the supernaturals.  It’s akin to the awkward growing up girl finding her niche in her 20s.  At first Sookie thought it was just Bill who has the major hots for her, but it turns out she’s a hot commodity with lots of the supernatural guys, but it isn’t just about her looks.  They like Sookie for her personality.  Something it seemed to me Bill never seemed to appreciate much.

Harris does a good job writing a unique werewolf world.  Whereas the vampires are notoriously cold emotionally, the werewolves are hot-blooded.  They’re passionate, strong, and animalistic.  Harris has them mostly working blue collar jobs, but excelling at it.  Sookie’s escort, Alcide, runs a highly profitable family general contracting business.

My only complaint is that Harris doesn’t seem to trust her readers to remember the rules of the world she’s created.  We get told yet again that silver chains can hold a vampire down, shifters aren’t out yet, Sookie had a hard time in school, the Japanese created synthetic blood, etc…  It’s annoying, and it makes it feel like Harris thinks she needs to dumb down the story for her readers.  I understand a quick rehash at the beginning of the book to remind us where we left off, but as for everything else, I think the reader can be trusted to remember that silver chain nets are dangerous to vampires.  Those parts are easily skimmed over though, and the res of the book makes up for it.

I originally was uncertain that Harris could keep Sookie Stackhouse’s world interesting for seven books.  I envisioned repeated “Bill and Sookie solve yet another mystery” outings, but I am glad to say I was mistaken.  As the books continue, more of the world is revealed, and Sookie’s life becomes more complicated.  I’m looking forward to what she’s going to reveal next.

If you enjoy the gradual building of a world around a strong female character, you will enjoy the direction this series is headed.

4 out of 5 stars

Source: Bought on Amazon

Previous Books in Series:
Dead Until Dark, review
Living Dead in Dallas, review

Buy It

Book Review: Living Dead in Dallas By Charlaine Harris (Series, #2)

I generally lean a bit more toward stand-alone books and trilogies, but every once in a while I get caught up in a series.  Currently, I’m caught up in two–Sookie Stackhouse Series and Dark Tower Series.  Anyway, I decided I should warn you guys if a book is in the middle of a series by placing (series, #number) in the title.  So be warned that means there will be spoilers for books preceding that book, but probably not for that book itself.  Got it? Good!  There are currently 9 books in the Sookie Stackhouse Series and 7 in the Dark Tower Series, so don’t despair! Stand-alones and trilogies will be back shortly.  Now, on to the review!

Summary:
Sookie discovers yet another murder in Bon Temps when she finds Merlotte’s cook, Lafayette, dead in the bar’s parking lot.  She doesn’t have much time to even think about the murder, though, because Eric has called upon her to fulfill her duty to the vampires.  She’s been hired by a vampire nest in Dallas to investigate the disappearance of one of their brothers.  Sookie discovers there’s more to the supernatural world–and the natural one–than she ever bargained for.

Review:
Maybe it’s because I have yet to see the second season of True Blood and thus don’t have the awesomeness that is that tv show to compare to, but I found myself liking this entry into Sookie’s escapades far more than Dead Until Dark.  The first book is much more about the murders than the supernatural world Sookie finds herself on the edge of.  Here, she is forced to confront the fact that, yes, she is dating someone from an entirely different world than hers.

This key plot element is what drives the story in a two-pronged fashion.  First, Sookie encounters far more supernatural beings than she has before–shapeshifters, werewolves, vampires, a maenad, and another telepath.  The supernatural world is far bigger and more complex than she ever imagined.  Vampires weren’t one lonely group separated from everyone.  They’re a group in an underground world that is straddling both worlds and neither seems too happy about it.   This makes the whole idea of vampires coming out of the coffin more interesting, because the other supernatural creatures have one thing in common with the humans:  they aren’t happy with the vampires for coming out.

Second, Sookie finally has to deal with the fact that, much as she loves Bill, he has his faults just like anyone does.  His just run a bit more shocking to her, because he is in fact a member of the undead.  Bill tells her at one point that he hasn’t been human far longer than he was human, and he often forgets what it is like to feel human.  There is definitely an element of Bill that is a monster, and Sookie sees that.  Bill may be trying to control it, but it’s there.  Sookie moves past the honeymoon phase of the relationship and has to decide if her and Bill really are a good match.  If the pleasure of loving him is worth the difficulties and struggles.

All the strong features and weaknesses of Dead Until Dark are found here.  The conversations are again, excellent.  I particularly enjoyed when a werewolf calls Sookie “little milkbone.”  On the other hand, the multiple storylines of many characters found in True Blood are again absent here.  I think, however, as the series progresses, it will be easier to see this as Sookie’s story and True Blood as Bon Temps’ story, and Sookie is enough of a three-dimensional character to keep it interesting.

4 out of 5 stars

Source: Bought on Amazon

Previous Books in Series:
Dead Until Dark, review

Buy It

Book Review: Dead Until Dark By Charlaine Harris

Since I watched the first season of True Blood and loved it, I decided to read the book the first season is based on.  This was an interesting reversal for me, since usually I’ve read a book then seen the tv show/movie that is made from it.  Anyway, this review naturally contains comparisons between the two, so be warned there are spoilers for both Dead Until Dark and the first season of True Blood.

Summary:
Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress in a bar in a small town in Louisiana, has been wanting to meet a vampire ever since they came out of the coffin a few years ago.  She gets her chance when Bill Compton, a vampire who was made right after the Civil War, moves to her town of Bon Temps.  Bill is in turn intrigued by Sookie, because she is different from other humans–she can read minds.  They start dating, but it’s not always easy to date a vampire–especially when local women known to hook-up with them are being murdered by an unknown killer.

Review:
Charlaine Harris’s strength as a romance novelist is definitely witty conversations between our heroine and the various male characters in the books.  They are witty and come across remarkably real considering the paranormalness of the plot.   She also sets scenes well.  I’ve never been to Louisiana, but I could just feel the humidity in the air as Sookie partook in various night adventures.

Something that bothered me when watching True Blood was I just couldn’t understand what Sookie found appealing in Bill.  I find him dull, boring, and ugly.  In the book, though, it is abundantly clear that what is so appealing about Bill is that Sookie can relax around him since she can’t read his mind.  The amount she relaxes in scenes with just him is palpable.  I therefore understand why she chooses to overlook his various faults.

The book is written in first-person, and I think this was an unfortunate choice.  It limits our ability to see everything that is going on in Sookie’s world.  Most notably missing is Jason’s storyline.  In True Blood vampire blood is sold as a drug, V, and Jason becomes addicted to it.  Thus, his odd behavior with Sookie is understandable.  In the book though we only hear hints of V being used by anyone and certainly not by Jason.  Jason is just a douchebag.  This limits the levels of story in the book, and I missed the multiple storylines.

*spoiler warning*
The end of Dead Until Dark almost makes up for this though.  In True Blood the murderer comes for Sookie, and she is saved by Bill and her boss, Sam.  In the book though Sookie is left entirely on her own and saves herself.  She finds the faces the murderer alone and defeats him.  She finds her inner strength and just keeps fighting back.  The murderer even says that the Stackhouse women were the only ones to fight back (he also killed her grandmother).  They didn’t just lay back and let it happen.  That’s what makes Sookie such a great romance heroine–she is strong and independent.  She doesn’t need her relationship with Bill, but she does want it.  This makes their romance much more fun.
*end spoiler*

Finally, if you’re a romance novel reader, you might be wondering about the quality of the sex scenes.  Well, they do exist, and they are not corny.  However, they also just aren’t that exciting.  Harris keeps them short and to the point.  No witty, fun double entendres are used, either, which is one of my personal favorite aspects of romance novels.  This book isn’t one to read for the sex scenes; it’s one to read for the storyline.

If you could mash up the best parts of Dead Until Dark with the best parts of True Blood, you would have a truly amazing story.  Unfortunately, both versions have flaws that hold them back from excellence.  Dead Until Dark is worth reading if you enjoy paranormal romance.  If you just want to read the books because you like True Blood for anything but the main Sookie storyline, though, don’t bother reading the books.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Sources: I bought Dead Until Dark and Netflixed True Blood.

Buy It