145) After Dead by Charlaine Harris

The Blurb :

Dead Ever After marked the end of the Sookie Stackhouse novels—a series that garnered millions of fans and spawned the hit HBO television show True Blood. It also stoked a hunger that will never die…a hunger to know what happened next.

With characters arranged alphabetically—from the Ancient Pythoness to Bethany Zanelli—bestselling author Charlaine Harris takes fans into the future of their favorite residents of Bon Temps and environs. You’ll learn how Michele and Jason’s marriage fared, what happened to Sookie’s cousin Hunter, and whether Tara and JB’s twins grew up to be solid citizens.

This coda provides the answers to your lingering questions—including details of Sookie’s own happily-ever-after…

The book will feature extensive interior art by acclaimed Sookie artist Lisa Desimini, including a Sookieverse Alphabet, color endpapers, and several full-page black and white interior illustrations.

My Thoughts

The last Sookie Stackhouse novel got some very mixed reviews.  Where some loved it and were sad to see it all come to an end, others hated it and attacked the author for her decisions regarding Sookie and the 'Happily Ever After' she ended the book with.  I actually am one of those people who liked the last book and was sad to see it go but was happy with how it ended.  I don't think many share my opinion.

Anyway, for all those questions left unanswered there is now 'After Dead'.  What I expected was a nice bunch of short stories tying up/explaining what happened to some of the main characters in the series.  What I got was an over priced book which took me about 15 minutes to read.  As I started reading and saw what was really in this book I was quite mad.  A fan for all these years and this is what I get?

Every page was reserved for a different character from the series.  Some of the characters were very obscure, met them once and can't remember who they are people.  While some of the characters got a nice paragraph explaining what happened to them others only got one sentence.  Yes on each page there was only a few lines giving a short, brief and sometimes frustrating account of how the characters life played out after Sookie 'retired'.

While some of the characters were nice to read about, for example Sookie herself, Tara, Bill, Eric and Pam, the others were boring and unnecessary.  Characters that I didn't care about had long write ups with an interesting story while characters I really liked and appeared more frequently only got a short mention. There were some that I wanted to know more about and there were some that could have done with a few more lines.  It was all quite disappointing.

What added insult to injury was the 'And he/she had many more adventures' line that the author had added to some of the notes.  What??? Isn't this the book to tell us about them?  Too lazy to think of something cool?  Will there be spin-off books?  This sentence appeared a couple of times and not for characters who meant nothing.  It hurt to read this.  It felt like I was being teased and tested.  If I give you more tasty treats will you stick around and read them?

To not be completely negative about this book I will say that the artwork was really nice.  I appreciated it very much and even though I only read this on my Kindle I was impressed with the thought and work that had gone into it.  If only the author had also put that much effort into this book.

I don't think I have ever said anything bad against this author before but this time I can only shake my head in disgust.  After all these years I expected more and am really upset that I pre-ordered this and paid so much for it. So if you are a Sookie fan and have been looking forward to this book, you have been warned.  Yes it is nice to find out what happens to all those characters you came to know and love over the years but No it isn't worth buying it right now.  Wait until it is reduced or put it on your wishlist and let someone else buy it for you.  Maybe pool your money together with some other Sookie lovers you know and sit down for coffee and all of you can read a few out loud and be done within about half an hour.   Review over, I am off to see if I can get a refund for this book.

 

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

59) Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris

The Blurb :

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...


My Thoughts :

(If you are worried about me giving something away.  I don't! )

It wasn't easy starting this book.  Knowing it was the last one, knowing that there were no new Sookie stories after this one made it hard to read.  I wanted to keep it safe somewhere for a special day but at the same time I needed to know how things ended.  What happens to Sookie when all is said and done and most of all who does her heart belong to when the end comes.

I was just over on Goodreads and couldn't believe the feedback people over there are giving this last installment in the Sookie Stackhouse series.  So many readers and long time fans are giving the book just one star when in my honest opinion it deserves at least 4.  Why are people being so negative?  Because they just don't understand and don't like the ending that Charlaine Harris gave Sookie.

To be honest I am not 100% happy with the end.  The story itself was as good as expected and it was full of  characters I have come to know and love over the years.  There were some nice little twists and the loose ends got tied up.  However as with ending any series there are always some things left open.  Actually the series was left pretty open and could continue if the author really wanted to write more Sookie but I respect her decision to let the series and Sookie go and I also think she ended things well.

You may not be happy with who Sookie ends up with at the end of all the Bill and Eric trials and tribulations but if I think about it, well she ended up with the guy I always, deep down inside, knew she should be with.  We will most likely never find out if the relationship works out or if Sookie has a nice happy long life but the final pieces of the puzzle were put together and I can be happy that I was along for the ride all these years.  It was fun!

If you are a fan of the series then you need to get this read before someone spoils the ending for you!  If you still haven't read this series, well now it is safe to read them all in a nice marathon and enjoy everything you have been missing.  I will definitely be doing a re-read via audiobook sometime soon.  I will always go back and revisit Sookie, she was an inspiration and a friend.

An end of an era!  What Charlaine brings us next?  I don't know but I will be checking it out when the time comes!

     

   

           

 

68) Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

The Blurb :

With Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), in town, it’s the worst possible time for a body to show up in Eric Northman’s front yard—especially the body of a woman whose blood he just drank.

Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.

My Review :

I actually read this book on the day it was released but somehow I completely forgot to add my review until I just saw it still on my Goodreads shelf! Duh me! Maybe it was the excitement of a new Sookie book that made me over look writing the review? Or it could have been the fact that it was a Bank Holiday on release day and the joy of being able to just open my Kindle and read all day? No waiting! (insert Kindle advertisement here) Whatever the reason I am now catching up and I hope some of you have already had the pleasure of reading the 12th Sookie book and can make a comment or two!

So what can you expect from the newest installment? Lots! Sookie may not have gotten into as much trouble as usual and also lacked a trip to the ER but trouble did find her. The main focus in Deadlocked is the faeries. However there is a side plot with the werewolves that also finds a way to get involved in the conclusion of things. As for vampires...well they are there and while there is some strange developments in Sookie and Eric's relationship they don't get as much air time as the other Supernaturals.

Of course there are some interesting changes in the life of Sookie Stackhouse. No book can go without a few spanners being thrown in the works or a nice helping of cool new advancements in the world that Charlaine Harris has created with so much depth. Anyone waiting to hear some gossip about the goings on in Bon Temps will not be disappointed. Tara is about to give birth, Jason has another new girlfriend and Sam is letting Sookie do more with Merlotte's than just work in the bar.

All in all this is another great addition to a super series. You would think things would get boring and old after so many books but Charlaine Harris really manages to keep things interesting and fresh. I am sure this series will come to an end soon but until that day comes it stays firmly on my must read and must buy list. The author always manages to deliver a super read and I happily read this in one lovely Bank Holiday Monday.

Anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of reading this series yet should catch up! Don't use excuses about watching Trueblood and not liking it. The books are completely different and offer more than anyone could develop for TV. Fans shouldn't wait to read Deadlocked. There are some nice surprises inside that you really don't want to miss!