Dead Reckoning

SPOILERS. I was rooting for Sookie and Eric. Shaky as their relationship was, I wanted it to work. I wanted her to embrace her title as his wife, not without still being herself of course. But she just wont get that happy ending with a vampire will she? I was so irritated at the betrothal of Eric to someone else that it stressed me out in real life! It made me want to hurry up and get the book over with because the story took a turn in the direction I didnt want. I looove the romance portion of these stories and now its becoming an afterthought. So is Bill. The computer thing is lame for him, I think. Eric is powerful and always gets what he wants so to see him start to falter is pulling from his credibility. Readers get off on how powerful and invincible a character is. Not without their own struggles, we like to see that too, but now his character is starting to tumble down hill and it saddens me. I have read 11 books in a little over two weeks time. I love this series and will be sad if it fizzles out. I loved the show too and Sookie didnt catch a fairy tale romance there either. Im hanging on the edge of a romantic cliff and no one plans to throw me a rope here! Youre killing me!! The book was still good. A little more filler and repetition than we need at this point in the series, but still good writing and action.

I have read all Ms. Harris’s books and thought the creation of Sookie was genius! What a character Sookie is – meant literally and figuratively, and what a cast of characters Ms. Harris conjured. I’m not sure what happened but the last 3 books have lost that feeling. In this latest installment I felt quite a bit of the story was repetitive. We already knew from the last book that Sookie’s Grandmother had her two children with a fairy. SPOLIER!! Why the drama with the letter? Sookie already knew. A fae object was found – OK, set up for the next books, as nothing was done with it in this story. There’s a big secrete that Erik and Pam won’t tell Sookie, Pam wants to but Erik chokes her to keep her from talking – but eventually Sookie does realize what is at stake and Erik tells her the reason. SPOLIER** I don’t get it – if Laurana’s death freed Bill from her why doesn’t the same hold true for Erik? I don’t buy the reasoning behind the dilemma at all. And there’s something about the characters or the writing that just feels rote. There’s alot of conversations with Bill and Erik that we’ve read before. I felt that some characters were included as an afterthought – Jason only appears when he passes her on the road! So? Who cares? Why was that necessary to put in? The scene with Alcide was so off, I sometimes wondered who was writing the story. Where’s Arlene? Is she in jail? Dead Reckoning is not that capitivating, as the earlier stories were, where you couldn’t wait to turn the page. As an indication, the earlier books had hundreds of reviews in the first couple of days – today there aren’t even 40 yet. I think readers/fans don’t feel the same rush to get the book to find out what happened. Personally I couldn’t wait, I had hoped the dry spell of rather dull stories would end, but it didn’t. I don’t think I will purchase the next book – just wait for the last one perhaps. I gave the review 3 stars because I have so enjoyed the authors previous works and felt guilty only giving 2 stars. I just wish that the zest and comical bickering would return.

I’m not sure if these last few books are tainted by True Blood or if Charlaine is just tired of writing about Sookie, but its so disappointing! Her characters no matter big or small use to have depth and personality. Her work was original and interesting, now its just boring and full of filler pages like the attic. The only sweet part was the love that is still between Eric and Sookie. Their characters use to bicker and it was so funny because they were sarcastic and loving at the same time, now they’re sad and depressing. I really wanted them to end up together and If that wasn’t the end goal for them she should have ended it a while ago. She’s lost her “spark” for caring for her characters. She should have quit and came back when the story was ready to continue, not force all it out to make money. So many people were disappointed with the last few books……she really should have took that into consideration. I use to read the books without pause the minute I bought them. Not anymore. I still love the first books but I’m not to optimistic about loving the ending to this story. That’s the horrible part because of all the books I’ve read (and I’ve read a lot), Sookie was my favorite character. And I’m not a huge fantasy fan, but they were written so wonderfully I couldn’t put them down. Now I have nothing intriguing to read!

This is the 11th book in the Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood series and since it arrived on my mat this morning I haven’t been able to put it down!

I was worried that as we had started to go over the 10’s in the series that it may start becoming a little bit stale but this is yet another brilliant and cleverly thought out instalment in the series from Charlaine Harris and in my opinion the series is still just as exciting as the first book. I don’t want to go into the storyline and ruin it for anyone but for I personally loved it. I know that this has had mixed reviews so far but I think this book has been essential in filling in some bits. I personally loved the book but obviously we all have our own views and you made find that your opinion differs to mine (or not) once you have read it for yourself. I will still be sticking with the series and even if this maybe hasn’t been the most exciting book I still think that the series still has places to go. Anyway all I can say is read it yourself and then you will be able to make your own mind up about it.

Any fans of the TV series who haven’t read the books then I would definitely recommend them as they go into so much more depth than the TV series can (although I love the TV series too). I personally still loved this book:)

1.

Dead Until Dark: A True Blood Novel

2.

Living Dead In Dallas: A True Blood Novel

3.

Club Dead: A True Blood Novel

4.

Dead To The World: A True Blood Novel

5.

Dead As A Doornail

6.

Definitely Dead

7.

All Together Dead: A True Blood Novel (Sookie Stackhouse Vampire 7)

8.

From Dead to Worse: A True Blood Novel

9.

Dead and Gone: A True Blood Novel (Sookie Stackhouse Vampire 9)

10.

Dead in the Family: A True Blood Novel (Sookie Stackhouse Vampire 10)

It is seriously tearing me apart not giving this book 5 stars because i have been a dedicated fan of all of the true blood books. I discovered them about 2/3 years ago and have honestly been hooked. The reasoning behind the dropping of a star (Sorry CH) is that i like alot of drama and it just never really happened. Even the big gripping scene that arose was planned in like 2 pages and happened like a chapter later. There was little build up and then boom it was over.

I think despite the negative comment the reason i enjoyed this book so much was because I love living sookies life with her. Over the past 100000 books (it really does seem like there has been loads), you learn so much about sookie and her life and reading about her boring day to day life (maybe not so boring, its not really that conventional)does make this book enjoyable.

The only other issue i have with this book, which to be fair happens very little in this book compared to the rest, is the constant reference or ‘reminderes’ to little antidotes about sookies life which you have revisited e.g. highlighting that Claude is her cousin and that he is a stripper in a bar called holligans etc etc. It really grates on me, and i find it innappropiate as you wouldnt read this book without reading the previous.

I do agree with some of the other more harsh comments to a point (she would never deserve 1 or 2 stars though) as i do feel the last 2/3 books havnt got me as excited as the first few. I dont think it has anything to do with her writing per say but more to do with the fact that things cant go THAT wrong each book. I think if she did make each book as exciting people would start to complain about the opposite.

Overall i still feel CH is an excellent writer who manages to make sookie cleaning the house interesting. She has captured me thoughout the whole true blood series and this is why i do not feel this book is dull in anyway. I would love her books to be longer so that i wouldnt have to wait a while year for 300pages but i have by no means lost interest throughout the year. Solid 4 stars (but i would add a half if they let me cause i really love this series).

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member