Review: Dead to the World

Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse, book 4) by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: Paperback
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Dead to the World (4)

Sookie Stackhouse is a cocktail waitress in Bon Temps, Louisiana. She has only a few close friends, because not everyone appreciates Sookie’s gift: she can read minds. That’s not exactly every man’s idea of date bait – unless they’re undead; vampires and the like can be tough to read. And that’s just the kind of guy Sookie’s been looking for. Maybe that’s why, when she comes across a naked vampire, she doesn’t just drive on by. He hasn’t got a clue who he is, but Sookie has: Eric looks just as scary and sexy – and dead – as ever. But now he has amnesia, he’s sweet, vulnerable, and in need of Sookie’s help – because whoever took his memory now wants his life.

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Review:

I knew, as sure as I knew my name, that tomorrow he would send me another coat, in a big fancy box, with a big bow on it. It would be the right size, it would be a top brand, and it would be warm.

It was cranberry red, with a removable liner, a detachable hood, and tortoiseshell buttons.

That ending, to me, was the sexiest part of the whole book. Don't get me wrong there are plenty of hot sexy times with Eric. The legendary shower scene anyone? However, no matter what happened while Sookie and Eric were together when he was cursed it just wasn't truly real. At least to me. It was more like a dream sequence. Sookie got to have all the fun and sweet parts of Eric without the complications of truly dealing with Eric. The emotions are real, true. But it's also not really him. That's why I agreed with Sookie's decision to not run away with amnesia Eric.

Not only is Dead to the World the epic book of Eric sexy fun time, but this book covers a lot of ground. Big shocks and changes are ahead. It's an emotional roller coaster. Jason's life is finally brought over to the dark side, AKA supernatural. Sookie is definitely over with Bill. Sookie currently has Eric, Bill, Sam, Alcide and Calvin. That's a lot. Somehow it all works to varying degrees. As Alcide is off the menu in my book, despite what he finally accepts about Debbie. Sam still didn't want her until someone else did. Bill is just over with. Eric is still a viable suitor as he persuades her with or without his memories. Calvin is the new suitor on the block, and he's definitely interest in courting her for . . . breeding stock.

There's scary witches that are not just witches. They're were-witches jacked up on vampire blood. So this was an interesting intro to witches and wiccans in the Sookie verse. We see more werewolves and different types of shifters. I love the mythology behind it all and look forward to seeing it expand.

The fight scenes are well balanced with the mysteries and I actually thought it all pulled together well. I loved the side characters here as well. Though I'm a little disappointed at Chow's fate. Oh well. Bubba is back!! Ah! I just adore him and his attachment to Sookie. I love seeing him each book and just can't get enough of our favorite cat drinking vampire.

In the end this book is immortal. Pretty much every fan will tell you that this is their favorite book, in a series where every book seems to be a favorite. Everything was balanced perfectly. Mystery, sexy fun times, action, and big events that are setting up the later books. Eric is amazing here whether he has his memories or not. Eric will always be one of my top male vampires. Dead to the World will probably always be a top installment in the series as well.

Sexual Content: Humor and bedroom scenes. Mild dark themes.

 
5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Dead Until Dark (1) Living Dead in Dallas (2) Club Dead (3) Dead to the World (4) Dead as a Doornail (5) Definitely Dead (6) All Together Dead (7) From Dead to Worse (8) Dead and Gone (9) Dead in the Family (10) Dead Reckoning (11) Deadlocked (12) Dead Ever After (13)	Dead Until Dark (1) Living Dead in Dallas (2) Club Dead (3) Dead to the World (4) Dead as a Doornail (5) Definitely Dead (6) All Together Dead (7) From Dead to Worse (8) Dead and Gone (9) Dead in the Family (10) Dead Reckoning (11) Deadlocked (12) Dead Ever After (13)	Dead Until Dark (1) Living Dead in Dallas (2) Club Dead (3) Dead to the World (4) Dead as a Doornail (5) Definitely Dead (6) All Together Dead (7) From Dead to Worse (8) Dead and Gone (9) Dead in the Family (10) Dead Reckoning (11) Deadlocked (12) Dead Ever After (13)

Review: Club Dead

Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, book 2) by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: Paperback
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Club Dead (3)

There's only one vampire Sookie Stackhouse is involved with (at least voluntarily)and that's Bill. But recently he's been a little distant---in another state distant. His sinister and sexy boss, Eric, has an idea where to find him. Next thing Sookie knows, she is off to Jackson, Mississippi, to mingle with the under-underworld at Club Dead. It's a dangerous little haunt where the elitist vampire society can go to chill out and suck down some type O. But when Sookie 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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Review:

Ah. The book. The one that I love despite Bill and Sookie's rocky relationship. Actually I love it because of that reason. It's been clear from the beginning that there has been issues between them. Sookie has always wanted that extra umph from Bill. Bill has never even cared enough to give her a heartfelt, and simple, gift. I truly believe he relies on Sookie's feelings of unconditional love. That because he is her first love and first bedroom partner that she would never truly get rid of him. Not to mention that she runs away and comes back. A lot.

The two are fire! But sadly fire fizzles out. You can stoke it again and again to create another blaze. But you'll have to constantly work at it. It will almost go out, you'll burn yourself from it, it can get out of control, and in the end it's just constant work.

Harris starts up the story really interesting. You get the idea that Bill is tired of Sookie. In the last book I could see he missed other vampires. He wanted to impress upon Sookie that he was not human. Period. Well he succeeded. To be honest if I was Sookie I would have dumped him after book two. Those events, I just wouldn’t want to deal with it. Harris keeps it real. Sookie does love him and she needs a protector from the other vampires who know what she is. It's scary.

That's why no one can begrudge Sookie her temptations. In the form of Eric. Damn you fine Norseman. It was very interesting to see more of Eric. He's mainstreaming like Bill. However, he lives and interacts with other vampires still and is older than Bill. Yet Eric is more . . . real. He's a vampire, but there's an actual person in there. Bill feels cold and aloof. He's a monster with out the fluff. But Eric is oh so fluffy!

Speaking of fluff. Alcide! Yes, a werewolf love interest. (The other temptation.) Sam may be a shifter, but he's not that obligatory werewolf. I'm pretty positive that Alcide is the reason why so many vampire books feature the hot third wheel of a werewolf. Because with every page I felt more confidence in why I always new Alcide was one hot motha—you get my point. Sure we can see some issues, and towards the end Sookie can see that Alcide may not be for her. She's growing. However, he's a warm blooded man—hot werewolf!—who could give Sookie the kind of life she wants. Maybe. Either way I loved Alcide and Sookie in this book. The chemistry! The fact that it actually made me think “forget Eric, Alcide is where it's at” is a testament to Harris's skills as a writer. To not only create man candy, but interesting man candy. Well fleshed out man candy. (Take that however you want.)

Club Dead is a fun fast paced read. I enjoyed the murder mystery, even if I guessed it. The rescue that transpires that sets the whole thing into swing. It was fun seeing other things beside vampires and getting to know the craziness of werewolves. How the mechanics work in the animal shifting realm. Not to mention the foreshadowing, the bigger picture! I adore Sookie and all her quirks. The running jokes are great. (Though the word of the day calendar might get old at this rate.) The man from Memphis was so much fun, and I love that he wasn't just a one time joke. Bubba is too cool not to utilize. It's a great sign that even up to book three, Club Dead, on my reread of this series the five stars are sticking.

Sexual Content: Sex scenes, rape scene (guys let's be honest it really is), dark themes, bisexual and homosexual elements. (Prrrrrrrr Eric.)

 
5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Dead Until Dark (1) Living Dead in Dallas (2) Club Dead (3) Dead to the World (4) Dead as a Doornail (5) Definitely Dead (6) All Together Dead (7) From Dead to Worse (8) Dead and Gone (9) Dead in the Family (10) Dead Reckoning (11) Deadlocked (12) Dead Ever After (13)	Dead Until Dark (1) Living Dead in Dallas (2) Club Dead (3) Dead to the World (4) Dead as a Doornail (5) Definitely Dead (6) All Together Dead (7) From Dead to Worse (8) Dead and Gone (9) Dead in the Family (10) Dead Reckoning (11) Deadlocked (12) Dead Ever After (13)	Dead Until Dark (1) Living Dead in Dallas (2) Club Dead (3) Dead to the World (4) Dead as a Doornail (5) Definitely Dead (6) All Together Dead (7) From Dead to Worse (8) Dead and Gone (9) Dead in the Family (10) Dead Reckoning (11) Deadlocked (12) Dead Ever After (13)

Review: Living Dead in Dallas

Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse, book 2) by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: Paperback
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Living Dead in Dallas (2)

Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is having a streak of bad luck. First her co-worker is killed, and no one seems to care. Then she comes face to-face with a beastly creature that gives her a painful and poisonous lashing. Enter the vampires, who graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn't enjoy it).

The point is: they saved her life. So when one of the bloodsuckers asks for a favour, she obliges - and soon Sookie's in Dallas, using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. She's supposed to interview certain humans involved, but she makes one condition: the vampires must promise to behave and let the humans go unharmed. But that's easier said than done, and all it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly....

The Sookie Stackhouse stories are delightful Southern Gothic supernatural mysteries, starring Sookie, the telepathic cocktail waitress, and a cast of increasingly colourful characters, including vampires, werewolves, and things that really do go bump in the night.

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Review:

Living Dead in Dallas is a fabulous follow-up. It's just as fun and sassy! Dark and gruesome. Complex in its characters and the world building. It's been so long since I hungrily devoured a book in one day. (My birthday treat to myself.) I didn't feel obligated, or bored, to do it. I wanted too because it was soooooo good. I miss that feeling.

Sometimes it's hard to remember that Bill is Sookie's first real relationship. Toss in being a vampire and Sookie's telepathic gift you can see why she's willing to tough it out with Bill. Of course there are darker—survival—reasons for it. Not to mention the great sex and the blush of first love. Though I think at times Bill acts just as childish, or more so. Not to mention that he wants all the benefits of modern a relationship where women can have sex out of wedlock and so on. But then he wants to go all old school—read sexist—on Sookie sometimes.

There was this strange moment when it's revealed that Sookie thinks she sees the world in black and white. When I'm convinced many of her thoughts, actions, and feelings support the mindset that she sees those shades of gray. After all she can read people's minds. Not to mention that by the end of the book even Sookie can't stay positive on how dangerous it is being with a vampire. Even if love can make it better. Not to mention that people have been killed by Bill for her. Her whole life has been in grays, and her love life is no exception.

Overall I enjoyed the mystery and the introduction of The Fellowship of the Sun. It was interesting see the hardcore members, the spies, and the polite people who have no idea what they're in for. Also the psychotic people and actions they're willing to take to hurt vampires. Even hurting other people. It's the threat of every religion. To be so over zealous that every action seems justified to meet the end goal.

(On a side note I do see why Godric/Godfrey was actually expanded on in the show. He actually became a more interesting character that way. Not only that but it made both Godric and Eric sympathetic. Especially Godric as he was a murderer and child molester. Not only that but one of the characters who died was one I always wished would have been around for later books. It's fun comparing True Blood and the Sookie Stackhouse books that way.)

There's nothing I love more than solid follow up books. It always feels like book two is cursed as a stepping stone or bridge to build the story for future books. Living Dead in Dallas breaks the mold. Fans will be thrilled by this. As it shows what vampires would want Sookie for, builds up America with vampires out of the coffin and how citizens would react, introduces more supernatural creatures without over doing it. Oh, and keeps Sookie and readers on track in the mindset that Vampires are no longer human. The honeymoon is over, sharpen your stakes! Be prepared to save yourself not only from vampires, but humans.

Sexual Content: Sexual humor, sex scenes, and dark twist in which Sookie is almost raped. Also, some other dark themes are discussed.

 
5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Dead Until Dark (1) Living Dead in Dallas (2) Club Dead (3) Dead to the World (4) Dead as a Doornail (5) Definitely Dead (6) All Together Dead (7) From Dead to Worse (8) Dead and Gone (9) Dead in the Family (10) Dead Reckoning (11) Deadlocked (12) Dead Ever After (13)	Dead Until Dark (1) Living Dead in Dallas (2) Club Dead (3) Dead to the World (4) Dead as a Doornail (5) Definitely Dead (6) All Together Dead (7) From Dead to Worse (8) Dead and Gone (9) Dead in the Family (10) Dead Reckoning (11) Deadlocked (12) Dead Ever After (13)	Dead Until Dark (1) Living Dead in Dallas (2) Club Dead (3) Dead to the World (4) Dead as a Doornail (5) Definitely Dead (6) All Together Dead (7) From Dead to Worse (8) Dead and Gone (9) Dead in the Family (10) Dead Reckoning (11) Deadlocked (12) Dead Ever After (13)

Review: Dead Until Dark

Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, book 1) by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: Paperback
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Dead Until Dark (1)

Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability." She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome--and Sookie can't hear a word he's thinking. He's exactly the type of guy she's been waiting for all her life....

But Bill has a disability of his own: He's a vampire with a bad reputation. He hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, all suspected of--big surprise--murder. And when one of Sookie's coworkers is killed, she fears she's next....

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Review:

Ah, a reread of one of my favorite series. After finally forcing myself to finish the True Blood TV series I knew my time had come. The time to rinse out the horrid taste of said HBO series from my mind after it went terribly wrong. Though the truth is I've been meaning to reread the series for a while. It's been on my mind especially since I've only read up to book 7. (After I got annoyed waiting for the paperback releases all the time.) It also didn't help that a Goodreads friend (who shall not be named) spoiled the ending.

I was 13 at the time of first reading this book. Having stumbled across my copy of the third book in a local thrift store. I bought it despite it's crappy cover and then even had faith to buy the first book brand new after reading a few pages. The world of Sookie Stackhouse is still one of my favorites to visit. (Though I think my older copies say A Southern Vampire novel on them.) After many Urban Fantasy, and vampire, books inbetween I still find Sookie's to be a refreshing and unique take.

I adore Sookie and love how her mind reading skills are realized. Her disability—as she calls it—is something you can understand and sympathize with. It doesn't make her all powerful, I find it makes her more human. I love her humor and wit. Which is good as it is told from first person and Sookie's take on the world is open and hilarious.

The whole cast is fabulous and while some characters pasts aren't revealed readers can get a good feel for them.  Many favorites will be discovered by the end. (They're so good you can see why the writers of True Blood wanted to expand on them.)

Dead Until Dark is the perfect blend of humor, wit, mystery murder, romance, urban fantasy, and great writing. No really. The Sookie Stackhouse books are pioneers of the Urban Fantasy genre, and when I read them for the first time I was sooooo thankful for the incredible writing. Now I feel like the genre suffers from uncreative and soulless writing in attempts to simply crank out another UF title. Not to mention the mindless dialogue of “tough” leads, so the natural course for the writing is to be sparse character development and world building.

Now that I'm older I can now appreciate that while Bill is sexy as hell there's some issues. He's not human and boy does Harris make it clear. To Sookie and readers. Bill may still be hot but I found him creepy. Perhaps knowing what he does in later books adds to it, but I can see the foreshadowing. What I can now see as well is that Sookie doesn't see him as some White Knight. She can understand why she's willing to date him, and I love that Sookie sees in shades of gray. (Though things are gonna get shadier.) The parts that her telepathy does make her different from everyone else. Sookie understands why they work as a couple now and the reasons why they don't.

Oh, boy though. The chemistry is just as powerful as I remember.

To be honest the mystery of this book doesn't feel like the main focus, and it really solves itself. I do remember at the time how surprised I was when the murderer was revealed. Don't get me wrong the mystery is personal and close to home to Sookie. It does shapes the entire book. It's also a treat to know that if the murder mystery part wasn't there I'm positive that Dead Until Dark would still stand on it's own two feet still. For whatever reason if you haven't tried out these books, do. I implore you.

Sexual Content: Plenty of sexual humor and frank conversation on the matter. Sex. Yes. Not overly graphic, but it's still hot as all get out.

 
5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Dead Until Dark (1) Living Dead in Dallas (2) Club Dead (3) Dead to the World (4) Dead as a Doornail (5) Definitely Dead (6) All Together Dead (7) From Dead to Worse (8) Dead and Gone (9) Dead in the Family (10) Dead Reckoning (11) Deadlocked (12) Dead Ever After (13)	Dead Until Dark (1) Living Dead in Dallas (2) Club Dead (3) Dead to the World (4) Dead as a Doornail (5) Definitely Dead (6) All Together Dead (7) From Dead to Worse (8) Dead and Gone (9) Dead in the Family (10) Dead Reckoning (11) Deadlocked (12) Dead Ever After (13)	Dead Until Dark (1) Living Dead in Dallas (2) Club Dead (3) Dead to the World (4) Dead as a Doornail (5) Definitely Dead (6) All Together Dead (7) From Dead to Worse (8) Dead and Gone (9) Dead in the Family (10) Dead Reckoning (11) Deadlocked (12) Dead Ever After (13)

Review: All Together Dead

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

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.

Thoughts:

Each and every Sookie Stackhouse book is a treat. I've never read one that I haven't liked, or that hasn't stuck in my mind. In fact, my strong opinion is that Sookie books are the Dark Chocolate of the book world!

This was the book of character! The reader is getting a better look into Eric's head, and while twisted—he still makes me sigh wistfully. Theres more back story on Pam, who I've always been mildly amused by, after this book I love Pam. I want some more Pam time. Harris handles Sookie and Bills “falling out” great, while I admit if Bill got axed off I wouldn't blink. Sookie's brother got hitched, and there could be some future drama and pain in store for Sookie if our womanizer isn't faithful. Amelia, Sookie's roommate, is very interesting. She doesn't get a lot of page time, as the story takes place elsewhere. So lets just say there is a lot of characters here and they make a lot of progress.

The relationship between Quinn and Sookie was GREAT! Those two have chemistry and Quinn had a lot more depth then I gave him credit for. The background history on him was fun. The only thing I didn't like is that the relationship is continuously held back by Eric drama. Don't get me wrong I love Eric, but we know that it's not what Sookie needs and it just wouldn't work out. Even with Eric drama things did move along as nicely as they could.

This book is a huge turning point in the Sookie universe after quite a few vampires don't make it out of this book alive. The mystery that surrounds the book was pretty fun and intense. It was slightly annoying that Sookie could solve one of the minor mysteries on a hunch, but not the major one—which the reader could spot a mile away by all of the blatant hints. Maybe not one of the strongest Sookie mysteries.

For Sookie herself it's a turning point. She's done stuff that at the beginning of the series she would have thought awful. The loss of some of Sookie's innocence is interesting to follow, even as she can still be angry by the vampires moral code. This book highlights points to Sookie that vampires are not human and by the end of this book Sookie no longer wants anything to do with them.

Bottom Line:

While this is not the strongest mystery in the Sookie series this book is a major turning point in the series. Sookie is seeing the changes that have happened in her life since she associated with vampires. Her relationship with Eric, Quinn, and Bill. How the vampires are going to cope with the loses and how the areas are going to be taken care of is a huge cliff hanger. At last, Sookie's final decision that she no longer wants to deal with vampires. So bring on book 8!

Sexual Content:

A very steamy scene in the first part of the book.

5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession.