Review - Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse #11) by Charlaine Harris

Title: Dead Reckoning

Author: Charlaine Harris

Series: 11th (1 -8, Dead and Gone, Dead in the Family)

Pages: 336

Published:  May 3rd 2011 by Ace Books

ISBN: 9780441020317

Source: Personal Copy

Description: There's a reckoning on the way ... Sookie Stackhouse is a cocktail waitress in Bon Temps, Louisiana. It's a job which has its own challenges, but now the vampires and the shapeshifters are finally 'out', you'd think the supernaturals would get on with each other. But nothing is that simple in Bon Temps! ... and Sookie has a knack for being in trouble's way; not least when she witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but before she can investigate something else - something even more dangerous - comes up. Sookie's lover Eric Northman, and his 'child' Pam are plotting something in secret. Whatever it is, they seem determined to keep Sookie out of it; almost as determined as Sookie is to find out what's going on. She can't sit on the sidelines when both her work and her love life are under threat - but as their plans gradually become clear Sookie finds the situation is deadlier than she could ever have imagined. 

I Give This ...

  

I often wonder if I would still feel the same way about certain series if I felt they had possibly gone on for too many books.  Because I think I've reached that point with that series. I think this book was written just to fill space and because it was probably part of a required contract.

Ok, so it wasn't all that bad.  We get a glimpse of all our favorite characters.  But poor Sookie still has people who hate her, people who love her, people who use her, and then those who want her dead.  It seems more often than not they fall into the last category.  Its amazing that very few people don't get seriously hurt in the process.  Granted, it always helps that half of the people that surround Sookie are of the supernatural variety.

There are two things that I found greatly interesting in this book.  First off, Sookie is in the possession of a very powerful Fae artifact.  It's something that is very old and she must keep it a secret or basically all of the Fae who still live in this dimension will be after it.  I think this little item will be extremely important either in the next book or that last in the series.  

Next, the blood bath planned by Eric and Pam.  We all no that the Regent has to go.  It's either him or Eric, and well I kind of want Eric to stick around.  I was kind of amazed that the entire plan succeeded in any way, especially without more consequences.  I know that's a spoiler in a way, but come on...I think we all knew it was going to happen.  Sadly, I think the relationship between Sookie and Eric isn't the same after this book.  I'm curious how that will play out in the end.

It's almost done, so I hope the next two books send the series out with a band.  This one was just so-so.  

Review - Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse #10) by Charlaine Harris

Title: Dead In The Family

Author: Charlaine Harris

Series: 10 (1-8, Dead and Gone)

Pages: 311

Published: May 4th 2010 by Ace Books 

ISBN: 9780441018642

Source: Personal Copy

Description: Sookie Stackhouse is dealing with a whole host of family problems, ranging from her own kin (a non-human fairy and a telepathic second cousin) demanding a place in her life, to her lover Eric's vampire sire, an ancient being who arrives with Eric's 'brother' in tow at a most inopportune moment. And Sookie's tracking down a distant relation of her ailing neighbour (and ex), Vampire Bill Compton.  In addition to the multitude of family issues complicating her life, the werewolf pack of Shreveport has asked Sookie for a special favour, and since Sookie is an obliging young woman, she agrees. But this favour for the wolves has dire results for Sookie, who is still recovering from the trauma of her abduction during the Fairy War. 

I Give This ...

 

I decided to give this series a break for awhile.  I wasn't sure there was an end coming soon and after 9 books, I felt the subject might be a little bit tired.  But, with the final book in the series finally released, I decided it was time to pick up the series again.

To be honest, I had kind of forgot little details.  It's times like this that I'm grateful that most series authors do a little bit of a recap.  I get a refresher without feeling like I'm being beat over the head with it.    And it's not an information dump at the beginning of the book.  Despite that, I really felt like this book was really slow.  Not a lot happens.  It even seems like Sookie is waiting for something to happen.

Granted there are some interesting things going on.   Her fairy cousin moves in with her which causes some interesting complications.  But, he's not the only fairy around.  And who ever it is may or may not have it in for Sookie.  Her cousin is being oddly quiet and who it might be.   When the body of the 2nd in command of the wolves is found on Sookie's property, she's asked to come help root out the culprit.  Who knew Sookie had Shaman capabilities?

Honestly my favorite part was learning who Eric's "brother" really is.  Totally unexpected and I loved how it was woven into the story.   I wish I could reveal who it is because its such a pivotal character in history that I was amazed at how crazy this person is as a vampire.

The last 50 pages or so are what make this book.  Worth it in the end, but it took a long time to get there.   We still have open story lines, but only 3 more books in the series!  There's an end in sight!

Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, #9) by Charlaine Harris

Title: Dead and Gone

Series: #9 in series

Author: Charlaine Harris

Published: May 2009 by Ace

Pages: 289

ISBN: 9780441018512

Source: personal copy

Description: (may contain spoilers if you haven't read the previous books) 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.

I Give This ...

 

Oddly enough, I read the first 8 books pretty much back to back.  And, then I stalled and didn't pick up this one fore the longest time.  And when I finally did, I didn't read it.  It wasn't that I was done with the series or anything.  It might be due to it's television replacement (I'm seriously morning the loss of HBO right now).  But, I think it's due more to the fact that I have a hard time picking a book from my to read shelf.  But, once I did pick it up, I was so glad I did.  I missed Sookie!

I love how this series always picks up right were the last one left off.  Poor Sookie never gets a break.  I was so pleased to see some progress with her relationships.  I've been rooting for Erik since book 4.  I feel a little sorry for Quinn, but I don't think he was the right one for Sookie. Jason, on the other hand...wow.  I think something good needs to happen to the guy.    

I was happy to see the fairies take such a prominent role in this book.  I've loved their involvement in other stories, so it was no surprise that it worked well in this one.  And they were definitely nasty in this book.   The author skimmed over some of the really horrific stuff they did, and I'm probably glad I didn't get the words written out for it.  The ending was sad, but fit the entire story line.  I'll need to get my hands on Dead in the Family soon to see were this story goes!