Dead Reckoning

Im glad to see Charlaine Harris back to writing more fleshed out (no pun intended)stories. Wish this one had been longer (particularly when considering the Kindle price, but I couldnt wait) but I obviously enjoyed it overall to have devoured it in less than 24 hours. This book for me is an improvement over the previous two as it felt less slap dash put together and the details that make Sookie Stackhouse so immersive for me such as details of daily life (you read about her cleaning, cooking which makes the character easier to relate to), the humor, the strong/smart main character, the not over-the-top fantasy world, and the different story lines make this a very addictive series for me. The Good -You get a glimpse of other types of fae as well as into the Stackhouse fairy past. -I like the growing relationship with Dermot and hope it doesnt betray her later. -I like how Sookie continues to be a smart woman who is a quick and resourceful thinker with a big heart for family and friends. Again, I really, really hope that Dermot is someone she can count on. I think how Sookie has developed in her thinking/wariness of supes makes sense but I hope the next book is a little more, positive for her supe friendships. The Not So Good - A lot of the story was Sookies inner thoughts. I would have liked a little more description/interaction of actual events rather than her thoughts on them or her thoughts as she was experiencing them. - Felt like within a very short span of time Sookie was being overloaded with many different crises and perhaps having just 2 big things tracked over a longer time period would have made the book a little more enjoyable. -There was an inconsistency for me - when did Bubba like Bill better than Eric? I would have thought them equal for Bubba or in the very least, Eric held in the higher esteem since he seemed to look out for Bubba. The Plain Bad or Huh? - A larger inconsistency was the power Cataliades has - if he has this power, then why would Sookie be needed by the former queen? - The appearance of Alcide in the story seemed gratuitous although I can see how it paved the way for another development in the action. - How Sookie talks to Cataliades didnt seem in character. She naturally would have been more cautious and respectful. As a result, the ending felt like it wasnt well thought out. Additional thoughts after initially writing this review: I loved the first 8 books of the series and then, as I indicate in the title of my review, books 9 & 10 really seemed to drop in quality. I noticed that book 8 was the last book published before the True Blood series came out. I cant help but wonder that the success of the HBO series has affected her writing - there could be all sorts of reasons: - the popularity of True Blood really increased the spotlight on her and as a result she has to make more appearances and thus has less time for writing - the True Blood series departs so much from her writing yet is so popular that she is somewhat in competition with trying to match its dark tone - success can spoil things, she doesnt need to strive (either for the money or the popularity) to try as hard since as many of us indicate, were willing to keep buying books about Sookie till she ends it - I have to believe she has pressure from her publisher to try to milk the Sookie concept as much as possible. Writers of series usually have an outline of the main characters life, and while it seems like she is adhering to the high points of the outline, shes cutting short on the filler, saving an interesting event for going into an anthology when it would have made the main book richer. I am certain that her story for the future Home Improvement anthology will be about Dermots attic project.

This is the 11th book of the Sookie Stackhouse series. I liked it more than many other reviewers seem to have, but do agree that the series is less compelling than in the early days. The spark does seems to have gone out of Sookies fun, feisty narrative voice. I dont laugh as much as I used to, and continuity errors and character inconsistencies can be annoying. Im still interested in this world, and will continue to buy the books, but Id love to see some improvement and joy in future installments. Dead Reckoning begins with Sookie, with the help of Dermot and Claude, cleaning out her attic. Of course she finds something special in the midst of all the trash, something which will change the way she looks at the world and her relationships. In the meantime, things seem to be deteriorating with Eric as they try to take action against Viktor. And in the midst of all this action, someone is anxious to harm Sookie and sends several gangs of thugs to take her out. So, as usual, there is a lot going on! Unfortunately Pam is on a short leash so we dont get her funny, snarky comments, and Bill is rarely evident (though important when he is around). Its difficult to know if Harris is really trying to end the series, though it does seem as if Eric is on the way out. My guess is that Sam and Sookie will end up together at some point, and Im okay with that. All in all, the series is still enjoyable though maybe not as fun. But Ill keep reading!

I have read this whole series, and the mercy thompson novels, the cat & bones novels, the anita blake novels, and a myriad of others. Charlaine H. is still my fav. It is easy to understand that this is definitely the beginning of the end. Some parts do come off as hastily written and the tying up of loose ends. So, I have that out of the way. The book finally picks up steam at chapter 11. Until that chapter, it is hard to stay interested. You know, the old Sookie dont give up without a fight and dont go down with the ship attitudes. Our girl has become jaded and tired of the good fight, but she does realize that the killing though necessary is still bad so give her that. This storyline really does feel disjointed and these wonderful characters are thrown in as fillers to almost get them out of the way. *Small Spoiler* Sookie goes home to find Alcide in her bed and tells him she doesnt even LIKE him anymore. As a reader, I cannot see that behavior in Alcide, after all he is Alpha. Amelia & Bob(the once cat) are in and out of the story almost like an add-on dismissal. The reference to thenm would have been enough. Sandra Pelt the side issue is just that a side issue, along with Mr. Catiliades, Dermot, Claude you name it they are all here for the reunion. We all waited for this great affair with Eric, and unfortunately, I think this is the true way of life. Eric can offer Sookie everything, but bottom line not himself, which is what she wants. You will have to read the book to get this love story. The fight scene is great,but short, I could almost see it in my mind. I did not like that Pam seems to have developed MORE FEELING. I do think the storyline with Sookie, Eric, & Victor and the big fight is a great storyline, because that whole outcome on all of those threads could be awesome. I thought the book before this one Dead In The Family was a little lacking also; however, I think that Sookie will go on to fight other battles, give great advice, will stay in the supe world where she does belong (because she definitely has a leg in both worlds) AND WILL NOT END UP WITH SAM! I,also, do not think that she will end up with REMY REARING HUNTER (hadleys telepathic son). So, like I said, this is a reunion book tying up loose ends and preparing us for the end of this GLORIOUS SUPERNATURAL RIDE! I have faith that Charlaine H. is every ounce a professional and will end this series on a positive note and will not be influenced by us the readers or the writers of the True Blood Series. After all, she was here first!!!

In Dead Reckoning, things should be going well for Sookie: her relationship with Eric is solid, her most recent enemy is dead, and shes still got all her close friends and relatives nearby. Naturally things cannot stay this way, and the book begins with a fire bombing of Merlottes and ends with...well, lots and lots and lots of carnage. And amid all this, Sookie must face some ugly truths about herself, Eric, and her family. I dont go into a Sookie Stackhouse novel expecting literary development of characters and with that in mind, Im never disappointed. Even so, Sookie is definitely changed in this novel: how can she not be, with all the trials and traumas shes faced over the span of the previous novels? Still, I expected (read: hoped) that her relationship with Eric would be the one constant, and apparently this isnt something thats going to be in the cards. Its going to be interesting to see how Erics contract with the Queen of Oklahoma plays out and whether hes willing to give up the lure of power for the human he loves. There are indeed a few timeline discrepencies in Dead Reckoning, but beyond that, its still a solid entry in the series. I love that Sookie was able to stand up to interfering friends and family, but her resignation that the way she has to live her life now (plotting murder, dealing with demons, looking out for enemies) shows that her life is actually out of her control in many ways. I love her relationship with Pam, and Dermots earned a place in my heart with his determination to help Sookie as best he can. I just wish I could smack some sense into Eric...but then again, that would make life kinda boring for Sookie if she didnt have to worry at all about her love life. Dead Reckoning is a page turner, especially towards the end, and its filled with the gore and characters weve come to expect. Is it always consistent with previous novels? Nope. Are there characters who are acting oddly? Yep. Will I continue on with the series? Absolutely. Ms. Harriss world of Bon Temps and its inhabitants still engages and brings me in touch with people Ive grown to love. I could nit pick all day but thats not what Sookies about. Im just going to continue to enjoy the ride.

I so love this series and the characters but the last few books have been such a let-down. I still think in some way shell end up with Eric which Im happy about. This book certainly builds on the angst in their relationship and throws a HUGE wrench into it. Clearly there has been foreshadowing in the books with Niall telling Sookie the Vamp is not a bad man and he loves her (I think he spoke of Eric) and Eric saying that Sookie is his wife in every way that matters to him (book 10). This Sookie/Eric thing has been building and growing since book 4..even before. To change Sookies love-interest to an entirely different character or Sam (or even back to Bill) would be devastating to the series. I think its timely to have this issue btwn her/Eric but it could have been written/played on so much better...Im hoping the next one is a drama filled book that takes this story somewhere...not just fill. If the next books find Sookie pg due to some FAE magic thing (some foreshadowing in book)...that would be an interesting twist. Could give her/Erics life meaning and w/some inspired writing could take it in a whole new direction. Bring back the passion of the characters!

Quite frankly, this is one of the saddest installments of the Southern Vampire Mysteries. I dont mean the emotional impact of the plot upon my personal psyche so much as I mean the whole book just makes me sad. There was a time when each of these stories held me excitement over what was going to happen next. It seemed like although the stories were certainly a dirty little pleasure, they were so engrossing I couldnt put them down. These days (whereas these days seem to coincide with books written after the HBO series started), the books are much more like pale shadows of what had come before. Originally, the Southern Vampire Mysteries were just that; mysteries in the south with vampires. The author would dab a touch of romance and sexual tension for flavor, but ultimately whether the characters were vampires or simply Scooby-do, it was still a mystery. The more recent books however have taken on a new tone altogether. The books that have been released since Ms. Harris creation reached the little screen, have been more like a collection of random Sookie thoughts punctuated by mostly mundane happenings. While this book seemed to have a little more (very subtle) structure under the story than the last, there were still far too many pages dedicated to the trifles of getting ready to go somewhere after a shower. I think that many Sookie fans would agree that Ms. Harris has veered too far from the original format of the book. In fact, the biggest mystery in this book seemed to be, `will people enjoy the baby shower for Tara,... puke. As if to add insult to injury poor Tara didnt even have so much as a line during the entire affair. Dead Before Dark, was an excellent example of a mystery ex: girls were dying and nobody seemed to know who the murderer was - only to be revealed at the end as a trusted friend (ominous music). Here, there is the spark of mystery: some unknown assailant firebombs Merlots and nobody knows who it is - until about fifty pages later when the person is arrested and the ending of the book is telegraphed worse than acting by a professional wrestler in a b grade movie. Sookie as a character has also begun to stagnate a bit and that is really unfortunate. She started out as a sheltered and socially damaged young woman. Through the first few books she learns to control her telepathy and through this new control see her disability in a new light, even drawing strength from it. She also comes into her own as a woman and begins the difficulty of navigating her first relationship. Throughout all this, she not only has to learn how to deal with the violence of the vampire world around her, but also what it means to become a murderer herself. Unfortunately, after that the character starts to become somewhat stagnant and the author tries (albeit successfully for awhile) to hide that fact with love triangles. By the point in the storyline weve reached, Sookie should be past trying to simply deal with violence. Shes seen more blood and death than most cops do in a thirty year career and should be a bit more calloused than she is (especially after the fairy war). On a positive note, it was interesting to find the genesis of Sookies telepathy and to have the social structure of the fae fleshed out a bit more. I also like that Sookie seemed to be so much stronger now that she had been living with other fairies. Perhaps its time that she transmute into some sort of vampire (due to blood consumption) fairy hybrid and have Eric looking to her for protection for once. Whatever happens, for Gods sake, at least make the plot mysterious otherwise change the name to Southern Vampire Aftershower Decsionmaking.

I just dont know what people expect I loved this book no one really knows what Charlaine will end with this series I know there is talk but one can always change their mind. That said I still have hope for Sookie and Bill it made me happy, and I loved how the book kept the action going. That Sookie is one tough woman. I may be different from everyone but if she doesnt end up with Bill Sam would be a good choice how should she introduce it if this is the case on the last page of the last book? CH may be taking us all for a ride. I have enjoyed every moment even when things dont go the way I would like, thats just like life. I did notice a few different ways of speaking in the book but I absolutely can not wait for the next I wish she would never quit the series it is so much better and more entertaining than most out there. Simple writing that flows. Great work CH

SPOILERS!!!! What isnt to love about this book? She always will leave you breathless, that is for sure! It starts off with a bang with a fire at the bar, Sookie with a hair cut and a fight between Pam and Eric all in the first chapters. I tell you what... It is nothing short of a wild ride and I read it twice just to make sure that I didnt miss anything. You get to learn some secrets into Adeles past, and where Sookie inherited her special gift from and a rare Fae artifact. The ending with Eric and Sookie, that is one thing that has gotten to me. I was thinking for sure that they would end up being together, but with only two more books left to be published, I am not so sure.... For all you diehard Sookie Stackhouse fans it was a hard scene for me to swallow. It takes place in the bar when they finally kill off Victor, when Eric bites Sookie after their victory and which he does this in a hurtful manner. As Charlaine has so brillantly written,Our relationship had been marked by a thousand turning points, it seemed liked. It seems to me that Eric and Sookie may be on the outs, or maybe she will be using a certain cluviel dor to help solve a certain problem with a certain Queen of Oklahoma? I cannot wait for the next edition, but unfortunately that will be another year, but she never disappoints, it is a MUST read!

When I read C.H., I often find myself exhausted from Sookies adventures. I appreciate the crazy ride you go on and yet she takes you back to earth with cleaning the kitchen. I love love C.H. and I love this series. I can only briefly describe the excitement when I realized it was May 3. I arrived home from work, giddy, because I knew this book was on my Kindle. I read it until it was finished and found myself set up for the next book. Once again, I will have to wait a year to find out what happens next. Regardless of sequence, history, etc., this is a necessary chapter in Sookies adventures and if you need your fix, you better come and get it. The reason for my title? I seriously think someone told her to balance out Sookies life happenings with Sookies adventure and I felt that pull in her writing. Who ever told her that piece of advice needs to not do so in the future. I found myself looking for the counter balance of adventure and it made me crazy. Maybe I am.... C.H. needs to let herself write. Die hards will go along with adventure no matter how tired it may make our brains. So yeah, when you wait a year for a book, you expect it to be the moon and stars, but I think just like several books in this series, you have to let this one take you to the next. What do I hope for? Not Sam as the MAN in her life. BORING. Do I hope that she finds her ultimate romance with a vampire - YES. Do I hope that shell one day has to become one? Why not? But I am not writing this book and either way, it all turns out as Sookies life and I am a happy spectator. C.H. opened my eyes to a lot of fantastic reading. If you are into the series, you have to read this book. VERY important stuff happens.

Oh my gosh, only two books left. I loved this one also. The best part was Victor getting his. I hope this means the new bars will be shut down. And Amelia worked out how to sever the blood bond with Eric. Not happy with Sookie about a number of things but this was a page turner for me. On to the next one!