Valorie T. (morbidromantic) -
Helpful Score: 8
This book was great. I won't give away any more spoilers than my vague summary already has, but I will cheer and say that the moment I've been waiting for DID happen in chapter 6. Now, if only it could have stayed that way. In the end, as a reader, I know that Sookie and Bill will make up and get back together and continue their great love affair.
The grand bulk of this story was spent working out the relationship between Sookie and Eric, investigating Jason's disappearance, and searching for the very dangerous coven of witches that cursed Eric. The final battle scene is very tense and well played out, though not in clear drawn out detail since it is from the perspective of Sookie who is understandably out of it.
We have new creatures and supernatural elements, too! As I said above, witches are introduced along with fairies. Now those can be added to the growing catalog of creatures and things Sookie has to interact with on a daily (and nightly) basis.
I am almost disappointed that Eric's time may be over. I feel that he certainly shines brighter and with more character than Bill. After spending an entire book with Eric, Bill's entrance at the end was... bland, at best. He just seems monotonous next to the personality that Eric exudes. If Eric could just get over himself, he would be perfect. Still, I cling to hope because surely the Eric that he was when he didn't have a memory is still in him... somewhere.
I am completely addicted to this series. Anne Rice might have defined the vampire in my eyes, but Charlaine Harris makes them fun. Gratuitous sex? Give me more of that, please. Some more violence and humor, too. This series is just one big ball of excitement for me.
The grand bulk of this story was spent working out the relationship between Sookie and Eric, investigating Jason's disappearance, and searching for the very dangerous coven of witches that cursed Eric. The final battle scene is very tense and well played out, though not in clear drawn out detail since it is from the perspective of Sookie who is understandably out of it.
We have new creatures and supernatural elements, too! As I said above, witches are introduced along with fairies. Now those can be added to the growing catalog of creatures and things Sookie has to interact with on a daily (and nightly) basis.
I am almost disappointed that Eric's time may be over. I feel that he certainly shines brighter and with more character than Bill. After spending an entire book with Eric, Bill's entrance at the end was... bland, at best. He just seems monotonous next to the personality that Eric exudes. If Eric could just get over himself, he would be perfect. Still, I cling to hope because surely the Eric that he was when he didn't have a memory is still in him... somewhere.
I am completely addicted to this series. Anne Rice might have defined the vampire in my eyes, but Charlaine Harris makes them fun. Gratuitous sex? Give me more of that, please. Some more violence and humor, too. This series is just one big ball of excitement for me.
Helpful Score: 6
After being disappointed with the first three books in the series this was a nice surprise. (I've been SOOO trying to like them because I've enjoyed the series on HBO.) This was definitely the best novel in the series so far. The author (or her editors) have improved upon the story by keeping it more of a focused, working plot not quite such a jumbled mess like the first books.
Although, there's still something lacking in the writing and the author has to stop assuming that we know exactly what's going on in her (the author's) head when she has a character refer to something in a conversation (or their head) without elaborating it. This has happened a few times and when I'm as tired as I am reading a book before bed, I'd prefer to "have my hand" held on stuff like that so I don't have to lay and wonder "What the heck are they referring to?" It's distracting when I'm trying to relax (if that makes sense).
I have really gotten to like Eric, who is the character that keeps going in this book. I also get a kick out of Bubba (except for the cat thing). Pam, though not in the book as often is also pretty cool.
Overall the story is good and has gotten better, even though predictable. I'll continue reading these at leisure just in case a lot of book plot comes through the tv series. :)
Although, there's still something lacking in the writing and the author has to stop assuming that we know exactly what's going on in her (the author's) head when she has a character refer to something in a conversation (or their head) without elaborating it. This has happened a few times and when I'm as tired as I am reading a book before bed, I'd prefer to "have my hand" held on stuff like that so I don't have to lay and wonder "What the heck are they referring to?" It's distracting when I'm trying to relax (if that makes sense).
I have really gotten to like Eric, who is the character that keeps going in this book. I also get a kick out of Bubba (except for the cat thing). Pam, though not in the book as often is also pretty cool.
Overall the story is good and has gotten better, even though predictable. I'll continue reading these at leisure just in case a lot of book plot comes through the tv series. :)
Cheryl R. (Spuddie) -
Helpful Score: 5
Sookie Stackhouse "Southern Vampire" mystery number four. Speaking of gratuitous sex and sexual tension...AAAAGH! This book is full of it! I've enjoyed the previous Sookie books, and yeah, there was some of that...and some sexual tension is almost necessary to the story line. But in this book, every male that crosses Sookie's path causes her to salivate, for heaven's sake! The frequent descriptions of the various males' physiques got really old after awhile. I'm not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, but with sex just for the sake of sex--or if not actual sex, then thinking about it constantly--seeming to become a major theme, I find I did not enjoy this one very much. Maybe this is what most of the fans of paranormal books want, but as for me--no thank you. If I want erotic titillation, I'll hook up with some good erotica! I finished this book, and do mostly enjoy the storyline, but for the reasons stated above I really lowered my grade and I do believe I'm just going to stop reading the series right here. It's okay, but I'd rather read books where I'm not rolling my eyes every few pages when the heroine is drooling on some guy.
Marge J. (MaplesFlowers) -
Helpful Score: 3
I so love this series. This has been one of the funnier books so far in my humble opinion. Although, in all honesty, I think I would have prefer Eric to have been "himself" so to speak while with Sookie. She sure is meeting some interesting folks! :-)
Helpful Score: 3
Sookie Stackhouse is addictive! She is witty and the plot moves well! This series is a kick!
