Dead in the Family- a patient fangirl’s review
By CitizenErased on May 5 2010 | 104 Comments »Respectable Louisiana resident, clever wordsmith and all round awesome TB News contributer, latbfan, saved up her Xmas pressie Amazon gift cards to splash out on the hardback version of ‘Dead in the Family’, Charlaine Harris’s latest offering in the Sookie Stackhouse series. After spending yesterday gleefully neglecting her own family to read about Sookie’s weird ass friends and relatives, she has produced this fabulously juicy review. We’d like to thank her for the hard work and maybe reward her with cookies, but she’s a better cook than all of us put together.
Warning, some SPOILERS are contained within.
Knowing the rampant animosity between the various factions and camps, I feel I need to start off this review with a listing of my credentials, such as they are: several years ago, I stumbled onto Dead until Dark quite by accident, and I picked it up not because I was a lover of vampire tales, but because I thought the cover was interesting. It took about three hours to read, and I lost myself in this world that vaguely resembled my own, but at the same time was so utterly foreign. I happily consumed the rest of the series, as if the pages were laced with crack. There were times I snorted, or rolled my eyes, or put down the books in frustration because Sookie can be such an inconsistent and unreliable narrator, but I laughed out loud, I fanned my face, and I was hooked.
I would’ve tuned in for True Blood simply because of Alan Ball, but knowing that the show was based on the books I enjoyed made me all the more eager. Even having read the books, I was not prepared for the first episode. I sat perched on the edge of my sofa, slack-jawed as I stared in wonder at Mr. Ball’s interpretation. I reread the series. I discovered fanfiction, and I started chatting online, neither of which I’d experienced before. And here I am, writing a review, doing my best to navigate the mine-field between the world of the bookies and the truebies, the Team Erics and the Team Bills. But just as it’s obvious Ms. Harris has been affected by the show, as a reader, so have I. Some characteristics from the show have bled into the books, most notably with Jason and Bill, and my expectations are different than before I first heard the opening strains of Jace Everett’s “Bad Things.”
This review reflects only my opinion (worth considerably less than two cents), not the opinions of the good ladies of the Nest who are posting it. I’ve not read spoilers about the book or discussions since the book has come out; nor have I read any of the recent interviews and articles with Ms. Harris. This is as untainted as I can be, and I’m sitting down minutes after I finished reading Dead in the Family.
When we last left Sookie in Dead and Gone, the war with the Fae had come to a bloody end. Crystal is dead. So are Claudine and her unborn fairy-baby. Mel, Jason’s wanna-be lover (and why Jason wasn’t more upset about that is beyond me), Clancy, Tray, and the fairy-prince Breandan are also dead. Dermot, the half-fae Jason resembles (who assisted in the murders of Sookie and Jason’s parents), is missing. Niall has closed the final portal between the human world and the Fae realms. Sookie, who’d been tortured by Neave and Lochlan (a.k.a Thing One and Thing Two), has taken a lot of blood from Eric to heal (to the point where Eric’s concerned about being “dangerously close to some undefined limit”), and Bill’s willingness to risk himself to come to her rescue has affected her such that when Niall said, “The vampire is not a bad man, and he loves you,” she doesn’t know whether he’s referring to Eric or Bill.
Sookie...back at work despite being chomped by nasty fairies
Dead in the Family picks up about a week after that fateful night, and in typical Sookie Stackhouse style, she plows forward. I’ve always admired Sookie’s pluck and loyalty and her selflessness when it comes to protecting the people she cares about. She reacts to the situations around her, often with little (or no) thought. Her narrative asides are just as frustrating as they’ve always been. (The lit major in me has a breakdown, at least once in every book, because it’s so obvious that Sookie is aware of her role as narrator, but I’m still uncertain to whom she’s telling her tale; I’ve always gotten the impression it’s someone other than me, the reader, but not enough clues to identify who’s she narrating to.)
Never one to over-analyze or question, she’s still not much for introspection, and she’s not sitting on a pity pot in the corner or licking her sizable wounds, both physical and emotional. She’s pushed up her sleeves and is going about her business, dealing with the next wave of supernatural crises to hit Bon Temps and Shreveport. There is more death and destruction, more out-bursts when she should really keep her mouth shut, and more grim determination on her part to keep on smiling, but she wouldn’t be Sookie without that.
There is obvious growth and maturity in Sookie: she’s not just assuming everyone is naturally good-natured, and she’s started questioning what it means to kill humans and what it means to kill vampires (she doesn’t go into why she doesn’t feel as badly about killing vampires as she does killing humans, and that would’ve been an interesting aside). She’s questioning her Christian beliefs, which are not reconciled with her desire to kill those who would hurt her or the people she loves, but even with that internal conflict, she seems less angry than she has in past books.
But Sookie is still Sookie, and Jason certainly isn’t the only dim Stackhouse living in Bon Temps. She’s under the impression that a 6-pack of TruBlood and an e-card is sufficient thanks to Bill for saving her life. She thinks Bill perks up
So you only like me cos I smell like fairies? *readers groan*
in her presence because of her Fae blood. She honestly believes Claude is lonely and wants to hang out with her for his health. She’s all teary and grateful for money Claudine bequeathed her because she doesn’t want to be on the edge of poverty (apparently, she thinks Eric, her vampire husband, would let her starve). She assumes, were she to become vampire, she’d still be waiting tables at Merlotte’s.
All of these characteristic gaffes are enough to make me want to bang my head into the wall, and by the end of the book, I still don’t know some of the most crucial facts: there is no real indication of why she’s adamant about remaining human (really, it’s because she likes to tan?); she’s definitely with Eric, but she’s also incapable of simply saying “I love you” because she doesn’t know for sure if she does (although she does admit to loving certain aspects of him); she continues to think and feel rather inappropriately about past lovers and would-be lovers; she goes on pseudo-dates with Sam; she kisses Bill and is jealous of his potentially moving on from her. I’m more convinced than ever that the best way for the story to ultimately end is with Sookie’s death. She seems incapable of happily ending with any of her potential suitors. Sam is the most likely candidate, as he can provide what she claims to want most (a “normal” life and children), but Sam isn’t powerful enough to protect her.
Bill's my great, great, great grandad...what the fuck?
There are lots of interesting things going on in the book with families, in all their various incarnations. There’s dysfunction and neediness and obligation and love and loyalty. There’s the blood family a person has by luck, and the people they choose to have in their lives. In the book, more characters are pregnant, and there’s Sam’s family, Bill’s family (both his human descendents, with a particularly nice scene with the Bellefleurs, and his blood-family, an odd and slightly creepy twist I hadn’t expected), the long-dead Russian royal family, the pack “family,” and the ever-fluctuating Stackhouse clan. For Sookie, “family,” something she never thought she had much of, is definitely complex: there’s Hunter and his father, Jason (who’s much more like the Jason of True Blood than the Jason of the earlier books), the fairy cousins, Eric and Eric’s blood-family (her in-laws, for lack of a better word).
The notion of vampire family is especially fascinating, but like most interesting concepts in this world, they’re touched upon or hinted at, and then dropped or dismissed, and all the missed opportunities are enough to make me weep. Little inconsistencies like the fact that Sookie can sense Eric’s maker (and the True Blood fan in me has a difficult time with the fact that it’s someone other than Godric) and blood-brother, but she can’t sense Pam, and Eric’s vampire family doesn’t require an invitation to enter her home because Eric has one, but Pam does, are splinters that plague my mind, but I’ve come to the conclusion that some questions will simply never be answered and this I must deal with.
A love story, or not. Keep reading to find out, junkies...
In the end, this book, like Dead and Gone, felt more transitional than a completed work. Ms. Harris includes far too many plot reminders, as if any new reader is just now picking up the series. To devoted fans, it’s simply irritating and patronizing. She ends abruptly with little resolution and more dangling questions than answers. It’s not fair to expect Ms. Harris’ books to read like literary fiction, and while I read everything, from articles about autism to vampire smut as if I’m going to be writing a paper on them when I’m finished, I know they aren’t that kind of books. It’s part of their appeal, but I miss the consuming drive to read, like I had with the earlier books in the series. I would’ve been fine with not finishing it today if not for my promise to write this review. I would’ve been fine to put it aside and do other things this afternoon. I honestly thought about needing to iron my husband’s shirts while I was reading (for those of you who don’t know me – ironing is my least favorite chore).
In a nutshell, it was okay, but just okay. If I hadn’t paid with a gift card, I would’ve been upset at spending my own money on the hardback. In all honesty, I miss that crazed need to know what happens, that compulsion for just one more chapter that had me reading while I cooked dinner or kept my up long after I should’ve been asleep. For me, it was the best part of the Southern Vampire Mysteries, and it’s disappointing to have all the irritating aspects of the books, but not the addictive qualities that first drew me in.
Thanks for posting, CE. I love the photos and the captions. You’re hilarious, as always. And, in the interest of full disclosure, I used my B&N gift card for Dead in the Family. The amazon one went to my SM movie binge. :-)
Thank you for this insightful review. I’m still awaiting the UK release date, so haven’t had my hands on it yet but you have picked up on several things that irritate me about the series. The plot reminders are enough to make me scream some days. While I don’t think they’re marvellously written, they are comfortingly easy reads and I will still have this one read within a day or two just out of habit.
I loved that book…i’m re-reading it…
it’s so good!!!!Sookie is a woman now…and adult….she matured a lot….but she is the same Sookie that help her ex to heal and consider him a friend even if he lied again in this book to have sex with her…brillant CH.
Sam is a great guy, such a good friend and she needs more friend now than ever.
Claude was great….he ha this “thing” for Eric and al the best lines are his!
Pam is a great woman…for me a possiby Good Quinn in her future….and i guess Eric thinks the same!
Eric……the Great Man….he is soooooo intense here…..so lovely wiht Sookie…..she doesn’t consider hersefl married but she acts as a tipical wife…they talked a lot, he evn told her about a fangbangers and they laughed about it….he shared everything wiht her….he said i thinks about her every second, when he wakes when he is at work….that could be one of the main problem becouse he need to be the Old Eric to protect everyone there…not only be the man completly on love with his wife!
They play a lot, they had sex, they talk..a lot…a lot…and he told her about his world of vamoire becouse he wants she’ll be a part of it with him.
Sookie is very protective with him, he told Bill she loves Eric, he told Sam she love Eric….she just want to be let alone with him in peace….
Thay share a deep love, almost a true love as Eric said…..and that the most importanti thing for them…nomatetr what they will find a way to stay togther at the end!
Eric i so human here….Appius is the caiuse of that….but Appius is an hinorable man and even inthe end without knwing Sookie very wel he tell her she won’t keep Eric either….as happened before with Bill or Quinn…..but Appius doesn’t know what kind of brave woman she is….
Thi end is good….after avery drama she has her husband or boyfriend whetever….he told he she is the dearest thing he has….and i assume together with Pam they will try to kill Victor….
Now she has a new family…Claude and Dermont are parte of that….Jason is changed a lot now….i guess nex books will have much more actions and dramas…but at least she has a stong man with her.
“ven if he lied again in this book to have sex with her”
He lied? really? Then I guess it was Sookie’s imagination that Bill looked better after they kissed, in fact maybe he was just pretending to be ill the whole time.
Don’t even bother, Ana, logic won’t work, she its one of ‘those’ types of Bookies. I was looking forward to seeing what bizarre conclusions people come out with after reading the book, and this comment is pretty amusing. I’m more inclined to agree with latbfan’s review because I defintely know she’s not like, rabid (love ya, baby).
I think she is wearing “rose coloured glasses” and only wants to read what she reads ie Eric and Sookie scenes and cannot look beyond the written word to see what is really written. Thank heavens that AB did.
Thank you both Lat and CE. I don’t think I will be wasting my money on this book but will read the reviews instead.
Yeah,…. .. Sookie only said, ” Bullshit” because Bill don’t lie. Bill 4 life.
CE, lat, Lizzie,
I agree wholeheartedly with your reviews, remarks, comments.
I am a fan of TB first and foremost. I wish that Alan B and the TB writers had a go at writing the books. Would have been so much better.
I found the CH novels to be a simplistic venture at best and so loaded with inconsistancies as to want me to “bang my head” with the best of you.
If Sookie at this point believes in her DECEITFULLY (speaking of LIES) ARRANGED MARRIAGE, that it is real and worthy, and she loves the manipulative and controlling Eric (even though she can’t quite spit out those words without second and third thoughts) then they do so deserve each other. Happy trails.
I hope that Bill finally heals and finds real love with this former acquaintance or with someone else, and it burns a hole deep into Sookies inconsistant, thankless, jealous soul. Considering it was Bill that always runs when she needs him, saved her twice in the last book, and almost died in the process, while her “husband” was “detained” again. ***snort***
My only concern has always been for Bill, the character with the most noble, decent, loyal, self sacrificing soul.
JIMO
Good luck with your books in the future CH. You lost many of us after book 3.
ok, i dont get it. how can anyone say that people who are fans of eric/sookie are seeing the book through “rose colored glasses” and not “looking past the written word to see what is really written” when they themselves have not read the book, but will “only read the reviews”.
I have read the book, twice. read it, educate yourself, than insult me. otherwise youre just being ignorant.
and she did say I Love you to Eric. very simple and direct…she evn tell this to Bill….she is sure about her love for him…she hasn0t a doubt in all book.
Thanks for the review! I haven’t even bought the darn book yet and even if I did I couldn’t find time to read it, thanks to my boss being completely insistent on my actually working while at work. (nobody tell on me for surfing the Nest, k?)
And it looks like many of my burning questions shan’t be answered. Again. But like you, I will be trudging down to Borders at some point this week. There is plenty I enjoy and sometimes it’s nice to just fill in the blanks myself, like back in the old days before books were TV shows and movies and all the pretty pictures I visualized were conjured up in my wayward mind.
Cheers Lat!
Well, aparently Latb and Supe read different books. I’ll take Latb’s word on it since I know what an amazing writer and critic she is…
Thanks for the review to the crazy ladies of the nest… Wonderful as usual Latb!!!
Here’s an idea. Why don’t you read the book yourself and form your own opinion?
I find it truly bizarre that there are so many comments in this post from people who haven’t read this book yet are prepared to just co opt someone else’s opinion of them based on a review.
If you don’t care enough about the book to read it, why even have an opinion about it…especially an opinion that is not really your own. It all just sounds like sour grapes, I’m afraid.
Tina, honey this is what reviews are for, to give you an insight so you can decide if it’s interesting enought for you to read it… most of us are familiar with the story, I’ve been reading these books for a LONG time and I know for a fact that the plots get way too over the top, they are frustrating, annoying and quite flat at times, they’re filled with inconsistencies, whether you like to admit it or not!
I know what a great writer Latbfan is, and I know she is impartial and objective and that’s why I appreciate so much her review; Supe is obviously biased, not that I’m not, I’m very outspoken about my favs and what I want from the story, that’s why I woudn’t dream of writing a review of the books at this point… now you go and read the book and stop telling people what to do, it is not not polite!
What he actually said was “And you are my wife, in the only way that matters to me”.
Meaning, the vampire marriage means nothing to him, as it doesn’t to her. That was done for practical purposes only. What matters to him is how they feel. And the fact he has made his decision about this relationship came across pretty loud and clear in this book.
I really don’t understand how that quote can be interpreted to be Eric saying he loves her in the only way he can. He just did not say that. He told her straight out that he loved her repeatedly, and without qualification. And unlike previous books, there was no ambiguity about how he felt or what he was saying, at all.
I also freely acknowledge that Bill loves Sookie and it’s really rough that Eric has come such a long way… and yet still he can’t be afforded the same potential to evolve and change that is given to every other character. We are just not dealing with the same Eric as we were early in the series. I don’t know what else CH can do to show evolution in this character, if this book doesn’t achieve that.
And this comment is completely in the wrong place LOL.
This was in response to FanoftheFang much further down. Sorry!
Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to read my ramblings. And I appreciate Supe writing such a detailed rebuttal. To a certain extent, I agree. Not to give too much away, but Eric does seem incredibly sincere in his efforts to make their relationship work. It’s Sookie’s response to him that leaves me cringing. She doesn’t seem as interested, she doesn’t have full disclosure (which implies that she doesn’t completely trust him), and other than the playful, sexy moments they share in private, she doesn’t seem to have a desire to understand where he’s coming from and the full extent of his responsibilities. Loving the parts of him that she considers “her Eric” (amnesiac Eric from book #4) to the exclusion of the rest of him seems unfair to both of them. But that’s only my opinion.
Seriously fan(g)s, it’s an okay read. I would either wait for a library copy, pay for a coffee and read at the bookstore, or borrow from a friend. But again, that’s simply my opinion. I don’t envy Ms. Harris’ difficult task, but I would expect a book in a series, while remaining part of the larger story, to still have its own separate identity, and this one just didn’t feel that way. I didn’t lose myself in it, like I did the earlier books in the series. So yeah – it was okay.
Thanks for your great assessment. *sighs* Pretty much sums it up.
Thanks Lat for a brilliant review and for covering what seems to be the relevant parts of the book. I won’t be buying it or even reading it since it seems CH is staying true to her passions of leaving story lines hanging, questions unanswered and Sookie as immature as alway no matter what growing experiences she’s been through.
And to be truthful, the major reason I won’t read this book and the rest of the series, CH’s writing style annoys the hell out of me.
What Aem says goes double for me. I read two of those “books” before watching the series and the contrast is revealing. Alan Ball can write, CH … not so much.
I triple what aem has written!
hi,
I completely agree with you. I think she is not a good writer… has good ideas, and clearly knows the publishing business, she is smart: for something we have hooked to their stories, if not read the books, we read reviews and book reviews to see what happened next with Sookie, Eric, Sam… and others.
As for the characters, I hate Sookie, and Eric is like the typical bad boy that all love, and my self-esteem as a woman makes me hate him more.
About Bill I’ll not speak, because I love him unconditionally.
A big hug for you
Claudia.
PS: This is just my opinion; I hope the fans don’t get angry with me
I am not angry with you, claudiabertoni! You are candid and I, for one, appreciate it as I totally agree with your assessment. I also love Bill unconditionally and feel sick in my stomach at this lovey-dovie Eric/Sookie thing! I also can’t stand book Sookie, though don’t mind TB version, but after watching S3, I may change my mind on that!
Thanks Latb for the detailed review & Supe for the detailed additions. It would be interesting to see what Peppermintyrose has to say about this book.
Overall it sounds like CH has missed the target – again. The first 8 books were wonderful, but D&G was a terrible disappointment. DITF sounds like more of the same. It seems that both are missing the “essential spark” of creativity that kept the earlier ones so interesting.
I’m with Aemac on this one too. Much of the fanfiction on both SVM and TB is far more creative and much better written than CH’s latest efforts.
Think I’ll stick to True Blood & fanfiction.
I got a pdf version of it and I’m gonna start reading it tonight, since I’m really busy at the office right now. But, as Latb said, CH is not writing for me anymore, she hasn’t write for me from quite a while ago. I like her characters, except Sookie who’s becoming more and more annoying with every book, she start exploring I line of thought and then she just go to the next, she has absolutely no idea of what she wants or who she wants it from, she still is incredibly selfish when it comes to relationships, she “loves Eric” but not the reaEric, she doesn’t love Bill but soesn’t want him to be happy with someone else, and she keeps Sam as a back up… She says yes t every guy but doesn’t say when! Honey please, I know it’s hard cause they’re all hot and all… but grow up!!!
What I think I’m gonna hate the most about this book is the crappy consolation prize she’s giving Bill… I’m sorry but this Judith plot is not only creepy but lame!!! And Sookie is considering becoming a Vampire?!!! Thaks Ms. Harris fyou characters but I like what CE, Tincarr and Latb are doing with them A LOT better!!!
P.S.: dear Eric rabid fans, I know how you feel, I know you see a happy ending already, I know all that joy and happy feelings, like you’re walking on a cloud and nothing can go wrong, Eric is the man,”The Great Man” as Supe said, no less, he loves her, she loves him, yada yada yada, even though despite of what you say they have never shared the passion and intense agony of her relationship with Bill, they never have… still the best sex scene of the entire series is the make up sex in Living Dead in Dallas (that was with Bill BTW), no matter how big Eric might be, but yes, Sookie and Eric are together, happy, man and wife vampirely speakin, it’s a great feeling, isn’t it?! That’s exactly how we, the others, felt from book 1 to the begining of book 3… It’s not gonna last, trust me, it’s not, this woman (Charlaine/Sookie) has absolutely no consistency or maturity to hold on to one guy, she desn’t know what she wants, I think she loves them all or just herself and that’s just plain childlish!!!
Way to go Melissa! I wish I could write like you! I can think it but can’t write it! You took my words exactly , so thank you! There are 3 more books – watch out Erics!!!
I have faith in Alan Ball.
So do I, NH! So do I!
And so do I :)
Count me in ladies!!!
AB rocks!
I have faith in Bill.
I dont.
I feel the need to apologize for the typos… I was writing from my blackberry and my fingers hurted at that point fromt he texting, the twitting and all!
Aside from that I get the feeling that CH really hates men…Look what happens to the men in Sookie’s life by the books:
Bill gets tortured and is Sookie’s doormat
Jason gets pinned for every crime in Bon Temps
Sam is Sookie’s door mat and gets thrown into every mess that girl gets involved with
Bill gets silver poisoning
Eric gets shot….twice
Eric gets cursed (which is to me Forrest Gump with fangs and the most tired Soap Opera Device in the planet)
She dumps Alcide
She gets Quinn dragged into Vampire BS and kept as a bargaining chip
She hurts Calvin’s feelings
And breaks Calvin’s hand
I would not be surprised if CH kills our fave Vamps….
CE, I just loved your review of the book. Your analysis seems to be more well written and intriguing than the book. Perhaps you should start your own series. I will buy them, seriously. Just loved your play on words. I don’t even want to start book 9, if it is Sh*t… Of course they are loaners, so I don’t have to roll out the dough for continued nonense….
Thank you so much latbfan! Good to know I’m not the only one aggravated by the “narrative asides”…and the ridiculous notion CH has that ANYBODY is going to randomly pick up any book in the series and need to be introduced to the characters and their histories!
Also nice to know I can wait for the library to call…or a friend to pass it along.
ALSO…extremely good to know Alan Ball doesn’t pay THAT much attention to the books. Poor old Bill would be SOOL if he did!
Faith in Alan Ball, HA!! Hello S2, the Egg, the MaryAnn fiasco, LMAO.. If it had not been for the talent and mind of CH none of you would be here talking about S3.
As for DITF granted it was not as great as some of the other SVM books, but most (not all) of the reviews here as based on the fact that Sookie is NO longer pining her heart away for Bill and that is made abundantly clear in this book, FINALLY!! Sookie verbalizes that to herself and to Bill that she loves another and to the Bill fans that makes this book a stinker. Oh well Bill fans time to move on to Judith and don’t put all your hopes on AB cause Bill will NOT be his focus either. Sorry, *passes tissues*
You seem to write that we think Sookie is a great prize! IMo she and Eric deserve each other as they are both so yuk, but it is all about Bill! We only care for Bill and what makes Bill happy , we are happy. If Bill is sad, we are sad. IT IS NOT ABOUT SOOKIE AND WHO SHE GETS!! Come on!! It’s all about Bill and even with True Blood, it is still about Bill and Bill being a worthy character on set! Come on, TB Sookie is becoming just as bad as Book Sookie! Bill should give Sookie the flick and then see how she feels. This has never been about Sookie!
omg, I sooo agree with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I want Sookie to stay away from Bill….he deserves so much better. So much more.
Let Sookie P*ssy whip Eric into no manhood.
I do think Sookie will end up with someone who is not a vampire…
she wants her own family. nuff said.
lizzie1701, although I respect your opinion, they are the Sookie Stackhouse books, not the Bill Compton books. by definition of the creator of the characters, it IS about Sookie, NOT Bill… but feel free to continue your rant…
Yeah…the books are about Sookie. Not about Eric or Bill. Or anybody else. Just about Sookie. And Sookie can’t get over Bill…her first…and has BIG LUST for Eric. It’s a great triangle with Sookie herself being the weakest angle of all.
i guess that is a matter of opinion. she has admitted her love for Eric, she is willing to give him all her money if he needs it. she risks her life for him. she considers becoming a vampire to spend eternity with him. she did kiss bill, because he made the request as a dying wish. when she kissed him she felt nothing. no sorrow or resentment, no passion, just calm. that is as over someone a person can get. yes, she wouldnt let eric comb her hair, because in some way, we always hold a place in our hearts for those we have loved before. there are certain things i wouldnt want to do with my husband because they were things i did with ex’s. i carved out a new life with him, including some things from other relationships, and excluding others. that does not mean an undying love of another.
and in terms of the storylines of bill, they are bill through the eyes of sookie. through her words and thoughts, spoken in retrospect. there is not a story of bill, or any other character, without sookie. the story, both the book and the series, is about Sookie. her relationship with Eric is the first adult relationship she has had. through it she has grown, a lot. which is evident in this latest book.
but, books, just like anything else based in “reality” are subject to personal perception.
I just want to say I disagree fundamentally on “we always hold a place in our hearts for those we have loved before.” I don’t. Not At All. You might do that. I sure the heck do not.
Also, poor silly Snookie, she is willing to give Eric all her money? Because her barmaid/inheritance $ would make a difference in Eric’s economy how?
I am aware that they are Sookie Stackhouse books, but what pulled me in was Bill’s story, so to me, it is only his story that I want to read. The other story lines pale in comparison. jmo.
Plus, I think you will be passing the tissue box when you read the next 3 books! Life, even with big, blond and dead, is not easy!
You’re ignoring the fact that Stephen Moyer is AB’s leading man in the series, that he has a better contract than the other male actors, and that AB has said that “Stephen Moyer will not be marginalized.” Those facts are the cold, hard truth of True Blood and that indicates, quite strongly, that what happens in those nelly books, stays in those nelly books.
*stifles a giggle* That was oh soooo last season. No more main man for Bill, he has to SHARE it NOW *let’s it out in guffaws*
Sweetie, Bill is the leading man, obviously they will find trouble in their way, but that’s ok this is drama not a sitcom… but he is definitely the leading man, not only because of his relationship with Sookie but because of his storyline. Of course there are other great characters, Eric is a very strong character, but if they don’t hook them up in the show (not that they won’t, they might, but let’s say they don’t) it doesn’t mean he is not his storyline automatically doomed just because he doesn’t end up running naked in Sookie’s driveway clueless of what he is (really, REALLY lame excuse for a shagg). I only hope they don’t humilliate him like that on the show, cause that’s when Eric lost me!
P.S.: Sookie is not exactly the best catch to any of them… come on, she’s a flashy waitress who barely made it through high school, seriously?!!!
ahh, I feel for you, really I do.
This is true.
AB read the books and decided to put his own spin on them…..
yes, we will get book 4 and all of that, but it won’t be like the books.
People seem to really have a hard time believing this and accepting it.
AB has said a handful of times that Bill and Sookie’s relationship is true love and will remain the CORE of TB.
But of course shit will happen during that time.
SM is fantastic as Bill and has really added to the character.
LOL! It’s funny when some Eric fans assume things about Bill fans, I didn’t like the book, that’s true and I completely agree with the reviewer but I love the Bill parts, they were great! so I have to thank CH for that :-)
As for Bill and Sookie, I really don’t care if they get back together (I think they won’t), but I wouldn’t say she has moved on, if that was the case then why the hell didn’t she let Eric brush her hair? isn’t he the love of her life? if she is SO over Bill then she wouldn’t mind that insignificant gesture from her current lover, right? just saying.
One more thing, maybe you can tell me why Sookie was jealous of Judith (again, considering that she’s so over Bill) because I really don’t get that :-)
Yes, Ana – the hairbrush thing. Why would she be creeped out by her husband brushing her hair? Why wouldn’t she let him do it?
Again peoples, I’m not talking about real life stuff – CH is putting this stuff in here for a reason. What reason? Hell if I know… Let’s just have fun reading and discussing. No need to eat each other, just sayin’.
LMAO… Do you see the name “Eric” in my post anywhere??? *whistles whilst you look*.. ;)
Tssk, tssk, tssk.. All about Bill?? What sad, pitiful and abusive world your involved in.. *cries a bloody tear*
You are very funny! You make me laugh! LOL!
The next person caught deliberately flaming or trolling for a catfight gets deleted and classified as spam. I will leave your comments up to show the world how truly ‘special’ you are, but my Admin tolerance level has been breached and then some. If you don’t have something constructive to say about this fine review or the book, then piss off please. And that goes for fans of both persuasion.
Sorry CE. I got caught up into it. I. for one, will behave.
LOL… CE you crack me up!!! Jajajaja… this is too good!!!! I’m almost picturing you with a hammer in you hand checking everybody’s posts!!!
Girls please… get it together! There would be plenty of Bill (thank god) and Eric for all the seasons to come, they are very different and very important characters, the books tell the story from Sookie’s point of view but the show has a gigantic cast, and yes, obviously the leading man is Bill -don’t kid yourselves, he is- but Eric is very big as well… and so will be Alcide, at least this season. But we have to deal with the fact that in the books maybe Sookie and Bill are not right for each other, actually I honestly believe she’s not the right for any guy, since she definitely doesn’t know what she wants, although we don’t know that yet since there are 3 books left, CH might bring Quinn back, who knows, she’s crazy like that! We also have to deal with the fact that the show is going another way (THANK GOD) Bill is definitely the leading man, no matter how many bumps they find in their road, and they will find many as we don’t want a boring story, right?!
Thanks, latbfan for the review – I enjoyed your entertaining description, and put together with the plot points covered elsewhere I think my curiosity is well satisfied for now. I’ve got 6 more to read (if I ever do that) until I would get to this one.
Thank you latbfan for your even review of the latest book. I confess I did not read it until after I finished the book myself. That chore being done now, I feel I’m allowed to comment.
I completely agree with the treatment of the Stackhouse boy. The tone he is now written in is so different from CH’s original voice for him. She seems now to be channeling Ryan Kwanten’s Stackhouse. No doubt. I noticed some of this happening with Terry Bellefleur as well. So, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that the show is affecting her writing to some extent.
As for the attraction betwixt Eric & Sookie – it seemed to me that every interaction seemed to be manipulated by Eric in some way. I could see CH totally explaining it that way later – although he does tell her he loves her, for what that’s worth. I really didn’t feel real caring from Sookie about him besides the initial lust thing when she thinks about him, when they are apart. I got the feeling that CH wrote a lot about them being pulled together by one another (bond) but really, when they were together, she wrote them as being totally boring. The sex was even snoozeworthy. (And I’m a girl who loves me some lady porn). Maybe that’s them settling into a boring marriage, maybe that’s the point. I dunno.
Did not like wimpy Eric not knowing what to do. He’s supposed to be the one that *always* knows what to do. I like it when he’s strong and in charge – also cocky. So no. Just no on wimpy Eric.
The Bill/Judith plotlline? Sorry, didn’t really care about it. And yes, kinda creepy. I have been saying for awhile, if she can’t write Bill any longer – kill him. Really. Do it CH. In other family news, Lorena Ball? Heh…
Claude & Dermot. Meh. Closing scene, also creepy.
Alas, this book didn’t change what the previous books had done to me; I still don’t like book Sookie – there was a time I did though. Some things bothered me, example: “I love the flowers blooming which happens early here in Louisiana.” Um Snook? As compared to where? Are you suddenly writing from the perspective of a Northerner? Which might beg the point as latbfan suggests, who is she talking to?
The good: Strangely enough, I liked Hunter.
Thank you Latbfan for taking the time to write the review – we do appreciate it and you. I just read the new book – a friend had it so I didn’t actually buy it. I do appreciate that CH writing the books ultimately led AB to pick up on the ideas and bring them to us all. But really, it was not a very good book and CH is a limited writer. Which is probably horrid for me to say because I absolutely can not write well at all. I am an avid reader and IMHO giving CH creds for great writing is like saying Tony Hillerman even comes close to John LeCarre’. And it’s not at all about Bill vs Eric or personal preferences of content. To blindly follow anything because it happens to fit into a biased version of truth, no matter what your truth might be, is a bit scary. We almost got Sarah Palin as VP because of mindsets like that – now THAT’S a scary thought.
So CH thanks for the ideas, but I still believe AB is far better at his craft than she is and find the show far more entertaining, clever and interesting than the books. I’m really not sure I’ll read another. As of now I do believe in AB – and will love the show as long as it is as compelling as it has been in the past.
spot on! and i did bang my head on the wall (a little) after finishing it.. and yes, it left me with more questions than answers. Sam is also getting fishier by the second and it looks like she is gravitating towards him again. I want to see Sookie really grow up and improve more on her survivalist instincts. and i really wish she can find another work other than waiting tables. oh hell, if CH blows it all up by the end of the series, at least there are really good FFs out there. hee hee.
So Sookie and Eric are finally lovely dovey and all is right with the world! The star crossed lovers are finally together,well kinda, maybe, still too much back and forthin for my taste! Sookie, please, please, please decide you truly, really, honestly, definitely, cross your heart and hope to die, love that repulsive Eric and leave Bill alone! He’s way, way, way too good for the likes of you. Charlaine Harris, please, please, please give permission for some other author who cares about Bill Compton’s character to write stories about him, because clearly you can’t!
Although Bill was mentioned in way too few pages, he showed more class, dignity and humanity than all the other characters rolled up together. His few pages are really the only ones worth reading in the whole book.
I have read many reviews that said Sookie has matured! What? Not getting an orgasm for what, oh maybe a month ((six weeks tops); looking out your peephole before you let someone in; not saying yes immediately to every crazy thing that some nut job asks you to do doesn’t make her mature. ” Here Sookie! here’s a hallucinogenic drug, just drink it because you are our Shaman now!” Looking up big words on the computer doesn’t make her smart either. Sookie is just as shallow, dumb, selfish and too involved with Eric’s gracious plently and getting her groove bck as she ever was, she’s just more cynical and wants to kill more peoiple now.
Sookie finding Bill’s sister, Judith, to help cure Bill was the best thing her character did in the 300 plus pages of this drivel. She seemed to do it with so little effort, I wonder if CH threw that in as a sop to Bill fans. But seriously, after Bill nearly died to safe her, that was the least she could do.
Claude’s peronality transplant was cute, I liked it. Not so much for Jason, though: he was too quick to forget about Crystal and his baby. Pam, the killer vampire from hell. Totally believed it; she is a tough broad who stays true to her character.
Too much were stuff; there really didn’t seem to be much point to it, except to give Sookie another chance to want to kiss Alcide. The stuff with Hunter didn’t mean that much either.
Eric’s family was a real horror show; interesting touch with the crazy kid, Alexei Romanov. I think Sookie really wanted to Kill daddy, Appius Livius Ocella, because she knows Eric loves him, and we all know how jealous Sookie is.
But at least Appius forced Sookie to admit to herself the strength of the power that a maker holds over its child. Unfortunately, in true Sookie style, she never once admits to herself that Bill had no choice but to go to Lorena. By now, Sookie has learned from Judith that Bill always hated Lorena, so there was no way Bill would ever go to Lorena willingly. Sookie was always so snidely sarcastic about his explanation. I wonder if she will ever acknowledge it.
The scene where Eric kills and drains Coleman was totally repulsive. Want to kiss those lips now, Sookie?
On the last page, Sookie falls asleep with Fintan and Claude in her bed; hey, its not sexual, they are family afterall. Oops! Eric’s not gonna like that, Sooks!
As anyone can tell, I really hate Sookie Stackhouse.
Whoa. And Hello Billfan45! Well done.
I forgot about Sookie understanding that Eric’s Maker could make him do anything; this is info that Sookie received (and didn’t think twice about) in this book. Why was it in the book? Anyone? Foreshadowing?
Claude & Dermot? Fintan is dad? Sorry, hate CH’s fairies and prolly got them wrong.
She pulled on her Tweety Bird nightshirt “an old favorite”… Hello!!! That’s what she was wearing when she slept with Bill for the first time!!!
This lady is driving me insane!!!!!!
tell it, bf45!! i so think that bill is worthy of his own series. as for sookie stackhouse – she and eric can have each other. i wanna see bill tramping across the globe like qui chang caine, fighting the mens, luvin the wimmens and sexin us up with his eyes.
To BigLebowski, I can see you don’t.
But the dude abides, and in that, we do have something in common. So please try to add to the conversation. We so accept all persuasions here, and can offer a nice sarsaparilla.
Thanks for the reviews and info about the book….I see I haven’t missed much by not reading CH’s books. I prefer to stick to True Blood and watch for my sexy vampire Bill! I’m with those who don’t care if Bill and Sookie get back together or not. If she goes the same way on the show that I’ve heard she goes in the books, she doesn’t deserve Bill anyway….Bill is way too good for her!! I want better for him than a wishy-washy girl who can’t make up her mind who or what she wants and expects a man like Bill Compton to wait around and pine over her while she does whomever or whatever she pleases. I’m not surprised that she’s jealous of him being with anybody else.
I’m glad AB isn’t sticking to these books. He won’t be compelled to stay with the storylines or write the same ending CH writes and for that I’m grateful.
Thanks latbfan, for writing that well-summarized review. I don’t think I’ll be reading the book as I really can’t stand bookSookie and I heartily vote for your suggestion to the series end. It would be bold and most….satisfying.
Sorry, folks. I had to get my anti-Sookie rant off my chest. Charlaine Harris has said in the past that there are clues to Sookie’s future in her books., but I truly hope that she doesn’t let Sookie hurt Bill anymore.
I don’t know if Sookie will end up with Bill, but I don’t think she will end up with Eric as I think he is just too violent, and no matter what she says, Sookie is put off by the violence. Alcide is too violent too in my opinion. Perhaps Sookie will end up with Sam, but if she does, she will be settling, and I hope CH doesn’t go there. Sookie never had a connection with a man the way she had with Bill. I guess we will have to wait a few more years to find out.
Possible clues:
-Lividity is right. Bill abides.(I just love that description).
- Bill is a class act, so human and truly dignified in his few pages, so unlike Eric and Alcide.
- Sookie likes to be with Eric, but she doesn’t seem convinced she loves him. In fact its hard for her to state outright to him that she does love him. When she finally she does, its not very convincing.
- Her jealousy of Judith possibly becoming an HEA for Bill at this late date says to me that there is still a lot of deep love for Bill.. A true “friend” would be would be happy that Bill found somebody. Sookie surely knows how lonely Bill is.
- Although Sookie clearly loves to have sex with Eric, she doesn’t seem to have the deep soul connection with Eric that she had with Bill. The few sex scenes she has with Eric seen to be more about sexual gratification than real love or tenderness.
-Sookie doesn’t want Eric to brush her hair since she remembers Bill doing that the first time they made love.
- Sookie clearly doesn’t like Eric’s love for his maker. She has to admit to herself that even though Eric loves her, he would kill her if Appius ordered him to do so. She knows Bill would die before he would hurt her.
-Eric doesn’t want Sookie to kill his maker; Bill was happy that Sookie killed Lorena.
- Sookie hated it when Bill demonstrated how violent vampires could be. Seeing Eric gorging himself on Colman’s blood; thinking that he looked and smelled like something out of a horror movie has to be repulsive and a memory that will stay with her a long time.
- Appius tells Sookie she will never keep Eric.
- Eric tells Sookie he loves her in the only way that he can. I think Sookie knows that Eric’s love for her will always have limitations.
- Pam seems to be warning Sookie to stay away from Eric on the drive back from Fangtasia before they are almost ambushed by Corinna and Bruno. She says its been a long time since Eric has had someone like Sookie. She is worried that Eric won’t keep control of himself. I wonder if Eric hurt a human lover in the past.
Just some thoughts.
Forgot to thank Labfan for the in depth review. I,
WOW and I wanted to give an honest and unbiased review on here, I am an Eric fan but wasn’t planning on putting down Bill just to make Eric look better. I guess, Eric, fans are not welcome since we’re all “rabid fans” and see things through rose colored glasses. Truth is that both Eric AND Bill fans are this way and see things in their own way. Eric fans will see the positive in his actions and Bill fans will see the negative in his actions and vice versa. I have no problem debating in a civilized manner but seems like this turned more into “if our favorite character is not the same then you suck”
But if anybody wants to get some info on the book in an unbiased way then here are a few things, if not then ignore this:
-It starts off with a hard recovery for Sookie but she does get her strength back both physically and mentally. I think somebody mentioned her not having orgasms as showing how she hasn’t matured? I don’t think orgasms have anything to do with anyone saying how she has matured. In the beginning she doesn’t because of her recovery process, ok just had to get that out first before I continue. She shows a lot more initiative of handling problems in her life, she doesn’t just want to sit back and wait for something to happen but is thinking of how to take action into her own hands.
-Bill is still recovering, but Sookie finds out that the best way for a vamp to heal is to have his makers blood but that isn’t possible so she comes up with the idea of finding the other person Lorena turned. She tracks her down and this woman does show up. You find out a little bit of Lorena’s past even before she was turned, and you find out how Bill was turned and also this other woman that Lorena turned. Caroline Bellefleur suspects she might be related to the Comptons and wants to see the Compton family bible. Bill goes over and tells her how they’re related, they finally find out that Bill is the one who gave them the money. Other than that sorry he doesn’t have anything else happen for him.
-Claude is a pleasant surprise, he moves in with Sookie and he had some funny parts and showed a lot more personality. We find out more about Dermot, he is not evil like Sookie thought. There is a fairy out to get Sookie. We see Sookie spending some time with Hunter.
-Jason matured a lot and is finally really there for Sookie and they felt more like a family. I don’t think he just got over Crystal that soon but it made him grow up and realized what is important in life.
-Sam was in the book a decent amount of time, he has a new girlfriend.
-Pam was great like always, and I always love seeing her friendship with Sookie
-Alcide, ahhhh he has changed quite a bit and you can see how his new position has changed him. The were’s are dealing with a lot of problems in the book. The government wants them to register, humans are not having an easy time with their reveal.
-You also learn alot about vampire politics, how they started when they came to the US, how they are divided up and how they work. I love when they get into this, after all it was vamps that got me interested in this series so I like this aspect of it.
-Sookie and Eric are in a relationship, as an Eric fan yes I am happy. But someone else said that now we are convinced that he is her HEA and to just wait. Most of us want him to be but we don’t know if CH will do that. Yes its book 10 so it is not likely they will stay together for 4 books. I think most of us look at it realistically but still hope. I guess since most of you don’t care about this part in the books so you can skip over it but in case anybody is: I have to say that even as an E/S fan, I was surprised with how lovey dovey they were. Also, she does say she love him infact she tells quite a few people that she did. Plus her actions show it too, she wanted to kill Appius for Eric, she wants to take out Victor and she says how happy she is. She even thinks of forever with him and the thought of artifical insemination crossed her mind and wondered how Eric would feel about it. When she thought Appius was there for money, she said if its money he wants he can have all her money(claudine leaves her $150,000, plus she has money from the queen) Also Pam didn’t tell Sookie to stay away from Eric as a warning at all. She told Sookie that Eric has a lot going on with Victor trying to take him out and how Victor is trying to discredit Eric so he has to stay a step ahead of Victor. Their lives both Pam and Sookie plus those who work for Eric, depend on him doing well or they can all die. She wants Sookie to understand if he can’t be around all the time and that he is doing what he needs to do and can’t be distracted. At the end, Sookie, becomes Erics rock and is the strong one for the both of them. Eric was not himself with his maker around, they had Alexei to watch and he was causing problems. I can go on about the positives in their relationship but I don’t think it would even matter. I guess you have to read it yourself to have an opinion but then again same goes with rest of the book.
-FDC/Victor issue were not addressed much but I think because it will be a big showdown when it does happen in the next book I guess and will focus on that. She will build up the suspense and gives Victor more time to plan and put everything into action. Seems like he is doing a lot behind FDC back too. Since it will be a big showdown then it was best to wait since Sookie needed a break after DAG, would’ve been too soon.
Also, we have no idea in what direction AB is heading towards. He is all about the dramatics and shocking, but guess we’ll find out in a few weeks.
Thank you FanoftheFang for that review! Being a fan of ALL the characters…the books and the show….I found your review most entertaining.
The show and the books are two entirely different entities.
I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Thank you Fang for the review. I’m a big Bill supporter but, like you, I don’t feel the need of putting down Eric just because I prefer Bill.
When there’s comments from a lot of different people, some loud words may offend. But believe me, you are more than welcome to come here. I don’t think all Eric fans are rabid, the same way not all of Bill fans are rabid either.
said that, and speaking of red rose colored glasses I’m adding my two cents, a little late.
I’m not the biggest CH fan, but I must say I loved Bill parts in this book and I think she has given him his dignity back.
In fact, I don’t know if Charlaine just wants to win back her Bill’s following audience, but I see clear proofs about Sookie’s and Bill’s love fate not being over at all in this book.
To me, if she really loved Eric, She wouldn’t have kissed Bill (or allowed him to kiss her), she wouldn’t have had a single thought about falling into the temptation of making love to him, she wouldn’t feel the butterflies in her stomach after visiting him, and she wouldn’t be so jealous of Judith. Also I think Charlaine gave clear hints, like Sookie not allowing Eric to hairbrush her, or taking back the tshirt that she was wearing when she lost her virginity with Bill. Also I noticed how Sookie’s admiration is growing towards Bill and how he is being fairly honorable in the books. Because really, can we imagine Eric, showing interest in an ancient lady like Caroline, or insisting in the funeral party being held at night so he could assist? Can we imagine Eric caring for a human (besides Sookie) instead of power battles? Those signs make of Bill someone closer to humanity than other creatures in the book. And I know he hasnt been always written like this, so maybe Charlaine is feeling True Blood’s Bill Compton influence after all.
Probably Charlaine is only teasing all of us and what it seems no casualty now, may be forgotten in future books. who knows.
I don’t know if Eric loves Sookie, so far I have to think he does. Sookie seems unsure, repeating everybody she loves Eric but it gives me the impression she is not convinced. But, I may be wrong. Her lack of feelings expressions in the narration makes hard to tell. I think that we all need that the blood bond breaks, so we can know for sure if this is influding into her emotions or not.
Sorry, I know my english is terrible tonight but im quite tired… 3 am in Barcelona. Thank you all for stopping by!
And thank you for posting that zz! I want to believe there’s hope for Bill…altho I LOVE Eric. I love Eric’s manipulations…his total devotion to GETTING Sookie…then making her the center of his universe. That’s been the themes both throughout the books and the shows!
I think that Charlaine was “talked out” of “Killing Bill” in book nine…speaks loudly to how the shows and the books are going to diversify. How one depends on the other to maintain creative integrity.
Eric is the master…but I want Bill to FIGHT for Sookie. He should never take a “back-seat” in this little drama. I don’t believe for a minute he will…on the show. Bring it ON!!!
Billfan45-I am just curious what you mean by “eric told sookie he loves her in the only way he can” not even asking in a way to be stupid but I really didn’t understand. He straight out told her he loved her, more than once infact. He even explained how she is the first thing he thinks about when he wakes, and when he is working, he even goes on to explain his feelings more and says “if that’s not true love then I don’t know what is” He even cries in the beginning when she wakes up from a nightmare and explains how he felt her pain the night of the fae far, not just bc of the bond but bc of his love for her. She even says she knew what he was saying was true bc she felt it through the bond, infact anytime he spoke about his feelings she knew it was true. He truly shares his life with her in this book and is there for her throughout her recovery and shows his dedication. I don’t think there are any limits to him loving her, he has done enough and not even vamp politics stand in the way, he even does things in favor of Sookie but hurts him down the line in the vamp world.
I understand if you don’t like Eric, ok well it’s hard for me to understand not liking him but everyone is entitled to their opinion and you are entitled to feel however you want. Same way I am sure many of you wonder how we don’t like Bill, but I don’t think you can say after this book that he doesn’t love her. Same way I will admit that Bill loves her.
Thanks for turning the hissing and bitching down after I popped on during work to growl at y’all. Some good, reasonable, impassioned (yet polite) comments here and not so much flaming. Really, fangirls hating on each other gives me the fucking scratch. Plenty of other places online you can do that. Not here. Ever. :p
And i’m not telling you what I thought of the book. Staying the hell out of it *backs away gracefully*
CE: thanks for saying exactly how I felt about this book. Transitional, filler, awkward, sloppy. I reminded myself there will always be the good books in the series to re-read -books 1-4, and 7.
CH has gone on too long with this one. It’s time to wrap it up.
Thanks for the great review latbfan, it really helped me to put some words on my own opinion.
I really didn’t find the 10th book satisfying, mostly because of the boring plot and the many undone storylines.
Most of the time, you’re just skimming the text to avoid sookie’s irritating kind of thinking or the uninteresting plot.
It seems that CH really doesn’t have a plan for the entire book series because especially in the last 2 books, CH has been unable to finish the many raised questions and plots from previously books and it seems like she has loosed the track of things and simple forgot to close many of the storylines she has begun.
Even though I’m a Eric fan, I found the Sookie-Eric relationship without sparkle and kind of fake. Sadly, I had the same feeling about many of the other characters and I’m still trying to adjust my mind to not regard the 10th book of the series as just another fake and lame fan fiction. (Not that there aren’t a lot of good ones <3)
Sorry about possible grammar and language faults there may have occurred, but I’m from Denmark…
I completely agree CE, I think CH has skipped all over the place book 10. I also don’t feel the need to read more and more. After I finished DITF, I felt empty. I agree it was okay, it was better than book 9 but still depressing. I hope CH finally has Sookie & Eric get together. If she has Sookie stop being such a prude.
Yes, Eric and Sookie love each other, but is it because of the blood bond they share, or would they share or would they love each oteher each other even without the bb? I for one do not think so. I have a hard time believing that Eric didn’t come to save Sookie from the fairies because he was chained in silver by Victor’s henchmen. Together, he and Pam are extremely powerful. I think he was just afraid of getting himself killed. If he was actually prevented from coming to her rescue why wasn’t he more grateful that Bill saved her; instead he refused to give Bill his blood even though he knows his old blood surely would have helped the vampire who did save his love.
There were some okay times with Sookie and Eric in the book, but I still maintain there is no true intimacy there. Once commenter said there was no sparkle between the two; I say that is an understatement. Yes, I know Sookie was recovering from PSTD, but she is the one who was fixated on the orgasms. Eric probably should not have tried to have sex with her, but just held her close to him. He knows how she feels through the bond, how come he didn’t realize that? Yes I know she finally tells him she loves him, but she seems to lack true emotion when she says it.
Sookie spent much of the book upset that Eric didn’t spend much time with her. They do not “date”. He doesn’t take her anywhere or do anything with her. When they are together it is usually for sex, boring as CH makes it. Everything seems to be for Eric’s convenience. She usually has to drive to him though the trip is about an hour by car, for him the trip is probably five minutes. I know he has to keep a hread of Victor’s plots, but did it strike anyone that Eric also seems to be spending a lot of time amassing his own wealth. Maybe he should spend less time doing that and more time with Sookie.
The romantic in me wants the heroine to ends up with someone she burns for without the influence of a blood bond, someone she knows is her true soul mate, even if that is Eric. (Yuk, there I said it.) I would like Bill to either get Sookie or move on to someone new and to totally be in love with that person. BTW, I don’t think it is Judith. I don’t want him to be nasty to Sookie, I just want him to either get her in the end or truly get over her. I don’t want him to end up obsessed with Sookie and suffereing from unrequieted love like Lorena. That would be so pathetic. I frankly don’t care much what happens to Eric.
Charlaine Harris’ attempts to drag out this so called romantic triange is getten old and tedious. I wonder if she even likes these characters at all anymore, or if she just realizes that she has struck a gold mine with this series and is trying to mine it for all it is worth.
Billfan45-I don’t think the BB makes you LOVE someone, if that is the case then you could blame that on the fact that Sookie was even with Bill in the first place so I don’t think you want that to be the case. Eric even told her it wasn’t just because of the bond but his love for her.
Also, Eric mostly stays away when his maker shows up. They had to watch, Alexei, because of his killing spree and also don’t forget that Appius had control over Eric and can make him do whatever he wanted. And even before Appius showed up, Eric wasn’t busy “amassing his own wealth” it was explained by Pam what was going on. She said straight up that ALL their lives depend on Eric staying a step ahead of Victor. She specifically says that all of Eric’s people, and even Sookie were at risk and they ALL depended on Eric. If Eric messes up and Victor can discredit him and take over then they would all be in trouble. This wasn’t about money, it’s about survival. By not spending time doing this then they would all be screwed so no he shouldn’t stop doing this.
Eric and Sookie were spending time together, so what if they didn’t go to restaurants, did Bill always take her out to restaurants no they did spend a lot of time at home. And yes Sookie mostly stayed at Eric’s but again bc he needed to be in shreveport, remember he has Victor trying to take control. He also sent Pam to pick her up and drive her home, so she wouldn’t have to drive. Sookie was also spending a good amount of time there, and it wasn’t just about sex because sookie said one of her favorite moments was the cuddling after and them sharing their day with eachother and talking about minor things that the person you love would care about just bc you did. She even brings up the fact that she would go to Erics house unexpected, and how sometimes he would do his work while she read. They had a normal relationship. Also when eric felt through the BB that she was worried about something, he showed up at her house while she was sleeping and went to sleep in the closet so he can be there when she wakes up.
Regarding the orgasms, well soon in the books she does orgasm and then goes on to say the sex is better than ever. Also, Eric did ask Sookie if she was sure she even wanted to have sex and she is the one who said she wanted to. I think we can give her a break for not having orgasms for a few short weeks.
And during the fae war, Eric, was chained to a wall. What can he do? he wasn’t able to get out of the chains and Sookie said she kinew everything he was saying is true because she can feel it. Eric didn’t give Bill blood because he gave Sookie blood which she needed. He did have Clancy give Bill blood and even in DITF, Felicia who works for Eric would go over to Bill’s and give him blood to continue with his recovery.
I don’t mind if you’re not a fan of Eric and don’t want E/S together but you’re telling people things that arent true about the book. Such as Pam warning Sookie that Eric has no control like she was telling sookie to stay away from Eric for her own good. That is not at all what happened. Pam explained simply how all their lives depend on him and even said that since Eric is with Sookie, he doesn’t make the decisions he should be making bc he is thinking of Sookie and putting her first. Pam feels that Eric would’ve handled the Victor situation differently if he didn’t love Sookie.
I agree about your bill statement, I guess have him move on instead of showing him obsessed with Sookie. Maybe, Judith, will be the one for Bill. Or at least show Bill more involved in vampire politics instead of just showing up to tell Sookie how he feels about her.
Hey FanoftheFang, one thing I don’t get, but maybe you can explain it: If Appius had control over Eric and can make him do whatever he wanted, why doesn’t Appius have control over Alexei who is a very young vampire? Shouldn’t he have complete control over both of them? The Alexei thing not making sense for me.
Lividity, I didn’t like the Alexei storyline. I know I’m in the minority, but I never liked Bubba either, and he was much better than a would-be dead Romanov who was turned badly. On one hand, I think it was meant to show that turning isn’t a sure-thing, and also more on the family bond issue because Appius obviously cared deeply for his child. So on one hand, cold-blooded vampire not interested in mainstreaming or humans. On the other, concerned and loving parent doing the best he could in a bad situation. *shrugs* That’s what I thought, anyway. But it didn’t make a whole lot of sense… Neither did Sookie’s connection to them when she’s not connected to Pam, although Pam is Eric’s child.
I love Pam…
FanoftheFang, I’m with you. I honestly think Eric was trying. He was honest and pragmatic, as only Eric can be, about the semantics of love, but he was more than honest when it came to the depth of his feelings for Sookie. She’s the one who didn’t seem to be on board. After spending much of the series feeling at a loss because she doesn’t understand the many nuisances of the supe world, when Eric’s trying to explain it to her, she’s not really interested. She’s jealous and resentful of any time he spends with someone other than her. She’s obviously still holding a torch for both Bill and Sam. She just didn’t act the way one would if she truly loved someone. And to expect Eric, who will potentially live for centuries after her brief mortal life, to make himself vulnerable not only to her, but to the rest of the vampire hierarchy, without giving herself fully in return, is unfair to him.
I’m not being overly critical of Sookie – I wouldn’t want to be married to President Obama, for example, because I wouldn’t want to deal with his job. There’s simply no way to separate the man from the position. She’s said, from the very first book, that she wants a quiet, simple life. She wants a man she can make breakfast for and grow old with. She wants a family. And if that is truly what she wants (honestly, I don’t know), Eric, no matter how much he loves her (and yes, I believe he loves her), cannot give her that.
latbfan, Yeah, you’re right about the Pam thing. This whole blood bond thing is an unpredictable nuisance, just sayin’.
I too was never a Bubba fan.
Without reading further that makes three of us non-Bubba fans? Oddly enough…I’m a fan of all the characters in the show…must be the great casting. The book is a different matter!
Appius has control over Alexei, but that doesn’t mean that Alexei may not snap (and he sure did) before Appius could exert his control. In book 5, even Mickey tried to go against his maker’s ruling, but it was pretty much established he’d have to comply. No clue what it might depend on, speculating without any basis for it is pointless, there’s no way to quantify.
I guess we are reading two different books. The bb doesn’t cause love, but it sure can mess up the mind. Going out to restaurants is not love, but spending quality time with your lover is. I didn’t see too much of that in the book.
Pam picked Sookie up once that I read, so Sookie had to drive the rest of the time. In fact, since Sookie now has Eric’s personal cell, she missed calling the bar and talking to Pam. So, Pam wasn’t driving Sookie often. I agree that Eric had to keep Sookie away while he dealt with that little psychopath, but Eric stayed away from Sookie even before Appius showed up and she was upset with that. You may be right about to Pam almost asking Sookie to stay away from Eric. If I am wrong, I will be happy to apologize.
Yes, there was some cuddling, but not a whole lot. I am glad the CH did put some of that in. I there was one scene were Eric and Sookie speak of mundane things, post coitus. There is another where she jumps up in his arms before they have oral sex. She calls him honey a few times and she tells other people that she loves him, but you have to admit it was very hard for her to say it to his face. Why? There should have been much more written about a deep connection between the two, then maybe their “true love” would be more believable. There is no denying Sookie likes sex with Eric. He is a good lover, but you don’t have to be in love to have mind blowing sex.
Oh, and Sookie wanted Appius dead even before the little murderer went on a spree even though she knew through the bond that Eric loved Appius. Appius did not try to have sex with Eric and he did not order Eric to hurt her. Appius was well aware of Eric’s feelings for Sookie.
I don’t particularly want Bill to end up with Sookie. I think there is too much bad water under that bridge, a lot of it on Sookie’s part, even if E/S fans don’t want to adnit so. In fact, I think it would be much better if Bill did find another soul mate. I don’t think it will be Judith because vampires don’t stay together. I just don’t want Bill hanging on to obsessive love for hSookie the way Lorena did to him just because CH can’t write a better ending for him. At this point, I think Sookie and Eric are better suited for each other, not because I like either Eric or Sookie; I don’t. I just wish CH would wite a connection between those two in a way that is beleivable. I have read 10 novels and I don’t know how many short stories about Sookie and I think its about time this issue is resolved once and for all.
On another matter, I found Eric’s bloodlust when he drains Colman quite repulsive and gross. I can just see him standing there with blood and gore dripping down his face and clothing. It was reminiscant of the scene where TV Eric tears apart one of the humans he is torturing in the basement with Lafayette. I can’t say either guy didn’t derserve it, but it was still gross.
My fingers are about to bleed from writing the same thing over and over, my tongue is gonna fell from discussing it with my “Team Eric” friends… but I feel the need to do it one more time!
Eric and Sookie are definitely a match, they look alike, they’re both survivors, they have fun together, they’ve support each other, they understand each other, they make each other laugh, yes, but they don’t have that mind-blowing, haunting, maddening, exhausting and consuming chemistry she had with Bill. There’s no mystery with Eric… it’s not about love, they can be very much in love with each other (although that’s unlikely if Sookie is jealous for Bill’s moving on from her and doesn’t want Eric to do the mundane things Bill used to do for her, like brushing her hair) but there isn’t that sensation of “everything will go to hell in a minute if I don’t hear from him now” that visceral need to be with him, that hunger, she had with Bill… and let’s be honest, Sookie and Bill haven’t been together since book 3, it’s been 7 books by now, if they weren’t such a hot couple we wouldn’t be having this discussion…
Eric and Sookie are a boring couple, excuse me but they are… and it’s not about Bill, I enjoyed her chemistry with Quinn, they were really sexy, that scene in Hadley’s kitchen was hot as hell. I’m sorry, but no matter how graciously plenty Eric might be -and I like big guys- they are not sexy together and the sex scenes CH has written for them are too meh or too tacky (the bed scene in Club Dead when she fed from Eric and he spilled it all over her back was too gross!) No “spread your legs for me Sookie” or “I’ll f*ck you till you faint” not even “I’ll let you sleep… eventually” no “Tasmanian devil” my pulse accelerates just to think about all the hot scenes she wrote for Bill and Sookie in two books and then all she does for Sookie and Eric is a gracious plenty and the mention that “there is sex and there is sex with Eric” however no description of that, at least not in the detailed length she did with Bill as she made our dizzy minds wandered in a warm and foggy limbo… Eric and Sookie could be great friends in a platonic way, but as a couple they don’t’ have that sizzling spark, the butterflies, the fireworks she had with Bill, no matter how much Sookie says she loves Eric, the writer is not printing that love the way she did with Bill… and that’s why there are so many ladies out there still in love with him!
Lividity-I have no idea and your guess is as good as mine. I’ve seen quite a few people bring that up, and I would also think that Appius should have more control over him. They did make it seem like Alexei was not right in the head so maybe a cause of it. Also, he seems to be extremely fast if even older vampires can’t catch him. Plus he is able to show people his thoughts so maybe he was unique. Only thing that would make sense. When he killed people it was because he got away from Appius, but you would think Appius could tell Alexei what to do. To make sense of it, I went with the fact that mentally something was wrong with him so maybe why it was harder to control him?
Thanks, that’s all I could come up with as well – but I keep coming back to the fact that a very old vampire master surely could physically overpower his offspring – so I guess I don’t know why Appius was not restraining him in some way. Appius didn’t seem that bright to me, and that is really a let down as Eric’s maker & mentor.
Billfan45-exactly it’s about quality time, not going out to restaurants which is what I was trying to say.
They were spending a lot of time together until Appius showed up but Ch didn’t write about each time they spent together. You just had to pick up on things throughout the book that let you know this. For example in the beginning she says that she woke up crying and holding on to Eric bc of her nightmares, something she did about 3-4 times a week. So that right there shows that she spent about 4 nights a week sleeping at Eric’s. He also bought a coffeemaker to have in his house for Sookie. Like i said above, she even mentions how sometimes he would do his work and she would read, telling us that there are other times they spent together but just wasn’t talked about which would get boring if we heard of every moment they spent together and would take up too much space in the book. She mentioned how she has showed up before unexpected, it’s briefly mentioned at end of book when her and Jason go to Eric’s house. So we do know there are many times they spent together that we didn’t hear in detail.
Yes, most of the time Sookie drove there. I don’t think she minded because in her house Eric wouldn’t be able to stay in bed with her, he’d have to go in the closet. Eric’s bedroom had no windows so he was able to just stay in bed so i think it was better. Plus once Claude moved in, it was wiser to do this.
Yes, it was strange that with others she would tell them she loved Eric straight up with no hesitation but with him she had some trouble. But when Eric asked her if she loved him, I think we saw why. Instead of just saying “I love you” she explained her feelings, how she loves spending time with him whether theyre having sex or not, how she loved watching him do anything, how she loved laughing together. These are all reasons we love somebody so truth is all her reasons did show she loved him, if we’re asked to go into detail about our love for somebody we can give same reasons she used. It was just a more detailed answer to explain fully how she felt. But the reason she was hesitant, was after she explains it, she stops and says “what if I asked you the same question, what would you say?” she wanted him to express this first to her. But I will admit it was frustrating that she can tell others Yes i love him, or we love eachother so easily but harder to say it to Eric. Trust me I wanted her to do it differently too.
As far as Appius, she didn’t trust him and all along didn’t know what he would do. Even reading it, I didn’t know what Appius would do and worried how he can effect their relationship.
Yes, i would’ve preferred a different ending. Not to excuse Eric but since vamps were so intoxicated by fairies, I think almost any vamp would’ve done the same to a dead fae. Also, Sookie didn’t seem to mind much she just went over to sit with Claude and started talking about other things. I would’ve liked things to have ended differently too, not the best moment of the book.
I have no idea what CH has planned for Bill. I am curious to see what she will do with him. Vamps didn’t have long relationships but he did have a relationship with Lorena longer than vamps normally do so who knows. Maybe she will bring in a character for Bill. He does have to get better now, otherwise he also won’t really be in the next book that much again. I think with a Victor showdown that he would be part of it.
Latbfan:
Have missed you lady!! So this is where you’re hiding!!!
You never let me know where you were going.
Miss talking with all of the other riders of the SpeculationTrain:Vampire Express.
I can be found at: http://jumpagain.proboards.com/
Or at http://www.ericnorthman.net
Lividity-I don’t know why he was so hesitant to kill Alexei, eric mentioned that something had to be done about him since he was out of control and Appius came to Shreveport as a last resort. Appius even said to Eric he might have to kill him but he didn’t want to. The only thing I can think of is because they said he was very selective when it came to whom he picked as a “child” he wanted Alexei because he was Russian Royalty and knew that maybe he would not have found anything close to that in this day and age. Maybe he even grew strongly attached to Alexei.
Yeah I have to say I was glad to see them both die. I do have to say that Jason was real sweet with Alexei though, it was nice to see that side of Jason. I really liked him in this book, I liked in the beginning when he tells Sookie and Melisa that he wants to be a good boyfriend to melisa, a good best friend to Hoyt and a good brother to Sookie. He realized his mistakes a long the way and wanted to correct them. He treated Alexei in such a sweet way, he was supportive of Sookie’s relationship and was nice to Eric, he even gave Pam blood when she was injured.
The scene at the end, with Dermot/Claude/Sookie seems rather similar to Anita Blake’s character, when she starts sleeping with her pard. It was a little … odd.
teamEric says:
7 May 2010 at 7:21 pm
ok, i dont get it. how can anyone say that people who are fans of eric/sookie are seeing the book through “rose colored glasses” and not “looking past the written word to see what is really written” when they themselves have not read the book, but will “only read the reviews”.
I have read the book, twice. read it, educate yourself, than insult me. otherwise youre just being ignorant.
Woah teamEric! The books are pro-Eric…the show pro-Bill. Nobody’s watching or reading anything through “rose colored glasses”. Nobodies “insulting” you either! Or being ignorant. What amuses Pro-Eric me…is how Alan Ball has successfully TAKEN from book-Eric and given to book-Bill…so that this triangle WORKS.
I can’t hold it against him…he’s done a wonderful job of casting characters that bring LIFE and serious chemistry…to the written words. Book…Show…two separate entities. Why can’t we all enjoy them both?
I liked the review, but I really disagree with you when it comes to Sookie. I think the fact that she expects to continue waiting if turned, is concerned about money and wants to believe in people is a good thing. It shows that she’s grounded and does’nt rely on other people to do everything for her. Think about it! As early as when she was dating Bill she could’ve put her feet on the table and gotten spoiled by him, but her grandma didn’t raise her to become lazy!
It would be weird if Sookie suddenly turned cold and calculated, and I personally don’t think any of the reasons you listed for her stupidity are valid. She is nice! This in addition to her passion, and don’t forget anger, makes her make some stupid desicions. That doesn’t mean she’s a moron…
I agree with the inconsistencies in Charlaine’s new novel-the blood bond being the biggest blunder. Not to be picky but there seemed to be many minor continuity issues and tiny blunders that an editor should have corrected. A thing like Sookie leaves the house in a skirt and shirt and comes back in a dress. I devoured the first eight books like an addict and have reread the series as well. I found Dead in the Family to be sub-par. The characters seemed partially developed, the stories associated with them weak and I was drowning in back story, which can be really tedious if you have read all the books. Something is lost in the writing or the narration. Or maybe, just maybe a sign that Sookie’s journey needs to come to an end before she jumps the shark. That being said, I love the world that Charlaine so whimsically created and hope that in the final books we see the characters in all their glory once again. Even Eric bothered me in this one and being a big fan of the Viking that is a hard thing to do.
Definitely agree…It’s a good book but like you, I didn’t feel the need to stop my life in order to finish it (like I have with the other books!) I’m a most definite team Eric but I felt like their relationship here was a little bland… I want them to be together but it just seemed like a bit of the passion had gone astray. Maybe Harris is warming us up for their break-up? I hope not but something does need to change…
Well I wanted to read this review because I just started book 2. I got such a long way to go I dn’t even care about being spoiled ahead and all that…
I too was in the camp that thought for nearly two years. that True Blood was a bunch of redneck crap and wouldn’t even bother to watch it just totally narrow-minded. Didn’t bother to read the books either…now I’m knocking myself out trying to read the books because after just one I couldn’t put it down…
Not only that I had nearly two years of TB to catch up on (and it wasn’t easy) so I enjoyed reading this a lot..
I like all the characters mostly as a Trubie NewB I can only be general (of course) and speak on what liked about the writing and that is the characterization and settings…Just as I imagined it to be for the most part
also its more sensuous than I expected…I too found the book covers interesting but I was fooled by the cover.
I have read everything posted here and have decided to weigh in. In regards to this book I too think That CH is becoming lackluster in her books. The details that kept us page turning are not there. The back story is tedious and is often fraught with inconsistencies and blunders. It is very upsetting. I do not think she is the best writer by far but her thought process on this has been intersting. With that being said I think she has no idea what she really wants for these characters. The inconsistencies however are driving me crazy and makes me feel like CH is a sub par writer. I have never seen a series that the author would just say yep I make mistakes oh well I’m just absent minded. I am a writer. I can tell you I have more pages on back stories and time lines for each character then for the book it self. This is what a good writer does. I am tired of getting bits and pieces of the back story randomly thrown in. Writers of series usually try and keep this to a minimum because the thought process really is you must invest in a series unlike a regular novel. You must read from A to Z to understand. Yes sometimes we backtrack and use things for filler but this is a little to much and if she didn’t back write so much i think there would be less mistakes. But maybe it’s how she remebers what happened I don’t know I just know it’s somewhat annoying. I devoured many of the books but as of late I think they are much less enticing. I found myself skipping through to the Eric parts because yes I am an Eric fan but then when I got there I would be less than happy with the lack of detail she put on it.
I love the relationship between Eric and Sookie and I do think there is love there and it is not just a BB. Bill fans tend to sit and say that Eric had his own agenda from the beginning with Sookie but so did Bill. And really don’t we all have our own motives for doing things at first that may or may not be the same reason down the line we are still doing something. Bill fans you say that there was passion between Bill and Sookie that is not there between Eric and Sookie, I disagree with you. However, I do agree that the relationship was better written. I think CH has lost interest but doesn’t know how to end this so she just keeps writing more and many times it is done poorly. I can honestly say I don’t think any of us are going to be happy in the end with whatever she chooses to do to end this. Bill fan’s and Eric fan’s are going to both be disappointed. Ido not hate Bill, I thought I did for a while but I finally figured out what it is I don’t like. His character is boring, and that isn’t his fault that is CH’s fault she paints Eric so vividly but not Bill. I could conjure up what Eric has always looked like but not Bill until AB put a face to him for me. I feel that E/S should be together because I think it’s more close to a real relationship where Bill is an obsession. I think Sookie needs to get over herself and let Bill go. We have all had first loves but they are most the times not our forever loves. You carry them in your heart but you let them go. Bill is not a bad guy. Some Eric fans like to bash him but I am not this way. I want the best for Bill. To be happy and loved and Sookie can not love him that way. I think they will remain close friends and always be tied but I just don’t see them being a good match. I do not think Pam was warning Sookie to be careful of Eric. I think she was letting her know that she needs to be aptient with him. He has her best interests at heart and sometimes that effects him in a way that is not good for Eric. She said that it had been along time since Eric felt this way about someone. That in my mind makes his love for her even more deep. In regards to the Sookie feeling Apius and not Pam and the fact that Pam must ask for permission to come in and Appius doesn’t I have some theories. I think that maybe Sookie can feel Appius because he is Eric’s maker and Pam is not she is a child of Eric. Same goes for him being able to come in and not Pam. Appius can come in because he is above Eric and Pam must ask because she is below. Just a thought don’t crucify me for it please. In closing I hope the next three books are better. I hope that CH makes some decisions and sticks to them instead of wrenching us back and forth. I think this would make both Bill and Eric fans happier to just know ok this is the way she is going I must accept that.
I know that I am late in coming to the review comments for DITF, but I just re-read it and have a few thoughts that I’d like to share on the subject of where this series is going. First off, I think that CH is definitely on Team Eric, and not just because he has been the main love interest in the majority of her books. I say this because of the look she gave Alan Ball at the latest Comic Con when he stated that he was sure that Bill and Sookie were soul-mates. It was obvious that is not where she is going with the story line. How this plays out in the books depends a lot on how much she is enjoying basking in the reflected glory of True Blood. That being said…
There are two very different ways that this could play out. First off, Eric and Sook could stay together and, by virtue of some accident to Remy, raise Hunter as their child. After all, Eric’s reaction to Hunter in bed in Sookie’s house was a smile (and he pined for his own children for awhile after his turning so we know he loves kids). She might even decide to be turned with this scenerio.
The second way that this could play out is Eric feels betrayed and dumps her because he finds her in bed with her two fae relatives. Remember the note he left her saying it was okay for Hunter and Claude being there as long as they weren’t in his lady’s bed chamber.
I don’t think she will end up with Bill unless she becomes heavily influenced by AB’s version of Sookieville. She probably deserves to end up with Sam as the boring life that would be would be poetic justice.
Would love your thoughts.
I love the series (both the Southern Vampires and TB) and bought the books after knowing they were a series of HBO (I read them first, then I saw the first season on dvd). I boght the package in amazon and simply read all the 7 first books in one week. But I have to admit the first ones were much better and then the story starts to be slower and a little bit boring…
The last one was for me the most confusing and not interesting of all of them (Dead in Family). I live in Brazil, so the books aren’t published here yet (only the first two), so I had to buy it in amazon and wait almost one month to the book arrive here (probably in a horse back, due to all the time it took!) and then I started read and I had to really make me finish the reading, because it was nothing like the others (that I simply couldn’t stop…).
Well, I read a lot here that Eric evoluted and Bill continue the same, but I really miss Eric from the first books. He is not Eric anymore. Eric was vivid, arrogant, dangerous, mysterious, well, a delicious character. This Eric is like Bill used to be. “Oh Sookie, I do anythig for you… I forgive you all your stupidities… Even the fact you would like to kill my maker without any reason…” (so, people, what was that? I couldn’t understand…) so I really miss that Eric from the begining. I like Bill too, but I was waiting for Sookie to stay with Eric. And then it was nothing like I expected.
The book lost a lot of time in small details, like combing hairs or making exercises to fixing all the injuries the fae done on Sookie and really does not enter on Sookie-Eric marriage (how it works, a vampire-human marriage? what that means? Why to continue to be a waitress in Merlott`s?) and does not have any important thing going on, so I really missed the twists, the characters from the first books, the funny situations and the supernatural interesting subject…
I loved this review because I was thinking that was me who were too bored that I didn`t enjoyed, but all that I thought of the book was here, very well written by labtfan, in a funny and intereting way!
And I agree with Pat: maybe Sookie end up with Sam will the boring end she deserves…
From what I have gotten in the last book, it vaguely hinted that Sookie would be with Sam because Alcide wasn’t the same that she remembered, Sookie was jealous that Bill might be with Judith and she has no right to be jealous since they are no longer together and she kept complaining about the blood bond to where she wanted Amelia to help her to erase it.