Review of Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris

Description: Retrieved from www.amazon.com

"There are secrets in the town of Bon Temps, ones that threaten those closest to Sookie—and could destroy her heart....

Sookie Stackhouse  finds it easy to turn down the request of former barmaid Arlene when she wants her job back at Merlotte’s. After all, Arlene tried to have Sookie killed. But her relationship with Eric Northman is not so clear-cut. He and his vampires are keeping their distance…and a cold silence. And when Sookie learns the reason why, she is devastated.

Then a shocking murder rocks Bon Temps, and Sookie is arrested for the crime.

But the evidence against Sookie is weak, and she makes bail. Investigating the killing, she’ll learn that what passes for truth in Bon Temps is only a convenient lie. What passes for justice is more spilled blood. And what passes for love is never enough…"

 My Review:

Charlaine Harris has a very specific writing style and it can be a little difficult to get through. I think I realized it more with this book than with any of her others. Maybe it is because I have been reading so many other books but it made me cringe a little to read her latest installment.

That said, I definitely devoured this book like all of her others because I was starved to find out what happens next. I wanted to know how things would end. And I truly have to say that I am heartbroken. I knew there were really only three ways this series would end, with Eric, with Bill, or with Sam but the decisions Harris made ruined the series I have been loyally reading for years. I just do not understand what compelled her to make the choice she did. It CERTAINLY wasn't her readers because if any of the comments I have seen so far make up even half of her readers, they were all severely disappointed as well.

Like many, I read this series because of the characters and the plot line. I was drawn in by the supernatural world. It was one of the first supernatural series I started reading many years ago. I thought, "Hell, this is a step up from Twilight! There is actually sex in this!" While I very much enjoyed Twilight, I was hungry for something a bit more adult, and a lot more carnal. I found that in Harris's books. But, after faithfully consuming each book, and waiting on the next one to be released, I read hundreds (maybe even thousands) of books in between and was amazed at how much was out there. There are many authors who are simply better. Their writing is better, their descriptions are better, and their characters are better. However, I was already deeply immersed in the world of Sookie Stackhouse and I just had to know what was going to happen next each time.

Knowing the series was coming to an end was sad for me because it has been a part of my life for years. The show may still be on (and I do love watching True Blood even though it is nothing like the books anymore) but the books have finally come to an end, Harris's version of her story told. But with Harris seeing her characters come alive on tv and seeing what they are capable of, and how great they can be, I really have to again wonder...why!? Why would she do this to her characters? Why would she leave Sookie the way she did, with such a anticlimactic ending to her story. It was almost like she threw it all together with no thought like she was making leftover stew!

Sookie was yet again the damsel in distress who couldn't fully take care of herself. It was kind of infuriating. By this point, the woman should be able to handle herself pretty well. And damn if she doesn't get on my nerves a bit in this book with her whining all the time. "Ugh..all these people are in my house," "Ugh, why do I have to do this," "Ugh, why is Bill here." I feel like she complains about everything and that she is kind of a bitch to people, even her friends/family.

Personally, I have imagined up my own ending, where Sookie gets to be happy and stops her damn stubborn ridiculousness about the concept of turning one day (and her whining for that matter). Where she actually gives that some thought instead of outright denying it. Additionally, what happens to half of her relationships in this book? You barely see some of the most important people in her life- some of her closest friends. If this is the end, I feel as thought they should have made more of an appearance.

I do however, think the villains were a nice twist in this one. It made sense in a complex kind of way and it was a good way to end the series in that aspect in my opinion. But all together I feel like I was cheated and that Sookie was cheated, and that Tara and Terry and Jason and Bill and Pam and Eric and Sam and Barry and Alcede and Quinn and everyone was cheated. They deserved better and I will forever be disappointed in Harris for not giving them the ending they deserved.

Ratings:

Overall Rating:
3/5
Heat Factor:
1/5

MORE TO COME SOON!