Reading Level: AdultGenre: Urban Fantasy
Size: 336 pages
Publisher: Ace Hardcover
Release Date: May 3, 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0441020317
Stand Alone or Series: 11th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series
Source: Borrowed from Library
Rating: 2/5 stars
This is the eleventh book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I put off reading this book because I didn’t enjoy the last couple books before this. But with the end of the series (book 13 is supposed to be the last one) looming around the corner, I decided I should just go ahead and read it. I was seriously underwhelmed, but I do want to know what happens.
Sookie is trying to learn to deal with her bond to Eric but then gets caught up in other events when Merlotte’s is firebombed. Initially Sookie and Sam think it is because Sam is two-natured, but then Eric and Pam reveal that they are in a silent war with Victor. As Eric’s wife (in vampire law) she ends up drawn into the whole mess and has to help figure out a way to get rid of Victor forever.
There are a ton of little things going on in this book which makes it very unfocused. Sookie also has Claude and co stopping by quite often, so those faeries are definitely up to something. A bit more is revealed about the fairies and how it further ties into Sookie’s past.
There isn’t a ton of talk about repercussions from the two-natured (shapeshifters) coming out. It is mentioned in the beginning and then kind of goes away. Although there is a lot of worry about the lack of business at Merlotte’s because of Victor’s two new competing bars.
There are a ton of other small things woven into the story as well. Baby showers, attic refinishing, Bill and his current SO, and Pam’s drama with her current SO. Just a lot of little stuff going on that I am not sure really has a purpose.
The majority of the story focuses on Victor and what Pam and Eric have to do to deal with him. Of course Sookie is sucked into all of this because of her closeness to Eric. Still the story felt scattered like a lot of little things are being thrown together.
The heat between Sookie and Eric is lacking; they are at odds for vast portions of the book. Much to my disappointment Bill is creeping back into the picture; I wish we could just settle on one guy and let Sookie have some peace. I mean seriously. Many of the characters just feel tired and feel like they are going through the motions.
The quality of writing is similar to the last couple books, but seriously worse than the beginning of the series. There are a number of places where there is awkward sounding dialogue. I had to go back and re-read a few places in the book to figure out what was even being said...again this points towards poor editing/writing for this book.
This story never grabbed me, I finished it but the whole time just kind of felt blah about it all. This book didn’t have the energy, the mystery, or the creativeness of earlier books in the series. Basically reading this book reminded me why I stopped reading this series. It has gone seriously down hill in the last few books. Really if you liked this book you need to go back and reread the earlier ones and compare...because these last couple books haven’t been near the quality of the earlier ones in this series.
Overall definitely not the best book in the series. Pretty much on par with the last couple books; the plot is scattered, the characters are tired, and the quality of writing is poor. I do enjoy these characters, but I wish that Harris would just end it and stop dragging the characters through these poorly put together stories.
This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
- Horror and Urban Fantasy Challenge
- 150+ Books Reading Challenge
- TBR Pile Reading Challenge
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