I really enjoy this series of books. They are a very interesting read. I like the twists and turns she makes. I like all the charcaters and the realm of what's really out there in the world.

This is a great story! Charlaine Harris has taken me on a wild ride with Sookie and her adventures. I am hooked!

After her shift at Merlotte's one New Year's Eve, Sookie drives down the dark, lonely roads of Bon Temp, LA on her way home. She is surprised to see a man wearing only jeans running as if in fear for his life. She is even more surprised when she recognizes him. It is Eric, the head vampire of the area, who resides in Shreveport.

Welcome to the world of Sookie Stackhouse, a lady often considered a bit odd by others. Although she takes great pains to hide her ability to read minds, many feel uneasy around her and shy away. However, she cannot read the minds of vampires, a group which has recently made themselves known to the human population and now have acknowledged legal rights. Her first real boyfriend was Bill, a vampire, who besides being terribly handsome and charming, has a mind inaccessible to hers. Sookie finds this most agreeable. Through Bill she has met up with Eric. In the past Eric has called upon her to use her unique talent to help retrieve information from the minds of reluctant humans. Sookie has not necessarily liked doing this, but Eric can be fearfully persuasive.

Now Eric is the vulnerable one. Although Sookie recognizes him, he has no idea who she is. In fact he doesn't know who he is. His confusion leads him to be fearful at times something that Sookie thought she would ever see in this strong, tall, blonde handsome hunk. She takes him to her house after persuading him that he can trust her. Once he is settled she contacts Pam, his second in command. What Sookie eventually learns is that a coven of powerful witches has appeared in Shreveport. Many in the group are more than human. They are shape shifters who add to their strength by drinking vampire blood. One of the witches placed a curse on Eric when he rebuffed her. Meanwhile Sookie's attraction to Eric intensifies. It helps, of course, that she and Bill have had a huge falling out and he has gone off to Peru.

Another complication arises when Sookie's brother Jason goes missing. She fears that he has been murdered by one of the witches.

This is the fourth book in the Southern Vampire series. With each volume the preternatural world as seen through Sookie's eyes becomes more complex, more dangerous, and more interesting. As always Sookie's level head and wry insights makes each installment a fun read.

I am now a big fan of Charlaine Harris's writings. I've read all the Sookie Stackhouse novels, including the short stories that are part of other anthologies, and I am intrigued by this author's humor and diligence to her characters.

I have recently become acquainted with Charlene Harris' works. I have enjoyed each and every one and hope she writes many more. The seller provided it as promised and well within the shipment window promised.

Another winner. I can't wait for future tales in the Sookie Stackhouse saga. I love the was Ms. Harris doesn't throw in a bunch of useless characters that don't mean anything to the plot. Each character in these stories has a story of their own & after you read a few of these novels you feel like you are a part of Bon Temps.

I left Team Bill and became Team Eric with this book. I have read it five times. Its my favorite. I never thought anyone could leave Team Bill because Bill is the "dude".

When I have nothing to do I pull it out and just read it again. Especially the good parts.

Villian: 5
Plot: 5
Creativity: 5
Uniqueness: 5
Humor: 5
Bringing the sexy: 5
Passion: 5 stars
Dullness setting in on Series: 0
Laughs & Amusement factor: 5
Silly Whiners getting on your nerves: 0
Lazy Author repeating too much from prior chapters/books (cut/paste): 0

This is my favorite book so far from all the series....
Fairies are introduced along with many other intresting things...
Im really starting to hate Bill and loving Eric.

I enjoyed this book the most of the series I think. There were just some many excellent things that occurred and they were well written. I would recommend this to others.

I really liked "Dead Until Dark," the first of Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse mysteries, hated its sequel, and felt (thankfully) that the third book, "Club Dead," was almost as good as the first. But this fourth in the series is the one that's hooked me.

I love that Harris isn't afraid to shake things up and pull the rug out from under her characters (and the reader, by extension). In "Dead to the World," plot lines careen in unexpected directions, relationships end, new ones begin, people die in sudden, violent ways. It all adds up to a darker, more intense depiction of Sookie's world than we've seen before; and as she discovers the existence of stranger and stranger beings, and the stakes (no pun intended) get higher, the reading experience becomes richer.

Harris seems to have found her groove with the series, presenting the story in less comic book terms than she has before. There's a melancholy that permeates the book, giving it a weight and depth missing from earlier installments; which is not to say that her usual wit and naughty sense of humor aren't as hilariously in evidence. So, while I'm sorry for Sookie that her life is so up in the air, I'm very happy that Harris is back on solid ground.

I haven't read the last two books yet, but this book is my fav so far.

"Dead to the World" takes you back into the elusive world of Sookie Stackhouse. It is an excellent read, with many more charactors introduced in this book, it is sure to become one of your favorites! Remember to read the books in order so that nothing is lost! I skipped over one and I was lost until I managed to find a copy and catch up. Book 4, "Dead to the World" is probably one of my favorites as Harris brings you deeper and deeper into her world.

I started watching the show on HBO and like everyone else; I fell in love with it. It made me want to read the books. The first 2 I devoured. The 3rd was okay. I was hoping that the Sookie Bill relationship would resolve. But this book was ridiculously horrible. I hated Eric's character in it. Sookie was off her game. And no Bill!!!! I miss Bill. I am going to read the others, but I am hoping that they get better and that Bill is back in the picture. I know that that show is not following the 1st book exactly and I am happy about that. I hope the show continues on this path because if we loose Bill in the show, I'm gonna stop watching!

There are so many summaries I'm submitting an opinion review only. These books are wonderful. CH has created a warm, funny, irresistable world that draws you in and that's it---your hooked!

I love the show True Blood. I am glad it seems it is not going to follow the books. This book was boring and Sookie is becoming a "hoochie".

I started reading this series because I am addicted to "TrueBlood" on HBO. I have to say after reading the other books at lightening speed and truly enjoying the others, this one is terrible. I do hope the rest of the series picks up. Here is my summation. Sookie= loose woman, crybaby who can't seem to stop making terrible decisions and getting badly beaten up over them. Sookie Stackhouse= Harry Potter all grown up with a libido. One more pet peeve Sookie pointing out the "word of the day" randomly throughout this book is totally unbelievable, and not in a good way. Not my favorite, but I am hoping the series will pick up again.

As I have said in my last three reviews on the previous books the only reason I putting myself through the time consuming cloud of these novels is because I love the show on HBO and don't want to wait years to find out what happens (even though the show seems like a different story at times). I was surprised though that this book was actually better then the first three. The story wasn't as choppy and Sookie seems to be acting her age and not like a baby. I am also surprised at how much I like Eric. The producers of the "True Blood" series didn't in my opinion choose the right man for the role. Here's hoping that every book in the series improves like this one did!

I absolutely loved this book and it's my favorite so far in this series. Sookie is an incredible character. She's sweet, smart, sassy and doesn't take any crap from anyone. She's also a telepath, which makes her even more interesting.

She finds Eric, a gorgeous vampire leader who been interested in her past and she happens to have a blood bond with. When she finds him, she realizes, Eric doesn't remember anything at all. She agrees to keep him safe at her house until they can find out who/what's responsible for his memory loss. Eric's new personality makes him absolutely dreamy, but Sookie knows that this may only be temporary.

As if Sookie didn't have enough to deal with, her brother Jason turns up missing and the circumstances seem to point to foul play. So Sookie must find out what happened to her brother and deal with the Eric situation.

In this book we are introduced to more "supes". Supernaturals, like werewolfs, shapeshifters, fairies and witches. While the vampires are the most interesting, the supes really add to the story.

Most of the Supes (especially the vamps) seem to love Sookie, and because Harris does a great job defining Sookie, it's easy to understand why they would. She gets a great deal of help from the Supernatural world to get to the bottom of Jason's disapperance and Erics memory loss.

This is a fun read and an absolute page turner. If you love this series, you won't be disappointed in this installment. One thing I can say about Harris is that she has a knack for being able to end a story leaving you satisfied, but keeping enough loose ends to continue to series. I can't wait to see what happens next.

The fourth book in the Sookie Stackhouse series has a better story and more action than book 3, but my favorite vamp, Bill Compton has maybe 5 pages in the whole book? Eric is the romantic interest in this installment and for me, that just fell flat. What saved this one for me was the introduction of the community of Hotshot and the supernatural residents.

This has to be my favorite book in the series and certainly has propelled me into reading further. It has everything a vampire murder mystery romance should have! I swear, Charlaine Harris has created a whole other book genre! :)

With this latest "Southern Vampire novel," our telepathic heroine, Sookie Stackhouse, just your average, pretty young barmaid with the "disability" of being able to read human beings' minds, finds herself still on the outs with her first love, "Vampire Bill." And I have to take my hat off to Ms. Harris, because the characters are all so well written... I could FEEL Bill's strained propreity. He's never been a big talker, always polite and genteel, and while he's made Sookie feel like a million bucks at times, he's also done a no-no and broken her heart. Enter Eric, the vampire Viking who owns the bar, "Fangtasia," and has always been a delicious flirt with Miss Stackhouse. When Sookie finds Eric half naked and suffering from a witch's curse of amnesia, Sookie inadvertantly agrees to hide Eric in her house til the other vampires can sort out the curse.

In this novel, romance is rich, the sex scenes are STEAMY, the villains are scary as ever, and the writing is so good! I got shivers when Sookie went to the backwoods town of Hotshot, an unsettling place of shapeshifters. And the clipped, green lawns of the were community in Shreveport. Everything was so clear and detailed. And the characters were VIVID! Because of Sookie's "sixth sense," I felt like I knew everyone! And my favorite flirt, Eric, gets to show his true character (in my opinion). Loved loved loved this vampire romance!

Very good story line. Of course the whole series is good in my opinion. :)

The modern vampire genre is largely one intended for light and entertaining reading, and fans do not often make the mistake of "expecting too much" from such fiction. To this end, Harris delivers - she presents readers with quick easy reads without requiring much engagement or consideration.

As the series continues, her skills and confidence as an author continue to improve. However, her established setting is increasingly problematic - though a small town is certainly a charming setting for a novel or two, the height to which Harris has taken the supernatural has likewise increased the absurdity of her books, and becomes a detracting factor.

I never thought I would enjoy this series, but right from the first chapter of book 1, I was hooked!! This is not the kind of book I would ordinarily buy, but book 1 was given to me by a friend. she had not read it & said she bought it by mistake. I happened to open it up when I had nothing else to read & "BAM" I was hooked!!
I find Sookie an absolute delight. I love reading about each & every new & different species she manages to come across. She is serious where she should be & light hearted where it's appropriate.
I'm so happy that Sookie & Eric get together in this book, since I've always been rather partial to him.
I look forward to the other books in this series and I sure hope they all stay as good as the first four.

Before I launch into my review, I just have to ask, do Wiccans ever get a break? From evil lesbian Wiccan witch Willow in Buffy the Vampire Slayer to the evil werewolf Wiccans in Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris's fourth book in the Southern Vampire series, real Wiccans are getting a bad rap. At least Harris did some research into Wiccan covens and culture.

In Dead to the World, telepath Sookie runs across a man running half-naked through the woods on a freezing winter's night. It turns out to be Eric, all-powerful and ancient vampire who's tried to seduce Sookie on several occasions (and who also happens to be her undead boyfriend's boss). Problem is, Eric is suffering from a bad case of amnesia as the result of a spell, and doesn't remember who he is.

Sookie is appointed Eric's guardian as she and her gang track down the leader of a group of Evil Wiccan Witches (TM) who plan to take over Shreveport. Once again, her boyfriend Vampire Bill is conveniently absent from this book, leaving her open to sexual encounters of the undead kind with Eric (in oh-so-graphic detail; I never again want to see the words "Mr. Happy" in a vampire novel).

Sookie's former host Alcide also figures rather prominently, and his werewolf pack is explored in greater detail as Sookie searches desperately for her brother Jason, who's disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The final showdown between the Evil Wiccan Witches (TM) and Sookie's clan is extremely gruesome and seemed to drag on; enough with it, already! After Eric has his memory restored, he oh-so-conveniently forgets the sex with Sookie, and she leaves it at that.

As the series progresses, Sookie is becoming more and more a cold-blooded killer; her body count, whether intentional or not, keeps climbing with each successive book, although she does fret accordingly. Also, from her first boyfriend Vampire Bill, she's become a bit ... opportunistic when Bill isn't around (so far, she's flirted/fondled with Eric, Alcide, and her boss). I enjoyed the interactions with the vampire community in the earlier books, but the later entries are more focused on supernaturals and violence than exploring the intricacies of vampire lore. The subplot involving Jason and the Shifters was a bit of a stretch, but I still enjoy following along with Sookie on her supernatural Southern adventures.

Love these books. Definitely adult reading..totally entertaining. adult situations are enchanting..makes YOU want to be Sookie! Some hot vamps running around!

Love it, the series is fantastic, Eric the Vamp mmm how can I say just fab.

Of the three books of the series that I've read, "Dead To the World" was the best. I skipped the first book frankly because I figured I got the gist of the storyline. Personally I think she should tell Eric what happened between them and then see how it goes, get over the whole Bill thing already ... move on. Frankly it's just something about Bill's personality that is a little off. At least with Eric she knows what he's all about.

That being said. I have a few problems with the series in general. I have noticed that we get a lot background on characters who are technically irrelevant to the storyline, but who pop up here and there for no particular reason or for filler. Sookie's internal dialogue waffling over various situations, and random thoughts that have nothing to do with whatever danger or situation she's facing are kind of annoying. Also, the "white picket fence" syndrome she seems to suffer from is rather odd considering the "disability" she's had for most of her life. And lastly, Sookie needs put Sam in the "male that's a friend" box and leave him there. often times it feels like she's giving him mixed signals.

Of the three books of the series that I've read, "Dead To the World" was the best. I skipped the first book frankly because I figured I got the gist of the storyline. Personally I think she should tell Eric what happened between them and then see how it goes, get over the whole Bill thing already ... move on. Frankly it's just something about Bill's personality that is a little off. At least with Eric she knows what he's all about.

That being said. I have a few problems with the series in general. I have noticed that we get a lot background on characters who are technically irrelevant to the storyline, but who pop up here and there for no particular reason or for filler. Sookie's internal dialogue waffling over various situations, and random thoughts that have nothing to do with whatever danger or situation she's facing are kind of annoying. Also, the "white picket fence" syndrome she seems to suffer from is rather odd considering the "disability" she's had for most of her life. And lastly, Sookie needs put Sam in the "male that's a friend" box and leave him there. often times it feels like she's giving him mixed signals.

The book was great. For anyone who hasn't read about Sookie's adventures, your really missing out. Charlaine Harris writes about vampires as people. The stories are interesting,funny,and sometimes sad. I own them all to date. It's hard to put them down once you start reading. I hope Sookie has a long wonderful life, I look forward to reading about it.

I started reading this series and found my hunger for them paramount to a vampires hunger for blood. Fortunately, I can read these in the daylight! These books are a wonderful mixture of sci-fi, detective novel and romance. Balancing all three must be hard work, but the balance works well.

This book brings in some different segments of the "supe" world. Sookie has her higher than normal share of bad luck. So you really pull for her. Will she find her brother in time? Will Eric replace Bill? Will Eric regain his memory? Will Sookie ever find love? You'll have to read to find out.

Make sure you start with book 1. I think you'll find this book as enjoyable as the others.

this is the 4th Charlaine Harris book I have read and each one has been as good as the first. Her main character is fun and someone with whom all women can associate. She notes the condition of her pedicure at the oddest of times and is just doing what she needs to do to get through a day. Of course a day may be just working as a barmaid but it also includes hot men which is a constant surprise and violence of an underworld which is always new.

I got started with these books b/c they had sparkles on the cover,
and became a fan.
Sookie is a warm funny character with brass...
The other characters are great too.

Throw in vampires, shapeshifters, werewolves, fairies, witches, a missing brother, and an ex-boyfriend who happens to be a vampire, and what do you get? Sookie Stackhouse's life! In Dead to the World, despite promises to leave the supernatural beings behind her, Sookie finds herself yet again caught up in the world of mystery of the undead. Thinking herself insulated against more interactions with vampires, Sookie is once again wrong as she discovers the sexy vampire Eric alongside the road on her way home from work on New Year's Eve. Only it's not the all-knowing, arrogant vampire she's used to seeing; Eric's memory has been erased and suddenly, he's a much kinder, gentler version of his former self. And what can Sookie do but agree to watch over him while his vampire circle try to chase down whoever has done this to him?

Lots and lots of supernatural beings populate this installment as we get our first look at witches, fairies, and werepanthers. Sookie's main concern, beyond taking care of the changed Eric (who grows sexier by the minute), is the sudden disappearance of her brother, Jason. Fearing the worst, the community goes looking for him but it's as though he's vanished without a trace. In her quest for her brother, Sookie sees for herself the devastation witches/werewolves can cause as the book builds toward a climatic battle between the local supes and a coven of witches determined to take over Area 5. And what on earth is the mind-reading Sookie doing in the middle of the battle? And how will she learn to live with herself if she, accidentally or not, causes death to a fellow human?

This book is indeed filled with many layers as Sookie's world expands with demands placed upon her. Sookie's very real devastation at losing her brother is tempered by her very real attraction to Eric, but will this version of Eric last? My one irritation with this novel is how much time Sookie spends crying, but at least there are legitimate reasons for it. Delightful and deadly, this is one of the best installments in this series yet. Recommended! On to number 5.

In Harris's fourth installment of her fabulous series, our darling Sookie has had a falling out with her vampire (ex?) boyfriend Bill...and in typical male fashion, he runs off to Peru on "business." To further complicate her life, Sookie rescues a naked and desparate Eric running down a dark country ride late a night. She stops for the "rescue;" and soon discovers that not only has Eric completely lost his memory, but that he is being sought by a coven of deadly and unscrupulous witches....who also happen to be vampire blood addicts. At Pam's request, Sookie agrees to hide Eric until the vamps can rid Bon Temps of the deadly coven; but this may prove deliciously dangerous to Sookie herself. How long can she deny the attraction held by the newly innocent and naive Eric? The tale climaxes in a "war" by the vamps and weres against the dangerous coven of witches....this one may be Harris's best yet.



DYB

Dead to the World (2004) is the fourth Rural Fantasy novel in the Southern Vampire series, following Club Dead. In the previous volume, shortly before Christmas, some Were friends of Jerry Falcon had beat up Sookie Stackhouse, but then Eric Northman and Bill Compton arrived and left bodies lying all around the house. Later Sookie found out who had killed Jerry and why. After Eric and Bill started posturing, she rescinded their permission to enter her house and everything calmed down enough for Sookie to relax for a while.

In this novel, the Merlotte's Bar and Grill staff had suffered through New Year's Eve. Sookie is very tired as she travels home from work, at least until she sees someone running down the road. He is shirtless and bare footed in the cold, so she stops her car and offers him a ride. Then she recognizes that the man is Eric Northman, the Vampire Area 5 Sheriff.

As she talks to Eric, Sookie soon realizes that he has lost his memory and much of the confidence that comes from knowing your place in society. Now he is afraid and uncertain, fleeing from something that he doesn't even remember. So Sookie takes him to her house and provides him a place to stay until she can notify his vampire subjects.

When Pam and Chow come to the house, Eric really doesn't recognize them, but they do have an explanation. Sookie learns that a group of powerful witches -- some of whom are Were -- are demanding a piece of the action in Eric's territory. These witches are even more dangerous because they are addicted to vampire blood, which makes them stronger, faster and able to heal more quickly.

Meanwhile, Sookie's brother Jason disappears. Sookie reports his absence to Sheriff Bud Dearborn, but the Sheriff is not concerned. Jason has been known to spend the night with many women and maybe he decided to take the day off to further explore some woman's charms. Yet Sookie knows that Jason doesn't miss any days at work.

Sookie starts looking on her own. She also wants to get the shotgun that Jason promised to bring to her. Arriving at Jason's house, she finds Alcee Beck, the county's only Black detective, already there. They work together to search the house and surrounding property and find some blood on the dock.

Later, Sookie checks out some of Jason's girlfriends. Carla Rodriguez knows nothing about Jason's whereabouts and really prefers not to have anything more to do with him. Crystal Norris, however, had been in the house when Jason arrived home the previous night.

Only orders from her Uncle Calvin makes Crystal tell Sookie about the interesting things that she had heard while inside the house. Yet Crystal claims to have never looked out the windows and to have not recognized the other voice(s). Thus, she does not know who had argued with Jason.

In this story, Eric had lost his memory as the result of an attack by one of his vampire subjects upon Hallow, the witch leader. As soon as Chow attacked her, Eric disappeared from a meeting with his inner circle. Obviously Hallow had been protected by a magical spell that was triggered by the attack.

These witches contact other covens and independent witches in the area and propose mergers. They also contact the Shreveport Were Pack and later kill a pack member. They break into Fangtasia -- the vampire bar -- and cause the death of a waitress. Indeed, the Witches frighten and irritate so many supernaturals in the area that they force an alliance against themselves.

This story contains even more sex, this time with the cursed Eric. Bill has left for Peru to work on his database, but returns later in the book to find his Sookie being intimate with his boss. Sam Merlotte is very helpful and is still featured in Sookie's fantasies, but she is determined not to have an affair with her boss.

Claudine the fairy -- the kind with pointed ears -- is introduced in this book. She saves Sookie from falling asleep behind the wheel, but just how did she get into the moving car? She also provides some critical information on the bad witches, but her blood is intoxicating to vampires. They become focused on her and just creep closer and closer to her until they are close enough to bite, so Claudine is often not able to remain in Sookie's vicinity for very long.

Highly recommended for Harris fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of preternatural creature, vampire politics and telepathic waitresses.

-Arthur W. Jordin

In Book 3 Bill the Vampire is kidnapped and out of action for virtually the entire book. In Book 4 (Dead to the World) he has gone (inexplicably) to Peru. I kept reading and reading, expecting him to return, because he is a complex and high-quality character. The characters that replaced him in the story line are one-dimenional, and there are too many of them. The whole series seems to spin out of control. I finally gave up on the book about 2/3 through and didn`t finish it.

When Sookie finds Eric, Sheriff of Vampires Area 5, running down the street on New Years Eve, she is more than a little shocked. When she realizes he has no memory of her or anything else, she is terrified, but can't turn him away; she takes him home with her. After contacting Pam and Chow, Eric's closest associates, she discovers a plot by some witches to gain control of Eric and his business, Fangtasia. Just when you think things can't get worse, they do.

Sookie is mending a broken heart while trying to get used to all the positive male attention she is receiving from the not so human men in her lives. Eric is not the same arrogant and charismatic vampire Sookie has known. He is vulnerable and caring and Sookie finds her defenses breaking down. It was wonderful to see a softer side of Eric. Despite her promises to herself, she finds herself in the midst of a battle Werewolves and Vampires against Witches.

This was another exciting tale; we meet more of the supernatural world and learn more about them. With the introduction of some new characters there are visits from some familiar faces. This was my favorite book in the series, so far. There was romance, vampire lovin', emotions galore and with the battle royal, a lot of action. There were some loose ends that weren't tied for me, but I am hoping to find them tied in the next book.

Ms. Sookie beware of that savagely handsome half naked vamp!!! Oh well, what's girl to do who's broken up with her previous vamp boyfriend!!!
What a great fourth installment to the Southern Vampire Mystery Series...vamps, weres, witches and a war!!!

I don't consider myself an avid reader of vampire novels or romance books, but I love this series. The charm, humor and adventure all add up to books that especially in this latest installment are hard to put down. Though I like Bill, I really enjoyed Sookie's relationship with Eric in this one. I hope to see more of the same in the next book. This series entertains thoroughly, and I'm glad I came across it.

I love the Sookie Stackhouse series. This one is just as good as the rest. Sookie must take in Eric, very powerful vamp in the vamp society, but he has lost his memory. Other problems occur, but I don't want to spoil them for you, just know that they are big problems for the supernatural society. Good read, one of my favorites from the Sothern Vampire series.

I love the Sookie Stackhouse series. This one is just as good as the rest. Sookie must take in Eric, very powerful vamp in the vamp society, but he has lost his memory. Other problems occur, but I don't want to spoil them for you, just know that they are big problems for the supernatural society. Good read, one of my favorites from the Sothern Vampire series.

Ok so i am not one of those people that has a great attention span, mine lasts about 45 min tops and thats on a good day (15 on a bad day). But, this book (as well as all the other Southern Vampire Novel series)not only got my attention but held onto it like the "Jaws of life". Ill admit that the first book in the series that i read was DEAD AS A DOORNAIL and I got that at CVS while i was waiting, but i ended up finishing it in about a day and a half and as soon as i finished went out intending to get the DEFINITLY DEAD book and could not stomach paying $23 for a book, but was glad to see that there were other books that i should have read before that one, and ened up geting all the ones that they had out in paperback. i am not ashamed to say that it took me maybe a whole week to finish them all, and am reading them again (for the second time). my only complaint is ....WHY CANT PUBLISHERS PRINT PAPPERBACK COPIES WHEN THEY PRINT HARDBACKS!?!?!? But i geuss in my beating around the bush way i am saying that this are all GREAT books

I really loved this installment of the Sookie series. As a character, she gets more likeable with each book. I liked this book b/c it combined the witches, werewolves, and vampires. Harris is making Sookie's world more and more interesting, and I can't say enough great things about the series.

There's much to like in this series, particurarily in this book. It's got all the "normal" paranormal fare with, what I thought, is a really good story. I am definitely going to read more of this series now. Along with this one, I also recommend "Dead Sexy, vampire erotica" and "The Laughing Corpse".

The only thing predictable about this series is that they are great. What's not to like... witches, were-wolves, vampires, were-panthers and a telepath. In this installment in the Southern Vampire Series witches have put a curse on Eric, the vampire Sheriff of Area Five. Eric has forgotten that his is the all-powerful being. He clings to Sookie for comfort and that is not all he will find.

Of all the Southern Vampire mysteries, this one is my favorite so far. There was a logical (if somewhat thin) storyline that was fairly easy to follow, the characters acted predictably, and there was enough going on to make the story interesting, but not overwhelming.

One thing I cannot understand is, what is Sookie Stackhouse's appeal?? I understand she's tall and blonde and is fairly well-endowed... but...??? In every book, she has at least four "men" (if you can call a were panther, a werewolf, a shifter, and a vampire or two "men") aching to jump her bones. I just don't get it -- particularly when you take into consideration that she says she's inexperienced in matters of the heart. Enough is enough!

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book. Just enough spook to make it interesting. Memorable characters, and a lot of fun. Perfect October Halloween read.

I don't want to talk badly about this book by Charlaine Harris because she seems like a very bubbly, fun, author. You could feel her personality coming out through the story and it made you laugh quite often. However, overall I did not enjoy the storyline. It is most likely the case that this genre is not for me and not the fact that the book was terrible.

I was able to finish the book in a pretty short amount of time, which should reinforce the fact that the book was not a horrible one. I just did not enjoy the story. It was a lot of well "he's here ...and she's there"...and blah blah. I was not drawn in and despite the fact that the book is a fantasy novel I still feel that the storyline should be believable in its own context. This book is way over the top and not even believable in its own genre. However, it is most likely meant to be this way.

Anyways, if you enjoy "barbie books" Pink gossipy princess books and you also enjoy fantasy then this is a good twist for you. However, if it wasn't for the sexual content I would say this type of storyline overall is meant for a much younger audience *YAWN*

I don't see anything exciting about this book. It was a lackluster shadow of LKH's vamp stories; sort of like Anita Blake on tranquilizers--ELEPHANT tranquilizers.

The voice used for the story--Sookie Stackhouse--was too dry and uninteresting; and I'm not one of those who has a problem with first person narrative. Two of the best series around today, LKH's Anita Blake, and Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, use first person, and they are riveting.

This is just too laid back for me--and I happen to like laid back, which is why Patricia Gaffney and Judith Ivory rate so high on my list of must-haves. But I practically snored through the sex scenes, and the rest of it was just too boring; I never got to like this girl with the should-have-been-funny-but-was-just-weird name.

She thought of herself as the girl everyone else thinks is weird, and by the time I was about a third into the book, I thought she WAS weird. There was just this overall "I'm a dead-end (no pun intended) person, living a dead-end life" feel to the book that I couldn't get past. It was as if she were someone who had given up on life before she even tried it.

I mean, she's a cocktail waitress with no future ambition to be anything else, who ends up taking money for doing something she should have done--Anita would have--for nothing. (And this book does beg for comparisons given its similarity to some aspects of LKH's work. Sadly, it suffers by those comparisons.)

Won't put a spoiler here by saying what she should have done, but she just doesn't come across as someone who really cares for anyone else, or who anyone else really cares about either--not even her own brother. (You get the feeling he's only asking for money for her so he can borrow.)If nobody else cares about her, why should we?

And if she were just a bit more sharp--why not have her ask for the money herself?--she would at least have had some edge to her. Instead, she's an ill-defined, amorphous blob, with no sharp edges, like a no-fat, no-salt diet of English 'cuisine'. Yuk.

Sad to say, the author provides us with absolutely no reason to care about this character. Sookie is nothing special, in character, in intellect, in personality; she's just blah, a loser and too lazy even to care. Worse, she seems to think we won't notice, which indicates she thinks WE'RE losers too. I should like this person? No.

The whole book is the forced interactions of a bunch of characters who seem disconnected from themselves and each other. The characters have no emotional investment in themselves, anyone else, or even much in what's going on; even when they 'rally for war', it's half-hearted and hard to believe (characters that have lived such long and dangerous lives don't have any better idea of how to go about taking out the enemy than what's shown here? Please.). It makes it impossible to invest anything in them yourself.

Even the 'Bubba' thing, which should have and could have been an original and interesting touch, falters in the hands of this writer so that it seems--well, stupid.

I'd had some high recommendations from a few people--should have remembered they also recommended K. MacGregor's Sword Of Darkness and Savannah Russe's Beyond The Pale--for this book. I suppose if your reading tastes aren't very broad or varied, it would seem like a decent read to you. But it never took off at all; despite dramatic situations and the introduction of what should have been but weren't interesting characters, this book was like reading an obituary--so I guess you could say it WAS aptly named. (Sure put me to sleep.*G*)

I try to consider other reading levels when I give a review; there are those of us who have a wider reading experience, and there are those of us who are maybe still in junior high school or such, and just starting out. This is the only reason I give this book 3 and a half stars; I feel that for those whose reading level is junior high school or below, this book might seem pretty good.

But for anyone out of jr. high, I really think this book is more a one to two star read; something you'd read if you had nothing else to read, or (as I did) simply because you told someone else you would; I wouldn't have finished it otherwise.

I can forgive a lot in a writer if they can just give me characters I can care about, and plots or situations that are interesting; sadly, Ms. Harris fails to do either.

I won't be reading any other of her books--unless I get roped into it again. :-P

I don't see what people seem to be excited about with this book. It was a lackluster shadow of LKH's vamp stories; sort of like Anita Blake on tranquilizers.

The voice used for the story--Sookie Stackhouse--was too dry and uninteresting; and I'm not one of those who has a problem with first person narrative. Two of the best series around today, LKH's Anita Blake, and Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, use first person, and they are riveting.

This is just too laid back for me--and I happen to like laid back, which is why Patricia Gaffney and Judith Ivory rate so high on my list of must-haves. But I practically snored through the sex scenes, and the rest of it was just too boring; I never got to like this girl with the should-have-been-funny-but-was-just-weird name. She thought of herself as the girl everyone else thinks is weird, and by the time I was about a third into the book, I thought she WAS weird. There was just this overall "I'm a dead-end (no pun intended) person, living a dead-end life" feel to the book that I couldn't get past.

I mean, she's a cocktail waitress with no future ambition to be anything else, who ends up taking money for doing something she should have done--Anita would have--for nothing. Won't put a spoiler here by saying what, but she just doesn't come across as someone who really cares for anyone else, or who anyone else really cares about either--not even her own brother. (You get the feeling he's only asking for money for her so he can borrow.)If nobody else cares about her, why should we?

Sad to say, the author provides us with absolutely no reason to do so. Sookie is nothing special, in character, in intellect, in personality; she's just blah, a loser and too lazy even to care. Worse, she seems to think we won't notice, which indicates she thinks WE'RE losers too. I should like this person? No.

The whole book is the forced interactions of a bunch of characters who seem disconnected from themselves and each other. The characters have no emotional investment in themselves, anyone else, or even much in what's going on; even when they 'rally for war', it's half-hearted and hard to believe (characters that have lived such long and dangerous lives don't have any better idea of how to go about taking out the enemy than what's shown here? Please.). It makes it impossible to invest anything in them yourself.

Even the 'Bubba' thing, which should have and could have been an original and interesting touch, falters in the hands of this writer so that it seems--well, stupid.

I'd had some high recommendations from a few people--should have remembered they also recommended K. MacGregor's Sword Of Darkness and Savannah Russe's Beyond The Pale--for this book. I suppose if your reading tastes aren't very broad or varied, it would seem like a decent read to you. But it never took off at all; despite dramatic situations and the introduction of what should have been but weren't interesting characters, this book was like reading an obituary--so I guess you could say it WAS aptly named. *G*

I try to consider other reading levels when I give a review; there are those of us who have a wider reading experience, and there are those of us who are maybe still in junior high school or such, and just starting out. This is the only reason I give this book 3 and a half stars; I feel that for those whose reading level is junior high school or below, this book might seem pretty good.

But for anyone out of jr. high, I really think this book is more a one to two star read; something you'd read if you had nothing else to read, or (as I did) simply because you told someone else you would; I wouldn't have finished it otherwise.

I can forgive a lot in a writer if they can just give me characters I can care about, and plots or situations that are interesting; sadly, Ms. Harris fails to do either.

I won't be reading any other of her books--unless I get roped into it again. :-P

Love the Southern Vampire series. I want to be Sookie Stackhouse! Started with "Dead Until Dark" Labor Day weekend. I am now awaiting the arrival of "Defenitly Dead" and it is not even Memorial Day! Try the first book and you too will be hooked.