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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
This last book in the series seems to have had a very polarizing effect on Sookie's fans. While I was a fan of Eric and the thought of Sookie turning vampire would've made an interesting twist I felt that the way this ended was right. It may not have been the most exciting choice but it was a steady one. It brought back all of the players, wrapped them up, and sent them on their way. In the end I believe the man she ended up with was the only choice she could have for a very human, somewhat normal, future. And as much as the novels themselves have taken on a life of their own with the fans, I applaud Ms. Harris for concluding her story the way that she wished. Sookie began in her way, it's only right that she ends it in her way as well. After all, Sookie is her creation, one whom she lent the world awhile, but she was never our creation and I'm happy that I at least got to spend 13 books with her.
It was actually pretty good. Not best Sookie but definitely not the worts either. I liked the ending. Many reviews I read have shown great disappointment with the conclusion but I am actually happy by the way things turned out. Nothing too sealed forever you might say. I would have been truly dissatisfied if everything was concluded and folded into a neat pile. It wouldn't have done the series honor that way. In Sookie's life nothing seems ever quite sure. ;)
The last Sookie Stackhouse book. *sigh*
Let me tell you first off that this review will have spoilers because I can't talk about this without talking about it. We do start off with a rant here, not necessarily about the book, but about the whiny naysayers out there.
After I finished the book I looked at some reviews on GoodReads and Shelfari and I was surprised to see so many one star reviews. I mean, it wasn't the best book in the series, but shit got tied up and that's good enough for me. Charlaine Harris isn't writing the Great American Novel. She's written a tacky romance series with bad sex scenes and for some reason it's incredibly appealing. So shut up already. One of the most common complaints was that Sookie didn't end up with Eric and wasn't turned. I'm sorry, but if you want to read a book where the 'heroine' ends up a vampire and married to a vampire go read Twilight. This is a different story.
It's completely ridiculous the entitlement that readers have. You did not write this series. You did not create this world or give birth onto pages these characters. Sure, you invested money into the books and fell in love with characters, but come on. You don't get to say what happens to anyone and you shouldn't whine when it doesn't go the way you wanted it to. I get being disappointed, truly I do, but seriously, get over it. If you don't like it there's this thing called 'fan fiction' - go write some. But I suppose like most, if you can't write, critique.
Oh, and to those people who said that the whole Sam thing was way out of left field? You're idiots. Plain and simple. Since the first book I knew that someday Sookie would end up with Sam. Good god people, Harris has been building that one up for YEARS. If you didn't see that coming I don't know what to tell you.
And all that above is the reason why so many gave the book one star reviews. Because they were being children who didn't get what they wanted.
That being said, the book was different. We were taken out of Sookie's head for the first time ever as she touched upon different characters. It was disconcerting and I truly didn't feel like I was reading a Sookie book until I was back with her. It wasn't bad, it was just different.
There was too much going on. I understand that she wanted to bring back as many characters as she could to tie up loose ends and to cement Sookie's life in place, but the whole devil/Copley thing was completely unnecessary. Didn't need it, didn't add anything to the story as a whole and ended up being pretty anticlimactic. And instead of having that business in there maybe she could've given more attention to the Eric/Sookie debacle. I mean, it has been this huge thing that's driven the entire series so maybe spend a little more than a couple chapters on the demise of the relationship. It was all so rushed. We're introduced to a major new character (Karin) and then just kind of, 'well, see ya, bye.'
Everything did work out in the end and maybe that's what pissed people off? But like I said, this stuff is fluff. It was entertaining, but I don't need to sit and ponder about it. It did what it should have done and entertained me for a couple of hours.
I can't say I'm sad it's over. After probably the 5th book I was just kind of, 'meh'. I was reading just because it was something to read. But I'm glad there's an ending and I don't have to read about Bill anymore.
Let me tell you first off that this review will have spoilers because I can't talk about this without talking about it. We do start off with a rant here, not necessarily about the book, but about the whiny naysayers out there.
After I finished the book I looked at some reviews on GoodReads and Shelfari and I was surprised to see so many one star reviews. I mean, it wasn't the best book in the series, but shit got tied up and that's good enough for me. Charlaine Harris isn't writing the Great American Novel. She's written a tacky romance series with bad sex scenes and for some reason it's incredibly appealing. So shut up already. One of the most common complaints was that Sookie didn't end up with Eric and wasn't turned. I'm sorry, but if you want to read a book where the 'heroine' ends up a vampire and married to a vampire go read Twilight. This is a different story.
It's completely ridiculous the entitlement that readers have. You did not write this series. You did not create this world or give birth onto pages these characters. Sure, you invested money into the books and fell in love with characters, but come on. You don't get to say what happens to anyone and you shouldn't whine when it doesn't go the way you wanted it to. I get being disappointed, truly I do, but seriously, get over it. If you don't like it there's this thing called 'fan fiction' - go write some. But I suppose like most, if you can't write, critique.
Oh, and to those people who said that the whole Sam thing was way out of left field? You're idiots. Plain and simple. Since the first book I knew that someday Sookie would end up with Sam. Good god people, Harris has been building that one up for YEARS. If you didn't see that coming I don't know what to tell you.
And all that above is the reason why so many gave the book one star reviews. Because they were being children who didn't get what they wanted.
That being said, the book was different. We were taken out of Sookie's head for the first time ever as she touched upon different characters. It was disconcerting and I truly didn't feel like I was reading a Sookie book until I was back with her. It wasn't bad, it was just different.
There was too much going on. I understand that she wanted to bring back as many characters as she could to tie up loose ends and to cement Sookie's life in place, but the whole devil/Copley thing was completely unnecessary. Didn't need it, didn't add anything to the story as a whole and ended up being pretty anticlimactic. And instead of having that business in there maybe she could've given more attention to the Eric/Sookie debacle. I mean, it has been this huge thing that's driven the entire series so maybe spend a little more than a couple chapters on the demise of the relationship. It was all so rushed. We're introduced to a major new character (Karin) and then just kind of, 'well, see ya, bye.'
Everything did work out in the end and maybe that's what pissed people off? But like I said, this stuff is fluff. It was entertaining, but I don't need to sit and ponder about it. It did what it should have done and entertained me for a couple of hours.
I can't say I'm sad it's over. After probably the 5th book I was just kind of, 'meh'. I was reading just because it was something to read. But I'm glad there's an ending and I don't have to read about Bill anymore.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It was bad. I did not want the series ended this badly. I am so sorry. Poor eric.
This is probably my least favourite book out of the series. It has nothing to do with Charlaine's writing, of course.
.
Spoiler
I love Sookie and Pam's relationship and was super excited that Pam got to become Sheriff
I have to say that reading all the way through this (okay, skimming) just made me angry. When did these books become 300 pages of nothing happening?
I sure am glad you wrote this the way you wanted it to end, Ms. Harris, because you seem to be the only one who liked it.
As for my opinion? Meh. The enjoyment factor of the books has decreased exponentially with each one. I've got no interest in how Sookie eats all those tomatoes, nor do I care how about how many times she needs to check her emails..
My one star rating was because I had to skim in order to even make it through.
Farewell Sookie. You used to be interesting.
I sure am glad you wrote this the way you wanted it to end, Ms. Harris, because you seem to be the only one who liked it.
As for my opinion? Meh. The enjoyment factor of the books has decreased exponentially with each one. I've got no interest in how Sookie eats all those tomatoes, nor do I care how about how many times she needs to check her emails..
My one star rating was because I had to skim in order to even make it through.
Farewell Sookie. You used to be interesting.
Sigh. I was prepared for the end of the story line because everyone's discontent was so ubiquitous. What I was not prepared for was how lackluster the end of the story line would be. It wasn't just the disquieting subject matter that failed to deliver. The way the end was written reminds me of a song that just fades out with the chorus on repeat...you didn't really write an ending. You just stopped writing the book.
Bill? Hello? He rats on Eric about Sam and then what...fades into oblivion with the suggestion that he will spend time with Karin in the woods? Bill and Sookie didn't work out, but, he deserved better than that.
And the Sam and Sookie thing...again. I knew this was coming. But, it felt sooo....blech. This is it - these guys are the end. Thirteen books we waited! And the consummation of their feelings for one another ends up with them having a very abrupt romp that lasts about two pages after Sookie stops in when getting her iPod? THAT IS THE BEST YOU COULD DO?! This was not how I wanted to see Sookie end up, but, if that was your goal, Ms. Harris, this scene should have been breathtaking and your readers should have been aching over the love these two shared. But, you cheaped out. I felt nothing.
Spoiler
We literally do not hear from Eric at all? I get that relationships end, but, I, the reader, was invested in their relationship as well. The only conclusion to that storyline came in book 12 when Eric abruptly leaves after Sookie saves Sam. I would have at least expected some kind of discussion. Instead, almost all contact from Eric comes through other characters. And what did Eric want out of the hidey-hole in Sookie's house? Was that stuff gone by the time Copely Carmichael was deposited there? If so and it was so inconsequential that you didn't even bother to tell us what it was...why mention it in the first place?Bill? Hello? He rats on Eric about Sam and then what...fades into oblivion with the suggestion that he will spend time with Karin in the woods? Bill and Sookie didn't work out, but, he deserved better than that.
And the Sam and Sookie thing...again. I knew this was coming. But, it felt sooo....blech. This is it - these guys are the end. Thirteen books we waited! And the consummation of their feelings for one another ends up with them having a very abrupt romp that lasts about two pages after Sookie stops in when getting her iPod? THAT IS THE BEST YOU COULD DO?! This was not how I wanted to see Sookie end up, but, if that was your goal, Ms. Harris, this scene should have been breathtaking and your readers should have been aching over the love these two shared. But, you cheaped out. I felt nothing.
Sigh. I was prepared for the end of the story line because everyone's discontent was so ubiquitous. What I was not prepared for was how lackluster the end of the story line would be. It wasn't just the disquieting subject matter that failed to deliver. The way the end was written reminds me of a song that just fades out with the chorus on repeat...you didn't really write an ending. You just stopped writing the book.
Bill? Hello? He rats on Eric about Sam and then what...fades into oblivion with the suggestion that he will spend time with Karin in the woods? Bill and Sookie didn't work out, but, he deserved better than that.
And the Sam and Sookie thing...again. I knew this was coming. But, it felt sooo....blech. This is it - these guys are the end. Thirteen books we waited! And the consummation of their feelings for one another ends up with them having a very abrupt romp that lasts about two pages after Sookie stops in when getting her iPod? THAT IS THE BEST YOU COULD DO?! This was not how I wanted to see Sookie end up, but, if that was your goal, Ms. Harris, this scene should have been breathtaking and your readers should have been aching over the love these two shared. But, you cheaped out. I felt nothing.
Spoiler
We literally do not hear from Eric at all? I get that relationships end, but, I, the reader, was invested in their relationship as well. The only conclusion to that storyline came in book 12 when Eric abruptly leaves after Sookie saves Sam. I would have at least expected some kind of discussion. Instead, almost all contact from Eric comes through other characters. And what did Eric want out of the hidey-hole in Sookie's house? Was that stuff gone by the time Copely Carmichael was deposited there? If so and it was so inconsequential that you didn't even bother to tell us what it was...why mention it in the first place?Bill? Hello? He rats on Eric about Sam and then what...fades into oblivion with the suggestion that he will spend time with Karin in the woods? Bill and Sookie didn't work out, but, he deserved better than that.
And the Sam and Sookie thing...again. I knew this was coming. But, it felt sooo....blech. This is it - these guys are the end. Thirteen books we waited! And the consummation of their feelings for one another ends up with them having a very abrupt romp that lasts about two pages after Sookie stops in when getting her iPod? THAT IS THE BEST YOU COULD DO?! This was not how I wanted to see Sookie end up, but, if that was your goal, Ms. Harris, this scene should have been breathtaking and your readers should have been aching over the love these two shared. But, you cheaped out. I felt nothing.
No one is more surprised than Sookie when her former best friend Arlene comes into Merlotte's looking for a job. When Arlene is found in the bar's dumpster the next day, very much dead, Sookie becomes the number one suspect - the scarf around Arlene's neck that was used to strangle her belongs to Sookie.
If things aren't complicated enough for Sookie, Sam is acting weird after Sookie brought him back from the dead and Eric hasn't been around to see her for days.
This is the last book in the series, much shorter than the others and part of me feels Ms. Harris rushed through it just to finish. It wasn't up to her usual standard. I'm going to miss Sookie.
If things aren't complicated enough for Sookie, Sam is acting weird after Sookie brought him back from the dead and Eric hasn't been around to see her for days.
This is the last book in the series, much shorter than the others and part of me feels Ms. Harris rushed through it just to finish. It wasn't up to her usual standard. I'm going to miss Sookie.