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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Good book. Kept me interested. Maybe I'm just getting tired of this series, but I didn't like this book as much as I have liked some of the others...
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall I think this book was more focused and cohesive than [b:Dead in the Family|7091488|Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse, #10)|Charlaine Harris|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1290479828s/7091488.jpg|6902804], but now that I'm sitting down to write a review, I'm like 'shit, what even happened?' I listened to the audiobook of Dead Reckoning on my walks to and from work each day for 10 days, so you'd think the book would've stuck in my memory a little more. Nope.
I felt Dead in the Family was a bit all over the place with its plotarcs, but Dead Reckoning was a little more focused. The team are deadset on killing Victor before the end of the novel; Sam's business is in serious danger of going under; Sandra Pelt is intent on killing Sookie if it's the last thing she does; and the faeries are just acting really damn weird. It still lacks direction, but less so than Dead in the Family.
Given that the crew have wanted Victor dead for a couple of books now, I thought the final battle and his death would be more.....dramatic. It felt like they'd been bitching about him in backrooms for weeks, then suddenly they decided to step up and do something. It was random, there was no build up. It felt as if they were charging in guns blazing without a real plan.
The battle fell flat too. Although there were arms being cut off and people dying left and right, none of it had an effect on me. Granted, it could've been the fact that I was listening to an audiobook while walking alongside a busy noisy road, but the whole time I was like 'Who just died? Are they good or bad? Am I supposed to care?' I didn't know what was happening, I wasn't sure who was on Victor or Sookie's side, and it just felt like a last minute rush job.
Victor's death conjured up memories of Sophie Ann's demise, because both were terribly executed (no pun intended). Sophie Ann's murder should've been a dramatic event, but was instead an afterthought relegated to a short story between novels. Victor's death should've been this suspenseful, adrenaline-charged main event, but it was anti-climactic and fell completely flat. If only Harris had swapped the two deaths around, so that Sophie Ann's was the focal point of one novel, while Victor's lame death was marginalised to a short story.
And while we're on the subject of death, I'm so completely over people gunning for Sookie. Sandra's attempts to kill Sookie were more thrilling and evoked more emotions in me than the gang's assassination of Victor, but part of me was still like 'Sandra Pelt? Really? Debbie Pelt died god knows how many books ago and people are still mad about it?' I'm over someone trying to kill Sookie in every book. She's like Reed from the [b:Private|381489|Private (Private, #1)|Kate Brian|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1331126301s/381489.jpg|2764] series, and that got old really fast.
It wasn't all horrible though, as I enjoyed the faerie aspects and Sookie breaking her bond with Eric.
I don't entirely understand what the faeries are doing, but I loved seeing the elf Bellenos and hearing about the Cluviel Dor! This book made me want to pick up the Merry Gentry series by[a:Laurell K. Hamilton|9550|Laurell K. Hamilton|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1299922606p2/9550.jpg] again, as it reminded me how much I loved learning about sprites, elves, red caps, sluagh, brownies, and all the other Unseelie fae creatures in those novels. I'm especially curious about the beast that chewed up Sandra's body on the other side of the faerie portal.
I'm also really enjoying guessing what Sookie will use the Cluviel Dor for! We've eliminated the possibility of removing hers or Hunter's telepathy, and the Dor can only be used for very specific, personal wishes. I thought maybe she'd use it to save Sam's business, or to rid the world of the animosity against the two-natured, but those aren't personal enough. Short of using it to find her ~true love, I really don't know what to think at this point!
And to the dismay of Sookie/Eric shippers everywhere, I'm stoked that Sookie broke her bond with Eric, and that their relationship may now be unsalvageable. I love Eric, I love Sookie, but I just wasn't feeling them together. Despite the way they threw around the L-word, it felt like their relationship was all about sex and protection. What can you expect, really, when the entire relationship was borne out of Eric tricking Sookie into a marriage for her own protection? I've never been a huge Bill/Sookie shipper, but I'll be happy if she goes back to him in the next book.
Overall: Not a great effort from Harris, but an improvement over the disjointed [b:Dead in the Family|7091488|Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse, #10)|Charlaine Harris|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1290479828s/7091488.jpg|6902804]. I read recently that the series is supposed to end in roughly 2 books time, and despite how rubbish the writing has been lately, I think the overall story is in good stead to end soon. I can imagine Sookie ending up with Bill, and using the Cluviel Dor for something that will ensure her happiness for the rest of her life. Now let's hope that Harris doesn't steer us in an entirely different direction with [b:Deadlocked|10407279|Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12)|Charlaine Harris|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1335890307s/10407279.jpg|15311332]!
I felt Dead in the Family was a bit all over the place with its plotarcs, but Dead Reckoning was a little more focused. The team are deadset on killing Victor before the end of the novel; Sam's business is in serious danger of going under; Sandra Pelt is intent on killing Sookie if it's the last thing she does; and the faeries are just acting really damn weird. It still lacks direction, but less so than Dead in the Family.
Given that the crew have wanted Victor dead for a couple of books now, I thought the final battle and his death would be more.....dramatic. It felt like they'd been bitching about him in backrooms for weeks, then suddenly they decided to step up and do something. It was random, there was no build up. It felt as if they were charging in guns blazing without a real plan.
The battle fell flat too. Although there were arms being cut off and people dying left and right, none of it had an effect on me. Granted, it could've been the fact that I was listening to an audiobook while walking alongside a busy noisy road, but the whole time I was like 'Who just died? Are they good or bad? Am I supposed to care?' I didn't know what was happening, I wasn't sure who was on Victor or Sookie's side, and it just felt like a last minute rush job.
Victor's death conjured up memories of Sophie Ann's demise, because both were terribly executed (no pun intended). Sophie Ann's murder should've been a dramatic event, but was instead an afterthought relegated to a short story between novels. Victor's death should've been this suspenseful, adrenaline-charged main event, but it was anti-climactic and fell completely flat. If only Harris had swapped the two deaths around, so that Sophie Ann's was the focal point of one novel, while Victor's lame death was marginalised to a short story.
And while we're on the subject of death, I'm so completely over people gunning for Sookie. Sandra's attempts to kill Sookie were more thrilling and evoked more emotions in me than the gang's assassination of Victor, but part of me was still like 'Sandra Pelt? Really? Debbie Pelt died god knows how many books ago and people are still mad about it?' I'm over someone trying to kill Sookie in every book. She's like Reed from the [b:Private|381489|Private (Private, #1)|Kate Brian|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1331126301s/381489.jpg|2764] series, and that got old really fast.
It wasn't all horrible though, as I enjoyed the faerie aspects and Sookie breaking her bond with Eric.
I don't entirely understand what the faeries are doing, but I loved seeing the elf Bellenos and hearing about the Cluviel Dor! This book made me want to pick up the Merry Gentry series by[a:Laurell K. Hamilton|9550|Laurell K. Hamilton|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1299922606p2/9550.jpg] again, as it reminded me how much I loved learning about sprites, elves, red caps, sluagh, brownies, and all the other Unseelie fae creatures in those novels. I'm especially curious about the beast that chewed up Sandra's body on the other side of the faerie portal.
I'm also really enjoying guessing what Sookie will use the Cluviel Dor for! We've eliminated the possibility of removing hers or Hunter's telepathy, and the Dor can only be used for very specific, personal wishes. I thought maybe she'd use it to save Sam's business, or to rid the world of the animosity against the two-natured, but those aren't personal enough. Short of using it to find her ~true love, I really don't know what to think at this point!
And to the dismay of Sookie/Eric shippers everywhere, I'm stoked that Sookie broke her bond with Eric, and that their relationship may now be unsalvageable. I love Eric, I love Sookie, but I just wasn't feeling them together. Despite the way they threw around the L-word, it felt like their relationship was all about sex and protection. What can you expect, really, when the entire relationship was borne out of Eric tricking Sookie into a marriage for her own protection? I've never been a huge Bill/Sookie shipper, but I'll be happy if she goes back to him in the next book.
Overall: Not a great effort from Harris, but an improvement over the disjointed [b:Dead in the Family|7091488|Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse, #10)|Charlaine Harris|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1290479828s/7091488.jpg|6902804]. I read recently that the series is supposed to end in roughly 2 books time, and despite how rubbish the writing has been lately, I think the overall story is in good stead to end soon. I can imagine Sookie ending up with Bill, and using the Cluviel Dor for something that will ensure her happiness for the rest of her life. Now let's hope that Harris doesn't steer us in an entirely different direction with [b:Deadlocked|10407279|Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12)|Charlaine Harris|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1335890307s/10407279.jpg|15311332]!
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Currently finishing off the series after reading the first 10 books years ago.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm so annoyed that after the books-long slow burn romance between Sookie and Eric, their relationship is so underwhelming and cut short. Having read the full series before, I get why Eric's not endgame. But sheesh, let a girl enjoy it for a spell when they finally got together! And by girl, I mean both me and Sookie. It's like as soon as they do form a relationship, they are barely together and never on the same wavelength.
Also why does every male in Sookie's life have to stay obsessed with her even after they break up? JB (pre-Tara), Bill, Eric, Quinn, Alcide. It happens even when it makes no sense to the characters and adds nothing to the plot. Alcide as pack leader wouldn't want Sookie over the chance of were babies. Quinn disrespected himself and put his family at risk by begging Sookie to take him back. Bill essentially living for a second chance. Like I get it, she's part fae, charming, hot, and resourceful. But JFC.
Anyway. I love this series which is why I have such strong feelings 😆
Also why does every male in Sookie's life have to stay obsessed with her even after they break up? JB (pre-Tara), Bill, Eric, Quinn, Alcide. It happens even when it makes no sense to the characters and adds nothing to the plot. Alcide as pack leader wouldn't want Sookie over the chance of were babies. Quinn disrespected himself and put his family at risk by begging Sookie to take him back. Bill essentially living for a second chance. Like I get it, she's part fae, charming, hot, and resourceful. But JFC.
Anyway. I love this series which is why I have such strong feelings 😆
Not the best Sookie book I've read but not bad. More of the usual. It ended fairly abruptly. I'm starting to wonder if Charlaine Harris knows where she's taking our Southern belle or if she's just writing for the sake of it.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated