Audible Book Review: Dead Ever After, A Sookie Stackhouse Novel, Book 13, by Charlaine Harris

Entertaining but it seemed time to wrap up this series.

Dead Ever After
A Sookie Stackhouse Novel, Book 13
By: Charlaine Harris
Narrated by: Johanna Parker

Series: Sookie Stackhouse, Book 13
Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 05-07-13
Language: English
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Number-one New York Times best-selling author Charlaine Harris has won numerous awards for her Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series, which has been adapted into the hit HBO show True Blood. In this 13th and final book, a murder rocks the town of Bon Temps and Sookie is arrested for the crime. After making bail, she sets out to clear her name - but her investigation only leads to more deaths.
©2013 Charlaine Harris, Inc. (P)2013 Recorded Books

Review:
In the last book Sookie used a magical artifact to save Sam’s life. This has a ripple effect as Eric thought she should have used it for him, others wanted the artifact for themselves, and Sam isn’t sure yet how he feels being brought back to life.

An old friend turned enemy returns to Bon Temps and ends up dead after visiting Sookie. Sookie has an alibi but the detective doesn’t seem to want to listen. A collection of Sookie’s friends show up to help bail her from jail and help her investigate several strangers in town. Sookie narrowly escapes several attacks during the investigations and it just isn’t clear if the vampires want her dead, the fairies, the humans or all of the above.

The continuing love seesaw between Sookie and Eric (always intense but ephemeral) and Sookie and Sam (always at arm’s length) finally gets a push which some readers will be like while others will be disappointed. I was fine with the teeter although the ending result was a little weak.

I enjoyed stepping back into Sookie’s world to wrap up the series. Some of the character abilities seemed weaker and others stronger without a good explanation. Still, I liked the murder investigation and the suspense which gave this story some substance. Otherwise I think this concluding episode seemed somewhat anticlimactic. I certainly wouldn’t recommend anyone jumping into the series at the ending, but it had to end somewhere and this is as good a time to wrap as any.

Audio Notes: Johanna Parker does a fine job with the narration. She is the voice of Sookie and manages to convey her quirky personality and also presents the other characters distinctly. The narration enhanced by enjoyment of the series.

Source: Audible 2015 Credit or Sale purchase. This qualifies for 2018 TBR (including Take Control Challenge), Audiobook and Alphabet Challenges.

Audible Book Review: Dead Reckoning: Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mystery #11 by Charlaine Harris

I found this to be an entertaining, if interim, story in this series.
Dead Reckoning: Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mystery #11
Written by: Charlaine Harris
Narrated by: Johanna Parker

Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
Series: Sookie Stackhouse, Book 11
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:05-03-11
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover, Eric Northman, and his "child", Pam, are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot - which is much more complicated than she knows.
Listen to more titles in the Sookie Stackhouse series.
©2011 Charlaine Harris, Inc. (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Review:
Sookie, who can read minds of humans and to some degree the two-natured, has opened her home to her uncle and grandfather, two fae fairies who look about her age. Sookie seems to think that their nearness is increasing the fae qualities in her. While she ponders that Sookie is worrying about the loss of business at Merlot’s as some of the patrons are visiting a recently opened vampire bar. Business was down even before a fire bomb is thrown through the window.

Sookie learns that a two-natured female enemy has escaped from jail seeking revenge against Sookie. Sookie seeks help from her witch friend, Amelia, to re-strengthen protective wards around her home.

Adding to her troubles, Sookie’s boyfriend, vampire sheriff Eric, is struggling with the competition from the new vampire regent who is doing everything he can to encroach on Eric’s territory. Adding insult to injury, the regent has refused his permission for Eric’s ‘child’, Pam, to change a young woman who is dying. It is becoming clear that the two vampire leaders aren’t going to be able to share the area so plots for killing are working both ways. Sookie gets caught up in a plan to take out the regent even as she learns that Eric is keeping secrets that may break her heart.

I had stopped reading this series in 2010 and my recollection is that it had gotten a bit too racy plus the last title seemed a bit fractured. I apparently didn’t review book #10 when I read it. I am glad that I enjoyed revisiting these characters, including Sam, Eric, Bill and even Bubba. There is danger and death, as always seems to surround Sookie, the vampires and the two-natured, but I wasn’t offended by anything.

Although there are still plenty of open questions in the series, I appreciated the tension that remains with Eric’s dilemma at the end of this installment. I am also interested to find out what happens with the fae and the special stone that Sookie has found. So I’ll be getting the next book after April when I allow myself to buy books again – unless I add it on Audible before then.

I recommend reading this series in order for the best enjoyment and I recommend it in audio. Just be prepared for some sex in some of the volumes and violence in most of them. I did try to watch True Blood, the tv series based on the books, when that first came out but I found it too sexual and graphic for my tastes.

Audio Notes: I totally enjoy Johanna Parker as the narrator for this series. She does a great job portraying the Southern Sookie and the other characters. They each have an appropriate distinct voice that helps me to visualize the characters and enjoy the story more than just reading.

This title has been in my Audible library since September, 2012. This qualifies for COYER, TBR Double Dare, Audio Challenges and Alphabet Soup.

GOT BOOKS? Giveaway!!

It's time for Got Books? This is a celebration of all things books event coordinated by There's a Book and Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers. The event is two days only and there are over 100 blogs participating! This will be your opportunity to find some great new book blogs and to enter lots of contests in addition to prizes from the fantastic sponsors of Got Books?

Although it is not required, I hope you become of follower of my blog through Email, Google Friend Connect or Twitter. Enjoy GOT BOOKS and share with friends! After the event ends maybe come back and check out my other giveaways which are at the top of the blog.

There are lots of prizes on over 100 other blogs - Check out GotBooks? or follow at Got Books? Event Twitter


THERE WILL BE A FIRST PLACE WINNER and a SECOND PLACE WINNER for MBS (Martha's Bookshelf). I decided to keep this open WORLDWIDE.
This post started out nicely with all the books showing but then the links went haywire so I came back to add book names. That's why it's late posting. :(

 Contest Ends midnight eastern July 24, 2010! Winners will be announced July 25, 2010.
In my Got Books? announcement I said that I had a prize of a series that I really loved! Here you go:

The Sookie Stackhouse series books 1-7 Collection! If you haven't read these - they are fun and, IMHO, SOOOOO much better than the True Blood TV series.

Now - if the winner has read the Sookie books and doesn't need or want that prize the winner could pick ONE of these three sets instead:

1. The Amish Trilogy by Beverly Lewis 

OR

2. Three Christine Feehan books
Dark Celebration: A Carpathian Reunion (The Carpathians (Dark) Series, Book 14)
Dark Curse (The Carpathians (Dark) Series, Book 16) and
Dark Possession (The Carpathians (Dark) Series, Book 15)

OR 3. The Vampire Academy Trilogy

by Richelle Mead

OR if the winner is not happy with any of the above three sets,
here is an alternate package that includes A, B and C.


A. Pick ANY two books from these twelve: (some of the image links kept disappearing so I have added the titles just in case)
A Black Tie Affair and  Iron Man 2


,

To Surrender To A Rogue (Circle of Sin Trilogy)
and
Desire Me (The Legend Hunters)

The 8th Confession (Women's Murder Club)
and Alex Cross's TRIAL

Barely a Lady and Ravished by a Highlander

Risk No Secrets and Still the One

These two are ARCs (advanced Reader Copies)
Soul Catcher
and The Wild Irish Sea

B. And with the two books the winner will get a book mark:

These Hook bookmarks were made by a friend from church who has also made some jewelry for me to use for future giveaways.

C. And also swag - book marks and a few pens, notepads, buttons, etc.

SECOND PLACE WINNER GETS TO PICK after the First Place Winner picks and Second Place winner can choose from the sets 1 or 2 or 3 OR the alternate package.

TO ENTER, PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM

Comments are always welcome too! HAVE FUN AT GOT BOOKS?