Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

[slowfox]

OK, I really liked this one, Book IV in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

Again, there are two separate mysteries going on: Sookie's brother goes missing, and what's happened to him bookends the greater plot, which is about a coven of blood-drinking shape-shifting witches who've invaded Shreveport, cursed Eric, and generally creeping everybody out.

Lots of good stuff happens in this one. I really liked the glimpse of the inbred shifter community at Hotshot, thought that next to Eric, Bill seems monumentally dull, and realised, finally, in her kitchen confrontation with Debi, that Sookie absolutely rocks :D

So these books are a whole load of fun, if a little bloodthirsty (hey, it's vampires) from time to time.

I'm intrigued by Sam. And Alcide. And, OK, I kinda like Eric now. Also, Sookie didn't get beaten up physically too much in this one, which was nice. She did get a bit battered mentally, though...

On to Book V next.

I'm not addicted, though. I could choose to stop reading them any time I want to. *nods* absolutely.

Comments

[cynthia_black]

D'you reckon these books would be suitable for my Eldest?

[slowfox]

I'm thinking possibly not, on the grounds of the... if not explicit sex, certainly actively described. If she picked it up herself, I wouldn't suggest taking it from her, but I think actively promoting the book to her might be somewhat different.

They're *much* more adult than Twilight (suddenly twigging why you think she might like 'em).

[glittertine]

Isn't it AWESOME. Isn't Sookie awesome. Isn't Bill... NOT.

*grins* You make me want to reread, too. :))

Best scene, ever? Eric watching Joss Whedon. I still get giggle attacks every time I think of that. I think I'll get back to this post after rereading myself, so I can properly reply!

[slowfox]

Sookie is TOTALLY AWESOME in this book. Bill is definitely not :-/

And yes, Eric watching Joss Whedon was an amusing thought!!

But I *really* like the scene in the next book where Sookie tells Eric what went on between them in this instalment, and his reaction to it. And, yeah, Eric's definitely cool.

[slowfox]

Best scene, ever? Eric watching Joss Whedon.

What about Amelia and Pam watching Underworld?? And fantasising hypothesising on how Pam'd look in skin-tight leather :-)

[slowfox]

Oops - should've made it clear that Amelia and Pam watching Underworld was in From Dead to Worse...

[carolanne5]

Just finished this morning, defintely a good one. The plot device of bookending the secondary plot seems to be frequentely used. I figures out what was holding Jason but not the why!

Bill kinda sucked in this one, I expected at least a decent conversation with Sookie at the end of the book.

It is amusing that Sookie appears to be complete catnip to the majority of Supes (Sam, Eric, Bill, Alcide, Calvin) and yet rejected by her human community.

... in her kitchen confrontation with Debi, that Sookie absolutely rocks :D ...

Couldn't agree more!

[slowfox]

Bill kinda sucked in this one, I expected at least a decent conversation with Sookie at the end of the book.

Bill definitely goes off the boil as the story progresses. I'm not sure if that's intentional, or if it's just by comparison with how much Eric comes to the fore. And Alcide. And Sam. And Calvin. catnip!Sookie - awesome image! :D

I loved that kitchen scene, where Sookie thinks that the side of a shotgun being primed is the most terrifying sound in the world. What I also like is that you get that she's not all gung-ho about shooting Debbie - the woman's just tried to shoot her after all (and just how fast is Eric?), that this is the solution to the situation, and she does it with competence, but also reluctance and stuff.

[carolanne5]

She's certainly had to grow up a lot in the last year. From automatically dialling 911 to automatically disposing of the evidence and the bodies!

I'm hoping the increasing toughness of her character gets continued in the later books.