From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

[slowfox]

OMGWTF this one was awesome: so much happened, and The Sook was brilliant throughout.

Best bit? Eric now remembers :D (am edging ever closer to glittertine's stance on Eric/Sookie).

Seriously, though, so much happens in this book: werewolf war. Vampire politics. Jason and Crystal. Eric's memory. Siegbert and the new King. The Bob issue gets resolved (although he then vanishes, and I was sorta hoping that he might hang around). Sookie meets her great-grandfather.

And w00t! Quinn gets dumped. Alrighty.

These books are so much fun - I am going to resist Dead and Gone until it's out in paperback, though. Will probably pick up TRUEBLOOD on DVD before that day, so I won't be spending as long away from Bon Temps as you might think. More Sook goodness coming in 2010, too.

Comments

[glittertine]

*SNIGGER*

You got your wish for more Hotshot, at least. :) And Erriiiiiiiccc mwahaha. He must be SO uncomfortable knowing what he knows now. It just makes me grin every time I think of it: Big Bad Vampire Dude that he is (and he undoubtedly is quite ruthless, one tends to forget that), he now *knows* he had that kind of intimacy with Sookie, laying himself open like that, and knows that Sook knows it, too. :D :D :D

Sookie's great-grandfather was a real surprise to me, though it all seems so logical in hindsight. I LOVED him and the new-found revelation. That's one of the things I meant when I said that I keep thinking the author can't bring on more interesting stuff and then she just *does*, and it still all fits with every single thing that happened in all the books before then - I think that's just very good writing.

I'm really looking forward to the new one, once it's out in paperback. Beware the spoilers on the internets, though, I already accidentally spoiled myself for it before I'd even started reading the series at all. :(

[slowfox]

I loved the Hotshot stuff - and that Jason would be so selfish and mean to Sookie. And poor Calvin, who is, I think, a good man, and yet made the vow with Jason and Crystal (and Sook) knowing that Crystal wouldn't keep her side of the bargain.

And yes, Errrriiiiiiiic! I loved the bit where Pam's explaining to Sookie that she likes teasing Eric about her because she so rarely gets the opportunity over anything else - she is DEFINITELY the chink in his armour (oh dear, just as I write that, I wonder if that means they'll use The Sook to get to Eric in later instalments).

I guess we'd had the ground prepared for us when Andre told us that Sookie had fairy blood in her, but it was still a bit of a surprise when we meet her ggf. And he's written so... otherworldly and cold, it is a little unsettling. I did *love* the fact that it was Eric who took Sookie there and brought her back - because you get the sense that she's safe with him in a way that she's not safe with anyone else (not even Bill).

I think the writing has definitely improved as I've read on, although I'm a little disappointed surprised *cough* that the sex gets pushed further and further back as we progress. But as you say, it's amazing how she keeps on expanding the world view, without contradicting what's gone on before... it speaks of having an incredibly solid, complex worldview in her head.

I'm also wondering if we'll ever venture outside the US of A in later instalments - we know that different countries take different approaches to the vamps' Announcement, and surely, if all the American vamps are organised in some sort of court order, then other regions will be too, and they'll all be in touch. Which means they'll all be scheming, somehow...

[carolanne5]

This was a definite hike back up in quality. It's as though she took a poll of what the fans wanted and then wrote the book, expanding the depth of favourite characters and cutting the dead weight (adieu Quinn).

Eric remembering was a high point, bewildered!Eric very cute. Although it would have been good it this had been taken further in his book.

Lion!Sam, OMG rocked. Amelia and Octavia amusing. Pam/Amelia lovely.

Telepath!Nephew, ooo interesting.

Great-grandfather; enjoying but wanting more detail. Get the feeling this will turn into a main book plot but not until a couple more books down the line.

So tempting to get the hardback but will try and be good and wait for the paperback. *nods and sits on hands to prevent online purchasing*

[slowfox]

So tempting to get the hardback but will try and be good and wait for the paperback.

I checked, and the library have it... am *very* tempted to order it in.

Am gratified to learn that it's clearly not just me who found Quinn to be a waste of space... he was fine as the enigmatic ringmaster at the Werewolf leadership contest, but as Sookie partner material he's definitely lacking.

There something about the way that Sookie accepts being around Eric, and vice versa, that makes it hard for me to see her linked with anyone else now. As much as I like Sam, methinks he'll either be left on the sidelines, or get someone brand new to play with.

Incidentally, it amuses me greatly that you got up to speed with paperback Sookie canon in less than a week!

Sookie

[carolanne5]

I think this may actually be the first time that I've ever read eight books in one week. Certainly the first time since I started keeping reading lists back in 2004.

Re: Sookie

[slowfox]

That's definitely going some! They are compulsive fast reads, though... Comradette K at work is also on the last instalment, because I've been pushing lending them around; bumped into her in the car park, and she was reading the book as she walked into work...

[slowfox]

Pam/Amelia lovely.

I was slightly concerned that Pam was only shacking up with Amelia so that she'd be protection for Sookie, but La Harris was careful to demonstrate that those two were still together even when Sookie was elsewhere, so hopefully Amelia's not being used so wilfully.

It just would've been such fun to still have Bob around - shame that he vanished...