Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Genre:
Paranormal

Format:
Audio

Publisher:
Recorded Books

Release Date:
May 2011

Here's a blurb about the book from Fantastic Fiction:

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...

My thoughts...

This is the 11th Sookie Stackhouse book and I'm still enjoying this series. Of course, as with any series, some books are better than others. I might be one of the rare people who actually prefers the TV series to the books, but that's okay. As often happens, there are differences when you have different forms of media.

I still enjoy the relationships Sookie has with Eric and Bill. For the past few books she's been more on Team Eric, but Team Bill peeked through in this one too. Not a lot, just a couple of implications. In the past, Bill has hardly been in the books but he was in it a bit more this time around. I just have to keep reminding myself that these are the books not the TV show.

I don't have much more to say about the book itself, since I've already mentioned how much I enjoy the stories and characters of this series in past reviews. I do want to say something about the audio books I listen to. This series is narrated by Johanna Parker. If I didn't know better, I would swear it's Anna Pacquin (the actress who portrays Sookie on True Blood). She's perfect in the role and I love how she speaks and narrates these books. She's a joy to listen to.

This wraps up the Sookie Stackhouse Reading challenge for me. I have read all the books written in this series. I hope everyone has enjoyed it as much as I have. If you are still reading this series and are part of the challenge, the challenge continues until December 31st, so you still have time to finish!

Enjoy!

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Recorded Books
Release Date: May 2010
Format: Audio


This is a brief description from Fantastic Fiction :

If you think your family relationships are complicated, think again: youhaven't seen anything like the ones in Bon Temps, Louisiana. SookieStackhouse is dealing with a whole host of family problems, ranging from herown kin (a non-human fairy and a telepathic second cousin) demanding a placein her life, to her lover Eric's vampire sire, an ancient being who arriveswith Eric's 'brother' in tow at a most inopportune moment. And Sookie'stracking down a distant relation of her ailing neighbour (and ex), VampireBill Compton. In addition to the multitude of family issues complicating herlife, the werewolf pack of Shreveport has asked Sookie for a special favour,and since Sookie is an obliging young woman, she agrees. But this favour forthe wolves has dire results for Sookie, who is still recovering from thetrauma of her abduction during the Fairy War.

My thoughts...

I really enjoyed this one. It's the 10th book in the series and with each one they keep adding more and more family for Sookie. I just wish they would include her brother Jason more than they do. Since the book is told from Sookie's point of view, we don't get much of what's happening with the other characters like we do in the TV show. I really need to stop comparing them, but I can't help it. LOL

In any case, Sookie makes such snarky comments and they have me laughing in the car (that's where I listen to the audios). People must think I'm nuts. One scene really had me laughing as Sookie's young cousin (who has telepathic powers like Sookie), blurts out everything people are thinking. He's not as well-trained as Sookie - LOL.

This really is a great companion for me on my way to work. It helps me unwind. Unfortunately, this is the last one for me to listen to. A new Sookie is being released in May, but I'm not sure if the audio will be out and if the library will have it. So.....this might be a completed challenge for me. Although, I'm not going to say that yet. I'm going to wait to see if the audio is available to me before the end of the year.

Now, what am I going to listen to? I'll think of something :)

A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Recorded Books
Format: Audio
Release Date: January 2010


This is a collection of short stories about Sookie Stackhouse. I think these were all featured in different anthologies, but were put together in one volume.

I loved the idea of all the short stories in one place. I loved listening to this in the car. Each story was originally released at a different time, so they are chronologically at different points in Sookie’s history, but they were really a lot of fun to listen to.

They also give you a little extra info that you don’t get in the regular books. Not much, but enough to fill in some of the gaps.

My favorite was the Christmas story. It was sweet and, for once, Sookie was left happy.




For reading challenge:

Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Recorded Books
Release Date: May 2009
Format: Audio

This synopsis is from Barnes & Noble:

Now an HBO original series, True Blood-the New York Times bestselling Sookie Stackhouse series continues. Except for Sookie Stackhouse, folks in Bon Temps, Louisiana, know little about vamps-and nothing about weres. Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to reveal their existence to the ordinary world. At first all goes well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found near the bar where Sookie works-and she feels compelled to discover who, human or otherwise, did it. But there's a far greater danger threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings-older, more powerful, and more secretive than vampires or werewolves-is preparing for war. And Sookie finds herself an all-too human pawn in their battle.

My thoughts...

I listened to the audio version of this, as I've done with this series all along, and I do enjoy listening in the car. It's like having old friends with me. I still would prefer to see more of the characters I've grown to love on the TV show (Eric, Bill, Jason, etc.)

Some of the new characters are interesting, though. I've heard there will be new characters added to the TV show so maybe I'll get to meet these characters on the show. I wonder how I would react to the books if I didn't already watch the TV show.

It might sound like I don't like the books, but I do. My problem is that I'm spending way too much time comparing it to the TV show. Big mistake. I shouldn't do that, but it's hard not to.

Anyway...I'm off to start the next one.




For reading challenges:

Audio Reading Challenge
Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Paranormal
Format: Audio
Publisher: Recorded Books
Release Date: May 2008


This is a synopsis from Fantastic Fiction :

After the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina and the manmade explosion at the vampire summit, everyone--human and otherwise--is stressed, including Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who is trying to cope with the fact that her boyfriend Quinn has gone missing.

It's clear that things are changing--whether the weres and vamps of her corner of Louisiana like it or not. And Sookie--Friend to the Pack and blood-bonded to Eric Northman, leader of the local vampire community--is caught up in the changes.

In the ensuing battles, Sookie faces danger, death, and once more, betrayal by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood finished flowing, her world will be forever altered.

My thoughts...

I still love this series, but I definitely preferred the earlier books. This is the 8th book of the series and sometimes Sookie just seems downright bratty to me. LOL This is one time I much prefer the screen version (in this case TV) to the book version. I'm still not reading enough about characters I've grown to love in the TV series (particularly Bill and Eric). However, I've been listening to this series in the car to and from work and it makes for a very nice diversion. It also is giving me a chance to get caught up on this series which I've wanted to do for years.




For Reading Challenges:

Audio Reading Challenge
Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge
TBR Lite Reading Challenge

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Recorded Books
Release Date: May 2007
Format: Audio

Synopsis from Fantastic Fiction:

Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has her hands full dealing with every sort of undead and paranormal creature imaginable. And after being betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Sookie must not only deal with a new man in her life-the shapeshifter Quinn-but also contend with the long-planned vampire summit.

The summit is a tense situation. The vampire queen of Louisiana is in a precarious position, her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans. And there are some vamps who would like to finish what nature started. Soon, Sookie must decide what side she'll stand with. And her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe.

My thoughts...

As I have said previously, I do enjoy this series but I'm afraid I keep comparing it to the TV series "True Blood". I want to see more of the characters I love on True Blood. With the books, each one has new characters (along with some old ones). I guess my biggest complaint is there isn't enough of Bill and Eric. I'm not thrilled that Sookie has a new boyfriend either. LOL But, it really is a fun series and I'm going to continue on with it.

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Recorded Books
Date Released: April 2006
Format: Audio CD

Everyone's favorite telepathic is back in the sixth Sookie Stackhouse book. This time she goes to New Orleans to settle the affairs of a family member who recently passed away. When she learns there might be reason to be suspicious of the death, Sookie finds herself in the midst of a war between many different supernatural beings.

This is still a good series, but I'm a bit disappointed that there's not more of Bill or Eric in this book. It feels like Sookie is heading off into another direction with a new boyfriend. I'm not sure I really like that. Or maybe I'm just listening to too many of these books at once. LOL Of course that's not going to stop me from reading the next one.



For reading challenges:


TBR Lite Reading Challenge
Audio Reading Challenge
Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Recorded Books
Release Date: May 2005
Format: Audio

This is the 5th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series and it's just as good as the previous books.

Here's a synopsis of the book...


When Sookie's brother Jason's eyes start to change, she knows he's about to turn into a were-panther for the first time. But her concern becomes cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population-and Jason's new panther brethren suspect he may be the shooter. Now, Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who's behind the attacks, unless the killer decides to find her first.

My thoughts...

There's really not alot to say about the Sookie books that I haven't already said. Like I've said many times, I'm loving this series and this book was as fun as the previous ones. I'm so glad I'm listening to these on audio. I find it so much fun to catch up on this series through the audio books and listening in my car. My only wish is that we'd get more of vampire Bill in these books.



For reading challenges:

Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge
Audio Book Reading Challenge

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Recorded Books
Release Date: 2008
Format: Audio

Sookie Stackhouse and her boyfriend, vampire Bill Compton, have broken up and leaves town on business. While Bill is away, Sookie discovers the leader of the vampires, Eric Northam, walking around in a daze and not having any of his memory. She decides to act as his protector and watch over him. Sookie lets him live with her, but she never expects it to be anything more than friendship.

To make things even more complicated, there’s a reward to anyone who finds Eric. Her brother Jason is ready to cash in on that money, but before he can, he mysteriously disappears. Sookie fears he has been kidnapped by witches and could be lying dead in a ditch somewhere. Not getting any help from the local police – they are convinced he has run off with one of his women – Sookie sets out to rescue her brother herself.

As Sookie fights all sorts of magical demons from shape shifters to werewolves to even a few vampires, she can’t fight her attraction to Eric any longer. Will Sookie give in to her feelings or is this all an act on Eric’s part?

Another great Sookie book and I absolutely love listening to them on audio. They really are a lot of fun and listening to the audio in the car is so relaxing. These are helping me fill the time until the next season of True Blood in the summer. Although by the time I’m done with these books, I won’t be able to separate the books from the TV show.



For Reading Challenges:

2011 Audio Book Challenge
Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

Last year this reading challenge was hosted by BethF at Beth Fish Reads. I joined, but didn't get very far. Since then I've become a huge True Blood fan and after season 3 ended, I became interested again in catching up with this series. So, I'm starting a reading challenge to help me focus on completing the series. If you'd like to join me, here are the guidelines.

1) Grab the button on top and put it on your blog and link to this challenge.

2) Sign up with the link below. Please make sure the url you use goes directly to your blog post about this challenge.

3) If you don't have a blog, that's okay. Just comment below that you want to join. Then come back to let us know which books you've read. For those with a blog and posting reviews, I will have a link for completed reviews.

4) Make a list of which books in the series you still have to read. Whether you are just beginning or up to #2, 3, 4, etc...that's how many books you have to read.

5) Books can be in any format (print, ebook, audio) and you can crossover to other challenges.

6) The challenge goes from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.

Please use the linky below to sign up. Please use the url that goes directly to your blog post (not to your homepage).



Please use the linky below to post your completed reviews. Please use the url that goes directly to your review of the book.




Here is the complete list of Sookie books...

1. Dead Until Dark
2. Living Dead in Dallas
3. Club Dead
4. Dead to the World
5. Dead as a Doornail
6. Definitely Dead
7. All Together Dead
8. From Dead to Worse
9. Dead and Gone
10. Dead in the Family
11. Dead Reckoning (comes out in May 2011)

The ones I still need to read...

4. Dead to the World Click for review
5. Dead as a Doornail Click for review
6. Definitely Dead Click for review
7. All Together Dead Click for review
8. From Dead to Worse Click for review
9. Dead and Gone Click for review
10. A Touch of Dead click for Review
11. Dead in the Family Click for Review
12. Dead Reckoning Click for Review

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Romance, Paranormal

Sookie Stackhouse is back in the second book of the Southern Vampire Mysteries and she has her hands full. She is viciously attacked by a maenad and she’s hanging on for dear life. With the vampires help, she lives, but the cost is pretty high.

As payment for their assistance, they ask Sookie to use her telepathy powers to find a kidnapped vampire. Sookie and her vampire boyfriend Bill head to Dallas to try and locate the missing vampire. Sookie runs into all kinds of foes and has to deal with some sex addicted friends as well as enemies, but with Bill and his friends protecting her, she does fine.

When she returns home, she is faced with trying to figure out who committed a gruesome murder and framed a local detective.

I enjoyed this book and it was great to pay another visit to Sookie and her friends. I watched the first season of True Blood (the TV series based on the books), but we no longer have HBO so I never saw the second. I’ll probably get the DVDs at some point, but for now, I’m enjoying plowing through this series. I love Sookie and Bill and definitely want to read more about them.





For Reading Challenge:

Read Your Own Book Reading Challenge
Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge
TBR Lite Challenge
What’s in a Name 3 Reading Challenge

Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

I wasn't going to do anymore challenges, but I read the first book in this series a few months ago and really enjoyed the True Blood series (I no longer get HBO so I can't watch the second season until it comes out in DVD - sob!) Anyway, here's what this challenge is about...

Welcome to the Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge!

Here's your chance to catch up on Sookie and all her friends -- living and undead, fully human and not.

It's easy, it's fun, it's for you! And you have an entire year to complete the challenge.

The Rules:

1. Between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, catch up on Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire series. No matter if you're starting with book 1 or book 8, you have a year to read all about Sookie. Read Sookie in print, listen to the audio, read an eBook -- format is not an issue.

2. Sign up using Mr. Linky. Put your name in the top box. For the bottom box, please use the URL that links specifically to your blog post about this challenge, not to your blog's home page.

3. After July 4, I'll create a post with another Mr. Linky where you can link your reviews so everyone can read them track your progress.

4. If you don't have a blog and want to join in, sign up in the comments here. Later, let us know about your progress by leaving comments on the review link page.

The Books:

Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead to Worse
Dead and Gone

Beth Fish Reads is the one hosting this challenge.


1. Living Dead In Dallas Click for review
2. Club Dead
3. Dead to the World
4. Dead as a Doornail
5. Definitely Dead
6. All Together Dead
7. From Dead to worse
8. Dead and Gone