Book Review: Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Book: Dead Until Dark
Series: Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Series #1
Author: Charlaine Harris
ISBN-13: 9780441008537
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
Publication date: 5/1/2001
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Edition description: Reissue
Pages: 304

[Summery From Book]
Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out….

Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn’t such a bright idea.

My Rating: ✯✯✯✯✰

My Review:

Did you ever wish you could know what others were thinking? Well, you just might want to reconsider that wish. Imagine always hearing everyone’s thoughts at the same time, like listening to dozens of radio stations all at once. Having to always have your guard up to block those ramblings out, rarely getting a moments peace.

That is exactly what southern bell Sookie Stackhouse has to live with until she meets a tall, dark, and handsome vampire, Bill Compton, who she can’t hear a single thought in his head. She is finally able to find peace with someone and let her guard down. Able to find solace with him after so many years of hardships and loneliness.

But there is a serial killer on the loose in Bon Temps, Louisiana who appears to be killing women who have been with vampires. Looks like this is really bad timing for Sookie to have a vampire boyfriend.

Charlaine Harris gives us Sookie, the quirky protagonist. She is relatable, kind, and easy to fall in love with. Dead Until Dark brings to life a world in which the vampire community had recently came out of the coffin due to the invention of synthetic blood. We meet interesting characters and become charmed by a world in which humans, vampires, and shapeshifters coexist. This novel swept me off my feet, making it worthy of reading again and again.

Some Things Worth Mentioning

This is the the second time I have read this novel. It is interesting to see where everyone began and knowing the journey they have traveled thus far.

This series takes you through so many twists and turns that I never imagined would happen.

Book Review: Hidden by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Book: Hidden
ISBN-13: 9780312594428
Series: House of Night Novels #10
Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication date: 10/16/2012
Pages: 320

[Summery From Book]
Neferet’s true nature has been revealed to the Vampyre High Council, so Zoey and the gang might finally get some help in defending themselves and their beloved school against a gathering evil that grows stronger every day. And they’ll need it, because Neferet’s not going down without a fight. Chaos reigns at the House of Night.

My Rating: ✯✯✯✰✰

My Review: Hidden continues the good fight between Light and Darkness. We watch as many are making choices that affect who they are and who they are becoming. Some are choosing the path of Nyx while others are turning to Darkness.

Zoey Redbird feels more lost than ever after watching her mother be murdered by Neferet to create Aurox who, after looking at him through her seer stone, seems to have Heath taking up residence inside him. Zoey doesn’t know how much more she can handle before it becomes too much. She will need the help of Stark, her warrior, and her friends more now than ever before to help her through this difficult time in her life.

After losing everything, Neferet is more determined than ever before to hurt Zoey Redbird. She knows she cannot risk the wrath of Nyx by killing Zoey but that doesn’t mean she can’t hurt her in other ways that are much worse than death. Neferet has set her tendrils of Darkness loose on someone front and center in Zoey’s heart. If she succeeds in her latest plan she just may ruin Zoey beyond repair.

Will Zoey be able to get it together and help save someone she loves? Or will she be left trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart once again?

P.C. And Kristin Cast give plenty of drama and action to leave you satisfied but wanting more, Hidden makes a great addition to the House of Night Novels. The series continues to thrive, becoming even better as the characters become more developed.

Some Things Worth Mentioning

Lenobia finally gets what she has always wanted.

Erin’s true colors continue to bleed through her facade since the break up between her and Shaunee.

Newcomer Shaylin is strong and capable, a great asset to the group. Erik and Shaylin have lots of potential to be a power couple.

Kalona receives an unexpected visitor.

The showdown between Sylvia Redbird and Neferet was unforgettable. I can’t say too much about this scene except that it was just great!

Stevie Rae is actually bearable in this book.

Book Review: Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

Book: Some Girls Bite
Series: Chicagoland Vampires Series #1
Author: Chloe Neill
Publication Date: 4/7/2009
Pages: 352

My Rating: ✯✯✰✰✰

Some Girls Bite is the first in The Chicagoland Vampires Series. The series takes place in a modern world where vampires have come out to the public while other supernatural species have remained in the shadows. The vampires are organized through a feudal like system with 12 Vampire Houses in the United States and one Master in charge of each one. All vampires are required to swear their allegiance to their Master and obey the rules of each House. The 3 houses in Chicago are the Cadogan, Navarre, and The Grey House. The other 9 Houses are the Sheridan, Murphey, McDonald, Heart, Lincoln, Lassiter, Washington, Taylor, and Cabot. Only the Master of each house is able to create more vampires and even they are only allowed to make so many a year.

The heroine, Merit, is just a regular college graduate working on her thesis when she is viciously attacked by a rogue vampire. Luckily she was discovered shortly after by Ethan Sullivan, the Master of the Cadogan House. The only way to save her is to make her into what tried to kill her. When she wakes up she is thrust into a world she knows nothing about. At first she is extremely reluctant to adhere to her new vampire lifestyle to the point where she becomes annoying and childish. With help from some new friends and her long time bestie, Mallory, she eventually comes around and begins trying to make the best of the situation.

There is some sexual tension throughout the book. From the very beginning there is an attraction between her and her new Master, Ethan Sullivan. Although both find each other impossible. He wants her to be more submissive and compliant while she continues to fight him on pretty much everything.

Some Girls Bite wasn’t what I was expecting and not in a good way. I hate to bad mouth an authors hard work but the characters were a bit one dimensional and it took a while for the story to pick up the pace. I’m undecided on whether I will be continuing the series at this point. Maybe the characters develop more over the course of the series. But I was able to finish it so it wasn’t all bad.

Book Review: Pale Demon by Kim Harrison

Book: Pale Demon
Series: Rachel Morgan Series #9
Author: Kim Harrison
Publication Date: 11/29/2011
Pages: 528

My Rating: ✯✯✯✯✰

Rachel Morgan must get to the west coast in three days to appear at the annual witches conference where she will try to get her name cleared or she will be stuck in the ever after with Al.

Trent needs to get to Seattle to retrieve something from his ex fiancé. Since Quen is unable to escort him it’s up to Rachel to get him there alive.

Sounds easy enough, right?

Pale Demon, the ninth book of The Hollows series, was surprisingly good. I was not expecting a good read after the previous book, Black Magic Sanction. There was plenty of fast action throughout the book. Rachel and Trent seem to have finally figured out where they stand with each other. Well, sort of. Rachel finally seems to accept herself for who and what she is instead of hiding from the truth. I hope she continues it for the sake of the series.

True Blood “Sunset”

After this weeks episode we are left with just one more. I can only imagine how insane it will be. Tonight was one hell of an episode to put it mildly. Bill is becoming more and more delusional. Pam’s explanation of it being the result of living in a nest explains a lot about the why. Although, I do prefer Bill as the villain than the heart sick moron. To drink, or not to drink, that is the question! The General comes looking for Roman and isn’t happy to find out that he is gone. He tells them that the government is ready to kick some vampire ass if they don’t get back to mainstreaming, pronto. The General teases us about weapons we have never seen and then he gets killed! They have to deliver after getting us excited like that. Oh, hello, baby! Andy is told about the baby. Wow, one week later and she is about to pop! That’s not good news for Holly. Andy did a bad, bad thing!

Jessica is ordered to turn Jason by Bill and she doesn’t play by the rules. She ends up on Pam’s doorstep asking to be hidden. Doesn’t it just figure that the former sheriff of area 5, RIP, was Rosalyn’s progeny! Great going Tara, you’ve gone and stepped in it this time, again! Pam takes the blame for the murder and is arrested. Rosalyn just had to walk into the one place she was hiding at. Jessica couldn’t have worse luck if she broke every mirror in Bon Temps. Jessica sure got it handed to her when she was brought back to Bill. No one likes to hear the truth, especially the severely delusional. When Sam and Luna find Emma they are caught by guards who think they are the food and they got out. When they are told that Compton sends for breakfast Sam volunteers to go. Putting his life on the line for Luna and Emma, deja vu? Here are my top 5 moments of ‘Sunset’.

Visions From Lilith
Seems that Lilith was making the rounds this week to her followers. First To Bill, who turned it down, saying he was not worthy, then to Kibwe, who lost his head over it, and then to Salome. The wicked seductress would be perfect to lead. Who else is exactly like Lilith? Looks like Lilith is playing games with her followers. She loves violence, blood, and death. What better than to have them kill each other over the right to drink her blood and rule. Lilith only believes in herself, a godless god. What do you think of Lilith, is she really the first vampire? Or just a single vampire that led others to believe she was the first?

Nora and Eric Make A Break
After Nora reflected on Godric’s words of warning she realized the error of her ways and begs Eric to forgive her. I would say that he did by the way he power mounted her. Eric, the clever fucker that he is, saw a perfect opportunity for escape by killing the general and taking Nora with him to do “damage control”. Bill, thinking he’s a clever fucker, sends guards with them for “back up”. After Eric killed their back up Nora dropped her Lilith necklace to the ground and together they took to the sky.

Sookie Meets An Elder
Sookie is told that the Elder operates on a different frequency than they do. I guess that is Faery code for eccentric. She asks Sookie if she thinks it’s a coincidence that she is so attracted to vampires. That her and Worlow’s destiny is entwined. She will be tested. Sookie wants more but is soon interrupted by Jason. Who, when pulled in, tells them all about Russell Edgington and how he is after Sookie’s blood, again. The Elder becomes upset at the knowledge that Russell is alive. The Elder announces that they must and they will fight along side Sookie. Can the faeries handle Russell? Or will Worlow show up and save Sookie?

Alcide and Pops, Vampire Slayers
Alcide leaves the fenced area to save a woman from the baby vampires harassing her. His dad comments that he always has to be the hero. Alcide says that he was taught not to be a coward and takes off for the vampires. He manages to kill one right away but gets grabbed by one of them. Dear old Dad comes out of no where and kills the vampire standing in front of Alcide, scaring the one holding him off. I guess she doesn’t want to end up goo like her friends.

Russell Gets His Faery
When Jason brings Russell and Steve to the field where the faeries are they both can smell them but they cannot see them and it drives them crazy. Russell threatens to kill Jason if Sookie doesn’t show herself. Instead the Elder comes and when Steve goes for her she blasts the little twerp away. Russell is impressed with her voltage referring to her as being ‘turbo charged’. He really does have a way with words, doesn’t he? She tries to banish him twice but misses, hitting Jason once instead, ouch! When you are a vampire for 3000 years you gain super speed. He comes in from behind and drains the Elder. He becomes charged with her light and is able to see all the faeries standing there. How will they survive?

Favorite Quote of The Week
There is a reason that you find vampires irresistible. A reason that you slut your heart out to every cute guy out there with fangs. –Faery Elder

True Blood “Gone, Gone, Gone”

Only 2 more episodes left of True Blood! I can’t believe it’s already coming to the end of season 5. This has been an incredible ride and its not over quite yet. This week’s True Blood was another amazing episode. It began with Molly receiving the iStake and Sookie doing some staking of her own when she is attacked by the town coroner turned newborn vampire. Hoyt announces he is leaving for work in Alaska and demands that Jessica glamours him to forget that her and Jason ever existed. Jessica is then summoned by Bill who introduces the Vampire Bible to her. Maybe she can save Bill and bring him to his senses. Meanwhile, Sam and Luna hitch a ride in Steve Newlin’s bag as mice to gain entrance to the Authority’s Headquarters. This week’s episode seemed like the show was setting up for the big ending. I just can’t wait! Until then, here are my top 5 moments of “Gone, Gone, Gone”.

Eric and Nora envision Lilith killing Godric
In an attempt to save Eric, Nora and Bill force him to take the blood of Lilith and Nora also takes her blood. They soon see Godric appear to them and tell them that Lilith is a godless god and that he has evolved. Lilith then appears and rips his head off. We then see both bow to Lilith. Eric then says that he serves Lilith now, he even kneels to Russell. Is he faking or really reborn? I hope he is faking! I am afraid he isn’t.

Goodbye Sheriff!
Tara calls on the new sheriff of Area 5 to help her. She tells him she is worried that she killed Ginger. When he bends over Ginger to check, ginger stabs him and Tara cuts his head off. Pam walks in and Tara pronounces that they aren’t going to run. I love the vampire Tara!

Andy is A Daddy!
Maurella is sporting a baby bump! How cute is it that Andy is going to be a daddy of a little half fae, half human. Will he find out? If he does, where will that leave Holly?

Russell Shows His True Self
He tries to persuade the others to find the faeries and take their blood to study it and try to make synthetic faery blood like they did with human blood for True Blood. They all spoke against it. Salome saying that they are of the night, the sun is forbidden, and they are an abomination. He strikes Salome and goes on a rant about how he is 3000 years old and can kill them all. He tells them that they will not stop him and he will have the sun. This doesn’t look good for the fae.

Sookie and Jason Discover Some Disturbing News
Jason finds a hidden letter that was written in an unknown language. They take the letter to Claude but he cannot read it either, instead they bring an older fae who may be able to know what is written. Maurella comes over to them (baby bump!) and uses a spell to translate the letter. It seems that John Williams Stackhouse made an agreement in 1702 with Worlow that he grants him his first fae female born descendant. Claude drops the bomb that Sookie is the first female born Fae since 1702. Showdown with Worlow is coming!

Favorite Quote of The Week
We procreate because we want to not because some dickhead dipped in afterbirth told us to.–Pam