ISBN: 0-441-01051-2 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com
A fast, rollicking mystery adventure with a very likable albeit reluctant heroine, supernatural politics, humor, investigation and plenty of fights.
Reviewed by David on May 11, 2003
Genre: Fantasy (Vampires, ESP, Mystery, Alternate Reality)
Synopsis: Sookie is a waitress in a small Southern town, a few years after the vampires have "come out of the closet." The vampires are officially suffering from an "unkown virus", and can feed on synthetic blood now.
In the first novel of the series, Dead Until Dark, Sookie met and fell in love with Bill the Vampire.
This, the third novel in the series, starts off with Bill keeping secrets from her. The secrets involve a project that may put Bill in danger. When he doesn't return from a trip, Sookie and the neighborhood vampires form an uneasy alliance to discover what happened to him. Sookie's search will expose her to dangers—of the body as well as the heart.
Full Review:
Charlaine Harris reading at Torcon 2003
Sookie continues to be the major reason for the attractiveness of the series. A working waitress, she boasts little formal education but more than casual intelligence. Her lack of sophistication combined with significant insight make for a vulnerable but capable detective. And the struggle of morality with strong impulsive nature is both believable and appealing.
Other characters bring color and excitement as well, including the incomparable Bubba, the ambiguous Eric, and the rest of the supporting cast. Snappy dialogue, plenty of fighting and some unpretentious soul-searching (when not in desperate struggle to survive) make this a difficult book to put down.
The combination of likable heroine, fast plot and humor result in a delightful read and an impatience for further adventures of Sookie Stackhouse.
Copyright: 2003
Overall: 6.5; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 6.5; Style: 6.5; World-building: 6.5; Originality: 6;
Berkley Publishing Group (Ace), May 2003, Mass-market, 258 pages
ISBN: 0-441-01051-2 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com