Helpful Score: 4
What. The. Hell.
Ever So Spoilery...
This was so oddly written. The voice didn't sound like Sookie at all, but a person going through the motions, alternating between teenager sullenness and elderly worn out apathy.
Harris' choice to alternate between 1st person Sookie and 3rd person all-the-many-villains was pure laziness. In the past, there had always been a certain amount of cleverness to how the plot had to play out due to it all being 1st person. In Dead Ever After, Harris decided to just spell it out for us, as if she couldn't care enough to make the effort.
The plot was a jumbled mess. Characters came and went for no particular reason, casseroles were made and delivered, villains ganged together. Where previous books could nearly stand on their own, this tangled web was hard to follow, what with dragging in characters from all over the Sookie timeline and mashing them together without much explanation--- and definitely no plausible explanation.
Harris steadily went about trashing one beloved character after another. No one could be redeemed, all that was once cherished was suddenly meaningless and dropped like used tissues to roll ploddingly towards its doom for the sake of just ending it already.
I don't care who Sookie ended up with. A couple of books of heartbreak and angst and realizations and what not and Sam could have been her soul mate. Instead, he's a shadow of a character whom she has creepy creepy CREEPY dirty trailer park sex with. Seriously, it would've been less creepy for her to end up with Dermot, the visual twin of her brother. Well, maybe not...
I keep going back to the beginning. When Bill was the love of her life and then vampire politics made him a villain and things went to hell. Or when Eric forgot his centuries as a vampire and we got a glimpse of what he would be as a human.
A magic get out of jail free card and Harris doesn't use it to return even one vampire to their humanity? And when it is used, it turns Sam into a beaten dog despondent over having been momentarily dead?
Any way she turned the story, it could've been beautifully done. Hell, with her former effort and passion for writing, Harris could've made Claude the fricking hero. It would've been weird, but...
Or, she could've just killed Sookie. That could've been pretty spectacular. Sookie could've gone down in a blaze of glory or a martyr for everyone she loved.
It wasn't what happened, it was that it happened badly. This was a horribly written book, not at all in line with the established story.
It was wholly disappointing, even though, secretly, I kind of always loved the idea of steady, affable Sam being the last man standing. Now it just makes my skin crawl.
Shame on you, Harris, for foisting this mockery of a book on your loyal fans. I'm going to pretend this never happened. Actually, I may pretend Dead Reckoning and Deadlocked never happened as well.
Ever So Spoilery...
This was so oddly written. The voice didn't sound like Sookie at all, but a person going through the motions, alternating between teenager sullenness and elderly worn out apathy.
Harris' choice to alternate between 1st person Sookie and 3rd person all-the-many-villains was pure laziness. In the past, there had always been a certain amount of cleverness to how the plot had to play out due to it all being 1st person. In Dead Ever After, Harris decided to just spell it out for us, as if she couldn't care enough to make the effort.
The plot was a jumbled mess. Characters came and went for no particular reason, casseroles were made and delivered, villains ganged together. Where previous books could nearly stand on their own, this tangled web was hard to follow, what with dragging in characters from all over the Sookie timeline and mashing them together without much explanation--- and definitely no plausible explanation.
Harris steadily went about trashing one beloved character after another. No one could be redeemed, all that was once cherished was suddenly meaningless and dropped like used tissues to roll ploddingly towards its doom for the sake of just ending it already.
I don't care who Sookie ended up with. A couple of books of heartbreak and angst and realizations and what not and Sam could have been her soul mate. Instead, he's a shadow of a character whom she has creepy creepy CREEPY dirty trailer park sex with. Seriously, it would've been less creepy for her to end up with Dermot, the visual twin of her brother. Well, maybe not...
I keep going back to the beginning. When Bill was the love of her life and then vampire politics made him a villain and things went to hell. Or when Eric forgot his centuries as a vampire and we got a glimpse of what he would be as a human.
A magic get out of jail free card and Harris doesn't use it to return even one vampire to their humanity? And when it is used, it turns Sam into a beaten dog despondent over having been momentarily dead?
Any way she turned the story, it could've been beautifully done. Hell, with her former effort and passion for writing, Harris could've made Claude the fricking hero. It would've been weird, but...
Or, she could've just killed Sookie. That could've been pretty spectacular. Sookie could've gone down in a blaze of glory or a martyr for everyone she loved.
It wasn't what happened, it was that it happened badly. This was a horribly written book, not at all in line with the established story.
It was wholly disappointing, even though, secretly, I kind of always loved the idea of steady, affable Sam being the last man standing. Now it just makes my skin crawl.
Shame on you, Harris, for foisting this mockery of a book on your loyal fans. I'm going to pretend this never happened. Actually, I may pretend Dead Reckoning and Deadlocked never happened as well.
Elisabeth P. (BetsyP) reviewed Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse, Bk 13) on + 566 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Final installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series. Sookie has to contend with old adversaries, but she has the help of lots of old friends. I don't want to give too much away. This book is just as good if not better than any of the ones that came before. Good storyline, lots of twists and surprises and a really great HEA. I will miss Sookie.
Tiffany K. (tiffanyak) -
Helpful Score: 2
This was a brilliant conclusion to a great series. I confess that a part of me was disappointed with how it ended at first, but upon further reflection, I now realize that it is the perfect conclusion to Sookie's story. Which is not to say that I don't hope she's given a very different ending in her alternate universe that is the TV show, so that I can hopefully be pleased on both counts. More than that, and back to the book, it was a completely gripping read, so good that I read it in one day. I don't want to say too much, for fear of spoilers, but this was certainly one of my favorite installments of the series. Considering how many volumes there are, that's saying a lot.
Helpful Score: 1
As someone who has enjoyed this series, I was worried about the final book. I successfully stayed away from the spoilers posted before the book was even released (and post release). What I did know was people were pissed. The dedication is fitting: "This book is dedicated to the loyal readers....There isn't a way I could make all of you happy with the ending..."
Like most of the previous Sookie books, this one takes some time to get started. Strangely, I don't mind reading about Sookie doing mundane things (cooking, shaving her legs, etc) and there's plenty of that here. I loved how Mr C, Diantha, Quinn (who left abruptly), Barry, Bob, and Amelia all came to help Sookie. I thought it was nice the turn-out in the courtroom. Sookie had more support than she knew. Now Sookie's enemies are gone. My only issue is I thought the ending was too abrupt. I'm not surprised at the ending, this person has been present in the previous books and a good friend to Sookie.
(A bit of my own rant follows- read at your own risk!)
I am surprised at all the hate with this character though. Yes, I'm an Eric lover too, but come on, he hasn't behaved all the well in the last couple of books. And knowing that Sookie had never wanted to be turned and would like to be a mother, the ending that is, is much more fitting.
Like most of the previous Sookie books, this one takes some time to get started. Strangely, I don't mind reading about Sookie doing mundane things (cooking, shaving her legs, etc) and there's plenty of that here. I loved how Mr C, Diantha, Quinn (who left abruptly), Barry, Bob, and Amelia all came to help Sookie. I thought it was nice the turn-out in the courtroom. Sookie had more support than she knew. Now Sookie's enemies are gone. My only issue is I thought the ending was too abrupt. I'm not surprised at the ending, this person has been present in the previous books and a good friend to Sookie.
(A bit of my own rant follows- read at your own risk!)
I am surprised at all the hate with this character though. Yes, I'm an Eric lover too, but come on, he hasn't behaved all the well in the last couple of books. And knowing that Sookie had never wanted to be turned and would like to be a mother, the ending that is, is much more fitting.
Christine H. (solarawynn) reviewed Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse, Bk 13) on + 724 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Charlaine Harris did a fine job of ending the Sookie Stackhouse novels.I cried.I laughed out loud.I will miss this series.
Helpful Score: 1
(This review contains 1 spoiler at the end!!!)
Thank goodness! This final installment was so much better than the last 3 books. I was almost ready to give up on my heroine after the last book, but I am glad I stuck it out to see where Sook ended up. Harris did a much more seamless job of weaving in characters from the past 12 books that we would actually care to learn about, rather than simply throwing meaningless side characters at the reader left and right for no apparent reason, as done in books 11 and 12. Here, she brought back those characters that we would be happy to check in with for a final time, such as Amelia, Quinn, Mr Cataliades, Diantha, Barry, etc. It was also a cool suprise to have Steve Newlin back in the fold as a baddie. Significantly less suprnatural elements in this book it seemed like, especially since she was not dealing with the shifter packs or vamp politics (much) and the fairies were isolated to Faery. I was sad to see she did not end up with Eric, but I thought it made long-term sense that he would continue his vampy power-grabs and she would end up with someone more on her level. Overall, a good wrap-up on Sookie's life! Maybe this will mean no one else tries to kill her :)
Thank goodness! This final installment was so much better than the last 3 books. I was almost ready to give up on my heroine after the last book, but I am glad I stuck it out to see where Sook ended up. Harris did a much more seamless job of weaving in characters from the past 12 books that we would actually care to learn about, rather than simply throwing meaningless side characters at the reader left and right for no apparent reason, as done in books 11 and 12. Here, she brought back those characters that we would be happy to check in with for a final time, such as Amelia, Quinn, Mr Cataliades, Diantha, Barry, etc. It was also a cool suprise to have Steve Newlin back in the fold as a baddie. Significantly less suprnatural elements in this book it seemed like, especially since she was not dealing with the shifter packs or vamp politics (much) and the fairies were isolated to Faery. I was sad to see she did not end up with Eric, but I thought it made long-term sense that he would continue his vampy power-grabs and she would end up with someone more on her level. Overall, a good wrap-up on Sookie's life! Maybe this will mean no one else tries to kill her :)
Helpful Score: 1
Overall I think Charlaine Harris did really well with "Dead Ever After" and had the perfect ending. These fictional characters are from Ms. Harris' imagination and I've read this is how she envisioned her series ending since around the 2nd book. I've enjoyed her imagination and characters and stories in all 13 books. I for one like to see a "happy ever after" in a normal-ish way for our heroine after all these years. Congrats on a job well done Ms. Harris! "
Robin M. (robinmy) -
Sookie Stackhouse's life is in turmoil. Currently, her boyfriend, Eric, isn't talking to her since she used a Cluvial Dor to save Sam's life instead of saving it for Eric. Sam is also avoiding Sookie since she brought him back to life. And, her arch enemy Arlene Fowler is out of prison and asking Sookie for a job. Things go from bad to worse when Arlene is found dead in a dumpster and Sookie is the prime suspect. Someone wants Sookie out of the way and they're framing her for murder.
This is the thirteenth and last book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I liked some of the story, but had some real problems with other parts. I thought the mystery portion of the story was good. There were a handful of people who wanted Sookie either dead or out of the picture. Charlaine Harris brought back many characters from previous books. A couple of times I had to strain my brain to remember who they were, but it was nice to see so many characters involved in this last story.
I hated the sudden personality changes in a couple of characters...especially Eric. He was always written as a fun-loving vampire who was smart and cunning. Suddenly he is a brooding vampire, pouting because he can't have his own way. He was mad that Sookie had the capability of getting him out of his forced marriage to the Queen, but chose to save Sam instead. The Eric we know and love would have got himself out of the mess. The character was ruined for me. I also had a hard time believing Sookie's sudden love for Sam. Yes, they've been best friends and co-workers for years, but I've never seen any real feelings between them. I like Sam, but would have loved more build up to this relationship. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
This is the thirteenth and last book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I liked some of the story, but had some real problems with other parts. I thought the mystery portion of the story was good. There were a handful of people who wanted Sookie either dead or out of the picture. Charlaine Harris brought back many characters from previous books. A couple of times I had to strain my brain to remember who they were, but it was nice to see so many characters involved in this last story.
I hated the sudden personality changes in a couple of characters...especially Eric. He was always written as a fun-loving vampire who was smart and cunning. Suddenly he is a brooding vampire, pouting because he can't have his own way. He was mad that Sookie had the capability of getting him out of his forced marriage to the Queen, but chose to save Sam instead. The Eric we know and love would have got himself out of the mess. The character was ruined for me. I also had a hard time believing Sookie's sudden love for Sam. Yes, they've been best friends and co-workers for years, but I've never seen any real feelings between them. I like Sam, but would have loved more build up to this relationship. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
Sookie is in trouble again. This time she's being charged with murder. If being charged with murder isn't enough, someone also wants her dead. Sookie faces her enemies and tries to solve the mystery of who is out to get her, all while keeping her southern charm.
I love the Sookie Stackhouse books. I have been waiting for this book to see how Charlaine Harris ended the series. Originally I had an idea in my head about how I wanted the story to end. It didn't end the way I hoped it would, but I was still happy with the ending. Definitely not disappointed. In fact, now I want to reread the series from beginning to end. It's hard when you have to wait a year between books! If you like the Sookie Stackhouse series, I definitely recommend you read the Harper Connelly series also by Charlaine Harris.
I love the Sookie Stackhouse books. I have been waiting for this book to see how Charlaine Harris ended the series. Originally I had an idea in my head about how I wanted the story to end. It didn't end the way I hoped it would, but I was still happy with the ending. Definitely not disappointed. In fact, now I want to reread the series from beginning to end. It's hard when you have to wait a year between books! If you like the Sookie Stackhouse series, I definitely recommend you read the Harper Connelly series also by Charlaine Harris.
This book felt like a season finale. While there was a mystery in the midst of it, the meat of this novel is the parade of previous characters. The only character that didn't show up was Bubba who I'm sure Ms. Harris tried to write in at some point.
Anyone who's been with Sookie since the beginning was hoping for the final romance to begin, but it was glossed over and made too practical. This is Fiction, where are the grand gestures and simply said devotions of love that women wished men would say in real life?
This book was just "meh" for me.
Anyone who's been with Sookie since the beginning was hoping for the final romance to begin, but it was glossed over and made too practical. This is Fiction, where are the grand gestures and simply said devotions of love that women wished men would say in real life?
This book was just "meh" for me.
Nancy B. (momof2furkids) reviewed Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse, Bk 13) on + 57 more book reviews
This was kind of a letdown as far as series endings go. After such a strong start, the series went downhill. It's hard to follow a storyline when the main character is almost always miserable.
The final book of the Sookie Stackhouse was a relief! By that I mean this book had more of the elements that the first books had, and the last 2 did not. Book 12 was a yawn.
Book 13 wrapped up the series well. The great characters from Sookie's past arrived in support of Sookie. I think she had more "sup" friends than she thought. I enjoyed Amelia & Bob, Barry, Mr. C, and Diantha being part of this story. Some dangerous new "sups" appeared, and provided the drama.
I will leave the ending, and Sookie's love life for you to read, but I loved it. Sookie is like an old friend, and I think she made the right choice.
Book 13 wrapped up the series well. The great characters from Sookie's past arrived in support of Sookie. I think she had more "sup" friends than she thought. I enjoyed Amelia & Bob, Barry, Mr. C, and Diantha being part of this story. Some dangerous new "sups" appeared, and provided the drama.
I will leave the ending, and Sookie's love life for you to read, but I loved it. Sookie is like an old friend, and I think she made the right choice.
Wrapped up well in Bon Temps. I finished this, closed the book and stared at the cover for 10 minutes trying to soak it into my noodle. I can't say as I agree with it all. I guess I expected more people dead. It seemed like an appropriate ending. The previous few books were too disappointing it was refreshing to read a good one. I just wish there was less of her worrying about all her guests and what they were going to eat, or where they were going to sleep. It was too repetitive I felt like reading my mom's diary after a while. Great series. Good luck miss Stackhouse!
Laura P. (hemmputnam) reviewed Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse, Bk 13) on + 1113 more book reviews
Great paranormal fun and a good wrap-up to the series. You see the main characters interact and find out how Sookie will spend her "ever after." If you've read the other 12 books, you won't want to miss this one!
Nicole R. (Tumbleweed) -
I loved this book! Im heartbroken thats its the last one but the end was great! Very quick read. Once you start you wont be able to put it down. It only took a few days to finish! Great ending to a great series! Would LOVE LOVE LOVE a series revival!!!
Heather D. (daylily77) reviewed Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse, Bk 13) on + 236 more book reviews
A fitting end. Sad it's over. Entertaining and full of plot twists. Not sure I'll read another Charlaine Harris book. Silly, but I guess I got too attached to the characters.
This was my favorite book in the series, after the first one. I started reading them because I'm a True Blood fan and I like them almost more than the show. I have enjoyed Sookie being the narrator because it made her a more in depth character than she is on Tue Blood but I did like the little bit of third person narration in this book because it clued us in on other happenings that were important to the story. I wish the other books had some of that too. *Spoiler Alert* I loved how all the characters from Sookie's past came together in this story, to help her and vouch for her. I absolutely loved that she ended up with Sam. I think it's perfect, just wish there was a little more of a happy ending for them, although I guess that's not really Sookie's style!
If you're expecting a tearful and cathartic denouement to the series, you won't get it, but if you liked the first twelve books, you'll like this one too.
This was the final train wreck in a steadily worsening progression of books in the later half of the series. It was very sad that this series, which started off being a fun and hilarious addition to the supernatural/mystery genre, ended this way.
Lenna W. (bratz54) -
Unhappy to see the end of this series, but who knows down the road. bitter sweet ending.
Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse Series Book Thirteen
Sookie Stackhouse's life is turned upside, as usual. She made the choice to save Sam in book eleven and he isn't quite the same from his experience, and her choice didn't go over well with Eric.
A few old enemies come back for revenge. All their anger and hatred is aimed at Sookie and they plan to ruin her, one way or another. The problem is they stay in the shadows so Sookie has no idea who is pulling the strings. Strings that pin a murder on her.
Poor Sookie just wants to sit in her lounge chair, in her bikini, and enjoy the sunlight. Why can't people just leave her alone? And really, just how many enemies can one girl manage to gather at her age? Obviously...plenty.
Sookie's adventures come to an end in this final book of the series. It brings many characters back from the previous books. It ties up most of the loose ends in Sookie's life and in the lives of the people surrounding her. The author had written one final book to let readers know what happened after the series; After Dead: What Came Next in the World of Sookie Stackhouse.
**Sexual content and language
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2012/09/simon-and-schuster-atria-books.html
Sookie Stackhouse Series Book Thirteen
Sookie Stackhouse's life is turned upside, as usual. She made the choice to save Sam in book eleven and he isn't quite the same from his experience, and her choice didn't go over well with Eric.
A few old enemies come back for revenge. All their anger and hatred is aimed at Sookie and they plan to ruin her, one way or another. The problem is they stay in the shadows so Sookie has no idea who is pulling the strings. Strings that pin a murder on her.
Poor Sookie just wants to sit in her lounge chair, in her bikini, and enjoy the sunlight. Why can't people just leave her alone? And really, just how many enemies can one girl manage to gather at her age? Obviously...plenty.
Sookie's adventures come to an end in this final book of the series. It brings many characters back from the previous books. It ties up most of the loose ends in Sookie's life and in the lives of the people surrounding her. The author had written one final book to let readers know what happened after the series; After Dead: What Came Next in the World of Sookie Stackhouse.
**Sexual content and language
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2012/09/simon-and-schuster-atria-books.html
Bree G. (paisleywings) reviewed Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse, Bk 13) on + 232 more book reviews
I really enjoyed the final chapter in the life of Sookie Stackhouse. It was a little slow starting and somewhat mundane at first, but then it rolled and took off. Had a lot of expectations for this book and it delivered. The ending was very appropriate and satisfying...even if I would like the series to continue. Just maybe, somewhere down the road, Charlaine Harris will give us a look at how Sookie is doing.
The only thing that drove me crazy...the author had so many characters whose names began with the letter A. Just saying...
The only thing that drove me crazy...the author had so many characters whose names began with the letter A. Just saying...
So sad to read the last Sookie book. I wanted it to go on and on.
