Helpful Score: 8
The story idea as a whole is good, however, the pieces that put it all together are definitely flawed.
On the whole, the book is a mediocre read. I'd say easy, but once again the author is horrible at keeping a story together. There tends to be a lot of gaps, like the story is being told by someone with ADD, and it leaves a reader flipping back pages to see if they might have missed a detail here or there. (don't worry, you probably didn't) In truth, I think the author figures out that we're supposed to be telepaths as well and know what Sookie is referring to at times.
And, until these books, I've never realized just how distracting a lot of misplaced and unnecessary commas can be... Does anyone proof read this stuff? Maybe someone should get the editor a calendar that shows them grammatical correctness every day.
I'm also really hoping that I'm not the only one to find the werewolf challenge an eye-roller. I'll never be able to watch another dog agility show on TV again without being reminded of that. It was just too ridiculous for words.
A person should be able to figure out quite early who the sniper is because the writer's technique throughout her books has a definite pattern. By the time the unveiling was done I found the confession to be pretty lame.
I've one more to go of the books that I have bought in this series, but I'm pretty sure I won't be wasting any money on buying them new again.
On the whole, the book is a mediocre read. I'd say easy, but once again the author is horrible at keeping a story together. There tends to be a lot of gaps, like the story is being told by someone with ADD, and it leaves a reader flipping back pages to see if they might have missed a detail here or there. (don't worry, you probably didn't) In truth, I think the author figures out that we're supposed to be telepaths as well and know what Sookie is referring to at times.
And, until these books, I've never realized just how distracting a lot of misplaced and unnecessary commas can be... Does anyone proof read this stuff? Maybe someone should get the editor a calendar that shows them grammatical correctness every day.
I'm also really hoping that I'm not the only one to find the werewolf challenge an eye-roller. I'll never be able to watch another dog agility show on TV again without being reminded of that. It was just too ridiculous for words.
A person should be able to figure out quite early who the sniper is because the writer's technique throughout her books has a definite pattern. By the time the unveiling was done I found the confession to be pretty lame.
I've one more to go of the books that I have bought in this series, but I'm pretty sure I won't be wasting any money on buying them new again.
Helpful Score: 7
A sniper has been targeting the shape-shifting population of Bon Temps and the surrounding communities. As a new were-panther, Sookie's primary concern is for her brother Jason. But as it turns out, she's also a target, despite the fact that she's only a psychic, not a shifter.
This is the 5th book in Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mysteries, aka the Sookie Stackhouse books. I enjoyed coming back to this series after not having a chance to read them for the last year or so; it felt like revisiting an old friend. :D Fortunately, Ms. Harris is good at refreshing your memory about past characters and activities so the fact that I didn't have the earlier books here to review before picking this up was not a problem at all. She doesn't go overboard in describing past events, but it's enough to give you a feel for things if you haven't read them, or to bring everything back more clearly if you have.
Unlike Grave Sight, the first book in her newer Harper Connelly series, I was left uncertain all the way until the end of the book as to who the sniper was. And even then, she still managed to throw in an extra twist. I knew there's a good reason these books are part of my personal collection. :)
This is the 5th book in Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mysteries, aka the Sookie Stackhouse books. I enjoyed coming back to this series after not having a chance to read them for the last year or so; it felt like revisiting an old friend. :D Fortunately, Ms. Harris is good at refreshing your memory about past characters and activities so the fact that I didn't have the earlier books here to review before picking this up was not a problem at all. She doesn't go overboard in describing past events, but it's enough to give you a feel for things if you haven't read them, or to bring everything back more clearly if you have.
Unlike Grave Sight, the first book in her newer Harper Connelly series, I was left uncertain all the way until the end of the book as to who the sniper was. And even then, she still managed to throw in an extra twist. I knew there's a good reason these books are part of my personal collection. :)
Helpful Score: 6
Great fun to see Soakie isn't taking crap off of the men in her life as she's dodging bullets & fire. & the introduction of Quinn makes me wanting more!
This book barely kept my attention. At this point in the series I would like to see more depth in character development and in the creation of Sookie's world. In my opinion, Harris is giving the series too light and fickle a touch-- a bit like Sookie herself, who lacks the ability to really know which man she likes best and why, but all she can say is that she's sexually attracted to all. I see that as a metaphor for the author's own inability to make up her mind which character she wants to keep or discard, so she writes them out - or nearly - because she lacks the skill or interest to develop them, and their relationship to Sookie, further.
I like Harris' humor. I want to keep on liking the series. I want to continue to care about Sookie and friends, but I'm bored. I'm losing interest in cardboard characters that Harris doesn't adequately build up and is very quick to tear down.
I like Harris' humor. I want to keep on liking the series. I want to continue to care about Sookie and friends, but I'm bored. I'm losing interest in cardboard characters that Harris doesn't adequately build up and is very quick to tear down.
Helpful Score: 5
A very fast read & difficult to put down. More sexy vamps, Weres, shifters, and fairies to contend with, Sookie's life is definitely interesting. One of the best of the series.
