Changless — Gail Carriger (Parasol Protectorate #2)

Alexia Tarabotti, the Lady Woolsey, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears - leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.

But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. Even when her investigations take her to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only the soulless can. She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.

Genre: Fiction, Steampunk, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Orbit
Year: 2010
Rating: 3/5

You know... trying to write this review I realise I don't have much to say about this novel. Sure I am way behind in my reviews and it's been months since I read it, which could be the reason why, but really, what is there to say?

For me the Parasol Protectorate series is my go to when I need a silly read. You know those times when you just can't do serious, you don't want to think too hard and you want something fun? Yup, these books provide just that and I mean that in a positive way. These types of books are just as important as serious, award winning literature.

That said, I have no firm opinions on the plot in this book. Sure it was an enjoyable enough read. There were a few laugh out loud moments and Carriger has a unique writing style, but I didn't connect with the characters and for me that is the number one aspect of what makes a book excellent instead of average.

Reading this series, I know Lord Maccon is supposed to be a mega hotty, but I don't see it. Honestly, I am probably not the best person to review this book as despite my enjoyment of paranormal novels, I just don't "do" paranormal romance in the sense it makes me swoon.... and I think I am supposed to swoon. Instead I picture Lord Maccon to be hairy, smelly and ... well.... let's leave it at that.

As for Alexia. I want to love her, I really do. She had so much potential in book number one to be an awesome, kick are female protagonist. Unfortunately I didn't feel her character was developed much more in this novel... for me, she lacks depth. Depth is what makes an ordinary character a brilliant one. Honestly, I think it must be extremely difficult to write 'real' characters, especially when they are of the supernatural variety. So that can be forgiven.

When I read Soulless last year I enjoyed it. Mainly because it was so different from my usual reads. So I picked up Changeless thinking I could really get into this series. Although I have Blameless sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read (and I will read it) I am not itching to do so. I am happy for it to sit there until I am having one of those days where I need some silliness.

Dead in the Family – Charlaine Harris

After enduring torture and the loss of loved ones during the brief but deadly Fae War, Sookie Stackhouse is hurt and she's mad. Just about the only bright spot in her life is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman. But he's under scrutiny by the new vampire king because of their relationship. And as the political implications of the shifters' coming out are beginning to be felt, Sookie's connection to one particular Were draws her into the dangerous debate. Also, unknown to her, though the doors to Faery have been closed, there are still some fae on the human side - and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry.

Genre: Fiction, Series, Paranormal Romance, Vampire, Werewolves, Faery, Gothic, Mystery, Fantasy
Year: 2010
Publisher: Penguin
Rating: 3/5

Sookie Stackhouse. How I love thee. Sookie is one of my favourite heroines! She is feisty, assertive and smart. She knows how to kick arse and refuses to let the big bads get her down. On the other hand, she has a soft side when it comes to the sexy and complicated Eric Northman. She can't seem to work her love life out and suffers from all the same insecurities most of us have felt at one time or another. Sookie is a well-rounded and realistic character... well, besides all the mind-reading and love affairs with paranormal beings.

I just can't get enough of the Southern Vampire novels. This is book number 10 in the series. It came out in May last year but I had to wait until April this year to purchase it. Why, you may ask? Because all my books in series need to be in the same covers. Sad but true. So I will always have a 11 month wait between the release date and when I get to buy the new Sookie book.... *sigh* isn't life hard? 

In this novel Sookie is recovering both physically and emotionally from the Fae War; she is working out her relationship with Eric; she finds herself entangled in a problem with a dead body; the Weres call in a favour and the the portal to the Faery world may not be as closed as it seems. Phew! Once again Sookie has a lot to contend with, not to mention trying to juggle the everyday tasks of running a house and holding down a steady job! Life sure is busy. 

If you are a fan of the Southern Vampire Series then I am sure you'll enjoy this book.

Want to grab a copy of this book? Try Book Depository or Amazon!

Soulless – Gail Carriger (The Parasol Protectorate Book One)

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all the standards of social etiquette. 

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire – and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate. 

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia is responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart? 

Genre: Fiction, Steampunk, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Year: 2009
Publisher: Orbit
Rating: 3/5

Soulless is the first novel in The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. It is set in an alternate version of nineteenth century London, where the vampires and werewolves are accepted and active members of society. 

Alexia Tarabotti, however, has some problems. She is 26-years-old, unmarried, of Italian heritage, and boasts a strong, opinionated personality. No wonder she has difficulties fitting into London's rigid social class system. To make matters worse, she is preternatural, meaning she has no soul. 

This isn't so bad. With one touch Alexia can counteract a supernatural ability and therefore she has no fear of becoming vampire food.... but she still finds her state highly embarrassing.

Just when Alexia thinks her situation couldn't get any worse she accidentally kills a vampire with her parasol. Now she has to deal with the irritating Lord Maccon who has disliked her even since the hedgehog incident. Or so she thinks. 

Soon Alexia finds herself tangled up in a mystery involving a mad scientist, a flamboyant vampire, an extremely frightening waxed-faced man, a best friend with a horrifying taste in fashion and a horny werewolf, to name a few. She must deal with this all while trying to maintain the correct social decorum.

What did I think of this novel?

This was an interesting novel. Very different from anything I have read before. Carriger has managed to create something original out of the overdone paranormal genre. For this, I must commend her. Sure she has obviously borrowed from many other works, but what author doesn't, in a world where everything has been done before? I must admit, while reading this novel it felt like she picked a number of things that she had an interest in and mashed them all together to create a story. But it worked. Carriger has taken popular elements and made them her own.

This novel was also quite funny. Carriger writes with wit and this story does not take itself seriously. I am not a big fan of paranormal romance, so I found this element of the story a little tiresome (how many scenes did Lord Maccon have to be naked in, with Alexia pondering his manhood?... this novel is reminiscent of a bodice ripper!) but the humour in the story made up for that.

This was my first foray into steampunk and although I enjoyed this story, I have a feeling that it is not typical of this genre. The paranormal romance in this novel seemed paramount and there was no real exploration into steampower or invention from a Victorian viewpoint, which is what I understood the steampunk genre to be about.

I look forward to reading the second novel in this series to see how the story develops as I think it has potential. 

What did you think of this novel? How true was it, to the steampunk genre? Which steampunk works would you recommend I read next?

Let the Right One In - John Ajvide Lindqvist

Oskar and Eli. In very different ways, they were both victims. Which is why, against the odds, they became friends. And how they came to depend on one another, for life itself. Oskar is a 12 year old boy living with his mother on a dreary housing estate at the city's edge. He dreams about his absentee father, gets bullied at school, and wets himself when he's frightened. Eli is the young girl who moves in next door. She doesn't go to school and never leaves the flat by day. She is a 200 year old vampire, forever frozen in childhood, and condemned to live on a diet of fresh blood. John Ajvide Lindqvist's novel, a huge bestseller in his native Sweden, is a unique and brilliant fusion of social novel and vampire legend; and a deeply moving fable about rejection, friendship and loyalty.

Genre: Fiction,Horror, Vampire, Swedish

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Year: 2007

Rating: 3/5

I had been wanting to read this book for a while and Carin from A Little Bookish was kind enough to send me her copy!

This is the story of Oskar and Eli. Oskar is 12-years-old. He is bullied at school and doesn't really have many friends. Then he meets Eli. Eli just moved in next door. She is his age and they both like puzzles. They soon develop a close friendship. The only problem is, Eli isn't like other little girls. She is a vampire. 

Eli lives with a man named Håkan. A former school teacher who was thrown out of his job when he was discovered to be a pedophile. Håkan loves Eli so he hunts down people who he can trap and drain of their blood, thus killing them, in order to keep Eli alive. One day, this goes terribly wrong and Håkan is caught by the police, leaving Eli all alone. Now she must find another way to survive. 

This was an enjoyable book. It was creepy, horrifying, gory and suspenseful. It took me a while to read, as I haven't been well and have had trouble reading (see previous post). I think I would have enjoyed it more if I came back to it later, when I was feeling a bit better. Instead I persevered. 

I enjoyed the character of Eli. She was complex. One minute she sounded like weird little girl, the next she was a cold-blooded killer. She really drove home the point that if you needed something to survive, you would take it. There was nothing sparkly or lovable about this little vampire. She was thoroughly creepy. Definitely not your typical vampire story, if your thinking about what is popular lately.

Oskar was someone I sympathised with. He was bullied mercilessly at school and was a typical victim. Weak, scared and kind of weird (he collected stories of murder out of the newspapers). Eli gave him the courage to stand up for himself, with startling consequences.

There were many other secondary characters in this book such as Oskar's tormentors, Tommy the older boy who lived in Oskar's building and Lacke, Virginia and friends; a group of old drinking buddies who are drawn into Eli's world. All of these characters make for a long and complex story with much going on at the one time. That said, it's still easy to follow. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good, creepy horror story. Although, this one definitely isn't for the squeamish.

The Passage - Justin Cronin

This book has been on my TBR list since it came out in June. I was really eager to read it and I am so glad I did.

Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Dystopian, Science-Fiction, Vampire
Publisher: Orion Books
Year: 2010
Rating: 5/5

Deep in the jungles of eastern Colombia, Professor Jonas Lear has finally found what he's been searching for - and wishes to God he hadn't.

In Memphis, Tennessee, a six-year-old girl called Amy is left at the convent of the Sisters of Mercy and wonders why her mother has abandoned her.

In a maximum security jail in Nevada, a convicted murderer called Giles Babcock has the same strange nightmare, over and over again, while he waits for a lethal injection.

In a remote community in the California mountains, a young man called Peter waits for his beloved brother to return home - so he can kill him.

Bound together in ways they cannot comprehend, for each of them a door is about to open into a future they could not have imagined. And a journey is about to begin. An epic journey that will take them through a world transformed by man's darkest dreams, to the very heart of what it means to be human.

I don't even know how to begin to review this novel. The story told here was so long and multi-layered that I don't feel that I can do it justice. I will try my best.

This story is told through many different points of view and is broken up into eleven sections which span a hundred year period. 

We begin with a group of scientists and military in the jungles of Colombia who are attempting to develop a new drug which boosts a persons immunity making them heal quickly. Little do they know, a great evil lurks in the jungle and soon they unwittingly unleash a new kind of terror resulting in the destruction of the world as we know it.

They begin by testing this drug on a group of 12 convicted criminals sentenced to death. When this does not go as planned they enlist the help of the FBI to bring in a child. A six-year-old girl named Amy whose mother has abandoned her at a convent. Not everyone is happy with using a child for testing and soon events spiral out of control.

Jump forward 100 years. The world has changed. The 'virals' as they are called have taken over  leaving a path of death and destruction. A group of survivors live in a colony set up by the military. For 100 years they have lived almost happily in their little town full of lights and walls, keeping the virals at bay. Little do they know what lies outside the walls and what darkness is awaiting them. The lights can't stay on forever. Soon the batteries will run down and then they will come.

This was a fantastic book. I absolutely LOVED it. It was a on-the-edge-of-your-seat-grip-you-by-the-front-of-your-shirt kind of read. At 766 pages it is no light read but it is well worth the time. It was action-packed, full of drama, with a little romance, many unexpected twists and it pondered the age old question, what does it mean to be human?

Although the virals in this book are referred to as 'vampires' they are not vampires in the sense that we have all come to accept. If you are looking for another Twilight then you will be disappointed. This is not another fantasy novel where vampires are misunderstood creatures fighting to retain their humanity.. the virals in this novel are primal creatures without a mind of their own.

I hear this book is the first in a proposed trilogy. I really do hope that Cronin goes ahead and writes another two of these books. Especially with the way he ended this one. With a book this big and a story so detailed, it would take a lot for me to be satisfied with the ending, so I wasn't expecting to be pleased. Little did I know, Cronin was going to leave the story in a way that makes you go "NO!". There just HAS to be another novel after this one because it feels like there should be. I NEED to know what happens! 

I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves a good, fun read. There really is something in here for everyone.

Dead and Gone - Charlaine Harris

Dead and Gone is book number nine in the Sookie Stackhouse, Southern Vampire series. This book has Sookie dealing with not only vamps and weres, but her long lost family members who never seem to show up with good news!


Genre: Fiction, series
Publisher: Ace Books
Year: 2009
Rating: 3/5

Except for Sookie Stackhouse, folks in Bon Temps, Louisiana, knew little about vamps - and nothing about Weres. Until now. The Weres and shifters have finally revealed their existence to the ordinary world, and the backlash may have claimed the life of someone Sookie knew. But her determination to find out who is responsible for the murder is put aside in the face of a far greater danger. A race of unhuman beings - older, more powerful, and more secretive than vampires or werewolves - is preparing for war. And Sookie will find herself an all-too-human pawn in their battle....

The Sookie Stackhouse series is my guilty pleasure. Along with crime fiction or a good mystery, I love nothing more than to curl up with a Sookie Stackhouse novel to forget my troubles. I had wanted to read book number nine in this series since last year but I had a hard time finding it in a cover that matched the rest of my books. It has to match right? size.. cover art.. all that is important. At least to me.  So I waited, I searched bookstores and the internet, untilI finally found this copy on eBay and I was very excited to get it in the mail last week! 

This book picks up from the last. Like all Sookie books it is a fun read, full of mystery, suspense and humour. I have said it before, and I will say it again, one of the things I love about the Sookie books is the fact that Sookie still goes about her normal life (running errands, working, paying bills) all while the supernatural world is chaotic around her. Sookie is a refreshing heroine. Full of spark and 'normality'... well as normal as you can get when vamps, weres and fae are knocking down your door! 

I don't want to say too much about this book as I feel this series is something you need to experience yourself. It would be too easy to ruin the plotline of this book if I attempted to review it in too much detail. But this book was a quick and fun read! I can't wait to read Dead in the Family... although I am not looking forward to the even longer wait to get book number ten in the right cover!! 

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter - Seth Grahame-Smith

After having a good laugh reading, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I couldn't resist picking up a copy of Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter. Seth Grahame-Smith once again pulls off an amusing story, that does not disappoint.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Vampires, Satire
Year First Published: 2010
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Rating: 4/5

After the extraordinary discovery of Abraham Lincoln's long-lost journals, Seth Grahame-Smith brings to life the untold tale of the Great US Emancipator's eternal pursuit of vampires.

From Lincoln's frontier childhood to his assassination, with thrilling new scenes of vampire combat, this richly re-imagined history gives new meaning to the highlights of an already incredible life. 

Like all good satires, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, does not take itself too seriously. Seth Grahame-Smith, in his now trademark style, takes the history of one of America's greatest presidents and tells his story with passion, respect ... and vampires. 

Starting with Abe's poor childhood and ending with his assassination, Seth shows us a man who suffered many personal tragedies yet continued to fight against slavery and injustice.. and vampires. 

I enjoyed this book for a few reasons, one being I like a good satire and this book had all the elements needed to make me laugh without being too silly. Two, I like a good vampire story (even in this vampire-saturated media world we now live in) and three, I don't know a lot about American history, so I found the story of Abe very interesting (even minus the vampires). 

If you take the vampires out of this novel you still have a story of passion, intrigue, sadness and greatness. That is what drew me in the most. Add vampires... you have a bit more action, a bit more mystery and some laughs.

Every big event in Abe's life and career are somehow linked to vampires and his personal war against them. At first, this was fun but after a while it was expected  so that I could pretty much figure out what was going to happen. Although, knowing a little about his history probably had something to do with that as well.

This novel has left me with an interest in Abraham lincoln and an appreciation for all that he did for America (you can certainly see how Seth feels about the old President). It has also left me with a continued appreciation for Seth's style of humour. I do enjoy it.

That said, I really think the whole 'satire and parody' reworking of the classics is getting a little old. There are only so many adaptations of novels or biographies that I can read involving vampires, zombies, werewolves, androids, sea monsters etc. before it gets boring. Will I read more? ... I really don't know. 

Grab this book if you like a good laugh and aren't offended by the retelling of the life of a great American figure.

From Dead to Worse - Charlaine Harris

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris is Sookie Stackhouse book number 8. In this novel, New Orleans is trying to recover from Hurricane Katrina and Sookie is trying to recover from the attack at the vampire summit. Her boyfriend Quinn has gone missing and forces have been put into play that could change the supernatural and human world as Sookie knows it.

After the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina and the man-made horror of the explosion at the vampire summit, Sookie Stackhouse is safe but dazed, yearning for things to get back to normal. But her boyfriend, Quinn, is among the missing. And things are changing, whether the Weres and vamps in her corner of Louisiana like it or not. In the ensuing battles, Sookie faces danger, death… and, once more, betrayed by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood has ceased flowing, her world will be forever altered…

Once again, another great Sookie Stackhouse story! Charlaine Harris is consistent in bringing us a book full of drama, mystery and action! One thing I really love about these books is that Sookie is just an average girl (well, not quite) but she balances work, her everyday chores and relationships with the supernatural.This works really well and I am looking forward to reading Sookie book number 9 as soon as I can find it in the right cover (they all have to match you know). This book ended in a way that was very interesting and I am looking forward to seeing how this new development pans out.

Rating 4/5     

All Together Dead - Charlaine Harris

All Together Dead is the 7th book in Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire Series. In this novel, Sookie Stackhouse must attend the vampire summit to work for the queen of Louisiana. The queen is having a bad time of it at the moment, not only does she have to go on trial for the murder of her husband, the king of Arkansas, but hurricane Katrina has hit New Orleans with full force devastating the state. She must also face other vampire royalty that would love to see her found guilty of murder, so they can sink their claws (or fangs) into her kingdom. Sookie must use her telepathic abilities to find out who is for, and who is against ,the queen… but Sookie finds out that siding with the queen of Louisiana may cost her more than she realised.

Betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse must now not only deal with a possible new man in her life – the oh-so-handsome shape-shifter Quinn – but also contend with a long-planned vampire summit. With her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans, the local vampire queen is vulnerable to those hungry for a take-over. Soon, Sookie must decide what side she’ll stand with. And her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe…

I enjoyed this book (no surprise there!), like all other Sookie Stackhouse books it was face paced and action packed. The majority of the book took place at the vampire summit and there was much to do with the queen and Sookie’s new lover, Quinn. This book did a good job of progressing Sookie’s story but I just didn’t find it as gripping of some of the other books – I think although the vampire summit was interesting, it just lacked something that the other books had.. maybe variety of scenes and events?. Either way, I am looking forward to reading book number 8!!

Rating 3.5/5

Definitely Dead - Charlaine Harris

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris is the 6th book in the Sookie Stackhouse, Southern Vampire Series. In this novel, Sookie has to travel to New Orleans to clean out her cousin Hadley’s apartment after her death (well, second death, Hadley was a vampire). Hadley was murdered by a fellow vampire, but being the Queen of Louisiana’s lover you would think Hadley would have been protected right? The Queen married the King of Arkansas the night before Hadley’s death in a bid to bring about diplomatic relations and Hadley was none too happy about it. And what about the man in Hadley’s closet? Sookie must unravel all of these secrets to work out what really happened to her cousin.

She also has started dating Quinn the shapeshifter but Weres keep attacking them while they are together, making their dates almost deadly, but who is the target, Sookie or Quinn?

On top of all of that Sookie makes a new friend in a witch named Amelia and learns a shocking secret about her ex-lover Bill that could tear apart their relationship forever.

Since Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has so few living relatives, she hates to lose one – even her cousin Hadley, undead consort of the vampire Queen of Louisiana. Hadley’s left everything she has to Sookie, but claiming that inheritance has a high risk factor. Some people don;t want her looking too deeply into Hadley’s past, or Hadley’s possessions. And they’re prepared to do anything in their power to stop her. Whoever it is, they’re definitely dangerous – and Sookie’s life is definitely on the line..

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Like all Sookie books it was fun, interesting and kept you reading til the very end! I barely put it down. My only problem was that I was confused as to why it felt like there should have been a book between Dead as a Doornail and Definitely Dead. Turns out there is! It is a short story called One Word Answer. I will have to see if I can read that too! It is basically spelt out in this book what happens in the short story (as you know, all Sookie books do a great job of rehashing the last one throughout the story) but I still HAVE to read it.

Overall, this book was just like every other Sookie Stackhouse book – really really good! I am on to the next one now! Last one in my boxed set. I don’t really want to finish it because I still haven’t got around to getting books 8 and 9… but I am sure once I start reading I won’t be able to stop!

Rating 4/5

Dead as a Doornail - Charlaine Harris

Dead as a Doornail is book number 5 in the Sookie Stackhouse, Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris. In this book Sookie is trying to find out who is the sniper intent on shooting shifters in the area, a concern for Sookie since her brother Jason has been bitten and is displaying new abilities. She must also help her Were friend Alcide Herveaux in his father’s bid for pack leader, try and keep Eric from finding out the truth about what happened when he lost his memory, fight her attraction to her boss Sam, deal with her house being partially burn down (thank god Sookie has a fairy godmother to look out for her!) and on top of all of that she makes friends with a pirate vampire – Charles Twinnings – and meets a shifter who she also finds herself very attracted to (my oh my Sookie! you sure do love supernatural men!). Phew! This book is jam-packed with action, adventure and romance! Gotta love a good Sookie novel to fill in a boring afternoon!

Small-town cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has had more than her share of experience with the supernatural – but now it’s really hitting close to home. When Sookie sees her brother Jason’s eyes start to change, she knows he’s about to turn into a werepanther for the first time – a transformation he embraces more readily than most shape-shifters she knows. 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…

I think this is my favourite Sookie novel so far! I am pretty sure I said that last time.. but this novel was fast paced, action packed and just a lot of fun! I am on to the next one already!

Rating 4/5

Dead to the world - Charlaine Harris

Dead to the world is the fourth novel in the Sookie Stackhouse series. In this book Sookie and Bill have parted ways as he has to go to Peru on a business trip. Driving home from Merlotte’s one night, Sookie finds a confused Eric by the side of the road and apparently he has forgotten who he is. She takes him home to find out that he has been cursed by a witch named Hallow who wanted to take over Shreveport and make Eric her own.

Sookie must hide Eric so the witches can’t find him and hurt him even further. But where will this lead? In the mean time, Jason has gone missing and no one seems to know what has happened to him. With her brother missing and a vampire with amnesia living in her house, a very sexy vampire at that, how will Sookie cope?

It’s not everyday that you come across a naked man on the side of the road. That’s why cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse doesn’t just drive on by. Turns out the poor thing hasn’t a clue who he is, but Sookie does. it’s Eric the vampire – but now he’s a kinder, gentler Eric. And a scared Eric, because whoever took his memory now wants his life. Sookie’s investigation into who and why leads straight into a dangerous battle among witches, vampires and werewolves. But a greater danger could be to Sookie’s heart – because this version of Eric is very difficult to resist…

I liked the developments in this Sookie book. I have never really warmed to Bill so I was glad he wasn’t featured a whole lot in this book. Eric on the other hand, although normally a bit of a brute, sounds divine so I was quite glad he played such a prominent role in the story. The inclusion of witches in the novel (and a lone fairy) was really refreshing and it makes me wonder what other supernatural creatures and myths Charlaine Harris is going to explore next. This book was much needed to move Sookie’s story along and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Rating 3.5/5

Club Dead - Charlaine Harris

Club Dead is the third novel in the Sookie Stackhouse series. In this novel Bill goes missing and is said to have reunited with his ex-girlfriend (also a vampire) Lorena. It turns out Bill has been kidnapped and Sookie must use her telepathic abilities to find him. She sets off to Jackson, Mississippi to look for Bill and is helped along the way by a werewolf named Alcide. Will Sookie find Bill before it is too late? What secret project was Bill working on that caused his kidnapping and can Sookie and Bill’s relationship survive his unfaithfulness or will Sookie find comfort in the new man in her life, Alcide?

Things between cocktail waitress Sookie and her vampire boyfriend Bill seem to be going excellently (apart from the small matter of him being undead) until he leaves town for a while. A long while. Bill’s sinister boss Eric has an idea of where to find him, whisking her off to Jackson, Mississippi to mingle with the under-underworld at Club Dead. When she finally catches up with the errant vampire, he is in big trouble and caught in an act of serious betrayal. This raises serious doubts as to whether she should save him or start sharpening a few stakes of her own …

I really enjoyed this novel, more so than the first two. I thought throwing Bill and Sookie an obstacle in their relationship was a good way to keep the story fresh and interesting. The introduction of Alcide came at a good time. I felt myself really warming to this character and I must admit I spent the novel hoping the he and Sookie would hook up and she would ditch Bill because Alcide is so much nicer (I won’t say what does happen though, you will have to read it). I feel like I am taking the position of “Team ” so to speak.

This was by far my favourite novel in the series yet, but I will read the rest before I pass judgement. On to book four now!

Rating 3.5/5

Living Dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris

Living Dead in Dallas is the second book in the Sookie Stackhouse, southern vampire mystery series. It follows Sookie as she is employed by Dallas vampires to help them find one of their vampire companions who has gone missing. Sookie must use her telepathy to find out information but soon she finds herself up against an anti-vampire organisation called “The Fellowship of the Sun” who are doing all they can to convince the world that vampires are an abomination and should be eliminated, along with any human who associates with them.

Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is on a streak of bad luck. First, her coworker is murdered and no one seems to care. Then she’s face-to-face with a beastly creature that gives her a painful and poisonous lashing. Enter the vampires, who graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn’t enjoy it).

Point is, they saved her life. So when one of the blood-suckers asks for a favour, she complies. And soon, Sookie’s in Dallas using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. She’s suppose to interview certain humans involved. There’s just one condition: The vampires must promise to behave – and let the humans go unharmed. Easier said than done. All it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly…

I enjoyed this book a lot. The story was a bit more action packed than the first and Charlaine Harris was able to develop the characters further, showing the reader that there is more to Sookie Stackhouse than meets they eye. It was a fun story (just like Dead until Dark) and really help set up the tone of the coming books a lot better than the first. I feel that in this book, you can really feel Charlaine Harris growing as a writer and series storyteller. Right after i finished this book I found myself picking up Club Dead and starting on that to see what is going to happen with Sookie. Like the last book it doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is what makes this series so enjoyable. It’s a nice change from heavy literature.

Rating 3.5/5

Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris

After much recommendation from fellow bloggers I decided to give the Sookie Stackhouse, Southern vampire series a go. I managed to buy a 7 book box-set off Amazon for half the price it would have cost me in an Australian bookstore and that was including postage! What a bargain!

Dead Until Dark is book number one in this series. It introduces Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress who has the gift of being able to read minds, and her new love interest, a vampire named Bill Compton. They live in a small town called Bon Temps, Louisiana and there have been some violent murders since Bill came to town.. can Sookie use her mind reading ability to find the killer before he kills his next victim? Can she prove her brother and bill are both innocent of these crimes and more importantly, can you really have a relationship with a vampire

Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She’s quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn’t ge out much. Not because she’s not pretty. She is. It’s just that, well, Sookie has this sort of “disability”. She can read minds. And that doesn’t make her too datable. And then along comes Bill. He’s tall, dark, handsome – and Sookie can’t hear a word he’s thinking. He’s exactly the type of guy she’s been waiting for all her life…

But Bill has a disability of his own: He’s a vampire with a bad reputation. He hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, all suspected of – big surprise – murder. And when one of Sookie’s coworkers is killed, she fears she’s next…

I enjoyed this book. It was fun, easy to read and the main characters were likeable and interesting. It was a good introduction to the series, which looks like it is going to be a lot of fun to read. I was a bit surprised at first at the amount of sex in the first half of this book… I felt like I was reading vampire erotica! But the mystery plot in this book was interesting enough to keep my attention, as was Sookie’s mind reading ability. I am looking forward to seeing how the next book develops the characters and story.

The TV series, True Blood is also based on these books. One of the many series I have been meaning to watch. Maybe now i’ve read one of the books i will finally get around to it.. or maybe I will just finish reading the books first..

Rating 3.5/ 5