[hmorphone]

TITLE: Dead Ever After
AUTHOR: Charlaine Harris
GENRE: Paranormal / Mystery
PUBLISHED: 5/07/2013
RATING: ★★★☆☆
PURCHASE LINKS: Amazon Barnes&Noble
MOBILISM LINK: Mobilism

Review: The thirteenth, and final, Sookie Stackhouse book (Southern Vampire Mysteries) is finally out. I confess to eagerly anticipating this novel. I've been a fan of Sookie's adventures in print (and later in True Blood) for a long time. First chance I had I devoured it. Then reality set in.

If it wasn't my last chance to visit with Sookie and crew again I might have been more tempted to give it two stars at the most. As it is, it's barely earned three from me. Reaction from fans seems mixed. Amazon's averaged rating is running two and a half stars (or less.) Some people go so far as to believe it was written by a ghost writer, pointing to the new use of third person point of view. I fall somewhere in between those who thought it stunk and those who liked it. Let me explain why.

Semi-spoiler alert! - I will attempt to avoid spoilers for those of you that haven't read the book yet, but I will be walking a thin line, so be warned!

This book is only partly about the story. The storyline, as far as it goes, starts off in a nicely mysterious fashion. More than one someone is out to get our Sookie. By the end, while it's still okay as a plot, it looses much of it's luster as the mysteries are revealed. After it's all over, it starts to sink in that the author used her narrative to finish things with what few of Sookies enemies are still above ground. To me this is indicative of the biggest weakness of this novel.

While waltzing through this tale we start to realize the main purpose of this book isn't so much to tell a new story, as it is to wrap up almost all the loose ends of the Sookieverse. As we noted above, like with the villians of this tale, this book's all about wrapping things up with anyone still above ground (that's not sealed off in Faery.) Most of the significant characters that are still kicking show up for at least a brief period of time. While they do fit in with the story, many of these appearances are simply disguised excuses for us to visit with the character one last time. For example, Alcide shows up to help Sookie sniff out a clue. While it does fit into the plot, you come to realize later that it was really just an excuse for Alcide to put in an appearance. Any character that doesn't put in a physical appearance is still mentioned in a fashion that lets us know what's going on with them.

The other big question in reader's minds, other than what's going on with their favorite characters, is a BIG one - Who does Sookie end up with? I read a while back that the author let slip that it wouldn't be Bill or Eric. If that was your hope, it's likely you won't end up a very happy camper at the end of this book. From what I can remember, of what the author hinted at, it was supposed to be a new character to the series. My memory may be faulty on this one. As it turns out - it isn't. A new character that is. I won't say who, but in hindsight it's probably pretty obvious if you think it through. Sort of. Nuff said.

So let's see. Remaining villians, dealt with. Romantic uncertainty, dealt with. Who's happy/pregant/getting married, dealt with. Sookie's financial future, dealt with. A last visit with characters that have become old friends, dealt with. Sookie and friends acting somewhat out of character, not dealt with. While there isn't anything in this plotline that would prevent future books, it's pretty obvious that the Sookie train has left the station.

Would I recommend this book to you? I would, but with big reservations. If you go in with high hopes, you're bound to be disappointed. Some readers have gone so far as to state they'll never read another book by this author. If you can keep your expectations in check and just enjoy visiting with your favorite characters, you might like it. After all, who isn't curious about which guy Sookie hangs her hat on?

[hmorphone]

I'm a little surprised no one's commented on the review yet.

This book's reception has been varied and highly emotional at times.

Vows to never read another book by an author are unusual enough, but reportedly Charlaine Harris even received a few death threats after it came out.
On the other side of the fence, some of her readers and fellow authors are said to have jumped to her defense.

Nevertheless, I do have to add that there will apparently be one more Sookie Stackhouse book, but it won't be a new "novel."

We'll be seeing After Dead: What Came Next in the World of Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris on October 29, 2013.

Here's the official blurb.

"Dead Ever After marked the end of the Sookie Stackhouse novels—a series that garnered millions of fans and spawned the hit HBO television show True Blood. It also stoked a hunger that will never die…a hunger to know what happened next.
 
With characters arranged alphabetically—from the Ancient Pythoness to Bethany Zanelli—bestselling author Charlaine Harris takes fans into the future of their favorite residents of Bon Temps and environs. You’ll learn how Michele and Jason’s marriage fared, what happened to Sookie’s cousin Hunter, and whether Tara and JB’s twins grew up to be solid citizens.
 
This coda provides the answers to your lingering questions—including details of Sookie’s own happily-ever-after…

The book will feature extensive interior art by acclaimed Sookie artist Lisa Desimini, including a Sookieverse Alphabet, color endpapers, and several full-page black and white interior illustrations."
 
Hmmm...

[twistydot]

The review was interesting and I had to read it, but I gave up on Sookie a few book back and haven't read the last 3. I think the series ran out of steam long ago and I am disappointed. I loved the earlier ones but feel Ms. Harris lost her way about the time the series came out. I have read her earlier cozy mysteries and enjoyed them so maybe she will go that route again. Anyway, I can't say I won't read anything else she writes, but I am over Sookie and I'm sad.

[svale]

Having read all the other Sooki books (I started before they were made into a TV series), I had to read this last book. The book matched my expectations in that it was at best an OK story - perhaps 2 star. For fans, it tied up all the remaining questions and one could easily guess who Sooki would finally end up with (if this was ever in doubt). With this in mind, I would give the book 3 stars (a generous mark)

Would I buy it - the answer would have to be no. That said, it provided a reasonably entertaining evening with all your favourite characters and a reasonably up beat ending.

[hmorphone]

I'm pretty much in agreement with both of you and I appreciate your input.

I can think of two series that have lost their way and at least partially recovered in the most recent books - MaryJanice Davidson's Queen Betsy series and Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake series, but I don't think that the fact that it can happen pertains here...

[HitBattousai]

I pretty much agree with what's been said here, the Sookie series has pretty much lost its way since book six or seven, with the characters and storyline getting progressively dumber. This book just seems like a very lazy and lackluster effort to close out the series.

omg i remember when i first started reading this series , it was so addictive , albeit the books plot foundation was repetitive. i stopped reading at book 7 , it just started going downhill; and the thing is this is a common issue with charlaine harris, she starts a series with a bang but come book 4 or 5 it starts dragging and it seems like she only keeps writing for the sake of her contract.

Haven't read the book (or any Sookie books since the first, for that matter)....but what you're describing pretty much sounds like a perfect final book. Isn't closure what people want????
I could understand if the book is simply poorly written or nonsensical (maybe it is, but I didn't get that from this review)...You even went as far to say that she manages to make all the old character appearances fit into the plot.

[hmorphone]

You do make a point. The book does offer closure and it does fit most of the old characters into the storyline. But it isn't as well written as the books at the beginning of the series and you come to realize many of the appearances of the old characters are kind of contrived. The author is good enough that it shouldn't dawn on the reader that the scene in the book was just an excuse for the old character to put in a brief appearance. They do fit into the plot, just not well. Part of the problem is the high expectations for this book. A good author writing the final book for a highly popular series is looking at a really high mark to hit. For whichever reason, many say she didn't hit the mark with this one. The other hurdle she was up against was the plot itself. Most of the readers have, at this point, decided who they think Sookie should end up with, excetera. If the author's vision doesn't match up with theirs, bingo - disappointed reader. I am still glad she gave us closure, but...

I finished the series because of my love for the characters. Sad to see it end :/