Review by Vicky London
Bad, bad stuff happens in this latest installment (book 9) of the Sookie Stackhouse series. I must confess that I kind of lost my place in this series because of the HBO version starting at the beginning. I had a bit of a hard time remembering some of the minor characters and side plots but by the time I got about halfway through the book it was coming back to me. In Dead and Gone the werewolves have made the momentous decision to come out of the closet. They’ve sat back for a few years to see how it would go for the vampires and now it’s their turn.
Here’s the cover blurb:
For Sookie Stackhouse, the day-to-day activities of the vampire and Were communities in and around Bon Temps, Louisiana, are of vital interest. She’s blood bound to the leader of the vamps, is a friend to the local Were pack, works for a man who is a shifter, and has a brother who is a werepanther…
But for most of the humans in Bon Temps, the vamps are mysterious, seductive creatures–and they don’t even know about the Weres.
Until now. The Weres and shifters have finally decided to follow the lead of the undead and reveal their existence to the ordinary world.
At first it seems to go well. Then the mutilated body of a werepanther is found in the parking lot of the bar where Sookie works. The victim is someone she knows, so she feels compelled to discover who–human or otherwise–did the deed.
But what she doesn’t realize is that there is a much greater danger than the killer threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings–older, more powerful, and far more secretive than vampires or werewolves–is preparing for war. And Sookie will find herself an all-to-human pawn in their battle.
Harris definitely doesn’t have a problem putting her heroines through the wringer and poor Sookie never seems to get a break. I think Sookie’s outlook on life is going to change dramatically based on the events in this book. She has lost several people who are very important to her in the series and this book continues that trend. The faeries play a major role in the plot stirring up all kinds of chaos and violence and Sookie becomes a target in their internal war. Luckily she has very powerful friends who owe her favors she can call in. If all of the paranormal strife weren’t enough, the FBI is very interested in how Sookie was able to find survivors of the Rhodes bombing. Sookie is afraid of losing control of her life, and not just from the FBI. She’s not sure if her feelings towards Eric are genuine or a result of the blood bond with him.
I have mixed feelings about Dead and Gone. The plot is definitely unpredictable and fast paced. The development of the characters is good, especially Jason and Eric. But I feel bad for Sookie at her loss and how this will change her, although I think she’ll deal with it in her usual practical, Southern fashion. I want for her to find someone that she can love and trust and it finally seems like there might be someone who can fit that bill. But we won’t know until the next book. Overall it was an excellent read that moves the series forward in typical breakneck fashion.
Release Date: May 5, 2009
ISBN-10: 0441017150
Read Chapter One
Popularity: 7% [?]
Reader Ratings - Click On A Star to Rate This Book:
(16 votes, average: 3.81 out of 5)
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May 11th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Grrrreat series!!!
May 13th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
i was very disappointed in this much anticipated book. It just didnt do it for me…Not enough interaction with bill or eric..
May 14th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
I really enjoyed the book. Once again it had me on the edge. i enjoyed that the relationship with Sookie and Eric progressed…however, charlaine still has a way of hinting and not giving much away. The book finishes and you find yourself asking questions about possibilities. Which way will Sookie go? will she give Quinn a fair go? Will Bill get back with her? Will we finally learn more about Eric? I thought this book gave us just enough Eric and Sookie time to keep me satisfied….however i’m hoping the next book we’ll learn more about Eric’s past and hopefully his future.
May 26th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
I really have enjoyed the whole Sookie series. I really love the character Bill. I hope when you finish the series that Sookie and Bill get back together. It has been interesting watching the show True Blood after reading your books. It makes the characters come to life.
August 26th, 2009 at 12:06 am
I Agree with the eric and sookie time, just enought, but really that is why we are reading the novels give us a little more please.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Now that I found out that Sookie and Bill broke up, I don’t why, but I am kind of sad to read more. I know it sounds really crazy and I have never felt this way about any other book I have read. Her books are so good. You get hypnotised and you can’t stop reading them. I think she knows that a lot of readers want them to end up togther, so hopefully she will end the seried with them getting back together.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:55 am
i agree with the writing above, when i found out that bill and soockie broke up i found it realy hard to read on, no idea why. Im only on the thrid book and i can see the break up coming. Reading the comments here make me not want to read on. I find it realy depressing that sookie seems to never have the chance to stay happy. call me a romantic but i realy want a happy ending for her and for her to have a guy that she can finialy trust, how ever that may be.
December 5th, 2009 at 8:43 am
I like the series, but the last book really made me mad. I didn’t like the end of it all. Not to mention that it was kind of a cliff hanger. I can’t stop reading the series no matter how mad it makes me though.. It really is a good series with a lot of twists and turns.
April 13th, 2011 at 2:14 am
I love this series!!! I’m glad that Sookie’s relationship is taking a backstage, and her other relationships are being highlighted. I love Jason’s character, so I am so glad that Sookie goes above and beyond to help him!
Thanks for the awesome review!