I Did A Bad Thing....

....I bought a book brand new. From a supermarket.

And what's worse, it was this book.



But is was calling me! I always walk past the book bit for a browse, because shopping is stressful and sometimes you need a little comfort break, but I have tried very hard to make it my policy not to buy, libraries and independent book shops are in enough trouble with the amazing cheapness and variety in charity shops, never mind the plethora of pop up libraries, including my own, that are saturating the book market.

However, this pink sparkling embossed gem has been reaching out for me over the past week, and on Friday, and could resist it's allure no more. At 2-for-£7 (other one was Prophecy, the second in the Giodana Bruno mysteries by SJ Parris, Shardlake's poor cousin a great for the train. I enjoyed Heresy immensely for what it was, history-trash, and I shall look forward to Prophecy after I've dragged my way through re-reading Great Gatsby for book club) it was a bargain, let me tell you.

The story itself focuses on the plight of 17 year old Vicky, a traveller living on a settled trailer park with her large traditionally minded family. Vicky, unlike the rest of the travellors, or at least the two we get to meet in this brief overview of a complex culture, has other things on her mind apart from getting married and having babies, even though she has been engaged for the last two years to gorgeous boy-next-door Liam. She wants to go to college, and is curious about the gorgio way of life.

Over the course of a year, Vicky learns some harsh lessons about the 'outside' world. She is bullied horribly at college as soon as her back ground comes out, she is assaulted by a boy after getting her drunk, and she almost gets cut off from her family after they find out she has been going against their traditional values, which include never being aloud to be alone with any male, never earning her own money, as this shames her future husband as a slight on his manhood, and never drinking or smoking.

This is a YA book that has been put in the adult section because Gypsy's a 'in'. Like many people, I was gripped by the documentary series on traveller weddings, and in fact the front cover is an exact replica of one of the dresses worn my the girl's in that series. This book taught me nothing extra about the way of life of the travellers that I hadn't learnt from the series, however it did try to see what the girl's lives were like rather than being a freak show of puff ball skirts and sexual assault. Parts of the culture, the 'grabbing' especially, still made my oh so cultured Western eyes wince, but as a grown woman I can see teenage boys twisting teenage girl's arms until they let them have a kiss and call it assault-I was 'letting' them do a hell of a lot worse when I 15.

The book took me about five hours to read, and I enjoyed every second. I am definitely getting a copy in for work. And if you've ever used the word 'pikey' or 'gyppo' I strongly recommended reconsidering your vocabulary. This book made me consider my privilege, and working in FE how I treat the students. So yes I did buy it from a supermarket, and yes its easy to read, silly, not massively informing trash, but that doesn't mean I didn't have a cracking evening laying on the sofa reading it. Recommended.

Happy reading!
BookElf xxx

Blood-A-Thon Book 11 - Dead Reckoning

*****SPOILERS*****

*****SPOILERS*****

*****SPOILERS*****

I'm going to keep this short. Mostly because the book is a bit feeble. And I'm planning a rant for the review.

Dermot and Claude are still living with Sookie and she  finds that she seems to be developing more fairy tendencies via proximity. She also discovers that his grandmother has left her a diary, outlining the sources of her telepathy. It turns out that Mr Cataliades is responsible. He had 'vetted' Adele's children and grandchildren (and clearly great-grandchildren if Hunter is any indication) and passed a 'gift' onto them.

On a related note, Sookie finds out that Terry has been spying on her for the fairies.

Pam forces Eric to reveal a secret to Sookie. Ocella had arranged a marriage with a vampire queen for Eric. Despite Ocella dying and his marriage to Sookie, Eric may be forced to go through with it. He hadn't wanted to tell Sookie because of all her trauma but mostly because he still doesn't get what the point of a relationship is.

He ain't alone in that. Sookie has been reaching out to Amelia in New Orleans; seeking a way to challenge the blood tie. Amelia has found something that might work. In her usual impetuous manner, she insists on trying right away. Sookie agrees and instantly knows that the spell has worked. Unlike Eric, Sookie realises that she's behaved in a high handed manner and reaches out to Eric. Though their relationship has been damaged and this now opens her up to other vampires. However, they affirm their love and decide to tackle the future together. While still being partially livid with each other.

Despite being all happy ever after in the last book, Bill reveals that he still loves Sookie. His actual girlfriend overhears - which he intended - again. And dumps his ass. Again.

Merlott's get firebombed & Sookie thinks that she sees a shadow in the background. The police think that it's related to his being a were, but Sam reveals to Sookie that business was being affected prior to that anyway. Sookie discovers that Victor has opened a bar close by. He is challenging Eric's holdings and decided to include Sam as Sookie works for him. Sookie and Eric know that they must take him out. They plot and plan and as per usual there is a big show down at the end of the book. It's bloody and violent and nasty.

Victor wins and kills them all. Just kidding. Eric and Pam lead their vampires to a glorious victory. That could spell doom for them in the next book.

*****

I think I might have to do the Family Guy 'It's a Trap' opening here. I've totally run out of steam, I'm tired, my feet hurt and I need a coffee (wow, how much like an OAP do I sound?!?!). It'd probably be a bit easier if the book didn't read like Charlaine Harris feels the same way I do.

It's becoming more and more obvious that there was no over-riding arc; no plan from the start. Characters are up and down, hot and cold, often within the space of a single paragraph. It's especially obvious with Bill. He went from the epic good guy, to evil bastard, to moapy cling-on, to happy ever after with the blast from the past to moapy cling-on again. After reaching a sort of point of natural resolution in the last book, he promptly changes his mind - tells Sookie within Judith hearing (deja vu much) and goes back to being a total drip about the whole thing. Could someone please just stake him and have it take? Please? For me?

The fairy stuff and origin of Sookie's telepathy was actually fascinating, but goes back to the whole absolutely no plan argument. I'm fairly certain that Mr Cataliades was there at the hotel. I'm also fairly certain that he'd have been in real trouble if Sookie hadn't warned him. At no point during the earlier books has he ever appeared to recognise Sookie or indeed give a crap about her. So it's a nice idea, but I'm not buying into it.
I feel the same way about Dermot and Claude. They seem to be in it, but mostly to move the plot along. I'm also not entirely clear on why Sookie keeps them about given that she can't trust them. They will kill for her, but they'll probably also kill her if the wind blows this way.

Eric being forced into marriage was actually pretty interesting. It's clear that this is going to be the main story for book 12. However, telling Sookie just because Pam forces him into it is pretty low. At what point is he actually going to respect her enough to just trust her? Mind you, that blade goes in both directions. Sookie and Amelia removed the blood bond without ever thinking for a second that Eric might notice. At least Sookie did her best to rectify the situation and finally came to terms with the fact that she cares about Eric. She, herself...with no supernatural aids. I hated Eric for being such a dick about it though. Drinking from Sookie is such a violent makes him a knob, but at least he has never pretended not to be.

Amelia. Oh dear saints, why? Just WHY? Why on earth was this wreck of a 2D character ever dreamed up? In this book, she goes from stupid, annoying and thoughtless to a disingenuous danger to Sookie. Her big mouth has been the source of much complication pretty much from her first appearance, but in this book she seems to go out of her way to cause trouble for Sookie. Her blabbering to every person than she meets about Sookie's whereabouts, emotional state, romantic situation is just so very very wrong. Thankfully Sookie has finally developed some spirit and I did actually whoop aloud when she basically tells Amelia she's a bad friend and to get stuffed. About bloody time.

Sam? Alcide? Still about, still sniffing after Sookie, despite her making it clear that she isn't interested.  Seriously, I'm sure that Harris intends to make them honourable and loyal, but really, they are becoming the wettest drips in creation. Self respect man, they need to look into it.

I've read there are only two more books in the series, so I'll read till the end, but I'm losing hope. At this point, it could be a Dallas dream sequence and that would be less disappointing than what I'm imagining.

Score 2/10

Blood-A-Thon Reviews

Book 1  - 2001 Dead Until Dark

Book 2  - 2002 Living Dead in Dallas

Book 3  - 2003 Club Dead

Book 4  - 2004 Dead to the World
Book 5  - 2005 Dead As A Doornail
Book 6  - 2006 Definately Dead
Book 7  - 2007 All Together Dead
Book 8  - 2008 From Dead To Worse
Book 9  - 2009 Dead and Gone
Book 10 - 2010 Dead in the Family
Book 11 - 2011 Dead Reckoning

Blood-A-Thon Book 10 - Dead in the family

*****SPOILERS*****

*****SPOILERS*****

*****SPOILERS*****

If this were an episode of Friends, it would be described as 'the ones with the families'.  Actually that sounds a bit like a mafia story...which also fits.

Sookie is slowly recovering from her torture at the hands of evil fairies Lochlan and Neave (grrr). Eric and she are finally involved in a proper relationship, though her experiences have had a lasting impact in how she reacts to the world. She has lost some of her trust in people and become far more pragmatic (with hints of cold practicality and a flavour of self pity).
Her cousin Claude - one of the last remaining fairies on this plane- has decided to move in with her, ostensibly to protect her, despite having treated her with something approaching contempt thus far. Despite his newly protective air; he is keeping many secrets from Sookie, particularly in relation to the fairies hiding in the forest behind her house.

Sookie seems to have finally mended her relationship with Jason, who seems to be in a stable relationship with Michele - a far more sold sort than his usual type. She is also spending time with her cousin Hunter, teaching him about his telepathy, babysitting him at her house.

Bill is very ill and does not seem to be recovering from his encounter with L & N in the previous book. Discovering that only the blood of another created by his sire will cure him; Sookie becomes the rescuer rather than the victim for a time - somewhat forcing him to accept the cure. She is also rather pleased to discover that Bill has long had repressed feeling for his blood-sibling Judith - who had herself been turned by Lorena due to her resemblance to Bill's wife in life. It looks as though the pair will finally able to be friends; both happy with their chosen loves.
Our intrepid heroine has finally admitted to being in love with Eric, though she still blames the blood bond for it. In one of her rare decent scenes, Amelia points out that Sookie is still hiding behind excuses. Either she loves him or she wants out of the bond. Sookie takes it on board but decides to become completely and utterly focused on sex with Eric rather than face up to her feelings for him - though there are a few rather sweet moments between the two of them.

Claude

In a way it's almost a relief when Eric's maker - Ocella - and sibling-by-blood Alexei (a Romanov. No, really, an actual heir to the Romanov destiny) - who is completely bonkers after watching the brutal murders of his entire family during the Bolshevik Revolution - drop by for an unexpected visit. Ocella is hoping that Eric can help him restore sanity to the young vampire. Sookie is disgusted by the clearly sexual relationship between sire and damaged youth; and decides pretty early on that Ocella will have to be destroyed - an idea which Eric rationally accepts but cannot bear to think on.
In other vampiric news; Eric's new King has sent a manager - Victor - to monitor operations. Seeing the threat that he poses to Eric, Sookie decides that he too will have to die; though she is quite uncomfortable with the idea of cold-blooded murder (Ocella being a paedophile clearly outweighs that concern for her).

The weres are convinced that the governement is monitoring them - particularly when there is talk of a registration system, to keep track and possible restrict them. Sam and Calvin struggle to retain their social position after 'coming out'. For no good reason whatsoever, Alcide also shows up, primarily to express his distaste as Sookie's relationship status. Oh yeah, there is also a dead were found on Sookie's property. Sookie does her best to prevent the weres from tearing themselves apart, but the only ultimate point of interest is that, once again, she doesn't really approve of Sam's new girlfriend - Alcide's bloodthirsty second in command.

A fairy - Coleman - has been stalking Sookie - determined to kill her for her part in Claudine's death. Claudine had been carrying his child and he has gone a bit mad. Seeing Sookie with Hunter changes his mind - no one that good with children deserves to die yadda yadda.

Ultimately, the disparate stories converge at Sookie's house. Alexei has been indiscriminately killing and Eric is forced to put him down. Coleman kills Ocella while on the hunt for Sookie and is promptly killed by Eric, ever the knight in shining albeit bloodstained armour. It turns out that Dermot - the fairy who could be Jason's twin - has been wandering around Sookie's house. He had been bewitched to be evil. Now that the bad fairies are dead; he is struggling to come to terms with his past. Sookie and Claude break the spell and decide to keep him about to help him and he promptly moves into the Stackhouse homestead.

*****

Jason

What a mess!
While I enjoyed aspects of the story, this book doesn't seem to fit with the series as a whole. Characters behaved very oddly given their past behaviour and I couldn't see any reason for Alcide to be brought back. It was good to have some resolution with Bill and Jason. Hopefully both shall remain happy with their respective partners...but I doubt it.

It was lovely having Hunter hanging around - especially as it returned the focus to the telepathy, even if just for a few conversations. I've always enjoyed the story best when Sookie explores the limits of her abilities, or utilises her telephathy just when everyone around her has forgotten all about it! He's also just a fun little kid, difficult not to warm too!

It also annoyed me that everyone from Pam to Ocella warned Sookie that her relationship with Eric was doomed. It seemed a very unnecessary add on. Her life has been so traumatic so far - why would any reader assume it would all be smooth sailing? For those of us who've been waiting for the two of them to gettogether, it was a bit of a kick in the teeth. We don't even get a book to enjoy the pairing before it becomes quite clear that Harris is unwilling for the two to stay together.
At this point, I'm guessing that Sam is to be her ultimate partner - there is just no other explanation for his ongoing presence.

Pam continues to be woefully underused. She gets all the best lines. I for one want to see her take centre stage at some point before the series ends.

Amelia is gone. BEST BOOK EVER for that alone.

Tara and Hadleigh are both pregnant. So, in the last book two expectant supernaturals are both killed and in this one two humans seem to be ensured of carrying to term. Hmmm...coinkidink? I think not.

Ultimately, not a great book, but at least it answered more questions than it raised.

Sore 5/10

Blood-A-Thon Reviews

Book 1  - 2001 Dead Until Dark

Book 2  - 2002 Living Dead in Dallas

Book 3  - 2003 Club Dead

Book 4  - 2004 Dead to the World
Book 5  - 2005 Dead As A Doornail
Book 6  - 2006 Definately Dead
Book 7  - 2007 All Together Dead
Book 8  - 2008 From Dead To Worse
Book 9  - 2009 Dead and Gone
Book 10 - 2010 Dead in the Family
Book 11 - 2011 Dead Reckoning

Westeros Walford

*** SPOILERS UP TO END OF STORM OF SWORDS PART 1***

I’ve quit smoking this summer, or at least I’ve quit smoking to the extent that I’ve smoked three times, and the last time felt incredibly sick for four days afterwards.

This remarkable feet (trust, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done apart from the usual stuff that’s actually hard, like grief and moving house and that) has meant unfortunately that I’ve been a massive cow-bag to most people, hated myself infrequently and therefore avoided all human company apart from the people in the immediate area. Fortunately this summer I’ve also been at close proximity to a lovely cat (who doesn’t give a shit if I’m rude or snappy, so long as I feed him) and A Game of Thrones.

It’s hard to describe the hold that A Song of Ice and Fire, as Game of Thrones the series is officially called, has had over me. I don’t ‘do’ fantasy (which is of course nonsense in itself because I do read fantasy, just not as much as some people, and I’m not massively into high fantasy or sci-fi as a rule) so for a fantasy series to have gripped me as much as this one is very very rare. The last series I was this excited about was Shardlake and that was a)historical detective fiction set in the 1530s so basically ticked all of my boxes and b)more or less independent stories, with some sort of running storyline throughout. I wasn’t reading them to find out what happened next, like I am with ASOIAF, and unlike ASOIAF I wasn’t massively invested in the characters to the point of considering having my birthday party theme based on them.

And Walford.

Because ASOIAF is very very very long. So far there are 5 books out, one of two parts of 600 pages each. I’m currently half way through the second part of the third book, so I’ve read about 2300 pages of pure fantasy this month, and have had to have a little break because its just so bloody complicated! Like a massive soap opera that stretches over a huge fantasy world of warring factions, complete with family politics and histories, intrigues and loyalties shattered, then picked up again. Characters are built up, just to come to almost unnecessarily sticky ends when the emotional response from the reader will be highest, and implausible, but still excepted, plot twists are around every corner.

Plus, the theme tune to the TV version that started this obsession, I think, could be quite easily mixed in with that of East Enders (think about it… Dum, dum, dum, dum diddle diddle DUM dum diddle DUM dum diddle DUM dud diddle DUM dum diddle)...

So, yeah, I’m having a Walford-meet- Westeros birthday party. It’s not till February, so plenty of time to get sewing. I want to see Dot Cottonerons breathing fire, whilst wrapped around Roxie Mitchell’s nylon coat; little Tiffany screaming ‘I’m a GIRL’ whilst trying to fight off hoards of Mitchell Brother’s, flying the golden lion on a scarlet banner, the works. Personally, I’m going as a Direwolf, complete with Barbara Windsor wig.



Bearing in mind my knowledge of what the chuff is going on in East Enders comes from the late 90s, and a brief stint of love from the Christmas of 2009. But then again these books were all published in that time frame. I reckon Mr Martin was taking inspiration from the Nation’s Favourite Square…

Need inspiration? How about...

‘Dirty’ Den Watts is Aerys Targaryen

Because basically, this is a story of families fighting over The Queen Vic, also known as King’s Landing. Aerys, The Mad King, the original landlord of the Vic, liked boiling people to death, burning down castles, getting his gangster friends in trouble and basically being a bit of a Bad ‘Un. He also has a ‘little princess’ of his own in the form of Sharon ‘Daenarys’ Watts. Sharon left Westeros Walford for the far off lands of America Summer Isles years ago, shall she return with an avenging army to fight for landlordship of the pub in the future? Or shall the Others have taken it by then?

Pauline Fowler is Catelyn Stark

According to Wikipedia, Pauline was “a family-oriented woman who alienates her relatives through overbearing interference”. This is no way sounds like the mother-in-law from hell that is the eldest daughter of the Tully’s. The death of one son leads to a massive dependence on another, to the point where Martin ‘Robb’ Fowler, who wins every battle but still looses the war, marries Sonia Westerling-Jackson. Pauline likes to sit on Arthur’s bench and think about the past, and Catelyn is no stranger to her faithful, popular, if previously philandering husband Ned’s Godswood. If anyone comes as Arthur’s bench with a Weirwood Tree’s face on it I shall by Highly Impressed.

The Lannister’s/Barathean’s are The Mitchells.

Like a swarm of vultures, the Mitchells feasts on the state of the Queen Vic/ King’s Landing after the fall of the house of Watts-Targaryen. It’s Queen Cercei, also known as Peggy Mitchell (they’re blonde and feisty and have a thing for their relatives, what more do you want from me?) rules her boys, and her extended faaaaaaaaahmley whilst the Mitchell Brothers Stannis and Grant fight amongst themselves.

Fortunately though, there's always Cousin Billyrion, though maybe not as witty as he is is Westeros, desperate for the faaaaaaaaaahmly's approval and ready to clean up the mess his unfortunately relatives leave behind....

Any other suggestions, s'tenders/ASOIOF fans? Uncle Charlie "Davos" Seaworth in his taxi full of onions? Or are the Slaters, with their history of incest and bad-taste clothing more equipped to be the Lannisters? Let us know... oh and start on your costumes kids, there will be prizes!

Blood-A-Thon Book 9 - Dead and Gone

*****SPOILERS*****

*****SPOILERS*****

*****SPOILERS*****

After the vampire's mostly successful outing; the were's have decided to reveal their community also. On television and IRL. Sam changes into a friendly dog at his bar and after a few moments of shock; it seems like everyone is taking it pretty calmly.
Except for his long time waitress and Sookie's former friend Arlene. 

Never a gal afraid to take up an idea for a man; she has been slowly transforming herself into a grade A bigot in the later books to keep up with her Fellowship of the Sun boyfriend. She seems to be annoyed in three equal parts - firstly that Sam has lied to her; then that he's a 'freak' who can turn into animals and finally that the rest of the town seems to be taking it so calmly! (Nothing worse than getting all worked up then realising that no one else cares, is there?) She very loudly quits and walks out; while poochy Sam hams it up - feigning great sadness in his doggy state, winning over more hearts and minds.


While Sam is seemingly accepted; his mother is not so lucky. Her unaware husband and younger children (only the first born shifter inherits the were genes) had no idea of her monthly nocturnal activities. In fact, her husband utterly panics and shoots her. Sam has to go and check up on her; leaving Sookie running the bar. 

Eric is still not entirely sure what to make of his political situation. Among his greatest concerns is that his new King will see Sookie's great value and try to take her away, to serve as an unwilling slave. His high handed solution involves tricking Sookie into delivering a ceremonial knife to him. Hey Presto! They are now bonded in marriage - albeit a vampiric one that no other group recognises. While he swears that he is only doing this to protect Sookie; it certainly puts a cramp on their newly resumed relationship.

Great grandfather Niall briefly drops by to tell Sookie that she needs to be extra careful. Turns out he's at war with another faction of fairies - ones who hate humans - but particularly those who have some supernatural blood, believing that they are diluting the fairy species. They want Niall to block off the access to the fairy world. As much as he loves his great-granddaughter, the mere act of meeting her has placed her at risk. Which sort of pisses her off a bit.  

The FBI arrive to discuss Sookie's telepathy, which was partially exposed when she and Barry hunted for survivors in the wreckage of the hotel in a previous book. While they are there; Sookie is shocked and horrified to see her sister in law crucified outside Merlotte's - killed in an agonising way. Just to add to the emotional punch; Crystal was still pregnant at the time. Once more, Jason is briefly a suspect, though he is cleared somewhat quicker than usual when the FBI decide that it's more likely a hate crime against were's. 

Arlene calls Sookie ostensibly to make amends; arranging a meet up at her trailer. She even promises that Sookie can see her kids. More suspicious than usual; Sookie uses her ability from a bit of a distance and discovers that Arlene is setting her up to be murdered! Friends like those eh? She calls the FBI who arrive in the nick of time, saving her and arresting Arlene and some of her bigoted FoS friends. Sookie also discovers that while they were quite happy to kill her in the same blood thirsty and horrible manner as Crystal; they hadn't actually committed the original crime.  

Sookie and Claudine

Turns out two evil fairies - Lochlan and Neave (Neave? NEAVE? NEAVE?!?! *HEAD EXPLODES IN RAGE!!!*) - were responsible for Crystal's Crucifixion (she was originally injured by a gay were-panther who had fallen in love with Jason. *GROAN*) as she was pregnant with partially fae genes. They kidnap Sookie, torture her to the point of utter despair and long before they are close to being finished with her, she wishes for death. Ultimately Bill and Niall rescue her and bring her to Eric at the supernatural hospital. Bill is very badly injured in the process but honoured to have served Sookie. Eric provides his wife with more of his blood, concerned that they are reaching a threshold that should not be crossed. Sookie tells him that she begged for him but he never came to find her. They are both a bit heartbroken over it. He promises to explain all once the battle of fae is over.


Niall and Claudine - Sookie's fairy godmother - reveal to her that Lochlan and Neave (AAARRRGGGHHHH!) actually killed her parents. They are water fae who caused the pair to drown, assisted by a part-fae who bears an uncanny resemblance to Jason. This is one of the reasons that Niall is so indifferent to the rakish Jason. Claudine also casually reveals that she is pregnant with a full blood fairy - a matter of great joy for her people. She keeps Sookie company - knitting an item of baby clothes -  for a bit before the baddies arrive. 

The battle is short and bloody. Sookie had done some homework and manages to injure the main baddie by hitting him with lemon juice in a squirt gun - almost as bad for fairies as iron. While Sookie manages to survive, her fairy godmother Claudine and her were bodyguard Tray Dawson (who was dating Amelia) are less fortunate. Bill and Eric together bring down the big bad. 

Sookie lives, but knows that she will never be the same again. She and Eric are at a cross-roads. Bill (unfortunately) will survive. Niall - horrified at what his people have done - decides to close access to the fairy world after all. 

A bleak ending.  

*****

Bit of a disappointment this one. In an effort to keep the suspense built up; the author utterly failed to deliver any of the story lines that I actually care about - such as Eric or the fairy lineage - instead focusing on disperate strands I really don't - the were's and Jason. Don't get me wrong; as support staff, j'adore le Jason, but not as much as this book seems to cater to.

The whole gay were-panther thing was both sad and awful in equal parts. Yes, it's a tragedy that he felt so alienated from his people because of his orientation. But I'm so sick of the whole agressive gay stereotype. As if he ever believed for a second that a hound dog like Jason would switch his sexual preferences beacause his wife was dead? It's just stupid. Really left me with a nasty taste in my mouth. 

I was impressed with how Jason took the whole 'we have family and they don't want to know you' reveal. He handled it in a more mature way than I expected to be honest. 


The whole fairy resolution seemed to come out of nowhere a bit. It was interesting, but felt like a distraction from the Eric and Sookie storyline. Like the whole drowning parents thing. I don't know if the author had this in mind from the start, but somehow, I doubt it. 


Not one but two characters die while carrying a child. Crystal's death was truely shocking, but Claudine's had a little less impact. It was bad enough that she died, but to have her all sprogged up - rather than pull on my heart strings, it annoyed me. I hate feeling manipulated into grief. Sort of ruins the effect for me.

Neave? Don't even get me started. Why bother use Irish names if you aren't even going to spell them properly? I'm disgusted. Grrrr. 


And why was Bill the one to rescue Sookie? Where the hell was Eric? You know, the guy who married her?!? 


Still, I can't deny that I was hooked from start to finish. I couldn't put it down, especially once Sookie was kidnapped. Looking forward to the next book. There had better be some answers!!


Score 6/10

Blood-A-Thon Reviews

Book 1  - 2001 Dead Until Dark

Book 2  - 2002 Living Dead in Dallas

Book 3  - 2003 Club Dead

Book 4  - 2004 Dead to the World
Book 5  - 2005 Dead As A Doornail
Book 6  - 2006 Definately Dead
Book 7  - 2007 All Together Dead
Book 8  - 2008 From Dead To Worse
Book 9  - 2009 Dead and Gone
Book 10 - 2010 Dead in the Family
Book 11 - 2011 Dead Reckoning