3.5

It's very tempting to give Dead Reckoning 3stars because I feel it inferior in some ways to past Sookie Stackhouse novels but It isn't fair to grade a book just because I am holding a grudge to events that hasn't even happened in the book yet.

So for years of adoration and sheer insanity it stays with 4 stars on first glance ;)


WARNING!

The following may contain spoilers.


Let me just get this quote out of my mind for it's been bugging me ever since I started reading DR.

...I suffered with you, I hurt with you. I bled with you-not only because we're bonded, but because of the love I have for you.

This was spoken by Eric in Dead in the Family. It keeps playing in the back of my mind while and after I read this. It is probably one of the stalest lines I have ever read but I remember the first time I read it in the back of Dead And Gone as a special preview while Sookie's torture is still fresh, I didn't find it corny or flat. It was one of the most emotional moments for me in the series. And even now I still feel more emotion than the actual written words. It served me as a charm throughout this book.

The story in this book is divided in two parts.

First is the attempt on Sookie's life. I admit I was satisfied and can classify this as a mystery worthy of Sookie Stackhouse but the perpetrator is an old character and is solved halfway thru the book.

The second is the threat of Victor. I wasn't satisfied with this one because they have been dancing with him for 4 books now and they still ended up fighting him face to face. They have planned very carefully and in the end it seemed like the sufferings they endured and the time waiting was wasted since they defeated him easily. They even brought two new characters to plan and help but they ended up being useless. One of the characters I like who has a grudge with Victor is Heidi. She is talented and her story is very interesting. Her son was being held like a hostage to ensure her loyalty to Victor and it's a very good angle to work with but her worth was wasted because they focused on the other human who has no special traits and other contribution to offer.

It really wasn't a bad read all in all. The writing is good. The story is good. I probably won't be complaining if it's my first C. Harris novel but since I've been following the series for years, it didn't meet my expectations. It might as well have ended up with a big cliff hanger since there have been new mysteries introduced like Sookie's real grandfather Fintan and a new threat to Sookie in life and in matters of the heart but both were left hanging.

I feel instead of going forward, the story is going backward. Sookie started second guessing her self and her relationship with Eric isn't going forward.
They're married and they share a bond that lets them feel each others emotion but they still don't know each other well. They should have matured in their relationship by now but they are like a new couple on their 3rd date. The endearments Sookie's using honey, honeybun? makes me wince and have goose bumps. Instead of being sweet I feel like it's a sarcasm and been having bad premonitions. *sigh* I didn't feel the passion and warmth Eric used to make me feel whenever he said "My lover".
Even the supporting characters are backtracking. Bill's back to throwing hints at Sookie which he should not be doing since Sookie's married already in vampire law with his sheriff no less! And everyone has a secret agenda and needs something from Sookie. It's like after years of struggling and coming out with friends in life threatening situations you should have been able to identify by now if not who your enemy is at least who your allies are. But no. It's like the past life savings didn't matter. Every body's plotting.

Maybe Harris should wrap this series up and start another one instead of planning another 10 books with this. After 10years she still couldn't commit how many Sookie Stackhouse novels she's planning to write. I always thought this is a good thing because every SS books is long well written story and always bring something new.

It's probably not Harris' fault that she spoiled us with the complex plots and many different treats before that the last 2 books feels like an anthology compare to the past 9 books.

Maybe I'm just angry because I've been waiting for years for this Victor showdown and in the anticipation I didn't mind how much the price of this book is higher than the previous ones. I thought it's ok since the series has become quite popular and a lot of crappy novels are popping out and I sometimes find it insulting when a crappy book is priced higher than the really good ones but now I think the pricing is absurd. It is still worth a buy and even if a friend lend me a copy I will still pay to get my own definitely. But I could have waited for the original price to go down first...