Reading this book was both painful and relieving. It's relieving to see the pieces starting to fall together. It seems we're approaching the natural end of Sookie's story, and I'm happy and relieved for that. I feel we're moving towards a happy ending, and I like that too. But it was definitely painful reading a lot of what she has to go through to get to that (hopefully good) ending. The ending was a bit of a cliff hanger, but I am pretty confident I know where it's headed. I've kinda figured this would happen all along, but the way the story has developed does put me at peace more about its inevitability.
There were plot twists and reveals, about Claude (not surprising to me), Niall, the cluviel dor, etc. The fairie element was interesting.
I thought the writing was sloppy though. I noticed at least two things editors should have caught--once was when Sookie went into her bedroom and made a call on her cell phone, plugged it in to charge, and then "went into her bedroom" to lay down...how can she go somewhere if she's already there? The other glaring mistake I found was when Sookie served two bottled beverages with glasses. She states that neither vampire used a glass, but then says one of the vampires "set her glass down daintily". If she's not using her glass, why is she setting it down? Makes no sense. If I can notice things like these, why didn't the author and/or the editors?
So this book was mostly, for me, just a bridge book. Stuff happened, but it mostly happened to set things in gear to be finally resolved in the next book (or at least I dearly hope so. I don't think this series can be dragged out much longer--or should be). Harris hints as much about it in this book, with Sookie constantly daydreaming about happy endings for everyone in her burgeoning circle.
Which is another point. there are just too many characters by now. I can't even remember some of them. Michele? Warren? India? Kennedy? Clearly none of them were interesting enough the first time around for me to remember them, which begs the question why they keep coming back. Also, why was there a whole subplot with JB? It really didn't seem to end up mattering at all, and was just something else to keep track of.
My biggest gripe about the books, though, is how Eric seems to be changing--or at least how he's being portrayed feels like it's changing. Maybe it's realistic that this is how it would be to try to be in a relationship as a normal human with a magnificent predator like him. I don't know. but the Eric I loved and drooled over in previous books and thought was one of my favorite characters of all time just wasn't around in this book. it's sad when I start preferring Bill again over Eric. Bill's a nice guy. Becoming a bit of a one note character, but not bad.
Bill is definitely nicer than Sookie by now too. Much like Eric, she has changed a lot from how she was initially portrayed. I understand all she has gone through would have changed anybody. I just wonder if it would have made anybody into such a snappy sensitive grump. her attitude definitely gets old after awhile. She is much quicker to jump to the idea of murder as a solution to her problems now, as well, and seems much less in touch with her faith. a lot of things now seem like just superficial habits. She is polite and Christian because that's what her grandma did, and so she does it. Not because it matters to her anymore. Seems like she cares more about tanning, makeup, and "cute shoes" by now than any of the things that made her a deep and complex character at first. or so I think.
(shallow note of my own--I was sad that there were no sex scenes in this. She mentions having sex a time or two, and is constantly assessing mens' looks, seeing strippers, and thinking lustfully--but not in a hot way. in a "people like when Sookie is sexy, so I'll have her objectify all the men she meets, and mention she has sex. but I don't feel like writing a scene or setting the stage for anything." The hottest scene in the book, in my opinion, was a conversation between Bill and Sookie. sad.)
and yet, all that being said, yes, I will read the next book. I devoutly hope that the next book is the final one of the series, that there is resolution for everyone, a happy one, specifically. But I'll read through to the bitter end regardless, because I want to see where it goes. fingers crossed it's worthwhile.