Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

**SPOILER FREE**

There is a specific cadence to the Sookie Stackhouse series, one that is simple and straightforward, and oddly sweet, just like Sookie herself. After thirteen books, I was anxiously awaiting the happily ever after that she so richly deserved. DEAD EVER AFTER may be the book that finally puts the stake in the series, tying up loose ends, resolving relationships, and giving fans a clear vision of the future…it just isn’t the future that many fans were hoping for.

Series enders always garner backlash to some degree, and with a series like Sookie Stackhouse where fans were vehemently divided about who should win Sookie’s heart, I expected grumbling from the loosing team. But at the time of writing this review, DEAD EVER AFTER was averaging 2 stars based on over 600 reviews. Ouch. I knew this going in, so while I’m disappointed by the way the romance ended, I’m not wholly surprised by it either.

In typical Sookie fashion, murder and mystery muck up the lives of Bon Temps characters we either love or hate by this point. Sookie ends up in prison and a few big names end up pushing daises. It’s a pretty standard storyline for the series, not my favorite, but not my least favorite in that respect either. There is even a point in the book towards the end where someone remarks at how convoluted everything was and I have to agree.

As for the romance resolution that has everyone up in arms, Bill, Eric, Alcide, Quinn, and Sam all interact with Sookie in varying degrees (she kisses three of them). I’ll admit I had my guy picked out long ago, but I think I could have been okay with a few different guys if I felt adequately led in that direction with enough emotional build up. In the end though, I feel like both Sookie and I settled. I also don’t really like how the runners up fared since I think one in particular deserved a less ignominious fate.

At any rate Sookie has her ending. Not the one any of us deserve, but it’s her ending and the one Charlaine Harris has given us. I still love this series and the characters Harris brought to life. Do I hope that Harris revisits Sookie and Bon Temps in the future? Absolutely. Am I outraged by this finale? No, just a bit wistful for what could have been a true bright spot on an otherwise bloody good urban fantasy series.

Sexual Content:
A brief sex scene.