Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse, #12) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Jun 04, 2012 Courtney rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I want to be as fair to this series as I can because Sookie was my first foray into the urban fantasy genre. Sookie sent me rampaging through many series, chasing the dragon for the fun thrill of breakneck-speed-escapist-candy reading. Sookie was fun. Which was no small feet, as Sookie the character was always a little too petulant for me to really like her.

Well, now Sookie is in a shit mood, and since misery loves company, she is taking us with her. I get that Sookie has been through and seen a I want to be as fair to this series as I can because Sookie was my first foray into the urban fantasy genre. Sookie sent me rampaging through many series, chasing the dragon for the fun thrill of breakneck-speed-escapist-candy reading. Sookie was fun. Which was no small feet, as Sookie the character was always a little too petulant for me to really like her.

Well, now Sookie is in a shit mood, and since misery loves company, she is taking us with her. I get that Sookie has been through and seen a lot and it would change her. I even understand if Sookie doesn't end up with Eric, I admit, he is my favorite. I can understand Sookie wanting to go back to a pre-Sup world, were she was just a human girl. That is very realistic. Here's the deal...she's NOT just a human girl. This is a series about a telepathic half-fairy who dates vampires, weres, and shifters, gets into impossible situations and always comes out OK, and every man she meets loves her...forever. REALITY thine name is not Sookie.

I am OK with whatever ending Harris comes up with, and whatever way she thinks Sookie needs to grow up, but she is betraying the spirit of these books. These books were so much fun. We read these books to escape the normal routines of our lives. In this particular installment, Sookie spends so much time talking about her daily living routine that actual big moments in the story and series are rushed. The fairies leaving America for good...poof, hardly fleshed out at all. Not nearly as much attention as the descrptions of Sookie doing laundry, or taking a shower, etc.

It's almost as if Ms. Harris is getting paid by the word, but is so bored with her plot, she can't be bothered to describe the more important events. I read these books to escape the fact that, "I stayed gossiping at the bar for a few minutes, and on the way home I filled up the car with gas. I got a chicken sandwich from Sonic and drove home slowly." That is an actual paragraph from the book, and it is full of others just like it.

I'm as ready as Ms. Harris to move on from this series. I did not like the last book, but I was willing to go along because I thought maybe it was setting up the final two books. (I liked book 10 unlike a lot of people) But now I feel like I have to just come to the realization that Ms. Harris herself is in a shit mood having to write these final Sookie books. Unfortunately, I'm afraid it is just going to be a bummer end for a very fun series. ...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Larissa rated it it was ok · review of another edition

** Warning - this review contains MINOR spoilers of Deadlocked and previous Books in the series **

Let me just start off by saying that I love this series! I really enjoy Sookie’s point of view and adventures. I also really like that this is a different kind of Urban Fantasy, not so Urban after all, but set in a more bucolic and simple environment, giving a totally different feel to the series.

I love the mix of intricate and insane plots, right along side with everyday life ones. I totally believ
** Warning - this review contains MINOR spoilers of Deadlocked and previous Books in the series **

Let me just start off by saying that I love this series! I really enjoy Sookie’s point of view and adventures. I also really like that this is a different kind of Urban Fantasy, not so Urban after all, but set in a more bucolic and simple environment, giving a totally different feel to the series.

I love the mix of intricate and insane plots, right along side with everyday life ones. I totally believe that, that balance is one of the secrets that makes the Sookie books are so successful.

That being said, I was rather underwhelmed by Deadlocked. I liked that some smaller plots got their closure in a way, but it felt like a transition book overall and it lacked the emotional roller coaster I tend to expect from this series.

Eric and Sookie’s relationship is in a crash course and I did not feel much emotion from Sookie regarding that at all. My girl, Dani from ALPHA Reader, put it very well when she said:

“It’s safe to say that Eric and Sookie getting together was built up more in fan’s minds than what has come across on the page."

That's exactly how I felt too! I haven't been so happy with their relationship and Deadlocked just put the nail in the coffin for me. A book with NO sexy time between the main couple, might be a huge red flag to where Charlaine is taking this series.

In my opinion, Dani hits the nail on the head when she says: "Sookie thinks a lot about whether or not Eric will choose Freyda – but isn’t really all that sad, it seems. She’s actually kind of resolute that Eric will most likely choose the path of more power. And if her mind ever veers towards a ‘woe is me, Eric won’t choose me’ thinking, she quickly squashes the thought."

For me it felt like since apparently Eric is not her HEA, Charlaine is trying to dissuade Team Eric from rooting for it. It’s like she is preparing us for the real HEA and I for one am scared of who will it be, someone we already know or a brand new character.

All in all, Deadlocked was not even close to the best book in the series, but it was still great to get lost in Sookie’s world, it is just that I have come to expect so much more from Charlaine Harris. ...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Brandi ;) rated it liked it

Shelves: 2012, fairies-witches-vampires-and-were, angels-demons-otherworld-creatures, kindle-kindle-love-my-kindle, paranormal-romance, urban-fantasy-kicks-ass, mediums-psychics-those-who-see-dead

Hmmmm.... I can go on a rampage about the destruction of what was once such a fantastic story or I can just say this story was once fantastic but it is now on the fast track to poop city. Yeah, I'll go with option 2, I just don't have it in me anymore to keep getting pissed at these books. I basically just read 'A day in the life of....' with Sookie. Did I really need to know all of those little, tiny mundane details she goes through every day? I firmly believe I can live with out knowing she fl ...more

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May 10, 2012 ♥Lynn ♥ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fae, author-charlaine-harris, vampires, shifters, paranormal-romance, read-in-2012

3.5-4 stars, hard to come up with a review right now.

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Jun 24, 2012 Cc rated it liked it

Shelves: 2012

The last quarter of the book is much better than the preceding three-quarters. The beginning seemed to just ramble all over rather than having a strong storyline but the last part of this book did make everything clear. The book ended with what seems to be a big left-turn in Sookie's life.

We readers wait so long between books that this entry in the Sookie Stackhouse Series seems anti-climatic; more like filler in between books. I'm loyal and am already in anticipation mode. ...more

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Dec 31, 2011 Rachel-RN rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2013

Lots going on in this one. Find someone close to Sookie aren't trust-worthy. Some ends are tied up. Looking forward to the last installment in May. I have my suspicion who Sookie will end up with, someone who has been present in all the books. Will have to wait and see if I'm right. ...more

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