Synopsis: "It’s vampire politics as usual around the town of Bon Temps, but never before have they hit so close to Sookie’s heart…Growing up with telepathic abilities, Sookie Stackhouse realized early on there were things she’d rather not know. And now that she’s an adult, she also realizes that some things she knows about, she’d rather not see—like Eric Northman feeding off another woman. A younger one.
There’s a thing or two she’d like to say about that, but she has to keep quiet—Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), is in town. It’s the worst possible time for a human body to show up in Eric’s front yard—especially the body of the woman whose blood he just drank.
Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s set out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.”
Genre: Urban Fantasy
First Sentences: "It was hot as the six shades of Hell even this late in the evening, and I'd had a busy day at work. The last thing I wanted to do was sit in a crowded bar to watch my cousin get naked." LOVE these opening lines! Talk about grabbing you right away. They're funny, intriguing and filled with loads of voice. Everything I love about Charlainne Harris' writing all wrapped into one.
Brownie Points: As usual, what makes me unable to put these books down is the strong narrative voice, the unforgettable characters, and the humor. I love Sookie and her world--so much so that I even named my dog Sookie! And I also love the atmosphere and quirks of Bon Temps, Louisiana.
Beefs: As I've mentioned in my reviews of the last several books, the plot of the series has been lacking. I can't help but love these books because of how much I adore the characters and the author's voice, but I have to face the facts and say that I wish the plot were amped up a bit. I was not a fan of the bumps occurring in Sookie and Eric's relationship within this novel, nor did I like the unexpected twist with Claude's loyalties. All in all I thought the book needed more concrete action and conflict, more plot line. And I thought both Eric and Sookie's stubbornness in regard to their relationship was unrealistic of two people who love or even once-loved one another.
Ending: I was not a fan of the ending. Though I sobbed like a baby at the near loss of Sam, the situation with Eric left a bitter taste in my mouth. I found him to be acting out of character and since he is one of my favorite characters EVER, that did not sit well with me.
Recommendation and General Comments: Overall, I enjoyed Deadlocked because I love Harris' writing and I am invested in the characters' story. It's for that reason, that I must always award it a rating of full moon. Nevertheless, I really hope the plot lines of the series improve.
The series, as a whole, is phenomenal. I'll always lend my recommendation to it, as it's one of my favorites. But the plots have been lacking since around book nine and I'm really hoping that will change in book thirteen.
I hope you enjoyed the review. Don't forget to check in on Friday for our regular blog hop! See you then ;-)
Thanks for this great review. I felt much the same as you did but you did an outstanding job articulating the whys.
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