Dead Ever After

A Sookie Stackhouse Novel, Book 13

De: Charlaine Harris

Narrado por: Johanna Parker

Number-one New York Times best-selling author Charlaine Harris has won numerous awards for her Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series, which has been adapted into the hit HBO show True Blood. In this 13th and final book, a murder rocks the town of Bon Temps and Sookie is arrested for the crime. After making bail, she sets out to clear her name - but her investigation only leads to more deaths.

©2013 Charlaine Harris, Inc. (P)2013 Recorded Books

Reseñas de la Crítica

"The Sookie Stackhouse series seamlessly mixes sensuality, violence, and humor." ( Boulder Weekly)

"Harris’s creation offers a magical and mysterious twist on traditional vampire stories." ( Houston Chronicle)

"What sucked me in? Definitely the books’ oddly charming, often funny mix of the mundane and the absurd. And the chills and thrills in boudoirs and various locales around the South aren’t too bad either." ( The Seattle Times)

Disappointing

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I'm not sure how it should of ended. It just seemed to me she wanted to hang this character up and short of killing her off, just ended it with Eric and paired her with Sam.

What could Charlaine Harris have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I didn't care for the selling the sole to the devil part and the emphysis on those two characters. I didn't like the new introduction of another childs of Eric's (the Karen addition). There was no mention of Bubba, who was the character that usually was looking out for her.

Which scene was your favorite?

Didn't have one.

Did Dead Ever After inspire you to do anything?

I so enjoyed the other books and this book just disappoined me.

I liked it.... and will probably relisten to it.

What did you love best about Dead Ever After?

I'm really not sure what people expected. I think it was pretty clear who Sookie would end up with from book 1 and I like what happened with all the characters. The thing I liked the best about this one is that Sookie seemed to be back to her old self, like in the beginning of the series. After being tortured a few books back, it seemed she had changed into this person who felt sorry for herself and was depressed constantly.

Which character – as performed by Johanna Parker – was your favorite?

I like all the characters that Johanna Parker portrays. She is awesome!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I basically planned to do that and basically finished it in two sittings. I even stopped listening to another series I enjoy for this one.

Any additional comments?

I think Charlaine Harris is an awesome writer. I'm sorry to see the end of this series but understand it was time. I hope she writes another supernatural series just as colorful as this one. Maybe she can center it in Austin or maybe Portland. Hipster supernatural characters who are environmentally conscious would be funny. Just a suggestion. :-)

As Expected- A good end

I know a lot of fans are disappointed with the ending, but I am not one of them. Ending a long series such as this is alway challenging, but I think Ms. Harris did a good job wrapping things up. I think what really disappoints me is that it is over. This series had it all: romance, suspense, lots of humor and fantasy. Johanna Parker did an amazing job narrating and added to the experience signifigantly. I tried reading one book and it just wasn't as engaging. One regret I always had was Quinn, but she couldn't end up with everyone.

Dead for sure

What did you like best about Dead Ever After? What did you like least?

That end. This book storyline was BAD!

Did Dead Ever After inspire you to do anything?

Return the book.

Any additional comments?

I have read the entire series and this was no way to end it.

Good and Bad Points

Would you listen to Dead Ever After again? Why?

I wouldn't listen this book again. This book ended the Soooke Stackhouse series, but felt out of place. I have read and listened to every book, and this book tried hard to wrap up the series; however, it didn't seem to work the way Harris wanted. I wouldn't read this book, but I would re-read the other books without hesitation. There were very large boring parts of this book. They seemed to last forever, and sometimes just childish. Sookie's character seemed to have digressed and Sam's condition is just weird after he is brought back (it wasn't even explained as to why he acted that way). The performance however is done beautifully by Johanna Parker (3 snaps to you). This book was drawn out and full of mundane things. I have no interest in reading it again, but I'm glad I read it. This kind of closure, however, sucks.

Would you recommend Dead Ever After to your friends? Why or why not?

No, those that have read the series would not like the way it ended. This was too abrupt and it was obvious she is going to end with Sam. Sam isn't bad, but none would be happy how abruptly her relationship with Eric was ended. It felt like a page of the ending ritual. *Spoiler* Their marriage was ended too quickly, not even drawn out like it needed to be, just rushed.

What does Johanna Parker bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She definitely brought this book to life. I loved her narration and it was easy to see which characters were which. Johanna Parker a.k.a Sookie Stackhouse!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were really good parts of this book that had you on your toes, but dropped you on your but afterwards. This book is like a roller coaster. You see all of the characters from all previous novels; however, there were certain characters and moments that were completely unnecessary in the story line. At one point, you see Quinn, Berry, Bob, and Amelia... I have yet to see how they contributed. There were also points in the novel such as different narrative chapters. I just don't understand the point. They introduce a devil, who seems to have been highly irrelevant (my opinion: if the devil was going to play a seemingly big part like how he was introduced, then he should have been weaved throughout the novel); Adding, the moments with Eric and Sookie were such downers. Nearly 12 books of their relationship changing and developing, just ending like it was her relationship with Quinn, temporary and just for fun. There was also too many blank spots... i don't really want to know what Sookie's mundane routine is.

Any additional comments?

Read it if you want an ending to the series, but don't get your hopes up.

No Way! This ending to the series must be a dream!

What did you like best about Dead Ever After? What did you like least?

It was ok at best. I could have gotten with the story to end the series if it didn't feel forced. I was unfull filled. Maybe its because she didn't end up with any other choice but who she ended up with, but if they had giving it more time to seem feasable, I could have went with it.

Has Dead Ever After turned you off from other books in this genre?

No it has not turned me off. I love books like this.

Which scene was your favorite?

I liked that Claude lost his beauty. It was deserving.

Do you think Dead Ever After needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I think it definitely does! I just hope this was a "dream" book on what the author would like to see happen but she knows better to end it this way because it wasn't feasible or filling so we will get one more book so she can end it better. We need a big bang to feel complete.

Any additional comments?

Please one more book. It can end so blandly like this. Don't make me have to hunt down fan fiction to feel complete lol lol

Not as bad as everyone says. . .

This book was never going to please everyone so I'm not all that surprised that there is such uproar over it. Here's the thing; people say the plot is ridiculous, but this is a series about vampires, werewolves and the fae- crazy is kind of the name of the game. My complaint is that the book is the same length as all of her other books. Being that this was the last book in the series (outside of the 'what happens to everyone' book coming out in a few months) and every character that has ever made an impact on Sookie made a brief cameo, the book was too short on explanations, plot and development for my taste. **SPOILER** I did like that Sookie did end up technically single, yes she was making her way towards someone but she's always been a character who has always had a man so it was nice to see her taking her time here.

Johanna Parker did a great job. She has done better I think, in the past but all in all I can't say too much- there were A LOT of characters in this book.

Just kind of fell flat

I am a Charlaine Harris fan and love the Sookie series, but this being the last book it was like Ms. Harris wanted to hurry and wrap things up just to get to the end. Not got the storyline the other Sookie books have had. Im not saying it's a bad book, just not the best in the series and written like an afterthought to tie up a few loose ends.

a good end to a great series

i didnt think i would like this book. but in the end i think its a gooding ending to a great series i haved loved i am sad to see it end . i am going to miss sookie .

It Wasn't So Hard To Say Goodbye (spoilers)

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes, if you are a Sookie fan who needs closure. However, I would not recommend this book as an intro to the Sookie-verse. Here is the truth of it all. Charlaine Harris is a phenomenal writer. That is evident in everything else she has written (with the exception of the last three SVM books). I truly believe she had 10 good books in her and allowed her publisher to convince her to extend the Sookie story after True Blood debuted. The series began it's painful decline with Dead in the Family (book 10) and the storyline hasn't gotten any better since. I can compare the experience of reading books 10-12 to that of a maimed horse slowly being put out of its misery. I wanted the series to end and wasn't sure I would read book 13 (OMG 3 books of the most drawn out breakup ever).But like so many Harris fans I needed closure. I was truly hoping that Ms Harris would rally and end with a bang. It is somewhat disheartening that she didn't. However, I am still a fan and I just believe she didn't have anymore to say about Sookie. As Cyndi Lauper sang "Money, money changes everything."

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

There were no surprises in this book. Unlike many of my fellow readers, I believe that Harris always intended for Sookie to end up with Sam. A happily ever after for Eric and Sookie was never in the cards. 1) Throughout the series it was clear that Sookie valued her humanity and her religious upbringing would not allow her to abandon her soul. 2) Eric may have felt some measure of love for Sookie, but his own ambition would always outweigh what he felt for her. His self-serving decision was true to character. What has been a constant throughout the series is the mutual love and respect Sookie and Sam felt for each other. So there were no surprises there.However, it was sort of interesting how many people hated Sookie with such conviction for so little cause. It seemed as if all of her enemies' hatred of her was misdirected. They despised Sookie when they should have been hating on someone else. They all wanted to cage and torture her as if she directly injured them (when she didn't)."I hate her because she stole my last chance" -- When in fact she use an artifact that was gifted to her to save a friend's life . What should have been said here was.."I hate myself for being stupid enough to make a deal with the devil.""I hate her because I was tortured, disfigured and cannot return to fairy" -Well when you betray your monarch and try to take over somebody else's hood-- what do you expect?"I hate her because she chose to save herself and her lover instead of me and my queen" Daah?"I hate her because I am dying, my girl died and my boss hates her too... Btw it is my boss' fault that I am both dying and soulless...but I still passionately hate this women who never said a mean word to me" What the hell??? "I hate her because she is a freak who is in bed with the supernatural world and ........I hate gays, blacks, Jews, Catholics, and just anybody who is different than me. I am just a hater!"Ok. I don't know if you are with me here...but the rationale is more than a bit unbelievable here. I can believe you can dislike someone for an irrational reason. Investing the time and money in such a convoluted scheme is what I didn't believe. What was the least interesting aspect of the book was Harris' departed from the Sookie POV as an attempt to use misdirection, but it wasn't very difficult to figure out who the bad guys were. It was very unlike Harris to leave so many large bread crumbs.I really do want to say that I found something remotely interesting about this story .... but I can't.

What does Johanna Parker bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Johanna Parker is an amazing narrator! Her talent as a voice actor was what kept me on board. I don't think I would have listened pass chapter three had it not been for her. She really is the voice of Sookie.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No. Sadly enough the story is too weak to be made into a movie.

Any additional comments?

I do want to say that even though I believe the ending of the series to be a dud, I am happy that Harris wasn't influences by Alan Ball's True Blood. I am sure the money is good, but I think he has destroyed the spirit of her work in an effort to keep viewer interested. Overall I think she kept to her original vision. I believe that she should have said no to extending the series. Read her other series. You will love them. You will also know what I already know about Ms Harris...she is an awesome mystery writer!