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ladyhippolyta's review
4.0
I enjoyed them, they were quirky and had a different take on the vampire. You know what, though? I prefer the TV show.
popcornparadise's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
khaylaa's review
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I enjoyed the show True Blood and finally am getting around to reading the books. I am enjoying them so far and can’t wait to start the next book!
frances_the_red's review against another edition
1.0
DNF
Was für ein sexistischer, schlecht geschriebener Rotz. Und daraus haben die allen ernstes eine erfolgreiche HBO Serie entwickelt? Was mich am meisten ärgert ist die Tatsache, dass hier das Potential ncht ausgenutzt wird, was die Weltbildung angeht. Vampire seit kurzem sozial und rechtlich anerkannt, japanische Unternehmen entwickeln Kunstblut und die Gesellschaft teilt sich deutlich in ängstliche, wütende und akzeptierende Fraktionen. Doch statt diesen Ansatz auszunutzen haben wir nur Sookies konservativen POV, die nur daran denkt, wie hübsch die Männer doch alle sind. Urgh.
Was für ein sexistischer, schlecht geschriebener Rotz. Und daraus haben die allen ernstes eine erfolgreiche HBO Serie entwickelt? Was mich am meisten ärgert ist die Tatsache, dass hier das Potential ncht ausgenutzt wird, was die Weltbildung angeht. Vampire seit kurzem sozial und rechtlich anerkannt, japanische Unternehmen entwickeln Kunstblut und die Gesellschaft teilt sich deutlich in ängstliche, wütende und akzeptierende Fraktionen. Doch statt diesen Ansatz auszunutzen haben wir nur Sookies konservativen POV, die nur daran denkt, wie hübsch die Männer doch alle sind. Urgh.
mollyege's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
kmparsons's review
4.0
I intend on continuing with the series. They are easy, fast books that don’t require a lot of thought to understand. It was a good book to relax to while reading.
trin's review
1.0
Sigh. I tried to give this a fair chance, I really did. I went into it hopeful, despite some other negative reviews that I’ve read, because I quite liked the pilot for True Blood, the new HBO series based on these books. Dark, however, loses points from me right away because the two most interesting characters on the show—Sookie’s cranky best friend Tara, and Lafayette, the fabulous (in every sense of the word) chef at the bar where Sookie works—either completely don’t exist or have only the tiniest of roles, respectively. Lame. Still, I find the basic premise Harris has cooked up intriguing: in this world, vampires have come “out of the coffin” and are public knowledge; they can drink Japanese-manufactured synthetic blood and have basic human rights. (On the show I believe they are still working toward those rights, but it hasn’t been made entirely clear.) That’s an idea that seems rich with symbolic significance that, correctly handled, could be truly fascinating.
Instead, as Harris handles it, it’s just another boring romance between a powerful, possessive alpha male and his frail human woman who’s in need of his protection. Sookie isn’t, to be fair, as helpless and hopelessly devoted to her man as Bella [b: Twilight|41865|Twilight (Twilight, #1)|Stephenie Meyer|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1361039443s/41865.jpg|3212258] Swan is, but the basic power dynamic between her and Vampire Bill is still incredibly boring. In general, as a couple, they are boring. So there’s that dullness—bad enough—which Harris proceeds to combine with several shakes of sheer lunacy. Sookie completely under-reacts to incredibly traumatizing things, like waking up with a naked shapeshifter in her bed, or a loved one’s murder. She believes the PR that vampirism is a virus and is really surprised when someone points out that that doesn’t make sense considering that shapeshifters and telepathy also exist, and, you know, vampires can fly. Despite being telepathic, Sookie’s only able to solve the oh-so-complicated mystery when the killer attacks her. (Handy!) Oh, and Elvis shows up. I am not kidding.
I wish I were, though. I also wish I was wrong when I say that I can predict pretty much exactly how the rest of this series will go, with Sookie, like a less lubricated Anita Blake, fighting off the affections of two (or more!) men and unable to make up her goddamn mind. Both of those men will devote their (un)lives to protecting her, and Sookie will say, “God! I’m a grown woman, I can take care of myself! I don’t need you to protect me!”—and then, instantly, need them to protect her. And then Kurt Cobain and Jimmy Hoffa will show up to hang out with Vampire Elvis.
Gimme a break. I can only hope that the show proceeds to more interesting ground, because reading this book, all I could think was: been there, done that, have the lousy fang marks.
Instead, as Harris handles it, it’s just another boring romance between a powerful, possessive alpha male and his frail human woman who’s in need of his protection. Sookie isn’t, to be fair, as helpless and hopelessly devoted to her man as Bella [b: Twilight|41865|Twilight (Twilight, #1)|Stephenie Meyer|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1361039443s/41865.jpg|3212258] Swan is, but the basic power dynamic between her and Vampire Bill is still incredibly boring. In general, as a couple, they are boring. So there’s that dullness—bad enough—which Harris proceeds to combine with several shakes of sheer lunacy. Sookie completely under-reacts to incredibly traumatizing things, like waking up with a naked shapeshifter in her bed, or a loved one’s murder. She believes the PR that vampirism is a virus and is really surprised when someone points out that that doesn’t make sense considering that shapeshifters and telepathy also exist, and, you know, vampires can fly. Despite being telepathic, Sookie’s only able to solve the oh-so-complicated mystery when the killer attacks her. (Handy!) Oh, and Elvis shows up. I am not kidding.
I wish I were, though. I also wish I was wrong when I say that I can predict pretty much exactly how the rest of this series will go, with Sookie, like a less lubricated Anita Blake, fighting off the affections of two (or more!) men and unable to make up her goddamn mind. Both of those men will devote their (un)lives to protecting her, and Sookie will say, “God! I’m a grown woman, I can take care of myself! I don’t need you to protect me!”—and then, instantly, need them to protect her. And then Kurt Cobain and Jimmy Hoffa will show up to hang out with Vampire Elvis.
Gimme a break. I can only hope that the show proceeds to more interesting ground, because reading this book, all I could think was: been there, done that, have the lousy fang marks.