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crystalstarrlight's review against another edition
4.0
“My gran had always told me that a woman--any woman worth her salt--could do whatever she had to.”
Sookie and Bill have called it quits on their on-again, off-again relationship, but that doesn't mean Sookie's life has gotten any easier. Bill still lives nearby; plus, Sookie finds a memory-wiped Eric on the road one day as she's driving home from work. Apparently, a coven of witches led by Hallow tried to extort money from Eric and took his memory. Also, Jason, Sookie's brother, is missing. Can Sookie defeat the witches, retrieve Eric's memory AND find her brother?
These books are pure guilty pleasure, like eating cotton candy at the fair or ice cream on a hot day. They aren't very substantial, ground-breaking or earth-shattering, but they are fun. Reading about Sookie's life, hearing the humorous way she faces the most extraordinary circumstances are what make these books so much fun. Oh, and the deliciously, devilish Eric, with his offbeat personality!
That said, while I did enjoy myself with this book, I found there were a few things that bugged me. First off, a good part of this book is spent with an amnesiac Eric. That does lend itself to some nice scenes with Eric and Sookie, but it also veers off to creepy-ville when they are exploring their, ahem, relationship. Is Eric REALLY consenting when he's not fully Eric? What does that say about Sookie, if she is ready to have "relations" with Eric in this state? I can't help but draw parallels to date rape and having sex while drunk - can you REALLY consent when you aren't yourself? While it's cool again to see the Eric/Sookie dynamic, it's not really Eric and Sookie - it's memory-wiped Eric and Sookie. And memory-wiped Eric really isn't Eric. (In fact, he reminded me way too much of Bill, but that could have been the narrator slipping into "Bill's voice" for these parts.)
The second thing that bugged me was something you see all too often in series: the addition of new paranormal elements. This can be a good thing, when done well, with plenty of foreshadowing. Unfortunately, most of the time, it comes off feeling like the author ran out of things to do with her already established world. And that's kinda how I felt here. Harris couldn't think of new things to do with weres and vampires and skinchangers so she added witches and faeries. Yes, faeries. Gah.
Lastly, I'm noticing more and more how harsh Sookie can be to other women. She holds them to really strict standards and often has no problems jumping in critiquing a woman's actions or appearance. We are by no means at Anita Blake level of misogyny, but it's enough to be a little disturbing.
A lot of this review has been about what is WRONG with the book, but that is just because I can't add much to the many GOOD things I've already said about this book and series. It's a delightfully fluffy series, not too serious, but still able to treat the darker subjects with appropriate sobriety. Sookie's voice, upbeat and lighthearted, independent, brave and eager to act to save other's lives, is a warm welcome in such a dark and dismal genre filled with Dark and Broody Misfits. And the Eric and Sookie dynamic is very fascinating when you don't think about the potential rapey aspect.
This series isn't for everyone, but I continue to enjoy myself. I think, though, it's best to read a book or two between other more substantial books than to read the entire series in one go. I found I've liked this book better than the previous two, and I think it's because I gave Sookie some time to breath. I'm definitely going to pick up book 5 in the future - after a bit of a break.
Sookie and Bill have called it quits on their on-again, off-again relationship, but that doesn't mean Sookie's life has gotten any easier. Bill still lives nearby; plus, Sookie finds a memory-wiped Eric on the road one day as she's driving home from work. Apparently, a coven of witches led by Hallow tried to extort money from Eric and took his memory. Also, Jason, Sookie's brother, is missing. Can Sookie defeat the witches, retrieve Eric's memory AND find her brother?
These books are pure guilty pleasure, like eating cotton candy at the fair or ice cream on a hot day. They aren't very substantial, ground-breaking or earth-shattering, but they are fun. Reading about Sookie's life, hearing the humorous way she faces the most extraordinary circumstances are what make these books so much fun. Oh, and the deliciously, devilish Eric, with his offbeat personality!
That said, while I did enjoy myself with this book, I found there were a few things that bugged me. First off, a good part of this book is spent with an amnesiac Eric. That does lend itself to some nice scenes with Eric and Sookie, but it also veers off to creepy-ville when they are exploring their, ahem, relationship. Is Eric REALLY consenting when he's not fully Eric? What does that say about Sookie, if she is ready to have "relations" with Eric in this state? I can't help but draw parallels to date rape and having sex while drunk - can you REALLY consent when you aren't yourself? While it's cool again to see the Eric/Sookie dynamic, it's not really Eric and Sookie - it's memory-wiped Eric and Sookie. And memory-wiped Eric really isn't Eric. (In fact, he reminded me way too much of Bill, but that could have been the narrator slipping into "Bill's voice" for these parts.)
The second thing that bugged me was something you see all too often in series: the addition of new paranormal elements. This can be a good thing, when done well, with plenty of foreshadowing. Unfortunately, most of the time, it comes off feeling like the author ran out of things to do with her already established world. And that's kinda how I felt here. Harris couldn't think of new things to do with weres and vampires and skinchangers so she added witches and faeries. Yes, faeries. Gah.
Lastly, I'm noticing more and more how harsh Sookie can be to other women. She holds them to really strict standards and often has no problems jumping in critiquing a woman's actions or appearance. We are by no means at Anita Blake level of misogyny, but it's enough to be a little disturbing.
A lot of this review has been about what is WRONG with the book, but that is just because I can't add much to the many GOOD things I've already said about this book and series. It's a delightfully fluffy series, not too serious, but still able to treat the darker subjects with appropriate sobriety. Sookie's voice, upbeat and lighthearted, independent, brave and eager to act to save other's lives, is a warm welcome in such a dark and dismal genre filled with Dark and Broody Misfits. And the Eric and Sookie dynamic is very fascinating when you don't think about the potential rapey aspect.
This series isn't for everyone, but I continue to enjoy myself. I think, though, it's best to read a book or two between other more substantial books than to read the entire series in one go. I found I've liked this book better than the previous two, and I think it's because I gave Sookie some time to breath. I'm definitely going to pick up book 5 in the future - after a bit of a break.
marthak1983's review against another edition
5.0
This will probably be one of my favorite books of the series. I loved how Sookie got to enjoy her relationship with Eric even though it wasn't the "real" Eric. She finally had someone devoted to her as she deserves.
I enjoyed the conflict in this series, witches, vampires, and weres? YES please. The show down was awesome.
I am ECSTATIC that Debbie Pelt will no longer be a problem, that was the BEST ending to this book.
I enjoyed the conflict in this series, witches, vampires, and weres? YES please. The show down was awesome.
I am ECSTATIC that Debbie Pelt will no longer be a problem, that was the BEST ending to this book.
ladyhippolyta's review
4.0
I loved this book. The best Southern Vampire book so far. And, for once, I didn't skip read to the end of the book before I'd finished it!
frogwitch13's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
rayray_42's review
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mistressviolet's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
A great continuation to the series. The deeper into the series I get, the more I like it. Compelling story. Simple, easy to read language—which I hugely appreciate after a string of more literary, convoluted books.
For this series, I highly recommend the audio version. Johanna Parker does a great job with the audio narration, adding extra personality and dept to the book.
beachybookstack's review
5.0
This book definitely shifted my feelings about Sookie and Eric. He makes Bill seem like a mega-douche.
case_race1942's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
trin's review
2.0
In which Eric is afflicted with AMNESIA! Which was apparently enough for me to afflict this book on myself. I didn't loathe and despise it as much as I did the first in the series, which may be because I'm in a less cranky mood right now or, more likely, the lack of Bill brooding up these pages helped. However, Eric-with-amnesia is pretty darn boring, and Sookie still comes off to me as vaguely unpleasant at best and kind of racist and homophobic and nasty at worst. I know she says she's got a learning curve, but yeesh. I'm sorry, I just don't like her.
That said, I really, REALLY have to hope that the equally ridiculous, somehow even more convoluted, and yet slightly more palatable to me True Blood makes use of this amnesia plot next year. Can you imagine how amazing that would be? TV!Pam dealing with TV!Eric's (hopefully more interesting) mind wipe? Comedy GOLD, people.
So ultimately, yes: this book gives me hope for the future. Try matching that, literary masterpieces.
That said, I really, REALLY have to hope that the equally ridiculous, somehow even more convoluted, and yet slightly more palatable to me True Blood makes use of this amnesia plot next year. Can you imagine how amazing that would be? TV!Pam dealing with TV!Eric's (hopefully more interesting) mind wipe? Comedy GOLD, people.
So ultimately, yes: this book gives me hope for the future. Try matching that, literary masterpieces.