After Dead by Charlaine Harris

Genre:  Coda

Sookie Stackhouse Series, Book 13.5

Charlaine Harris' website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

Dead Ever After marked the end of the Sookie Stackhouse novels—a series that garnered millions of fans and spawned the hit HBO television show True Blood. It also stoked a hunger that will never die…a hunger to know what happened next.

With characters arranged alphabetically—from the Ancient Pythoness to Bethany Zanelli—bestselling author Charlaine Harris takes fans into the future of their favorite residents of Bon Temps and environs. You’ll learn how Michele and Jason’s marriage fared, what happened to Sookie’s cousin Hunter, and whether Tara and JB’s twins grew up to be solid citizens.

This coda provides the answers to your lingering questions—including details of Sookie’s own happily-ever-after…

The book will feature extensive interior art by acclaimed Sookie artist Lisa Desimini, including a Sookieverse Alphabet, color endpapers, and several full-page black and white interior illustrations.

For all those who don't know what a coda is, let me give you the definition:  a concluding part of a literary work, esp a summary at the end of a novel of further developments in the lives of the characters.  So in essence, this book is like a two sentence summation of everyone's happily (or not so happily) ever after in Sookie's world.  All of the major and minor characters you could care to ask about, and then some you don't really remember.

This isn't really a book!  I mean I kind of had a clue when I saw how small the book was.  But honestly, this should have been included at the end of the last book instead of in its own mini book.  Yes, there were some humor spots that made me laugh.  It was nice to see the happy endings for some of the well-known and loved characters.  But...  It seems like this was only made to make money.  I mean, I finished this book in fifteen minutes.  It's not a book...

For those who are so curious and they need to know, go read it.  But it's not going to really satisfy you.  Sorry.

Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris

Genre:  Adult Urban Fantasy

Sookie Stackhouse Series, Book 13

Charlaine Harris' website

Amazon |  Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

There are secrets in the town of Bon Temps, ones that threaten those closest to Sookie—and could destroy her heart...

Sookie Stackhouse finds it easy to turn down the request of former barmaid Arlene when she wants her job back at Merlotte’s. After all, Arlene tried to have Sookie killed. But her relationship with Eric Northman is not so clearcut. He and his vampires are keeping their distance…and a cold silence. And when Sookie learns the reason why, she is devastated.

Then a shocking murder rocks Bon Temps, and Sookie is arrested for the crime.

But the evidence against Sookie is weak, and she makes bail. Investigating the killing, she’ll learn that what passes for truth in Bon Temps is only a convenient lie. What passes for justice is more spilled blood. And what passes for love is never enough...

And a much-loved series comes to an end.  As much as I loved the first few books in this series (maybe the first half of the series), I will not be shedding any tears to see this series conclude.  It was long overdue, and I'm happy Sookie gets her "happily ever after".

The description does the book justice.  Anything I try to add will just ruin plots from earlier stories.  We do get to see appearances of all the characters (ahem, men) Sookie has seen throughout the series.  But that's all they are: appearances.  There isn't much meaning to them actually being in the story other than the hotness factor.

It seems like the author tries to make Sookie's life seem normal.  But her life is anything but, and that's why we want to read about her.  In the attempt to add too many normal-ness to her life, we don't really get enough action and surprises.  I mean, I knew exactly how this ride was going to end quite a few books ago, the least they could do was make it an action-packed ride through it all.

I love the Sookie Stackhouse series.  Even though the last few books weren't as attention-getting and fun as I had hoped, I still enjoyed them.  But my mind might have had a difficult time differentiating between the characters in the books and the characters on tv (True Blood).  In fact, I think I'm going to go watch that now...

Challenges:  Paranormal Reading Challenge

Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

Genre:  Adult Paranormal Romance

Sookie Stackhouse Series, Book 12

Charlaine Harris' website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description:

With Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), in town, it’s the worst possible time for a body to show up in Eric Northman’s front yard—especially the body of a 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 out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.

When I say I absolutely love the Sookie Stackhouse series, I mean the first seven or eight books in the series.  While I wasn't a huge fan of book ten and eleven, I figured I needed to see this series to the end.  And as expected, this book unfortunately did not bring the dazzle and glam that are in the earlier books.

I can't really say much about the plot without ruining it for those who haven't read earlier books.  I can say Sookie is with Eric.  And Eric has been my favorite Sookie-man-candy since book four.  So, it's no surprise that this book plus the last two left me disappointed (you'll know what I mean once you've read them).  But the southernness and humor is still in this one.  The plot was a little disappointing and lacking.  Also, absolutely zero steaminess/romancing occurred in this book; so don't expect it when you pick this one up.

I'm definitely glad the series is ending next year with the last book.  And I really, really hope it goes out with a bang.  I have a slight idea of what could potentially happen.  But my fingers are still crossed...