Dead and Gone: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel

This was a really depressing read. Characters that I had grown to care about were mercilessly dispatched with. The last few chapters were devastating.Sookie’s parents’ deaths are finally explained, along with Crystal’s. Arlene is a terrible friend! Several of the fae that I liked went on to Summerland. And Tray, well he was tortured and poisoned. This was a very difficult book for me.The next in the series is the 10th book in the series. Dermot hasn’t been found so I suspect I’ll be seeing him soon…

I've been reading the reviews above and I acknowledge some complaints, which were my complaints at first as well, but I think that people don't see that this book asks more questions then it answers, and if you don't see the acts of some characters as questionable, you are liable to assume they are simply evidence of bad writing...Anyway... The one thing that bothered me the most is how Eric, who has always protected Sookie, leaves her bed in the morning, knowing she is in danger, and does not call in protection for her. This has bothered me a lot - until I've realized that every time Eric has protected her, he was a sheriff of Area 5 under the Queen. If you regard his behavior as an unanswered question rather then simply inappropriate behavior, it becomes obvious that something is going on in the politics of the vampires, that directly involves Eric, that prevents him from showing ANY kind of emotional bond to her. He cannot send Pam, but we don't know why. He does not show up at night when she gets kidnapped by fairies, but we know he hears her pain and can track her whereabouts but does not come to her rescue, we don't know why. When he leaves her, he does not immediately send a body guard, but we don't know why. Instead, he offers her to come to his house, again, something he would never do with anyone other then his "child", we don't know why. If you think about it, he listened to her thoughts for an hour as she was getting tortured, and for some reason could not act. Even if he didn't love her at all, I would have made it stop just to get something like that out of my head! When he finally sends her protection, he sends a very dumb vampire, knowing full well that fairies can come during the day and that this will leave her unprotected. When he cried listening to her ask why he didn't rescue her, he was obviously very upset over it - something has been going on that we don't know about. Also, Eric has wanted Sookie for 9 books and now she is blood bound to him. So he disappears for months. I don't believe this is a badly written plot, I believe this is a compilation of very important symptoms that will be revealing something very unexpected in the next book.Guys, do we even need to ask why all the pregnant women deaths? Why Niall is sealing the gate? Torture? I am sorry, but the fairies in this book are not exactly the kind we read to our kids, the kind that live in flowers and sing beautiful songs. These fairies are blood thirsty, violent, and are incapable of pity, love, or kindness. Well, maybe a little love, but certainly to like those of any other creature in this book. They enjoy bringing pain and suffering to all, even their own kind. They are power hungry and savage.What do you mean there is no real progression between Sookie and Eric?! I've been waiting for them to have sex, both memories intact, for 9 books! Do you really not see why Sookie is not pissed at Eric over the marriage?! She's been denying her feelings for Eric since day one. First, "no, this is just lust." Then, "this is just because he has kissing experience." Then its "I just miss Bill." Then its "I'm so horny and I miss having vampire sex." Then "its just because I have fairy blood." Then "its just his bloo in me." Then "that wasn't really Eric. And I didn't love that Eric anyway." Now, its the blood bond. Sookie would make a great attorney with all the excuses. There were subtle signs in the book of the Eric/Sookie connection, and the connection, for some reason despite their power imbalance, of two EQUALS. Book 2 - our hair color is exactly alike. If I put my hair into his, you can't distinguish them. (don't ask me to look for the page, but its there, when she is getting dressed to go to the sex party.) Truth be it, she always wanted him, but never trusted herself - or him - to be with him. Honestly, we have been watching these two getting closer and closer. Now, she can say "well, he is my husband..." When someone does something for me without me asking, something so big its seems wrong, but its from someone that I love and want to be with and its something I wanted, I'd meekly argue but consent too.Bill... Something is going on here between Eric and Bill. Clearly, for some reason, Eric counted on Bill to take care of Sookie. Eric said that he would have killed Bill if he failed when she was injured in the end, so I'm guessing that Eric had to be somewhere else and Bill promised Eric that he would take care of her. Something went on here, and it will be revealed. Personally, there is nothing I hate more then men who are slimy liars, and, however much he loves her and almost died for her, he is. Yes, he has saved her, but, given the chance, he'd lie to her. Its his most defining characteristic.Quinn... The only reason we have that brief entry is to establish the change in the hierarchy of the politics of the region and everyone's respective place. His appearance, Bills appearance, Eric's appearance - this is what Harris is saying: Quinn is breaking the law when seeing Sookie, Sookie doesn't want him around anyway, Bill obeys Eric who has the power to throw Quinn out (or worse), Sookie is Eric's wife and consort, effectively marked by him and belongs to him exclusively, and Eric is in charge of the territory. So, basically, the purpose of Quinn is sort of like Eric marking his territory. "nothing happens in my kingdom without my knowledge, I planned it this way, ALL of you are under my control."Sam.. This character is a thorn under my foot, even more then Quinn, who was extremely annoying. I literally pray that Sookie doesn't end with him, for I will lose the remaining shred of interest in her. I understand its probably because I love politics, especially power politics, and I tend to see everything in terms of that, and for that reason, to me, Sam is a loser. But even if I didn't, he is BORING. He is that neutered version of a "friend" that always pines for a girl who dates other men. Yeah, in Hollywood movies, those guys get the girl, probably because they are handsome famous actors. In real life, they really are neutered. The man, despite some attempts by Harris to give him substance, has no sex appeal whatsoever. I'd really like him to leave, or disappear, or get married, because its the only way that I can be sure that he doesn't get involved with her. Or, better yet, decide that collie is his true shape, and stay that way forever. He has a personality of a collie too. Collies usually sleep outside the bedroom door when the masters of the house enjoy themselves.Sookie has grown up so much since the first novel... She's outgrown every other character in the book, even Eric. But she is still non-aligned. When people are in a relationship, they usually get closer and closer, in all senses of the word. They spend more and more time together, leave personal items in each others houses, learn to recognize things about each other that no one knows about, and become a part of each other's world. They creep into each other's world until it all becomes one world. Human or vampire, the next book will be a test of the Eric/Sookie connection. If this blending of their lives will occur, then we will know that they are a couple, if she doesn't accept Eric's world (I'm assuming that Eric will not quit Fangtasia and become a real estate salesman) then... She will move on. Her speech about how she isn't moving in with him, how she likes her job, how she doesn't want to join his life - that needs to change eventually. The measure of her resistance will tip the scales one way or another. The shifters really pull on her, and she dislikes politics. She also needs to come to terms that is part of the supernatural, that her place is in the supernatural world. I am partial to Eric - I think there is nothing more intriguing then a man with 1000 years of knowledge. But she isn't like that. She just wants to go to work, get paid, clean her house, cook, play with kids, and make love. I guarantee that she will be pissed when she will find out the political reason for Eric not coming to her rescue.Anyway... Nice book, savage and mysterious, Eric and Bill are both magnetic characters, the power shift is seamless and beautiful. Fairies are inhumanly savagely scary, good thing that the gate is closing. Can't wait to read the next book. Hope it will not disappoint, like some others. I do wish she would regain her faith in men though.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WARNING!!!!! THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!I'm truly baffled as to why there are quite a few readers who did NOT enjoy this book. I started reading the books a few weeks ago and just finished "Dead and Gone" yesterday and I can truly say it has been one of the most wild rides since the Harry Potter series. I have enjoyed "growing up" with Sookie all the way... from first love and current ex-boyfriend (thought not permanently ex I'm sure...) Bill Compton to current "Husband" Eric. One reviewer stated they did not like how Eric had changed. I totally disagree. I am LOVING where Eric is headed in his thought process. It says a lot about that character that he is willing to open up to Sookie (in his own bar) about his past. He clearly is a man who has spent over 1000 years trying to survive and adapt to so much change that he has had to become a "hard-ass" and has developed a dispassionate view of everyone who is not him. His confusion about is feelings for Sookie make him even more attractive to me. Telling Sookie that being with her (when he had lost his memory) was the "Happiest he'd been in centuries" was very major. I had to read that paragraph several times because I couldn't believe it. I did not like Eric in the beginning. His cold-hearted, self-centered behavior made Bill that much more attractive. When Eric forces Bill's hand in telling her he was originally sent to woo her by his queen, I like Sookie, became angry, hurt, confused and wishing she could run to Eric and have him take care of her... knowing that would be a bad decision. And isn't that soooo like life? Did Eric do it because he loves Sookie? Is it for his own gains? My view is that it's all of the above. If I can't get my 74 year old mother to change her ways, I can't imagine getting a 1000 year old to change ANYTHING. the fact that he is very conflicted is fascinating I think. The way he gets Sookie to "Marry" him is underhanded, high handed and loving all at once. Every character must change. That's just life. No one can NOT change.... even shutting oneself in ones home changes one in the end... Even a 1000 year old Viking must change or die. Pam has changed: from hating humans to liking Sookie. Bill has changed: though his changes are forced from outside vamps. Quinn has changed: all business to in love and conflicted about his family. Sookie has changed: naive to "hard". Jason: self serving jerk to... wait. He's still a jerk... though internally he knows what he's done though has yet to admit it to himself much less others.The fact that the story has moved into the "Supe/Shifter" world adds so many more possible story lines, the thought of it makes me giddy like a schoolgirl. I think I might have become bored JUST reading about vampires with a touch of the "Supe" world. The "Supe/Shifter" community outing themselves guarantees at least a few more books... I could read this series forever. I would love it to continue on until Sookie is either old and gray or is "turned" The introduction of Sookie's Great-Grandfather, the Fairy Prince Niall and involvement with the Fae world adds yet another facet to this already complex character. Though he does say he will probably never see her again because he is closing the portal between the fairy world and the human world, I think we will see him again before too long. One reviewer stated they thought Ms. Harris jammed too many characters into one book and did not enough spend time on any of them I see that as Ms. Harris setting us up for some books specifically about one or two characters... It took her NINE books to get to Eric's background... come on! Ms. Harris, for me personally, has the ability to make us feel confused and pissed off at characters we thought were so constant. As in life: we NEVER truly know someone... including ourselves many times. I was shattered when Sookie broke up with Quinn and had to take a minute to calm down @ her decision. Then I thought... "It's a BOOK!! These people are not REAL!!" How wonderful it is when an author can move people that way: to create a dialogue and debates about characters who only exist on paper.I truly enjoyed this book. I can't wait till the next one.... Is it May yet?

Who knew fairies could be evil, but after everything Sookie has seen so far, she shouldn’t have been surprised when two fairies tortured her nearly to death.Bill and Eric both come to Sookie’s rescue, but so does her Great-Grandfather, the last fairy prince, Niall. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next book.

The Great Reveal! Now vampires are successfully integrated, weres come out into the open - one of them promptly to be found crucified outside Sam's bar....As ever, Charlaine Harris is highly inventive, this powerful opening in fact NOT the main theme of the ninth novel. The current Great Threat comes from a different source altogether. Rebellious fairies consider their race tarnished by human links - they plan to destroy all those involved. With her inherited fairy blood, Sookie needs all the help she can get from vampires, weres, fairies (the nice ones), a garden trowel and water pistols filled with lemon juice. Everything will become very nasty indeed, the writer never holding back when describing pain inflicted.Another riveting read. Fans of Eric will have cause to rejoice. It is also good to see Sookie's brother Jason maturing a bit. Scattered throughout are promising storylines no doubt to be explored in future novels. There are also surprises. One thing is for sure: however long the series, however great the dangers and the carnage, Sookie will soon be back in Sam's bar -serving with a smile. Would we want it otherwise!

I have to agree with most other reviews on this book, regarding the slight shift in Sookie's otherwise sunny disposition and the fact that some of the characters veer off in unexpected directions. This didn't put me off the story though; in fact, it's interesting to see most other key characters (eg. Eric) "grow" along with Sookie in the course of the few years since the Bon Temps-based story began.I feel that the book follows a most natural course in terms of dealing with the supernatural elements; after gradually introducing all kinds of supernatural beings, the Sookie story progresses in parallel to the revelation of each group of creatures, i.e. vampires, weres, shifters, witches, fairies. And while the loss of well-liked characters ends the story on a sad note, it mostly adds to the suspense of what is to follow in Sookie's world now that the Weres are out, the fairies dealt with and her bizarre love triangle is at a turning point.Hopefully book 10 will continue to deliver in terms of story, character development and the abundance of sense of humour with which the series is written.

Hmmn ... what do we have? Pregnant were-panthers (and fairies), torture, slaughter, violence with gardening tools, a large dash of vampiric sex, war, were-revelations. All in all, very entertaining.Not my most favourite of the 9 so far, but still another enjoyable installment of this series.Wouldn't have minded a bit more enlightenment on the Sookie-Eric emotional relationship though. It either needs to develop or that piece of bed candy needs to be replaced with something more substantial.Like getting back with Bill. Or putting Sam out of his misery? I can't decide which of those too I would prefer Sookie to end up with, (but being that there are several other contenders (Eric and Quinn in particular) maybe she will end up with neither!I don't know if C Harris is working towards something with the baby theme (we'll have to wait and see), but I think Sookie would make a great mother to a child, and none of her vampire suitors can give her one.Well, I'm obviously still hooked on this series, and if you're up to book 9 so are you probably, so here's to continued enjoyment of the series! ;0

This is the 9th book in the Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood series. I will admit that I only read the Sookie Stackhouse books as I had watched the television series however I absolutely love the books and now find the television series a bit wanting at times (although I still love the TV series). They seem to change the story in the television series so much from the books which in my opinion don't need changing however I assume they do this for a 'more dramatic storyline'. For anyone who is a fan of the television series then I would definitely advise them to read the books as they are so much better and go into so much more detail than the TV series can. I absolutely fell in love with Eric Northman in the series and if there was a 'team Eric' vs a 'team Bill' then I am definitely on team Eric! I can't wait until the latest instalment in the series is released from Charlaine Harris and I shall be reading it as soon as it touches my doormat!

Sookie Stackhouse and another of her adventures. Fae, vampires, werewolves and other supernatural creatures band together to save Sookie from a tortuous death.