I am only on book 2 of this series, and loving it so far, cannot WAIT to get to book 9 – although I’m slightly apprehensive about this being so very “dark”.

Amy :)

Congrats for the writer, the review is excellent!
Amy, thanks for the long comment of yours, it was very well-thought and I agree with you completely! (that, I think clearly says that I am Team Eric, too :D) I really hope that Ms. Harris will think the same way you do, about the sub plot thing, etc so we will be pleased with the ending. I gotta say, I got the 1st the books for Christmas, (but in Hungarian) and I was not totally convinced about it, but then i decided to read the 4th book in English. That was a week ago, and I have finished with the last available book (the 8th) yesterday, so now I will try buy the D&G tomorrow, I am completely and finally hooked in Sookie’s world :D (the translation was quite bad, the original language is always way better!) So, I just wanted let u guys know, that Sookie fans are everywhere, and thx again for the review! (and sorry for my English, after all, I am no native speaker :) ) Edith

I am totally team Eric, i ‘like’ Bill, but always preferred Sam over him until Eric came into the picture. Eric and Sookies relationship is complex and deep. I loved that Eric was more forthcoming with his feelings for Sookie in D&G, (though when i think about it he has always been honest in regards to his feelings for Sookie, they have deepened and intensified has the series progressed) I think Sookie is used to knowing or been aware of how men think and feel about her and with Eric he has never told her is words that he ‘loves her’ but shows it in his actions and in their conversations. I think the reason why neither of them wanted to discuss the ‘love’ issue any further is this book is because their relationship isn’t only intensely physical but also deeply emotional, something that is new to Eric in is 1000 year existence and frightening for sookie who has had a year filled with experiences and emotions that most people explore in a life time. Sookies relationship with Eric began as a love/hate relationship, extremely strong emotions, and we know that in most cases there is a very fine line between the two. I think Sookies reluctance to totally give her heart to Eric is her fear that she doesn’t understand the complexity and the deep connection that is their relationship and this frightens her. Sookie and Eric’s relationship is not black and white like her relationship is with Bill, Sam and rebound Quinn. Sookie and Eric are both confident, brave, stubborn and proud people, they are the reflection of the other. (soul mates)

I don’t think Harris would go to such lengths in books 1-9 to keep an underlying and burning tension sexually and emotionally simmering in the background between Sookie and Eric, subtly demanding to be further explored. I think the series will end with Eric and Sookie not Sookie and her ‘best friend’ Sam and definitely not Bill. Harris has made the Sookie/Eric relationship a sub plot in the bigger plots of the novels, its part of the story but not the whole story, therefore the reader is allowed to barrack for other Sookie/male relationships and other characters whilst keeping the chemistry and complex partnership between Sookie and Eric an intriguing and juicy element of the series. In saying this, Harris, has in no means made predicting the end of the series easy and i am very anxious to see what is install for the characters and their very complex relationships, but very excited!

I read the reviews before i begun reading D&G and expected to be disappointed with the book, on the contrary, it was the best so far. I think the conversation between Sookie and Eric in regards to his past was sweet and informative, in my opinion Eric didn’t share his past with Sookie to have an indepth conversation, i think he only wanted to share and Sookie was happy listening, what more could she have said?? In regards to Sookie blurting out ‘im married’ to Sam was an interesting and non-event in the story, i thought the conversation between Tara and Sookie was far more refreshing and shed some light on Sookies feelings on the subject and the relationship between her and Tara.

I must admit i love Sookie, but i was frustrated with her inability to decifer Eric’s actions and words when it comes to his feelings for her. I think Sookie is hiding behind the ‘blood bond’ excuse to dismiss the strength of her feelings for Eric, because as i said before she is terrified of the soul mate connection they share, so much so she even stops herself from freely admitting her feelings to herself. Here is a list of things that blurt out ‘Sookie i love you’ : The explanation of the ‘amnesia spell’ “be near your hearts desire with out knowing” – The ceremonial marriage (even though he was ‘high-handed’ with it, it still demonstrated his feelings for her) – The fact that he hasn’t shared his blood with anyone since Pam – his willingness for her to stay in his home (a private sanctuary for Eric) – His ability to protect and make available people for her during daylight hours – The most significant i believe was his dialouge at the end of the novel when he spoke about Bill and his indifference to him if Sookie had not survived, his anguish that he couldn’t get to her in time and the heart wrenching words ‘your killing me’ suggests that its his overwhelming love for her which is killing him, not her or her actions literally killing him, like some have suggested in their reviews. These are just a view examples of his devotion to Sookie and they began in book 8 and were just as significant and evident in book 8 as they are in D&G.

As it has been suggested by others i don’t think Eric would abandon Sookie to gain favor with vampire authorities, he demonstrated his willingness to expose himself to backlash from other vampires by interfering and protecting Sookie from a near bite and ‘bond’ with Sophie Anne’s right- hand man, in book 8.

In my opinion Eric from book 1 has always tried to protect Sookie, even if some of his motives had been for his own self gain. But as the series has progressed and their relationship developed and their shared experiences intensified, Eric has never truly faltered when it comes to the welfare of Sookie.

Sorry for the babbling, as you can probably tell i adore this series and have equally loved reading the reviews from people who are just as fascinated and love The Sookie Stackhouse Series as much as i do.

Can’t wait for May 2010 and the next installment. TEAM ERIC!!!

Also, the Eric/Sookie relationship is my favorite, and this book had a good dose of that. He is powerful, protective but has his own life, always willing to help and has a sense of humor. Bill…too late; Sam…great friend, but too much of a brother/sister relationship; Quinn…”babe”…yuck; Calvin…never an option

This book also didn’t have as much rehashing/explaining events and characters from prior books. That is the one thing I do not like about these books and I was happy that that didn’t happen too much in this one. If someone decides to start reading a series at book number 4 and they feel like they are missing something, then they need to read books 1, 2 and 3 so they know what is going on.

******************

ACTUALLY…regarding the romance storyline part, that is not true.

At San Diego Comic-con 2009, during a panel Q&A, someone asked Alan Ball:
“How will the romance play out with Sookie and Bill and Eric?”
AB answered: “It will play out the same as in the books.”
(Which I take to mean that Sookie drops Bill, and she develops her romance with Eric.)

If you go to http://www.YouTube.com, and search fo: Comic-con 2009 TrueBlood panel discussion – it is about 6 parts, each about 7 minutes long. It was fun to watch these Youtube segments.

AND…now that you’ve read books 1-8, I would very much want to hear your opinion of this last book. To me, it was sharply different from the prior 8 books. I found the last book to be a big disappointment. Molly, after you have actually read “Dead and Gone” -please post your comments on it, too.

I get the feeling Sookie will end up with either Eric or Sam and have had that feeling from the beginning. I warn you, I am seriously on Team Eric. I am not familiar with Ms. Harris’ other writing, but I do believe she does foreshadow- if only a little bit. My initial signal that there would be something more with Eric was his attempt to lure Sookie away from Bill (who can be staked for all I care, he’s just awful). If vamp law is so sacred and worthy of being upheld, why would he try to circumvent it? Secondly is that he was the ONLY vampire she was capable of hearing initially (was she able to at The Pyramid? I found that part confusing). The next part that steers me to Eric is during his amnesia episode. Every exchange they had was based on his purest most true feelings, was it not? He is nearly her ideal as she proclaims it to Quinn (he was interesting initially but got rather flaccid quickly). She wants someone who will be there for her and take care of her (even though she swears not. Why would she be so very upset about Bill and his donation to the Bellefleur’s if she did not want to be aided?) Eric thus far has proven to be reasonably available to her emotionally and financially when the need has been required. Although he may not always be physically present, he uses his power and influence to assure her safety and happiness (Alcide, Bill, Charles, Pam). He also swears that the love is not based on the blood bond, which at this point I believe (unless that is refuted in this latest installment).

Sookie believed Eric love her before she found out about her fae blood, why would it make any difference now? I agree with many who say that she has gone through her adolescent stage of dating in the earlier books. She is unsure of the supe’s true feelings for her because she cannot honestly tell what they are, she finds this refreshing, I see it as a disadvantage to her psyche. She is far more the fragile flower than she feels she is. She is not a wilting violet, but she not tough as nails as she tries to be (in my opinion). However, I do find her to be far less of a user than I did Bella of Twilight fame… but I digress.

I am not a fan of Sam as a lover for Sookie. He seems to have always been too dishwater. His standard shifter form is enough to make his seem as a non-threat and someone who will never be bold enough to take what he wants. However it is her constant need for his approval and wisdom that intrigues me. I suppose Sam is a familiar face both pre- and post- supe knowledge… however he is also the first supe she encounters in finding out she could not read his mind.

It is my opinion that people should not discount Sookies’s love interest as being relatively inane. Were it not for her interest in Bill she would not have been drawn into such situations. Many of the actions she has performed have been done out of love: rescuing Bill from Lorena, rescuing Eric from the side of the road as well explosion (it was never an intent to discover Bill, she just happened to find him; he assumed she would be the one to rescue him), calling Quinn to get out of the explosion. wrestling Pricilla off of Sam’s back. Many of her most dangerous rescues have been the ones where vamps are involved- and she has rescued Eric the most.

I fear the wrath of the machine and that Ms. Harris may end up pairing Bill and Sookie together for the sake of media promotions. Now that Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer have announced their engagement, even the show has announced that it may diverge seriously from the story line. But then again, that’s show business.

I hope my ramblings have not offended anyone. I came in here new and as it jsut so happens I pick up subcontext much more quickly than main points when reading. It makes for difficult and frequent re-reading. I have very much enjoyed the synopsis and commend the work as well as enjoying the character dissection. Well done ladies (and gentlemen if you are about)!