mechapman80's review against another edition
3.0
I am really not sure how to rate this book! Usually by the end I have some kind of idea. But the writing is truly horrendous. A lot of things just don't make sense or tie together at all. There were also WAY too many typos. Really, editor?!? If I'm noticing them all (I can't say I'm the most attentive person) then it's really out of hand. Basically, this book was bad. But I was entertained. I'm going through some pretty heavy stuff right now and it was a nice, brainless distraction. I really liked Sookie for the most part, other than the fact that she willingly throws herself on every single male figure she comes in contact with and seems to have ZERO self-control. Still, she was likeable...she reminded me a bit of myself. I am thinking I will try to read the other books in the series just to find out what happens. And usually when a book is super bad...I can't be bothered to pursue the series (coughTwilightcough). So I have no explanation for this one!
mightymsmoka's review against another edition
5.0
This is a (long) ongoing series. I really enjoyed the first few books in this series, but eventually dropped it because I lost interest (I'm no good with sticking with long series).
easolinas's review against another edition
4.0
Urban fantasy usually takes place in, you know, urban areas. Cities, big towns, and places where vampires and weres creep in dank alleys. But Charlaine Harris took a slightly different approach in the Sookie Stackhouse series. And the first three books, collected in "Dead in Dixie (Southern Vampire Mystery, Bks. 1-3)," are solidly entrenched in warm Southern charm and mellow mysteries.
In "Dead Until Dark," Bon Temps waitress Sookie Stackhouse can read minds, which is more of a curse than a blessing. But when she meets and befriends vampire Bill Compton, she becomes embroiled in the world of vampires -- and when her grandmother is viciously murdered, she finds that the supernatural world is a lot more complicated (and close to home) than she ever dreamed.
"Living Dead in Dallas" has Sookie is hired by vampires over a kidnapping, and ends up mired in a disastrous situation involving werewolves, Texan vamps, and a fanatical religious cult that hates the supernatural. "Club Dead" brings Sookie some relationship problems when Bill becomes inattentive... and vanishes. Sookie sets out to find her absentee lover along with the Viking vampire Eric and the werewolf Alcide, but the result isn't what she expects.
The Sookie Stackhouse series does a great job of avoiding the usual pitfalls of urban fantasy -- it's not all doom'n'gloom, gothic pomposity and angst. Instead, it's soaked in down-home Southern charm, the pleasant little town of Bon Temps, and a generally mellow, relaxed atmosphere all throughout the series.
Of course, it doesn't stop Harris from piling on gruesome murders and nasty psychos here and there, as well as a few budding subplots. Her style is warm, steady, mildly tongue-in-cheek and quirky, and she introduces some unique ideas into the usual wolf packs and vampire bunches (such as Elvis Presley, now a vampire!).
What flaws? Well, Sookie's attractiveness has begun to creep into "everybody wants her" Anita Blake territory. That we don't need. However, Sookie is a likable character -- an unpretentious and no-nonsense waitress who doesn't go looking for trouble, but whose telepathic talents often draw it to her.
And there's plenty of other likable characters: the charming Viking vampire Eric, Sookie's flaky werepanther brother Jason, her down-to-earth werecollie boss Sam, and many others. The character that doesn't click: the boring, slightly creepy Bill.
"Dead in Dixie (Southern Vampire Mystery, Bks. 1-3)" is a solid collection of Charlaine Harris's first three Sookiecentric stories. It has some rough spots, but it's a good lighthearted read.
In "Dead Until Dark," Bon Temps waitress Sookie Stackhouse can read minds, which is more of a curse than a blessing. But when she meets and befriends vampire Bill Compton, she becomes embroiled in the world of vampires -- and when her grandmother is viciously murdered, she finds that the supernatural world is a lot more complicated (and close to home) than she ever dreamed.
"Living Dead in Dallas" has Sookie is hired by vampires over a kidnapping, and ends up mired in a disastrous situation involving werewolves, Texan vamps, and a fanatical religious cult that hates the supernatural. "Club Dead" brings Sookie some relationship problems when Bill becomes inattentive... and vanishes. Sookie sets out to find her absentee lover along with the Viking vampire Eric and the werewolf Alcide, but the result isn't what she expects.
The Sookie Stackhouse series does a great job of avoiding the usual pitfalls of urban fantasy -- it's not all doom'n'gloom, gothic pomposity and angst. Instead, it's soaked in down-home Southern charm, the pleasant little town of Bon Temps, and a generally mellow, relaxed atmosphere all throughout the series.
Of course, it doesn't stop Harris from piling on gruesome murders and nasty psychos here and there, as well as a few budding subplots. Her style is warm, steady, mildly tongue-in-cheek and quirky, and she introduces some unique ideas into the usual wolf packs and vampire bunches (such as Elvis Presley, now a vampire!).
What flaws? Well, Sookie's attractiveness has begun to creep into "everybody wants her" Anita Blake territory. That we don't need. However, Sookie is a likable character -- an unpretentious and no-nonsense waitress who doesn't go looking for trouble, but whose telepathic talents often draw it to her.
And there's plenty of other likable characters: the charming Viking vampire Eric, Sookie's flaky werepanther brother Jason, her down-to-earth werecollie boss Sam, and many others. The character that doesn't click: the boring, slightly creepy Bill.
"Dead in Dixie (Southern Vampire Mystery, Bks. 1-3)" is a solid collection of Charlaine Harris's first three Sookiecentric stories. It has some rough spots, but it's a good lighthearted read.
binarybabe28's review
4.0
Seriously, this book took me forever to read, but that hasn't got anything to do with the quality of the book - I was just super busy and didn't have time or energy to pick it up and read more than a few pages at a time. It was great and fast moving. This is a three-book omnibus (? Is that what you call it?) -- so technically I was reading THREE BOOKS! :P
Yay for Sookie Stackhouse books!
Yay for Sookie Stackhouse books!
soulhaven's review against another edition
Marked improvement of writing skill from Book 1 onwards... this is a good thing.
Fact is, though, I probably wouldn't have kept reading Book 1 if it hadn't been for the TV series... I am curious to see the direction the books take, though.
Fact is, though, I probably wouldn't have kept reading Book 1 if it hadn't been for the TV series... I am curious to see the direction the books take, though.
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