Adult Review: Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

Review: Dead to the World
Series: Sookie Stackhouse – Book 4
Author: Charlaine Harris
No of Pages: 321
Release Date: 3 May 2005

Sookie Stackhouse is a cocktail waitress in Bon Temps, Louisiana. She’s pretty. She does her job well. But she has only a few close friends, because not everyone appreciates Sookie’s gift: she can read minds. That’s not exactly every man's idea of date bait - unless they’re undead; vampires and the like can be tough to read. And that’s just the kind of guy Sookie’s been looking for. Maybe that’s why, when she comes across a naked vampire on the way home from work, she doesn’t just drive on by. He hasn’t got a clue who he is, but Sookie has: Eric looks just as scary and sexy – and dead – as the day she met him. But now he has amnesia, he’s sweet, vulnerable, and in need of Sookie’s help – because whoever took his memory now wants his life.

Sookie’s investigation into what’s going on leads her into a battle between witches vampires and werewolves. But there could be even greater danger – to Sookie’s heart – because the kinder, gentler Eric is very hard to resist.

My Thoughts:

Another dive into the world of Sookie Stackhouse, and now that Bill is out of the way, it’s getting interesting.

Sookie once again is just getting better, taking Eric in after he suffers amnesia to help keep him safe to me is just so good for her and her growth in this society. Sookie still remembers her place in the supernatural society, but she also is starting to come into her own. Things aren’t quite as scary anymore and when Sookie finds out about witches actually existing she doesn’t freak out like she would have in earlier books.

Eric is just getting hotter as far as I’m concerned. Suffering from amnesia at the hands of the witches Eric has forgotten that he is a 1,000 year old Viking vampire that people bow to and cower in fear from as soon as he enters a room. Eric’s tender side in Dead to the World made me fall even more in love with him than before, because it proves that he’s not just an evil overlord, but that he may have a sliver of humanity left.

Eric is a little bit of an odd character for me, I don’t want him to be gentle; I want him to be hard hitting, evil and funny. But in Dead to the World, his tender side was just so perfect; it didn’t even seem like Eric. So although I missed witty Eric, I absolutely loved gentle Eric and although it fits him I can’t see the two sides of him ever reconciling into one being and if I had to choose it would definitely be evil Eric.

Alcide and his wolves also play a major part again in this book and with the addition of Alcide it once again adds more of a plot mover to the story.

I was so glad that Bill barely made an appearance in Dead to the World, as in Club Dead because I really don’t like him. Sookie doesn’t need the distraction that Bill causes and I am hoping that the series continues on this broader path of the extended set of characters.

Dead to the World also introduces witches, which for me wasn’t that big a deal. They seemed more like the hippy Wiccans rather than full blown cackling witches for most of the story. They made for an interesting dilemma for Sookie to deal with though.

Dead to the World was yet another excellent instalment in this fabulous series.

4/5

Uprising Book Review

A gruesome ritual murder has stained the Oxfordshire countryside. It's just the first incident in a chain of events awakening Detective Inspector Joel Solomon to his worst nightmare-and a dreadful omen of things to come. Because Joel has a secret: he believes in vampires.

Alex Bishop is an agent of the Vampire Intelligence Agency. She's tasked with enforcing the laws of the global Vampire Federation, and hunting rogue members of her race. A tough job made tougher when the Federation comes under attack by traditionalist vampires. They have a stake in old-school terror-and in an uprising as violent as it is widespread.
Now it's plunging Alex and Joel into a deadly war between the living and the unloving-and against a horrifying tradition given new life by the blood of the innocent.( goodreads.com)


I tried to read this book but it was slow moving , and lots of details , that this book didn't need to be that long. I stopped half way through out the book.


I loved the Location , and truly love reading different kind of vampire stories but this book I was able to put it down and read other books.

The time it took for Alex and Joel to meet was too long , and drawn out. I didn't feel any of the attraction between them. This book did remind me of movie Underworld and I love watching this movie.

I didn't finish this book because of those reasons, you might like this book but I didn't.

DNF= Did Not Finish

Thanks to the publisher & author  for the book and this is my Honest Review

Beyond the Threshold of Death-Featured Reviewer

I admit I love a stories that take place in Ireland. I admit My favorite movie is PS I LOVE You for Gerard Butler, and beautiful scenery. We always have Corned Beef and Cabbage for St. Patrick's day.

This story takes place in Ireland in 1795. Deirdra is lives with her father , and is having a tough time to find a husband. Her father plays matchmaker and finds her a fiance with Brian. He lives in another town, and comes to visit when he can.

Dee comes down with an infection, and is taken to another town where she meets nurse Mylana. Deirdra is on deaths door , and is taken back to her home where Mylana tries to do all that she can to save her. Deirda reminds Mylana of someone who she once loved a long time ago. Mylana is a vampire , and Deirdra while ill is able to get visions of Mylana life before , and feels sad for the nurse. There is a connection there, and Mylana decides to turn Deirda into vampire since she so close to dying.

Once she is turned into a vampire, she turns even more beautiful , and feeds for the first time. Mylana and Deirda leave Ireland and go the new world--Boston. On the boat ride there, Deirdra feeds on animals and again is at deaths door. She needs human blood to survive. Deirda gets a job at a music shop, and they are happy there for a bit.

Mylana finally tells Dee of her woe and heartbreak. She killed Laccoix wife Jeanette , and was held captive for 7 months. They make and deal and she is able to go free. Mylana doesn't keep her end of the bargain, and makes fledgling Cyntia , and they become lovers .Laccoix comes back and kills Cyntia . Mylana is still grieving over this loss.

Deirdra goes back to Ireland to see her Dad and Brian. She is able to be there when her dad passes away. After than she and Brian start the courtship up once more , but there are times when she has to wipe his memory.She leaves him, and grieves the loss of Brian and her dad.

She then meets Brenna and finds kinship with her. She misses Mylana but wants company. When Brenna is at deaths door, she turns her into a vampire. She also feels like a mother , since she created Brenna. Meets Elijah and goes back and see Mylana. They fight someone even more worse than Laccoix .

I loved that that these vampires stuck to the cannon. These vamps were very sexual in nature with men and women, and took blood from either sex.Loved the growth of Dee through out the story because she grew and changed over time. I understood her loss of humanity and family. I also understood her desire to have a child.

Best line: Love must be tasted , but never savored. In our darkest moments, we may envy mortality but never should we aspire to it.

Book Review =4/B

Thanks to the author for the book and this is my Honest review

Infinite Days--Freatured Review

Lenah used to be a vampire. Rhode who has loved her for many years, gave her wish to make her human. With this ritual and with intent, she became human.


She is 16 year old girl who has finally awakened from a long sleep. She is at a boarding school called Wickham. Her best friend is Tony , who happens to be an artist. She have lived for many hundreds of years and is afraid of her coven coming after her.

She has been in love with two men : Rhode and Vicken for different reasons.

This is a different vamp book , and like that she is smart and different from other girls. I don't why she is attracted to the hottest guy on campus. I understand that they at boarding school ( pet peeve) and we are introduced to Justin's parents before they make out.

I understand that she has never done it as a human but did it as vamp. She has been taken back to England and turned back into vamp by Vicken . She is back with the coven and appears stronger and still has her soul. She is still dreaming about Rhode. Interesting what Vicken wants to be human too and still has that vampire bond with her.

It seems that all the men/boys are all in love with Lenah. I get that she is the main character but to have Justin, Tony, Vicken, and Rhode to all be in love with her was a bit much.

I found her transformation very glossed over and that she is able to have special abilities and still retained her soul from being human.

Justin her human boyfriend was okay but I was more interested in the past loves of Rhode and Vicken.

I did like the cliffhanger on this book and will most likely read the next book.

Book Review = 3/C


I bought this book and this is my Honest Review

When Blood Calls --Featured Reviewer

This is my first time reading this author and this is the first book in the series.


Ryan Doyle is in the FBI in the supernatural division through Homeland security. Luke is powerful vamp in the city of LA and picks up Sara and has a one night stand with her. Sara get a promotion with the DA office and then is moved to the Paranormal division. Sara first case to prosecute is Luke Dragos for murder of a werewolf judge .


There were so many points of views --it was a bit tough in the beginning to keep track of all the characters. I had to write notes of who was who and what kind of paranormal they were in this book.

Sara was thrust into this world after one day and has to figure out if Luke is innocent or not. Through out the book she was swooning over him, and then the next minute she didn't want to be attracted to a vampire. She was sending mixed signals and I for one got tired of it. Sara's father was killed by a vampire many years ago. Luke wants to continue to have a relationship with her and is surprised when she becomes a DA. Luke seemed to have many plans in place, so clue clue if romancing the DA was part of it.

Luke and Ryan also have some bad blood between them ,and want to know more of why they so dislike each other. Luke also has a ward Tasha who isn't all there . It was interesting to see how this world is setup and all the many paranormals in this book. This book also dealt with some serious issues from killing kids or doing naughty things with them. It was interesting to get an idea of their thoughts but as a parent, its not something I want to read about in a book.

Many people through out the book are trying to keep their Daemon at bay and fight the blood lust, and hearing about it reminded me of a drinking game. I loved all the twists and turns with all the characters and talking about events being Black or White or Grey.

 I was curious of all the romancing of Sara was all of Luke's plan B. I didn't completely trust him at time and for me the reader that's good.

Overall I liked this world and loved the hot romance between Luke and Sara. I hope the next book is about Ryan.

Book Review=4/B

Thanks to the author for the book and this is my Honest Review

Raphael by: D.B. Reynolds -- Featured Reviewer

Rating: 4/5
Origins: Provided by the Author
Format: Trade Paperback
Release Date: 15 April 2009
Publisher: ImaJinn Books
Synopsis: Malibu, California-home to rock-and-roll gods and movie stars, the beautiful, the rich . . . and vampires.

Powerful and charismatic, Raphael is a Vampire Lord, one of the few who hold the power of life and death over every vampire in existence. Thousands call him Master and have pledged absolute loyalty on their very lives. But when, in a brazen and deadly daylight attack, a gang of human killers kidnaps the one female vampire he'd give his life for, Raphael turns to a human investigator to find his enemies before it's too late.

Cynthia Leighton is smart, tough and sexy, a private investigator and former cop who's tired of spying on cheating spouses and digging out old bank accounts. When Raphael asks for her help in tracking down the kidnappers, Cyn's happy to accept. But she soon realizes her greatest danger comes not from the humans, but from Raphael himself.

Battling Russian mobsters and treacherous vampires, and betrayed by those they trusted, Cyn and Raphael find themselves fighting for their lives while caught up in a passion of blood and violence that is destined to destroy them both.

Review in Five: Fast-paced and Easy to Read.

Review: I love that the main characters in this book are strong willed and independent, they both have everything they already need out of life. Cyn is independent and strong in both her personal and business life. Raphael is a handsome, strong vampire who requires absolute obedience from his prodigy and his associates. I loved Cyn in this story far more than I liked Raphael, he is very distant and cold, almost as you would expect an actual vampire to be, and Cyn is actually quite clever.

The plot in this book is action-packed and fast paced. There was one thing I noticed in the story that brought up questions in my mind;  Cyn just shoots a guy for checking in with his boss, I think that was a tad bit extreme. Take the phone, punch him, throw him out the door, why shoot him? Who does that?

Anyway, this is pretty good book for a great paranormal romance lover and an action romantic suspense lover. There are some great scenes, some unique word usage, and great characters in this book. D.B. Reynolds's debut is definitely worth the read, as I am sure the other books in this series will be as well.

Series: Vampires in America: Raphael (1), Jabril (2), Rajmund (3)

Featured Reviewer: Monica from The Bibliophilic Book Blog

Bound to Shadows Contest Ends today!

Win a Copy of this Book Here - CONTEST ENDS TODAY! 

Review by Parajunkee

I got my first taste of the Riley Jensen series by downloading the first book Full Moon Rising on amazon for free. I love those Kindle Freebies! After reading Full Moon Rising I was undecided whether I should move on.  On reading Book 8, Bound to Shadows - well now I have to go back and start over and read the series!  I actually enjoyed this book more than the first. Maybe it is because Riley has matured - making a go out of monogamy - and finally embraced her career - but I actually liked her a little better than in the beginning.

In Bound to Shadows Riley is on a Who-Done-It mission to find out who is beheading the local vamps.  And while this might be the plot pusher - the real meat and potatos is Riley's love life and the triangle that is forming between her LOVE and her FATE.  I don't want to spoil - but I'm pushing for LOVE, even though FATE is damn smoldery (is that a word?)

Because this is so late in the series, I'm afraid of spoilers, which is why the quickie review.  Also I feel like I would do it an injustice, by giving it an in-depth review while not having read the books in between.  I am now going to do just that though.  So - if you haven't read the series, I do recommend it for vamp lovers and wolfy addicts alike.  There are some problems, which is why I'm rating as a 3.5 - but the book is entertaining.

Bound to Shadows supplied by Tricia at Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc.

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