SBLC Reviews: Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris
Deadlocked
By: Charlaine Harris
Published: May 1, 2012
Published by: Ace
Reviewed by: Maria G.
Blurb: Its vampire politics as usual around the town of Bon Temps, but never before have they hit so close to Sookie’s heart… Growing up with telepathic abilities, Sookie Stackhouse realized early on there were things she’s rather not know. And now she’s an adult, she also realizes that some things she knows about, she’s rather not see – like Eric Northing feeding on another woman. A younger one. There’s a thing or two she’d like to say about that, but she has to keep quiet – Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (Arkansas and Nevada), is in town. It’s the worst possible time for a human body to show up in Eric’s front yard – especially the body of the woman whose blood he just drank. Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area 5 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 set to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.
My Review: Over the course of the series there has been a side storyline that ran parallel to the main storyline of the series and that is… who Sookie is destined to be with and that is what everyone focuses on. Therefore, I am going to cautiously proceed with my review of the book.
One of the best things about Sookie is that we get to feel what she is feeling and in Deadlocked we see our beloved Sookie constantly having introspective moments which are brought on by all the blessed events that are happening around her:
• Tara giving birth to the babies
• Halleigh and Andy having a baby
• Kennedy and Danny happily together
• Jason getting married to Michele
• Hoyt getting married to Holly
Blah, blah… it is a freaking love fest in Bon Temps and it is making Sookie wonder a lot about the present state of her life.
While she is having these moments, she is once again embroiled in a major mystery that involves the local vampires, weres and fae. Does she have that “let me at ‘em” mentality about what is going on? Well, yes and no. Yes, she does get involved and help solve the case with its various sub-mysteries, but there were instances where she was just so exasperated with the idea of once again either being in the cross-hairs of some magical species or trying to help those that she cares about that she actually whines.
She is just at the end of her tether to this part of her life.
To tell you the truth, Sookie has always been a character that gave more than she got. Yes, Eric has always compensated her monetarily and in other ways and she has always been heralded and loved by those she considers her family, friends and acquaintances. But, what she craves for in life nowadays is a life that is not so dramatic.
Of course, with that stated, she grapples with the threat of Jannalynn, Felipe, Freyda, solving the murder of Kym Rowe and whatever is going on with Fae in her life… which was all very exciting to read. Yet, it was the moments she spent with her past loves, current love, Sam and everyone else that shows us Sookie is in for a big change… even if she was not planning on one.
I have to admit that there was a doozy of a twist and it involves the Fae and yes, we get to see Niall again. But, what happens in the tale makes you feel for Sookie. That reminds me, for those of you that love Bubba, he’s in the book. As well as Diantha and Mr. Cataliades. We also get to find out some interesting tidbits about Barry the Bellboy’s life.
Now, onto the men that Sookie has loved. They all pop-up in this book:
• Bill, her first love and now friend, assists her in finding out who and why Eric is being framed for the death of Kym.
• Eric, her current love is not only dealing with Felipe and Kym’s death, but also his betrothal to Freyda and as a result is not really able to be there for Sookie the way she wants him to be. She keeps reiterating mentally that she loves him and he loves her, but is that enough to keep these two together?
• Alcide, never really a love, but there was a moment where they wished they had crossed that bridge, is also helping Sookie with Eric’s case.
• Quinn, a past love, pops up via a call.
• Sam, whom she found attractive and had kissed is also her boss, partner, best friend and confidant, spends his time in this book listening to Sookie when she needs to vent, handling Jannalynn and her insane jealousy and is also there for Sookie when something fishy happens at Splendide.
I found it really funny that they were all present in one book, but in hindsight, I get it. Charlaine is giving us a chance to see where Sookie stands with all of these men. Are shippers going to be happy with what happens in this book? Well, knowing how many of you think… chances are that you are not going to be happy with this book.
I, on the other hand, was very happy with this book and that is only because I want Sookie to have her happily ever after and I do not akin it to who she is romancing.
Happiness is about waking up in the morning with a smile on your face and going about your day with a light heart, not worrying about if you are going to wake up in the morning or if the person you chose to spend your life with is going to be there in the morning.
But, before you decide not to read the final book, remember all hope is not lost. Charlaine is a master of spinning a yarn and if you allow one decision to not allow you to see this journey through to the very end than what kind of fan are you? Also, you may get the happily ever after that you were hoping for. Keep your fingers crossed.
Overall, as you may have suspected, I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 and I cannot wait for the last book in the series.
What are your thoughts on Deadlocked?
Tags: Book Review, Charlaine Harris, Deadlocked, SBLC
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I think your review is on the mark. Sookie is light and therefore deserves to have that and probably will but at the same time it would be fun to see something dark turn light. But I feel that the southern girl will get her happy ending and my guess is that involves Sam. Out of all the fantasy Mrs Harris always has a line of reality running underneath. Really it is Sam and Sookie who have a healthy relationship. She is always brought back up every time she goes to work. As much as we would all like to believe that we end up with Lancelot we all really stay with King Arthur in the end.
Can’t wait to see if I am on her trail of thought. I will miss this series. Nothing like a good story teller.
I love the comparison to Lancelot and King Arthur and it is spot on.
We will miss Sookie also, but she has new tales to tell and I’m sure they will be as addictive as Sookie.
Thanks for your thoughts.
~M.
(POSSIBLE SPOILERS)
I very much agree with this, although I’d overall have to rate the book at a 3.5 out of 5 if I’m totally honest.
I love the fact that people are speaking up for Sookie outside of the shipping wars, because I completely agree that she can be happy on her own (and in some ways I always hoped she would end up alone, but a very happy alone) – my only qualm is that we’ve never gotten to see her and Eric have any fun. I was confused as to why Charlaine took the decision to get them together in 9 because their relationship was always best as a fun, sexy, ambiguous dynamic running through the great plots, which allowed Sookie to flirt with and bounce off other characters. But she did and then their relationship died a death of epic proportions. They instantly stopped being that fun dynamic and became awkward, stilted and horrible to each other in ways that compromised their characters and sucked a lot of life out of the last few books.
It’s sad, but I still love Sookie. I just wish we could have seen some of that early potential for dark, sexy, crazy fun come to fruition instead of their relationship ending on such a bum note.