Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse has one last adventure in store. Life has taken her from a waitress in Merlotte's Bar, Bon Temps, to part owner; from social outcast to the heart of her community; from a vampire's girlfriend to the wife of one of the most powerful vampires in the state. She has survived explosions, revolutions and attempts on her life. Sookie has endured betrayal, heartbreak and grief...and she has emerged a little stronger, and little wiser, every time. But with life comes new trials... The question is, in the end: who will love, who will live, and who will be dead ever after?

Dead Ever After

After learning the devastating reason why vampire hunk Eric Northman has been cooling on their relationship, clairvoyant waitress Sookie Stackhouse becomes embroiled in a shocking murder that sends all of Bon Temps reeling in the final novel of the best-selling series.

Kattia

Even though the last few books were not up to par-- they felt like filler, in my opinion-- I had to read Dead Ever After because I've invested so much time in this series and the characters. I wanted to see them to the end. And to be honest, I was holding onto hope that Ms. Charlaine Harris was not going to disappoint. 

Well, that's exactly how I feel now after finishing the last book in the Southern Vampire Mysteries. I don't know what else to say except that on one hand I'm glad this series is finally done. The quality has been declining for some time now and it needed to be put out of its misery. But on the other, it's just such a let down with how the series has ended.

After learning the devastating reason why vampire hunk Eric Northman has been cooling on their relationship, clairvoyant waitress Sookie Stackhouse becomes embroiled in a shocking murder that sends all of Bon Temps reeling in the final novel of the best-selling series. Reprint. 750,000 first printing.

Lara Engle

This book was better than the 12th one, which isn't saying much. I'm happy with how things ended up for Sookie. But, the writing is still horrible. Most of the events of this book were nonsensical, but at least there were events scattered between the weird descriptions of Sookie cooking.

shelby mosel

loved the way the series wrapped up! i won't give anything away and the series certainly had its ups and downs for me but I liked the ending plenty :)

Gillian Rose

While not how I would have liked it to end, it made sense and I think I will genuinely miss this world.

Amanda

Ending was not good enough! very grumpy right now.... will mull it over and discuss on my blog and/or in a video

Sophie Hutchings

This book and #9, #10, #11 & #12 were sat on my shelf for some time, I started this series when I was about 16 or 17 (now 22) I'm Sookie crazy and obsessed with these books (& the show!) 

But due to university I jus kept putting off reading for fun for to long and for reason that I still don't understand I was putting off these books... Maybe it's because I knew I wouldn't be able to put them down once o started? Because I couldn't... After reading this beautiful ending to a AMAZING series I felt sad. These were my first adult books and my favourite vampire based books (followed by discovery of the witches and vampire academy, Any recommendations for others please please leave a comment below) so I was glad to see there was a book that rounded off where all the characters are now which will help you get closure!!! I then binge watched all 7 seasons of true blood after finishing this book... Sorry not sorry. 

Farewell Sookie, I will always keep these books as you are my favourite blonde and one of my favourite female leads in a book ever. 5*

Robin M Cabana

It's been a bumpy few years. The first books in the Sookie Stackhouse series were just so good, but the last few just didn't measure up. In spite of that, I really loved Sookie, the characters of Bon Temps and the vampires, the weres and the other supes that had a habit of messing up Sooke's world. And in this last book, many of them come back again to stand up for Sookie, which I found touching and sentimental. I love when that happens in any kind of finale.

In the end, things work out well for Sookie (don't want to spoil it!) and I love that this is an ending Charlaine Harris had planned from the beginning. She's hinted at it throughout the series. It made me very happy for Sookie. I'm going to miss her.

Julia

It’s been a long time coming and 13 books later, but i finally completed the series. If you are interested in the show true blood. Be aware that the books and show do not match up. 

I throughly enjoyed being in Sookie’s world. One thing I like about this series is how many different kinds of “beings” we are able to discover. Like many others, I don’t necessarily love the ending. Partly why I put off reading the last book for so long. I have laughed out loud throughout the books though and love the humor in a vampire world. Different settings from most other vampire series.

Amanda Gilson

-1 star because it didn't end how I wanted it to. Minus the ending the book was good.

Kristina Masone

This is probably my least favourite book out of the series. It has nothing to do with Charlaine's writing, of course.

(view spoiler)[I love Sookie and Pam's relationship and was super excited that Pam got to become Sheriff (hide spoiler)].

Judith Junghans

Tannie Davidson

Anastaciya

Mm, I thought Sookie would end up with someone else, huh...

Nona G

It's been such a long time that I've finished the rest of this series, that it took me a minute to get back into the action. I was actually waiting to buy the novel in the same format that I have the other 12, but alas, it's sold out everywhere and I haven't been able to find it for the past 2-3 years. So I have finally decided (with a little help from random.org, who sometimes decides what I should read when I lack inspiration) that I simply had to finish this. It was time.

I knew, unfortunately, how this series would end and I knew I would hate it, which is maybe another reason why it took me so long to find the motivation to do it. As much as I hated how the series ended, this was worse. Since spoilers are all over the internet and right in this review section, let me just say that, to me, Sam has never been a great option and I was right... in the end, it just felt like Mrs. Harris wanted it to end in whatever comfortable way it could, without putting too much effort into it. The relationship did not feel in any way natural, it was just.. there, as if to say let's get this over with.

The book itself is your usual Sookie Stackhouse novel. Light, non-pretentious, colorful, picturesque. It's not an intellectual novel, nor does the author pretend that. It's one of those readings to unwind with after a stressful day. And since I am a fantasy nut, it's perfect for doing exactly that.

But it still seems to me like a step back from the thrill of the rest of the series. Yes, there's gore, murder, blood and supernatural beings, but somehow this seemed pointless, from the plot (let's just see what we can invent to get Sookie almost killed again) to the ending. Revisiting past characters just for the purpose of dragging this series a little bit longer. I would be annoyed more if this weren't such a common thing in literature and other media.

This book undoes a lot of what made the series so great. Diversity. Finding meaningful relationships with people from different races. Overcoming abuse. However, in the end, Sookie just ends up with a guy she can "read", after we're being told time and time again that she would not do that. Eric's fate is cruel and undeserving and most of all, unrealistic. After being abused by his creator, he accepts a 200-year old contract that would make him a slave once more. Bill... well, there's no point to Bill anymore. He ends up as nothing. He would have been better off killed a few books back. The entire story gave one clear message: stop fighting, just settle. And that's sad.

It's an unfortunate ending to a fun series. I would say the first 9 books are worth the read if you're into vampires, but the others are simply fillers meant to drag things out for cash. I'm glad that, in the end, I didn't buy this last book.

Judy Hudgins

A recap of all the characters which passed through the Sookie Stackhouse books. A quick, fun read.

Sookie Stackhouse has one last adventure in store. Life has taken her from a waitress in Merlotte's Bar, Bon Temps, to part owner; from social outcast to the heart of her community; from a vampire's girlfriend to the wife of one of the most powerful vampires in the state. She has survived explosions, revolutions and attempts on her life. Sookie has endured betrayal, heartbreak and grief ... and she has emerged a little stronger, and little wiser, every time. But with life comes new trials ... The question is, in the end: who will love, who will live, and who will be dead ever after?

Kerri McDonald

Welp, I'm done! Light, fluffy read, but not exactly a standout when it comes to ending a long running series. It had elements that I enjoyed, was completely predictable in some regards, yet still had some surprises. Nothing big, but enough to keep me reading. Not really a big fan of how it all ended so neatly for Sookie, but I suppose she deserves her happy ending.

Chantale

I know a lot of people weren't happy with this book but I for one liked it and I kinda not surprised with the ending . 
I enjoyed the book and really enjoyed the book series.

Anyaconda

Everytime I finish this series it gives me a massive book hangover and I just don't want it to ever end. This is my ultimate comfort series to get back to and this helped me get through those pandemic times. I tried other works from Charlaine Harris but none of them come even close to Sookie's world.

Gem Koeman

*Spoilers Ahead*

I started reading the True Blood series well after the TV series release, so I already had a pretty good idea of what I was in for. Thirteen books later, I was pleasantly surprised that the books could add more than the TV show had. 

As the series is so long, I decided to review all thirteen together rather than separately. I'll be picking out salient moments from the series and moments that I loved and others that were downright boring. 

It is safe to say that the ending of the series was a lot less interesting than the start or midsections. I felt that the story went slightly limp at the end, and it was just setting itself on repeat rather than adding anything new. 

The stories are centred around Sookie (a la The Sookie Stackhouse Novels) so let's dive into my thoughts on Sookie and her relationships.

Sookies Romances: Sookies character had a male attraction in almost every book in the series, and if there wasn't one ongoing, there was one finishing. I believe the idea behind this was that her fae blood attracted supernatural beings of all kinds to be with her, use her or kill her. Here are my thoughts on the male characters in Sookies life.

- She was submissive Eric, I wasn't entirely on board with the memory loss book and felt that Eric lost his spark after the war with the Witches.
- Got played by Bill earlier in the series. Bill, like Sam, seemed to hang around and wait for Sookie even though she gave limited signs of interest. I feel that both Bill and Sam couldn't be fully-fledged characters because of their infatuations. 
- Was constantly butting heads with Alcide, although their relationship when they first met felt the most real and optimistic of the lot. Alcide's character seemed to change with his leadership of the Shreveport pack.
- Quinn was in and out of her life a lot, so to me, it felt a little more like a chance to bring in a booty call.
- Sam spent all 13 books pining after her and not making any moves which I found a little infuriating. I liked the fact that she had a male best friend that she was able to lean on.

One important theme that I noticed with the books was the love interests ability to forgive the fact that Sookie was getting in trouble every five seconds. The relationship with Quinn was the only one that I felt touched on this point enough.

Sookie and the Vampires - 
Sookie got her introduction to the world of vampires early on in the series. I thought the Vampire structure was convoluted and eventually gave up on learning the names of the vampire kings and queens (and their entourages). I loved the relationship that Sookie built with Pam through the series, and it would have been a nice change from the Male/Sookie tropes to have the two of them on some adventure. 

I thought the best parts of the vampire narratives were in Dallas with the first trip to the vampire hotel and the religious zealots; I also enjoyed her working for Sophie-Anne at the second hotel and the choices she had to make to save her vampire friends there.

The worst moments of the vampire storylines happened toward the end during Sookie's relationship with Eric. I don't know if it was intentional, but Eric went from being the big badass vampire to a vampire with no balls by the end. His interactions with Victor and the Las Vegas vampires was tired, and his relationship with his maker just added fuel to the fire of boredom. Not even imagining Alexander Skarsgard could save it.

Sookie and the Were's: The Were's, just like the Vampires, stuck to the typical image that we have of them. I liked the interaction of the Vamps who had "come out" to the world, and the were's who were very apprehensive about it. I did enjoy the fact that the were's weren't locked into wolf form and that there was a mixture through the books. 

I thought that the were's had a lot more humanity in them, which came across well in the books. When a Were was a terrible character towards Sookie or someone else, it felt more realistic. Sort of like a serial killer rampage.

Alcide was a great introduction to pack life. I thought their relationship was lacklustre, and if there was one thing I'd change about the books, it would be wrapping Quinn's personality into Alcides. I felt that Alcide was Quinn v1, and the writer decided to rip into Alcides personality to create another love interest for Sookie. 

In terms of the storylines for the Were's, they weren't so clear cut for me. I felt that Sookie held the Were's at arm's length, more so than the vampires. The friend of the pack story could have been fleshed out more; I thought that it just gave the writer an excellent excuse to have the were's turn up when things got a little stale. 

On timelines through the books, there was some whiplash with the amount of time that members of the pack (or vampires, for that matter) spent building their relationships between themselves. 

There was a new bartender, a new bar owner, a new member of enforcement for the pack in each book. This made both sides feel transient, especially considering that the time between books mainly was a month or so. 

Sookie and the Humans: Sookie had limited time spend with humans during the books. Those that she knew either ended up dying or causing her problems. I liked the continued storylines of the police officers and Merlotte's bar, which gave a little bit of respite from the non-human world that Sookie was living in. 

I thought that the storylines with Tara felt a little lacklustre, but this might have been intentional with the two of them being friends from high school and growing apart along the way.

Arlene's story was shocking and reminiscent of women who tend to chameleon on their partners' personality/traits. I thought the book took it a little far with Arlene attempting to help her beau kill Sookie but then there was nothing ordinary about these books or the storylines!

Overall, I thought the series was excellent, and I'd give it an average of about four stars. There were some storylines that I didn't care for, but the flow was great up until the end where it fell flat. 

Sasha Mann

Sookie Stackhouse has one last adventure in store. Life has taken her from a waitress in Merlotte's Bar, Bon Temps, to part owner; from social outcast to the heart of her community; from a vampire's girlfriend to the wife of one of the most powerful vampires in the state. She has survived explosions, revolutions and attempts on her life. Sookie has endured betrayal, heartbreak and grief ... and she has emerged a little stronger, and little wiser, every time. But with life comes new trials ... The question is, in the end: who will love, who will live, and who will be dead ever after? Learn more about Charlaine Harris at www.charlaineharris.com.

Dead Ever After

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