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Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse #1)

by Charlaine Harris (Goodreads Author)

3.96 · Rating Details · 431,140 Ratings · 16,516 Reviews

Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability." She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome--and Sookie can't hear a word ...more

Mass Market Paperback, 292 pages

Published May 1st 2001 by Ace Books

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Best Paranormal Romance Series

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Community Reviews

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Mar 28, 2010 Vanessa rated it did not like it

After reading a succession of more serious books, I felt the need to read something light and trashy. As I discovered from reading this book, you should be careful what you wish for. Light? Yes. Trashy? Oh yes. Oh yes, yes, yes. But not in a good way - just trash, trash, trash.

It is hard to say what I disliked more about this book - the sophomoric writing, or the annoying, vapid, 2-d, Harlequin-romance-heroine-helpless-twit persona of Sookie Stackhouse. Sookie is a psychic, and this fact is used After reading a succession of more serious books, I felt the need to read something light and trashy. As I discovered from reading this book, you should be careful what you wish for. Light? Yes. Trashy? Oh yes. Oh yes, yes, yes. But not in a good way - just trash, trash, trash.

It is hard to say what I disliked more about this book - the sophomoric writing, or the annoying, vapid, 2-d, Harlequin-romance-heroine-helpless-twit persona of Sookie Stackhouse. Sookie is a psychic, and this fact is used to explain everything from why she didn't do well at school and became a cocktail waitress to why she spends all of her free time sunbathing to why she can't see an obviously dangerous situation until she's up to her eyeballs in it. It does not, however, explain why she has such bad dress-sense (denim mini jumper dress with yellow bandana hair clip to impress the vampire who comes to dinner; Tweety Bird night gown that drives him wild with desire), or why her sexual naivete comes and goes like a rash - at times she is very confident about her sexual attractiveness (wearing "fuck me" red high heels etc) and other times wondering what Bill the vampire and all of the other men in Louisiana could possibly see in "l'il ole me".

The sex scenes are either squirmingly bad or tedious. After reading two I just had to skip ahead a few pages any time sex with Sookie looked like it was going to rear its ugly and badly-written head.

I know a lot of folks have enjoyed this series, and have devoured every book written by Charlaine Harris. From reading other reviews, it seems to be a very polarizing book. As for me, I could barely choke this one down and will look to satisfy my literary appetites elsewhere.

3/28/10 - After having viewed the first two episodes of the HBO series "True Blood", I can now understand why people have gone bananas over this series of books. The show (what I've seen so far) is exceptionally good, thanks to a great cast and the writing talents of Alan Ball, who has turned a sow's ear into a silk purse. I can see how a reader might enjoy the books if they had viewed at least some of the series first and kept it in mind while reading Charlaine Harris's less than stellar prose. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for me - and while I won't be reading any more of these books, I will continue to enjoy the show! ...more

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Jan 18, 2009 Jennifer rated it liked it

Shelves: paranormal, sexy, charlaine-harris, 2006, vampires, paranormal_romance, paranormal_mystery

The first book in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

I confess - I picked this up at the bookstore for a few reasons:
1. The cover was sparkly and I liked the art.
2. Vampires! Having spent a huge chunk of my youth hoping the vampires in Anne Rice's novels would knock on my window late at night (shut-up, like you didn't???) I have been looking for the next Brad Pitt with fangs. (shut-up, like you aren't???)

And yeah. That was all it took. Sparkles and vampires - SOLD.

I opened up the book and kinda reg ...more

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Jan 03, 2009 Trin rated it did not like it

Shelves: mystery, fantasy, american-lit

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Sigh. I tried to give this a fair chance, I really did. I went into it hopeful, despite some other negative reviews that I’ve read, because I quite liked the pilot for True Blood, the new HBO series based on these books. Dark, however, loses points from me right away because the two most interesting characters on the show—Sookie’s cranky best friend Tara, and Lafayette, the fabulous (in every sense of the word) chef at the bar where Sookie works—either completely don’t exist or have only the tin Sigh. I tried to give this a fair chance, I really did. I went into it hopeful, despite some other negative reviews that I’ve read, because I quite liked the pilot for True Blood, the new HBO series based on these books. Dark, however, loses points from me right away because the two most interesting characters on the show—Sookie’s cranky best friend Tara, and Lafayette, the fabulous (in every sense of the word) chef at the bar where Sookie works—either completely don’t exist or have only the tiniest of roles, respectively. Lame. Still, I find the basic premise Harris has cooked up intriguing: in this world, vampires have come “out of the coffin” and are public knowledge; they can drink Japanese-manufactured synthetic blood and have basic human rights. (On the show I believe they are still working toward those rights, but it hasn’t been made entirely clear.) That’s an idea that seems rich with symbolic significance that, correctly handled, could be truly fascinating.

Instead, as Harris handles it, it’s just another boring romance between a powerful, possessive alpha male and his frail human woman who’s in need of his protection. Sookie isn’t, to be fair, as helpless and hopelessly devoted to her man as Bella Twilight Swan is, but the basic power dynamic between her and Vampire Bill is still incredibly boring. In general, as a couple, they are boring. So there’s that dullness—bad enough—which Harris proceeds to combine with several shakes of sheer lunacy. Sookie completely under-reacts to incredibly traumatizing things, like waking up with a naked shapeshifter in her bed, or a loved one’s murder. She believes the PR that vampirism is a virus and is really surprised when someone points out that that doesn’t make sense considering that shapeshifters and telepathy also exist, and, you know, vampires can fly. Despite being telepathic, Sookie’s only able to solve the oh-so-complicated mystery when the killer attacks her. (Handy!) Oh, and Elvis shows up. I am not kidding.

I wish I were, though. I also wish I was wrong when I say that I can predict pretty much exactly how the rest of this series will go, with Sookie, like a less lubricated Anita Blake, fighting off the affections of two (or more!) men and unable to make up her goddamn mind. Both of those men will devote their (un)lives to protecting her, and Sookie will say, “God! I’m a grown woman, I can take care of myself! I don’t need you to protect me!”—and then, instantly, need them to protect her. And then Kurt Cobain and Jimmy Hoffa will show up to hang out with Vampire Elvis.

Gimme a break. I can only hope that the show proceeds to more interesting ground, because reading this book, all I could think was: been there, done that, have the lousy fang marks. ...more

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Apr 08, 2011 Emily May rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-uf

I started reading this series because I was currently watching True Blood and had developed a slight obsession with Eric. Since then, the books have become an absolute guilty pleasure of mine. They are not the best written and occasionally we get a little too much of what we don't care for (i.e. fairies and shifters) but amid the hot vamp sex and murder mysteries... who really notices those anyway??

Most characters have both annoying and redeeming qualities, but this is good - I never did like th ...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Demo rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Recommended to Demo by: 10 Year old Stupidity

Shelves: terrified-the-chiz-outta-me, scarred-for-life, why-god, gave-up-on

Some people have asked me why I never read Adult Paranormal Romance books.

Well, TrueBlood is the reason why. Read on, if you feel like snorting with pity-laughter.

Damn. I wish I could explain why I had to give this book a one star rating without sounding lame as hell. Because really, it was a stupid reason, one that only I would run into, and I'm 98% certain many of you will roll your eyes at me.

But I'm going to be honest. Because I'm nothing if not a truthful person. ~~Ahaha, that's a total lie.~~

T ...more

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May 23, 2008 Shannon (Giraffe Days) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery-suspense, vampires, urban-fantasy, 2008

I'd never heard of these books until a few months ago, and as usual, once one person recommends them, everyone seems to be talking about them, you see them everywhere, and you get curious. They're in the fantasy section, though for some bizarre reason I was under the impression, at first, that they were YA and silly. They are fun, but they are definitely for adults. The vampire/mystery style reminds me of the one Anita Blake book I read, the first one, which was horrible (can't say that enough t I'd never heard of these books until a few months ago, and as usual, once one person recommends them, everyone seems to be talking about them, you see them everywhere, and you get curious. They're in the fantasy section, though for some bizarre reason I was under the impression, at first, that they were YA and silly. They are fun, but they are definitely for adults. The vampire/mystery style reminds me of the one Anita Blake book I read, the first one, which was horrible (can't say that enough times) - the similarities aren't obvious or anything, but perhaps because Dead Until Dark isn't paranormal romance, and it's not like The Turning or the Black Dagger Brotherhood books, Anita Blake is the closest comparison.

Oh but this book is soooooo much better! After a slightly rocky start in which the writing confused me a bit (something that also reminded me of Guilty Pleasures, perhaps unfairly), the story really gets going and in new and surprising ways.

Sookie Stackhouse is a waitress at a bar in Bon Temps in Louisiana. She has what she calls a disability: she can read minds. She's spent her young life trying to guard against the babble of other people's thoughts, and because of the level of concentration that takes she never did particularly well at school and never went to uni. But she likes working at Merlotte's, likes living with her Gran since her parents died, even though she can't have a relationship - it wouldn't be fun hearing what a man thought of you while being "intimate", would it?

She's also fascinated by vampires and has been waiting to meet one since they "came out of the coffin", so to speak, and became legal citizens. One night her wish comes true: a vampire called Bill (!) comes into Merlotte's and, joy of joys, his mind is silent. She can't hear a thing. Finally a man - an undead man, true - she can relax with.

But while Sookie and Bill are trying to have a normal relationship, working class women are being murdered in the area and while at first it looks like vampire work, soon the police are looking at Sookie's womanising brother Jason. On top of that, the most powerful (and dead gorgeous) vampire in the area, Eric, has his eye on Sookie and her ability for his own uses.

Dead Until Dark is a great mix of urban fantasy and mystery, and the crime side of the story didn't bore me a bit. I loved Bill, he was kinda adorable while also a bit unpredictable and scary (very nice), and while I didn't understand all the expressions I've seen enough movies set in southern US states that I could picture the people, places and culture fairly well. The book could have done with better proof-reading to catch all those missing prepositions and, at one point, an interesting way of spelling "complexion". There were also a few times where Sookie, who narrates, is musing about something and then another characters replies - it threw me off because it wasn't all that clear that she'd voiced her thoughts.

Sookie is a great protagonist, lively, fiesty, quirky and strong without being stubborn and bitchy, and her telepathy makes her especially interesting. She's definitely one of the better heroines of vampire novels I've come across to date. I loved Sam too, and Dean was great! Oh and the Elvis thing was funny too, though I was a bit slow in catching on. Anyway, if vampire books aren't your usual cup of tea, you might want to try this series because it's very enjoyable and fast-paced, yet with nice slow moments where you get to enjoy and understand the characters (so good character development, always important). So I guess this means I'm joining the Sookie Stackhouse bandwagon? ...more

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Oct 27, 2015 ✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, books-i-own, dnf-graveyard, urban-fantasy, female-lead, series, read-2014, buddy-read, vamps, br-2014, mr-northman-belongs-to-shelly, 1st-in-series, the-pity-party-is-on

December 2014 buddy read with Shelly, Carole, Evgeny, Karly, Jess, Allison, Catherine & Monty Cupcake.

DNF at 50%

Sookie, Sookie, Sookie. Because of you most of my friends either hate me or think I'm a total freak. They think you're quirky, I think you're silly. They think your story is better than candy, I think your story is the most uninteresting ever.

Sorry guys, I don't think this review is going to go well.

I was recently told I was snarky and a cold-hearted, impatient cynic (you know wh ...more

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Dec 04, 2016 Fabian rated it really liked it

Stephenie Meyer has nuthin' on this woman (understatement). Harris has in one pinky all the talent of the aforementioned hack, and her huge fan base must take note. "Dead Until Dark" is a loud middle finger to all those in deep love (& therefore those with questionable tastes) with the "Twilight" series.

This book reminds me that not all fiction has to be poetry. This one has a clear plot, it ties together all loose ends. It is enthralling, addictive, everything one wants in the PERFECT paper ...more

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Jan 04, 2017 Bookworm Sean rated it did not like it

Shelves: y-a, horror-gothic, love-and-romance, 1-star-reads

The television show True Blood was better than this in every sense; it completely transcended it. Well, at least, before the fourth season hit and the writing went down the toilet. But that’s a separate issue altogether. The show took Charlaine Harris’s book and made the story better; it made it sexy and scary. But, let’s not forget that without this there would have been no show whatsoever.

So fans of the television show do owe a lot to Charlaine Harris. Her writing for me though can be summed The television show True Blood was better than this in every sense; it completely transcended it. Well, at least, before the fourth season hit and the writing went down the toilet. But that’s a separate issue altogether. The show took Charlaine Harris’s book and made the story better; it made it sexy and scary. But, let’s not forget that without this there would have been no show whatsoever.

So fans of the television show do owe a lot to Charlaine Harris. Her writing for me though can be summed up in one word: tepid. She has the characters and some strong ideas, but she just can’t insert life into her prose. Where was the shock factor? Where were the cheap thrills and the melodrama? Normally I’d criticise a book for having these, but this one so desperately needed them! I didn’t find this story remotely exciting; it had no sense of drive, and, again, it lacked the sex appeal of the television show. Perhaps, I may have enjoyed this a little more if I’d read it before seeing all the blood and drama on the screen. Who knows? Either way this just didn’t hit the mark.

There is no atmosphere

Television Bill was a bit of an enigma, at least, he was at the start. He comes across as a brooding man, troubled by his past and his violent nature. Here, though, he’s just a bit boring. He doesn’t really have a lot about him. He seemed more computer geek than vampire solider. The writers of the show, undeniably, took his character and made it better; they made him interesting and devious. Some super fans will likely disagree with me. But ask yourself this, which Bill is more interesting to hear about? Which one would you rather turn at Merlot’s bar and grill giving you the eye and the fang? He carried with him a dark story, one the show slowly peeled back.

Then there is the lack of antagonist. Sure, there’s a mysterious serial killer going around stabbing people to death. But, ultimately, he was dealt with rather easily. Again, to compare this to the show, the first season shadows Eric as a sort of bad guy. It was so much more entertaining! I have read much further than this book in the series. In my mid to late teens I managed to get through most of them, and I didn’t really enjoy any of them. I’m not sure why I kept reading them to be honest; it was likely due to a lack of reading material and funds to buy something better.

True Blood is far from being the peak of television artistry; however, it can be enjoyed for what it is: a dark and mysterious fantasy romance that depicts weird and wonderful characters struggling though their fucked up lives. This here is the story of just Sookie Stackhouse whereas True Blood expands on the side characters and fleshes them out; they were the ones that make it fun. Sookie is just dull, her life is dull, and this book is dull. Even after all these years I can still taste the blandness of the writing. If my seventeen year old self, a self who had read less than twenty books in his life hated this, I dread to think how I would react to it now if I was reading it for the first time.
...more

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Dec 08, 2007 Vampire Lady rated it did not like it

Recommends it for: naive twenty-somethings who don't know good writing if it hit them upside the head

Shelves: read-in-2007, vampires, paranormal, straight-romance, series

When I first read the premise for the book, I thought it was slightly intriguing. Nothing I would rush out to get and read right away, but still enough for me to put on my list of to-read. Now that I've read it, I want my brain back. I like the idea that vampires are a known part of the human world. I really do. I liked Sam, about the only character in the entire book I did like, and how Harris explained him. I just think it took to long for her to reveal it all and to get her point across.

I lov ...more

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Feb 06, 2016 Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ Rabid Reads rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fae, urban-fantasy, some-kinda-magic, weres-shapeshifters, vampires, esp, rereads, best-series, jerk-of-my-dreams, favorite-secondary-characters, cover-whore

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

3.5 stars

I basically had two separate lives growing up. My main life involved my nurse mother, my pharmacist (legal) father, and two of my three sisters, all living a suburban life just outside of Charlotte, NC. My secondary life involved my biological father and his entire family which was (they’ve since departed) headquartered in Bon Aqua (pronounced “ACK-qua”), TN. Bon Aqua, thusly named for the water that locals lineup in their pickup-trucks to collect, with their emp ...more

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Sep 15, 2015 Sh3lly ✨ Bring on the Weird ✨ rated it it was ok

Shelves: vampires, paranormal-chick-lit, paranormal-romance, hot-guys-alphas-rawr, too-much-angst-get-over-it-already, too-much-filler, shifters-weres, read-more-than-once, buddy-read, annoying-characters, paranormal, read-2014

Original Rating: 5 stars
New Rating: 2 Stars

This was a Buddy read (re-read for me) with Sarah, Karly, Carole, Kristin (when we get to book 3), Kelly (when we get to book 4), Jess, and Catherine.

Ok, I don't know what I was thinking when I gave this book 5 stars. This is not a 5 star book. This was my 4th time reading this and I think my last. The main reason is: it's BORING. There was WAY too much Bill. I didn't realize how boring Bill was. I mean, he was always super boring compared to Eric, but ...more

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Jan 15, 2009 Annie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2009

Let's get one thing straight...Sookie Stackhouse is no Bella Swan. You may have read the myriad reviews that list the similarities between Charlaine Harris's novels and the Twilight Saga and I can assure you that most of them are true. Harris refers to her vampires 'glowing', Bill drinks synthetic blood, Sookie can read minds...the list goes on and on.

But after finishing this book, what I can assure you is that in so many ways these books are so completely different that they bear no comparison. Let's get one thing straight...Sookie Stackhouse is no Bella Swan. You may have read the myriad reviews that list the similarities between Charlaine Harris's novels and the Twilight Saga and I can assure you that most of them are true. Harris refers to her vampires 'glowing', Bill drinks synthetic blood, Sookie can read minds...the list goes on and on.

But after finishing this book, what I can assure you is that in so many ways these books are so completely different that they bear no comparison. The Sookie Stackhouse novels are fun and action-packed where Twilight is contemplative with a more restrained plot. Neither one is better...they're just different.

What I enjoyed so much about Dead Until Dark is the incredible, break-neck pace the plot moved along at. This was like watching a blockbuster movie and truly didn't take much more time than that to read. Harris threads the hooks of the story expertly. When you get to the end of a chapter, she'll write something to stop your heart dead in your chest. You literally HAVE to turn the page to find out more.

The other major strength of this novel is Sookie. She is one of the most fun characters. She's kooky, she's kick-ass and I loved being able to step right into her mind. I would've taken tough-stuff Sookie over Bella any day.

But Bill is not comparable to Edward. He's HOT and he oozes that sexy bad-guy image but I just don't know if I 100% believes he loves Sookie. I know his character is supposed to be stiff and uncommunicative but I did find it a challenge to warm to him as much as I have done with other romantic heroes. He doesn't really have the 'swoon factor' Edward does.

I will absolutely continue to read this series with great pleasure. I do want to know what happens with Sookie...I secretly hopes she shacks up with Sam. Is that too much to ask?

Readers should be warned that this novel is quite violent. It also discusses issues that some could find disturbing and upsetting (incest etc). For more conservative readers, please be aware there are multiple explicit love scenes.

I would certainly recommend this book to Twilight fans looking for an enjoyable vampire series. ...more

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Mar 08, 2016 Evgeny rated it liked it

Recommended to Evgeny by: Erin ☕ *Proud Book Hoarder*

Shelves: fantasy

A group read with my GR buddies.

Sookie Stackhouse has a disability - at least she thinks she has one. She can read minds and she always has to block this ability of hers to keep herself from going crazy from constant buzz of thoughts from everywhere. She also wants to meet a vampire, so when one finally walks into the bar she works as a waitress in, she literally jumps at him the way poor creature does not stand a chance.

For people who read Twilight I do not need to tell anything more as this ...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Scott Sigler rated it it was amazing

First off, paranormal fiction of any stripe really isn't my bag. I'm more of a hard-science/horror, horror/thriller kind of a guy.

I'm a big fan of the TRUE BLOOD television series. My wife tricked me into watching it, because I was convinced I "couldn't possibly like yet another kissy-vampire show." Well, I was wrong; I got hooked on the campy fun of TRUE BLOOD right off the bat.

Since I'm an author and have high hopes of seeing one of my own books turned into a series someday, I picked up the ...more

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Jul 09, 2011 Buggy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: shelf-08, paranormal-rom, vampalicious, shelf-11, re-read

Opening Line:"I'd been waiting for the Vampire for years when he walked into the bar."

I must be one of the last people on the planet to read Dead After Dark. I also haven’t had a chance (yet) to watch True Blood, although because it’s been all over the media I had a pretty good visual reference for the characters here without actually having to compare the two. I was able to just go along for the ride. And what a ride, I can definitely see now what all the fuss has been about.

Honestly I had a h Opening Line:"I'd been waiting for the Vampire for years when he walked into the bar."

I must be one of the last people on the planet to read Dead After Dark. I also haven’t had a chance (yet) to watch True Blood, although because it’s been all over the media I had a pretty good visual reference for the characters here without actually having to compare the two. I was able to just go along for the ride. And what a ride, I can definitely see now what all the fuss has been about.

Honestly I had a hard time putting this down. Harris has created the perfect mixture of paranormal romance, mystery and action. With intriguing, humorous characters and situations and an absorbing, fast moving plot. Her take on Vampiric society is fresh and fascinating and I appreciated how we were continually reminded that despite “coming out” vampires are still very much predators.

I also found Sookie to be incredibly relatable despite her “disability” and supernatural circumstances. Harris just has a way of making her feel all girl next door so that we discover everything right along with her. I also loved Harris’s portrait of small town America and in this case it’s unique bar patrons whom I felt like I knew. This could be in part because I’m from a small town and I also cocktailed for years so the characters seemed familiar to me. Whatever the case I’m glad I finally got around to reading this series.

Sookie lives in the real world of small town Louisiana. She is a pretty cocktail waitress, lives with her grandmother and because of her telepathic “disability” keeps to herself. The people in Bon Temps tend to think that Sookie’s a little crazy because she knows things she shouldn’t and acts strange while her mental “guard” is up.

Everything changes the day Bill walks into her bar and orders a bottle of synthetic blood. Bill is a vampire and ever since they entered mainstream society she’s wanted to meet one. To make things even more interesting Sookie can’t hear a word he’s thinking, Bill might just be her perfect match, except of course for the fact that he’s dead.

Unfortunately soon after Bill arrives people start turning up dead, in particular waitresses. After an attack at her grandmother’s house Sookie fears she might be next. Then there’s Bill’s creepy group of friends, the recent Elvis sightings, her brothers illicit behaviour and all of a sudden her boss isn‘t quite who he appears to be either.

So like I said I really enjoyed this, the love scenes are steamy and dirty (think outdoors, mud, and covered in blood dirty) and Bill well he is just delicious in a dangerous bad boy wanting to brush your hair kinda way. The romance aspect here was very good. I also really liked Sam’s character and appreciated how his true self wasn’t revealed right away. Bubba was another awesome little addition and the many townsfolk and their idiosyncrasies were fantastic.

There are some surprising moments here and I never really knew where things were going to go next. Although I’ll be honest I had a tough time keeping straight who was who. Getting many of (the many) secondary characters mixed up so that even at the end when the killer was revealed I had to back track to figure out who it was. As a former waitress (which Harris must also have been at one time) I found the bar scenes realistic and fun. Can’t recommend this one enough. ...more

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Dec 31, 2014 Carole (Carole's Random Life) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, series, reviewed, 2014

Buddy read starting December 29 with Sarah, Shelly, Evgeny, Karly, Jess, Allison, Catherine & Monty Cupcake.

Discussion Thread

2014 Review:
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.

5 Stars!

When I saw that some of my friends on Goodreads were getting a buddy read of this book organized, I jumped at the chance to join. I don't really know why I love this book so much. It actually has a few problems and I see them but I just don't care. I love this book anyway despite all of its flaws ...more

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Oct 04, 2009 colleen the fabulous fabulaphile rated it it was ok

Shelves: urban-fantasy, vampire, romantic

So, what can I say? I enjoyed the book, but in a guilty pleasures, sort of embarrassed to admit kind of way. Let's admit it - this is hardly well written, but it's quick and light and fun, and there's something to be said for that.

That said, I didn't really like Sookie's voice. I found it rather irritating right from the start. And the dialogue - ugh, who talks like that? And if people really do talk like that, then I'm glad I don't know them.

And there's not much character development to speak o So, what can I say? I enjoyed the book, but in a guilty pleasures, sort of embarrassed to admit kind of way. Let's admit it - this is hardly well written, but it's quick and light and fun, and there's something to be said for that.

That said, I didn't really like Sookie's voice. I found it rather irritating right from the start. And the dialogue - ugh, who talks like that? And if people really do talk like that, then I'm glad I don't know them.

And there's not much character development to speak of. Sookie is annoying in her so-called naivette. It just seemed like manufactured drama to me. I mean, she accused Bill of being hot and cold, but, really, Sookie was just all over the place. She loves him, she hates him, she's not talking to him, she needs him - and over silly little trivial stuff. Talk about high maintenance.

And Bill's pretty one-dimensional. "I'm violent, Sookie, but I'll never hurt you." And those clothes?

Speaking of clothes - I didn't need to know about the print on Sookie's dress, or whether or not she washed her hair and shaved that day in the shower. Really, there are some details which are just extraneous. (Not to mention her fashion sense seems stuck in the 80s. If you're going to talk clothes, then talk clothes, dahling.)

Anyway... the whole thing with Sam was pretty damn obvious, too.

Erm, as far as characters go, I liked the grandma, and every one else (well, including her, really) seemed pretty much like a pastiche.

Actually, I think the best way I can say it is that it was like reading a soap opera. Over-the-top melodrama, with thin characters, and horribly bad dialogue.

I don't see myself continuing with the series.

Oh, but I do have to say, the whole "PR thing" about it being a virus. Ok - I could buy that people would buy that there's a virus that makes people avoid the sun and be allergic to garlic, or whatever... but the virus also makes their hearts stop and live forever? Really? And the fact that Sookie is surprised to discover it's supernatural? Ugh!

I'd probably rate it lower, because it was just horribly written and ludicrous, but I liked it, damnit... so take it for what it's worth. ...more

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Sep 23, 2015 Karly *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)* rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: dig-your-teeth-in, buddy-reads, unnecessary-v-cards, willow-says-bored-now

Buddy-read with these lovely ladies: Sh3lly, Sarah & Carole(With a hopeful guest appearance of Jess - because Jess & I read all the vampy-ness together, apparently :P)

Let's see if Harris' written word can live up to (or surpass) this sexy-ass vamp:

And beast:

The Review:

2 Stars

Where do I begin? Oh, I know! BILL! I have never been a fan of Bill. (In "True Blood" he always reminded me a bit more of a boring-ass tax accountant than a vampire, he just not vampiric to me....) So, yes, I knew ...more

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Feb 01, 2016 Jess rated it it was ok

Recommends it for: nope

Recommended to Jess by: previews of True Blood and Casey's rave review

Shelves: paranormal-romance, z_09, vampires

Not for me.

flag 30 likes · Like · see review

Feb 27, 2010 RandomAnthony rated it did not like it

Shelves: not-so-hot

Notes from the reviewer's internal dialogue before reviewing this book

You want to say this is, if not the worst book you’ve ever read, one of the worst. Is your assertion accurate or are you engaging in hyperbole?

I believe this is one of the worst books I have ever read. I didn’t finish, giving up at the 60% mark, but I stand by the statement under the assumption that the author didn’t turn into Shakespeare in the book’s final third. The last book I read that even approached this nadir was some ...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Kay rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: fangbangers

Recommended to Kay by: it first started with anne rice...

Shelves: urban-fantasy, undeadandmonstrous, quirky, whodunit, here-and-now, cerebral-candy

I'll admit it. After the watching the first season of True Blood a year ago, I picked up this book with some expectations: that it has (1) a lot of sex, (2) a lot of gore, (3) a lot of wild personalities and (4) never-ending hilarities à la Jason's experience with V in the first season.

[All illustrations of #4 removed for overt sexuality and dangerously addicting laughing spells for those inclined toward stupid humor, like I am]

What did I get?

A naive southern waitress with very stilted sense of ...more

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Apr 19, 2011 Stephanie rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Oh, where to begin with this book...

I have read some truly atrocious writing, but this is by far the worst I have ever read.
Not for content or context (though ridiculous as it was), but for the actual writing itself.
Horrible!

Right from the start, the author bombards you with trivial descriptions. Hurriedly she lets you know what everyone in town looks like by comparing in pairs; for each person introduced, they are only described by being compare/contrasted to the next person she introduces.
Also ...more

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Sep 30, 2016 Emma rated it really liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, vampires

A quick, light fun urban fantasy read. Apparently this series is the basis for True Blood. As I don't really watch TV this doesn't mean anything to me! Will definitely continue intermittently and see how the series pans out.

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Apr 25, 2016 Wanda rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, female-authors, vampires, urban-fantasy, read-in-2016, public-library

So finally, I meet Sookie Stackhouse. I am late to the party by about 15 years, but I really enjoyed making her acquaintance. I polished off the book in one evening and could quite happily have turned around and read it again right away. In fact I did go back and read my favourite sections again.

I found Sookie to be a smart and feisty main character. Instead of her telepathy being an advantage, she has found it the ultimate in distracting, almost like a learning disability. So when she runs into ...more

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Sep 23, 2007 Trina rated it did not like it

Let me start off by saying I am not a prude. I may live in Utah. I may have only kissed one man in my life- but I have no problem with a little sex in a book. This went far beyond that. To the point that the story was no longer the story of clairvoyant girl meets vampire and they try to catch serial killer together. The story quickly became girl and vampire have sex together a lot. That bugged me. Rather than being interesting or even exciting- it was boring. Sex does not a plot make. The story ...more

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Nov 14, 2008 Beth F. rated it liked it

Shelves: vampires, urban-fantasy, 2008

Even though Bon Temps, Louisiana ain’t urban by any stretch of the imagination, I would still classify this book as urban fantasy. So if you enjoyed popular series such as The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and/or The Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series by Laurell K. Hamilton, you might want to give Sookie Stackhouse a try.

I’m a fan of both and Sookie’s series has been on my to-read list for at least a year at the time I write this. I’ll admit the reason I hadn’t picked this series up sooner is bec Even though Bon Temps, Louisiana ain’t urban by any stretch of the imagination, I would still classify this book as urban fantasy. So if you enjoyed popular series such as The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and/or The Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series by Laurell K. Hamilton, you might want to give Sookie Stackhouse a try.

I’m a fan of both and Sookie’s series has been on my to-read list for at least a year at the time I write this. I’ll admit the reason I hadn’t picked this series up sooner is because the name “Sookie Stackhouse” was a major turnoff for me. Sookie? Stackhouse? That name is incredibly silly-stupid in my vocabulary and I had to jump a huge hurdle just to get past that. I don’t know, maybe that kind of name is normal or cute when you’re in Louisiana, but that’s a world away from where I live in Minnesota, so it was a stretch for me and I had hard time NOT laughing anytime someone said/whispered/shouted Sookie’s name. Although then I reminded myself that one of our TV stations in Minneapolis employs a weatherman named Sven and I have known several people over the course of my life who share names with Scandinavian mythological beings such as Freya, Odin and Thor and while that is perfectly normal in Minnesota and nobody bats an eye at names like that up here, the rest of the country is probably snickering behind their hands and thinking we’re loony for clinging to our ancestors’ pre-Christian pagan traditions (hellooo Minnesota Vikings!)

Sookie Stackhouse is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed ditz with a “substantial bosom” (her own words, by the way, this is a first-person narrated novel) who has made it to the ripe old age of 25 with her v-card still intact, mostly because she’s a mind-reading telepath who can hear the thoughts of her would-be suitors (including the not-so-flattering stuff about her butt, her boobs, you name it) so she doesn’t date much, and who can blame her? She also happens to be living in a parallel universe where vampires are “out of the coffin” and are recognized as a separate race of citizens in the United States.

Sookie works as a waitress in a small-town bar so most of the characters in the book are introduced in relation to the bar. If they don’t work there, they’re bar patrons, and they all know “crazy” Sookie, nicknamed so because of her ability to read minds (which she tries to keep under wraps, but a lot of people are on to her).

Even though vampires are “out” in Sookie’s world, she doesn’t meet one until two years after their existence is announced. Bill Compton walks into the bar and Sookie is immediately drawn to him because he is the only man she’s ever met whose mind she can’t read. Bill is attempting to live in mainstream human society and is an interesting character because he has historic roots in Bon Temps, Louisiana. The Compton family has lived in the area for over a century and Bill himself was alive during the Civil War and fought on the side of the Confederacy. He was married with kids at the time so the family name was passed down over the generations. The latest Compton had recently passed away before Bill moved back to Bon Temps to take up residence in the family’s home.

Shortly after Bill arrives in Bon Temps, a number of mysterious deaths occur in rapid succession. So whodunit? Well, that’s for you to find out for yourself when you read the book, which is straight up murder mystery with a vampy twist. A few other things to keep your eyes peeled for are an Elvis sighting, a handful of not-hot sex scenes and probably the worst ever come-on I’ve ever heard in my life: "I want to enter you again." Ew, Bill. Just ew.

This book read like a first novel to me, even though it's not. There were several awkward sentences and there were parts of it that felt choppy. I felt the same way about the first couple books in LKH’s Anita Blake series, which improved significantly over time (before spinning off in another oh-so-weird direction, but we won’t go there because this is about Sookie, not Anita,) so I definitely plan to give the next Sookie book a shot and see where it goes, because Anita’s series started off slow and awkward as well and blossomed into a series that, for me, is at crack-addition level, even though Anita’s sex-life does sort of gross me out (but again, now isn’t the time or the place go there).

So while I can’t say I’m totally in love with Sookie at this point, I did enjoy this novel quite a bit and see some potential for a fun time, so I’m glad I put the request in at the library for the second novel because Sookie has some potential. It was an entertaining fast read and now I don’t have to feel guilty for watching HBO’s “True Blood”, which is based off this series. ...more

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Jul 08, 2010 Michael rated it liked it

Shelves: 2000s

It has been said (I would tell you by who, but that would involve actual research) that Tolkein's most important contribution to literature is the Hobbit. (The race. Not the kid's book.) That said, I will with much pomp and ostentatiousness, say Charlaine Harris's biggest contribution to modern literature will be the Fangbanger. (Yes, I just compared Harris to Tolkein, in addition to totally exploiting the parentheses.)

I don't want to waste time telling you the storyline because you know it: st It has been said (I would tell you by who, but that would involve actual research) that Tolkein's most important contribution to literature is the Hobbit. (The race. Not the kid's book.) That said, I will with much pomp and ostentatiousness, say Charlaine Harris's biggest contribution to modern literature will be the Fangbanger. (Yes, I just compared Harris to Tolkein, in addition to totally exploiting the parentheses.)

I don't want to waste time telling you the storyline because you know it: steamy hot sex with bloodsucking corpses. And I DO mean sex; this ain't no Twilight shit. They gets it AAAWN, and they gets a little kinky. Other thing you should know about the plot: in this book, there IS a plot. Again, this ain't no Twilight shit.

But, here's my thinking about Fangbangers: Harris came into this vampire-as-sweet-boyfriend movement very early on, and she 'gets it' a bit more than Meyers does. In the happy world of Stephanie Meyers, the main thing vampires do is sparkle and look sexy doing it. But, in Harris's book, vampire actually KILL people. And these Fangbangers are people sexually drawn to these dangerous vampires. As a part of sex, they will let the vampires drink from them.

Why is this so damned relevant, you may ask. The fangbanger may be the central symbol of modern necromance novels: regular, mortal love is no longer enough of a turnon, and fangbangers need more. If we're fantasizing anyway, how about Mr./Mrs. Right can make you live forever, is stronger than ANYONE, and is a gentleman/lady of a kind they don't make anymore?

Of course, this leaves out the whole part about blood-sucking, and the way they may kill you. . . or maybe it doesn't. By virtue of being a misunderstood vampire, a guy can be a total bad boy at the SAME TIME that he is a knight in shining armor. He can be exceedingly dangerous, yes still be a cuddle-butt, because that danger is simply part of his nature. It's your normal roustabout romantic rogue, only WAY more sinister. And thus, way more exciting.

I don't think it's much of a coincidence that romantic vampires are a recent phenomenon. When vampires first became a part of the public consciousness, it was during the 1700's, and people believed in them. They were scary as fuck. People were dug up so it could be proved they hadn't risen from the dead. Vampires as erotic interests started pretty early, 'round about the middle of the 1700's. But vampires as a romantic lead? That is a modern American phenomena as far as I can tell.

And, uncoincidentally, modern Americans are more detached from violence than most peoples throughout history. I don't want to get all political, but we're in two wars right now, and some high schoolers I know didn't even REALIZE we were at war with Afghanistan until I told them. A couple months ago.

Fangbangers are naive materialists out of touch with reality. The fangbanger is fascinated by beauty and agelessness, at the expense of authenticity. The soul of a thing doesn't enter into it.

The Hobbit is the central symbol of Tolkein's universe: the common person who can change (and maybe save) the world. I believe the fangbanger to be an appropriate symbol for the necromance movement, and a fairly pertinent symbol for modern American decadence. (I'm not saying only the U.S. is guilty of this kind of decadence, but I suspect we are the most guilty.)*

Did I get too heavy on this one? I actually edited out about 5 paragraphs of political comparisons before posting this. Something about ridiculously popular books makes me want to analyze them with a bit more attention than I usually give 3-star books. I could’ve just said, “Fluffy entertainment, Fairly funny with interesting characters and hot sex, plus an Elvis cameo.” But. . . you know. I read it a couple weeks ago, and things marinated.

*: for further evidence, check out the following link:
...more

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View all 45 comments

Michael "It's funny, what is it about this vampire trash that makes one get all muse-y about the state of the world?"

I don't know, but it sure does for a lot ...more
Jul 09, 2010 11:47AM

Miriam I'm not sure what started it, but I read this sort of book in middle school (20 years ago). L.J. Smith, Vivian Vande Velde, Annette Klause... And Laur ...more
Jul 09, 2010 04:24PM

Feb 15, 2009 Alaine rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Alaine by: Annie

Shelves: all-time-favourites, fantasy-sci-fi

This book is one of the most entertaining books I've ever read. It has comedy, suspense, romance and fantasy! What more could you possibly want? Clearly the author has a very twisted sense of humour which I loved! There was one 'incident/character' that had me laughing so hard I nearly fell of my chair!
At this point I should say that I'm not a huge Vampire fan and I've only recently come to the Paranormal Romance sub genre. I've read and loved the Twilight series but when characters of Twilight ...more

flag 18 likes · Like · see review

Sep 07, 2011 Keely rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-fiction, vampirical-nonsense

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

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Lovers of Paranor...: DEAD UNTIL DARK is our CULT READ	15	61	Jan 06, 2017 12:08PM
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About Charlaine Harris

Charlaine Harris has been a published novelist for over twenty-five years. A native of the Mississippi Delta, she grew up in the middle of a cotton field. Now she lives in southern Arkansas with her husband, her three children, three dogs, and a duck. The duck stays outside.

Though her early output consisted largely of ghost stories, by the time she hit college (Rhodes, in Memphis) Charlaine was wr Charlaine Harris has been a published novelist for over twenty-five years. A native of the Mississippi Delta, she grew up in the middle of a cotton field. Now she lives in southern Arkansas with her husband, her three children, three dogs, and a duck. The duck stays outside.

Though her early output consisted largely of ghost stories, by the time she hit college (Rhodes, in Memphis) Charlaine was writing poetry and plays. After holding down some low-level jobs, she had the opportunity to stay home and write, and the resulting two stand-alones were published by Houghton Mifflin. After a child-producing sabbatical, Charlaine latched on to the trend of writing mystery series, and soon had her own traditional books about a Georgia librarian, Aurora Teagarden. Her first Teagarden, Real Murders, garnered an Agatha nomination.

Soon Charlaine was looking for another challenge, and the result was the much darker Lily Bard series. The books, set in Shakespeare, Arkansas, feature a heroine who has survived a terrible attack and is learning to live with its consequences.

When Charlaine began to realize that neither of those series was ever going to set the literary world on fire, she regrouped and decided to write the book she’d always wanted to write. Not a traditional mystery, nor yet pure science fiction or romance, Dead Until Dark broke genre boundaries to appeal to a wide audience of people who just enjoy a good adventure. Each subsequent book about Sookie Stackhouse, telepathic Louisiana barmaid and friend to vampires, werewolves, and various other odd creatures, has drawn more readers. The Southern Vampire books are published in Japan, Great Britain, Greece, Germany, Thailand, Spain, France, and Russia.

In addition to Sookie, Charlaine has another heroine with a strange ability. Harper Connelly, lightning-struck and strange, can find corpses… and that’s how she makes her living.

In addition to her work as a writer, Charlaine is the past senior warden of St. James Episcopal Church, a board member of Mystery Writers of America, a past board member of Sisters in Crime, a member of the American Crime Writers League, and past president of the Arkansas Mystery Writers Alliance. She spends her "spare" time reading, watching her daughter play sports, traveling, and going to the movies. ...more

More about Charlaine Harris...

Other Books in the Series

Sookie Stackhouse (1 - 10 of 13 books)

Books by Charlaine Harris

Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse, #4)

Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse, #2)

Dead as a Doornail (Sookie Stackhouse, #5)

All Together Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, #7)

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Quotes from Dead Until Dark

“Woo woo, secret vampire stuff!” — 227 likes

“I snuck a look to see how Eric was taking this, and he was staring at me the same way the Monroe vampires had. Thoughtful. Hungry.
"That's interesting," he said. "I had a psychic once. It was incredible."
"Did the psychic think so?” — 181 likes

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