From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, No. 8)

I honestly am such a fan of Charlaine Harris that I'd go just about anywhere she'd take me. "From Dead to Worse" wasn't quite all over the map, but there wasn't as much of a central them in this book as there was in her usual entries in this series.

We went from weddings, to family revelations, to were-wars--and there was so much more. While the varying parts were interesting and many did tie together, there wasn't the overall unity in this book I have expected from the series.

The beginning chapter where Sookie served as the bridesmaid for Halleigh's wedding was a spinoff from Ms. Harris' short story in an anthology collection, "My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding." I'm wondering if the rest isn't bits and pieces that have just needed resolving for some time.

I think you will see some answers to some interesting questions you've had as readers all along--like where did Sookie get her gift, what makes her different? And there are a few other surprises in store.

Interesting, in part, not as cohesive and riveting as her usual offerings are in a whole. "From Dead to Worse" is still very much worth the read if you are a die-hard Sookie fan like I am, but this is honestly the first of the series I can't simply rave about.

Rebecca Kyle, May 2008

Let me start out by saying how much I love the Southern Vampire Mysteries. I was super excited for this book, yet I feel very let down after finishing. But I'll start with the positives. The characters were great. Bon Temps was great. I love immersing myself into Sookie's little corner of the world so much that I've read most books in this series at least twice. All of the characters were true to themselves; no one did anything out of the ordinary. No, the characters weren't the problem.

The problem with "From Dead to Worse" was the plot, specifically that there wasn't much of one. It seemed like there was a cameo from every character we have come to know. From Alcide & Sam to Amelia & Eric, they all came back to tie up some loose ends. There was no pacing or buildup to anything special, which brings me to another point. Isn't this series called the Southern Vampire MYSTERIES? Where was the mystery? Charlaine Harris is at her best when she writes mysteries as evidenced by her other series, so this book just seemed meandering & lost.

There were several plot lines that all seemed to get the same page amount as the other. There was no big story here. First, we start with a revelation about Sookie's family & her ties to the fairy world. Then, we move to the Shreveport werewolves who are having loyalty problems with their pack. That storyline is tied up in roughly 70 or so pages, & we turn the page to the vampires. Again, 70 or so pages are spent with Eric & Bill before we are thrust into the lives of Jason & Crystal. Finally, we end with Amelia & Bob.

I am upset with "From Dead to Worse" only because I love this series so much. I realize that many fans will feel differently, but I have tried to be as objective as possible. If this were my first book in the series, I would have put it down halfway through. I'll still continue to buy the new books in hardback, but I really hope that the next Sookie book has a little more bite.

No question, From Dead to Worse is a bridge book in the Southern Vampire series. I am one fan who thinks that is just peachy keen fine. I thought this was an excellent book, very engaging, by which I mean I read it all in one sitting, no stopping. While it's true that this book is episodic in nature, my feeling is that going along with the characters on these episodes is high entertainment. As I get older, I find it becomes harder to concentrate, and that Charlaine Harris continues to hold my attention eight books into this series is just wonderful. The truth is, if you are going to read this series, you need to start with the first book. Read them in order, and don't start with this one, because you need to know all the back story to fully appreciate how far the characters have come. (And can I just say: Sookie needs a vacation! Ms. Harris, send her off to a beautiful island where she can relax, forget her cares for a while, sip some rum punch on nice beach, and maybe go limbo-ing with some nice fella who doesn't want anything more than the pleasure of her company.)

I think this book is for the fans who have fallen in love with these characters. We've spent the last year since the release of All Together Dead wondering what was going to happen next, and musing about the paths the characters would take. From Dead to Worse tells us some great stories, fills in some of the personal details we've all been aching to know, and sets the stage for what will be I hope many more books to come. I think From Dead to Worse was fabulous. Brava, Ms. Harris!

I am usually pretty hesitant to post other than stellar reviews for authors with amazing talent. Charlaine Harris is one of those authors that has proven to me time and time again her ability to keep me, as a reader, thoroughly wrapped inside a fictional world and entertained past not just the first book, but in every book following... until now.

From Dead to Worse was not terrible. But it was not great either. I felt like the book was full of an assortment of anthologies Harris had dug out of the dusty closet, and thrown together haphazardly as an attempt at a full book to meet a deadline. As anthologies go; the stories did their purpose of moving the story ahead chronologically for the reader... however, as a full book I was left disappointed with a "filler" book-- something I hadn't expect from an author as talented as Harris.

As other readers have commented, loose ends were tied; but I know for myself, with one particular character I was greatly disappointed how she brought the relationship to an end. I felt that at least two of the books were wasted building this great relationship up-- making us consistently wait for something tangible to occur; only to be decimated within a few pages. Whether or not I thought this character and Sookie were meant to be is inconsequential; the way that Harris ended their relationship, however, was completely utterly wasteful to me and did not do the character justice in the least bit.

The introduction of Hunter to the series was the highlight that brought on the third star-- a definite redeeming factor.

Any true Sookie fan will read this book. You probably won't hate it but it won't be your top choice of her books. You may find yourself understandably unhappy you paid more than $10 for a book you probably won't pick up again. All this said, From Dead to Worse is still a must-read simply for the information set-ups for the next book. Try the library.

Hopefully Harris is done with filler books.

Sookie Stackhouse, telepath and friend to supernatural's everywhere, has several situations exploding all around her. Her boyfriend Quinn is MIA, the Were community is at odds as is the Vampire community, her bother's marriage seems to be off to a rocky start, and Sookie seems to be front and center when it all comes to a head.

With attempts on her life and the deaths of some of her friends, Sookie's world is getting more and more dangerous. Yet in the midst of all the danger, Sookie finds some unexpected happy surprises.

I loved this book with a capital L! So much is going on with the supernatural folk that Sookie associates with; it's non stop action from cover to cover. Some of things I have been dying to see happen, finally do. While chaos surrounds Sookie, she starts putting some order in her life, and she and Eric, her former Vamp lover, almost have a REAL conversation. *gasp*

This is a book that has Sookie going through a lot of changes and making all sorts of discoveries in her life. I was all consumed in this book from page one and when I reached the last page I debated on whether or not to start reading it all over again. Had it not been for my impatiently waiting sister, I would have.

Charlaine Harris is a fabulous author, no question. Her style of writing is so engaging, so descriptive and entertaining; it takes only about a page of reading before I feel like I have been transplanted to Bon Temps, Louisiana. I have been counting down the days till this books release, greedy to get my hands on it, and I was not disappointed in the least; she always delivers. The last two pages have me already eagerly anticipating the next in the series...and hoping she inherits a little vampire speed while writing so I don't have to wait so long!

Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse)
Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 2)
Club Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 3)
Dead to the World (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 4)
Dead as a Doornail (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 5)
Definitely Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 6)
All Together Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 7)

Cherise Everhard, May 2008