It's vampire politics as usual around the town of Bon Temps, but never before have they hit so close to Sookie's heart.Deadlocked, by Charlaine Harris, is the twelfth novel in the Southern Vampire series. The events of Dead Reckoning—particularly the death of the despicable but powerful vampire Victor—have consequences for part-fairy Sookie Stackhouse and her vampire friends. When Sookie’s vampire husband, Eric Northman, summons her to his Shreveport home to welcome his guest, King Felipe de Castro and his entourage, she is shocked to find Eric feeding on another (younger!) woman in his bedroom.
Later, someone contacts the police when the woman Eric fed from turns up dead with a broken neck on his front lawn, putting Eric and Felipe’s entourage under suspicion.
With the help of ex-boyfriend Bill Compton, Sookie is determined to to clear Eric’s name. Meanwhile, Sookie learns more about the magical item her late grandmother left behind for her—the cluvier dor. Legends say that this treasure is the last of its kind on earth and whoever possesses it can grant the owner’s true wishes. She must also try to keep the local fae under control after her kin, Claude and Niall, return to the land of Faery. Someone knows the cluvier dor exist, and is willing to murder in order to obtain it.
The police are on Sookie’s trail, and won’t leave her alone unless someone finds the cause of the woman’s untimely death. Sookie must navigate the complicated hierarchies of werewolf, vampire and fairy politics if she wants to survive another case. Fate also puts her on another test when she must decide what kind of life she truly desires. As loyalties realign and betrayals are unmasked, Harris sets the stage for the final mystery.
Harris created another wonderful mystery that unravels more secrets and reveals the true insidious nature of the supernatural community in Louisiana. While no one likes Sookie getting snagged into cases that have often endangered her safety, I have learned more about Sookie's desires and concerns than in any previous novels. Surprisingly, there is little romance and sexual prowess in the novel, but it was not missed since Sookie had to keep herself out of jail. Readers will also be shocked to learn whom she uses the cluvier dor to save. I also believe the incidents in Deadlocked became the ultimate turning point in determining how Sookie and her supernatural friends will proceed in the final showdown.
I noticed many readers felt disappointed with the last few novels in this series. Is it starting to wane? Yes, but this is appropriate. Harris has entertained me with the world of Sookie Stackhouse for over ten years! Her books have inspired the HBO hit television series, True Blood. All good things have to come to an end at some point. Sookie is not only getting older but is also becoming wiser as she learns how to navigate the complicated politics of the supernatural community. She starts to consider her own happiness for the right reasons, and it is time that she makes a decision on whom she chooses as her companion. The conclusion in Deadlocked reveals what lies ahead for her as she starts to realize deep down her own true feelings. Therefore, while I am not totally happy about this series drawing its final curtain next year, the timing makes perfect sense with regards to Sookie's character.
Stay tuned for the final novel in the Southern Vampire series, Dead Ever After.
No comments:
Post a Comment