What you should know before reading this: I've never seen True Blood as I don't have HBO. This is my critique ONLY for the books in this set. I've realized there are two different types of vampire readers on this earth from reading the previous reviews: those who just want to read about vampires and those who want to feel something about the story of the vampires they're reading about. If you just want to read about vampires, this is not 100% for you. True, it does contain vampire material, but the story itself centers around Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress in a little Louisiana bar known as Merlotte's. She is the main character, the vamps (and other strange, darker beings) are definitely background material. Now, if you're someone who wants to feel something about the vampires you're reading about, this definitely will not happen. Again, mainly due to the fact that Sookie Stackhouse is the main character. Vamps go in and out of her life as fast as hair ties and bar aprons. Just when you get really settled into one, he's gone. On to the next. (Unlike Anne Rice, where a vampire is telling the story, which I personally find more compelling and rich.) This is a very Whedonesque (Joss Whedon, folks) writing style. Main character never wins at love. Main love interests are nothing alike. Some readers will root for one, other readers will root for another. Just don't root too hard, they're not going to stay together. (Don't fret, the relationships don't have much emotion packed into any of them, so the split won't hurt when it occurs.) My main problem with this series is Sookie Stackhouse. Maybe I just am one of those pretentious, snobby New Englanders, you say? Well, although I was born and raised in NY, I was born and raised UPSTATE. I lived in an old house, which was added onto, and we heated with wood. I still live in a place just like that. I have a lot of things in common with Sookie's humble story, but she's just not enough to keep my interest. And by enough I mean, she's just nothing special. She's blonde, has a nice body, reads dumb books, and is a barmaid. Oh yeah, she has ESP, but she doesn't use it to any advantage at all, which makes it almost non-existent. So? With Buffy, you could say, yeah, she's the Slayer, I get it, but with Sookie, you can't help but ask yourself, "Why the heck do any of these guys want her?" You just don't get it. And when you're asking yourself why anyone would like the main character, you find yourself just not caring about the main character. On the plus side, I know I'll read every book in the series, which I consider praise. This is why I gave it 3 stars. Some series, I read the first book and move on, but the author writes well enough to keep you wanting to know how it ends. I just hope it does end (hence only giving it a 3). Okay, someone stick a stake in me already. I'm done!
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