Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 1) Reviews

I read these books because I love the HBO show True Blood to death. I expected that the show was only loosely based on the books, and it's true. This first book is the closest to the show in content, but it's still comparing apples to oranges. The show is much darker, and the books are very funny. They're quick, fun reads, and I love them just as much as the show.

I read the book because I like the TV series based on it (True Blood) quite a bit. I wasn't sure what to expect, despite having watched the series. I liked what I read. The first season of the series had more or less stuck to the plot of this book despite playing around with the characters. The most remarkable quality of the book is that it makes the world of Sookie Stackhouse feel very natural. It's not easy considering that she is telepathic and her boyfriend is a vampire. Writing in the first person is an excellent idea since it prevents the story from getting carried away and keeps it grounded in the thoughts and concerns of Sookie herself and is the chief reason for the natural feel of the story.

The vampires and their world is explored through the eyes of Sookie which definitely adds an interesting element. She gives her perspective on things, the perspective of someone who is both curious and a little hesitant to dive in. Again, using the first person voice of Sookie greatly helps in keeping the feel very natural. There's a couple of surprises along the way and you can tell the author is setting up for the subsequent books in the series by adding these elements. However, they don't detract from your enjoyment of this book.