DEADLOCKED by Charlaine Harris-a new release review
If rumors are to be believed, Deadlocked is the penultimate book in the long-suffering Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. Midway through said book…I was praying for a merciful death myself. UGH. It’s not that it’s poorly written; not at all. Ms. Harris retains her wit and delivers a great story. I can only speak for myself, but THIS Team Eric fan clamors for some resolution regarding Sookie’s heart! Could there be anything of more importance? Ms. Harris decided instead to hurl this book at me, mocking me, and has nearly managed to crush my hopes.
I cannot fathom the tenacity and focus required by an author to maintain the ethic or organic character of its heroine, but Sookie’s dilemmas and choices have become complacent and monotonous. Particularly infuriating since Dead Reckoning, Sookie just can’t stop second-guessing her boyfriend, Viking Vampire Extraordinaire, Eric Northman. By the time we reach Deadlocked, their relationship is in full crisis mode.
Deadlocked hits the ground running with Sookie embroiled in yet another, if not several, supernatural disasters in play. Not only has Felipe, King of Louisiana, shown up to dispense punishment upon Eric for his alleged involvement in the mysterious death of Victor (to which not only was Sookie hands on involved, but instrumental in its planning), the King’s Second in Command, but on the opposite side of the spectrum, Tara, Sookie’s BFF, has just delivered a healthy set of twins. Although genuinely thrilled by her friend’s prosperity, the baggage Sookie’s been lugging regarding her future with Eric is suddenly magnified. Sookie finds herself lamenting over a future that cannot exactly welcome beautiful babies or an all-American, down-home HEA. More and more, Sookie expresses her desire to be rid of the “supes” and a general wish for an uncomplicated life. Add fuel to the already furious fire? Sookie walks in on a “twoey” (half human half were) spread across Eric’s lap, salaciously offering up both blood and body for his consumption!
As if! Eric’s being set up. Ms. “Twoey” is a mere piece to the puzzle. Enter secondary characters. The wolves have plenty of drama to drag down Sookie. Not only was Sookie deliberately delayed to cement Ms. “Twoey’s” availability, but she was made even more irresistible by adding a sprinkle of “eau de fairy”, a weakness for vampires thus ensuring Eric’s certain compliance. Segue into the problematic fae community. But this set of rascals Sookie’s almost willing to overlook, as she’s part fae herself; courtesy of Adele, Sookie’s grandmother, who had an affair with Fintan the fairy. Sookie actually lives with her fae great-uncle, Dermot and Claude her fae cousin, who is very scandalous. But I digress….did I happen to mention Ms. “Twoey” ended up dead on Eric’s front lawn? Oh, how the story unfolds…
Not to be outdone, tension is spiked to an all-time high with the appearance of Freyda, Queen of Oklahoma, who happens to be the intended bride of Eric. You said what now?! A last order made by Eric’s maker, Appius Livius Ocella, before his true death. While not in love with Freyda, Eric cannot dismiss this final, legally-binding contract, and, well, it’s Eric and Eric loves power. Sookie snappishly becomes jealous and insists Eric disregard the order and put HER before everything else. Yeah…because you’ve been his pillar of strength, right, Sookie? I cannot tell you how many times Sookie outright denied Eric from coming over or refused to talk to him in this book!
I’d now like to introduce to you the Cluviel Dor, an ancient, last of its kind, fairy artifact gifted to Adele by Fintan as a token of their forbidden love. The object, now in Sookie’s possession, can grant a wish on behalf of someone she loved. Perfect timing! If Sookie used it to keep Eric from marrying Freyda, an action she’s seriously considering, gone would be the proverbial albatross. Or would it? Sookie’s in such turmoil over the ruins of her relationship with Eric, she thinks it wouldn’t be a “meant for each other” type of love if she utilized the properties of the Cluviel Dor. UGH! Eric will not beg Sookie to use it as a means to eradicate their Freyda friction, but he clearly implies the power is hers to use. I thought he meant to change Sookie into a vampire, but no, it was something MUCH SIMPLER. Do it for the love of all that’s holy, Sookie! What wouldn’t we do for love?
In my opinion, Sookie has been reduced to a judgmental, vacillating nightmare! When Sookie finds pleasant to mean the absence of bad, when it’s blissful to think about being supernaturally-free….it’s time to move on. Ms. Harris does not treat us to a SINGLE love scene. If any of you are familiar with Eric’s sexual prowess and stamina, it’s really something to look forward to. Denied. Eric is simply an afterthought in Deadlocked. An afterthought? Reduce Eric to ex-boyfriend status like Bill (don’t get me started on Bill!)? That’s a planet I don’t want to live on! Maybe I’m a little biased? It wouldn’t be the first time I thought the heroine wasn’t good enough for the dazzling vampire, hello! 😀
The ending was so depressing; I shudder to predict where we’re being led. Just be done with it already, Ms. Harris. Put the fork in Sookie.
Reviewed by Carmen P.
