Author: TJ Provost

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I know a lot of people didn’t like this one so much. They felt like it was a bit short (true) and that the tension between Sookie and Eric had run its course (also true).

Even given those two facts, I really liked the book once we got through the opening scenes where Sookie is recovering from being tortured in the last books. The mental and physical aspects of her recovery was actually “realistic” and a bit sad. Which sucked. I read read these books for the light hearted fun.

So once that was over and it turned more into an action thriller, I thought it was quite good.

Finding out more about Eric’s maker was interesting, and the ending was exciting.

The one —Spoiler Alert— thing I thought was a little strange was that the father of Claudines baby was hanging about. I don’t think a cold and viscious fairy would be so circumspect about getting to Sookie if he was pissed. I think he would have just cut her down and moved on.

Episode  5 –  Venomous

Summary:

The episode starts out with Jackson trying to lift too much weight and then being captured by the wolf pack so they can test him to see if he is the lizard monster.

Meanwhile, Lydia is still having bad trips. She needs to cut back on the LSD. So the big question is what is Lydia and is she the monster?

Unfortunately this episode was the first that didn’t reall knock my socks off. The whole “Who is the Monster?” crap isn’t quite appealing to me.

And who is in the car? Could it be Allison’s grandfather.

Things I loved about this episode…

• Derek testing Jackson to see if he is the lizard monster by dosing him with venom.
• Lydia writing “Someone Help Me” backwards on the board over and over.
• Stiles threatening to kill the werewolf if he hurts Lydia.
• Stiles accidentally shooting the crossbow at Scott.

Things that I didn’t like about this episode…

• Derek in his Chevy. Get a real car, like a Mustang.
• Jackson kissing Lydia. Stiles really likes her.
• The orange shorts Allison is wearing. They really aren’t that attractive.

Best Quote of Episode 5:

Allison – “I thought you were psychic bitch.”

 

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I think I may have read this on a plane years ago. I think it was on a trip between the US, Germany, and then India. Needless to say I was tired and not thinking right the first time I read the novel.

Which is why I gave it such a high mark the first time I read it.

It didn’t hold up. There were too many moving pieces that didn’t quite mesh together. Even at the end when Charlaine Harris tried to tie up all the loose knots, it just doesn’t quite feel right.

Which really sucked. I feel like I’ve invested so much in the series that I want more from them.

Episode  4 – Abomination

Summary:

At the end of episode 3 Scott had his butt kicked by Derek and we find out the Veterinarian knows more than he’s been admitting.  Episode 4 starts off pretty much were the last one left off, with the Vet revealing that he knows a lot more about the “other” world than he’s been letting on.

Things I loved about this episode…

• The new monster.  What is the lizard thingy? And what is its purpose.

• Crazy grandpa Argent having a Howard Dean yelling moment at Allison.
• Is Jackson or Lydia the lizard monster? Jackson has super strength after the last episode, and Lydia is punching mirrors.
• Stiles is the best, he had some awesome lines in episode 4. I was actually laughing out loud.
• Creepy photographer dude taking pictures of Allison.
• The lacrosse/combat bones breaking game.
• The fairly low rent costume of the lizard creature.
• Grandpa Argent sticking a knife in Scott and threatening to kill his mom. It was very creepy but it was pretty well played as well. And I think he is eventually going to want Scott to turn him because he is sick.

Things that I didn’t like about this episode…

• Poor Scott waiting out on the hill getting stood up. Even if it wasn’t Allison’s fault.
• Come on Scott, you are allowed upstairs with Allison and you don’t even try to cop a feel.

Best Quotes of Episode 4:

Quote 1:

Stiles – “You and Allison have to find a better way to communicate!”

This is after Stiles is telling Scott a lot of sweet nothings.

Quote 2:

Stiles – “I mean bestiary, and I don’t want to know what’s going on in your heads.”

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wow, how the bloom is off the rose.

The eigth book in the series seems very rushed. It is really four smaller tales loosely bundled together and pushed out the door. The writing is the usual high quality, but the storyline doesn’t seem to have much depth with this one. And then it ends kind of abruptly.

When I read the paperback years ago I guess maybe I wasn’t so shocked as I flipped the pages and realized the book was winding down, but reading it on the kindle left me just hanging. I read the last paragraph and tried to turn to the next page.

Doh…there was nothing left.

I’m hoping the next one has more story and meat on the bones.

Episode  3 – Ice Pick

Summary:

Episode three starts out with a creepy abduction at the gas station.  The’ve got her and her dad, and – he’s an ass. Her dad I mean. It is all an excersize. He’s trying to turn her into himself.

There is a new girl, Erica, and she has some strange link to Scott.  And then someone “steals” her while she appears to be passed out. I think it was Derek. Yep, it was Derek. And he has a pretty hot scene with her for just about ten seconds. Apparently he wants to cure epilepsy with werewolfism.

While Derek is building his pack the Argent’s are planning on how to kill as many of the wolves as possible and Derek is mad that he hasn’t turned, but finds out he still isn’t purely human. A1

Things I loved about this episode…

• Allison’s dad is a complete ass.  But he plays the part so well.

• Allison’s butt while she’s rock climbing. Nothing like a climbing harness to accent a girl’s *ss.
• Erica has turned into a hottie.  And, OMG, its Gage Golightly from “The Troop”.  It is so weird to see her dressed like a slut. I usually watch her on my younger son’s show. Getting bit apparently makes you hot…

• Lydia is losing her mind and it is done very well.
• Scott kicking some ass. At least until Derek hands him his head.

Things that I didn’t like about this episode…

• Okay, so Scott and Allison are supposed to be hiding their relationship. So they take a picture. Really?

Best Quote of Episode 2:

When Derek tell shim to go home if he doesn’t want to fight 3 on 1.

Scott – “I meant fair for them.”

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

 

I have to say that book seven is the weakest entry of the bunch so far. There were just too many thing going on that made me feel ill at ease. It wasn’t one massive thing, it was more the death of the thousand paper cuts.

Sookie is brought to the big vampire conference and immediately a few strange things happen. First of all, the security is supposed to be extremely tight, but they each get an “extra” bag and don’t think much about it. And when Sookie is picking the bag up she feels that one of the minds is blocked out to her. Something I don’t recall her ever encountering before.

If I was a mind reader and I get called to pick up a strange bag and the dude is a lockbox to me, I might at least open the damn suitecase! Just a thought. Open it and see if there is anything inside that might tell you who the bag belongs to. Oh, and there is a bomb in it.

Then again, at one point Sookie and and Barry are in the ballroom and the several waiters make a point of not going near them. If I’m a mind reader and someone makes a point of avoiding me, I am sure going to get suspicious.

And then, an unclaimed cofin shows ups. I really think a bunch of vampires might be interested to know why an unclaimed cofin is downstairs? Maybe it has a staked vampre in it? Maybe it is full of explosives?

I know my original rating based on the first read years ago was much higher, but after going through it again I had to take some points off.

Episode  2 – Shape Shifted

Summary:

I am so happy they ran the second episode tonight.

It opens with Isac getting bullied by his father, and then running. The realization scene where his dad see’s something he doesn’t know is human is awesome. Very well done.

And then in a strange twist of tasers and plotting Grandpa Argent becomes the principal of the school.

Things I loved about this episode…

• Isac’s dad’s face when he realizes it isn’t something human on the street was priceless.
• Stiles is the best. He plays the quirky/funny/odd best friend so well. I love it when he tells the coach “Wise choice,” coach when all the chain comes out of his locker.
• Jackson getting the camera so he can see what is happening during the full moon.
• When Scott is in the basement of Isac’s house I had chills.  The scratch marks on the inside of the freezer chest…
• Jackson’s porn setup for his wolf out session.  You just know this isn’t going to end well.
• Allison shooting her dad’s henchman with an arrow. You go girl.  And then she gets to wrap scott up in some chains. Not my thing, but I guess it is still pretty hot.
• Derek and Stiles going back and forth. Stiles is such a smart ass. And Derek is a smooth talker. But why isn’t Derek changing? (Oh, I guess he can control it since he’s the Alpha)
• Uh Oh, I think there is something other than Scott in the house with Allison. The breathing is uber creepy.  I don’t know what is in the house, but it doesn’t look like a werewolf…
• Lizard demon? A sleestak? Do they have to pay the land of the lost owners royalties?

Things that I didn’t like about this episode…

• Why wouldn’t Scott tell Allison about her grandfather? You think he might want to let her know that her grand pappy cuts people in half.
• Jackson is such an *ss. He is so mean to Lydia when she is trying to be nice to him.
• Derek has a p*ssy car. Really, get a Mustang.
• I think they are using the term Omega wrong.  Omega’s have no need to fight for pack status, I don’t think it means a lone wolf.
• If I get out of my car and see arrows in the tire, I’m not going to non chalantly stand around.
• I’m pretty sure that freezer chests have airtight seals.  I hope no dumb kids get any ideas from this show.

Best Quote of Episode 2:

Allison – “They won’t split us apart.”

Scott – “Not us.”