Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Jan 1st

Gosh, I love this series in that on an online forum, it introduced me to an amazing group of women that after 8 years we're still all in contact with each other. Enjoy!

I set up a reading schedule for anyone who is interested in joining.

I'll join for Deadlocked, been meaning to finish this series for years.
I read these in quick succession years ago and I had a major burn out about half way through. Had to have quite a long break before I picked them up again. Just a little word of caution in case you wanted to space your schedule out a little! :)

Thanks. :)

I originally read the first 7 or 8 back to back, and then read book 9 shortly after it was released. I stopped there when it was announced that the series would end at book 13.
I now want to read the whole series, as well as hopefully fitting in the short stories, since I’ve not read any of them before.

I look forward to your jumping in when you’re ready and I hope others will join too.

I have been wanting to read this series forever so yay! Then I can watch True Blood & compare and contrast lol

The series and the show share a little, as far as plot and what not, in the first season but the show veers off into its own territory very quickly. I watched the first 3.5 - 4 seasons. I’m not sure that I want to complete it.
I will be picturing Alexander Skarsgård as Eric while reading, though. 😁

I am excited to start this. I have the first book + several others in the series sitting on my shelf already. :)

I really liked the first book. I doubt I'll have time to join but I wish I could. :)

I'm planning on joining. I read the first 6, 7, 8? But then stopped for some reason and now I don't remember anything. This'll be a good refresher and maybe I can check another unfinished series off my list.

Yay! I’m so happy that you all are just as excited as I am to read/complete this series. 😊

Damn, I started a few hours early and will have finished before 2018 at this rate! MUST-STOP-READING!!

Shaitarn wrote: "Damn, I started a few hours early and will have finished before 2018 at this rate! MUST-STOP-READING!!"

LOL! I considered starting tonight, but my kids want to do a Marvel Movie-thon...

I may join in depending on my schedule. I had read the first..7? books and then never finished the series!

Finished! I couldn't help it, I am weak... I'll wait until you guys have started before making any comments. Nice way to kick off my new reading year! :)

I just finished Chapter One.

Its been at least a decade since I read this story. I can't believe how much I still remember. I also can't seem to picture the characters as anyone other than the actors who played them on True Blood (which isn't such a bad thing, especially when Eric finally comes along. *smile*).

I don't "hear" the actor's voices, though, those are still my own - even when I tried to hear them on purpose. Could be the fact that I stopped watching the show at least two seasons before it ended. That's okay; I prefer it this way.

Speaking of True Blood, I find myself jumping ahead (mentally) in the story, but its the show's version not the novels, and I have to remind myself that they took completely different paths pretty early on. So I'm curious to see how this first mystery plays out because the TV version keeps running in the back of my mind.

As for the novel, I smiled when I read the mention of Anne Rice on the first page. I love it when fictional stories add real-life trivia and references. I think they help to pull readers into the story; I feel more invested.

Oh, and I don't remember if Bill discovered Sam's truth that night or if that comes later.

Nyssa wrote: "I just finished the Chapter One.

Its been at least a decade since I read this story. I can't believe how much I still remember. I also can't seem to picture the characters as anyone other than th..."

The show is kind of why I want to reread. I started watching the show as I was still going through the series and because of the different paths they took I no longer remember which was book and which was show. I'm excited to clear up things in my mind. I'm going to start this one tonight.

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "The show is kind of why I want to reread. I started watching the show as I was still going through the series and because of the different paths they took I no longer remember which was book and which was show. I'm excited to clear up things in my mind. "

I understand what you mean. As I'm reading images from the show are intertwining with the story.

I just completed Chapter 4.

I remembered one thing that will happen in the novels (that I hate)*Spoiler* (view spoiler)[ Lafayette's death. I loved that they kept him on the show!! (hide spoiler)] and one thing that will not (that I love)*Spoiler* (view spoiler)[ No Marianne! I don't remember her role in the books, but I know it wasn't as extensive and drawn out as it was in the second season of the show! It got to the point where I couldn't stand her character and just wanted her gone! (hide spoiler)].

Nyssa wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "The show is kind of why I want to reread. I started watching the show as I was still going through the series and because of the different paths they took I no longer rem..."

Agree with both of those.

I know some reviewers have problems with the day to day details of Sookie's life, but I love it - I think it's makes her character (a young, small-town waitress) more realistic.

Nyssa wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "The show is kind of why I want to reread. I started watching the show as I was still going through the series and because of the different paths they took I no longer rem..."

That's why I quit watching True Blood after season 2. They went mad with that storyline! Shame because 1 was really good.

Shaitarn wrote: "I know some reviewers have problems with the day to day details of Sookie's life, but I love it - I think it's makes her character (a young, small-town waitress) more realistic."

I agree!

One time that I can remember details getting in the way of a story is in The Witching Hour. I swear it felt like that woman wrote just to hear herself speak! I tried numerous times, for years, to read that book and then finally gave up.

Siobhan wrote: "That's why I quit watching True Blood after season 2. They went mad with that storyline! Shame because 1 was really good."

I don't remember season three well enough to tell you if it was better...but the whole series got weird.

Nyssa wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "That's why I quit watching True Blood after season 2. They went mad with that storyline! Shame because 1 was really good."

I don't remember season three well enough to tell you if ..."

I might have watched a couple of episodes of 3 (view spoiler)[I remember the werewolf dude (Alcee or something?) but not much else. (hide spoiler)]

Wish I had time to reread with you guys!

Siobhan wrote: "I might have watched a couple of episodes of 3 (view spoiler).."

Heh...I thought the show introduced him earlier than that..but you might be right about him showing up in season 3.

I wish you could join us too. :)

Nyssa wrote: "Shaitarn wrote: "I know some reviewers have problems with the day to day details of Sookie's life, but I love it - I think it's makes her character (a young, small-town waitress) more realistic."

..."

Lol, loved Anne Rice but hated that series.

Nyssa wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "I might have watched a couple of episodes of 3 (view spoiler).."

Heh...I thought the show introduced him earlier than that..but you might be right about him showing up in season 3...."

Oh I could be very wrong though!! Maybe I did only see 2 xD

Nope! Looked it up. You are right. He came in during season 3.

Wow! I totally forgot that in the novels Jason is a jerk!!

Nyssa wrote: "Wow! I totally forgot that in the novels Jason is a jerk!!"

Completely!

Question: how different is the TV series? I think I only saw one episode and decided I preferred the books originally.

Nyssa wrote: "Wow! I totally forgot that in the novels Jason is a jerk!!"

Haha yep, completely!

Shaitarn wrote: "Nyssa wrote: "Wow! I totally forgot that in the novels Jason is a jerk!!"

Completely!


Hahaha snap!

Shaitarn wrote: "Nyssa wrote: "Wow! I totally forgot that in the novels Jason is a jerk!!"

Completely!

Question: how different is the TV series? I think I only saw one episode and decided I preferred the books o..."

Season 1 follows book 1 pretty closely, until the last episode. Then season 2 is a lot looser, then it just really goes off on one.
From what I remember :)

Shaitarn wrote: "Question: how different is the TV series? I think I only saw one episode and decided I preferred the books originally.."

Siobhan wrote: "Season 1 follows book 1 pretty closely, until the last episode. Then season 2 is a lot looser, then it just really goes off on one.
From what I remember :) "


That sounds about right from what I remember too.

I think Jason and Tara are the most significant changes characterwise (other than the spoilers I mentioned earlier). Which also fed into how much the TV series and novels differ story wise.

Plus, there are characters in the show that are either not in the novels or were played much differently. There were also a few prominent characters from the books who were never included in the TV series. Specifically Bubba and Quinn!

Book One - Complete!

I really enjoyed rereading Dead Until Dark!

My review repeats some of what we've already discussed here so far and mainly addresses the show vs. the novel.

I look forward to reading what everyone else has to say.

Oh definitely, HBO went left from season two. My opinion is that they did too much too fast with the show and ended up backtracking and with really convoluted story lines.

I love re-reading this series.... fast and fun every time!

Yanique wrote: "Oh definitely, HBO went left from season two. My opinion is that they did too much too fast with the show and ended up backtracking and with really convoluted story lines. "

I agree 100%.

From what I understand, they're having the same issues with GoT; but I neither read nor watch that series.

As for the Stackhouse series, I'm alternating between it and The Hollows series. I'm scheduled to start reading Dead Witch Walking on Sunday, but I might still be reading the prequel, The Turn: The Hollows Begins with Death.

Nyssa wrote: "Yanique wrote: "Oh definitely, HBO went left from season two. My opinion is that they did too much too fast with the show and ended up backtracking and with really convoluted story lines. "

I agre..."

Well I'm almost through GOT and I must say it's not a fave, so maybe the HBO changes helped where they failed with True Blood.

So, I am a Sookie virgin, both books and the show, but I have been wanting to read it for a long time and thought this BR is the perfect opportunity.

I don't remember reading where the vamps could be easy victims... This scene with the drainers was very surprising 😕

Choko wrote: "I don't remember reading where the vamps could be easy victims... This scene with the drainers was very surprising 😕"

I liked that aspect of the book. The vamps aren't all powerful. Makes them more relatable.

Choko wrote: "I don't remember reading where the vamps could be easy victims... This scene with the drainers was very surprising 😕"

Welcome to the Buddy read & to the series! I hope you enjoy them. :)

As for the Drainers, the keys are 1. The element of surprise; 2. Double teaming, 3. Silver

If the vamp had suspected anything, that scenario would never have happened! Apparently, the "Drainers" had their routine down to a science and were not expecting a suspicious waitress to intervene! *wink*

Choko wrote: "I don't remember reading where the vamps could be easy victims... This scene with the drainers was very surprising 😕"

As Diana said, one of my favourite things about this series is how "real" everyone is. The Vampires may be supernatural but they're still just folks, which means that they're not invincible and show vulnerability sometimes.

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "I liked that aspect of the book. The vamps aren't all powerful. Makes them more relatable."

Yanique wrote: "As Diana said, one of my favourite things about this series is how "real" everyone is. The Vampires may be supernatural but they're still just folks, which means that they're not invincible and show vulnerability sometimes. ""

I agree with both of you as well.

Speaking of vulnerability...

One of the things I mention in my review and would like to talk about here is the ending. I don't remember if it hit me, how much more empowering, satisfying, and impressive the conclusion in the novel was compared to what they did in the show when I first watched it.

All sorts of spoilery stuffs ahead!

(view spoiler)[
I looked up the clip on YouTube to jog my memory...

1. What the hell were the showrunners thinking!?! Not only did they change the scene from night to afternoon, but they had both Bill and Sam try to save her. Seriously!?! Bill...in broad daylight!?! Of course, the whole thing failed, and she ended up taking care of things herself, but having the two of them there at all was ridiculous.

2. In the show, Sookie kills Rene. Technically, that wouldn't fully exonerate Jason, like Rene's confession, does in the books.

3. Not only does Sookie kill Rene, but she looks good doing it too! There's not a scratch on her in the show, despite getting the crap knocked out of her, and having her head hit a gravestone so hard she passes out for a few minutes.

4. Bubba! I am sure they could have found the perfect actor to play Bubba even if it was just for this part of the story.
(hide spoiler)]

Okay, mini rant over. For now. :)

Nyssa wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "I liked that aspect of the book. The vamps aren't all powerful. Makes them more relatable."

Yanique wrote: "As Diana said, one of my favourite things about this series i..."

I know right! I feel like the show was trying too hard to get viewer to see certain characters in a certain light, which affected the integrity of the characters. I feel like the folks at HBO read the books and simply didn't like the more "realistic" vibe and decided to just go for the drama. As for your 4th point... I'm with you 100% on that one.

Yanique wrote: "I feel like the show was trying too hard to get viewer to see certain characters in a certain light, which affected the integrity of the characters."

Yes! The show is like "Look how much Bill loves Sookie! He will stupidly burn himself to a crisp for her, and render himself useless..but oh the love!! Oh yeah, and Sam loves her too, he just sucks at fighting, yeah!" Ugh!

I really really really didn't like the show.

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "I really really really didn't like the show."

I liked the first season, I loathed the second season and tolerated the 3rd season then stopped watching either at the end of the third or towards the beginning or middle of the fourth season. I'm not sure. I just know (view spoiler)[ Lafayette, and his boyfriend had become witches, and they hated the vampires. (hide spoiler)]

Nyssa wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "I really really really didn't like the show."

I liked the first season, I loathed the second season and tolerated the 3rd season then stopped watching either at the end ..."

I watched the whole show... I'm one of those people who just really need to see how something pans out. It got really bleak towards the end..... a true hot mess.

About 50% in and we just finished with the funeral... I didn't see that coming and I was devastated. The character who got killed was the one I liked the most😢... Also, Sookie 's brother is such an asshole! WTF is wrong with him? I am starting to dislike him more than I felt sorry for him...

Also, apparently the author waited for the exact 50% mark to make a woman out of her 😈😀