Win a Free Charlaine Harris True Blood Book
True Blood, the wonderful new HBO series, is based on the Southern Vampire Mystery books by Charlaine Harris. The first book in the series, “Dead Until Dark”, is the book the show is focusing on.
I’m giving away a free copy of that book.
The True Blood Free Book Contest
It’s Easy to Enter:
| 1. | Simply write a couple of sentences about the HBO True Blood series on your website or blog and include a link back to this site, using the words “fantasy books” in the link. Here’s an example: I really like the new HBO series True Blood. It’s based on the fantasy books by Charlaine Harris. |
| 2. | Add a comment here telling me that you’ve entered the contest - don’t forget to leave the URL to your post. |
That’s it!
The contest ends next Sunday, October 26th at 12:00 midnight (EST). The winner will be randomly chosen Monday, October 27th using the Random Integer Generator software program.
A link to the winner’s website will also be posted in an article on this site. This site gets about 800 visitors a day so you might get some free traffic if you win!
See the entire listing of Charlaine Harris “True Blood” books
Filed Under Fantasy Drama Books, Fantasy Romance Books, True Blood | 25 Comments
True Blood Episode 6 Review - Cold Ground
Scroll to the bottom of this post to watch True Blood Episode 6 Free Online and Win a FREE COPY of the True Blood Book!
Before I begin the review, I want you to check out the photo above.
Notice something odd about Sam? Look very closely at him. Lean in closer. Closer. Pay particular attention to his teeth. Do you see what I see?
It’s his canines! They’re huge! He’s either got really bad teeth or his canines are overly large. Hmmn.
Here’s what happens in True Blood Episode 6 - Cold Ground:
A Death in the Family: Sookie comes home from her date with Sam Merlotte to find her grandmother brutally murdered. It appears as if Sookie was the intended victim. Sookie is initially numbed by the violent attack but despite the violence of the attack she decides to spend the night in the house alone cleaning up the vast amounts of blood left behind after the attack.
Sookie’s Friends Show Support: Bill, Sam, Tara, and Lafayette all circle their wagons around Sookie during her time of bereavement. It’s actually quite touching to see their concern, particularly Tara’s . Tara clearly cares for Sookie’s well being and steps up to the plate when Sookie needs someone to stand up for her.
There’s a very short scene the night after the murder that shows Bill standing outside Sookie’s home keeping watch. He’s soon joined by the mysterious dog that keeps appearing in the show. The shot of Bill and the dog outside Sookie’s house is reminiscent of the John Cusack scene in Say Anything when John stands outside his girlfriend’s house with a boombox, proclaiming his love.
Meet Jason the Idiot: I keep vacillating between liking this guy (the way you’d like a small dumb animal) and then hating him. Tonight was a hate Jason night. Let’s not talk about his continued consumption of vampire blood. Or the dumpster sex scene from the last episode. No, tonight Jason hit an all time low by blaming Sookie for their grandmother’s death, hitting her, and making it clear that her death would have been preferable to their grandmother’s.
On an up note, Jason has a really nice butt.
People Behave Strangely at Funerals: Sookie, unable to block the thoughts of those in attendance at her mother’s funeral, ends up shouting obscenities at the crowd and running away. Later, the funeral serves as a backdrop for Tara to talk to her alcoholic mother, who believes she has a demon inside her. Tara initially scoffs at this notion but then realizes that her mother truly believes she’s cursed. She eventually storms away when she learns that her mother wants money to get the creature removed from her body.
Sookie is strangely upset by the appearance of her uncle at her grandmother’s funeral. Note: remember her reaction, it’s important.
Tar and Sam, Part II: Sam and Tara, both a bit shaken by the recent murder, end up having another romantic moment together. Sam indicates that if they’re intimate with one another again, he wants them to have a true relationship. Unfortunately, Tara is so concerned about her mother that she’s not interested in a post-coital cuddle and leaves him to see about her mother’s condition. She finds her mother lying on the sofa awaiting her return; their reunion is quite heartwrenching.
White Virgin: Sookie, dressed as a vestial virgin, runs through the woods to Bill’s home and becomes a late night snack, in more ways than one.
1. Win a Free Copy of the True Blood book!
2. Watch True Blood Episode 6 Free Online
See also: True Blood Episode 6 Preview: Cold Ground
Filed Under Fantasy Drama Books, Fantasy Romance Books, True Blood | 1 Comment
True Blood Episode 6 Preview-Cold Ground
If you’ll remember, Episode 5: Sparks Fly Out ended with Sookie coming home to find her grandmother dead. Murdered to be precise. In Episode 6: Cold Ground, Sookie turns to her friends for comfort after the horrible tragedy. Meanwhile, Sam and Tara grow closer as their concern for Sookie’s welfare increases. Jason, our lovable but dumb resident bed hopper, takes in more vampire blood (called “V”) and suffers the consequences.
Here’s a preview of Episode 6: Cold Ground
Interested in learning more about Sookie, Sam, Bill, and Jason? Read the Sookie Stackhouse books that started the True Blood series!
Filed Under Fantasy Drama Books, Fantasy Romance Books, True Blood | 4 Comments
THE Complete List of Charlaine Harris True Blood Books
If you’re following the True Blood series on HBO you should definitely start reading the Sookie Stackhouose books from Charlaine Harris. The books are part of her Southern Vampire Mystery series and they’re as entertaining as the True Blood television show. Actually, they’re more entertaining in some ways because they give you additional information about the main characters: Sookie, Bill, Sam, and Eric. They’re also pretty darn funny.
Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) books (in order)
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#1 |
Dead Until Dark |
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#2 |
Living Dead in Dallas |
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#3 |
Club Dead |
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#4 |
Dead to the World |
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#5 |
Dead as a Doornail |
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#6 |
Definitely Dead |
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#7 |
All Together Dead |
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#8 |
From Dead to Worse |
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#9 |
Dead and Gone |
This book will be published in May 2009. |
Charlaine Harris also contributes stories to fantasy book collections. Many of her stories are about Sookie Stackhouse and some of the other characters from the books above. I really like reading these book collections because you get to learn more about Sookie and her personality. Here’s the complete list of books that have stories about Sookie.
Book Collections That Include Sookie Stackhouse
| Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (2008) | Title of Story: “Gift Wrap”
Description: Sookie, alone and bored during the Christmas holiday, decides to go outside for a bit. Following the sound of a strange noise she ends up finding an injured werewolf named Preston, who tells her a wonderful and remarkable story about how he ended up in his condition. Of course, Sookie can’t help but get involved! I have to say, this entire book is fantastic. |
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| Many Bloody Returns (2007) | Title of Story: “Dracula Night”
Description: Sookie Stackhouse gets an invitation from Eric to attend an annual vampires-only birthday party at Fangtasia and almost ends up being the main course. The rules for being included in this book were: 1) the story had to be about a birthday, and 2) it had to include a vampire. Here’s an excerpt: “I had to gape. He looked positively edible. Eric was very tall, very broad, very blond, and tonight he was dressed in a tuxedo that had not come off any rack. This tux had been made for Eric, and he looked as good as any James Bond in it.” |
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| Powers of Detection (2006) | Title of Story: “Fairy Dust”
Description: in this story Sookie is asked to help Claudine, from the local fairy clan. Sookie learns that you don’t cross fairies - they’re a thick bunch. And if you do, be prepared to pay the ultimate price. |
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| Bite (2004) | Title of Story: “One Word Answer”
Description: this story highlights Sookie’s cleverness when she’s put in a situation requiring her to make quick choices. Sometimes, talking too much can get you killed, especially when vampires are involved. Sookie demonstrates this theory in this short story that includes Bill and Bubba. |
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| Unusual Suspects: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy (due Dec. 2, 2008) |
Title of Story: “Lucky”
Description: After Sookie’s insurance agents visits her to discuss a recent break-in at his office, she and her housemate Amelia (a practicing witch) decide to investigate the crime and see if they can catch the guilty party. |
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See also:
Get the NEW Sookie Stackhouse Box Set (Books 1-7).
They’re On Sale Now for $33.56, marked down from $55.93. That’s a savings of $22.37 (40% discount).
Filed Under Best Fantasy Books | 7 Comments
Watch True Blood Episode 5: Sparks Fly Out
Scroll to the bottom of this post to watch True Blood Episode 5 Free Online!
True Blood Episode 5 Rocks! Here’s what happens:
Sookie and Bill Part Ways: Sookie gets angry at Bill for his treatment of a police officer (see
True Blood Episode 4) and as a result, Bill tells Sookie he won’t call on her anymore. Sookie feels uncertain about her feelings for him; she’s attracted to him because he’s different (and she’s different) but she’s also afraid of his lack of humanity.
Tara Chastises Lafayette About Jason: Tara, just back from taking Jason to the emergency room to have his penis drained (yes, you heard right) storms into Lafayette’s home to yell at him for giving Jason vampire blood. Lafayette is only slightly remorseful for what Jason had to suffer through. The next day, believe it or not, he entices Jason into taking more vampire blood by playing up the mystical nature of vampire blood. Jason succumbs of course, but this time he only takes one drop, not the entire vial.
Sam Asks Sookie Out: Sam asks Sookie to accompany him to Bill’s speech at the church and suggests that they go out for coffee afterwards. Sookie is pleasantly surprised at the invitation and accepts.
Bill Talks About His Past: Sookie’s grandmother, a member of the Descendants of the Glorious Dead, invites Bill to speak to the group and tell them about his experience during the Civil War. He tells them a great story about a young soldier wounded on the field who kept crying out for help. Unfortunately, the soldier had fallen in a place unprotected and Bill’s troop was reluctant to attempt a rescue. The young soldier’s cries were so horrific and heartwrenching that Bill’s best friend decided to got get him. Unfortunately, his friend was killed during his attempts. The troop eventually rescued the soldier after dark but he died a few hours later.
This scene includes several flashbacks which illustrate the suffering and pain experienced by the Confederate Soldiers. Recounting these experiences causes Bill to remember the pain and suffering he witnessed during the war.
One of the audience members shows Bill a photo of the Compton family. Although Bill doesn’t remember posing for the photo he’s very moved by it. HINT: Remember this scene - it will become important in future episodes!
Sookie, Sam, Tara, and Jason are also in the audience, as are 3 troublemakers from town who brought a garlic press. One of the idiots squeezes a clove of garlic and holds it up for Bill to see during his speech. They’re clearly vampire-phobic and there to taunt and ridicule Bill. As you know, Tara and Jason aren’t fans of Bills either but they’re at least respectful during his speech.
During the reception there are confederate flags and the sound of Dixie playing in the background. Tara had apparently left by that time but I wonder what she’d think of this?
The scene ends with Bill and Sookie’s grandmother watching Sam and Sookie leaving together for the rest of their date.
Sam and Sookie’s Date: While having coffee Sam reminds Sookie that she has his permission to read his mind. Sookie tells Sam that she can’t really read his thoughts. She then ponders a bit and asks him why no one knows anything about him. He laughs it off and doesn’t really answer.
Later, Sam kisses Sookie outside the restaurant but she pulls away because she still has feelings for Bill. Sam realizes this, the two of them have words, and Sookie decides to call a cab instead of riding back with him.
Jason Realizes Tara is a Woman! As you know, Jason, our lovable ladies man, is quite the bed hopper. He’s got more notches in his headboard than he can probably count (I mean that both literally and figuratively because Jason’s not the brightest bulb in the tanning bed). Pumped up on vampire blood during Bill’s speech he suddenly realizes “hey, Tara’s a girl.” With Jason, that’s all it takes. As such he starts making eyes at Tara, who has a major Love Jones for Jason. Later at Merlotte’s he hallucinates that Tara is a Tahitian princess. He approaches Tara and tells her that she’s the one for him - the vampire blood has opened his eyes to Tara’s love. Tara doesn’t succumb to his charm, tells him to come see her when he’s not high on vampire blood, and eventually walks away. She later finds Jason outside near a dumpster having sex with another woman.
Lafayette Displays His Manhood: No, this isn’t what you think - get your minds out of the gutter! Here’s what happens: the 3 troublemakers that attended Bill’s speech on the Civil War end up at Merlotte’s, the local bar. Still itching for a fight, they begin criticizing Lafayette’s cooking, accusing him of giving them an AIDS burger. They become so rowdy about the food that Lafayette leaves the kitchen and confronts them. Perhaps these guys thought they could intimidate him because he wears makeup and earrings. Whatever the reason, they were wrong. Lafayette put a serious butt whooping on them and showed them that they shouldn’t dish it up if they can’t serve it (don’t you love my cook-related metaphors?).
How Bill Became a Vampire: Bill remembers how, after the war, he wanders through the woods looking for food and comes upon a woman in a cabin. She invites him in and graciously feeds and tends to him. She tells him that she’s certain that her husband died in the war and then proceeds to make a pass at Bill. He rebukes her, telling her that he’s on his way home to see his wife and 2 children. Bill turns to leave and is attacked by the woman.
She’s a vampire.
He awakens and is forced to drink her blood; this is how he becomes a vampire.
Sookie Loses a Loved One: This True Blood episode ends with the death of someone very close to Sookie. This is such a shock that I’m not going to include the spoiler here but instead, I’ve included a link below to sites that let you view the entire True Blood episode free online!
Watch True Blood Episode 5 Free Online
See also: True Blood Episode 6 Preview: Cold Ground
Filed Under Fantasy Drama Books, Fantasy Romance Books, True Blood | 2 Comments
Review of True Blood Episode 5: Sparks Fly Out
If I had to summarize this episode I’d say it was about love lost. Before I begin, let me provide some background for those unfamiliar with the series.
The series takes place in a backwater town called Bon Temps located near New Orleans, Louisiana. The star of the series is a young lady named Sookie Stackhouse, a twenty-something plucky blond who works in the local bar, Merlotte’s. Sookie, although fairly outgoing, has a secret that she keeps to the chest: she can read minds. She doesn’t know how she came upon this gift but to her, it’s more a curse than a blessing. Why? Because it’s difficult shutting people out. By default she can hear the thoughts of those around her. She has to really concentrate on blocking those thoughts from her mind.
This sets up the premise for her attraction to Bill Compton, the vampire that just moved into the neighborhood. Sookie immediately gravitates toward Bill because she discovers she can’t read his mind. When she’s near him there’s silence. The day-to-day buzz of other people’s thoughts is non-existent. Bill explains that since vampires are dead and have no brain waves, there’s nothing for her to pick up. Whatever the reason, Sookie is pleased to find someone she can be unguarded around. The two soon develop a romantic relationship.
Episode 5 opens with Sookie rebuffing Bill for his treatment of a highway trooper who approached their car after they fled a vampire bar in Shreveport (they’d pulled over on the side of the road). Sookie was frightened by Bill’s ability to use mind control over the patrolman and criticizes him for his behavior.
The main focus of this episode is to give us some backstory on Bill’s life both before and immediately after he became a vampire. We learn that Bill served in the Civil War as a soldier and had a wife and 2 children. Bill’s recounting of his experiences during the war are at times quite touching and heart wrenching.
We then learn how he became a vampire: he was wandering through the woods one night (after the war had ended) looking for food and shelter when he came upon a small shack. He’s invited inside by the woman living there and given food to eat. He soon learns that his hostess’ husband was also a soldier in the war, believed dead for several months. After a while, the woman surprisingly propositions him. Bill is so shocked he gets up to leave and is then attacked. You see, she’s a vampire. Bill wakes up later to see the bodies of her other victims. Fortunately for him, she decides to let him live, albeit as one of the undead. From that point on, Bill never sees his family again.
In keeping with the love lost theme, Sam Merlotte, Sookie’s boss and the owner of the bar where she works, works up the nerve to ask Sookie out on a date. Sam is a likable character that’s currently portrayed as the “lonely guy who never got the nerve to tell the girl he loves her” character. As such, he’s thrilled that Sookie accepts his invitation but ultimately ruins his chances with her by pushing her too soon. He’s quickly reduced to “friend” status, a position from which he’ll probably never emerge.
The episode ends with a cliffhanger, as have all prior episodes. Sookie discovering the dead body of her closest relative.
The series had a bit of a rough start in that it only captured a small percentage of the viewing public during its premiere. Since then the Internet is abuzz with talk about both the series and the books that the shows are based on. One can envision Charlaine Harris books flying off the shelves as the series grows in popularity. Overall, the show works. It’s dark, quirky, violent, and funny, with a bit of graphic sex thrown in for good measure. This combination has worked in the past with other HBO shows like Rome, Big Love, and Six Feet Under and will no doubt continue to draw audiences to True Blood during the rest of the season.
If you don’t have HBO there are several urban fantasy book sites and entertainment sites that let you watch True Blood online for free.
Filed Under True Blood | Leave a Comment
Storm Born by Richelle Mead
The opening scene in Storm Born is one of the most unique I’ve read in a while. Eugenie Markham, a female shaman who makes her living banishing evil spirits that have crossed over from the Otherworld to our world, has been asked to exorcise a haunted sneaker. Yes you heard right, a haunted sneaker. Here’s an excerpt:
“Look, Miss . . . Odile . . . or whatever. I’m not crazy. That shoe is haunted. It’s evil. you’ve gotta do something, okay? I’ve got a marathon coming up, and until this started happening, these were my lucky shoes. And they’re not cheap, you know. They’re an investment.”
It sounded crazy to me - which was saying something - but there was no harm in checking. I reached into my coat pocket, the one without ammunition. I’d seen weirder things than a haunted shoe, but not many. Sending some of my will into the wand, I tapped it against the shoe and spoke in a sing-song voice.
“Come out, come out, whoever you are.”
“Go away, bitch.”
Great, a shoe with attitude.
Too bad most of her cases aren’t that easy; unfortunately for Eugenie, her next one takes her into the Otherworld, a place inhabited by the gentry, magical fairy beings notorious for their dislike of humankind (don’t think small creatures with wings though; the gentry look just like humans). Eugenie hates the gentry and often sends them to the Underworld if needed. She’s been taught to loathe them since childhood and as such avoids crossing over whenever possible but her new case her to make the journey into their world.
She’s looking for a young girl recently abducted by the gentry, who are also known for stealing adolescent human girls for white slavery and prostitution purposes. Fortunately Eugenie doesn’t have to make the trip alone; she summons the 3 spirits bound to her for protection. It’s through them that she learns that the young girl, Jasmine, has been taken by Aeson, a powerful gentry king. At the advice of one of her spirits she approaches Dorian, a rival of Aeson’s, asking him to accompany her on her mission to rescue Jasmine. Dorian refuses to join her but does offer the help of one of his guides. He then proceed to tell her a story about a powerful ruler called the Storm King who had the ability to control the weather. He tells her of a prophecy in which the Storm King’s daughter will have a child that will rule over both humankind and the Otherworld. Imagine her surprise to learn that she is that daughter and that her child will become the prophesied ruler. Eugenie refuse to accept the prophesy because it puts her in direct conflict with what she’s been taught. Her heritage, her upbringing, and her entire childhood would be reduced to mere lies if Dorian’s tale were true.
Eugenie soon takes her leave of Dorian and takes her run at Aeson but is unsuccessful in part because Jasmine flatly refuses to leave. Eugenie herself is only able to flee Aeson’s minions just in the nick of time.
Back in the human world Eugenie’s next and most important task is to discuss Dorian’s story with her parents. If what he told her is true, they have some splainin’ to do.
The backdrop for Richelle Mead’s book is a social commentary on prejudice and misguided hatred but it primarily takes a back seat to the action-packed storyline.
Eugenie eventually learns the truth about her past which forces her to once again seek Dorian’s assistance, but this time she wants him to help her control her newly discovered powers. The exchanges between Dorian and Eugenie provide many of the comedic elements in the book. Dorian is, at his core, a wise and very powerful gentry king but he’s also incredibly bored with his life in the Otherworld and therefore welcomes the opportunity to travel to the human world to give Eugenie her lessons and ogle human women. He also does his share of propositioning Eugenie but she never really takes him seriously. Eugenie’s romantic interest is Kiyo, a gorgeous kitsune (shapeshifter) who saves Eugenie’s life on more than one occasion. Kiyo’s help is integral to Eugenie’s survival because someone from the Otherworld doesn’t want the prophesy to come true and is gunning for Eugenie. Additionally, some of the Otherworld beings have determined that they can increase their powers by fathering her next child. As such she spends a lot of time fighting for her life and battling creatures wanting to mate with her.
All of this leads up to an incredible climax rife with surprises and suspense.
In some ways this book reminds me of a modern day Elizabethan court piece; there’s intrigue, romance, betrayal, and characters jockeying for power. Mead manages to balance these elements by writing believable characterizations and fleshing out a very detailed fantasy setting. As a matter of fact, she does a great job with world building. The Otherworld she creates is as varied as our world but it’s also magical, frightening, and fascinating. The book ends with an unanswered mystery that I can’t wait to read more about. I’ve got my ideas but there are lots of possibilities so I’ll have see how good I am at predictions!
All of this makes for a thoroughly entertaining, enjoyable, and captivating read.
This is the first book in the Dark Swan series and a great addition to the urban fantasy genre. Richelle, get the second book finished!
Filed Under Action Adventure Fantasy Books | 2 Comments
« go back — keep looking »Get the Sookie Stackhouse Box Set!
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