Dead Until Dark: A True Blood Novel - Charlaine Harris

I got this book out of curiosity, I had heard so many people saying it's a good book and a great TV Series that I couldn't refuse when I realised I could borrow the book, and even if it were not my kind of book, I was only borrowing it, so it's not as if I would have wasted my money at all. But as you can tell my rating shows that I fully enjoyed it!

Charlaine Harris, I was reading the author's name when I got this book and I knew I had heard of the name before, so I flipped back to previous reviews to see if I truly had read any of her books, I didn't find any, but then it struck me, I read a story in an anthology from her, but I don't remember a thing from that story, so I really couldn't comment on her writing skills, however, I truly believe she has a brilliant knack of writing, as this book fully gripped me and I couldn't believe how intense it really was! I also realised that I have this book plus many of her other books on my wish list, and I'm glad they are up there as I'm gagging to read another book from her.

Sookie Stackhouse is our main character; she is a cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. And then all of a sudden her dream boyfriend appears in town, only problem is, is that he is a vampire, but that doesn't bother Sookie one bit.

Until one of her co workers ends up dead and suspicion starts flying around the small town. Maybe being a vampire's girlfriend is not such a great thing.

This book reminds me a bit of the Point Horror books, as you get to try and guess (yes it's a guess and definitely not an estimation) who the killer is. So I presume this book opens your mind a bit, and make you believe that everyone is capable of anything, in theory. But this book is pure escapist entertainment, which what makes this book so good, with no hidden meaning, which is pretty impossible within this book.

In case you haven't already guessed, this book could be put under the horror genre, except, I wouldn't, personally put it in there, I really don't think it belongs in there, as it is a subtle horror novel so I would personally put it under the supernatural genre, as there is a lot of books that is being released nowadays, where this genre is getting bigger and bigger by the minute.

As I have mentioned before, this book is easily compared to certain books, such as the point horror novels, however I also know that many people will find a few others to compare it to, and these novels are books such as the Twilight novels, the Anita Blake series, the Vampire diaries, and a few others, because they all contain vampires. Though to be totally honest, vampires are in at the moment and everywhere you look, in a book stall, you'll find a vampire story, and I very much doubt it, if you walk in a book stall such as Waterstones and find no vampire books what so ever, it's just not possible. So in theory, you could even have it under a vampire genre, however, in doing this people will be stuck for choice, or maybe the books may be sold out as they are all similar.

I truly loved this book, as you can tell by my rating. And I found it inevitably gripping; I really couldn't stop reading the book! I also believe that this book is for anyone, I'm a "young adult" according to the children section in Waterstones, and I fully loved this, however it is classed in the adult fiction and I can understand why, some bits are over the top and a little too sexual. I wouldn't like to tell you that children shouldn't read it, as it is really a parent's decision, but if you are trying to decide and are unsure I totally recommend that you should read it first, and then decide if you want to let your child or children read this.

I would say there are no bad points, however, if I did say this I'll be stretching the truth as I believe that the sexual scenes are a bit over the top, and could really have been missed out, but then again that is why this book is in the adult section. I really do think that this is the only disadvantage I can find in this book.

This book was really interesting and not boring at all, I was fully gripped, straight from the start. And as you probably can guess, it is easy to get into and a really great read. But what did I think about the ending? Well it was intensifyingly gripping and I couldn't read quick enough, I was fully absorbed and I loved the ending just as much as the other parts of the book. If given the chance, I would definitely re-read this book, however I have way too many books in my to be read list, that they are all over the place, and I very much doubt I will have a chance at reading this a second time, however I do have the sequel, somewhere in my to be read list, (I think it is near the bottom) but I know it will refresh my memory of this book and so in theory I would be re-reading it to an extent!

If you like Vampire novels, or are trying to find a book to read that is just as good as the twilight novels, I totally recommend this book, but then I would wouldn't I? Okay, if you look over all my other reviews, I have said something similar, but this one I'm truly recommending this to you!

So a question that I bet you want to know the answer to and that is: What do I think of the TV Series? Well this question is impossible for me to answer. Thanks to this TV Series, it put me off from wanting to read this. My friends were saying that the books are amazing and I was ready to read this book, but then the trailer for the TV Series appeared and I gave the book back to my friend as the trailers looked really rubbish and if the book was similar then it was definitely not the type of book I wanted to read. Eventually my friend twisted my hand and I ended up reading it. I have to admit that if I'm ever going to watch the series, then I'm going to have to read all the books and then maybe my friends will have to twist my hand again, but I'm not going to watch the series until I have definitely finished all the books.

For people who want to get this now you can go out and buy it in book stalls, obviously, but for people who are too lazy, here are the best places to buy online:
This is according to "www.find-book.co.uk" on 16 April 2010:
RRP: £6.99
The Book Depository: £3.49
Amazon UK: £3.50
Tesco: £3.50
AbeBooks: £4.84
Play.com: £4.99
The Hut: £5.00
Woolworths: £5.00
LoveFilm: £5.00
Asda: £5.00
Zavvi: £5.00
Sendit: £5.00
Chipsworld: £5.10
Base.com: £5.22
Waterstones: £5.68
WH Smith: £5.88
HMV: £6.00
Amazon Market Place New: £2.76
Amazon Market Place Used: £2.76

This shows that places online are usually cheaper than searching all over town or your nearest shopping centre!

I hope I have interested you into wanting this book, and I hope I will get to rate some of your reviews on this book, thank you for reading, and thank you for rating.