![Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse, #13)](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1368229653m/12106940.jpg)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the final book in the Sookie Stackhouse series and I loved it. I thought the ending was perfect and that the characters ended up where they were supposed to be. I was shocked to read that Charlaine Harris was actually attacked and threatened online by so-called "fans" of the series who didn't like the way she ended the books. Seriously. What sort of world do we live in when people think they can treat another human being like that? Charlaine Harris created that world and those characters, and they were hers to do with as she wanted. And even if I hadn't liked the ending, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought of abusing the author. Or anyone online, public figure or not, for that matter. It's criminal and cowardly.
Sorry about that. I promise that my rant is now over.
Back to Sookie's last adventure. Old enemies and friends reappear in unexpected ways in this one. Including Arlene, Sookie's former friend from Merlotte's who became involved with The Fellowship of the Sun and tried to have Sookie murdered. Yes, that Arlene! Unfortunately for Sookie, Arlene gets early release from prison with the help of two mysterious men (whose identity we discover later) who have it in for Sookie.
But poor, screwed up Arlene doesn't last long. Sam and Sookie find her body in the dumpster behind Merlotte's. And to make matters worse, she has been strangled with Sookie's scarf.
This makes Sookie the prime suspect, and she is subsequently arrested. But it's not all bad news - because Sookie discovers that, although she still has many enemies (pretty much through no fault of her own), she also has lots and lots of friends. And those friends show up when they are most needed. She gets out on bail, and then sets her mind to discovering who really murdered Arlene.
Meanwhile, since she didn't use the cluviel dor to free Eric from his obligations to Freyda, but to save Sam's life, Eric is somewhat put out (just quietly). She also discovers that Eric would have been willing to "turn" her, even though she had repeatedly made it clear to him that she wanted to live her life as a human. That little piece of information is pretty much the nail in the coffin for their relationship (see what I did there?)
And as for Sam, he is acting strangely too. Poor Sookie doesn't know what's going on, but as Sam is her closest and dearest friend, this upsets her even more than her break up with Eric. Bill is still waiting in the wings, continuing to profess his love for her, but they both know that that coffin has been well and truly buried (sorry). But Bill is a powerful friend and ally, and their relationship has become a strong friendship.
Arlene's murderer is discovered, Amelia and Bob return with a surprise of their own, Jason settles down, Quinn and Alcide reappear, and there is betrayal from an unexpected source. Just when Sookie thinks things are going well, she discovers that her enemies are not quite finished with her yet!
So much happens in this last book, and I don't want to give any more away. Let me just say that out of all the supernatural lovers or almost lovers she's had throughout the series, she ends up with the perfect one. Who will it be? Bill? Eric? Alcide? Quinn? Sam? I'm not telling, but I was very happy with her choice.
I'll miss Sookie and her friends, lovers and enemies. It's been a wild ride, and I've enjoyed every minute of it!
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