Review of Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

Title: Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12)
Author: Charlaine Harris
Narrator: Johanna Parker
Published by: Recorded Books Inc.
Length: 8 sound discs (9 hr., 30 min.)
Source: Libary
Format: Audio
Rating: 3 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  With Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), in town, it’s the worst possible time for a body to show up in Eric Northman’s front yard—especially the body of a woman whose blood he just drank.

Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.

Sookie, Sookie, Sookie...we are on the 12th book and people are still trying to kill you.  Don't get me wrong, I love this series.  I've read and listened to all the books, however, they are all starting to sound the same. 

After Sookie is summoned to Eric's house to entertain Felipe de Castro, all hell brakes loose when they find a dead girl on Eric's front lawn.  After the last book I expected the wrath of Felipe de Castro to be a little more terrifying.  He is supposed to be this big bad vamp and yet a lot of the book didn't focus on that.  In fact, it didn't focus much on vampires at all much to my disappointment.  I wanted some quality Eric time and this book didn't deliver that, instead it focused mostly on Sookie.

Sookie is her typical self; a little flighty, quick tempered, and forced into awkward and dangerous situations.  However, she does seems to be doing a little soul searching in this novel.  She looks over her life and all the things and people in it.  I think this may be leading up into the big decision that the next (and last) book in the series will hold.  Who does Sookie really belong with? Eric, Bill, Sam, Alcide or someone completely new and human? 

The plot was pretty much the same as all the rest of the books in the series.  Though the ending does bring a bit of a surprise that I wasn't expecting.  Overall, I felt like this book was pretty much setting up everything for the final installment of the series.  It wrapped up a couple of loose ends and set up some decisions Sookie will have to make about her life. 

Even with its predictability and typicality's it was still a fun book to listen to.  I enjoyed listening to Johanna Parker read as Sookie.  I know she's narrated some Meg Cabot and Jennifer Weiner books, but to me she will always be Sookie. 

Review of Fairy Metal Thunder by J.L. Bryan

Title: Fairy Metal Thunder
Author: J.L. Bryan
Published by: JLBryanbooks.com
Pages: 196
Source: Obtained Free from Amazon on (6/30/2012)
Format: ebook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Jason plays guitar in a teenage garage band called the Assorted Zebras, but they have no fans, no gigs, and they're going nowhere. Even worse, Jason has a crush on their lead singer, but she doesn't seem interested in him at all.

Then Jason steals instruments from the fairy world. Soon the band is enchanting crowds, and Jason is a step closer to the girl of his dreams, but the new gear is brimming with dangerous and destructive magic they can't control.

Their shortcut to success has cost a troupe of innocent fairies their livelihood and turned Jason and his band into enemies of the powerful Queen Mab, who sends supernatural bounty hunters to track them down, including one of the most dangerous horned creatures in Faerie...a small unicorn named Buttercake.

Fairy Metal Thunder is a fun, quirky read with a storyline that will have you quickly flipping through the pages. 

This is my second J.L. Bryan novel and in both novels he has the most unique elements in his stories.  In Fairy Metal Thunder there are some rockin' musical fairy instruments that are out of this world.  They change everything for the lives of Jason and his band members.  I love that this story centers around the power of these instruments and how they are used.  I have never encountered anything like this, so the idea was fresh and captivating. 

As for Jason he seemed like a genuinely good guy.  Of course he is a teenager and a bit of a rebel at times but the way he cares for is his younger sister is endearing.  Of all the character, we get to know Jason the best with him being the narrator.  I wish that there would have been a little more character development with the other characters, especially Erin.  Maybe in the next books in the series we will get to learn more about each of these characters and see where Jason and Erin's relationship goes.

The music the Assorted Zebras play is explosive.  I really wish there were some mp3 that went along with the book so we could hear it.  I have a feeling it would be quite a psychedelic experience.  Along with the music an interesting part of the story for me was the setting.  The novel was set in Wisconsin...my home state!  Therefore when they mentioned cities and such I knew exactly what they were talking about.  Always a neat experience.

Whether you are a music fan or just like a great twist to a fairy tale try Fairy Metal Thunder.  I think you'll like it.