The penultimate twelfth installment of the Sookie Stackhouse Novels (SSN) Deadlocked is much the same as the ones that came before, but filled with so much angst that your heart will literally be breaking. Why do I say that, you ask? It is because I, like many, have invested so much time and emotion into all things Sookie related that you cannot help but feel it all ten-fold and boy is Sookie feeling emotional, on all fronts.
WARNING: this review has some minor spoilers so if you don’t want to know, LOOK AWAY NOW!
The Sookie of yesterdays has been slowly evolving over time into a much more mature Sookie, and this has never been more evident than in Deadlocked. She knows what she wants and what has to be done to obtain everything she desires. The only problem with this is that Sookie, along with her Vampire husband Eric, is stubborn and too prideful for her own good. In my opinion, this is the major obstacle in the progression of their relationship but ‘she loves him’ and that’s why ‘she goes with him’. Sookie makes this very clear and says it several times in fact. All of this is what leads to the angst you feel, both from Sookie and Eric. They have a lot of issues that they have to deal with and the major thing to take away from this is that they need to work together, instead of testing each other and trying to do it all on their own. There are a couple of particular passages where Sookie is reflecting on things from the past that spoke volumes to me on where she is headed in the final book.
I would say that her past suitors were part of this reflection as well and at the end of these reflections, they are not even a bleep on her radar. The Alcide ship sailed and will not be pulling back into the Sookie port. Quinn, although he calls to wish her a Happy Birthday, is another sailing ship. While she knows that Bill loves her, Sookie states that “there’s nothing I can do about it but be his friend though. I used to love him back, and I gotta say there are moments when I feel the old attraction, but I’m not in love with Bill. Not anymore”. As far as Sam is concerned, I have and never will see him as anything more than a dear friend/brother, although some might get the impression that there is something more there. In my opinion, it is nothing more than a red herring. There has never been any romantic chemistry between Sookie and Sam, if that was to be the case, I think the author would have started the building process for that type of scenario eight books ago. In short, I don’t think there will be this ‘all of a sudden’ or ‘suddenly’ type moments on the horizon for her boss, for it would not be plausible or even believable.
There are some rather interesting parallels that occur in certain parts of this book and I was so glad to read them because it brought back memories as well as showing Sookie’s growth. Do you recall the moment near the end of Club Dead when Eric noted that Sookie tends to walk away when things get tough and if that is what he had to look forward in the future? I mention this because it comes up in this book and it is not the only parallel noted here either. I don’t want to give too much away here but you will recognize and notice the said parallel(s) from another book in the series.
Sookie does get a visit from the Queen of Oklahoma and let me tell you that vamp is pretty damn sure of herself when speaking with Sookie, but don’t worry, she holds her own pretty well against her Royal highness. I don’t want to reveal too much here because I would like you to come up with your own take on it.
There has been plenty of speculation about the Cluviel Dor as to how Sookie would use this fairy magical love token. Well, it is used in a ‘heat of the moment’ type situation and Sookie did not have time to think of the repercussions that her choice might bring. With that being said, I think that her ‘choice’ will have major consequences later on down the line. If I am wrong, then I will eat my words.
This twelfth installment in this series ends pretty much in the same way the previous three have ended, with Eric and Sookie on the outs (but still very much together) and with Sookie wondering what is going to happen now. Once again, we are not only left ‘Up in the Air’ but we have also arrived at a Deadlock, with Eric and Sookie both waiting for the other to make a move to save the relationship. This is nothing we have not seen before and I, for one am not worried at all. I think you will find that Deadlocked, which is an excellent title and fits what is going on between our favorite couple, is a very good read and will leave you craving for more. We only have 53 weeks to wait for Dead Ever After and you can wait that out right here at Eric and Sookie Lovers!
