An improvement over the first book, although perhaps it just felt that way since I have yet to watch the second season of True Blood. Sookie must simultaneously confront that Bill is not human and that the supernatural world is far larger than she imagined. The dialogue is just as funny as the first, and the plot is more complex. ( )

The sequel to Dead Until Dark (and the 2nd in the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries) is a rare book that is actually better than the first book. Dead Until Dark introduced us to a world where vampires have "come out of the coffin" and are able to live off of synthetic blood rather than killing human prey. Telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse, takes a vampire lover, Bill, and deals with the consequences of inter-eh?-species dating.

In this sequel, the consequences are much more dire for Sookie, who is summoned by some vampires in Dallas to use her mind-reading skills to find out where a missing vampire went. The revelations lead her to the Fellowship of the Sun, a "church" (more like a cult--and a not-so-veiled critique of American Christian fundamentalism) that is dedicated to wiping vampires--seen as abominations--from the face of the earth. This subplot is fascinating and surprisingly violent.

I will say that I do enjoy a heroine who is a fighter, and Sookie is definitely a fighter. In both the first and second book she is faced against people who are intent on killing her and, dammit, she won't die.

So although I was not very impressed with Dead Until Dark, I was captivated by Living Dead in Dallas and...for better or for worse...I think I'm on board for the rest of the Sookie Stackhouse books. ( )

Another Sookie Stackhouse novel, revolving around the story of a maenad in Bon Temps, Louisiana, and a fanatical religious cult in Dallas. Not as riveting as some of Harris' other Stackhouse books, it is still worth reading because it sets up the Fellowship of the Sun and its relationship to the Vampires (and those who love them). ( )

I'm telling you, these books are just so clever and funny, you forget that you, a grown person who likes to think of herself in a literarily snobby manner, are really having a great time with a book series about vampires. Plus, the author adds redeeming value by her continuous thread highlighting and satirizing prejudice against groups which have not gained total acceptance.

Book 2 of the Sookie Stackhouse vampire romance-mystery series does not disappoint. More “supes” (supernatural beings) are added, but once you accept the premise of vampires, it doesn’t seem to matter anymore. (…yet one more affirmation of the efficacy of Kierkegaard’s “leap of faith.”)

Sookie Stackhouse is a saucy and sassy 25-year-old barmaid in Bon Temps, Louisiana, working at Merlotte’s bar by day and dating Bill the Vampire by night. She also is telepathic, and once the vampires in the area catch on to this, they encourage Bill and Sookie to start up a “detective agency” of sorts so they can find out which humans are betraying them.

Because the Japanese perfected synthetic blood drinks, vampires have been able to come out of the closet and live in the “mainstream” of society (at least, during the evening hours) since they no longer need to feed on humans to survive. But there is still a lot of prejudice against vampires, and hate crimes are becoming a problem. In fact, “the fastest growing cult in America" is the Fellowship of the Sun. Its members are convinced that vampires are an abomination to God, and aim to kill all they can, along with any sympathetic humans. The vampires don’t want to exacerbate the situation by killing enemies indiscriminately. Thus, the need for Sookie's telepathic skills.

Living Dead in Dallas is action-packed and has not a few moments of sex, but like the first book, the sex is rather tastefully depicted.

I particularly like this one passage that would be so poignant if there were such a thing as vampires. After both vampires and humans have a brush with death, the air is electric with erotic energy. Sookie observes:

"…let’s face it, brushes with death have that effect. You want to reaffirm the fact that you’re alive. Though vampires actually aren’t, it seems they are no more immune to that syndrome than humans…”

Evaluation: Ack, I know I should feel shame: a bodice-ripper with vampires and shape-shifters and throbbing body parts… but I loved it anyway! Please don’t tell anyone….