The Southern Vampire Mysteries Series

The books about Sookie Stackhouse, beginning with Dead Until Dark and ending with Dead Ever After, is a 13 book series that reached it's amazing conclusion this May. Over the past few years, in which I first picked up the books, the world of Sookie Stackhouse took me on an emotional roller coaster through tales of were wolfs and tigers, fairies and, of course, vamps. First off, let me say one thing... these books are NOTHING LIKE TWILIGHT. If Twilight was decently written and had some decent action both in and out of the bedroom (Edward is practically a junk less Ken doll compared to these vamps) it wouldn't even come close to the world Charlaine Harris created in Bon Temps, Louisiana. These books, if you are up for reading the entire series, will show you life through the eyes of Sookie, a bar maid whom happens to be able to read minds. The story begins when vampires come out of the coffin and Sookie meets her first ever vampire, and hunny, Bill Compton. When other vampires learn of Sookie's ability to read minds, she's thrown into their dangerous and seductive world as a high sought out prize. I won't divulge anything else because, hello, there's 13 books! There is no way to summarize all that occurs in the books. It's a journey you have to take yourself to really experience these books the way I have. Oh and FYI, if you don't feel like reading the books, you can always check out the HBO series based on the books, True Blood. The show is amazing and steamy, though it is very different from the books. Both are good in their own ways and I recommend checking out both the books and the show. Enjoy!

Keep imagining, bookworms.

Meagan <3

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

One of my most recent reads, The Scorpio Races is a must read for any self-respecting book worm. Oh what a fantastic journey this book has taken me on. I knew this book was one of my favorites because I read it cover to cover in less than 24 hours. I devoured the fascinating world Stiefvater sucked me into with love, death, and relatively untouched mythology. The story follows two different personalities, Sean and Puck, whom have one thing in common, they are contenders for the deadly Scorpio Races that take place on their small island, Thisby, every November. The race is a gamble as some riders live and many die due to the violent nature of their mounts, the elusive capaill uisce, also known as water horses. These horses, whom are irrevocably tied to sea, often kill their riders, but that is the the allure of the races. I won't give away too much of the story, it's a read you'll have to check out yourself if you're looking for a break from the overdone "vampire falls in love with a infuriatingly stupid human girl" books. Thanks a lot Twilight for ruining that idea. Anyways, back to books worth reading... In my opinion, Stiefvater did an excellent job at attempting to create a story around the myth of the water horses. The story keeps you intrigued and for once the heroine isn't annoying. Anyways, I thought I'd post an excerpt from one of my favorite moments in the book below. Enjoy!

Excerpt from chapter 32:

I lift my chin again and say, “Kate Connolly. Dove. By my blood.”

           

I find Sean Kendrick in the crowd again. He’s turned as if he’s going, but he looks over his shoulder at me. I hold his gaze. I feel like everyone in the crowd is watching this moment, like to hold Sean Kendrick’s eye is to promise something or to get into something I’m unsure of, but I don’t look away.

           

“By their blood, let the races being,” Peg Gratton says to the night and to the crowd, but they aren’t watching her. “We have our riders, let the races begin.”

           

Sean Kendrick holds my gaze a second longer, and then he strides away from the crowd.

           

Two weeks until the races. Everything starts tonight. I can feel it in my heart.

Keep imagining, bookworms.

Meagan <3