I really enjoyed this book. After reading reviews I wasn't really expecting to like it but I do understand where they are probably coming from. It is much less graphically violent that the earlier books. It does not lead in the direction that many people want. The ending is ambiguous but a lot of readers have read it as a definite direction that isn't where they want the series to end. 
 I prefer less violence, so that one works especially well for me. I don't care the direction of the book, I think that is up to the author and she had done a good job of taking me through the series. And finally, while I would prefer a different ending that the majority are look for, I don't think that the end of this book has established what will happen next. 
 The lack of predictability has been one of the elements of this series that has stood out. KH has set the storyline up so she can give people the ending they want without making it the thing they most expect. On the other hand, she can take it so many other directions that we will need to read it to get any resolution. That seems to me to be a job well done. 
 Will Sookie and Erik end up together? Is that a chance for Sookie and Sam? Will Sookie even survive the series? Could she go with her grandfather to Faery? Ok, I don't really expect the last two, but the point is that I am not assured of anything and I look forward to my final encounter with Sookie.