Book Review- Dead and Gone

I just finished reading Dead and Gone, the 9th Sookie Stackhouse novel, by Charlaine Harris.

From Goodreads:

Except for Sookie Stackhouse, folks in Bon Temps, Louisiana, know little about vamps-and nothing about weres.

Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to reveal their existence to the ordinary world. At first all goes well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found near the bar where Sookie works-and she feels compelled to discover who, human or otherwise, did it.

But there's a far greater danger threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings-older, more powerful, and more secretive than vampires or werewolves-is preparing for war. And Sookie finds herself an all-too human pawn in their battle.
 
I enjoyed this book a little bit more than the previous book in the series.  And I feel like it was darker too, especially the ending.  I don't feel like there was a lot of growth in the whole romance department.  I keep waiting to see just who Sookie will end up with (and I can't decide who I want her to be with...Bill? Eric? Sam?).  But nothing was given away in this installment.  The weres coming out was interesting and I think more could have been written about that.  Instead, we mostly read about the evil faeries.  There were some very gruesome scenes that unfortunately I could see all too well in my head (but I guess thats the job of a good writer).  Looking forward to diving into the next book in the series, Dead in the Family.
 
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge: Dead and Gone 
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 62
 
*FTC Disclosure:  I received this book for free by trading with a friend.