Happy Hollows Day! Damn it feels good to say that again!
Well if there were ever the perfect occasion to dust off the old blog, this is it!! It’s been Happy Hollows Day! Damn it feels good to say that again!
Well if there were ever the perfect occasion to dust off the old blog, this is it!! It’s been six years since we said “see you later” to Rachel and the gang, but that later is NOW and I am so glad to have The Hollows back. It was my flagship series for many years and honestly when the series ended, I was feeling a bit of urban fantasy burnout? I also went to get a masters degree so I had to table reading for fun for a few years and it never really quite picked back up to what it used to be even after I was done with school. So is this the time to reel me back in?
The short answer: YES! You would think, after a baker's dozen or so of books that the Hollows well of ideas may have run dry. But really it doesn’t. The book comes in at a hefty near 500 pages so there is plenty to chew on. Kim threw in just about everything and the kitchen sink from the previous books to show that, indeed, the Hollows can be a gift that keeps on giving. Everything feels so fresh! The cover alone is probably my favorite Hollows cover ever as the colors and atmosphere are beautiful! Thankfully the book is more than just a pretty cover. The world building and imagery are truly top notch and the characterization is as strong as ever. We learn about what’s happening with our old friends while making some new ones in the process, too. Certain dynamics are changing, but they are what feels like a natural course in Rachel’s life if you base it off how the prior book ended before the epilogue.
In terms of the new friends (or foes?), I really enjoyed their addition to the story. I think there is potential for even more character development for them as the series continues and I’m really looking forward to it. While it’s still a great read, I do think there are a couple of faves that some readers are going to miss this go ‘round, but it allowed for our new additions to get the proper introduction and development. I care about them in just one book because of it.
I’ve been a Trent/Rachel shipper since basically the dawn of time so there is ample development in their relationship. Kim doesn’t shy away from addressing their checkered past. She faces it head on but the question is, will they be better off or worse off for it? Just when we thought we knew all there was to know about the Kalamacks and the elves, we’re in for more fascinating surprises.
We take a deeper dive into demon and elf magic. The neverending war of which type is truly superior keeps you glued to the pages. I really don’t know where Kim comes up with all of this stuff! Honestly it’s definitely worth a reread to digest the science behind magic itself.
If there is one downside, it’s my own fault. I hadn’t read this series in years and if there’s one thing I wish, it’s that I took part in the reread leading up to this release. This book builds so much off the prior books without giving you too much backstory (which I do appreciate as I really dislike it when stories give you overly long summaries of prior books). I didn’t feel lost as I remembered what happened, but a reread would have been beneficial to put me back into Hollow’s mode from the start.
Overall, it’s a great ride and The Hollows proves it still has a lot to offer in this genre. The possibilities are truly endless, so I am already looking forward to the next entry. Welcome back, Rachel and friends!...more
*sigh* Review to come. Not that I'll have anything to offer that hasn't already been said lol. *sigh* Review to come. Not that I'll have anything to offer that hasn't already been said lol. ...more
I'm a casual gamer, but I tend to prefer the ones with adventure as opposed to fighting (give me Uncharted or AssasThe definition of unputdownable
I'm a casual gamer, but I tend to prefer the ones with adventure as opposed to fighting (give me Uncharted or Assassin's Creed any day). I actually just wrapped up playing the new Tomb Raider yesterday. So needless to say the Injustice game escaped me. I went into this story complete blind as to what t
o expect. I thought I'd just open it up and read a few pages just to get my feet wet. But no, I ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting. It took about an hour. I don't follow comic books very closely, only the story lines that make it to Hollywood. So you can imagine my mind was blown to see this particular universe KILL Lois Lane!! And she was PREGNANT!! That was total drama I wasn't prepared for.
There are definitely themes that could cause some controversy. Politics and war are all touch upon. And the idea that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Some character behaviors surprised me, namely Wonder Woman. She's got the hotts for the Supes (can you blame her?) and she uses it to drive her decisions. I'm not really sure how I feel about that development with her character, but if you're a fan of that ship you might want to give this series a go to see what develops.
I don't know if comic book purists would get on board with this, especially Superman fans, because it seems out of character. But I think certain changes are necessary to keep a franchise interesting. It certainly got my attention. I know there's a movie coming up soon involving Superman vs. Batman, and the two are at odds in this universe as well, but I can't imagine it being based on the same plot. Either way I will definitely be watching that film (it's got Henry Cavill, what else do you need?) and I'll be on the lookout for the next volume of the Injustice series.
I have an idea of where this series is going to go. But after reading this book, I have no idea how long Karen Chance plans to takeTempted to Stop
I have an idea of where this series is going to go. But after reading this book, I have no idea how long Karen Chance plans to take to get us there. For a two year wait I felt like it should have had more impact for me than it did. But the two year wait could have also been to its detriment. Considering my super long to-be-read list, I’m not really one to go back and re-read books unless I find it exceptional. So because of that I found myself occasionally confused this time around. This one didn’t quite draw me in as easily compared to the others either.
It definitely keeps to Karen Chance’s usual style of non-stop action to the point of where your head spins and occasional humor, but something felt missing for me this time around. I know what else (or rather who else) was missing as well, Mircea. In the earlier books I wasn’t necessarily Team Pritkin or Team Mircea because I’m just not that much of a Cassie fan, but I feel like she’ll ultimately end up with Pritkin. And books like this where Mircea is literally nowhere to be seen only reinforce that idea and further raise my heckles when it comes to my annoyance with this supposed love-triangle. It’s a pathetic one at best. After reading the Dorina Basarab books, Mircea has easily become one of my favorite characters of the series and I feel like while we see fantastic development for him there, he really gets the shaft here and I find that frustrating.
And you know what else is frustrating? Cliffhangers. We’re left with another one. Apparently this was originally 800 pages and Chance practically had to cut the book in half to get it published. After reading it that didn’t surprise me at all. I’m at a place now where I much prefer the Dory books because I find it has all of the plusses and none of the drawbacks that irk me with the Cassie books. I just wish Chance was able to produce both series in one year instead of alternating them every year.
I’m at the point where I’m contemplating dropping the Cassie books and focusing solely on the Dory ones. Since this book was really only half the story, I may read the next one but if I don’t connect with that one either, I’ll be hanging it up…unless the 8th book is the last one.
Talk about an imagination! I wasn't totally sure of what to expect going into this one. I wasn't sure which book to choose for my monthly kindle prime freebie and time was running out. It was a debut, and it was originally a Kindle serial series. But all in all it turned out wonderfully.
Though I've read other novels with a circus theme, this one certainly comes off as unique. Mab is a really cool leader. There are a lot of questions but the story pulls you in so that you really want to read along to get them answered. She can be generous but she absolutely has an agenda, so it keeps things interesting.
I really enjoyed the evolving family dynamic. Romance fans who prefer the slow build should appreciate this one, though it's not agonizingly slow progress either. We are just scraping the surface for what the future will bring.
I think A. R. Kahler keeping his name ambiguous was a good thing. I know that some people prefer female authors in this genre, especially when it's written in a female's perspective. But A.R. handles it well and makes all gender appealing, especially the potential love interest. Upon reading his bio I learned that he actually was a part of a circus troupe. That's about the only way to explain why this book felt so authentic and legit (as far as the paranormal goes of course).
The next one is due out soon and I'm getting it, Prime or no Prime! It's currently at $3.99 on the Kindle, but the pre-order for book 2 is $1.99.
Quin Lennox found herself lucky last time, managing to escape the alternate world of Vamp City. But that world isThe ending caused it to lose a star.
Quin Lennox found herself lucky last time, managing to escape the alternate world of Vamp City. But that world isn’t quite done with her. They need her powers to restore the magic of their world and free the vampires currently bound there. Vampire Arturo Mazza is sent to bring her back, and Quinn has learned her lesson than to trust him again after his betrayal. However this time Vamp City has some leverage, her brother. She has to return to save him, and Arturo’s all she’s got. Has he learned the error of his ways? Or is she setting herself up for disappointment once again.
The first book was one of my favorite reads last year, so the sooner I could get my hands one, the better. Palmer’s morbid imagination really makes this series a standout to me, though I think certain dynamics of the first book didn’t sit well with everyone. For this novel I think it has more mass appeal, but I had a gripe or two. I guess the pace of the book was a bit of a problem for me. They spend quite a bit of time talking about the final adversary and yet we don’t even see that stand-off in this book. Cliffhanger enthusiasts should love it, but I can’t say the same for those of you who don’t. I just wish it would have wrapped up the novel in a more serial fashion because towards the end I was anticipating a conflict I didn’t get. The book just kind of ended and that was that.
I do like her efforts to redeem Arturo. I mean, sometimes the graphic and horrific things he endured got a little hard to stomach, but he had a lot of ground to make up and I think he did that. Tish was okay. I never really had a problem with her, though her over protectiveness of her brother, while noble, got a little annoying after a while. The chemistry between Tish and Arturo was s still immensely strong which certainly adds to their appeal.
I liked the history and backstory about the vampires and other supernaturals that live in Washington, VC, learning of their gradual deterioration into what they have become and why. It was thought-provoking and I was often conflicted about the best course of action to fix everything.
At this point I am sort of wondering if Palmer plans to make this a trilogy or if it’s an ongoing series. If it’s a trilogy it certainly feels like a middle book. I feel as if all the issues presented can certainly be resolved in one more.
*ARC provided by the publisher. *Review also posted to Amazon. ...more
As you can see, I present definitive proof that I've indeed read the book! And man oh man is it fantastic! It's my new favorite! I normally worry about using that term too loosely because it could diminish the potential quality of the series as a whole, but I genuinely think it's the best book thus far. Kim Harrison has done it yet again and all signs point to her doing it two more times, and in epic proportions.
This time the Ever After, home of the demons, is shrinking at an alarmingly fast rate, placing the existence of magic in a pretty vulnerable position; without one there couldn't be the other. So as if our favorite itchy witch, Rachel Morgan, didn't have enough problems, this just sprang up to #1. If she can't solve this one, she won't have any others. If she can't fix it, the demons want her head as her botched leyline creation caused this mess in the first place. And no one wants to see that happen more than her old buddy, Ku'Sox, the former day walking demon who had the misfortune to cross Rachel and lose. He even resorts to abducting her friend and goddaughter as insurance...and boy is it effective. Thankfully she's got Trent Kalamack and Algaliarept by her side to restore balance and take him down once and for all. But the price may be too high for things to ever be the same again.
I know there was criticism about not a lot happening in A Perfect Blood, though I personally enjoyed the old-school Hollows style mystery. But for those of you who didn't, for EVER AFTER I think a better question is what *didn't* happen! There was so much going on that I genuinely can't recall a dull moment. I think I felt and continue to feel every emotion possible, but I ultimately finished the book in pure euphoria. In case you needed a little reminding, Harrison presents really harsh realities and difficult decisions that prove she's an author with guts. I don't think I've experienced so many pulse pounding moments since For a Few Demons More (book 5). This book left me reeling like no other.
The scenes that take place in the Ever-After were some of the best of the series. The race against the clock really made this book so intense. Learning the history of the demons and the elves and the eventual degradation of their relationship was great, though I would have loved even more insight. I just can't get enough of it.
And that brings me to Big Al, who was totally amazing. Fans will absolutely adore him in this book as we learn more about his personal back story. He's much more prominent here than in A Perfect Blood and that's fine by me because he literally lights up the pages and keeps things exciting in his own peculiar way.
After having read Trent's POV in the bonus chapter of A Perfect Blood, I saw everything he did in a whole new light, and boy was it refreshing. He's got his own personal demons to work through and it really makes you feel for the guy. He is in a rock and a hard place, accepting his actions that have led to certain consequences while still working to find the best solution possible. I loved seeing him use more magic. I feel like elves have a pretty powerful arsenal that deserve more exploration, so it was nice to see Harrison skim the surface here with the insinuation of even greater things. Magic is amped up for the elves, while more human qualities are amped up for the demons, so it was an interesting trade off.
His teamwork with Rachel was one of my favorite parts of the book. The tension was insane and placed so well all throughout. It's seriously amazing to go back and read passages from Dead Witch Walking and then look at them now. Their progress is usually one step forward, two steps back, but the slow burn for this ship is probably what will make it my all-time #1 favorite if they end up together *fingers crossed*.
This book was just about everything I could ask for, but it wasn't 100% flawless. With so much ever after, elf and demon action, the story manages to throw in a smidgeon of development in vampire politics. Unfortunately it felt very much like an afterthought and briefly broke the overall flow. We know vampires won't get a lot of focus until the final book 13, so 10 or so pages of development came off a random at best and forgettable at worst.
All in all, this is an absolute MUST READ for fans of the series. Since Black Magic Sanction and Pale Demon the series has been invigorated and manages to improve as we reach the final stretch. That is a rarity for 95% of series that make it this far. I think it helps a lot that Kim Harrison has an end in sight and continues to write towards that. Many others have jumped-the-shark by this point. The Hollows is absolutely revving up for a grande finale and I cannot wait to be there.
*ARC provided by the author (cuz she frickin' ROCKS!!)
I came into this story already expecting that I would not to enjoy it as much as its predecessor, The Fire Lord's L*Le Sigh* and the magic is gone
I came into this story already expecting that I would not to enjoy it as much as its predecessor, The Fire Lord's Lover, and unfortunately it didn't exceed my expectations. Kathryne Kennedy's Lady of the Storm has all of the pieces, but I was honestly left wanting to simply go read The Fire Lord's Lover all over again.
We have a new hero and heroine in this tale, both elf/human half-breeds. The story centers around Cecily, who we meet as a child in the first book, and Giles, her sworn protector. In the first book we learn that Cecily inherited exceptional power from her Imperial Lord Elven father of Dewhame to control water and weather elements. This made her a target, so she had to flee into hiding in order to remain safe. At the start of this book we see that she's managed to live in secrecy for about ten years until the Imperial Lord's soldiers show up at her door. She is forced to go on the run again, but there's no more running away. It's her time to fight back with Giles at her side.
Everything that felt new and fresh with Fire Lord's Lover felt a bit bland here. I don't doubt Kennedy's imagination and world building abilities, but I guess her story-building abilities come into question. There were times where the plot felt completely formulaic:
Beautiful elves? Check Virgin heroine? Check 5+ love scene quota? Check 1 super magical love scene? Check A silly development for relationship conflict that you know will be resolved? Check
I felt like this book had more love scenes than the first one and it took a lot longer to get to that point, so it was a bit condensed. Also, whereas I liked the magical love scene in the first book, this one wasn't nearly as interesting, though the author tried to be creative and original. I think this series would have benefited from focusing on Dominic and Cassandra instead of shifting to new characters. Dominic and Cassandra do make appearances a few times in this installment, but it only served to make me wish the POV would switch to them every time.
There's nothing particularly likable about Giles or Cecily. I didn't feel a lot of personality with them like I did with their book 1 counterparts. They are heavy on the angst and emotionally weak. I was also disappointed with the lack of development for her Imperial Lord father as opposed to the first book. I like for the villains to be well-developed. The final showdown was really anti-climatic and I wasn't invested in it at all; it only sealed this book's fate as forgettable. I just wanted it over so that I could skip to the preview for the next book. I hope that the author rebounds, but I won't be quick to read this next one, which sounds like it could potentially be the last one. I haven't heard one way or another as to whether this series will be a trilogy, but if she can't turn things around then the sooner she ends it, the better.
Normally I prefer to start a series with the first book, but when I saw Wayfinder (book 2 in the Worldwalker Duology) listed I couldn’t help myself. The cover was nice and premise sounded very interesting. Overall, it turned out to be an enjoyable read. This was a little more on the high fantasy side as opposed to urban fantasy because you spend a great deal of time in the Barrowlands (a post-apocalyptic land for their Faerie-kin). Thankfully, even though I didn’t read the first book the author catches you up to speed.
The book is centered on Lara Jansen, a not-so-ordinary tailor that has special powers allowing her to be a human lie detector. Her gift makes her very attractive for the beings of this other world, so she reluctantly trades her sewing kit for a magical staff that proves challenging to control… Or is it trying to control her? Either way, she needs it to fend off enemies in the Barrowlands as she tries to rescue her beloved Dafydd, the Seelie prince who originally sought her out for her gift to save his world. As she takes this journey she meets many powerful characters, some friend and some foe.
I found it very easy to immerse myself into the story. There’s a lot of decent action and world-building and the magic was cool. Lara isn’t particularly special or quirky, but the character experiences the necessary growth into her roles as a Truthseeker and then a Wayfinder. The romance for me is a little bland, but this may have been because I didn’t read the first book where a lot of the development happens. As it stands, this book didn’t need that angle to be interesting.
I liked the author’s writing style and I felt as if the pacing was just right. I enjoyed this book enough that I have added the first book to the TBR queue. As a Duology, we’re not committed to an on-going series which is good and bad. I appreciate that the books didn’t drag on, but I think this could have been a decent on-going series if handled well. Either way, I recommend this series.
I’m always up for a new series, and throwing…well…”elder races” into the mix sounded right up my alley. That’s juThe flame fizzles towards the end
I’m always up for a new series, and throwing…well…”elder races” into the mix sounded right up my alley. That’s just asking for a rich fantasy world with endless possibilities and creatures.
Pia Giovanni is a nomadic human/Wyr hybrid who tries to stay under the radar and out of trouble when it comes to Wyrkind and their Dark Fae enemies. However, she is forced to steal a special item from Dragos Cuelebre, the most powerful and short-tempered Wyr there is. She manages to be successful, but that only makes her public enemy number one to him, until they meet and sparks really fly.
The novel actually starts off promising. We’re introduced to a number of creatures and get a taste of the delicate balance of respect and deep rivalries that exist among the different species. The tension starts out high between Pia and Dragos and it’s very entertaining. I was invested in their teamwork when they ended up in enemy territory.
However, being primarily PNR that can only last for so long until they shag like bunnies. If I do PNR, I am not for the super sappy kind and that’s what it morphs into more and more as the book progresses. The ending was eye-roll inducing for me because I just felt as if too much happens between them within a span of days that I could count with two hands.
The nicknames for the characters were pretty corny too; so much so that I wish Harrison didn’t even bother to add them.
I also had an issue with the writing format of the book. It alternates between third-person and first-person; however the first-person inner monologues are supposed to be italicized. There were countless spots where they were not italicized, making it a little confusing and annoying to follow at times.
I’m not sure if I will continue with this series because the couple (which I ended up not liking) overshadows the world itself, which I found way more interesting. For a PNR, that’s honestly how it should be in the first place. But their love story just wasn’t complicated enough for me to appreciate the journey. They just didn’t earn it for me.
Can this girl ever catch a break? Even cutting herself off from the demon collective and having a new bodyguard can't save our favorite itchy witch from problems. Rachel tries to adjust to being a borderline civilian (as she still works to solve cases after all) but her secret is out and that has made her the perfect target for a pretty serious hate group, HAPA, led by a group of sadistic humans. Their public enemy #1 is the Inderlander community and they will stop at nothing to be rid of them all, even if they must use Inderlander powers to do so. Of course we would have no story if Rachel wasn't exactly what they needed. She tries her damnedest to take them on the good old-fashioned demonless way, but she soon finds that it may not be enough.
She can't do it alone which results in the unlikely but very anticipated partnership with none other than Trent. And this partnership certainly doesn't disappoint. It's a new day for the new dad as we see a completely new but believable side to our favorite elf (well, he's my favorite at least). Their teamwork really is the heart of this book though other familiar faces, Ivy and Jenks, are still around.
Since Book 3 Rachel has liked to drive home that she and Trent look so good together, yet they're apart. But by the end of this book, you start to wonder why. Though she denies it, to me Rachel's actions clearly indicate growing affections towards him. As Trent embraces his magic, they seems a lot more compatible than one would initially think. If I spilled the beans about some of the revelations for his character, it would seem as if Harrison pulled it out of thin air. But she backs it up with several references from past novels, making one wonder if she was thinking about these threads all along. A lot of scenes are stark contrasts to what we've seen before, most notably her interactions with Trent in his home and office. Key moments throughout the series (though few and far in between) have taken place in those locations, so the evolution is meaningful.
While there wasn't a lot of Al, he certainly makes it count for the scenes he's in, managing to be his usual hilarious, yet terrifying self. I'm sure he will be a large presence in the next novel, so I'm looking forward to that. Jenks is funny as always, saying the most inappropriate things at the most awkward times. Ivy is stable and more of a presence than I was expecting based on Harrison's comments about her going away and then coming back in the last book. We're introduced to a few new supporting characters as well. Wayde is a Were bodyguard hired to look out for Rachel. Nina is a living vampire often being controlled by a master-vamp, making her really vulnerable. Both of those characters were okay---I could take them or leave them---but I really took a liking to Winona, a Witch prisoner that Rachel befriends as she takes on HAPA. She's a sympathetic character, just a normal person wanting to live her life. But the events of this book make her shine for her adaptability and practicality. I thought she and Rachel worked really well together.
I'm not sure if it's because it's fresh, but I LOVED this book...dare I say better than Pale Demon in a lot of ways. I liked Rachel's self discovery that she can hide but she can't run. She truly accepts who she is as a demon and the animosity between her and Trent is over too so now it's just the building process that you really hope pays off.
If I don't like a Hollows book, I will say so. I've been with this series since 2005, so I've been through all of the ups and downs. While I read many urban fantasy novels, I pick up The Hollows and feel like I'm saying hello to an old friend. It still manages to be really exciting, so knowing that there are only two books left (with a thirteenth as a possible continuation) makes me a bit sad. But for some reason, I didn't get the same vibe like I did from Pale Demon where it was really obvious how much the story was winding down. I guess that's a signal for filler, but at least it's good filler. The mystery aspect made me flash back to book 2 and the times when Rachel had gruesome mysteries to solve, so it gave me a feeling of nostalgia. This book isn't perfect but all in all I found it to be a satisfying entry to The Hollows series, so I gave it 4.5 stars.
I had no idea of what to expect when it came to a world book. I’d surely never read one before, so I was anticipaMs. Harrison has outdone herself!
I had no idea of what to expect when it came to a world book. I’d surely never read one before, so I was anticipating something fairly close to a textbook, which generally = boring. This was certainly information rich, but boring is was not. In fact, it’s fantastic.
The theme is genius. It kicks off with the Hollows humor we all know and love, instantly drawing you in. It’s basically told from the POV of an innocent bystander of one of Rachel’s spells gone hilariously wrong in her early days as an I.S. Intern. He takes his grudge to the next level and spends time spying and collecting information on our favorite itchy witch and the supporting Hollows characters. He works for the local Inderlander paper and his goal is to expose Rachel. He’s not having an easy time of it which makes things all the more entertaining, so in turn this is how we learn about everything from species facts, character profiles, maps, magic spells, demon curses, recipes, music lyrics and more.
Normally when I crack open a Hollows book I want a new story, but reading about the Hollows world is quite fascinating and surprisingly enough while I already knew some of the facts, I did learn a couple of new things when it came to character insights and spells. It repeats some lines a couple of times depending on the sections, but I didn’t find it annoying. You can tell Harrison really did her homework. She references the smallest things from the previous novels, even Rachel and Ivy’s mistakenly suggestive Yellow Page ad from Book 3. I also liked the clarification of the different magic types between ley line, earth, and demon magic. I wish there was a little more explanation about “wild” magic that the elves typically use, but that didn’t stop my enjoyment one bit.
You can skim or skip sections if you want, or you can take your time and truly absorb the information. It’s definitely an adjustment to have that option for The Hollows.
You pick it up and you really don’t want to put it down. The layout and graphics are very nice to look at which helps a lot. Reluctantly, I couldn’t read it in one sitting being the busy bee that I am, but it was on my mind until I could get back to finishing it. Heck, I want to read it TWICE and you will NEVER hear me say that about a text book!
If you’re an ebook reader, don’t despair. It’s not available in ebook format due to numerous graphics and font variations. I cannot imagine this looking remotely appealing on my kindle, or even on a color e-reader. It’s a reference text and I always find reading those on an ereader to be an awful experience because I often flip back and forth between pages; ebooks just don’t hold up to that for me.
So yes, I found this to be a satisfying read and it no doubt sets the bar extremely high for any other world books I come across. This is highly recommended if you’re a fan of The Hollows, though you will want to be caught up through Pale Demon because there are major spoilers. ...more
The Fire Lord's Lover by Kathryne Kennedy is yet another FABULOUS ebook cheapie at $1.99! This was on my to-be-read (tbr) list for I'm on a roll!
The Fire Lord's Lover by Kathryne Kennedy is yet another FABULOUS ebook cheapie at $1.99! This was on my to-be-read (tbr) list for the longest, so I was really glad to finally get around to it. It was so good that I read it in one day...and then I read it again!! Yep, I read it TWICE!
In an alternate universe during the middle ages, England endures the reign of Elven Lords---powerful and magical beings from Elfhame who entered the human realm seeking war and even more power. Unable to return home, they decided to make themselves comfortable in the human world, acquiring slaves and servants to maintain their palaces and lands. While stunningly beautiful, these humanoid creatures are evil and self-serving---mating with humans solely to produce formidable champion warriors.
Most English citizens comply out of fear; however there is the Rebellion, a large number of people secretly working together to put an end to their tyranny. Lady Cassandra is one of them. She is a secret assassin raised to be the wife of General Dominic Raikes, the champion son of Imperial Elven Lord Mor'ded. They are to produce a new champion for Mor'ded, giving her a perfect opportunity to infiltrate his court and assassinate him. On the flip side, Dominic works hard to conceal his growing power from his father. Of course nothing goes as planned for neither Cassandra nor Dominic as they try to fight their growing feelings for one another. But they soon learn that Mor'ded is way too ruthless and powerful for either of them to take down alone.
I have totally fallen in love with Ms. Kennedy's world and her characters. Next to vampires, elves and fae are a not too distant second as my favorite supernatural species. I love love LOVE her imagery! I truly looked forward to any scene where magic was involved because she makes it very intriguing and fun. I adored Dominic and Cassandra and their evolving relationship over the course of the book. While it follows a similar pattern of other romances, it doesn't feel cliche so I really invested in this part of the story. It's really fresh...or as fresh as you can expect for a historical setting. I've read many a love scene in my large library of books, but this novel contains a scene that is probably up there with my all-time favorites. It's super tasteful, magical, and well-placed while remaining really hott.
I never tired of any of the characters or the story which is a testament to Ms. Kennedy's writing ability. It's just the right length, so the story doesn't drag. Usually towards the middle of a book I will get bored, but for this book the middle is my favorite part, keeping me the most engaged.
I'm a little concerned about the mixed reviews for the second book, but I will give it a chance. It is an ongoing series. I'm super disappointed that the next book won't center on Dominic and Cassandra, but I will give it a chance because the world building is as good as it gets. Another one that I highly recommend, and for $1.99 you have nothing to lose...or at least not a whole lot.
I enjoyed this book much more than the previous installment, however I think I would have been happier had Harrison stretched plot out over two books I enjoyed this book much more than the previous installment, however I think I would have been happier had Harrison stretched plot out over two books instead of dragging it out in book 7 (which I can hardly remember anything important happening) and then cramming a million and one things into this book. On one hand it is fast paced which I like, but on another it's a big mess.
I am with the lot that does NOT like Pierce. I had Gary Stu vibes at the beginning which raised flags but it only got worse and worse as the book progressed as he got more and more clingy and now I can stand him less and less. He is officially the least tolerable boyfriend. He has to be at Rachel's side every second and it's nauseating. He has a lot of knowledge, but just leave it at that. Maybe I could stand her other boyfriends better because they weren't on every freakin' page. Kisten I loved to vampy bits though, rest is double dead soul. It is a sad day when I can say I preferred Nick!! Why is it that Rachel's boyfriends (save for Kisten) have 0 chemistry with her? Kisten could make chemistry with a cardboard cut out, so he just might be an exception to anything.
I really hope Harrison limits Pierce's presence significantly in the next books because after a while I found myself skimming and outright skipping pages that involved him...which was a lot. I was enjoying the book 20 times more when he wasn't there. I'm just not feeling the retcon of how he gets dibs so fast because he was "there all along." Especially at the expense of Ivy looking cool. She was such an afterthought in this book and that was a real shame.
-----SPOILER------ I don't know about anybody else, but I was EXTREMELY disappointed that Pierce was the one to go with Rachel in Jenks' time of need instead of Ivy. That was Ivy's place, not his and it angered me a lot. It's a very private time that should be shared with those CLOSEST to that person and Pierce does not fit the bill. I was really disgusted by that. -----SPOILER------
Of course, I am a huge Trent fan so I enjoyed seeing him a bit more in this book than the last. I hear book 9 should be a real treat for us, so I am looking forward to it! There were definitely some priceless scenes here. I was glad we got a glimpse into their past as well. They have their own bond that is complicated and hard to explain, but it's oh so important at the same time! Definitely liked what I saw here as a Trent fan and a Trent/Rachel fan. I do hope they explore a relationship at some point. (next book please please please please please)
And of course, Al has completely stolen the show. I would have never thought around book 1 that I would ever want to see Rachel and Al together, but by golly I wouldn't mind it now!! I love Trent/Rachel and Al/Rachel. I still like Trent/Rachel a bit more (probably because I have liked them since book 1), but way to turn on the heat with Al!! I started to like him a bit more in WWBC (probably because there wasn't much else to like in that book), but here he really began to stand out. I couldn't help but enjoy him knocking Pierce around like a rag doll.
So all in all, there were times I loved the book, and then times I hated it, so I will have to give it a 2.5 and round up to 3. One star for Trent and one star for Al. The plot being all over the place knocks it down half a star, and then Pierce knocks it down 2 more. Books 3 and 6 are still my favorites. Here's hoping book 9 can bring it back to that 5-star mark that I know, love and miss with this series! ...more
About two years ago, Ms. Harrison teased her blog followers about an upcoming book involving Rachel, Trent, and Jenks on a road trip out west. Fast forward to now, as Book 9 has finally been released. If you follow Ms. Harrison, you know that she touts this particular book as her favorite of the series. As a fan since 2005, I can say it's without a doubt my new favorite as well. It took six books, but Book 3 has finally been overtaken.
We have Rachel and Jenks heading out west for what she tries to convince herself will be a pardon with the Coven of Moral and Ethical Standards for using black magic. Oh yeah, and she has her brother’s wedding to attend too. Trent Kalamack also needs to get to the west coast, though it's for personal reasons. He's keeping mum on the details; however, he will accompany Rachel to her pardon (more like her trial as far as he is concerned) in an attempt to vouch for her. Rachel is banned from flying commercially and Trent is limited to travelling by land. Neither can get out west without the other. If Trent doesn't make his deadline, he’ll miss out on the most important opportunity to help his race. If Rachel loses, she says hello to Big Al and the Ever-After FORever-after.
Joined later by Ivy, Pierce, a surprise Coven member, and a few assassins trying to stop either Trent or Rachel in their tracks, we end up with an American Inderlander Road Trip...from Hell. Aside from the banter amongst themselves, they later run into a new demon, a Pale Demon, who can walk in the sun and must eat living souls to sustain himself. He’s so dangerous that even the demons sealed him away, but upon his unexpected release, he causes plenty of ruckus on both sides of the lines in more ways than one, proving to be a bit too much to handle for our favorite witch/demoness.
Character development, magic, action, comedy, drama, romance--these elements have been what keeps the storyline going and makes it so special for fans of this series. Harrison hits all of that in her writing. She addresses several particular issues when it comes to Rachel's relationships, as well as the relationships between the people around her.
While not trying to spoil much here (feel free to skip this paragraph if you’re worried), you're certainly strapped in for a roller coaster ride in terms of Rachel's love life. If you thought it was crazy before, you’re in for it now. While I’ve been a card-carrying Trent and Rachel supporter since Book 1, there’s attention given to her relationships with him, Pierce, Ivy, and Al too. I doubt that’s too surprising for those who have read the previous books though. It's just all quite complicated and I have a hard time imagining how Kim plans to iron out everything. Like any fan, of course I have certain hopes.
Relationship dynamics evolve as much as the characters, and I think it is for the better. Everyone in one way or another is growing in this book, even the demons. New and important characters are introduced as well. You find yourself surprised as you sympathize and even start to like particular characters that you may not have cared for in the beginning. Harrison does well with fleshing out their personalities, revealing them to be more complex than they seem. Throughout this book the lines of black and white aren't so clear anymore, though certain characters do *finally* pay some consequences for their actions. People--and I mean species in general--are who they are, but the issue of nature vs. nurture is still there.
Acceptance is a major theme this this time around, along with trust and vulnerability. We see Rachel making smarter choices and tapping more into her demonic nature. She and Trent have to learn to work together and trust one another. If you’re a Trent fan, he’s here in spades and you’ll never tire of him. You can see a mile away any opportunity when Rachel will ogle him, which is all in good fun of course. New questions arise for the demons and the Ever-After. Jenks evolves too, and he’s still some of the best comic relief throughout the book. You’ll love him per usual, if not a little more. We get more Ivy focus with the good old-fashioned teamwork that we loved from the beginning of the series, and more light is shone on her relationship with Rachel. Al fans should really enjoy this book as well because we learn a few new things about him as he helps Rachel harness her demonic powers. Even Newt’s character improves immensely. You can read it yourself to learn why. I am not the biggest fan of Pierce, but he is slightly more bearable this time around too, and that’s saying something. I found his presence in Black Magic Sanction absolutely smothering, almost ruining my enjoyment of that book.
Overall, I thought the book was pretty solid, but some instances were a little too convenient.
******MINOR SPOILERS************************* Like in terms of Trent’s quest. Realistically, why what he was after wasn’t being monitored 24/7 until his deadline passed was beyond me. That needed more explanation.
I also wonder why Harrison doesn’t exploit elven super-speed a little more considering they can travel really fast from one spot to another. ******END MINOR SPOILERS*******************
I read it in 2 evenings. However, I was breezing along until the last third, where all of a sudden it came to a screeching halt. It couldn’t have been helped, but gears switched a little too suddenly and I had a hard time wanting to follow it. It wasn’t that I was uninterested in the subject matter. I just wasn’t interested right then. Black Magic Sanction in comparison was all over the place, but that was easier for me because that was the established pace. My annoyance with Pierce was the only thing slowing me down there. However, after I finished Pale Demon, I went back to re-read the last third and I found it *very* engaging after all, so if this happens to you while reading it, see if that works. For other fans who read the book, it may be the opposite and the last third will be the easiest to read. Regardless, I have to say that I found the last 30-40 pages nothing short of epic. Harrison is full of surprises alright!
I have to admit, I was a little sad when I finished reading it. Loose ends are starting to tie up and this is the first time where I felt the series slightly begin to wind down. There are new obstacles and challenges and arguably a new direction for the story to take, but you definitely reflect a bit about how far things have come since Dead Witch Walking. I look forward to Book 10, but I’m not quite sure it can top Pale Demon, so I’m anticipating it slightly less. Even still, The Hollows is my favorite series, and there’s something or another that I enjoy in each book, so I expect nothing less in that aspect. In the meantime, the fan in me is actually pretty sated right now. It was worth the wait, Kim!
The second installment of the Rachel Morgan/Hollows series takes place a few months where Dead Witch Walking left off.
Rachel's settling into her freeThe second installment of the Rachel Morgan/Hollows series takes place a few months where Dead Witch Walking left off.
Rachel's settling into her freelance career, her roommate situation with Ivy, and her Pixie sidekick, Jenks. She accepts a contract to investigate a wave of witch murders and she goes undercover to spy on her former professor. Rachel suspects Trent Kalamack--murdering drug lord and businessman extraordinaire--of the murders. She's still none to keen on when he trapped her in his office as a mink.
We learn a bit more about Trent in this book, answering a good deal of questions from the first book. I thought this book overall was a little more gruesome than the first book in its description of the bodies. It reminded me a bit more of other dark urban fantasy and horror books. The action and wit are definitely on par, keeping the series from being overly dark.
Personally, I was bored out of my skull with her relationship with Nick. It's sort of hard to trust someone you meet in the rat pits, but what can you do? The romance in this book is sort of blah, at least until the end when things get...interesting to say the least.
Overall, I liked this book tons more than Dead Witch Walking. I originally put that book down until I was badgered to finish it and keep reading by a friend. I didn't have the same issue with book 2. I read it fairly quickly and by the end I wanted to get my hands on Book 3 ASAP!! As a long time Hollows fan, it's really fun to think back on how I felt about each of these books, which eventually led to this becoming my favorite series.
I thought it was amazing to read Big Al and Ceri's back story. Oh how far he's come since then!
Merged review:
Loved learning about how Ceri became Al'sI thought it was amazing to read Big Al and Ceri's back story. Oh how far he's come since then!
Merged review:
Loved learning about how Ceri became Al's familiar. I think this is my favorite of the short stories.
Merged review:
Still reeling from the shocking end of For a Few Demons More (Book 5), one has to wonder if the series can bounce back. I can certainly say that it does. About the only way to do it is with more action and twists, and we definitely get it in this book.
Everything you thought you knew about this series and these characters starts to change. Trent is more prominent in this book as well and needs Rachel to travel with him to the Ever-After to obtain an ancient elven sample that could cure his race.
With Piscary out of the picture, we learn more about the new master vampire, Rynn Cormel. While he's not as downright evil as Piscary, he's far from a push-over.
After the end of the previous book where Ceri is finally introduced to her elf kin, we learn that she's pregnant. That's the least of the surprises when it comes to potential for children in this series.
The highlights of this book for me were her interactions with Trent as well as their trip into the ever-after. While he's still a murdering bastard, we do see his walls crumbling a little bit, which only really happens around Rachel for those not in his immediate trusted group of friends and guardians.
The plot surrounding the Ever-After was fantastic as well. We meet a new sidekick for Rachel, a young gargoyle named Bis. He's so ugly, he's almost cute! I also really enjoyed learning about the demon society a bit more. As I've said in previous reviews for this series, it makes the villains so much more dynamic when we can see these parts to them. Demons have their own rules and laws in the Ever-After. While they are ruthless, it's within their own civilization.
To add to that, Kim likes to make Trent really experienced at random activities. We learn that he can drive a stick at the end of Book 2. We learn that he can swim very well in Book 3. Here we learn that he can (view spoiler)[roller skate of all things. (hide spoiler)] It's just some of the qualities that add to the richness of this series as a whole.
This is my favorite urban fantasy series by far, so I highly recommend reading it. While not every book is as good as the next, this one is one of the best ones.
Well, every series going for this long is bound to have that one book that just isn't up to par with the rest. I'm a huge fan of The Hollows, but thisWell, every series going for this long is bound to have that one book that just isn't up to par with the rest. I'm a huge fan of The Hollows, but this was definitely the weakest installment.
Rachel's shunned, cast aside as a black which in her community. She's also focused on figuring out who killed Kisten a couple of books back. All the while, she takes on a banshee that feeds herself and child by stealing auras from people.
The resolution to Kisten's death was anti-climatic at best. I am not sure how I feel that we needed to wait two years to reach that conclusion.
There also isn't much Trent here, which was another downer for me, kind of like the 4th book where he wasn't there at all. That we get a smidgen of him helps a little. It also helped that Harrison alluded to Book 9 being a book with a lot of focus on Trent.
I don't know about anybody else, but I sort of started to like Al a bit in this book, and not in a "he's a cool villain" kind of way. There is this one scene where Kim gives the reader a bit of a reality check, and I thought it was well-placed. It keeps you grounded in understanding that while he can be plenty entertaining, he's indeed a demon.
Rachel meets up (again?) with what looks to be shaping up to be boyfriend #...Oh I've lost count now. He seems to be a figure from her past and an invisible one of her present. She's definitely plowing through them though. Failed relationship after failed relationship. Yawn. I'm not sure if I have the highest hopes for this guy, but we'll see.
Funny enough, this is the hardcover with the most pages, yet in this book there's the least amount of plot progression. Many have likened this installment to filler and I have to agree. The Hollows as a whole is my favorite series, but I definitely don't recommend starting with this book. This is really a series where you need to start from the top anyway because of the evolving plot. Unfortunately, this one isn't the best first impression because it doesn't showcase the top notch quality that this series is capable of. Though actually, this book is sort of with the first book, ranked in my bottom 3, but the first book is better than this one.
I am definitely hoping for the next book to be a bit better. I have faith that it will be.
VampireNovelFan
>
Books:
elves
(24)
Loading...
