Kim Harrison

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Demons of Good and Evil

An old foe has come back to steal the focus from David. But this time they don’t just have a pack of wolves. A magic user named The Mage has set their eyes on taking down not only David but Rachel and her companions as well. By framing Rachel for murder, and tearing her power structure away bit by bit, The Mage has lofty ambitions. Rachel will be faced with making a deal she may soon regret.

Kim Harrison has quite a creative way of bringing back characters in this series. Reading Demons of Good and Evil combines nostalgia and eager anticipation of what new threats are heading Rachel’s way, especially when the danger is amplified this time by the additions to her family and friends since she last faced off against her past foes.

Amidst all the magic slinging action, there is also a thread of humor within the writing as Rachel faces off against a rampant mouse in her home. One that wants to cause her small moments of misery in retaliation for past transgressions. The fact Rachel has to bargain and make deals with the furry invader makes for hilarious confrontations and a healthy round of Jenks’ insults.

Readers will also have a chance to discover long buried childhood memories of Rachel and Trent. Allowing a larger picture of how they interacted in the past and how certain actions may have precluded their current future. No matter how far Rachel has come, there is always so much more to discover about her. Kim Harrison tantalizes readers each time wondering what new information will be revealed in coming novels.

Demons of Good and Evil is a thrilling addition to The Hollows. Fans of urban fantasy have to read this series. Just make sure you start at the beginning. While there are callbacks to earlier parts of the series, you’ll need the full history to know what is going on. Rachel is such a confident and compassionate main character. The best part is that she isn’t perfect and her mistakes make for entertaining situations.… (plus d'informations)

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Trouble with the Cursed

Embracing her role as the Subrosa for the city, Rachel is giving her all to maintain order. And despite the larger challenges looming over her head, she does not back down on her morals to keep the supernaturals in line. She may be a demon, but she refuses to twist dark curses and behave as the others do. Rachel’s humanity and steadfast beliefs are such an anchor point for her as a character. And while it may cause her more heartache in the end by not taking the easy way out, Rachel provides readers with an entertaining ride.

Trouble with the Cursed also explores coming to terms with the new appearance of demons and learning to embrace them as fellow citizens. This forces people to walk the fine line of trying not to judge before knowing them. But even if the demons appear to be on good behavior, Rachel knows what they are fully capable of. It’s only a matter of time before they push their boundaries and force Rachel’s hand. But Rachel won’t realize until it’s too late just how manipulative and crafty some can be.

Yet demons aren’t the only ones Rachel has to worry about. She’ll have to balance between keeping them in line and dealing with a visiting undead vampire. The dance of vampire politics is always a thrilling addition to the story. Especially when it allows Ivy to return. The love between Ivy and Rachel is so beautiful. Knowing each other’s boundaries and caring deeply for one another as friends is heartwarming.

Kim Harrison has created yet another wonderful addition to The Hollows series. With each new story, there's a fresh new take on the challenges facing Rachel and her loved ones. There is never a dull moment and the emotional depth of Rachel as a character is profound. Urban fantasy readers will love The Hollows.… (plus d'informations)

A decent summer read, though still not up to her Hollows series (maybe not even her Shadow Age, though it's too soon to tell on those). This one felt a little less like a novella and more like a novel than the first two in the series. That's a good thing, imo. On the other hand, it's feeling a little dragged out. The reader is way ahead of the characters at this point, and we're just saying, "Come on. Let's get moving."

I have say, I do love the Zelazy nod, whether intentional or inadvertent: you walk a Pattern and when you get to the middle, you can teleport ... Amber!… (plus d'informations)