DNF Review: The Turn: The Hollows Begins with Death

 

I've finished "The Turn" a prequel book in her Hollows series by Kim Harrison.

Product Description

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison returns to her beloved Hollows series with The Turn, the official prequel to the series that will introduce you to a whole new side of Rachel Morgan's world as they've never seen it before!

Can science save us when all else fails?

Trisk and her hated rival, Kal, have the same goal: save their species from extinction.

But death comes in the guise of hope when a genetically modified tomato created to feed the world combines with the government's new tactical virus, giving it an unexpected host and a mode of transport. Plague rises, giving the paranormal species the choice to stay hidden and allow humanity to die, or to show themselves in a bid to save them.

Under accusations of scientific misconduct, Trisk and Kal flee across a plague-torn United States to convince leaders of the major paranormal species to save their supposedly weaker kin, but not everyone thinks humanity should be saved, and Trisk fights the prejudices of two societies to prove that not only does humanity have something to offer, but that long-accepted beliefs against women, dark magic, and humanity itself can turn to understanding; that when people are at their worst that the best show their true strength, and that love can hold the world together as a new balance is found.

About the Author

Kim Harrison, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Hollows series, was born in Detroit and, after gaining her bachelor’s degree in the sciences, she moved to South Carolina, where she remained until recently returning to Michigan because she missed the snow. When not at her desk, Kim is most likely to be found landscaping her new/old Victorian home, in the garden, or out on the links.

Product Details
Series: The Hollows
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Gallery Books; 1st edition (February 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1501108719
ISBN-13: 978-1501108716

My Review:

I couldn't really get into this book because I didn't really care for most of the characters!

Trisk was a really piece of work since all she cared about was one upping Kal and making sure her name was the one associated with the virus (I know a few people like this and take offense)!

Trent (the son) is quite arrogant but his father Kal is 100% more arrogant then him but at least I could stomach him!

I liked seeing Quen, Al, Daniel and Orchid!

DNF

UF Review: The Undead Pool (Hollows) Hardcover

I've finished "The Undead Pool" the 12th book in her Hollow series by Kim Harrison.

Supernatural superhero Rachel Morgan must counter a strange magic that could spell civil war for the Hollows in this sexy and bewitching urban fantasy adventure in acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison's Hollows series.

Witch and day-walking demon Rachel Morgan has managed to save the demonic ever after from shrinking, but at a high cost. Now, strange magic is attacking Cincinnati and the Hollows, causing spells to backfire or go horribly wrong, and the truce between the races, between Inderlander and human, is shattering. Rachel must stop this dark necromancy before the undead vampire masters who keep the rest of the undead under control are lost and all - out supernatural war breaks out.

Rachel knows of only weapon to ensure the peace: ancient elven wild magic, which carries its own perils. And no one know better than Rachel that no good deed goes unpunished.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling Kim Harrison was born and raised in the upper Midwest, and she has since returned there to better enjoy the snow. When not at work in the Hollows series, she spends her time tending orchids, landscaping her new/old Victorian home, and learning how to golf with her mom. Her current vices include good chocolate, and exquisite sushi. Her bestselling novels include Dead Witch Walking; The Good, The Bad, and The Undead; Every Which Way But Dead; A Fistful of Charms; For a Few Demons More; and Ever After.

Product Details
Series: Hollows (Book 12)
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Harper Voyager; First Edition edition (February 25, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061957933
ISBN-13: 978-0061957932

My Review:

Rachel and Trent get it on finally! 
 
3/5

ARC Review: Ever After [Hardcover]

I've finished "Ever After" the book in her Hollows series by Kim Harrison.

Product Description

New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison returns to the sexy, supernatural adventures of Rachel Morgan with the eleventh book in the Hollows series

Ever After

The ever-after, the demonic realm that parallels our own, is shrinking, and if it disappears, so does all magic. It's up to witch-turned-daywalking-demon Rachel Morgan to fix the ever-after before the fragile balance between magic users and humans falls apart.

Of course, there's also the small fact that Rachel is the one who caused the ley line to rip in the first place, and her life is forfeit unless she can fix it. Not to mention the most powerful demon in the ever-after — the soul-eater Ku'Sox Sha-Ku'ru — has vowed to destroy her, and has kidnapped her friend and her goddaughter as leverage. If Rachel doesn't give herself up, they will die.

Forced by circumstance, Rachel teams up with elven tycoon Trent Kalamack — a partnership fraught with dangers of the heart as well as betrayal of the soul — to return to the ever-after and rescue those she loves. One world teeters on the brink of interspecies war, the other on the brink of its very demise — and it's up to Rachel to keep them both from being destroyed.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison was born and raised in Michigan and has recently returned there to escape the South Carolina heat. Her bestselling Hollows novels include Dead Witch Walking; The Good, the Bad, and the Undead; Every Which Way But Dead; A Fistful of Charms; For a Few Demons More; The Outlaw Demon Wails; White Witch, Black Curse; Black Magic Sanction; Pale Demon; and A Perfect Blood plus the graphic novel Blood Work. She also writes the bestselling Madison Avery series for young adults, including Once Dead, Twice Shy and Early to Death, Early to Rise.

Product Details
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Harper Voyager (January 22, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061957917
ISBN-13: 978-0061957918

My Review:

We don't see much of Ivy until near the end of the book because she is on a trip.

The fey lines aren't working properly because there is a huge leak in one of them.  Rachel is being accused of causing the ever after to shrink since she caused the first tear.  She knows that Ku'Sox is responsible but she doesn't have the proof to back her theory.

Someone has been kidnapping Rosewood Syndrome babies and Rachel finds out Ku'Sox is the one responsible.  We find out if the ever after is destroyed the demons would be free to do whatever with the babies.  Then Ku'Sox kidnaps Trent's daughter Lucy and Ceri and he agrees to let Rachel and Lucy go if Trent helps him with the formula to treat the babies so they will live longer and Rachel unbinds him from the curse she bestowed on him. To ensure she won't double cross him he kidnaps Bis her gargoyle friend so she can't jump fey lines.

There were some sexual tension scenes between Trent and Rachel and they finally understand one another. The relationship between Al and Rachel is more caring and they try to help each other out.  Some funny Jenk moments and an interesting conversion between Rachel and Belle.

4/5

Thanks HarperCollins Canada for sending me this ARC to review, greatly appreciated!

Books in series:

1.  Dead Witch Walking
2.  The Good, The Bad, and the Undead
3.  Every Which Way but Dead
4.  A Fistful of Charm
5.  For a Few Demons More
6.  The Outlaw Demon Wails
7.  White Witch, Black Curse
8.  Black Magic Sanction
9.  Pale Demon
10. A Perfect Blood
11. Ever After

PNR Review: A Perfect Blood (The Hollows, Book 10) [Hardcover]

I've finished "A Perfect Blood" the 10th book in her Hollows series by Kim Harrison.

Product Description

New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison returns to the Hollows with the electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed Pale Demon!

Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in to help investigate by the I.S. and the FIB, former witch turned day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth: a human hate group is trying to create its own demons to destroy all Inderlanders, and to do so, it needs her blood.

She’s faced vampires, witches, werewolves, demons, and more, but humanity itself might be her toughest challenge yet.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison was born and raised in Michigan, and has recently returned there to escape the South Carolina heat. Her bestselling Hollows novels include Dead Witch Walking; The Good, the Bad, and the Undead; Every Which Way But Dead; A Fistful of Charms; For a Few Demons More; The Outlaw Demon Wails; White Witch, Black Curse; Black Magic Sanction; and Pale Demon, plus the graphic novel Blood Work. She also writes the bestselling Madison Avery series for young adults, including Once Dead, Twice Shy and Early to Death, Early to Rise.

Product Details
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Harper Voyager (February 21, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061957895
ISBN-13: 978-0061957895

My Review:

In this book Rachel has to fight a hate group called HAPA (Humans Against Paranormal Association) who are using deadly magic to extinguish the paranormal world.  They view Inderlanders as no more than animals to be cruelly experimented on and then thrown away.  We are also introduced to another special ops unit who we don't really know where their true intentions lie.

Rachel has grown up but she has lost her powers and is useless when she is thrown into dangerous situations.  Lucky she has friends in high places - Ivy, Jenks and especially Trent rescue her just in the nick of time.

When Rachel was reminiscing about Kisten it made me sad and made me think how much I miss him.   Rachel and Trent are trying to build a friendship based on trust and we see a softer and darker side to Trent.   Glad to see that demon AL is back and the way he charmed the two babies.  He brings laughs and keeps Rachel, Ivy and Jenks on their toes.

4/5

Other books in series:

1.   Dead Witch Walking
2.   The Good The Bad and The Undead
3.   Every Which Way But Dead
4.   A Fistful of Charms
5.   For A Few Dollars More
6.   The Outlaw Demon Wails
7.   White Witch Black Curse
8.   Black Magic Sanction
9.   Pale Demon
10. The Hollowers Insider
11. Blood Work (Graphic Novel)
12. Into the Woods: Tales from the Woods and Beyond - Oct 9, 2012
13. Blood Crime (Graphic Novel) - Oct 30, 2012

Thanks HarperCollins Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

http://www.harpercollins.ca/books/A-Perfect-Blood-Kim-Harrison?isbn=9780062128188&HCHP=TB_A+Perfect+Blood

PNR Review: The Hollows Insider: New fiction, facts, maps, murders, and more in the world of Rachel Morgan [Hardcover]

I've finished reading "The Hollows Insider" a great companion book by Kim Harrison.

New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison has won legions of fans with her sexy supernatural novels featuring bounty-hunting witch Rachel Morgan. And now comes a unique look inside her beloved Hollows series that no fan should miss. . . . The Hollows Insider

In the Hollows, the supernatural Inderlanders rule, and humanity must abide by their conventions, or else.

To survive among vampires, witches, Weres, gargoyles, trolls, fairies, and banshees — to say nothing of demons — humanity needs a guide. And now, written by Kim Harrison herself, here is an insider’s look at the supernatural world of the Hollows, from an overarching new story to character profiles, maps, spell guides, charm recipes, secret correspondence from the elusive Trent Kalamack, and much more. 

 

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison was born and raised in Michigan, and has recently returned there to escape the South Carolina heat. Her bestselling Hollows novels include Dead Witch Walking; The Good, the Bad, and the Undead; Every Which Way But Dead; A Fistful of Charms; For a Few Demons More; The Outlaw Demon Wails; White Witch, Black Curse; Black Magic Sanction; and Pale Demon, plus the graphic novel Blood Work. She also writes the bestselling Madison Avery series for young adults, including Once Dead, Twice Shy and Early to Death, Early to Rise. 

 

Product Details
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Harper Voyager; First Edition edition (October 25, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061974331
ISBN-13: 978-0061974335

 

My Review:

 

This book was broken down into nine chapters as follows:

 

Chapter 1 - Inderland Security Internal profiles on everything from Banshees to Witches and Warlocks; Hollows Gazette April 5, 2006

Chapter 2 - Church Maps, Bairn's Article and Death Certificate, Rachel's Treaties, Internal Fact Sheets on Inderland Security, Federal Inderland Bureau; Character Descriptions of Rachel Morgan, Ivy Tamwood, Jenks, Keasley, Kisten Felps; Hollows Gazette Internal Fact Sheets on Trenton Kalamack, Captain Edden and Piscary; Hollows Gazette October 4, 2006

Chapter 3 - Vampire Charms Yellow Pages Ad, Earth Magic, Ley Line Magic, JOLLS - The Journal of Ley Line Studies, Hollows Gazette October December 16, 2006

Chapter 4 - Betty Bob's Recipes, Character Descriptions of Ceridwen Dulciate, Dorothy Claymore Simmer and Nick Sparagmos; Hollows Gazette May 31, 2007

Chapter 5 - Kisten Phelp's Death, Trenton A. Kalamack's Arrest, Kalamack/Withon Wedding Announcement, United Were Registry, Hollows Gazette July 30, 2007

Chapter 6 - Spells, Summoning a Demon, 101 Earth Charms for Home and Office, Incantation to Bind a Familiar, Pentagrams and their associated uses, Takata's Lyrics, Hollows Gazette November 6, 2007

Chapter 7 -Hand Drawn Maps - Cincinnati/The Hollows/Cincinnati Outskirts; Timeline, Character Descriptions - Bis, Marshal, Godian Nathaniel Pierce; full color Witch Weekly Solstice Issue December 2008, Hollows Gazette January 2, 2008

Chapter 8 - Demons - What they can and cannot do, Demon Curses, Hollows Gazette April 16, 2008

Chapter 9 - Winnie Gradenko's Letter, The Hollows Gazette June 20, 2008

 

This was a gorgeous book with some beautiful illustrations with tons of information about the main characters, supernatural species, cookbook, etc.  It's quite hefty and the cover is gorgeous and colorful.

I really enjoyed reading the correspondence between Trent, Quen and Jonathan, Devin Crossman's journal entries, the characters information sheets and the cookbook.  I become quite sad when I read about Kisten's death (he's one of my favorite characters).

 

4/5

Other books in series:

1.  Dead Witch Walking

2.  The Good The Bad And The Undead

3.  Every Which Way But Dead

4.  A Fistful of Charms

5.  For A Few Demons More

6.  The Outlaw Demon Wails

7.  White Witch, Black Curse

8.  Black Magic Sanction

9.  Pale Demon

10. A Perfect Blood

Graphic Novels:

1.  Blood Work

2.  Blood Crime - Oct 30, 2012

Pale Demon (The Hollows, Book 9) [Hardcover]

I've finished "Pale Demon" the 9th book in her Hollows series by Kim Harrison.

Product Description

Condemned and shunned for black magic, Rachel Morgan has three days to get to the annual witches’ conference and clear her name, or be trapped in the demonic ever-after . . . forever after.

But a witch, an elf, a living vampire, and a pixy in one car going across the country? Talk about a recipe for certain disaster, even without being the targets for assassination.

For after centuries of torment, a fearsome demon walks in the sunlight — freed at last to slay the innocent and devour their souls. But his ultimate goal is Rachel Morgan, and in the fight for survival that follows, even embracing her own demonic nature may not be enough to save her.

Product Details
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Harper Voyager; First Edition edition (February 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061138061
ISBN-13: 978-0061138065

My Review:

Rachel is preparing for her brother's wedding while thinking about her pardon from the Witch's Coven.  Trent says he wants to take her there himself for personal reasons - he won't reveal why until we find out what it is at the end of the book.  He needs to retrieve something from his ex-wife and needs Rachel as his protector.

While on their road trip they have to battle a tribe of pixies, hostile witches and Ku'Sox a daywalking demon.  Rachel is the only one who can stop him with the help her friends Jenks and Ivy.  They are later assisted by Pierce and a Coven member while a few assassins try to stop Rachel and Trent from achieving their goals.  Ku'Sox must eat living souls to live and he's very dangerous so the demons sealed him away.

This book is more character development between Rachel, Trent, Ivy and Jenks.  I really love the bickering between Rachel and Trent because you can see they are really attracted to each other but don't quite trust each other yet.

I'm wondering am I the only one who thought Trent wasn't acting like himself in this book?

3/5

ARC Review: Something Deadly This Way Comes (Madison Avery) [Hardcover]

Something Deadly This Way Comes (Madison Avery) [Hardcover]

Product Description

I'm Madison Avery, in charge of heaven's hit squad . . . and fighting it all the way. 

When Madison died the night of her prom, she knew her life would never be the same. Now she has a powerful amulet, a team of rogue angels by her side, and the ability to flash forward into the future to see the shape of destiny. And of course, now she's finally with Josh — a perfect boyfriend who doesn't even mind that she's dead.

But being dead has its disadvantages, too. Madison feels caught between the light and the dark, and between her real life and her timekeeper status. When Madison has the opportunity to get her body back — to be alive again — she faces her most difficult decision yet. If she claims it, she could return to being a normal girl — and have a chance at a real relationship with Josh. But would having the one thing she wants most in the world also mean giving up everything she's worked so hard for?

Product Details
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (May 24, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 006171819X
ISBN-13: 978-0061718199

My Review:

Since the first book Madison has struggled with being the time keeper of the Dark Reapers.  She wants a third choice other than killing people to save their souls or assigning a guardian angel.  She also wants the mark to have a choice to change their fate. She's already done this once before but wants to prove it was just a fluke.

I love the friendship between Madison, Barnabus and Nakita because of their great team chemistry and also the external and external conflict each has.  Also love that Barnabus and Nakita accept their inner conflict and act upon it with their actions and words.  Madison even has help from an unlikely source Paul, the rising Timekeeper.

The question is will she be able to live a normal life once she finds her body?

I believe this is the last book in her Madison Avery series!
4/5

Thanks Shannon from HarperCollins Canada for sending me this ARC to review, greatly appreciated!

Early to Death, Early to Rise (Madison Avery, Book 2) [Hardcover]

I've finished "Early to Death, Early to Rise" the 2nd book in her Madison Avery series by Kim Harrison.

Product Description

Seventeen, dead, and in charge of heaven's dark angels — all itching to kill someone.

Madison Avery's dreams of ever fitting in at her new school died when she did. Especially since she was able to maintain the illusion of a body, deal with a pesky guardian angel, and oh yeah, bring the reaper who killed her to his untimely end. Not exactly in-crowd material. It's amazing that her crush, Josh, doesn't think she's totally nuts.

Now Madison has learned that she's the dark timekeeper, in charge of angels who follow the murky guidelines of fate. Never one to abide by the rules, she decides it's time for a major change to the system. With the help of some unlikely allies, Madison forms a rogue group of reapers who definitely don't adhere to the rules of the heavens.

But as she grapples with the terrifying new skills that come with being a timekeeper, Madison realizes she may not be prepared for what lies ahead—unless she gets some seriously divine intervention.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison was born and raised in the upper Midwest but has since fled south to better avoid snow. She spends her time tending orchids, cooking with some guy in a leather jacket, and training her dog. Her current vices include good chocolate and exquisite sushi. Kim is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel Once Dead, Twice Shy, her young adult debut, as well as the bestselling Hollows series, and she contributed to the paranormal collection Prom Nights From Hell.

My Review:

I will write my review either tonight or tomorrow night!

4/5

Black Magic Sanction (Rachel Morgan, Book 8)

I've finished reading "Black Magic Sanction" the 8th book in her Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison.

Product Description

In New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison's most complex and nuanced adventure yet, bounty hunter and witch Rachel Morgan fights a deadly battle — mind, body, and soul.

Black Magic Sanction

Rachel Morgan has fought and hunted vampires, werewolves, banshees, demons, and other supernatural dangers as both witch and bounty hunter—and lived to tell the tale. But she's never faced off against her own kind . . . until now. Denounced and shunned for dealing with demons and black magic, her best hope is life imprisonment—at worst, a forced lobotomy and genetic slavery. Only her enemies are strong enough to help her win her freedom, but trust comes hard when it hinges on the unscrupulous tycoon Trent Kalamack, the demon Algaliarept, and an ex-boyfriend turned thief.

It takes a witch to catch a witch, but survival bears a heavy price.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison was born and raised in the upper Midwest but has since fled south to better avoid snow. She spends her time tending orchids, cooking with some guy in a leather jacket, and training her dog. Her current vices include good chocolate and exquisite sushi. Kim is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel Once Dead, Twice Shy, her young adult debut, as well as the bestselling Hollows series, and she contributed to the paranormal collection Prom Nights From Hell.

My Review:

I will write my review tomorrow, so please check back later, thanks!

4/5

Once Dead, Twice Shy (Madison Avery, Book 1) (Hardcover)

I've just finished reading "Once Dead, Twice Shy" the 1st book in her Madison Avery series by Kim Harrison.

Product Description

My name is Madison Avery, and I'm here to tell you that there's more out there than you can see, hear, or touch. Because I'm there. Seeing it. Touching it. Living it.

Madison's prom was killer — literally. For some reason she's been targeted by a dark reaper—yeah, that kind of reaper—intent on getting rid of her, body and soul. But before the reaper could finish the job, Madison was able to snag his strange, glowing amulet and get away.

Now she's stuck on Earth—dead but not gone. Somehow the amulet gives her the illusion of a body, allowing her to toe the line between life and death. She still doesn't know why the dark reaper is after her, but she's not about to just sit around and let fate take its course.

With a little ingenuity, some light-bending, and the help of a light reaper (one of the good guys! Maybe . . . ), her cute crush, and oh yeah, her guardian angel, Madison's ready to take control of her own destiny once and for all, before it takes control of her.

Well, if she believed in that stuff.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison was born and raised in the upper Midwest but has since fled south to better avoid snow. She spends her time tending orchids, cooking with some guy in a leather jacket, and training her new dog. Her current vices include good chocolate and exquisite sushi. Kim is the author of the bestselling Hollows series, including The Outlaw Demon Wails, and she contributed to the paranormal collection Prom Nights From Hell.

White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows, Book 7) (Hardcover)

I've just finished reading "White Witch, Black Curse" the 7th book in her Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison.

From Publishers Weekly

Confusion reigns for characters and readers in the complicated seventh urban fantasy outing (after 2008's The Outlaw Demon Wails) for witch detective Rachel Morgan. Rachel's reputation is in tatters—to save humanity, she used powers that are considered evil—and she's still devastated by the mysterious death of her boyfriend six months earlier. Her attempts to solve his murder bleed into a case involving an emotion-sucking banshee, and soon Rachel has to bring in her PI partners—Ivy, a bisexual vampire, and Jenks, a pixie in existential crisis—along with empathic psychiatrist Ford and the banshee victim's father, Federal Inderland Bureau captain Edden. Harrison's unique vampire mythology unduly complicates world-building, and newcomers will be desperate for a glossary, but the nearly nonstop action nicely plays off the poignancy of Rachel's difficult life.