It took me about two days to read this book because I couldn't put it down. I lugged the giant thing with me EVERYWHERE and tried to sneak reads wherever I could. (Stoplights, the line at the grocery store, the dentist...)

I think this may be my favorite in the series. Rachel is as kick-arse as always; Ivy and Jinks continue to be the two people I'd most want to fight bad guys with.

Rachel grows up a lot - and starts to realize what she values in life and who she really is. We finally learn more about her mysterious childhood and we learn more about Ceri and Trent. In fact, there were a few moments when my mouth was hanging open in shock (attractive, I know.) I thought the twists and turns in the book were great - it kept me wanting to read more! ( )

Good addition to the series. Read when in the mood for fast- paced paranormal urban fantasy. Best to start with earlier novels however, as this novel certainly builds on previous storylines. ( )

After the previous 2 books in this series, I'd been debating whether or not to continue with it; the writing felt rushed to me. I'm glad I continued- this one was long, meaty, and excellent. Various threads were tied up at least to a point, and other new ones started- plus, gargoyles! ( )

Over the course of five Hollows novels, Harrison has teased and alluded to readers about Rachel Morgan's true heritage. Is she really a witch? What did Trent's father exactly do to her DNA? Why does Ceri never let on about what she knows regarding Rachel's unusual talent in kindling demon magic? How is it related to Trent's research for the elf race? Why do demons gravitate towards her as if they have an ulterior motive? Why? Because they do!

Finally, Harrison lets the cat out of the bag in a big way...but she doesn't give it to us all in one big enchilada. The entire meat of the book is a lead in to what we have been waiting for but we stop a few times, glean more along the way.

Two main aspects to this latest tale that stand out significantly are: 1)there is more of a presence and focus on family ties both from Rachel's true family and her urban Hollows one i.e., Rachel's mom has a very dark secret related to Rachel's father, Keasley is revealed, Quen is in dire trouble, Rynn Cormel, the charismatic new Cincy vampire master makes an appearance, Ivy and Rachel come to an agreement of sorts with their blood balance, David the Were appears more nurturing, the addition of Marshal (the witch from Mackinaw Island) provides a potential new love interest, and Ceri...well she's got a bun in the oven from an unlikely source and 2) Rachel's true heritage.

It even gets more complicated and spicier as the search for Kisten's killer ensues, Trent asks Rachel to go on a mission to the Ever-After so that she can retrieve a piece of ancient Elven DNA-that might be able to repair the damage that the demons wrought in the last war. Couple this with Al on a nightly release when some mysterious person keeps summoning him from his jail in the Ever-After-even Minias is hard pressed to catch him. All in all, it's not just a bad day for Rachel but a bad week-Halloween week no less.

Readers get the big payoff and a glimpse into one possible direction that Harrison might be taking the series-one that is freaking irresistible! I felt like giggling and skipping around in a circle chanting a mantra: "We're going to the Ever After- We're going to the Ever After" like it's a really neat school field trip. Well hell...it is! My permission slip is signed and I'm ready to go!

After staying up nearly all night to finish reading (got the book early), and a triple espresso in the shower to wake me up, it was well worth every minute. Worth savoring and re-reading!

Kudos Harrison, did it again!-Laughter in One Word: `mouse burger", and the dialogue between Jenks and Bis was so freaking funny I laffed so hard and loud, that I probably woke my neighbors! (c)Nicola Mattos ( )

This series is still going strong, surprisingly. Generally I get bored of them by this point, but she's kept up the quality, expanded the world just enough & kept it strong, without adding a lot of extraneous gore or sex. ( )