Dawn Cook

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: The Outlaw Demon Wails

Someone is summoning Al out of prison. And once they are done with him for the night, they release him to hunt down Rachel. After an explosive reunion in a charm shop where Al nearly kills her, Rachel is stuck hiding on holy ground when the sun goes down. Unless she figures out who is summoning Al, she will either be stuck hiding on holy ground or dead. To protect herself and those she cares about, Rachel is going to show more have to make a trip to the ever after. And knowing Rachel, her plan is not going to go the way it should.

The sixth book in The Hollows series shows a marked difference in the way Rachel handles herself. She’s realized her faults, both personal and professional, and she is trying to make positive changes. Unfortunately, life likes to kick her while she is down, in the most messed up and magical way possible. Watching Rachel try to overcome her boundaries and forge herself into a more confident and mature person is both rewarding and frightening. The amount of heartbreak and deception she has had to experience to reach this point is beyond what a normal person would be able to endure. But this is Rachel, the fiery redhead that kicks first and asks questions later. She will fight with all she has and then some.

The Outlaw Demon Wails also tackles the subject of loss and how to recover from it. Rachel struggles to come to terms with her loss, and the guilt that accompanies wanting to move on. As her heart struggles to understand what it wants and needs, readers, can connect with the conflicting emotions that rifle through Rachel’s mind. Readers will also see the parallel with Rachel’s mother as she realizes what her mother went through losing her father years ago, and how it broke her.

This is my second read of The Hollows, so while I know what is going to happen, but I still love the setup Kim Harrison has done. The flashbacks that tantalize fans into trying to figure out the puzzle before Rachel can. And the utter desperation I remember feeling, wanting Rachel and Ivy to exact their revenge as soon as possible. And the slow burn as we realized that once again, we have to wait for a resolution.

Seriously, if you haven’t started The Hollows and you love urban fantasy, pick up this series. Rachel may start off as a bit of an airhead, but it just makes her character development all the more satisfying as the series continues. Hands down this will always remain my favorite urban fantasy series. show less

The Hollows begins with death...

Those who have been longtime fans of The Hollows series all know how the supernatural creatures came out of the closet. Tomatoes. People looking at this review with no knowledge of the series are probably now thinking...tomatoes? What in the hell do tomatoes have to do with the supernatural?

Elves are near extinction. Modified by the demons before escaping the Everafter, most Elven families cannot bear healthy children. Those children who can be brought to show more full term must endure painful treatments in order to survive. Because of this, most elves study to become geneticists, each trying to save their dying race.

Trisk and Kalamack are no different. Rivals in school, they each earn top ranks in their class, but there is more than just a difference in their genetic theories. Trisk is a dark elf woman in the '60s when a woman was thought to be best kept at home minding their households. But Trisk has a brilliant mind and despite the bullying she receives, is determined to do what she can to save her race.

Forced to work in a human lab, Trisk toils away at building a crop of tomatoes that can end world hunger. At the same time, she works alongside her fellow scientists ensuring that any tactical virus created will not hurt members of the supernatural races who live in hiding among the humans. While the Elven Enclave is satisfied with the work Trisk has accomplished, they do not fully trust her. After all, how can a woman be so successful? Kalamack is tasked to oversee her work and if he happens to slap his name onto her work and claim it as his own all the better. But hell is about to break loose as the carefully developed tomatoes take on the tactical virus targeted to humans. For years pixies, elves, witches, vampires and the like have been living in secret among humans. But what happens when they are the only ones who survive the deadly tomatoes?
True to The Hollows series, this book is filled with magic slinging action and heart-stopping scenes. This was a bit more technical, involving a great deal of simplified science to explain the work Trisk and Kalamack achieve. While these parts were a bit slow, they were necessary and easy enough to understand.

It was great seeing familiar faces pop up in this prequel. It was fun reading about how they were before the era of Rachel, Ivy, and Jenks. Though I did miss those three so much when reading this! Trisk was a likable character and showed just how hard it was to be a successful woman in the '60s. Frowned on by not only her own race but humans as well, she pushed forward past all the doubt and kept going.

I do have to admit I cringed reading about Kalamack. Seeing how he began, I can't help but know I will be looking at him in a new light when I reread The Hollows. I mean we all knew he was a scummy businessman, but it goes much deeper than that now!

Reading about the T4 Angel Tomato's path of destruction was heartbreaking. The Hollows itself was created from this event. Watching people live in the aftermath in the original series doesn't really show just how bad things were. This novel brings the turning point front and center. You will watch as humans are corralled into quarantine zones, families are torn apart, and children struggle to survive while watching their parents slowly die. It will make you laugh and cry, as Trisk tries to right the wrongs brought upon the world of humans. show less

Oh Kim Harrison how I love thee (though not in an icky way), I adore the Hollows series and getting my eyes on an ARC of Pale Demon caused squeals of delight (thank you NetGalley) more suited to a teacup pig. I’ve had to sit on my excitement for almost six weeks and now, with just a week or so to go until its release I can finally share.Rachel has a choice, Alcatraz or the Ever-after with Al, unless she can prove to the Witchs’ Council that the world is not black and white. Banned from show more flying, Rachel, Ivy and Jinx have to drive cross country to the hearing, but the road trip becomes complicated when Trent joins the three on an elf quest of his own. Not only does Rachel have to deflect attacks by the coven, stay out of Newt’s and Al’s clutches and protect Trent from a gang ofelven asassins, she has to confront her own demons when she is the only one who can stop an ancient evil, Ku’Sox, the devourer of souls.With just three days to travel over 2,300 miles in a vehicle that contains a half demon witch, a grieving fairy, an arrogant elf and lusty vampire, Harrison takes advantage of the tension and general mayhem these characters attract, and cause. While there are magical battles, car chases, bridge collapses and explosions to entertain us, the plot is also well thought out with twists and turns, drama and romance.Despite my thorough enjoyment of the action, what makes this installment stand out is Rachel’s emotionally vulnerablity. It has been such a difficult journey for her to accept her past actions and who she is. Pale Demon see’s Rachel find her equilibrium, a sense of acceptance and even a tinge of pride in her capabilities. Harrison also gives more insight into Rachel’s relationships with the men in her life – Pierce, Al and Trent. I really like the direction she takes and am eager to find out where it goes.Pale Demon is a spectacular journey of fast paced action, nail biting suspense and Harrisons trademark humour. As a fan of the Rachel Morgan/The Hollows series, I was delighted with this latest installment and I’m already eager for the next one. show less

Questo nuovo capitolo della saga “The Hollows” non delude minimamente le mie aspettative. Anzi. La trama, come sempre, è adrenalitica e intricata abbastanza da non permettere al lettore di allontanarsi. Impossibile staccarsi dalle pagine di “Le creature della notte” prima di aver letto l’ultima, proprio impossibile. C’è maggiore azione, rispetto al precedente e i personaggi abbandonano definitivamente la lieve rigidità che li aveva caratterizzati fino a quel momento.

Ormai il show more “team” collaudato nei primi due libri interagisce senza il minimo problema e con assoluta facilità. Gli intrecci dei rapporti fra le diverse razze è assolutamente intrigante e sensuale. Come il trio Rachel, Ivy e Kisten che nulla a che vedere con un “normale” triangolo. Se siete stanchi anche voi di trovare il solito schema lei, lui e l’altra/altro questo è il libro adatto per divertirvi ed affascinarvi. Il rapporto fra i vari personaggi è straordinario e la capacità dell’autrice di trovare sfumature diverse per ogni rapporto è assolutamente magistrale. L’introduzione di nuovi personaggi, come David il licantropo, non appesantisce minimamente la trama ma, anzi, rende il tutto ancor più interessante.

La capacità di Rachel di ficcarsi nei guai con i demoni è ormai appurata e stupisce sempre il lettore come, ogni volta, riesce a trovare un scappatoia grazie alla logica (dell’autrice) in situazioni apparentemente senza fuga.

Trent, da dispotico e sì, ammettiamolo, stronzo sta diventando sempre affascinante. Affascinante come trovi, intrigante, Rachel ma continui a dispetto di tutto e tutti a non fidarsi e a sfidarla continuamente. Sarebbero una coppia esplosiva… chissà.

Nick, per fortuna, pare che si sia tolto definitivamente dalle scatole. Non che fosse un “brutto” personaggio ma, semplicemente, non riuscendo a inquadrarlo neanche approssimativamente riusciva a scatenare semplicemente diffidenza e astio.

A questo punto non possiamo che attendere con ansia il quarto libro della saga con la speranza che, oltre a presente, l’autrice decida di svelarci qualcosa di più anche sul passato “comune” di Rachel e Trent. show less