The Undead Pool

Note: some of this probably doesn't qualify as a review specific to this book so much as a commendation of Kim Harrison's writing throughout this long series.

I really don't know how Kim Harrison does it. Whereas the majority of authors who have 10 books in a series lose me when their characters fall into the "unbeatable, god-like character" trope, (i.e.: the Anita Blake series by [a:Laurel K. Hamilton|9550|Laurell K. Hamilton|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1352276598p2/9550.jpg]) Harrison manages to not only make me want to keep reading every book that comes out, but the scenarios Rachel finds herself in are justifiable and her growing cache of abilities that make her able to survive are (particularly in this book) show more intelligible. I absolutely love that Harrison hasn't made Rachel out to be one of those annoying characters that are illogically invincible.

Though Rachel has survived a great deal of seemingly impossible scenarios, this book not only hints at how all that has been possible, but also sets up some long-standing plots to be brought to a satisfying conclusion. Without spoiling anything, the ending of The Undead Pool really explains a great deal about certain demons and addresses some foreshadowing that has been present throughout the series - with multiple characters.

Rachel Morgan is far from being one of my favorite characters (mainly because sometimes her "voice" - and decisions - can be really annoying) but one thing is certain: I am a fan of Kim Harrison's ability to write a great series with diverse, multi-dimensional characters. So, I guess this is just me standing in awe, finally acknowledging Kim Harrison's foresight throughout the series (though, of course, she may just be making it up as she goes along from book to book, but until that's proven, I'm commending her planning). I can't wait to buy and read the final version. show less

The Undead Pool
4 Stars

Rachel Morgan's witch/demon skills are once again called into action when a series of energy waves cause even the most mundane of magical spells to misfire with catastrophic consequences. As the IS and the FIB struggle with the fallout, Rachel and company work to uncover the source of the energy, but the explanation is more troubling than even Rachel could have imagined and the solution might well mean her death...

While this penultimate installment in the Hollows series mostly lives up to expectations, particularly with regard to Trent and Rachel's relationship, there are one or two questionable aspects.

World building has always been one of Harrison's strengths, but for some reason it takes a strange turn in this show more book with the exceedingly complex and confusing notion of the mystics. Their exact nature and purpose is never fully explained and the scenes with Rachel interacting with them are downright bizarre.

The Elvish/Vampire conspiracy is also problematic as it comes out of left field with absolutely no foundation or background prior to this book.

That said, The Undead Pool also contains all of the elements I have come to love about the book, i.e., Rachel's loyal and loving (if somewhat insane) family of misfits - Ivy, Jenks, David, Biz, Quen, Belle, Al and even Newt. But the real highlight is, of course, the progression of Rachel and Trent's romance. Let me just say that Trent is one seriously HOT elf, and his scenes with Rachel are endearingly sweet and sexy as all get out!

All in all, a satisfying read and I look forward to reading the last book soon. show less

This was really good! I decided that this would be the year that I finally got caught up with this series. I am slightly mad at myself for waiting so long because it is absolutely fantastic. I seem to be liking Rachel and the rest of the characters more and more with each installment. I found this to be a book that was incredibly hard to put down.

There is wild magic in town and it seems to be tied to Rachel and as bad as it is, it seems like it may get a whole lot worse before it is over. Things are unbalanced in town and Rachel needs to get things under control or the undead vampires may be at risk. I found this story to be incredibly exciting and I loved the fact that this series can still keep me guessing. There is finally some real show more development in regards to Rachel and Trent’s relationship and it is just kind of nice to see how much these characters have grown over the course of the series.

Marguerite Gavin is the voice of this series. After listening to all of these audiobooks (and I am just going to ignore book 6 which is read by a different narrator), I honestly couldn’t imagine experiencing this series in any other way. The voices that she uses for each of the characters really allow their personalities to shine. I think that she is able to add just the right amount of emotion and excitement to the story to keep listeners glued to their headphones.

I would definitely recommend this series to others. This is a series that really should be read in order since each book builds on the groundwork laid by the earlier books in the series. This is a series that I can see myself reading again. I cannot wait to pick up the next book very soon. show less

The Undead Pool, book 12 in Kim Harrison's Hollows series, just about rocked my sucks off! As a long time fan I am extremely looking forward to and yet dreading the end. I have to say right now if this were to be the last book I would walk away with a big cat got the cream smile on my face. Fortunately, this isn't the end! So all we can do is wait in happy torment for the last book! Luckily this one ends on a great stopping point such that we won't be aggravated while waiting for that final book. The Undead Pool leaves us readers in a perfect spot, as I think pretty much all of the books have. That is one thing I have got to give to Harrison, I never felt like she employed the cliffhanger tactic. You go girl, you know how to get it show more done!

Tempt me, Tease me, You do everything to please me!
- Exactly! Oh the romantic tension! All I could think about was, how long I've wanted and waited for this! What the hell took you so long! Oh but the wait made it all the more delicious, all the more satisfying, just this side of painfully exquisite! I can only say I've been hoping for years that this is where Rachel was headed romantically, and I hope I'm not alone in how excited I was over these developments.

Growing up is hard to do.
- Seriously, we've seen Rachel come a long, long way over the years. There were times when I felt she trapped in her own bad habits and I just wanted to shake or face palm her..except with a fist. But here I finally saw just how much of a responsible adult she has become. She knows when to ask for help, she knows that not everything revolves around her, and finally she knows when she needs to let go.

What the hell are you waiting for?
- If you haven't already started this series, then hell you need to jump on this train. We have only one book left before the series ends, don't let the number of books already in the series scare you. I love that she's going to end the series with the lucky number 13. The Hollows series and The Undead Pool demands to be read right now! Don't make me threaten you with paper cuts... show less

Warning – there are spoilers in this review.

The Hollows series has remained my favorite series for several years– it has everything I want in a continued world – darkness, humor, the supernatural done right, exciting plotlines that are focused on, amazing characterization, and addicting dialogue. Pretty much all my fangirl buttons are pushed. To say I was excited to read this book is an understatement. Just like last year, I made sure I had the day off from work to sit all day and read this the day of its release. Like last year, I ordered some sort of special food I’d been craving and hardly get to eat. I do nothing else but read and relax during a Hollows reading day, treating myself to the newest release of my favorite show more series.

The book is about 430 pages, and in its paper walls there is a lot of action (at first, and at the ending). The first part of the book is especially charming, opening up with a golf scene and the inevitable dating that comes with Trent and Rachel. The bowling scene was sweet, awesome, and a perfect first date. The fight scene which followed rocked with Rachel showing how many tricks she has developed up her sleeve under Al’s direction and her own study.

I dug how much Jenks was in the book, flittering around from scene to scene as a friend, partner, and relationship encourager. He teased with his typical raunchiness, provided some of the best lines of the story as usual - where would we be without Jenks? I was a bit bothered by a line he says to Rachel at the end about picking her new partner to watch her back, but I like to think he’s not being replaced, but sees changes coming. So many of his kids have grown and left, so there is a change of emptiness while reading those scenes. There’s still plenty of them flying around to provide pixie fun.

The main storyline with the goddess and mystics was intriguing and creatively done. I applaud Kim for her originality and how complexly layered the details. The scene with the 'summoning' and the bodies was simply creepy *shiver*. I do hope the goddess plot is done with and that the next book focuses on resolving its roots, but it was cool to have it in this one. I personally never had an issue with Rachel being a pure demon and a powerful one at that, so I do hope it’s not mellowed further by having to add more of the elven stuff into her. I always liked our itchy witch fine the way she was the other books – demon, witchy, independent.

David has been seen little in several books but makes a comeback here often. He has always been an enchanting character. We get to see Eden again, which is awesome. I always loved his father-figure, protective character.

Rachel finally says goodbye to a role that I feel she should say goodbye to. Letting go here makes sense and is how I figured it would happen.

Ivy is a focus in the story. In some of the previous books she has been around a little less, but here she’s present in the first half quite a bit. She also seems calmer and to be changing because of her relationship with Nina. There are still signs of the tough vampire we all know and love, but overall she has really started mellowing out. A change that’s been obviously coming is spelled out in this book. I did have an issue with how often Rachel kept mentally repeating why they can’t work and would work better apart, because really this isn’t true. They wouldn't work as a romantic relationship, but I always thought they always worked so well together as friends and partners. I’d like to think they always stay close and active in each other’s lives, helping each other when it’s needed. I don’t see why it keeps getting so clearly pointed out about them not working out romantically when that was resolved so many books ago.

The Undead Pool as its title and the beginning focusing on vampires made me think this installment would focus more on the fanged fiends and lead the way towards resolving a main plot element (Ivy) present from book one. Instead the vampires are there in mention sometimes, but it mainly focuses on the elves and their goddess. Eventually the vampire angle basically disappears besides brief mention to be overshadowed by all things elvish.

This is where I started to get bugged. It’s making it clear again that all things Elf are superior (I disagree, but the series has somehow become elf obsessed because of Trent) – their magic is now superior, they are superior, their cultures (never saw that from the other books, but since Trent is making the spotlight, it’s being focused on now.) For a book of this length, so much time is spent on the angst and buildup in Rachel’s head of her and Trent’s relationship.

For once the plot of the Hollows takes too much of a backseat to just have relationship speak. It becomes more of a paranormal romance when it’s always been a straight Urban Fantasy series. She repeatedly – and I mean, repeatedly – keeps mentioning the lines of Trent’s backside and body as he walks by. His smell is in every scene he’s in, mentioned often. And now that he is here, it seems almost everyone else is taking a backseat – either pushed out of the way entirely or replaced. I know things change, that’s to be expected, but I see no reason why her other relationships can’t still exist and keep evolving too. Just getting a man in her life should not replace all that and strip Rachel down to such a simplistic character.

Al, my favorite, is in a few scenes at the beginning, but never to be seen again until the end, where a heartbreaking scene makes it way for about two pages. I really hope this is resolved in the next book, and resolved well, otherwise I will feel haunted. To me one of the main aspects of the series has been Rachel finding out what she is and exploring that side, and evolving into the teacher/student/friend bond with Al. Through that she learns more about the demons.

His reaction at the end was harsh and I disliked the end wrap-up. I felt hollow afterwards and cheated. His reaction was based on fear, protection of self, and betrayal. I would have liked a different ending for the book but we shall wait and see for the next book what is resolved. I also thought the scene with another character at the very end was a bit silly.

I disliked the backset and again feel that since Trent is here, almost everyone else is seeming less important. I see no reason why that would happen. Rachel never fit that stereotype. She always had such an interesting, layered life. Seeing her bared down to Trent’s side raising his children and riding horses in fields never fit into the picture as all she is and all she can be. Cool if she does that too, but I like the excitement before that she kept around, other people she would relate to, outside interests that were her own. She was always independent.

At least we know what happens with Nick.

Newt was epic in this book. Her tea party scene was priceless and she gives good advice on the Trent situation. Her ending scene was focused on the elves a bit more as well, but she was severely needed in the book. Her advice was sage. I do keep wondering, with how wise she has always been and how true her words turn out, if her words during the tea scene about Rachel wanting to do something (avoiding spoilers) herself will come true in the future. I can’t see how the betrayal would happen as it doesn’t fit into character we know, but with all the foreshadowing perhaps one day it will. I really doubt Kim Harrison will end the series with a betrayal as she is just building up a relationship and has to tie the races together, so there wouldn’t be plausibility or time to have that happen. I guess it is something the reader is supposed to wonder about happening off-page in the future.

With only one book left, I worry about so much still needing wrapped up and solved. We have a major story with Ivy left to get fixed, the demon/elf thing, fixing of a relationship (I pray anyway!). These are all big things, but with Kim being such a talented author who has created such a brilliant series, I’m sure the last book will do everything well.

Overall there were issues I had with the book, but being a Hollows book of course I loved it too. I worry about some of the regulars seeming a little sanitized this time around and bothered by such a surprising series relying on a few predictable developments. I think a little magic has been dampered as a few relationships, especially the new ones, seem forced and a bit dull. Despite these issues it was another excellent story with a creative development, a major fighting battle where everyone shone in their roles, some wonderful scenes I will re-read often, and is an enjoyable book that is well on its way to wrapping up an epic world that will cause misery to me when it ends.

At least the Hollows can always be kept alive in the minds of fans and by re-reads. But still, thank God for another book next year :) show less

Honestly, I find the Hollows series to be full of overly complicated plots that don't really make a heck of a lot of sense if you're trying to follow them logically. And still, I love them. I read it for the chracters, which will grab you up in a infuriating, inexplicable, fashion before you know what hit you.

This is a big story in this series because Trent and Rachel finally become a couple. They have been enemies, allies, employer-employee and many other things through the course of this series. They have been flirting with each other and wanting each other and denying each other for what each deems good reasons for two years. Elves and demons are not supposed to have a relationship of equals. After all, elves and demons fought a war which isn't ancient history to the long-lived demons.

Both Trent and Rachel are dealing with other big issues too. Strange magic is attacking Cincinnati and spells are going wrong. It is like they are all supercharged. Besides that the Free Vampires have found some way to put all the Master Vampires to sleep show more which is leaving the Master's vampires rudderless and confused.

Then there is the ancient elven goddess who is wandering around. The Free Vampires are trying to catch pieces of her because the pieces are essential to keep the Master Vampires asleep. Rachel becomes a magnet for these pieces of the Elven Goddess and they come very near to making her insane. She has to find a way to free these pieces from the Free Vampires and reunite them with their goddess.

Trent is also facing issues with other elves. Ellasbeth is making a play to keep his daughters from him and he is losing his role as speaker in the elven enclave. That means his political influence in Cincinnati is decreasing.

This was an excellent story which makes me want to read THE WITCH WITH NO NAME immediately. Luckily, it is on my Kindle waiting for me. show less