Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows, Book 1)
by Kim Harrison
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Book Reviews of Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows, Book 1)
Book Review: Fresh, edgy and fun
Summary: 5 Stars
The blurb about a cross between Stephanie Plum and Anita Blake was off the mark IMO. I'd put her more into Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse category. Harrison does a very nice job of grounding her admittedly wild spin on the supernatural with solid characters.
It's a very different take on supernatural/human interactions but she builds it throughout the book.
The Hollows is home to the supernatural denizens of Cincinnati. A mutated bio-engineered plague (spread by tomatoes) decimated humanity, allowing supernaturals to take open footing in society. The balance is very fragile, however, with plenty of suspicion and hostility on both sides.
I won't summarize the plot because that's already been done. Some comments though:
Harrison exposes layers of her world gradually. I found that intriguing but that's a matter of personal taste. The information builds as the plot develops. Her imagination is both wilder and funnier than Hamilton's--and oddly edgier. Some quirks that could have been too cute, e.g. pixies, end up almost...sensible. Harrison also does a great job of making vampires genuinely scary instead of just lusty hunks who happen to be dead. For all her light touches, her supernaturals convey real threat along with the usual charisma. She's much more Stephen King than Laurell Hamilton in that.
Some questions aren't answered, which pretty clearly telegraphs sequel in the works. That's so common in fantasy series it barely registered. I'm eager for another trip to the Hollows but that's individual taste.
I thought this book was a blast and recommend it highly.
Book Review: So This is Love!!
Summary: 5 Stars
And no question about that!! This books was a god send! I was trapped in the middle of nowhere. The nearest book stores 3 hrs away! Then I stumbled into a small town, so thirsty, that is for a good read!! (Having long ago run out of reading material.) Surprisingly, a woman owned here own tiny little bookstore. The horror section being the biggest and most prominent, I went in, and found love! I picked up this book thought, "Nice title, sweet out fit! Oooo, look at those pretty handcuffs." From there I was sold. Begging money out of someone, so I could continue the addiction reading the first chapter started.
This was the miracle I've been dreaming of! The writing was incredible, the way the paranormal merged into human society was so clever and flawless! The idea is original and no other author has got a tale like this!!!! This is Urban Fantasy at its best. The plot is incredible, it's witty and dark, the characters have personalities (believable ones at that), and even romance between mink and rat! Ahhhh, and the action!! Had me shaking, screaming encouragements to the fighters! Just thinking about this book (series) makes me go into crazy fan craze!
**** Like love, this is too good to be true!! A rare find that never gets old. I find myself counting down the lonely days without a new adventure with Rachel Morgan. (Of course rereading is always good.) So the writing is great, the plot, characters- a flawless debut novel. And they just keep getting better! Paranormal/Urban Fantasy fans rejoice! All others get on the bandwagon! Cause love is a wild ride!
Book Review: What fun
Summary: 4 Stars
The book cover described this as a combination of Laurell Hamilton's (really early) Anita Blake and Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum. That itself made it worth a look for me. And this book didn't disappoint.
This is the first in a series about Rachel Morgan, a witch former agent for Inderland Security, the government agency in this alternate universe that handles crime commited by non-humans-vampires, leprechauns, witches, weres and anything else that comes up. After the first chapter, Rachel has quit Inderland taking two employees with her and causing a death threat to be placed on her head. After a slow beginning, this book moves quickly and enjoyably as the charming Ms. Morgan battles assasins, her vampire roommate's crush, and her own ocassionally bone-headed instincts in search of a way to pay off the contract on her head by bringing down a heavy hitter in the local government who is trafficking in illegal drugs.
Unlike Hamilton's Anite Blake, Rachel Morgan is klutzy and refreshingly down to earth. She gets scared. She makes mistakes but she's smart and funny and she gets the job done. Harrison deftly navigates the attraction between Rachel and her vampire roommate Ivy, the comraderie between them and their pixy companion Jenks, the serious action and the comic relief, and the background detail of this alernate world located in Cincinatti with equal skill. If you have grown tired of Hamilton and or Anne Rice's series or are looking for something new in mystery, I highly recommend this book. I'll definitely be reading more by Kim Harrison.
Book Review: Fun, riveting fantasy!
Summary: 4 Stars
Dead Witch Walking was far more fun and riveting than I had anticipated. It is a mixture of action, gothic, fantasy and dark humor. Rachel Morgan is one of the best witches out there. She is also one of heck of a bounty hunter, searching for vampires, weres, fairies, and other creatures that prowl in the Hollows of Cincinnati. But one mistake costs Rachel her career and she soon finds herself doing simple undercover assignments for Inderland Security. She decides she cannot take any more mediocre jobs and, along with an up and coming, though disgruntled, coworker, she quits. And that's when her nightmare begins. There is a price on her head. No one leaves IS, helps others quit, and lives to tell about it. There are lots of twists throughout the novel.
As said earlier, this is one of the best fantasy novels I have read. The supernatural aspects blend well with the somewhat dark humor and compelling plot. I also love the characters. Jenks the pixie is hilarious! All of the characters are wonderfully three-dimensional. Rachel is a great, tough heroine. Kim Harrison is an author whose work will be anticipated in the future. Her writing and her wonderful look into the preternatural world reminds me of Laurell K. Hamilton before her Anita Blake series went haywire. I see that this will be an outstanding series, and I look forward to the second part. I knew this would be a great read after I read the blurbs from two of my favorite paranormal authors (Charlaine Harris and Kelley Armstrong). I cannot recommend Dead Witch Walking enough!
Book Review: Great new magical series starter!
Summary: 5 Stars
Rachel Morgan is a witch and is employed by Inderland Security and not only bored with her job but seems to be getting worse at it. She has decided that all she wants to do is go out on her own. She decided that her boss won't mind her quitting (usually an offense punishable by death) and decided instead of taking in a leprechaun that she will use her three wishes to go it alone. But, in true Rachel fashion things go awry. She ends up taking a pixie with her and the best IS runner decides to go into business with her. Because she takes the best runner with her they do put a contract on her head.
Rachel is chased by Were's, Pixies, Demons and Witches to name a few. But at least the Vamps are staying away due to her "non-blood drinking" roommate Ivy (the fellow IS runner). Rachel dreams up a way to get the contract paid off by a rival agency. She and her cohorts set out to take a councilman down (who is a suspected drug runner). This leads to many different interactions that all have a magical twist, as well as trying to keep Rachel alive.
This is a great start for a new series. The characters all have great personalities. The author even tells how this alternate culture with magical beings became everyday. I love the pixie that wanted to be sterile for his wish. The book is fast paced and fun to read. The person who doesn't know where Nick came missed a big chunk of the book. The writing shows a large imagination and thought out characters. This has the makings of a great series.