For a Few Demons More (The Hollows, Book 5)
by Kim Harrison
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Book Reviews of For a Few Demons More (The Hollows, Book 5)
Book Review: Life is never easy. And sometimes you shed a tear.
Summary: 4 Stars
After that disastrous trip to Michigan to rescue Nick and Jax, you'd think that Rachel would finally get some much-needed break from all the supernatural drama that has hounded her since becoming an independent runner. But as we know by now, trouble follows wherever the redhead goes. Now a crazed-demon appears in the middle of the night demanding something that she can't exactly remember. Yes, this demon pretty much suffers from amnesia. To make matters more interesting, partially-turned Weres are turning up dead left, right and center, and they are all connected to her Rachel's friend David.
Whoever said that life at The Hollows was easy?
Trent is back, along with his sidekick Quen. I was happy to have Trent back in the picture waiting to be charmed once more. However, he does a complete turnaround here and the Trent that we were initially introduced to in the first novel has re-emerged. Not a good sign for our witch especially when you think about the time when he put her in a rat fight. Al is also back and surprisingly more amicable, or is that because Rachel's his only chance of escaping confinement in the ever-after? And what's the connection of the dead bodies with the ancient artifact?
I was worried going into this book that the same amount of angst that drifted off the pages from the fourth book was going to be present. That was my biggest gripe about A FISTFUL OF CHARMS and really wanted a break from it. My view is either Rachel and Ivy get it on, or leave it alone. I don't want to continue reading pages and pages about it. Of course, that saga still continues but at least it wasn't as bad as before. I guess Rachel had bigger issues to deal with; oh yes, she does.
Packed full of action, the last third of the book proves to be a heart-pumping read as we see a beloved character targeted by one of Rachel's nemesis. I admit that I already knew what was going to happen as I came across a review that disclosed this, but I found that part of me was still hopeful that things might turn out differently. Silly, I know, and probably why I found myself crying that it turned out to be true.
What make this novel so irresistible are the central characters that draw you in to their lives. For all their flaws and shortcomings - and Rachel is one incredibly flawed chick - their loyalty towards each other is extraordinary. I love Jenks and his brood. And I don't even want to think about the very short lifespan of pixies for it upsets me. I honestly think I would be devastated if anything happens to Jenks.
I don't know what Kim Harrison has in store for Rachel and her friends' future, but I am certainly eager to read more of her incredible world.
Book Review: Best in the Series so far - couldn't put it down.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was so good that I literally could not stop reading it. Stayed up all night last night and finished at 6:30 this morning. There was so much action and so many enemies in the last part of the book that I was too wound up to calm down.
I hope the next few books in this series mirror the design of this book. Clearly the author has really found her stride, and I hope she keeps up that momentum.
What I liked:
I loved the action in the book. The twists and turns kept it so exciting.
I like that Rachel finally told Ceri about Trent. This was something I criticized in an earlier book. It bothered me that she hadn't trusted Ceri to make her own choices.
I liked that Ceri came to Rachel's rescue when Trent came for the focus. Ceri is a lot more dangerous that she has been given credit for so far. I hope she continues to grow in importance in this series. She seems to be the only person that Trent looks up to, so I hope she can reform the man. I really want to like Trent even though he is a bad guy again. I'm still holding out hope that he'll eventually get on the rigth team.
It was an interesting twist that Jenks helped Trent out of jail at the end. I trust Jenk's character to make the right choices more than I would trust Rachel. This is part of the reason I want to keep having a little faith in Trent.
Loved that Pascary kicked the bucket - finally. It was time for closure on the character, he had no redeeming qualities at all. After what he did to Kisten, I wanted to kill him myself.
What I didn't like:
There wasn't much I disliked in this book. The will-I-or-won't-I battle between Ivy and Rachel is really really old to me. They should have resolved this long before now. I am tired of reading about it and am tempted to start skipping these parts if they continue in future books. Fortunately it wasn't as bad in this book as it was in the last one.
I'm not happy about Kisten's death at all. It definitely added to the intensity of the story, but I loved his character and I don't want to see him gone. Is it too much to hope that it wasn't his body they found? Could it have been someone else who died and was charmed to look like Kisten? This would explain why Rachel would have wanted to forget - so she couldn't be forced to tell anyone that Kisten was still alive. I know it's a long shot, but I'm holding out hope.
Now I'm off to start the next book in the series... can't wait!
Book Review: I can't put this fantasy series down, even when it frustrates me
Summary: 4 Stars
Plot Summary: So following book four, Rachel is back in Cincinnati with the demon-cursed focus that everybody wants. When werewolf suicides keep popping up, Rachel investigates and finds foul play. Somebody is torturing werewolves for information, and there's only one thing worth risking a war over, which means that the focus is no longer a secret. If that's not enough, she keeps receiving unwanted visits from demons, and her relationship with Ivy and Kisten is beyond uncomfortable.
This series is so hard to review. I find these books to be utterly compelling and equally confusing at the same time. Toss in a healthy dose of frustration with the heroine, Rachel, and it sounds like these books are a waste of time. Still, I can't deny that once I pick one up, I have a hard time putting it down until I reach the end. It's a love-hate relationship that I'm committed to as long as Ms. Harrison keeps writing, I suppose.
I like the fact that Ms. Harrison doesn't build a perfect world for her characters. It's messy and dangerous, and more often than not, the bad guys emerge victorious. Hey, it's like real life, and even though I gnash my teeth, I applaud the realism. I'd be lying if I said that I understood every single plot twist, but I won't complain when the action runs hot and the surprises are thick on the ground.
This is probably the only series that I don't follow for the romance. In fact, it's my least favorite part. The whole Ivy-Kisten-Rachel love triangle tries my patience, and I keep hoping that a new guy will emerge on the scene. At this point I wouldn't mind if Rachel fell in love with a demon, as long as I didn't have to listen to any more conversations about whether Rachel should share blood and sex with Ivy. It seems to be a recurring theme that Ms. Harrison is unwilling to drop. I say either go for it, or let it die, but no more please.
Lots of heavy action at the end, which I will not discuss. There have been too many spoilers in the reviews as it is. I've got book six, The Outlaw Demon Wails (The Hollows, Book 6), in my stack for next week.
Book Review: Great fun-you can see the writer improve over earlier books
Summary: 4 Stars
After the excellent work of Fist Full of Charms this book, thought very enjoyable, is a little disappointing as Harrison takes her lead character, bounty hunter, Rachel Morgan back into the confused mess of her life in Cincinnati.
Picking up the Story threads from the end of Fist' Rachel is back home with the Holy Grail of were-wolves in her care. Unfortunately lots of people seem to know it was not destroyed and are looking for it. Another plot hook drops in that Trent Kalamack, the elven godfather of the city's underworld is getting married and wants Rachel to work security at his wedding, just in case the demon Al who can apparently walk in day light now makes an appearance.
Over all this chaos is the on going not relationship between Rachel and her roommate and boy friend and the struggle to balance their lives and needs without hopelessly screwing up what works so well for both of them. There are other sub plots and threads hinting at future action and you get the idea.
To be fair Harrisons' skill as a writer has grown and she deftly keeps all the balls in the air without any of the clunking logic holes and plot drags that showed up in "Every Witch Way but Dead" but after the cleanness of "Fist Full of Charms" with its single direct plot line, this clutter is a little irritating. There is also the bother that the usual cast of grade A bad guys are running around. Considering Rachel has trouble making her rent some months it seems more than a little off that she regularly is playing with the big boys who could easily squish her and certainly should be able to hire better help. Trent Kalamack works here but again, after "Fist'" showed Harrison can write very well without the usual cast of villains, it is a let down.
In the final evaluation this is a good book and well worth the money and time. I would however not start with it. You can if you like. Harrisons' writing is tight enough that this can stand alone, but you'll enjoy it more if you start with an earlier book and work your way up to this one.
Book Review: Another great addition to The Hollows
Summary: 5 Stars
I am continually amazed with The Hollows series and how Harrison writes. For A Few Demons More is certainly no exception as another fluid, fun and engaging book is added to the series. And although I wouldn't say it is the best of the series, it is certainly a very good addition.
Harrison has a way of forging characters that are larger than life and instill awe in the reader. When she writes about a master vampire you know and feel the strength of its presence. When you read about Ceri you see how powerful she is and believe in her elf nature without a doubt. Al and Newt are scary demons and you know and feel their strength. Harrison has this knack of creating characters that do more than just fit into a role, but rather give life to a story.
We certainly read a lot more about Ceri in this book, which I have wanted ever since I first read about her. We don't see too much of Ivy, but we get to witness the power of undead vampires more in this book. Keasley, that illusive character, is fleshed out a little more. And Jenks, well he is Jenks and is an integral part to every book in the series.
The only fault I can find is the over done sex scene(s) that seem to last forever. And although it played an important part in the story, while reading it I can't help but become restless as I want the storyline to continue instead of seeming like we are taking a break from the story. Other than that I am very happy with this book and can't wait to read the next one. I would recommend this author and series most certainly.
5 stars