The Outlaw Demon Wails (The Hollows, Book 6)
by Kim Harrison
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Book Reviews of The Outlaw Demon Wails (The Hollows, Book 6)
Book Review: Started slow, ended much better.
Summary: 4 Stars
First, let me say I started this with the audio book. I listened to the first 5 and loved the reader so when this new reader started, I was not pleased. But I really tried to get through it on CD. Thank goodness, I had bought it on a clearance sale. After I struggled through almost half the book, I just took it out and started listening to a Sookie book again. Then I went to the library and got the book and read the rest. If I were going to rate the audio, I would I have given it a 1. But I'm not letting that influence this rating of the story itself.
I was really torn between a 3 and a 4, but then remembered how the last part of the book really had me riveted. But the first part of the book had so much Rachel/Ivy angst I was bored. And everytime she remembered how she'd failed Kisten, I would think back to the last part of Book 5 when Piscary was released and all she thought about was Ivy and not about Kisten until it was too late, though she knew Piscary knew Kisten had helped her defeat him. And then she's off on another romance, but not, with Marshall, who's a good guy, but boring so far.
I'm also disappointed with Rachel's lack of growth as a person. Tired of her shouting when she should be quiet, losing her temper, constantly apologizing, constantly saying "it's not my fault", having this bizarre need to have a blood bond with Ivy, but not Ivy's way. In many ways, I'm just sick of Rachel, but I really like this world and I will go on to the next book. Then we'll see what my plans are after that one.
Book Review: A powerful edition to The Hollows
Summary: 5 Stars
Each of the books in the series have been great books, with my favorite being A Fistful of Charms, but I must say that this has been one of the more powerful books Harrison has written. More powerful because she utterly changed, or at least finally developed, Rachel and took the series down a completely different road. She reinvented the series so that it can be new and fresh and yet still be the same series that we have read all 6 books of.
Some of the steamier paranormal romance sex scenes are absent from this book, which was great I think (although I would certainly not classify The Hollows as paranormal romance it certainly has some scenes that verge unto this description). Instead we are more focused on the story and where and what Rachel Morgan goes and does. Where the other books focused on Rachel and others, developing all, this books focusing mostly on developing Rachel into the more rounded and interesting character.
Harrison is 6 books into the series and I have yet to dislike, or even say not care for, any of the books. I have loved every book so far, which is hard to do sometimes when an author is writing a series, oftentimes having a dud or two mixed in with a couple of great books. I would recommend Harrison and definitely recommend the series.
5 stars.
Book Review: Wouldnt let me rate it lower.
Summary: 1 Stars
I picked up this sad excuse for a novel (my stomach turns to even mention that word in this review) at a hotel used book store. The store was chock full of what tourists pick up at the airports and leave behind. I picked it up having never heard of Kim Harrison, costing me $2. I decided that the plot may have been interesting enough to keep me occupied during a 4 hour flight after a two hour layover. So I started it five minutes into my flight and had to put it down after the first ten pages. Then after landing and waiting on the tarmac for four hours (thanks IAD) I tried reading another ten pages and couldn't.
Kim Harrison is a terrible author. That said, you could find more reputable high school fan fiction filth with more prose than this despicable drudgery. [...] Those young kids have more sense than Ms. Harrison when it comes to literary knowledge. I am no scholar but even after the simile "like Snow White" I gagged and put down the book.
The first thing you learn in how to write a decent story is to learn that you never tell a reader anything. YOU SHOW THEM!!
I wasted more time on this review than she did on literary devices or actual writing. God help those people who gave this 5 stars.
Book Review: general series review
Summary: 4 Stars
**some spoilers**
i began reading the rachel morgan series when i grew tired of the anita blake series by laurel k. hamilton. i had dabbled with reading charlaine harris, the urban shaman series, and blood ties all to no avail. the story lines were either predictable or the books became more about sex and less about a true paranormal story. then i discovered the rachel morgan series by kim harrison. the paranomal creatures are out and proud! witches, wares, vampires, pixies, fairies, elves, demons, etc. they all come together for good and for bad in this series. what is rachel? an elven baby?! quinn you dog! a gargoyle!! and how can trent chose to be so judgemental?
these stories aren't just repeated sex scenes, in fact, its a nice change of pace to read a series that focuses on a story line and character development. this is book 6 in the series and i hope kim harrison keeps the series going and keeps the material fresh. she has done well thus far.
Book Review: AUDIO VERSION - 3 stars
Summary: 4 Stars
Though not completely unbearable (the story is great, which is why I put 4 stars), this Harper Audio version of The Outlaw Demon Wails has some REALLY annoying oversights. You would think that the sixth book in this popular series would have rated more attention to detail. The way the narrator pronounces key names and terms completely differently from Marguerite Gavin (who has narrated the rest of the series so excellently through Tantor Media) is quite jarring to the ear and distracts from the story. The narrator also doesn't seem completely familiar with the back story - for instance she reads a comment about Rachel's ex-boyfriend Nick being a "real winner" and completely misses out on the implied sarcasm.
You might want to read this particular installment of the series the old-fashioned way instead of via your ipod. I'm so glad they returned to the original narrator for the audio books following this one.