Customer Reviews

Every Which Way But Dead (The Hollows, Book 3)

5 star:		(101)
4 star:		(36)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In the first 275 pages of this third volume of the series, there's some action, but nothing actually happens. Rachel resists getting dragged into the ever-after by Algaliarept yet again; Rachel resists getting laid by Kisten yet again; Ivy manages not to bite Rachel yet again... same old, same old. However, about page 275, Rachel decides to let herself be seduced into sex, but not blood, by Kisten. (And if you are a prude about sex between vampires and witches, you shouldn't be reading this book, really.) After we get that out of the way, Rachel can start kicking ass, rounding up bad guys, trading smart-ass remarks with Trent Kalamack, and all the other fun stuff. Up until that point, I thought I was going to have to say that the third volume in the series isn't as good as the second, but based on the last 200 pages, it's the best yet.

We get to know more about Weres in this volume. In "The Good, the Bad, and the Undead" we got elves. This book, we find out lots more about the elves, and more about weres. In fact, at the end of the book, Rachel has a relationship with both Kisten and David (the Were insurance adjustor) but it is so VERY different from Anita Blake's relationships with her vampire and were! Those of you who follow the Anita Blake series will see what I mean - this is not a case of lust for every species she meets an alpha male of, unlike Anita. I really like the character David Hue - and there is apparently a whole subculture of werewolf insurance adjustors, which strikes me as a very funny idea. Closer to Tanya Huff than to Laurell Hamilton.

One small complaint I have about this series is that although it's set in Cincinnatti, we don't get much of a sense of the place. I happen to like to know more about the cities our characters live in; that's a personal thing. Some authors do it, some don't. Hamilton's St. Louis is sorta vague - could be any city that has nightclubs, and we only know it's St. Louis because she says it is. Jim Butler's Chicago, where Harry Dresden the wizard and his vampire friends and enemies live, and Tanya Huff's Toronto and Vancouver, on the other hand, are very clearly real places - we learn street names, characteristics of the city, peculiar idioms of the speech of the inhabitants, and so on. Harrison's Cincinnatti falls in between - we know this is a city with a river, and we hear a lot about baseball back in Volume 2, so we can narrow down where it is, but we still don't get much detail.

Among other things in this book, we get a 1000-year old elf, who then gets taken in for safekeeping by Mr Keasley across the street, who turns out to be a witch who doesn't want to let people know that's what he is. I suspect that in a later volume, we'll find out more about Mr. Keasley. We meet Trent's fiancee, Ellasbeth, as unpleasant an elf as you'd ever care to avoid. Most important, we meet the villain of the book, Lee Saladan, who shares a secret with Rachel...

A short observation that many of the vampire authors seem to have last names beginning with H - if you know of Hamilton and Harrison, but haven't read any Huff or Charlaine Harris yet, you'll want to check them out, too. On the other hand, there's Jim Butler, so it's not a 100% rule.

And, for those just finding out about this series, a few notes on how it compares to the overall vampire genre, a/k/a BunRab's Standard Vampire Classification: What is the vampires' position in the world; do they stand as an allegory for women's sexual fears; what powers do the vampires have; are there other supernatural characters; is the author dead serious, if you'll pardon the pun, or have a sense of humor? The answers, in this case: The vampires in this series can be either good or bad guys. Most of them have jobs; they don't exist merely to be evil and brooding, unlike some series which shall remain unnamed. They do have extra powers, which vary based on the age of the vampire and the living or undead status; in general these powers include the usual super strength, and once undead, they live very long lives, but there's no turning into bats, no invisibility or seeping like smoke between walls. These vampires' taking of blood frequently involves sex, but doesn't have to; they do need human blood to survive, unlike some (P.N. Elrod's vampires can survive quite well on animal blood, for example.) There are several other species of supernaturals besides vampires, the most notable of which is that the witches such as Rachel are a separate species, not actually human. Perhaps the least common additional species we have, not one we run across in other series, is the pixies, such as Jenks.

In sum: if you liked the second volume of the series, you'll enjoy this even more; if you haven't read the second volume yet, I'd recommend buying it as well and reading them in order, and if you read several vampire series, you should have at least as much fun as I have comparing the similarities and contrasting the differences in how the various authors treat their supernatural characters.

This was another breathtaking entry in the complex and colorful world of Miss Rachel Morgan, sort of a supernatural bounty hunter if you may, who always manages to get into immense trouble and who longs for drinking coffee on Ivy's couch while trying to figure a way to save her life. This is the third installment of this delicious series and I cannot stress enough to read it in order, this story line has so many twists and turns that's it's easier than I can say to spoil things and ruin those great surprises, I don't even read reviews for next entries because it's never safe with the amount of ingenuity Kim Harrison puts into each one of her books.

I adore the subtle mix of humor thrown in, the main heroine has the audacity to make fun of the demon that keeps trying to pull her into the ever after, calling him big Al and stealing his familiar, and she enrages him to the point where their battles become hairy. Her relationship with Ivy is back on track although an old flame shows up, a vampire that I am sure Ivy is not going to be done with yet and whose job stands in Rachel's way. Kisten is back, the bad boy has some heart and really grows on the reader, I am starting to adore his role in the books, and he always smells like silk and leather, interesting combo...There is also more Trent drama but better than ever, I didn't know whether to sit or stand when reading, some parts were so ingenious and wonderful that I giggled or made noises while reading, making my boyfriend look at my strangely, books rarely have this effect on my hard to please reading palate but his one was superb. Nick is here somewhere, he needs to have a great excuse for his deplorable acting or he's out of my fan club, Jenks is fresh as always but with some changes, and new characters are subtly added, it's hard to tell who's bad and who's just pretending - but that's just part of the fun.

Currently being in the middle of the series I have to force myself and not read the remaining three books in the next three days, because then I think depression would set in, so hopefully I can stretch out the time between each because they are true jewels in the fun, wicked world of witchcraft, vampires, werewolves and all things magical. Although these books are very much part of the fantasy world of writing they are realistic, insurance, jails and lawyers are always breathing down everyone's back, some things can't be avoided even in other worlds...

- Kasia S.

Kim Harrison has positively out-done herself this time. Every Which Way But Dead is the best in the Rachel Morgan/Hollows series to date. New friends, old friends, and a new romance to set the sheets on fire await in this latest installment.

Rachel made a deal with the devil -- a demon, actually -- and now "Big Al" is coming to collect. Our beloved heroine finds a why to stay one step ahead of the demon but karma has a way of finding you when you least expect it. And Rachel has quite a debt to repay. Yeah, he's a demon. Yeah, he's evil. But, you have got to like a guy who dares to wear lace while supplying some of the book's best one-liners and some of the most unforgettable scenes.

New friends are introduced and promise to make Rachel's continued existence all the more interesting. Many mysteries remain while many questions are answered along the way. Old friends return and offer a new view of their own lives and their ties to Rachel. Kisten and Ivy offer the most interesting twists and the most possibilities for the future. Both show their human sides and leave Rachel (and the reader!) craving more.

Filled with wit and seat-of-your-pants action, anyone who is already in love with this series is bound to enjoy this book. For those who are just beginning to explore the world of the Hollows, be sure to pick up the other two books -- Dead Witch Walking and The Good, The Bad, and the Undead -- to read first so the full impact of Every Which Way But Dead isn't lost.

Every Which Way But Dead (2005) is the third Urban Fantasy in the Rachel Morgan series, following The Good, the Bad, and the Undead. In the previous volume, Rachel slams Piscary into unconsciousness and turns him over to the FIBs. Later she convinces the Howlers to pay her fee for searching for their mascot fish.

In this novel, Piscary is convicted for the murders of several ley line witches after the demon Algaliarept testifies against him. Now Rachel summons the demon to fulfill her promise in exchange for his testimony. She goes through the rites to become his familiar.

After accepting her service, Al no longer needs his former familiar, the elf Ceri. Despite his sadistic intentions, Rachel convinces Al to release Ceri and then she gets Ceri onto sanctified ground. Ceri is now free after a thousand years of service to the demon.

Although Ceri is rapidly adjusting to her new freedom, Rachel needs to find her another home. Jenks is frustrated because he can't tell what kind of creature she is. He knows that she is the same kind as Trent Kalamack, but Rachel prefers not to release that information and pixies are not known for keeping secrets. Besides, Rachel, Ivy and Jenks are not exactly a normal household living in a typical lifestyle.

Rachel invites Keasley, the old witch living across the street, to come over and meet Ceri. While Keasley is not exactly a typical inderlander himself, he is more so than the Vampiric Charms team. At first Ceri and Keasley are a bit reluctant, but soon find much to like in each other. Keasley returns home to install Ceri in his spare bedroom.

In this story, Rachel notices that an older Were has been following her and confronts him in a back corner of the zoo. David Hue is an insurance adjuster who has a few questions about the fish that Rachel had taken from Mr. Ray's office. It seems that the fish had been stolen and the original owner has filed a claim. He also has some papers for Rachel to sign concerning the final disposition of the fish.

Algaliarept cannot use Rachel as his familiar without taking her back to the ever-after and is less than happy about her refusal to cross over. One day, when Rachel uses the ley line in her back yard, Al unexpectedly appears and starts dragging her away. Since the backyard ley line is surrounded by sanctified ground, the nearest available ley line is eight blocks away and Al is determined to drag or carry her to it. But Ceri, Keasley and David form a circle to stop him and Rachel, as the de facto summoner, then banishes him back to the ever-after.

This story also tells of Rachel's troubled relationship with Nick Sparagmos. After he became her familiar, Nick was subject to seizures and other upsets whenever Rachel drew upon a ley line. Now that she is Algaliarept's familiar, that tie has been broken, but Nick still isn't returning home. Then Kristen takes her out on a date and she finds herself becoming more attracted toward him.

With Piscary in prison, the criminal underground in Cincinnati becomes more unstable. Rachel gradually becomes aware of a new player. She first learns of Stanley Saladan from Takata in regard to his annual concert. Then Kristen takes her to Lee Saladan's gambling boat. Later, Quen hires her to protect Trent during a meeting with Saladan.

As usual, Rachel gets into all kinds of trouble with both her friends and her enemies. Sometimes it is hard to tell one from another, since today's friend is tomorrow's enemy and vice-versa. Her life is so screwed up!

Highly recommended for Harrison fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of inderlanders, humans and romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

I'm going to buck the trend here. There are a couple of things that I found disappointing in what should have been a great book. If I get hammered a bit sobeit, but I think fans deserve more than an essay in occult dysfunction.

This has been a fairly solid series, with some interesting characters. A team of three 'runners' occupy center stage: Ivy the reluctant vampire to be, Jenks the motor-mouth pixie, and Rachel the earth/ley witch whose specialty is spending most of her time getting into situations where she can panic. Unfortunately, Rachel is the narrator, and gradually you will get tired of reading lines like "So like an idiot, I froze, and it smacked right into me." Rachel is spunky, self-reliant, and determined. So determined that she persistently jumps from one disaster to a worse one. For a while it's funny, then it's entertaining, and finally, you just have to shake your head in dismay.

This time her boyfriend leaves because he is terrified of her, so she misses him so much she starts up an affair with Kisten the most dangerous vampire in the city. The demon Algaliarept is hot on making Rachel into his familiar, and since she knows exactly what makes her vulnerable to him, that's what she keeps doing. She wanders into a struggle between to supernatural mavens of crime. Insisting that she doesn't kill people, the list of fatalities around her keeps mounting. She has an amazing ability to alienate friends as well.

Which doesn't mean that this is a bad book just that for all her pretensions, Rachel is no Anita Blake. It's obvious that Kim Harrison is setting her up to be the series sex star, but that really isn't enough. Thank goodness, though, most of the other characters are much stronger than Rachel, so, usually by accident, she manages to survive. What I don't know is if the series will survive another volume of plots that careen from one unnecessary problem.

Actually, I'm giving this book a three because late in the book she makes a genocidal decision for a selfish and silly reason. Haphazard plotting and gratuitous sex I can handle. But Kim Harrison isn't the kind of writer who can carry a character who is that hopelessly vicious. The result is that she blows by what is probably the most significant opportunity in the book. Well if you like a lot of action and 'no biting' sex, this will do for you. Hopefully the next book will work better.

Have loved Kim Harrison's books since the first, "Dead Witch Walking."

"Every Which Way But Dead," is the third in the series dealing with witch Rachel Morgan, her runner partners, Ivy (an undead vampire) and Jenks (a pixie with a large family).

In this installment, Rachel has to deal with the Demon...literally. In a previous episode, she committed herself to Algaliarept (Big Al for short) to put a drug dealing 'undead' vampire Piscary in jail. She figures the price was worth it, seeing as she'd be dead otherwise and the vamp's evil would continue.

So, she starts out repaying the deal to Big Al and managing to slip him. Of course, she cannot go into a ley-line for magic anytime soon or Big Al will get her.

Meanwhile, since Piscary's out of action, the bosses of Cincinnati are duking it out. Piscary's 'scion' Ivy, who is also Rachel's partner, doesn't want to have anything to do with Piscary's business. So, Kisten, the former scion is running things. A new threat, Saladan is moving in---selling more dangerous drugs and trying to take over gambling and the other gangland interests.

Rachel's challenge in this book is to keep out of Big Al's way while she's trying to keep the city she loves safe. The intro is somewhat slow, but the finish makes up for it. Definitely have some time to spare when you start reading this book because you will not want to put it down!

Ms. Harrison's books never let you down! While we'll occasionally put up with a book that doesn't quite live up to our estimates from a favorite author, all 3 books in the Rachel Morgan saga have been edge of your seat, bite your fingernails even though your laughing out loud ( be careful you don't choke), root for the severe underdog page turners. If you haven't read them yet I must ask - Why the heck not?!

7 months after being a dead witch walking when she sneakily used a leprechaun and the help of her two best buddies, Ivy the living vampire and Jenks the jovial pixy, to leave the I. S. and survive...and 3 months after finding that Ivy really staged the whole thing and having to bludgeon Piscary, the head scary homicidal maniac vamp, into submission with the aid of Big Al the demon whom she owes way to many favors to...

Rachel has to submit to becoming Big Al's familliar...or does she? Nick her accidental familliar, once rat boyfriend may have been more of a rat then she thought. Oh, and never mind the werewolf who's stalking her and that silly incident about eating the wishing fish...And is she really going out on a date with Kisten And protecting Trents but?!

Don't miss this! It's worth every penny!

This is third in a very very good series. It is fun and magical. The characters are so cool. You feel like you are there going through everything with Rachel. If you like Anita, you will love Rachel because she is clumsy, strong and hard headed. She doesn't crawl into bed with a bunch of different men whom she claims to love like Anita or Merry in the Laurell K. Hamilton series. Which doesn't go to say she hasn't had her love interest moments. Nick was cool but the chemistry between her and Kist is smokin hot.
I have read the first two, but this was my favorite because of her developing relationship with Kist. I can't wait to read the next and the next and the next and....

First witches, vampires, pixies and demons, then elves, and now weres! And none of them are ever the way we'd picture them. Corporate elves and insurance adjuster weres. But they're still nothing like the human versions. The weres still have pack hierarchies and the elves, as we learn more about them, might have magic, but they're very cold beings indeed. At least, most of them are. When Rachel saves one from Algaliarept (the very creepy and well written stalker-demon she's "acquired" in the last book), under...unusual circumstances, we start to get a better idea of what elves used to be, and maybe can be again.

Rachel's impulsiveness actually catches up to her in this book, props to the author on that. It's a continuity I hadn't expected. She pays a heavy toll for making one of her snap decisions and doing what she thinks is the right thing. Her battle with Algaliarept for her soul is almost lost. In the end, her relationship with her human boyfriend pretty much is, as well as with one of her partners. She has to face up to the consequences of her actions and I really liked that. Maybe she does make it out, but not without scars, internal and not. And that's the way real life is for the rest of us, if we don't think before acting. It's so good to see that Rachel isn't "better" than the rest of us, in that regard. It makes her much easier to identify with, to like as a protagonist.

As others have said before, the pacing of the book is pretty slow for the first couple hundred pages. Much rehashing of the dangers and situations from previous books, but I can understand the repetitiveness in this case. Things are really moving up a notch in intensity in both the case of Ivy and Algaliarept, and both set the stage for things to come in the latter part of the book. A latter part that moves along at a very fast clip, in comparison to the first part. Once it gets going, it doesn't stop and pulls few punches.

This is an excellent addition to the series, building more on the characters and defining their situations. Some conflicts are resolved but all new ones are created, leaving us wondering just what's going to happen in the next book. Great cliffhangers without being overly annoying about it. This is definitely a series I'd recommend to anyone thinking about getting into the vampire mystery genre.

Kim Harrison delivers a winner in this third installment of the Rachel Morgan series. Rachel is a witch and a bounty hunter who hunts down werewolves, vamps and such. Like most of us, Rachel makes mistakes, but her mistakes are liable to cost her her life and if that's not bad enough; there's the threat of eternal damnation.

This novel is action packed with sassy dialogue, scary horror that has you looking over your shoulder in fear, and really steamy sex scenes. Whew! I loved it.