Customer Reviews

For a Few Demons More (The Hollows, Book 5)

5 star:		(115)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(24)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

In many ways, Rachel Morgan's problems come full circle in this fifth installment of the Hallows series. With enemies drawing closer than they ever have before, her palette of choices is fast becoming slim to none. In one power play after the next, Rachel's about to fall behind enemy lines, instead of the one step ahead we've been seeing.

It's back to Cincinnati after her desperate attempt to save her pixie partner's son and her ex-boyfriend, Nick. Rachel harbors a rather nasty curse trapped in a bone prison, the focus, which threatens to twist the realities of Weres and vampires alike, both of whom squabble over it like children. With Trent vying for it, someone killing for it and our favorite demon Al lusting after it, Rachel once again has to find a way to undo another problem forced upon her. As the delicate balance between her and Ivy begins to come to a roiling boil, it's all the earth witch can do to stay this side of good, acceptable magic. With her special blood and desire to help others though, it's near impossible for her to deflect the trouble that comes looking for her with a vengeance. Unable to unload the focus on just anyone, she'll have to decide who's the best choice...and none of them are looking particularly stellar.

The first of Harrison's series to be offered in hardback, it's a worthy installment for it, tipping the scales even further towards excellent. For a Few Demons More wraps up some of the problems that Rachel has been having over the course of the other books while of course unraveling others even further. Trent comes back into play and it's a totally different side of him than readers have read before. Ceri, the powerful ex-demon familiar, shows Rachel just how much she respects her and Rachel's pack mate David takes on a major role. The demon Newt is back and we get some interesting information and insights into that character too, though whether they help or hinder the outlook on Newt is the reader's choice. Ivy's dilemma with Piscary is excruciatingly dealt with and it was a struggle at certain points to get past the powerful emotions Harrison has written surrounding Ivy and Rachel. As always, Harrison manages to insert a shocking twist, one I never saw coming, involving Rachel and another of her closest friends. For a Few Demons More is inundated with its fair share of pain, angst and utter despair and readers most certainly may feel closer to Rachel than ever before because of it. It's not without it's glimmer of hope though and some very interesting new characters are introduced that I hope will continue to make appearances in the next book, most notably a mysterious organization of demon practitioners and Dr. Ford Miller, a psychiatrist for the FIB (Federal Inderlander Bureau, the human division to deal with Inderlanders). In the end, as much as Rachel has had to deal with, she's never appeared stronger to me. As always, the once-a-year release of Harrison's Hallows series just can't come fast enough and I only hope that there will be many, many more to come.

This book is a major MAJOR disappointment. Alas, another series bites the dust.

I almost didn't read this book, as I had a sinking feeling, based on the slow downward spiral in the series. Unfortunately, this trend has hit a new low with this book.

The actual plot threads are confusing, overly plotted, in most cases not resolved. Almost all the action takes place off-screen (and reported to us later), while we are treated to a series of lectures about how Rachel should have sex with Ivy. Also, the editor/proofers seem to have taken a couple of days off, as the errors (blue eyes - no - brown eyes; you for your; unneeded words left in when a sentence was rewritten; etc.) were shockingly sprinkled throughout the book - unusual for a series this prominent.

Spoilers alert

This series started out great, but each book fell off a bit. The characters, so interesting in the initial book, just didn't develop.

I'd hoped characters that showed promise but were underdeveloped would blossom, but except for quirky, sudden changes, they remained stock characters. Ivy - the tortured vamp friend with angst coming out her pretty little ears until you want to choke her. Kisten, the weak, needy vamp lover who never gets a chance to develop. Piscary, the evil master vamp - we know he's evil, because people tell us things he does off-screen. Trent, the conscience-free rich elf scientist - is he good? evil? both? David, the stalwart alpha were. - call central casting! Etc.

I'd hoped story arcs would resolve, while allowing characters to become fleshed out. To be blunt, neither of these things happened. The major story arcs just keep arcing like fireworks, while an occasional new element is suddenly plunked down like a dead fish.

There are all sorts of little ends sticking out. When I start going - wait a minute, that couldn't have happened - there wasn't time - why didn't he say something to her - etc. - there is a problem with the book. For example, Piscary is let out of prison to catch Al because "Rachel won't catch him," says the news. We are to believe that in the time it takes her to get home on the bus from a party (where Trent, who is a city bigwig, was with her), Al leaves that same party, creates havoc, the city goes wild, yet no one calls Rachel. Instead they leap to a conclusion, have a city council meeting, and get Piscary out of prison. Long bus ride? Bad plotting.

When there is a story element I find interesting, it gets dropped or put on the back burner, often not resolved by the end of the book. When there is action (Al ripping and burning The Warehouse; Piscary selling Kisten out), we are riding the bus home with Rachel or hearing about what happened later.

Here is the major disappointment - Kisten got built up as an interesting character, intriguing many readers, while Ivy was basically an angsty thorn, pissing many readers off. I was hoping for dynamic development in the relationship with Kisten and Rachel and a wakeup call for Ivy, who was getting on my last nerve. Man, I should have known better.

Instead of scenes, action, and movement in EITHER relationship, we are treated to a series of dialogues where virtually every other character in the book tries to talk Rachel into having sex with Ivy! This is madness! I was expecting little old ladies on the bus and talking dogs in the park to come up to Rachel and say "have sex with Ivy." Each character in effect becomes a sex therapist for Ivy, sagely advising Rachel that she should do it to help Ivy have self-worth. Never mind that Rachel isn't even latently bisexual! Never mind that having sex when you don't want to because third parties tell you to is a bad idea! Everyone wants Rachel to have sex with Ivy. Everyone except the readers! What the heck is this about? It's just insane - oh, and borrrring.

Then the one character I really care about - the one character that is interestingly complex, where you wonder what he will do, where you feel that he and Rachel would make a good team - is killed off by person or persons unknown. Suddenly. As an afterthought - at least that's how it feels. Rachel is left with Angsty Ivy and elderly Jenks, and we don't even know who killed Kisten!

Frankly, I am glad I borrowed this book. I would not have bought it, after the downward spiral mentioned above, and I almost didn't read it but decided to give it a shot. I will not bother again, even if someone offers to lend a future book to me.

I was a huge fan of the first few books of the series. However, this book is horrible. I am really happy I didn't buy the hardcover, as originally planned.

One of the strengths of the earlier books was the way the realistic way the characters were handled. They were flawed and capable of both good and bad. So, a sore point in this book was the way Trent was written. In the previous books, he always straddled the morality line. He was ruthless (but possibly for a good cause),yet at his most lonely and vulnerable, you could empathise with him. In this book, he inexplicably crosses the line, and shows that he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. I went from loving to hate him, to even liking him, to just finding him a detestable character.

I am now sick of the way the relationship between Ivy and Rachel is being handled. Harrison has stretched this issue out long enough, and sadly there is still no resolution at the end of this book. Rachel needs to make a decision once and for all whether she wants to be with Ivy romantically or not. It's also frustrating that every other character in the book keeps telling Rachel that she needs to be with Ivy for Ivy's own good. I find it odd that Rachel goes back and forth between pursuing a long-term relationship with her roomate and noting how good looking every guy that she interacts with is. Really. Down girl, down.

Finally, the whole storyline does not seem to be advancing at all, and Rachel's character doesn't seem to be showing any emotional maturity as time passes. She never seems to learn from her mistakes. It's all becoming very tiresome.

I don't see myself wasting any more hard-earned cash on this series.

... when the author loses me as a reader. Humor is replaced by cynicism, adventure is turned into lost causes, mysteries are started but never resolved, love turns into hate, betrayal or sorrow. I don't want to read a book only to wait for the next one hoping to get answers, I'm here now, give me SOMETHING, I deserve a little satisfaction when I read the last page. No fulfillment here, just unnecessary pathos and a dangling cliffhanger.

By the way, the lesbian issue in this series became a non-starter and increasingly offensive right after Rachel firmly stated she didn't swing that way. I have no idea why that button keeps getting pushed in every book, but I can't be the only one who is getting ticked off by it.

SPOILER: Some reviewers have applauded the author for having the guts to kill off a main character - I might agree, but it only works if that action strengthens the plot, not if it is simply thrown in at the last moment to show "a deeper side" of a primary character. Rachel wasn't damaged enough, now she needs to carry the baggage of a broken heart? Oh, yeah, that will certainly make me empathize with her more fully. Sorry, I have more sympathy for the dead guy, he was more likable.

SPOILER/CLIFFHANGER: The author builds a mystery from page one, didn't resolve it, but in the last chapter, threw in a cliffhanger stating that the mystery is still unknown. Ah huh, that's going to stimulate my senses and make me wait in anticipation for the next book. NOT. At one point it might have been interesting to find out what Newt was looking for, now I don't care anymore. Why should I? Whatever it is will certainly be bad news for the remaining characters, and they're already waist deep in trouble, broken emotionally, and wallowing in self-pity.

If there is a light at the end of this tunnel, I don't see it, and I certainly don't want to wait another five books to catch a glimpse of it. Enough is enough.

Rachel Morgan is a red-haired witch, bounty hunter, and talented street-fighter. Rachel owes favors to several demons--the resulting demon marker she wears on her wrist make other witches flinch. Fortunately she has earned the respect of the FIB, the local police force, which assists her to earn some money as a preternatural consultant.

This installment starts in the middle of the action when Rachel is dealing with an unexpected visit from Newt, one of the demons to whom she owes a favor. Rachel's unwilling dealings with demons and her employment as sometime body guard for local business man/drug lord Trent Kalamack, cause her to spend more time with Ceri, an elf who used to be the slave of a demon and therefore has the inside scoop. We see more sides of Ceri in this book which enhances the story. Rachel's business partner Jenks continues to harass Rachel about her slutty clothes but always has her back in a pinch. Her other business partner, Ivy, has earned Rachel's friendship and perhaps bi-curious love. The sexy vampire boyfriend, Kisten, plays a small but hot part in this installment.

Ultimately this book is a continuation of the former book, as the plot revolves around how to dispose of the Focus, a magical artifact that could cause warfare between vampires and demons. Reading the previous books is a must due to the complexity of the characters and the world they inhabit. Harrison remains true to form, with a believable fun hero and sidekicks, a fascinating mystery to solve, plenty of romantic angst and risky negotiations with demons to avoid being dragged off into demon slavery. Keep them coming Kim!

There are already so many reviews on this book and what it's about I thought why put my two cents in? But then I thought, why not? I have read all the books in this series and like so many others, I have wondered about the fate of Rachel, Ivy, Jenks, Trent, David, Kisten, and Cheri. They have become my friends. Now that they are my friends, I was saddenend at the loss of one of them. As many have stated in prior reviews, there is one point where I actually cried, which I seldom do. This is a testimony to the impact good writing has on a reader. I felt as if I had lost a good friend. Nevertheless, isn't that why we read? To be moved or angered or have a good laugh? We would like to throttle Rachel for her spontaneous combustion of a personality. We do or do not want her with Ivy. We worry about Jenks getting older. We love Kisten and so want it to work out for him and Rachel. Those kinds of running plots make for a very interesting read. This book was no exception to that rule. Regardless of how you feel about the turn of events in each book, they still grab you and hold on to you until the very last page. I love these books, I love Kim Harrison's writing and no matter how they turn out, I will be a faithful reader.

I have read all the books in this series but will not read any more. The first book in this series was slow to start but the story line was just different enough from other witch /wizard /vampire plots to make me curious. The second and third books were better and I was hoping that Rachel's character and the other main characters would develop and become more well-rounded. However, in this book an important main character is killed in brutal manner for no apparent reason. This character was one of the better characters and could have helped with the development of Rachel's character and believe me Rachel needs all the help she can get. She is in a very self destructive and dangerous relationship with her roommate, Ivy -- which is only slightly redeemable because Rachel wants to save her. Ivy's really needs professional help and Rachel can't decide whether to allow Ivy to bite her and have sex with her (because it is a package deal) but maybe she will just provoke Ivy into biting her instead so it will be an accident, and thus not her fault. I can't see how Rachel can help Ivy when she isn't yet able to help herself. The murdered character, on the other hand, chose Rachel above any others who had a prior claim on his loyalty and affection. Ultimately he chose her over his own life. His death made no sense. I wonder he was killed because whoever he represents in the author's real life ticked her off so badly she decided to kill his character in the book. Or did he have to be removed so that Rachel can be bitten by and have sex with Ivy? Or is this merely the Old Western Rules: All lovers of the protagonist must die or otherwise be removed so that they are always "available?" Whatever the reason, the end result is totally off putting and although I am a prodigious reader and can overlook many flaws, this was an absolute deal breaker.

I only discovered this series a month ago, and at first I was very impressed. The first three books were excellent, well plotted, descriptive, an imaginative new universe, I was pleased to find a new series that I liked (after the Anita Blake series went completely down the toilet). I have been reading them back to back. I was surprised to find book four moving out of the Cincinnati environment, and I began to feel that Ms Harrison was losing control of her plot (why was Ivy waiting on the dock? why did Rachel insist on being in the truck with Peter when we never hear from him again?), but still, there was some good character development (I love Jenks). Book 5 started well, but then went completely down hill. The plot almost doesn't make sense, several characters are reduced to cardboard walk-ons, and there are several jarring editing errors. Rachel is not even behaving consistently any more, and by the end of the book I was really starting to lose interest in this series. I will try book 6, but if it is the same then I think that's it for me.

For a witch, Rachel Morgan has an amazing string of bad luck. Kicked out of one law enforcement agency and working part time for another, she has managed to alienate just about every big time supernatural on the planes. She has a vampire crime lord waiting to get out of prison to kill her, a demon who is planning to enslave her for a few thousand years, and had discovered that the biggest drug dealer in Cincinnati is an elf. Now a serial killer is stalking the werewolves of the city and Rachel finds out that her own pack leader is a suspect.

Her personal life includes an ex-boyfriend who sold souvenirs of her to a demon, a love junky vampire, and her partner, a beautiful bloodsucker whose is all hung up on Rachel's hang-ups. And did I mention Jenks the pixy, her other partner, and his multitude of relatives? One thing Kim Harrison's stories are never short of is characters, most of whom really are characters.

Another thing they are never short of is disasters. For a Few Demons More opens with a demon tearing apart the church where Rachel, Ivy, and Jenks have made their home. Before the havoc is over the team will have to come up with the cash to have the building re-sanctified and Rachel is in the uncomfortable position of having a demon owe her a favor. In order to pay for this Rachel agrees to help the FIB with a string of killings and stand guard at Trent Kalimak. Of the two tasks, I believe Rachel would rather hang around the morgue looking at dead werewolves.

Things do not get better. Rachel realizes that most of the havoc is because almost everyone in Cincinnati is looking for the wolf focus she acquired in the previous volume. The focus could easily touch off an occult war, and Rachel's efforts to hide or get rid of it would be funny if the death toll wasn't so high. Rachel tends not to think of consequences and there will be more than a few times when you start thinking that it would be best if someone did kill her.

Of course, then there would be no more books. To be honest, Kim Harrison has again put together a winning combination of occult suspense and humor. These books have much that the commonplace occult romance lacks. Rachel's aversion to taking advice may be predictable, but the results rarely are and the reader will spend many pleasant hours wondering what kind of mess she is going to get into to get out of the mess she is in.

Rachel wakes up to find that she has been possessed by the crazy but very powerful demon Newt (apparently the only female demon alive). Newt wants something of hers that she thinks that Rachel has but can't remember what it is. There are a number of complex interwoven plots here with a bunch of good characters. Because of the established characters and continuing plots I recommend reading at least "Every Which Way But Dead (Rachel Morgan, Book 3)" and "A Fistful of Charms (Rachel Morgan, Book 4)" before this one. Actually the series is best read in order and all of the books are very good reads.

There is some humor here and one brief sex scene. Rachel and Ivy still are working through their issues and AL (demon) is still making a nuisance of himself. There is good humor here as well.

One of the major plot elements involves the focus (a were artifact that allows weres to turn ordinary humans), this causes an imbalance in the Interlander (witches, weres, vampires, etc.) Power structure as only vampires can turn ordinary humans; the rest of the Interlanders have to have kids the old fashioned way (and they are not interfertile with humans or other sub species of Interlanders either). But with the focus the weres can rapidly outnumber the vampires.

Not quite and excellent read marred by some editorial inconsistencies; nothing bad but annoying.