A thrilling return to the #1 New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series, continuing Rachel Morgan’s story.RACHEL MORGAN IS BACK–AND THE HOLLOWS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.What happens after you’ve saved the world? Well, if you’re Rachel Mariana Morgan, witch-born demon, you quickly discover that something might have gone just a little bit wrong. That the very same acts you and your friends took … same acts you and your friends took to forge new powers may have released something bound by the old. With a rash of zombies, some strange new murders, and an exceedingly mysterious new demon in town, it will take everything Rachel has to counter this new threat to the world–and it may demand the sacrifice of what she holds most dear.
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I’ve been reading and loving The Hollow series since book one, Dead Witch Walking, back in 2008. It seemed like book thirteen, The Witch with No Name, back in 2014 was going to finish up the series… but the Goddess (aka Kim Harrison) felt us mere mortals needed more Rachel and the gang. And unlike some series that had us wait for six years before putting out a new book (I’m looking at you Dresden Files!) American Demon was well worth the wait.
As awesome as American Demon was, this is going to be a short review, as is usual when you get into an advanced series. If you’ve never read The Hollows, make sure to start with book one since this is not a series you can just jump into. There is so much character growth and characters that are in one book but may not appear again until three books later that you need to read the books in order… and lucky you if you’re just starting out, you have 14 books to binge!! I am jealous. 🙂
And for those of you who have been enjoying the series, why are you even reading reviews? Just go and buy the book, read, and start looking forward to book 15.
But if you insist and want to get something from this review, I will say I love how the relationship between Trent, Rachel, and the little girls is progressing, we get more insight into Trent’s mom, the gang is splitting apart (but I think good things will come of it), and I sobbed towards the end of the book. Sobbed, I say! Harrison knows how to write to make the reader eager to come back for more.
Rachel and company are back. Haven’t heard from them since Sept 2014. Long time with no Hollows.
I really enjoy this series. Like reconnecting with old friends. Where does she go next?
The hollows series always has a spot in my heart. It was the series that got my passion for reading back. That being said, I was super excited to go back to the hollows and see Rachel, Jenks, Trent, Al and hell even Ivy again. I was curious to see how she would start it up again after the epilogue we got in The Witch With No Name, It was okay …. Even a bit of a cop out in my opinion, but I can overlook it.
The books start shortly where The Witch With No Name ended and it was so nice to see them all again. Though the first few chapters it felt like she made a point to mention everyone who was someone in the series. I still enjoyed it, for the most part, revisiting the people, places and see how and what everyone is doing. Mostly the demons, what are they up to now topside and how are they handling it.
Some things were kind of funny, soon though we get thrown into the plot and it still okay even if a bit strange and odd … even for the hollows.
So one of the main parts I was looking forward to was seeing Rachel and Trent, them working together, being together and all the couple things, I was a bit disappointed when once again Rachel STILL doubted her relationship with Trent and why he loved her and so on. There was a reason for it ( of sorts) but still we worked so many books to get them together and he more than showed that he is with her all the way, we should be over this by now. Whatever the reason.
In other ways it also felt like typical Rachel, taking one step forward and three back.
I soon became a bit bored with her and stuff. I started to skim the book except the parts with AL, Trent or Jenks.
Overall I thought it was okay, I LOVED that we got to go back to the hollows, Rachel ugh … Oh and the Elisabeth being a fan of Rachel was just weird even for me.
Something just felt of and I’m not even sure what but maybe I just outgrew the series. I don’t know or maybe we just need a new voice, I think this could have been from Trent’s POV .
It would have been the same great people, world and series, just a fresh voice to it that we already know and love.
Speaking of Trent I think he was the best and I just like him more and more and I think out of all of them him and Al both grew the most in the series,
I also loved AL of course, while he had some issues, he is still the same ole Ale we know and love.
Overall, I think it was okay, bit boring but like I said maybe I just outgrew the series or I just can’t handle Rachel’s self-manipulation anymore, she always has some issues and if not she creates them.
I rate 3 I might continue the series at some point but I’m not sure yet when even if I miss the world and characters.
I love the Rachel Morgan series.
I absolutely love the Hollows series by Kim Harrison!
Our favorite witch is back in the kitchen cooking up complex spells and risking her life for those she loves.
Rachel may have saved the world, but her work is far from over. Something is hunting people in their sleep, forcing them to attack their loved ones. And true to form, the I.S. is keeping a hush on the finer details that could help solve the case. When Rachel is pulled in by the FIB to help they immediately try to pin it on the demons. Disgusted Rachel refuses to aid them, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t going to do her own thing.
If you haven’t had a chance to reread the series before starting American Demon, have no fear because Kim Harrison did a brilliant job working in memories and flashbacks for Rachel to bring to light for the readers. While this does slow the start down a bit, the combination of memories brings back some of the most important and memorable moments of the series. And it also shows how much these characters we know and love have grown.
There is a sense of ending, even as the series begins anew. Rachel, Ivy, and Jenks have gone through so much, and they have to rebuild their lives after the events of The Witch With No Name. And rebuilding doesn’t necessarily mean things are going back to how they were. But
American Demon sets the stage for new character dynamics as Kim Harrison tosses in new faces and personalities to entice readers. And given her track record with the previous books, I have no doubt these characters will be just as complex and entertaining as the main cast.
As you read through American Demon you will be thrilled to see the chemistry between Trent and Rachel is in full force. I love how they work together and have honed their skills in magic to feed off of one another. They are such a good team, and I never want to see them part. Their relationship is as complex as it can be, but they do everything they can to work through the hardships and forge on. And the insecurities Rachel feels are so emotional, you can’t help but encourage her to believe in her happiness.
Filled with action, magic, romance, and great characters, American Demon was a fantastic journey back into one of my favorite series. I’m excited to see where this new path takes Rachel, Trent, Ivy, and Jenks.
I always love a Hollows story, and it’s great to see the series continue!
I really enjoyed the book. The introduction of Hodin opens up a whole new avenue the books could go down. Zack being introduced actually solves a lot of Trent’s problems. I read it front to back. Rachel is whiney in this book though and that threw me off. I like how the epilogue from the last book was turned into a dream in this one. At least I’m assuming it’s a dream. I can’t wait for the next book.
Hope to get to read the next installment soon!
good story line but spent 50 % of the time dealing with personal (read sexual) issues that were not relevant to the story, in my opinion. so this ended up being a 600 page book with about 300 pages of storyline. probably last book i will read by this author. much preferred the earlier books. sorry.
Rachel and the crew are back! The final book…that is not final at the end…is explained away in this book. Rachel is facing a new more powerful enemy…she will deal with some of the same old prejudices and still help those not worthy. Al will not be a major player in this story. Trent and Rachel will meet a host of new players…some older than dirt, some repeaters and new ones. Circumstances from the past will play into the new problems. When all is said and done…who will have sacrificed someone they love? Who will be sacrificed? How will it all end? This is another new beginning for Rachel and her friends…it will have consequences like it always does…but this time…it is not the ending!
Returning to the hollows made me realize how much I missed this series. It remains to this day my favorite series and this book drove that fact home. I hope that we get more of Rachel and the gang in the future. I love the writing of Kim Harrison and felt right at home with this series. Not to say that there weren’t some ups and downs, laughs and tears along the way for this book…
This was a tough read to get through, several times I thought, “what’s the point?” and was going to stop. The last book ties it up well for me and I’d moved on.
I appreciated the way the story began with a refresher as to what happened and the characters, even one who wasn’t even mentioned in the story. I also liked how most secondary characters popped up or were at least mentioned.
I felt the story itself added nothing really new or meaningful, nothing different to make it worth continuing on the series. Yes, there a few changes, more powers, etc., but nothing intriguingly new.
I think some readers will be disappointed that Al and Ivy have tiny, inconsequential roles in this one.
The book was just an OK read that I thought a few times of not finishing because it just didn’t expand the series in a meaningful way to me.
Glad I got it at the library for free.
It was great pleasure I picked up this book and the beloved characters that are as familiar to me as my children. Rachel being Rachel I knew going into it that nothing was going to be easy. Pulling teeth comes to mind. Every victory she has she has fought hard for, sacrificed everything and yet never feels worthy of anything she has, even the people she loves. This won’t be any different. No spoilers intended! Something new is out there. Targeting couples. Rachel wants in on the case, regardless of who she has to work with. Not everything is as it seems and it could just be the hardest battle she will ever fight. Trent by her side, Jenks on her shoulder, new allies and enemies in the wings she will fight for the weak, the wrongly accused. She will fight for the life she does not feel worthy of. And she will fight tooth and nail for the demons and their rights in reality. It’s exciting, thrilling, sad, emotional, nerve wracking and so so beautiful and intense and absolutely perfect. I have no idea how I’m going to leave this journey behind me. It’s been intense and I will never forget it.
You can’t go wrong with a Kim Harrison book. I’m delighted that Rachel, Trent, Jenks, and company are back. The story was enjoyable and while the team goes through growing pains, the new characters are a fun addition.
Reading American Demon was like coming back to one of my favorite vacation spot.
I couldn’t put the book down, I savored every word, every page and didn’t want it to end. There are so many things I love about this book (and series). Trent and Rachel were great in AD. We really got to see how they’ve grown as characters and how their love for each other has made the other a better version of each other. They are definitely two halves that form a whole.
And, AD wouldn’t be a Hallows book without my favorite foul-mouthed pixy. Can I just say it. I LOVE Jenks. And would I have ever guessed I wanted my own personal gargoyle before? Nope, but you got to love Bis. He’s so much more important than anyone thought he’d ever be, including in this book. He’ll make you smile and more.
Neither Al, nor Ivy played a big part in this story. We get a new character and I thought he brought some welcomed fresh air and totally ups the tension and conflicts for this and future books. I can’t wait to wait he (and Al) do next (hint). It was also nice to have David show up in the book, as well as see Dali living in the “real world.”
As usual, there was the main story line, but so much more going on in American Demon in the best possible ways you can imagine.
And I saw someone else mention this: “I still feel a tug on my heart every time Kisten is mentioned. I will always miss him.” Oh my gosh, yes! I miss Kisten so much, and while he’s not physically present in this story, his spirit was definitely there guiding Rachel along. Can’t wait for the next book. Thank you, Kim Harrison for bringing this series back!
4.5/5
The Hollows are back! I am making a confession here that I am going to be totally biased to this installment of the series. It’s a bit like a good friend having long since moved away, having dropped out of contact, only to come back even cooler than ever. So, yeah, if you’re a Hollows fan then you should pick this up. I have a few minor issues with the book but that’s just because I love the characters and seeing them go through a rough patch is hard.
The premise of the Hollows series is that a tomato-based plague has wiped out a large chunk of humanity. This isn’t as bad as it sounds because it turns out that supernaturals were immune to the plague. Witches, vampires, demons, weres, and pixies inhabit the city of Cincinnati, Ohio in as great a number as the humans. Despite being the result of an apocalyptic plague, the setting is mostly silly and fun like the Discworld rather than dark or gritty. There’s werewolf accountants, vampire Presidents, and witches who worry more about their kitchens than curses. Hell, the former vampire lord of Cincinnati ran a pizzeria.
Rachel Morgan is a witch investigator that teamed up with her living vampire partner Ivy to solve a variety of complicated plots and schemes that imperil their city. This book opens with a recap of the previous thirteen and if you want to avoid spoilers then I suggest you check out DEAD WITCH WALKING first. It’s a great series and you won’t regret it. From this point out, SPOILERS AHOY.
AMERICAN DEMON really begins with Rachel dealing with the fact her little family is breaking up. Ivy has moved in with her girlfriend Nia, Rachel and Ivy’s church is destroyed, plus Rachel’s relationship with elf crime lord Trent has gotten serious enough that they’re considered married in some circles. Unfortunately, the public blames Rachel for freeing the demon race from their imprisonment in the Ever After and taking Trent from his elven princess bride. Given Rachel is now classified a demon herself, almost everyone thinks ill of her. Well, poor Rachel can’t catch a break and someone has set a monster loose in Cincinnati that is causing people to murder their loved ones.
Much of the book is about dealing with change in relationships and how people drift apart. I absolutely hate the fact Ivy and Nina are moving away from Rachel because, well, I’ve always been a die-hard Rachel/Ivy shipper. I’m not a huge Nina fan, either, but that’s related to the fact I was also a Kisten/Ivy/Rachel fan too. I always hoped that Kisten would end up returning but after a dozen books, I don’t see that happening.
The relationship between Trent and Rachel is something that I was really impressed by and I’ve gone from not being a fan to really liking them (if not as much as Rachel/Ivy/Kisten). Trent used to be ruler of the world but he’s taken a heavy hit to stick by Rachel. Really, you could sing the Coldplay song about him. Nevertheless, you can tell he’s really happier with her than he was as a bad guy and I want to see where this goes.
The series is really like putting on an old pair of shoes (if I may mix metaphors). Everyone is exactly where we left them and the retcon of the flash-forward to just being a dream that Rachel had is something that allows us to have an exciting uncertainty about what’s going to happen next. The baku is a decent-enough threat but a bit one-note as a villain. Landon is a much more interesting threat, even though I want to see him get utterly smashed.
Much of the book is the same good-natured humor and charm the previous ones won me over with. This is not a series to read for high stakes plots, though they occasionally happen, but the delightfulness of the characters. I especially liked newcomer Pike and kind of already ship him with both the heroines. Is it wrong I love this series primarily for the relationships? Well, if it is then I don’t want to be right.
I will for ever been indebted to Kim Harrison for bringing back Rachel Marianna Morgan. I have missed the series and American Demon has brought it back with a bang. I can’t believe the trouble that Rachel gets into with Trent at her side. Her antics will keep you engrossed from beginning to end.
There is a lot of evil in this book. There were times I didn’t know what she would do or how she would survive. The author spun a tale that satisfied by desire but left me wanting more more more.
Thankfully, rumor has it, another book is just a calendar year away.
I think it is time to listen to the audiobooks again all the way through American Demon.
American Demon picks up just about when we last saw Rachel & the gang. So effing happy to be back in the Hollows! Oh, how I missed it! This is one of my all time favorite series. Now all my favorite characters are back and kicking a$$. Rachel, Trent, Jenks, and Ivey are bringing the laughs, suspense, romance, and mystery that I love. We also get some new characters that you’ll love and hate. Kim Harrison did not disappoint and I can’t wait for more!
I recieved this beautiful ARC in a giveaway from Berkley Penguin Random House Publishing.
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My review of AMERICAN DEMON by #1 New York Times Best Selling Author
KIM HARRISON
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stars!
Kim is a new Author to me, but reading over the preface, I was able to pick up on the story fairly easy. Rachel is a witch born demon that has been through hell and back literally! Trent is a high born elf, and Rachel’s boyfriend. He is battling the elven Dewar [ Religious Order ] and their new leader Landon
to regain his high status. Ivy [Living Vampire] is Rachel’s friend and ex roommate who now has a scion Nina [ Dead Vampire ] to look after. Jenks [ Pixy ] is super funny, and is almost always with Rachel. Bis [ Gargoyle ] is Rachel’s familiar. There are so many great characters in this world! Al [ Demon ] is Rachel’s “Teacher” in the demon world, and then there’s the mysterious Hodin [ Demon ] who is following her around, and when she figures it out they argue and eventually learn to get along for the most part. Al and Hodin do not care for each other at all! There is lots of magical fun in this book. I have already started book 1 in this series and cannot wait for the next installment.
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