TEST
Why, Oh Why is it that previously wonderful series’ take a dramatic downhill turn when moving to hardcover? I have waited not too patiently for each installment in the Hollows series and never been truly disappointed until now. With A Few Demons More I feel like the author chopped up the characters and threw them in a blender right at the end of the book, which spoiled a truly enjoyable read.
If you haven’t followed Rachel Morgan in her past jaunts, stop reading this review now, because nothing I say here will make any sense at all. This book takes off right in the middle of the action, and it continues nonstop from the first page, which is the good news. Rachel, a mostly good earth witch, and her two partners, Ivy (a still living vampire) and the pixie Jenks, own the private investigation business called Vampiric Charms. They are classified as Inderlanders, which is basically anyone in the population who isn’t fully human.
Rachel’s first visitor in this book isn’t a paying client, but a very, very dangerously crazed demon named Newt. Knowing that Newt escaped the ever-after, which shouldn’t be possible, is a very bad sign. Rachel has faced demons before, and paid a high price for it by being marked, which means she owes a favor. Owing a demon a favor is never a good thing. Before Rachel has time to think, she and her friends are up to their eyeballs in demon problems. To make matters worse someone is killing werewolves, and her pack mate David is the Federal Inderland Bureau’s number one suspect.
While trying to investigate the deaths, Rachel realizes that the werewolf artifact she has tried to keep hidden is not a secret, and it puts her in serious danger, which is nothing new for her. However, her friends pay a steeper price than anyone could have imagined. The story twists and turns with breakneck speed, but all the while keeping the reader glued to the action and turning pages. I can’t really reveal more without spoiling everything, unfortunately.
As always, Rachel’s relationships with her friends take unexpected turns throughout the course of the book. Her strained relationship with her sometime enemy Trent is also a key point of the story. Rachel and the others have grown in many ways over the course of the series, which is what makes these different from other books in this genre. There is actual development here; Rachel has to come face to face with revelations about herself that aren’t fun, and her friends stick with her through all of it.
I love all these characters, which is why I felt sad and betrayed by what ultimately happened. Publishers Weekly’s review indicates the “shocking finale will leave readers panting for the next installment”. I agree with the former but couldn’t disagree more with the latter. Fans of the series will definitely feel compelled to pick this one up, and I still encourage those who haven’t started these books to try them out. I’m keeping my hopes up for the next book, but if it ends like this one did, I may have to cut my losses, which would be a shame.
Grade: C-
Book Type: Urban Fantasy
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 12/06/07
Publication Date: 2007
Related Reviews
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.