Ever After by Kim Harrison Publisher: Harper Voyager on January 22, 2013
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 435
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads
Rating:
The ever after, the demonic realm that parallels the human world, is shrinking. If it disappears completely, so does all magic. It's up to witch-turned-daywalking-demon Rachel Morgan to avert catastrophe and keep life from changing... for the worse.
While saving the world is important, it isn't Rachel's only motivation. There's also the small fact that she caused the ley line to rip in the first place, setting off a chain reaction of unfortunate events. That little mistake has made her life forfeit unless she can fix it. It's also made her more than a few enemies, including the most powerful demon in the ever after—a terrifying entity who eats souls and now has an insatiable appetite for her. He's already kidnapped her friend and goddaughter to lure her out, and if Rachel doesn't give herself up soon, they'll die.
But Rachel has more than a few impressive and frightening skills of her own, and she isn't going to hand over her soul and her life without one hell of a fight. She's also got a surprise: elven tycoon Trent Kalamack. With this unlikely ally beside her—a prospect both thrilling and unnerving—she's going to return to the ever after, kick some demon butt, rescue her loved ones... and prevent an apocalypse before it's too late. Or, at least that's the plan...
At A Glance
Amazeballs.
The Good
I am doing it. Finally, I am biting the bullet and finishing this series. I have put it off long enough. I didn’t want it to end. I love all the characters so much. I still have two more books until the actual end, thank God, but reading Ever After is so bittersweet. One step closure to saying goodbye. I don’t wanna!!!
The progression of this series blows me away. The characters have changed, magic has changed, the world has changed. Some changes are for the better, some are not. Some changes rip your heart out, put it in a blender, drain all the vital juices, dry it out, grind it into powder, and let demos snort it all up. Ever After had all those changes.
Rachel is still very flawed but she has grown so much. Her signature self-pity is still front and center, but that’s why I love her. Why can’t you feel sorry for yourself when bad things happens? No one else is going to. As always, Rachel and her friend’s lives are in danger, but shit gets super real in this installment. Spoiler: not everyone makes it. Rachel always does her best to save the world and she does a fine job this time around. Especially with her friends’ help.
Trent is a major player in this one. I hated him in the beginning of the series, and sometimes I still do, but he keeps growing on me. I loved his decision in the end. I could feel his remorse and determination to make it right.
Al was a big player in this one too. I have to admit, his and Rachel’s relationship is my favorite. Who would have ever imagined me rooting for the asshole demon who makes Rachel’s life more complicated and dangerous? Their friendship is so odd but scary adorable. You can tell he is so team Rachel, though he would never admit it.
Jenks is still my fav pixie ever. The best supporting character ever as well. He’s hilarious, brave, and just plain awesome. Ivy was MIA for most of the book and I was okay with that. We had enough characters to fill in.
The ever after is such a scary place to me, hell, it’s where demons live, hello, so I love any book that focuses on it. We got to learn so much more about it, as well as the demons and their origins. Their story pulled at the heart strings.
Ku Sox and Nick can suck it! I hate them so much. Great villains though. Great plot. Lots of action and mystery. I felt satisfied with every aspect of this story.
The Bad
I just couldn’t think of anything big I didn’t like.
The Snuggly
Rachel and Trent are getting there, but they still are holding back, for legit reasons. We get a pretty hot kiss though. The sexual content is low, so a YA reader could enjoy this.
Final Thoughts
Have you ever heard of that saying, “I hate to see you go but I love to watch you leave?” That’s how I feel about this series. Ever After was a great addiction to the ever expanding story, and I am excited to see how it all ends. Highly recommended.
Quotes
“What are you doing now?” Al questioned “Seeing if your circumcision is gone? It is.
My expression went blank, and Trent hesitated.
He looked at me, and I put a hand to my mouth, face flaming. “Oh. My. God. Trent. I’m sorry”
“Um” Trent said, clearly at a loss.
“Call me tomorrow,” Al said seriously, “I’ve got a curse that will take care of that. Unless you like the snake in a turtleneck look”
“I am yours,” Trent gasped through clenched teeth, and my hand sprang from him, thinking I was betrayed. Trent fell to a knee, looking up at me, pleading. “I. Am. Yours. Claim me, Rachel! Damn your morals and claim me!”
“I want…” he said, then hesitated, taking a breath of air and lifting his chin. “I want one pure thing in my life,” he said loudly, his voice ringing in the red-tinted air. “I want one thing I can point to and say, ‘That is good, and it’s a part of me.”
“Piss on my daisies, we have to save the demons!”
Melanie Simmons (@mlsimmons)
I love this series. I miss them already. I see people reading them for the first time and it makes me want to do a relisten to the entire series. I don’t have time for that, but I wanna. *stomps foot like a petulant child*
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, I swear, I could be content with just rereading most of my series.
Deborah Jay
I am so dragging my heals, reading this series.
I love it too much…
Jennifer Bielman
I know, It has taken me a year to finally say it is time.
Alreem
wow this book sound so good and the book cover WOW this is a really kickass herion 🙂 glad you loved this book, I will add it to my TBR pile
Jennifer Bielman
You have to read this series. So epic!
Carmel @ Rabid Reads
I haven’t even started this series yet, but I fully intend to, so I’ve been avoiding peeps reviews for YEARS, and I’m doing the same with yours other than a bit of skimming. Five stars for book 11 is impressive! I’m hoping to at least get started before the end of 2015. Maybe I can do a listen with Melanie!
Jennifer Bielman
Wow, you are a lucky girl. you get to experience the amazingness from the start. Not every book is perfect, but pretty damn close.
Jaclyn Canada
YAY!!!!! Amazeballs sums it up so well. I’m so glad you read this one. It definitely became my favorite out of the series when I got to it. There’re so many more great things to come though. I love how you can hate a character one minute, and then be rooting for them the next. I never thought when we were first introduced to Nick that I would hate him as much as I grew to. He’s a great villain though. Excellent review 😀
Jennifer Bielman
I know, Nick had a bigger change than Trent, I think. I hate Nick with such a passion it’s scary.
kindlemom1
Can you believe I only made it to book two? I so need to pick this series up again! I love that everyone so far has really loved the ending.
Jennifer Bielman
Wow, you gotta pick up the pace, girl!
Brandi Breathes Books
Oh why do I love books that I know might completely shread my heart
Jennifer Bielman
I know, it’s not fair!
Braine
Man I really wished I continued on with this series 3 years ago before my TBR went haywire!
Jennifer Bielman
I know, there are so many series I never finished because of the ever growing TBR.
Hilary Cook
I just finished the series. I still love it. I think there is still a lot that can be done with this series, but sometimes people just get tired of things and then there are those of us who want the series to go on and on. I can use my imagination to continue the story in my own mind I suppose.
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, I wish it was a little more satisfying for you. It’s hard to be completely be happy with a series ending.
Stacey Brutger
I think I stopped reading the series on the same book you did. I continued to buy the books, but I never got back around to reading them.
Wonderful review! I’ll have to dig my copies out and finish the series.
Jennifer Bielman
I still can’t believe it took me so long to get back into the flow.
Melliane
I haven’t posted all my reviews for the series but I so loved all the books! They’re soooooo good and this one wasn’t an exception! Glad you had a wonderful time as well.
Jennifer Bielman
Thanks! I just hope the next two books are as good.
Christy
-sigh- I miss this world so much. I don’t like rereading books, but I can see myself rereading this series in a few years. I didn’t necessarily hate Trent, but I wasn’t on board for him for Rachel like a lot of people were. This is the book he totally won me over … when he ‘submitted’ and trusted Rachel by giving her that ring … that was our moment.
Jennifer Bielman
OMG, same thing with Trent for me. He finally flipped me. Oh that submit moment. I still get tingles.
Matt
This is where I left off in the series. I have a couple really good series I need to finish off but like you I hate to see them end.
Jennifer Bielman
It takes me forever to finish series. it’s so bittersweet.
Celine
Ahh, I don’t want this series to end either! Last time I read the series I got up to about book eight. On my next reread I might have to bite the bullet too and finish it all. I just don’t want to say goodbye to all the amazing characters and the fantastic dynamics between them. At least we have a new series by Harrison to look forward to (:
Jennifer Bielman
A new series is always nice. Let’s hope it’s just as amazing.