The Outlaw Demon Wails
Book #6 of the Hollows Series
by Kim Harrison
Published: Harper Voyager – November 2008
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 496
Purchase at:
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Summary
When you dance with demons, you lay your soul on the line . . .
In the Hollows, where the natural and the supernatural co-exist—not always peacefully—desperate times often call for unorthodox measures. But bounty hunter-witch Rachel Morgan did the absolutely unthinkable to save the lives of her friends: she willingly trafficked in forbidden demon magic. And now her sins have come home to haunt her.
As Rachel hunts for the truth behind a terrifying murder, the discovery of a shocking family secret is about to throw her entire life into question. And the long-lost ancient knowledge she seeks resides in the demonic ever-after.
But there are some lines that should never be crossed—like the one Rachel Morgan’s stepping over . . . again!
The Good
Oh. My. God. Harrison has outdone herself. The action is set from the very beginning and doesn’t stop. The revelations, the intensity, the drama, all of it made me speechless from start to finish. Harrison weaves a thrilling plot and sub plots while giving us humor, action, and the same beloved characters that make the series what it is.
As mentioned on my home page, I assume that you have read the previous books, so this review will have references to the happenings of past books.
From the start we have someone sending Al, the demon, after Rachel. And you can imagine how happy that makes Al. Then the revelations start. Ceri has a secret she finally reveals which will change the future history of the elven race. The night of Kisten’s murder is revealed some more. And Rachel finally learns about her past and true heritage, and boy is that a doosey. Plus, we find out why demon’s tend to gravitate towards Rachel. This is a book where almost all the things Harrison has eluded to in the whole of the series finally comes out. Yeah, try not reading this book now, I dare you. Yup, not gonna happen.
Many fans will be happy to know that Rachel and Ivy finally come to some sort of an agreement about the dynamics of their relationship. I have a feeling this really might be the last time we have to deal with that drama.
The best part of the book is the trip. What trip? Well, the most exciting, frightening trip you can ever think of. Rachel, Trent, and Jenks go to…wait for it…the EVER-AFTER. Yaaaaay. *Does her Ever-After dance* (Just count yourself lucky you didn’t have to see my dance, it ain’t pretty) If you want to sweat with anxiety and bite your nails down to the wick, this is the section of the book for you. I still have nightmares after reading it.
Rachel is still Rachel. She’s quirky, interesting, and always in need of help. She jumps into every situation without thinking, but that’s why we love her. Ivy is finally starting to actively work on herself. She is getting over the mental damage Piscary has caused and is becoming more well with who she is. Jenks is still causing trouble and his huge family is not helping matters. Gotta love the pixies. And a couple new characters are introduced, and already I have high hopes for them. Especially Bis, the gargoyle. Super-freakin’-cute.
But it’s the notorious demon Al and elf Trent that really shine in this book. Both characters are thoroughly flushed out and the reader is given insights behind their motivations, which in a way helps us sympathise with them. Plus, we learn more about Rachel’s mom. Definitely a plus.
The Bad
Same problems. Rachel is still occasionally annoying and the descriptions are lengthy. The middle is a tiny bit slow, but it didn’t really bother me.
The Snuggly
No sex scenes, just a biting scene that is a little sexual.
Overall
This book surprised me. Every part of the plot interested me and the ending was very satisfying. We even get major twists in the end that will make you eager to read the series’ future books. The character development was superb and the action well-paced and enthralling. The Outlaw Demon Wails is a must read.
