Helpful Score: 21
A witch and a vampire end up as roommates and business partners for crime solving and/or bounty hunting.
PROS: This is a fun story and I enjoyed each of the characters. I do think the pixies sort of stole the show at times -- in a good way. The witch protagonist is far from perfect, and that makes her all the more likable. A great mix of characters. The end of the book leaves you wanting to know how the interpersonal relationships are going to flesh out. But the mystery/action loose ends are nicely tidied up.
CONS: I did take me a while to get into this one. The action was a little slow at times, but that didn't detract from a strong premise. Also, I felt a little lost in this world from time to time. Like I was coming in on the third book in a series. I still do not fully understand how vampires 'work' in this series.
PROS: This is a fun story and I enjoyed each of the characters. I do think the pixies sort of stole the show at times -- in a good way. The witch protagonist is far from perfect, and that makes her all the more likable. A great mix of characters. The end of the book leaves you wanting to know how the interpersonal relationships are going to flesh out. But the mystery/action loose ends are nicely tidied up.
CONS: I did take me a while to get into this one. The action was a little slow at times, but that didn't detract from a strong premise. Also, I felt a little lost in this world from time to time. Like I was coming in on the third book in a series. I still do not fully understand how vampires 'work' in this series.
Helpful Score: 17
First book in the Hollows series. Rachel Morgan is a bounty hunter for the I.S., an organization that polices fae creatures in an alternate Earth where a deadly virus has revealed that faeries DO exist. Rachel is a witch and she wants out of her job. The only problem is that not being able to pay off her contract means a contract on her life with all manner of supernatural assassins after her (thus the title of our book). Her only hope is to solve something BIG so she sets out to find out who is behind the illegal Brimstone operations in the city. Of course she almost dies trying numerous times. I read the second book of this series as well and what I admire most is probably how well minor things from the first book are incorporated in the second as unexpected ah-has. What annoyed me the most is probably Rachel's ignorance about certain aspects of other fae and magic. If she grew up a witch, shouldn't she already know these things? If her partner in I.S. was a vampire, shouldn't she know more about what sets them off? This inconsistency kept coming up and grated at my enjoyment of the rest of the book which I found to be generally quite absorbing and entertaining.
Helpful Score: 12
I purchased this and The Good The Bad and The Undead at Goodwill. I didn't plan on reading them (only swap them.) But upon seeing that they were wishlisted I decided to give them a shot! I am glad I did and now I'm sitting on the wishlist waiting for the rest of the series...lol.
Things I liked: The characters and types of characters were very imaginative and interesting. The idea of why the world had changed to the state it was in the book was a good concept! I enjoyed the humor of the characters, especially Jenks!
Things I didn't like: Rachel is continually portrayed as "airheaded" for lack of a better word. Not that she can't be intelligent when it is absolutely necessary, but she doesn't seem to to use her head unless it is life or death. I wish there was more about Ivy outside of when they are at home!
Overall I enjoyed it and would say it is worth the read!
Things I liked: The characters and types of characters were very imaginative and interesting. The idea of why the world had changed to the state it was in the book was a good concept! I enjoyed the humor of the characters, especially Jenks!
Things I didn't like: Rachel is continually portrayed as "airheaded" for lack of a better word. Not that she can't be intelligent when it is absolutely necessary, but she doesn't seem to to use her head unless it is life or death. I wish there was more about Ivy outside of when they are at home!
Overall I enjoyed it and would say it is worth the read!
Marge J. (MaplesFlowers) -
Helpful Score: 6
Had a hard time getting this one. Seemed that some of the information about the city seemed to be missing (it wasn't - it just wasn't explained). It was ok, but book 2 is much better - probably because you understand things better from book 1.
Helpful Score: 6
"All the creatures of the night gather in 'the Hollows' of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party ... and to feed."
I loved this book because of the alternate dimension-ness of it. If there were parallel universes, Ms. Harrison's universe of Witches, Pixies, Vampires, Warewolves (or rather, just Wares) and Fairies would be where I would want to live. The world has been turned upside down by the discovery of mythological creatures whom have been living next door to the 'normal' people for centuries. The Turn changed everything, and this book is a delightful romp through the shadier parts of it! And the series just gets better :)
I loved this book because of the alternate dimension-ness of it. If there were parallel universes, Ms. Harrison's universe of Witches, Pixies, Vampires, Warewolves (or rather, just Wares) and Fairies would be where I would want to live. The world has been turned upside down by the discovery of mythological creatures whom have been living next door to the 'normal' people for centuries. The Turn changed everything, and this book is a delightful romp through the shadier parts of it! And the series just gets better :)
