Thursday, February 23, 2012

A Perfect Blood (The Hollows #10) by Kim Harrison




New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison returns to the Hollows with the electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed Pale Demon!

Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in to help investigate by the I.S. and the FIB, former witch turned day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth: a human hate group is trying to create its own demons to destroy all Inderlanders, and to do so, it needs her blood.

She’s faced vampires, witches, werewolves, demons, and more, but humanity itself might be her toughest challenge yet.(synopsis from Barnes and Noble)





Like many Hollows fans I pre-ordered A Perfect Blood and was counting down the days till its release. I was anxious to get my hands on it and stayed up Monday night just to download it promptly at 12:01. I just wanted to read a few pages; such was my anticipation.  It took me three sessions to complete this novel, as the gods and life worked against me. Now that I’ve finished, I am glad because I had a chance to savor it. Now I find myself, stuck right back where I was on Monday...waiting for the next Hollows release..sheesh.  A Perfect Blood, had a blended feel of earlier novels and newer ones as Rachel dealt with being a demon and spent much of the novel with limited powers. As always I loved my trip back to the Hollows.

The tale begins with Rachel, a declared demon, trying to gain status as a citizen; well get her car registered.  She is wearing the bracelet Trent gave her, and basically has no more power than an earth witch. While it protects her from the entire demon collective and keeps Al from dragging her to the ever-after, it is pitiful to see Rachel like this.  She feels stuck and feels like Ivy and Jenks are moving forward. She has a bodyguard, courtesy of Daddy. A delicious werewolf named Wayde and even without all of her powers she is still quite capable of getting in trouble and driving him crazy.  While at the DMV she is paged and taken to a back office. She meets a living vampire who asks her to take a seat and then proceeds to be inhabited by a very old Master Vampire. He wants Rachel’s to help the I.S. department. Someone is abducting witches and using demon magic on them. Rachel immediately agrees but only if, he gets her car registration taken care of.  Rachel is first suspected of committing these crimes, and asked to produce a list of curses that she is capable of performing as a demon. Rachel calls Glenn and the FIB when she sees evidence that this might be a crime involving HAPA (A human hate group). The first part of the book progresses at a slower clip, as Rachel contemplates life without magic, has mini-pity-parties and works to solve the case. The second half of the book is non-stop action and left me breathless. No filler words here my Hollow loving peeps. Tons of twist, trickery, traitors and secret groups will have you turning the pages. Rachel as always finds herself in trouble, kicks butt and never ceases to surprise anyone..even herself.  

I love Harrison’s characters and many make an appearance along with a few new ones.  Trent is back, a softer Trent, a happier Trent. An elf who is embracing his magic. Is that hearts I see in Rachel’s eyes?  Harrison weaves their stories closer together in this novel and makes Rachel see him in a somewhat different light. It is almost magical, like perhaps this was Harrison’s vision all along. Eek gads she is wickedly good.  What we also see in this novel is a lot of character growth. While Rachel still (and always will) rushes into things, she is getting better and actually made plans. She, listens (well some of the time) and is starting to think things through and see the bigger picture.  Ivy is finding peace and acceptance and Jenk’s is surviving the loss of his wife.  David makes an appearance and he and Rachel make peace about her position in the pack. Trent has a lot of character growth and I loved it. Our beloved AL puts in an appearance or two…is it freaky that I love that little demon.  We meet Ella, the young living vamp, who is possessed by the Master Vampire and Dr. Cordova and FIB agent you will love to hate. We also meet a witch, named Winona, who is held prisoner and befriended by Rachel. I really liked Winona, she is clever, witty and one brave cookie.  Daryl is back and living with Glenn and we learn a little more about her.

While not without flaws, A Perfect Blood delivered and lived up to my expectations. I really liked the blended feel from the first few books of the series to the present. I am anxious to see what Rachel does in the next installment of the Hollows entitled,  Ever After. It is expected to be released in 2013. Harrison is saying there are two maybe three novels left in this series and I will be sad to see it end. A Perfect Blood is currently available in paper, eBook and audio formats.


Cover Talk: I loved the red and black. Rachel looks good, and the man in the back ground had me curious. It's a winner.

I gave this novel 4 coffee cups out of 5. 




Author's website: Kim Harrison



Buy the book from:
Barnes and Noble:A Perfect Blood 

Amazon:A Perfect Blood 
The Book Depository:A Perfect Blood

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10 Comments:

At February 23, 2012 at 4:26 PM , Blogger LoveOfBooks said...

Eek.. I don't want to finish it! I'm already missing Rach and the gang. And this is my favorite cover out of all of them so far.

 
At February 23, 2012 at 4:37 PM , Blogger roro said...

have not read these / hoping to read them soon/ sigh/ got 2 win more cash/ lot of cash ^_^

you rock kim

 
At February 23, 2012 at 5:48 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

I just bought this one. I have all of this series and got this one on kindle because I just couldn't wait. I love Jenks and Trent too so I cant wait to read it!!

 
At February 23, 2012 at 8:54 PM , Blogger The Book Diva's Reads said...

I also love this series and can't wait to get to it. You've peaked my interest so now I have to move it up on the TBR list.

 
At February 23, 2012 at 9:42 PM , Blogger Dalene @ A Date with a Book said...

Another series I need to get going on. I've read the first which was a free Kindle download for me. I have the next three waiting on my bookshelf.

 
At February 24, 2012 at 6:33 AM , Blogger Giselle said...

I haven't read this series but I've been seeing this book a lot lately and I think I'd really like it. I'll just have to find book 1! :)

 
At February 28, 2012 at 10:56 AM , Blogger Rebe said...

Just finished this last night and I loved it! I love the new, softer Trent. I hope he and Rachel end up together, but I suspect Kim Harrison will find a way to through a wrench in the works. I'm still upset about Kisten, to be honest! And what's up with Glenn?!?! I couldn't believe what happens with him in the end. I can't wait to read the next one to see if he disappears or still is part of Rachel's life in other ways!

 
At March 26, 2012 at 3:22 PM , Blogger Krista said...

It wasn't my favorite book, but I still LOVE the series even after 10 books. I really can't say that about any other series :D

 
At March 29, 2012 at 2:28 AM , Blogger Unknown said...

i haven't read this book..but after reading your riview make me cant wait to read...great riview ^^

 
At April 27, 2012 at 3:47 PM , Blogger luanne said...

I just finished this book this week. I loved it. And was very excited to listen to the audio version, the characters come alive. Great review. Thanks.

 

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