FOR A FEW DEMONS MORE

Author: Kim Harrison ISBN: 0060788380 3/2007 PARANORMAL Publisher: EOS

Rachel Morgan has always managed to stay just ahead of trouble—up until now, at least. She leads a complicated life, to put it mildly—she's dating a vampire, lives with another one, and has hidden in her possession an ancient artifact that could change Inderland society forever—but now it looks as if her equally complicated past is catching up with her. A serial killer is stalking the Hollows, claiming victims throughout the society even as the fear aroused helps to ignite a vicious Inderland gang war. Meanwhile, the vampire master Piscary has been set free, and Rachel's demonic nemesis Algaliarept has discovered a way to move with impunity around the Hollows and intends (as nemeses are wont to do) to stop at nothing in order to achieve his goals.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Kim Harrison has created a world whose main character, a bounty-hunting witch, possesses butt-kicking skills reminiscent of Buffy Summers set in a series that is chock full of mystery and danger. FOR A FEW DEMONS MORE is the fifth book in this series, and I advise these books be read in order. There is so much plot building and history between recurring characters, that it would be too confusing if read alone.

Rachel Morgan is a witch living in a world of witches, vampires, werewolves, demons, pixies and fairies (there is a difference), elves, the living, the dead and the undead. And all this in the city of Cincinnati! She has two partners in her detective/bounty business, which are actually more like her family, and they all work and live together in a renovated church. Jenks is a stud of a pixie who stands only four inches tall, who has a wife and 54 kids. Ivy is a beautiful living vampire who wants to be much more than friends, roommates, and business partners with Rachel. These three seem to always find themselves in the stickiest of situations, and in FOR A FEW DEMONS MORE they may not make it out of this one alive.

Rachel has an ancient Were artifact that many are willing to kill to possess, and she must figure out what to do with it before it's too late. If she gives it to the Were's, they could end up dominating all of the species, and if given to the vampires or the elves it could be used to wipe out the Were's and many others. If all this isn't bad enough, she has a demon ready to settle an old score with her, a vampire boyfriend who wants their relationship to move to the next level and who happens to be her roommate's ex, and a roommate who wants to bite her!

If you're looking for a romance or a light read, this series isn't for you. If you're looking for a dark, sexy suspenseful mystery to escape into, then get ready for a wild ride! Along with the danger there are some funny escapades, and one can't help but fall for Jenks, Ivy, Rachel, and many other endearing characters. As each book ends, you can't help but want to dive into the next one to see what will happen. It's not all fun and games. There are some brutal deaths, even some characters you may not want to see go. I think the only thing I didn't like so much is Rachel's confusion about her feelings for her boyfriend and her roommate. It's not that I wouldn't want her and Ivy to possibly have a deeper relationship, it's just her confusion and the fact that she does have a boyfriend she is in love with and who loves her.

Other than the month it may take to read if you haven't started the series, this is a fantasy series that has all the right ingredients. Get ready for some untouched chores and sleepless nights, because once you start Kim Harrison's Hollows series, you won't be able to put it down!

Deana Monteleone