Category Archives: Rachel Morgan

Ever After by Kim Harrison

Holy smokes batman, how can there only be two books left. I don’t know where to start, with this installment. I love this book, and I must say I think it’s the best one yet. The question is how to write this review without putting spoilers in it – I think I’m up for the challenge.

In Ever After we see the character dynamics change. At the end of A Perfect Blood we saw the dynamics start to change and now we see the fruits of KH’s labors. The character dynamics are changing because KH’s characters are growing up. Now just because our favorite characters are growing up doesn’t mean they have lost their quirks. On the contrary their quirks are alive and well and still causing issues.

As we know from A Perfect Blood Rachel has gotten over her issues she had with Trent but she still thinks about the reasons that had her hating him before. It’s refreshing seeing Rachel and Trent becoming friends, learning they can trust each other and not completely close themselves off like they’ve done with others. We can really see that as Ivy doesn’t have that big of a role in this book. As I said character dynamics are changing.

Ever After is a transition book but not like most. Most transitions are slow and kind of boring, this one is anything but. For the most part there is a lot of action, and don’t let the title confused you, we’re not talking about an ever after we’re talking about the Ever After. It’s time for Rachel to fix that which she broke – and then some. Rachel is put to the test and while the test is trying and emotional Rachel learns what she’s made of. Now I said her test was trying and emotional, its going to be trying and emotional for the reader as well. Once KH said no ones safe and she wasn’t lying. While this might be a transition book we will love and hate characters, events and the suffering Rachel goes through. Be prepared to cry.

Fixing the Ever After is going to take strength, faith, love, trust and patients some of which Rachel has every little of. Don’t be surprised when/if Rachel blows off some steam. Some people just deserve what they have coming. I say that because a few distasteful characters show their evil ugly heads in this book. Characters that I’d really like to see get killed off. Now I say that and some of the best scenes have them in it.

As I said above be prepared to cry but also be prepared to laugh – and always route for the underdog. In this case the underdog is Rachel, and she’s going to bring a smile to your face, I’m sure.

KH really out did herself in Ever After, and don’t get me wrong she’s always had great one-liners or Jenks and his antics. This time however has more than usual. There are one-liners and whole scenes that will keep you laughing. I even had to go back and read a few to make sure I read the whole passage correctly and didn’t miss anything. There are characters who’ve never really had a one-liner and its adding to their development, in a great way.

With all this growth and development however there is one thing that is certain and would be even if KH hadn’t said the series was coming to an end. You can really see the end getting close in this book and as I stated before we have two books remaining. No one but KH knows what the future holds for Rachel and the gang, but I can tell you this – its going to be a wild ride if Ever After proves anything. So sit back relax and enjoy the ride, book 11 has to offer. Its going to seem like a short one but I promise it isn’t. And remember I’ll be with you through the next two books. Thirteen will be our lucky number, or a sad one. Until next time dream big and read often.


Ever After by Kim Harrison

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KH’s Bonus Chapter

Okay guys, I know I’m really slacking on making more than one post a week. I really want to go back to posting every day, I just haven’t had the time. I started a new job and I’ve been writing every day. Yes I know I should be writing for you guys here but I think you’ll be happier if I finish working on One of the Boys/Calla’s Kitchen. I’m still working on chapter one and I don’t know what I want to call it yet, and yes I still want to change the title. Since I want this novel to be hot and sexy, not that Legacy doesn’t have sexy moments, but it’s not the same. Legacy is a paranormal thriller so it has a little heat but not much. One of the Boys/Calla’s Kitchen is more erotic/romance so the hot and sexy meter is a lot higher. ;)

On another note I finished listening to the Nikie Heat Series, its the series based off Castle. I need to re-listen to all four books so I can write reviews on each. This means I need to re-listen to the Greywalker Series too. I don’t think I’m going to review the Morganville Vampire’s Series though, yeah I liked them but the fact that RC doesn’t keep the details correct I’m conflicted about writing a review on the series. For me details are a big issue and while I can like a series as a whole it’s hard to write a review for the series as well. Another series I started listening too is Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress Series and I’m loving it. It has a little more sex that I’m use to reading but I think it’s helping with Calla’s Kitchen. After I listen to the series again I’ll write a review on each book, I may actually read the series. I want to read the Nikie Heat series too, I’ve read the first book so I’d like to re-read it and then the others. So I have a lot of reading too do. :)

Now for what you’ve been waiting for, A Prefect Blood bonus chapter by Kim Harrison. You can find this chapter in the mass market book that just came out. It has this bonus chapter and the first chapter for Ever After and I must say again January can’t get here fast enough for the new Hallows novel.

Yes I went out and picked up the mass market, just for the bonus chapter. It’s crazy but well worth the money. KH recreated an emotional scene and instead of being in Rachel’s 1st person POV like the novels are its from a 3rd person POV. In fact the 3rd person POV is Trent’s. Since we’ve never had a Hallow’s book from anyone but Rachel’s POV it was interesting seeing Trent’s insight. I actually loved the chapter, not that I don’t love the books as they are, it’s just exciting seeing the emotions of a favorite characters. I know some people don’t like Trent because of his treatment of Rachel but they have more between them then hate. I think it’s wicked hot seeing Trent’s emotions come to light. I’ve been waiting for the day that we’d see how Trent might feel about Rachel. Hopefully with this chapter we know the answer to that question. So the question for you guys is are you ready to re-read a chapter that was a little steamy to start with now read a chapter like you’ve never read before. Whatever you have to do, I’d suggest, you find and read this chapter to get more insight into one of the beloved characters of the Hallows. You’ll be glad you did.


Fall is in the air

So the last few days I’ve been listening to a few new audiobooks. I’ve been doing this because I just finished editing five different POV’s for the first chapter in Legacy, or at least 17 to 24 pages. The new series I’ve been listening is Rachel Caine’s Morganville Vampires. It’s pretty good, I just finished book 8 and there are many times when I’m chuckling about one liners different character have said. I have four more books to listen too, and I can’t wait.

On another note last night I read the teaser that was released by Kim Harrison’s short story Pet Shop Boys. It’s been released early, it’s one of the short stories from Into the Woods, now I have this story coming so there wasn’t a reason for me to buy this for $.99 but I had too. The teaser was worth the $.99, so what teaser is worth this? The first chapter of Ever After the next book in the Hallows series. OMG I can’t wait for the release, this teaser was great and you can get the feel that something big is going to happen. I think I’m going to read it again. I don’t know if I can wait until January, thankfully that is two months earlier than normal but still it’s three and a half months away. If you want to check it out early pay the $.99 and get the teaser it’s worth it.

And as I said above I finished five different POV’s for Legacy. I have the 1st person which is what the whole thing is written in, but the editor hasn’t sure this was the best POV to have. So I did the first set of edits in 1st, the next in 1st for Alexis and 3rd for Brenton (the villain), next I did 3rd for Alexis and 1st for Brenton. I did one without Brenton, and the last one I did was 3rd for all. Now I just have to see which one she wants me to work on. I hope it’s still the first person but they will all work I think. I’ll keep you posted on this.


The futures so bright I gotta wear shades…

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So my after my crappy morning my afternoon has turned out pretty good. I’ve had a busy day and I didn’t think get to do everything I need/wanted/had to to but its still been a good afternoon. I picked up a new ipod, though I didn’t get what I had before, I actually went back down to a nano for my workouts and while I didn’t think get the size I originally wanted this size will work. Since I had to load that I added more songs to my touch which will now be use for music only and my writing. It too doesn’t have all the music my former ipod had but I still have space and when I want to add new songs I can. Thank goodness that is done and I can move on. I had when I don’t have the tools I need. And this only took half a day so I can get back to edits for both Legacy and my friends YA. In other news that made this a better afternoon mail came today (yes like always) and look what I found when I opened my boxes. I ordered the mugs weeks ago and have been waiting patently now my wait is over. Two signed mugs from Kim Harrison. Now I just need to figure out how I’m going to use them. To actually drink from or just on my desk, though I don’t sit at my desk often so we’ll see. Alright I now need to get some work done.


A Perfect Blood Review

OMG…If you like/love the Hollows you can’t miss A Perfect Blood. Mrs. Harrison has taken Rachel past Pale Demon and into her new life. In Rachel fashion the hard way is the only way to go. Thankfully she has friends there to help when she falls. A Perfect Blood has us seeing new dynamics within the “Hollows” series and we can start to see the possible end in sight. No you don’t know what’s going to happen. You can just see things starting to come to an end. There are still twist and turns, as there always is, and I’m sure we’ll have more in the further. But we know Mrs. Harrison is going to finish the series either at book 12 or 13 and with us on book 10 it’s only fitting that we start to see idea’s that will take us to the finish line.

So what could/would Mrs. Harrison do to prepare us for the end to come? She could do a lot and she did it with grace and stayed true to her characters. This is why I love Mrs. Harrison, she doesn’t jeopardize her writing for what people want. She shows their growth, their strengths, and weaknesses. With that said I’ll get on with it.

A Perfect Blood brings back some of our favorite characters (not dead) and some new ones, good and not so good. If you’ve read the first five chapters that Harper Collins posted than you know who I’m talking about. If you haven’t I’ll clue you in… Rachel now has a bodyguard thanks to  Mom and Dad aka Takata. They think she needs someone to protect her/ keep her out of trouble.  Though I think we can all agree that “trouble” is Rachel’s middle name. She is always getting into it with or without help. Her bodyguard, Wayde, is a Were who worked for her father as security. Wayde has a hard time controlling Rachel, as if anyone could and it leaves us with some pretty good banter.

Besides the introduction of Wayde we learn about a hate organization called HAPA. HAPA is a human hate group who want to eradicate Inderlanders. Being human and reading about HAPA made me wish I was an Inderlander. Even though HAPA doesn’t like magic or Inderlanders they aren’t opposed to using it. The magic they use is demon magic and so the I.S. wants to pin the crimes on Rachel if she doesn’t help them find the criminals. It’s a catch 22, with Rachel’s butt in a sling. Thankfully Rachel is smart enough to bring in the FIB. It’s the first time both groups worked together.

With a run on you never know what’s going to happen. We have a lot of people in this book and it’s action packed, similar to book one Dead Witch Walking and White Witch Black Cures.This one though has Rachel with more friends at her back to help and some enemies. And she needs them since she is cut off from the ley lines still. The bracelet Trent made her at the end of Pale Demon is still on her wrist, as she decides what she wants to be, or who. It’s not an easy decision  for Rachel to make. There are a lot of good and bad issues one both sides.

Another decision Rachel has to make is getting her Pack tattoo. She has a hard time going to the tattoo artist until she is forced into it. Wayde and David are the ones that force Rachel into it and getting her there by force is quite funny. The tattoo’s description sounds really cool and it made me what a new one. Rachel even gets a special tattoo that’s slightly different than the one the rest of the Pack has. David too has a slightly different tattoo though his doesn’t look like Rachel’s but since they are both Alpha’s they get special ones. Having the tattoo gives Rachel another group that will protect her if she needs it. She now has three groups that would fight for her. It was so happy when I read that she had so many friends to aid her and “Inderlanders” that supported her.

A Perfect Blood has other highs and lows that are heart breaking as well. No, no one dies, at least no one we know. But some situations are sad, while others make you want to cheer. Having the good with the bad might be why this is such a great book, we feel everything Rachel is feeling. You want everything she wants. There are also other funny parts especially as Jenks cures more in this one. He takes Tinker Bell‘s name in vain many times in this book and I love it. We also see his interactions will Belle which are both funny and heartening. He shows some real depth in this book as he’s moving way from the heartache of losing Matelina. It’s not just Jenks who is growing in this book both Rachel and Ivy do as while as they have to make difficult choices. We even see some growth from Trent and Al, which is shocking, though Trent started his grow in Pale Demon. It is within the growth that I think we can see where Mrs. Harrison might take us.

Mrs. Harrison can’t release book 11 soon enough. I know it’s going to be a year before the next one and than hopefully we’ll have two more books after that. I don’t think she’ll have everything tied up by twelve so my figures are crossed for thirteen, plus that’s just a witchy number. ;) I can’t wait to see where Kim goes from here and I can only hope my idea’s on what I think I’m seeing is the true journey. A Perfect Blood met and beat all my expectations. Granted my expectations when dealing with The Hollows is always high. I’m grateful it was a wickedly written novel. Kuddos Mrs. Harrison.

Until next time keep reading and have a wickedly fun time.


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