From the Bookshelf of 2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1…

The Good, the Bad, and the Undead (The Hollows, #2)

Kim Harrison

Start date: January 8, 2015

Finish date: January 31, 2015

Discussion: The Good The Bad The Undead

Discussion leader: Jonetta

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The Good The Bad The Undead

* The Good, The Bad and the Undead
By Jonetta · 29 posts · 15 views

last updated Feb 02, 2015 09:18AM

Question #2
By Jonetta · 9 posts · 12 views

last updated Apr 12, 2016 07:03PM

What Members Thought

May 27, 2012 Jonetta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, audiobook

I got so bogged down by the world building of the first book I put the series on hiatus. This time I switched to the audio format and it turned out to be a brilliant move as the narrator, Marguerite Gavin, gives an inspired performance.

There are many lingering questions from Dead Witch Walking that are resolved in this story (what is Trent, who unleashed the demon on Rachel, who is Ivy really, etc.). And, some I had that are still outstanding but we get more info on, enough to whet the appetite ...more

23 likes · Like · see review

Dec 20, 2013 Lauren rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, private-investigator-security, vampires, audiobooks, serial-killers, post-apocalypse, demons, magic-and-witchcraft, phobias, elves

The Good, the Bad, and the Undead
3 Stars

The first book in the series was entertaining enough to continue on to the second, but Rachel and Ivy’s creepy relationship had me putting the book on the back burner halfway through. Nevertheless, a buddy read pulled me back into the story about a year later and I’m grateful to my buddies as the book improved a great deal in the second half.

Harrison’s world building is very engaging. The dichotomy between humans and supernaturals and the distinctions betw The Good, the Bad, and the Undead
3 Stars

The first book in the series was entertaining enough to continue on to the second, but Rachel and Ivy’s creepy relationship had me putting the book on the back burner halfway through. Nevertheless, a buddy read pulled me back into the story about a year later and I’m grateful to my buddies as the book improved a great deal in the second half.

Harrison’s world building is very engaging. The dichotomy between humans and supernaturals and the distinctions between the various species makes for interesting reading and raises intriguing questions for future installments.

The plot revolving around Rachel’s investigation into the disappearance and apparent deaths of several ley line witches develops slowly as new characters are introduced and the suspect pool expands. That said, the action heats up at the halfway mark and the climax and resolution are ultimately exciting and satisfying.

Rachel is an intelligent and resourceful heroine, but her relationship with Ivy is seriously disturbing. Although Rachel’s sympathy and loyalty toward Ivy is understandable, Ivy is constantly overstepping the boundaries ostensibly out of a desire to help, but its seems more like an attempt at seduction. Moreover, Ivy’s aggression and Rachel’s feelings of guilt and remorse reek of abuse and a form of battered wife syndrome. All of this has a rather distasteful feel to it and puts a damper on an otherwise compelling story.

Nick and Rachel’s romance is another problematic issue. Nick definitely has his own suspicious agenda and the developments in his characterization in this book do not bode well for the future nor do they endear him to me one iota. Hopefully, he is on his way out.

On a more positive note, the mystery of Trent and Rachel’s connection, as warped as it seems at the moment, is the most captivating aspect of this book (and the first). Trent is a fascinating character. The more I learn about his enigmatic identity and morally ambiguous business dealings, the more I want to know. Thus, getting to the roots of his contentious relationship with Rachel and discovering what lies ahead for them both is what keeps me interested in continuing with the series.

All in all, not a bad read despite its problems and the unanswered questions have me eager to read the next one. ...more

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Oct 15, 2013 Veronica rated it really liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy

It's always hard to review a book after a reread, at least for me. It's never an easy thing to recall my initial thoughts and feelings without allowing them to be colored with all the subsequent information I've gained from reading the ten books that have come after it. But I will try...

The fact that I even moved on to the second book in this series indicates that something about this series caught my eye early on, intrigued me in some way and pulled me forward to see what would happen next. I c ...more

2 likes · Like · see review