Series Read: The Hollows series by Kim Harrison

[Beth]

Going to have to take a break from this series for a bit, I think. Finished book #2 and got from the library so I could read #2.5 "The Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil". Started it and wondered why I'm slogging through something everyone else is raving about. These are okay but they just aren't grabbing me the way they are the rest of you. I'll take a break and read something else for awhile. Enjoy!

[Marla]

I will come back to it again, I'll read book #2 in the next month or so, but I don't do the whole series binge thing, even if I love the series.

So I may be back later...

[Marla]

Oh, need some advice, would you classify this as fantasy? I need a book for a challenge...and it's got fairies, pixies, demons and witches...

[MJ Codename: ♕Duchess♕]

It's urban fantasy.

[Becky ♡The Bookworm♡]

I think it's shelved as Fantasy, too. I bet it would work for your challenge, Marla.

I'll catch up with you on Book 3 in March! Loved book 2...especially that ending scene! ; )

[MJ Codename: ♕Duchess♕]

They're shelved as Fantasy, but Kim is considered an Urban Fantasy author. It'll still work though.

[Becky ♡The Bookworm♡]

Heather, have you read any of Kim's "Truth" series? I was wondering if it's as good as The Hollows.

[Marla]

Thanks for the input...I was leaning that way, but now I have collaboration (cuz you know sometimes, it just feels like wishful thinking cramming a book in a specific category that you need for a challenge). :D

[MJ Codename: ♕Duchess♕]

Becky ♡The Bookworm♡ wrote: "Heather, have you read any of Kim's "Truth" series? I was wondering if it's as good as The Hollows."

No, I haven't. To be honest, I forget about that series since they're under her other name. I have read the first Madison Avery book though, and thought it was cute. I still have to get my hands on the other two though.

[Becky ♡The Bookworm♡]

Thanks! I may check it out when I'm finished with The Hollows. So many books, so little time...

[MJ Codename: ♕Duchess♕]

Becky ♡The Bookworm♡ wrote: "Thanks! I may check it out when I'm finished with The Hollows. So many books, so little time..."

That's my problem, lol.

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

I just finished and i found the beginning a little slow but after a 1/4 into the story it started to get better. I found Rachel seem to get herself into a lot of trouble, which is ok because it keeps my interest.

[Marla]

I guess I never put up musings after I finished the book. For those of you ahead of me...I realize that the answer to my questions are in subsequent books, so no spoilers please, I'm just thinking out loud.

Chpt 29-34 (finished): Wow, ending (view spoiler)[was great! I'm liking the idea of Rachel working with FIB Captain Edden. Rachel's observation was so true, Ivy and Jenks went in to cooperate with FIB and look at the mess, I can't imagine what a hostile Inderlander would do to that office.

Why does Nick look familiar to Captain Edden? What did Nick do to get into trouble with FIB? Also Edden is sharp, why can't he place Nick, was Nick a lot younger?

So who tried to kill Rachel & Trent with demons? I was surprised that she didn't tell Trent that she didn't conjure the demon. Though he probably wouldn't have believed her, since she has a demon mark on her wrist. Speaking of that mark...why is her mark different from Nick's and why didn't she try to negotiate a better deal than an open-ended, no restrictions favor?

I think I would've been seeing who might have wanted to kill me who died by demon on the night in question. I honestly cannot keep up with all the people who are trying to kill Rachel.

Being chased through the woods was very scary. I was going to scream if she got captured by Trent AGAIN! But getting killed by Trent would be worse. And I was a little disconcerted when I realized Trent had snuck into the church and nabbed Rachel's ring off her sleeping self. Creepy.

Why can't Jenks tell what Trent is? Hmmm...

I laughed when I imagined Ivy as a candy striper! Though a vampire in a hospital just sounds like a very dangerous idea.
(hide spoiler)]

[MJ Codename: ♕Duchess♕]

I've finally started book 11 again (Ever After).

I swear to Odin, if anything happens to (view spoiler)[Quen (hide spoiler)] I will rage.

[Becky ♡The Bookworm♡]

Ack! I missed a bunch of notifications! Grrrr!

Marla....sounds like you enjoyed it! Are you going to continue the series?

[Becky ♡The Bookworm♡]

Book 3:

Chapter 19: (view spoiler)[Okay, so why is it that Kisten can go all vampy and regain control, but Ivy goes vampy and attacks the closest warm body? Is she just lacking that much control over her vamp urges or is it because she abstained for so long? I know she wants Rachel, but I think it's purely selfish motivation. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 24: "Ta-da!" LMBO! (view spoiler)[ The chemistry between Trent and Rachel is hysterical. I still have hope that they'll be an item. I'm hanging onto my opinion that Trent isn't as evil as he appears. There's got to be more going on under the surface. (hide spoiler)]

[MJ Codename: ♕Duchess♕]

(view spoiler)[ Ivy doesn't have the control that Kisten does. A lot of it has to do with Picsary. I love Kisten. As for Trent, he has been, and will always be, my book husband. And I love his one bodyguard, he cracks me up so much. (hide spoiler)]

[Becky ♡The Bookworm♡]

Heather wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

(RE: Book 3: Every Which Way But Dead)

(view spoiler)[The barbs between Rachel and Jonathan are highly entertaining. LOVED the #2 pencil reference she used. Ha!

I can see why Ivy's control would be off after the whole Piscary thing. It feels like her trauma has been pushed aside though. She was so devastated at the end of the last book. I know months have gone by, but other than her anger over Piscary being "in her mind" I'm not seeing the PTSD. Yes, she's depressed, but I expected...I don't know...more of reaction to being raped and forced into his scion position. Which reminds me....

Why isn't her dad furious with Piscary? I get that it's a vamp loyalty thing, but either he's showing favoritism to the younger daughter, or he's an insensitive jackarse. (hide spoiler)]

[MJ Codename: ♕Duchess♕]

(view spoiler)[ I can't remember Ivy's father, tbh. Ivy has always had blood and control issues. If you find the short story with her and Art, her control, or lack-there-of, is really displayed in it. Her PTSD is woven throughout all the books she's just really good at hiding it through her anger. I have on-again/off-again issues with Ivy. (hide spoiler)]

[Becky ♡The Bookworm♡]

Heather wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

Thanks, Heather! Ivy is complex that's for sure!

[Marla]

(Book 2): Hey there, I'm back. I decided to listen to this series and I am enjoying it more in this format.

The bad thing is I'm listening to the Playaway version, so I can't even tell where I am in the book.

I like the new Agent Glenn character! Tomato fear explained a little more was interesting. (view spoiler)[ No pizza, it would be a sad world :D.

Come on, they are detectives! Everyone would know that Glenn is the Captain's son. And if they didn't know, they are terrible detectives.

Rachel's old professor sounds like a @%#$! [insert favorite derogatory name]. How is Rachel going to get a familiar by next week? Maybe Nick will be her familiar.

Witch killings being tied to the rat fights is horrible. What a nasty way to die.
(hide spoiler)]

Does anyone know why Kim Harrison names all The Hollows books in twisted versions of Clint Eastwood movies?

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

I started book 2 but never got to finish yet. It got busy for me and was distracted but I will catch up. I'm hearing good things about the 2nd book but I have to say I did like the way it started.

[Marla]

I'm rereading our thread and collecting the Book #2 - The Good, the Bad, and the Undead comments here, so I don't have to search for them:

Note: + 1 indicates to also read the next message



Storm finished

Kristin Chpt 1-15

Kristin doesn't have much to say about end

Lauren's reply to Kristin after Chpt 15

Lauren finished with 17

Stacie's reply to Lauren's comments

Steven's comments on #2 in hindsight

Stacie comments on Steven's musings

Lauren's comments including Chpt 24

Steven's reply to Lauren's comments

Stacie's reply to Lauren + 2

Lauren's final thoughts on #2

Becky, Kristin & Co. starting their Feb 1 buddy read + 1

Becky mid-Chpt 8 + 1

Becky finished Chpt 15

Becky finished Chpt 21 + 1

Marla a little ways into #2

[Marla]

from others comments around Chpt 17: (view spoiler)[ Rachel is the dominant in her and Ivy's relationship? Whaaat?! That scene was awkward and I'm glad that Nick put an end to it. Steamy scene with Nick. I was surprised that Rachel's demon scar flares, but it hadn't before during intimacy. Hmmm...and Nick has a vamp bite? He's just full of surprises.

I HATE button fly jeans. Some over-protective parent designed them. Thank goodness the trend didn't last long.

What does it mean to be a vampire shadow vs scion vs whatever else there is?

Wow, Rachel made Nick her familiar. Doing demonic magic is not cool. Rachel's father was trying to keep her away from ley line magic because she's too powerful and will be too likely to turn dark.
(hide spoiler)]

[Marla]

Lauren wrote: "...Dr. Anders..."

I agree that Dr. Anders (view spoiler)[ isn't going to live long.

And I was surprised that Rachel is starting to get along with Dr. Anders. She could learn some powerful stuff. But like her temptation with black magic last book, I hope this is just a temptation, and she won't give in and taint herself more.
(hide spoiler)]

[Marla]

Storm wrote: "I just finished book 2..."

Well done, Storm, (view spoiler)[ I remember you guessing that Trent was an Elf. (hide spoiler)]

[Marla]

Steven wrote: "The Good, the Bad, and the Undead

This one seemed a lot like the first to me. It was good, but not OMG GREAT! Know what I mean?..."

I liked this one way more than the first one, (view spoiler)[but I love the serial killer aspect and I listened to the audiobook. Both things drastically improved the book for me. (hide spoiler)]

[Marla]

Lauren wrote: ":

Comments up to chapter 25 (including):

Rachel and Trent - ..."

Good call! (view spoiler)[I think there is something to having the same aura. I liked your other observations. We will have to wait and see...

I like that Rachel can now tell when Trent is lying and telling the truth.

I do keep wondering why Trent is afraid of Rachel. And I notice that we keep seeing a dreamier side of him and not the evil jerk that he can be. (hide spoiler)]

[Marla]

Lauren wrote: "Skipping all the spoilers about later books seeing as I've only just finished #2. I like to spread out my series rather than binge because I get burned out otherwise.

Final comments on [bookcover..."

Rachel & Piscary - (view spoiler)[ I knew that Rachel wouldn't stake him, but I would not be surprised if that decision comes back to bite her. Literally. Love the pun... (hide spoiler)]

Rachel & Al - (view spoiler)[ Well, Rachel is going to find out what Nick feels when she pulls magic through him. I think Rachel is getting better at negotiating with demons, but I hope she doesn't make it a practice. (hide spoiler)]

Rachel & Trent's fathers - (view spoiler)[ I wonder what would cause them to work together. Obviously, Rachel's cure would be enough for her father. Did Trent need a cure too? Is that why his aura looks like Rachel's? Or did his father just experiment on him?

I loved it that Trent was the bully that Rachel threw into a tree. I'm sure he deserved it. (hide spoiler)]

Nick - (view spoiler)[ I didn't really like him with Rachel, but even she knew it was a temporary thing. I hope she can untangle him from being her familiar.

Speaking of that, Al got Rachel's book back. I knew that Nick having that book was not a good idea. Now, he lost it. And I have a feeling that is a bad thing. (hide spoiler)]

Dr. Anders - (view spoiler)[ I assumed she was dead, but I guess that was an assumption on my part. (hide spoiler)]

Witch Deaths - (view spoiler)[ So was Piscary just killing the witches so he could find out what Trent was up to? (hide spoiler)]

Rose at FIB - (view spoiler)[ I was really ticked about that too!!! I hope something happened to Rose because of her insensitivity and rudeness. (hide spoiler)]

Payment in Full - (view spoiler)[ I was thrilled that Rachel got paid all her fees, from the baseball team, Trent and the FIB! I was getting really annoyed that everyone was stiffing her. (hide spoiler)]

[Lauren]

Great comments, Marla!

I was also wondering (view spoiler)[why Trent and Rachel's auras are so similar and if Trent also had an illness. Of course, what type of illness would an elf have?

On the other hand, isn't it weird that Rachel is a witch who got an essentially human disease considering that witches and humans are supposed to be different species? (hide spoiler)]

[Steven]

You ladies have so many answers coming... just keep reading! :D

(PS - the disease Rachel had growing up was not a human disease, it was a witch-only one. Not sure what made you think it was a human one, Lauren?)

[Lauren]

Steven wrote: "You ladies have so many answers coming... just keep reading! :D

(PS - the disease Rachel had growing up was not a human disease, it was a witch-only one. Not sure what made you think it was a hum..."

Because it says in the book that (view spoiler)[she had leukemia, no? (hide spoiler)]

[Steven]

Hmm, I don't remember that being stated, Lauren. So I apologize for my semi-spoiler in saying that it's NOT leukemia. and it's a witch-only thing. And it will definitely play a big role in the future books.

[Lauren]

No worries and it's not much of a spoiler :0)

[Marla]

LOL, Steven, you are like the all seeing, all knowing...or "I know something you don't know"...I guess it depends on how old we are.

I guess I'll just have to read on...

Thanks, Lauren. I don't remember what they called her disease.

[Steven]

Rosewood syndrome or something like that.

I've just read the first ten of the series since December so they're all pretty fresh Marla haha

[Lauren]

I've started listening to - only up to the beginning of chapter 2 but I have to say that I'm amazed that (view spoiler)[Rachel managed to get the upper hand with Al. Wow! That is one very PO's demon, lol! (hide spoiler)]

[MJ Codename: ♕Duchess♕]

It's Rosewood Syndrome and depending on which book you're on (view spoiler)[You'll learn that Rachel and Stanley are the only two survivors of it thanks to Trent's father. And Stanley is a massive scum bag. (hide spoiler)]

[MJ Codename: ♕Duchess♕]

And no, Rach didn't have leukimia, but her, Trent, and Stanley all attended the same Make-A-Wish camp for (view spoiler)[Trent's father to continue his illegal genetic research (hide spoiler)]

[Lauren]

Thanks Heather. I have no idea who Stanley is as I'm only on book #3.

[MJ Codename: ♕Duchess♕]

I can't remember what book be pops up in. It's either 3 or 4. He grew up with Trent and Rachel and helps fill in some of their backstory.

[Lauren]

OK, I'll be on the lookout for him.

[Marla]

Lauren, you make me want to read it too, but I've got too many to read right now.

[Lauren]

Up to chapter 9 (not including):

Not much has happened yet although I'm very glad that we are apparently (view spoiler)[seeing the back of Nick. I never trusted him. (hide spoiler)]

Kisten - (view spoiler)[I don't trust him either and I have to wonder whether he has an agenda in trying to get close to Rachel. He obviously wants something from Ivy and perhaps thinks that he can use Rachel to get it (hide spoiler)]

Rachel and Ivy - (view spoiler)[their weird relationship seems to have toned down a bit, for which I'm grateful. Ivy is feeding regularly - I hope not from anyone we know :0) (hide spoiler)]

David - (view spoiler)[a werewolf insurance adjuster, lol! I have a feeling we will be seeing more of him.

I had to laugh at the fact that Jenks and his family ate the wishing fish, LMAO! (hide spoiler)]

[Lauren]

Up to chapter 17 (not including):

40% in and no real plot yet. Its mostly introducing new characters and a little development of existing relationships.

Blood sugared - (view spoiler)[although it is presented as a good thing allowing vampires and others to let go of their inhibitions and relax, it is still kind of creepy! (hide spoiler)]

Kisten (view spoiler)[is growing on me. I’m not sure this is a good thing because I’m sure he has his own agenda.

Rachel giving Kisten what for outside the casino is my favorite scene so far. I think he really hurt Rachel by making her think their date was real. Of course, its possible that it was real despite the detour to Saladan's (hide spoiler)]

Lee - (view spoiler)[isn’t it a little weird just how similar he is to Rachel? He also knew who she was from the start! My spidey sense is tingling!

Is he a minion sent by Al or perhaps Al in disguise (Rachel would be able to sense that wouldn’t she?) Or perhaps someone who works for Saladan given that Saladan's flunkies had the dice that Rachel kissed?
There is definitely more to him than meets the eye! (hide spoiler)]

Dr. Anders (view spoiler)[ is dead?! How do we know this? In the last book she had disappeared but no body was found! (hide spoiler)]

WOW! (view spoiler)[Witch bleeding out through his pours *shudder*. Bad idea to mess with black charms! (hide spoiler)]

Nick - (view spoiler)[Where is he exactly and why do I think he’s up to no good? He really needs to disappear for good! (hide spoiler)]

Skimmer - (view spoiler)[I don't like her at all! (hide spoiler)]

[Lauren]

Up to chapter 24 (not including)

Ivy - (view spoiler)[makes my skin crawl - plain and simple. It's like she’s stalking Rachel and just waiting for a weak moment to pounce *shudder*. It would be different if I felt that there were true romance, love and trust in their relationship. At this point, it is all about power and dominance and I don’t see that changing. (hide spoiler)]

Al - (view spoiler)[I love it when Rachel gets the better of him and it would actually have been interesting to see how Rachel handled having him as her familiar and vice versa. Alas, they bond is broken so that's not gonna happen.

Of course, now I'm suspicious as to why he was so happy at the end there . . . he's up to something! (hide spoiler)]

Nick - (view spoiler)[Really glad he's no longer Rachel's familiar. I really don't like or trust him and it was annoying that they had that connection. Of course, now the shmuck will probably be back :0( (hide spoiler)]

Ceri - (view spoiler)[She certainly knows a lot about the demons and how they work. Of course, she did spend a millenium with them so I suppose its to be expected.

It's good to know that she (and Rachel) now have soemthing to hold over Al's head :0) (hide spoiler)]

[Lauren]

Finished

The story only picks up in the last 1/8th of the book. The rest is mostly character development and I'm more of a plot driven reader so this bugged me a bit. Nevertheless, I really like Rachel and company (except for Ivy) and I'm looking forward to the next book.

Some comments:

Ellspeth is something else! (view spoiler)[I take it that Trent has some ulterior motive for marrying her that has more to do with saving his race than love. (hide spoiler)]

Lots of new info on Trent and the (view spoiler)[elves. His actions are starting to make more sense now that we know he is trying to save his race from extinction. While he still isn’t trustworthy, his redemption is obviously in the works (hide spoiler)]

That Lee (view spoiler)[is such scum! I’m so glad that his plan to trade his demon mark for Rachel backfired on him. Rachel’s guilt over tricking him is really misplaced though. Do unto others before they do unto you and all that, lol!

I also don’t understand why she kept pleading with him to reconsider. That witch is evil! They don’t change their minds! (hide spoiler)]

Newt’s (view spoiler)[a little creepy. For some reason I picture Yoda in my head. Why is he so interested in Rachel and why would Al be beside himself if he knew what he had given up by taking Lee instead?

So Rachel owe's Newt a favor now because he helped her return from the Everafter. That can’t be good. (hide spoiler)]

Awww! (view spoiler)[David is so sweet to ask Rachel to be his pack even if he does have an ulterior motive :0) (hide spoiler)]

[Steven]

I love how you keep lists of your thoughts. I just race through and then struggle to remember different thoughts or feelings or commentaries or theories that I had at any point of the book!!!

[Lauren]

Thanks Steven. I participate in quite a few buddy reads and I've learned to keep a record of what I'm thinking as I read (love the Evernote app!)

[Steven]

I'm working on getting better at it LOL!