Dead Witch Walking (Hollows #1) [January 2, 2025]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

This is a Buddy Read for Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison starting on January 2, 2025.



Happy Reading!

[Nirkatze]

Thank you!

Publication order is recommended on the Author's website: (https://www.kimharrison.net/Secondary...)
I got the chronological order off of the wikipedia page: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollows...)

Series List and Schedule:
1. Dead Witch Walking (Jan 2)
Short: 0.1 Sudden Backtrack (e-novella)
Short: 0.2 The Bespelled in Into the Woods
Short: 0.3 Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel in Into the Woods
Short: 0.4 Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil in Into the Woods
Graphic Novel: 0.5 Blood Work
Graphic Novel: 0.6 Blood Crime

2. The Good, the Bad, and the Undead (Feb 2) [link]
3. Every Which Way But Dead (Mar 2) [link]
4. A Fistful of Charms (Apr 2) [link]
Short: 4.1 The Bridges of Eden Park in Into the Woods
5. For a Few Demons More (May 2) [link]
6. The Outlaw Demon Wails (Jun 2) [link]
Short: 6.1 Dirty Magic in Hotter Than Hell and Into the Woods
====Requests made to here====

7. White Witch, Black Curse
Short: 7.1 Ley Line Drifter in Unbound and Into the Woods
8. Black Magic Sanction
9. Pale Demon
Short: 9.1 Million Dollar Baby in Into the Woods
10. A Perfect Blood
Short: 10.1 Trouble on Reserve on Wattpad (https://www.wattpad.com/story/1162626...)
11. Ever After
12. The Undead Pool
13. The Witch with No Name
Crossover Novel 13.1 Peri Reed: 0.6 Waylaid
(Maybe slot in first Peri Reed story with Waylaid, before or after)
14. American Demon
15. Million Dollar Demon
16. Trouble with the Cursed
17. Demons of Good and Evil
18. Demon's Bluff
0. The Turn: The Hollows Begins with Death

Related books:
Series Guide: The Hollows Insider (no stories)
Anthology: Into the Woods: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond (99% of stories listed here)

Peri Reed Chronicles
0.5. Sideswiped
0.6 Waylaid (listed above as 13.1)
1. The Drafter
2. The Operator
3. The Agent (Publication TBD)

It seems like all of the shorts are included in the anthology Into the Woods, with the exception of Sudden Backtrack. The Peri Reed Chronicles have one crossover (at the 0.6 point in Peri Reed and 13.2 point in Hollows)

Availability: Not on KU or Audible Plus. A few ebooks on Hoopla. Check your Libby.

[Nyssa]

Thank you both! :)

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

For bonus points, most/all the mainline book titles are riffs on Clint Eastwood movies... not sure about the revival books, but 1-12 are/were...

[Nirkatze]

Ooh, I recognized some of the riffs, but not that they were specifically Clint Eastwood movies.

[Nyssa]

My dad used to be an Eastwood fan, so I recognized the pattern and then had it confirmed when I read an interview or post by Harrison.

As for the short stories, I have Into the Woods: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond, so I might try to read them in chronological order instead of publication order.

[Nirkatze]

I'll shuffle the order on top around to Chronological then--whoops, we might have wanted to put the prequel in earlier in the lineup then... Though sometimes prequels do have spoilers for later stories...

I probably won't try to read the prequel short stories until after book one at least. Probably jump into book one today.

[Nirkatze]

Into the Woods: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond Short Story Breakdown:

1. "The Bespelled" (Hollows 0.2) POV: Ceri & Al (Originally published in #6)
2. "Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel" (Hollows 0.3) POV: Rachel, Robbie, Pierce (Originally published in Dates from Hell)
3. "Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil" (Hollows 0.4) POV: Kisten, Ivy, Art (Originally published in Holidays Are Hell)
4. "Dirty Magic" (Hollows 6.1) POV: Mia, Tom (Originally published in Hotter Than Hell)
5. "The Bridges of Eden Park" (Hollows 4.1) POV: Kisten, Audric, Rachel (Originally published in For a Few Demons More #5)
6. "Ley Line Drifter" (Hollows #7.1) POV: Jenks, Bis, Vincet, Sylvan the Druid (Originally published in Unbound)
7. "Million-Dollar Baby" (Hollows 9.1 or 10.1) POV: Trent Kalamack, Jenks, baby Lucy, Ellsbeth (Original for collection)
8. "Pet Shop Boys" (Not Hollows)
9. "Temson Estates" (Not Hollows)
10. "Spider Silk" (Not Hollows)
11. "Grace" (Not Hollows)

Only shorts not in collection are Sudden Backtrack (on Wattpad) and Trouble on Reserve (on Kindle/other ebook stores)

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Prequel was published between book 13 (original end of series) and book 14+ (revival)...

Main thing I remember being constantly referenced in the series from the prequel is that it was a tomato plague that triggered the reveal of the supernatural... so nobody eats tomato products in this world... ketchup, sauce, etc... I'd die :D

[Nyssa]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Prequel was published between book 13 (original end of series) and book 14+ (revival)...

Main thing I remember being constantly referenced in the series from the prequel is that it was a tomato pl..."

I remember this as well. I don't think it matters when it is read.

[Nyssa]

Nirkatze wrote: "I probably won't try to read the prequel short stories until after book one at least. Probably jump into book one today."

I agree with this plan. :) Thank you for updating the thread!!

I'm still finishing Oathbringer, so I might not start until tomorrow.

[Nirkatze]

Sounds good! ^_^ I'm a chronological reader myself... though I also like reading through once and then determining my favorite reading order...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Depending on the genre / info I find online, I generally believe you should start with book 1, before going back to prequels as needed, then continuing forward chronologically...

[Nirkatze]

That's what I usually do too--though there are some series where prequels are especially good after specific books, like some of the October Daye reveals, or reading Falling Free right before Diplomatic Immunity, or reading New Spring after WoT#6.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Oh I want to join this. One of my favorite series. Especially the earlier books.

[Nirkatze]

Yay! More people!

Starting! I saw this described as Stephanie Plum meets True Blood. The opening does have a Stephanie Plum feel to it.

[Nyssa]

Welcome to the read, Diana! :)


Nirkatze wrote: "Starting! I saw this described as Stephanie Plum meets True Blood. The opening does have a Stephanie Plum feel to it."

Rachel does give off a TSTL vibe in the first book or two, but it doesn't last very long (thankfully).

[Nirkatze]

Took me a minute to remember what TSTL means, lol.

Snortworthy quote: "You have the right to keep your mouth shut. If you forgo keeping your mouth shut, I will shut it for you."

[Nirkatze]

Through Chapter 17, a little over halfway in--the worldbuilding is interesting. A fun mix of creatures and rules... I always find it fun to compare what the guidelines for vampires are, and each Urban Fantasy seems to find some way to make their world unique. I like the terminology for a vampire being "practicing" or not, (view spoiler)[and that book on Dating Guidelines was pretty funny. I really like Jenks so far--the Pixie culture is interesting, his wife seems cool, and it's just an interesting combo for a partner. (hide spoiler)]

[Nyssa]

Nirkatze wrote: "Through Chapter 17, a little over halfway in--the worldbuilding is interesting. A fun mix of creatures and rules... I always find it fun to compare what the guidelines for vampires are, and each Ur..."

My favorite thing to look for in Fantasy is a variety of characters. Like you, I love seeing the twists on well-known beings—vampires, werewolves, fae, etc.

[Nirkatze]

Finished! (view spoiler)[Yikes, turning into a mink and then getting captured... feels like an Animorphs plotline. This could have gotten a lot darker... but the book isn't the type to linger on the psychological spiral, I guess. It has a lighter feel.

Even having captured her, I was surprised at how much Trent let Rachel overhear and see. He's overconfident, and that'll bring him down... Smart move, using the secretary to drug Rachel. The animal fighting ring was interesting--and meeting another person in rat form... glad they both got out! Jenks to the rescue! Maybe Nick is the (a?) romantic interest?

The demon was pretty creepy... interesting that Rachel is scared of Ivy more than anything else. I'm kinda disappointed in her on that... Ivy's been very helpful and Rachel hasn't been helping her back.

Okay, what's with the tomato aversion? I mean, I hate tomatoes, but it's not universal.

Ivy's community service at the end is pretty funny.

Overall a fun jaunt, with threads that feel like they could set up something more connected and maybe deeper, but a light feel to it. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Once upon a time I was seeking the oldest characters I could find… until Elder Races introduced characters living since the Big Bang created the universe…

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

@Nirkatze: things change alot over the course of the series… I read 1-13… 10-13 were some of my earliest audiobooks back at 1x speed…

(view spoiler)[there’s eventually a bit of a love triangle with Trent and the Demon & Rachel…

Ivy becomes much more trusted, but that storyline was one of my bigger disappointments with the series and most of the rest spirals from Rachel/Ivy…

And Jenks has interesting character growth too…

I know I’m ignoring Kisten (can’t even remember if he’s in book 1 or appears in book 2+… (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Oh gods, (view spoiler)[Trent and the Demon are the main love interests? UGH!

I don't remember a Kisten being introduced here, but I'm not good with catching names all the time. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Yea… it’s insane how much changes over the course of the series… I almost consider 1-6 and 7-13 two different series… things take a shift past book 6 as the author starts working toward the end of book 10 I think it was, with a goal in mind…

[Nirkatze]

Well, I hope it's convincing. Right now, I can't imagine how a (view spoiler)[Drug-dealing murderer and a Demon rapist could possible be palatable love interests. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Don't even ask me... it's one of the reasons my ratings declined as the series progressed... (view spoiler)[I was much more interested in the possible Rachel/Ivy romance of the early books... before that was nixed in book 6... Trent starts being forcibly shifted into a potential love interest in books 7-9, mostly transitioning in Pale Demon, I think, which involves a road trip with the 2 of them...

The Demon is more of an unrequited thing, I think?... with the demon growing attached/enamored by Rachel over time?... my memories are honestly hazy, but I feel like that side is more of a fan ship/fanfic, almost... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

And I'm guessing (view spoiler)[Nick is either completely sidelined or killed off. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

(view spoiler)[I don't remember Nick... so probably yea... Kisten is the early romance I remember that got killed off... altho, from reading blurbs, things get interesting on that front in the newest book that just came out... the plot necessitates time travel, and the spell goes wonky, and Rachel has the moral dilemma of trying to save Kisten or stick to the actual mission... (hide spoiler)]

[Nyssa]

I just completed chapter 9.

It's nice being reintroduced to Keasly & Jax.

I had forgotten how intense that dinner scene was between Rachel & Ivy.

I'm feeling excited about delving back into this world.

I can not remember at which book I left off during my first attempt at reading this series; essential discoveries had been made by that point (view spoiler)[, and I think Jenks was either still mad at Rachel or had just forgiven her for discovering one of these secrets without telling him; you don't do that to pixies, especially if they are your friend. (hide spoiler)] So, random snippets of memory keep popping up as I read.

[Nyssa]

I am in the middle of reading Chapter 14, but I snuck a peek at the spoilers in the previous comments.

Kisten (aka Kist) is introduced in chapter 12 of this book.

It's been long enough that I don't remember what happened with him.

(view spoiler)[ I remember that Nick does something idiotic - I believe having to do with the demon. (hide spoiler)]

I am in denial about the whole future triangle thing. I refuse to believe it until I read it. Of all of the characters --- really!?!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

So much happens to Jenks in this series... I think he's kinda unique to pixie-kind, from all the adventures he's gone on with Rachel, and having such a cushy housing situation year-round...

I think in one book, he even gets to be human-sized...

[Nyssa]

Timelord Iain wrote: "So much happens to Jenks in this series... I think he's kinda unique to pixie-kind, from all the adventures he's gone on with Rachel, and having such a cushy housing situation year-round...

I thin..."

I have a vagueish memory of that. I think. I'm really not sure. But he does become one of my favorite characters; along with his family.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

You know... you guys that still believe in reading real books ;)

I'd love to watch you guys read House of Leaves

It's probably the last physical book I read, with Soo and another guy back in 2017... I tried to read Ship of Theseus a year or 2 later and lost momentum and never finished, I don't think...

Note: I know this is completely off-topic... I just wanted to find a thread to mention it with people that have been talking about reading physical books lately...

They're definitely books where the physical format is important to the story and can pretty much literally not be turned into audiobooks... it's a meta-narrative, as much about fictional people reading the story or the lives of the fictional people that supposedly wrote the story...

There's pretty much no way I'd do a full re-read :D

[Nirkatze]

Timelord Iain wrote: "You know... you guys that still believe in reading real books ;)

I'd love to watch you guys read House of Leaves

It's probably the last physical book I read, with Soo and another guy..."

LOL If it shows up on a Summer BR I'd consider it...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

It's definitely a book a lot of my friends have added to their TBR pile... and most people agree with me that it's an experience book they don't regret reading, but probably wouldn't read again... and that it's kind of work to read/decipher...

[Nirkatze]

I was thinking of starting Into the Woods--but I think I'll wait a few more books until I meet the characters... I don't know who Ceri or Al are, so the prequel short won't mean much to me yet.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "I was thinking of starting Into the Woods--but I think I'll wait a few more books until I meet the characters... I don't know who Ceri or Al are, so the prequel short won't mean much to me yet."

Al
Algaliarept

[Nirkatze]

Yeah, don't remember who that is. Only a few names stuck with me: Ivy, Nick, Jenks, Sara, and asshole Trent. Anyone else is going to have to wait for the next book to get a name to the description, like "White-haired Doctor" or "Jenks's wife"

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Yeah, don't remember who that is. Only a few names stuck with me: Ivy, Nick, Jenks, Sara, and asshole Trent. Anyone else is going to have to wait for the next book to get a name to the description,..."

The Demon

Ceri isn't introduced until book 3, tho.. just checked the wiki...

[Nirkatze]

Oooh! I didn't realize he had a name, lol. Well, I could apply that to a lot of people

[Nyssa]

I've just completed Chapter 23. The warning bells are ringing loudly, and Rachel is not thinking everything through thoroughly. Her annoyance at Ivy's carefulness is frustrating.

And please tell me Jonathan dies a slow, painful death!

[Nirkatze]

Nyssa wrote: "I've just completed Chapter 23. The warning bells are ringing loudly, and Rachel is not thinking everything through thoroughly. Her annoyance at Ivy's carefulness is frustrating.

And please tell ..."

LOL!! I very much agree with getting frustrated with Rachel for how she's treating Ivy... Those aspects are making me compare her unfavorably to Stephanie Plum right now...

[Nirkatze]

Also, first post has been updated with links to the other books through June!

[Nyssa]

Nirkatze wrote: "Also, first post has been updated with links to the other books through June!"

Thank you!!

[Nyssa]

I just finished Chapter 28. I want to continue but must leave for work in a few minutes.

I had forgotten entirely the whole library scene and what followed. I'm glad Rachel was honest with Ivy about that much!

I remember Kensley's secret, but I don't know when the others will learn it. I also don't remember what Rachel will do about the mark.

I can't say it's like reading the books for the first time because I have snippets of future info in my head, but the things I have forgotten are fascinating to relearn.

[Nirkatze]

I love it when I'm rereading, and I've forgotten just enough for it to be like a fresh read, but with prescience.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

This probably just looks like some random image, but it's from these David Blaine: Street Magic parodies I saw 10-15 years ago, before Mikey Day made it on to SNL/etc (one of the characters having magic tricks done on them)... things basically keep escalating until David Blaine is time traveling back in time to add the card to childhood home videos...

Your prescience comment just made me think "it's magic"...

[Tonari no Emily]

Started this one (even thoough i probably shouldnt, but hey i already own them)
Having a slightly hard time getting into it, already annoyed with the MC lol

[Tonari no Emily]

Timelord Iain wrote: "You know... you guys that still believe in reading real books ;)

I'd love to watch you guys read House of Leaves

It's probably the last physical book I read, with Soo and another guy..."

Read that in high school and thought it was genius! Im sure id have a different reaction to it now, but theres no way Im rereading it lol