Rachel Morgan Once Again, 1. September 2008

I'll keep this one short: If you just love the characters Kim Harrison has created in her Rachel Morgan series and their e- and involvement, go get this book. If you're looking for a fast-paced, action-filled pageturner, just don't, as this one is definitely the weakest of the first three regarding this.

       Keine Lust zu warten!, 28. Mai 2008

HalloIch hatte nach dem 2. Teil der Serie keine Lust so lange auf den 3. zu warten und hab mir die Folgeteile alle auf Englisch gekauft und hab es nie bereut!Auch wenn das Englisch zum Teil recht schwer ist und ich den deutschen Wortwitz vermisst habe (der ja hier Englisch ist, ich aber viele der Witze garnicht kenne und erst drüber nachdenken musste, bevor ich losgeprustet hab).Die Geschichte ansich ist flüssig erzählt, hat wieder ein wahnsinns Ende und die Geschichte kann nahtlos forterzählt werden!

      Vom Regen in die Traufe - und das mit Highspeed, 3. März 2007

Um den Mafiaboss und Obervampir Piscary ins Gefängnis bringen, musste Rachel in THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UNDEAD ihre Seele an den Teufel verkaufen. Nun, eigentlich ist Algaliarept ein Dämon und als Rachel einwilligte sein Familiar zu werden, konnte sie durch einen Trick ihre Seele behalten. Jetzt will Algaliarept seinen Preis einfordern und die junge Hexe zu sich in die Unterwelt zerren. Aber so leicht gibt Rachel sich nicht geschlagen. Immerhin muss sie sich um einen Machtkampf in der Unterwelt kümmern und um Nick, den sie versehentlich zu ihrem Familiar gemacht hat.Niemand gerät schneller vom Regen in die Traufe als Rachel Morgan und meistens ist sie auch noch selbst schuld daran. Langweilig wird es mit ihr nie, so auch nicht im dritten Band des Hollows-Zyklus. Rachel, die die Welt in Schwarz und Weiß einteilt, muss sich plötzlich in einer Grauzone zurechtfinden. Rechtfertigt das Ergebnis die Mittel? Kann jemand, der Unrecht tut, im Grunde genommen ein anständiger Mensch/Vampir/Elf sein? Und kann Rachel ihren Prinzipien treu bleiben, auch wenn das Verderben droht?Viele Fragen werden beantwortet, einige neue tauchen auf und lassen ein noch vielschichtigeres Bild von Harrisons Welt und ihren Charakteren entstehen. Besonders gefreut hat mich, dass Rachel mit Kisten zusammenkommt und dass zwei neue, höchst interessante Charaktere vorgestellt werden (eine Elfin und ein Werwolf, der als Versicherungsvertreter arbeitet). Weniger angetan war ich von der Entfremdung eines anderen Figur. Abgesehen davon, dass er mein Lieblingscharakter ist, leidet durch seine Abwesenheit das humoristische Element des Buches. Aber keine Sorge, im nächsten Band kommt es zu einer Versöhnung.EWWbD ist einfach großartig, man sollte aber die vorherigen Bände gelesen haben, da ein gewisses Vorwissen vorausgesetzt wird.Der Zyklus im Überblick: DEAD WITCH WALKING; THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UNDEAD; EVERY WHICH WAY BUT DEAD; A FIST FULL OF CHARMS; FOR A FEW DEMONS MORE

       Rachel Morgan really hits her stride!, 20. Februar 2007

This is the third book in the series following Rachel Morgan, the white witch whose life seems to lurch from one disaster to the next. Although this book sort-of works on its own there are a lot of back-references to the previous two books ("Dead Witch Walking" and "The Good, The Bad And The Undead") and I think it's probably best to read them in order. There are some spoilers for the previous books in the review below, so beware!At the end of the last book Rachel had overcome the master vampire Piscary (with the help of Kisten his former scion) although with a lot of trouble on the way - she had accidentally made her boyfriend Nick her familiar and had got more involved with the demon, Algaliarept, plus her roommate Ivy had rediscovered her taste for blood. The events in "Every Which Way But Dead" take place three months after the end of the previous book and it seems that Rachel's life is changing again. Boyfriend Nick Sparagmos has become rather elusive - Jenks thinks it's all over. And then Kisten the vampire appears on the scene again and Rachel wonders if she can trust him - after all, he did try to help her defeat Piscary. Plus Ivy's hunting of Rachel continues and Ivy's link to Piscary isn't helping. And Algaliarept wants to collect on the deal she made with him three months ago - which probably means the loss of her soul.This book felt to me like Kim Harrison was really hitting her stride in writing. Although the first two books were really good reads this one was definitely better. There was actually less relentless action in it and much more time was spent with the characters - Rachel, Ivy and Kisten mainly. I was very glad that Rachel was rid of the drippy and wet Nick and tumbled into a fling with the phwoar-tastic Kisten. The background plot of Trent Kalamack and his doings continued, of course, with a little local power struggle between Piscary's lot and a newcomer on the scene, but the main action was about Rachel and her tangled life and her ever-growing link with Algaliarept and attempts to keep out of his hands. Jenks and his family are in the story, of course, as light relief and I love their interactions; this book was a bit more steamy than the previous two and there was more focus on the relationship between Ivy and Rachel.Overall this was another really good read from Kim Harrison. Less spells, more character, and I felt that was a definite improvement in direction and made for a more enjoyable and meaty book.

       Rachel Morgan really hits her stride!, 20. Februar 2007

This is the third book in the series following Rachel Morgan, the white witch whose life seems to lurch from one disaster to the next. Although this book sort-of works on its own there are a lot of back-references to the previous two books ("Dead Witch Walking" and "The Good, The Bad And The Undead") and I think it's probably best to read them in order. There are some spoilers for the previous books in the review below, so beware!At the end of the last book Rachel had overcome the master vampire Piscary (with the help of Kisten his former scion) although with a lot of trouble on the way - she had accidentally made her boyfriend Nick her familiar and had got more involved with the demon, Algaliarept, plus her roommate Ivy had rediscovered her taste for blood. The events in "Every Which Way But Dead" take place three months after the end of the previous book and it seems that Rachel's life is changing again. Boyfriend Nick Sparagmos has become rather elusive - Jenks thinks it's all over. And then Kisten the vampire appears on the scene again and Rachel wonders if she can trust him - after all, he did try to help her defeat Piscary. Plus Ivy's hunting of Rachel continues and Ivy's link to Piscary isn't helping. And Algaliarept wants to collect on the deal she made with him three months ago - which probably means the loss of her soul.This book felt to me like Kim Harrison was really hitting her stride in writing. Although the first two books were really good reads this one was definitely better. There was actually less relentless action in it and much more time was spent with the characters - Rachel, Ivy and Kisten mainly. I was very glad that Rachel was rid of the drippy and wet Nick and tumbled into a fling with the phwoar-tastic Kisten. The background plot of Trent Kalamack and his doings continued, of course, with a little local power struggle between Piscary's lot and a newcomer on the scene, but the main action was about Rachel and her tangled life and her ever-growing link with Algaliarept and attempts to keep out of his hands. Jenks and his family are in the story, of course, as light relief and I love their interactions; this book was a bit more steamy than the previous two and there was more focus on the relationship between Ivy and Rachel.Overall this was another really good read from Kim Harrison. Less spells, more character, and I felt that was a definite improvement in direction and made for a more enjoyable and meaty book.