Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
American Demon by Kim Harrison
Series: Return to the Hollows #1, The Hollows #14
Published by Ace on June 16, 2020
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 464
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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What happens after you've saved the world? Well, if you're Rachel Mariana Morgan, witch-born demon, you quickly discover that something might have gone just a little bit wrong. That the very same acts you and your friends took to forge new powers may have released something bound by the old. With a rash of zombies, some strange new murders, and an exceedingly mysterious new demon in town, it will take everything Rachel has to counter this new threat to the world--and it may demand the sacrifice of what she holds most dear.
So, The Hollows series was the very first Read-along I hosted in my early days of blogging at Yummy Men & KickAss Chicks. I chose it because I had heard so many great things about it but never read the series. It was also 2014 and the year the “final” book was released, Witch with No Name. I wrote longer and a bit more spoilery reviews then.
I do really enjoy this world and was excited to see what would happen now, even with the epilogue of sorts. If you read my 2014 review, I had many questions and some frustrations. I have not read The Turn and it may help with some of those questions. American Demon begins right after the WWNN. It felt amazing to be with them again.
I still love these characters and they still have some flaws. I suppose that makes them more believable but it also makes me want to smack them. Rachel and Jenks are a team with Ivy moving into her own deal at I.S. David and the werewolves are absent. The vampires are barely mentioned. Nick was a no-show, praise the Goddess. So that leaves the elves and demons trying to wrap their head around the new world.
The demons are trying to stay out of the limelight with only Rachel being well-known. The elves are being run by Landon, the evil elf, and his goal is to get rid of Rachel and Trent.
The FIB is not really involved with the situation. The villain is sort of a back-door thing because it involves a lot of magic which seems like the world’s best not-kept secret. I mean it’s illegal but everyone wants it; most use some type and everyone looks the other way. The Order is trying to handle it and push out everyone else, but they don’t really have all the skills.
Rachel, as usual, ends up working to save the world at great risk to herself and her friends. Rachel seems to be the only one with witch, demon and elf magic. I didn’t like her insecurities and her tendency to not confide in Trent and Jenks. They were with her throughout, but not as closely as I wanted. I need her to trust and build on her relationship with them.
I like how she cultivates some new strays, Hodin and Zack. She doesn’t trust them completely, but she works with them to contain the threat and protect her loved ones. I have high hopes for her to further her relationship with Trent, even figuring out how to have a child. I also see Trent and Rachel, maybe with help from Ivy, Jenks, Al, Hodin, and Zack to unify the world and reduce the prejudice.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- COYER-20
I stalled in the middle of this series and will one day finish it. I’m glad this was one of your favorites and you had a chance to return to it. Does she plan more?
I don’t know for certain but since some notations show this as Return to the Hollows#1 instead of Hollows #14 I guess so. I’d like to see more development of these characters and their relationships.
I had a really nice time with this one as well and I was happy to have all the characters again
Me too.
I got a few books into the first series but like Jonetta got sidetracked somewhere and never made it back. Glad you are still enjoying the series.
It’s easy to get sidetracked and not get back when the books are a year apart. I started when there was only “one” book left to release. I do enjoy this series and I love some of the characters. I do like some of the more unusual supes like elves and demons. It keeps things interesting.
I got a copy of this from the publisher, but I have read the first 13 books so I didn’t think it would work for me. Too bad, it sounds good!
Sadly I agree. Like most urban fantasy you would miss too much by jumping in at book 14.
Neat that there seems to be a second season of the series. Hopefully, Rachel will come into her own with her magic and it is neat to see characters grow. I still need to start the whole series.
I hope you enjoy it!
i love her work and keep meaning to get back to her books because i have a lot more to read
That has happened to me. Especially when books are a year or so apart, it’s easy to get sidetracked.
Glad to see you are still enjoying the world of The Hollows.
I am. I’m glad to see more books because I think there is plenty of character development left and probably more stories to tell.
ooh I love the sound of this one and all the mix of elements that are involved here. Even though I am not into the zombie theme I really want to grab this one up here.
Great review.
This is the first book in the series I remember having any zombies in it. But this is UF so I would start at the beginning of the series.
I haven’t read this series, but I’ve been following Jennifer’s reviews on my blog. I’m glad that the pick-up-where-we-left-off setting works. Sounds like the world isn’t quite done with Rachel Morgan.
Isn’t that the truth. I guess if everything were easy it wouldn’t be much of a story or at least not an interesting one.
This series is a big commitment, Anne, but it sounds like it is paying off. Lovely review!
Yes that is why I am doing my Read-alongs each year. I do a series I’ve never read and the next year I do a big favorite I want to re-read. Reading only one a month makes it easier so people hopefully can join me. Next year will be one I haven’t read, as this one was in 2014.
I need to dive back into the original series. I am so glad you enjoyed this new one!
I really did. For me I was happy to have a bit more Trent and less Ivy. That’s my personal preference.
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