This is another great book in the Rachel Morgan series. I was bad and read this one without reading the last two but it was still fun. If you like the series, this is another great book.

American Demon, the first novel in the Return to the Hollows series by Kim Harrison, totally rocked. Fresh, familiar and tomato free….

RACHEL MORGAN IS BACK–AND THE HOLLOWS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME

It was so wonderful to slip back into this world. Rachel is planning to meet Trent, the kids and Ellasbeth at the park. If all goes well, Ellasbeth will get the kids for the weekend. A meeting with Jenks and Ivy at the church delays her when a zombie shows up in the courtyard. Life is never boring when you name is Rachel Morgan!

The world has changed for our team. Ivy has Nina, the church is badly in need of repair, Jenks needs a new home, and Demons are enjoying coffee that doesn’t taste like burnt amber.

Things are tense between Trent and the elves, but a young elf seeking him may change things as Rachel embraces all sides. Ivy wasn’t present as much as I would have liked, but Jenks is his usually charming self. It was delightful to be back solving problems as the gang faces a deadly enemy with harmful intent.

Romance, new friends, powerful discoveries and magic await you in this addictive first installment. I am so happy to be back in the Hollows. I loved seeing Al and you won’t believe who works as a barista in our favorite coffee shop! Trent has mellowed and seeing him with Rachel and the children is answer enough.

The trouble and conflict in American Demon was a scary one, and Rachel can’t rest until she stops them because someone she cares for is at risk. Harrison delivered a fresh spin on a mythical lore.

A new “friend” Morgan encounters come to her aid but has others on high alert. I loved getting to know them, making all the connections and learning the unique histories. Watching things unfold was delightful and of course Rachel never listens to advice and needs to find her own answers. It’s something I love about her, even if it also makes me crazy. 😜

Harrison brought twists, particularly when it comes to the Goddess. It felt right. We get hints of trouble ahead, and some developments that have me excited. The ending left me crying but hopeful.

Fans will want to add this to their bookshelves because it’s a keeper. If you haven’t read the Hollows, you could technically begin with American Demon. But as a member of the fandom, I recommend started at the beginning.

I cannot tell you how excited I was to see the return of The Hollows series with Rachel Morgan. This series was my second foray into the genre and the first with a female protagonist, and I loved the hell out of it, so I was heartbroken when Harrison stated that she was ending it. Though she did end it well.

But Rachel is back, as is the entire Hollows crew. It's great to see how the relationship between Rachel and Trent is still evolving and to discover new layers and characters which continue to expand The Hollows world. I'll confess, I did try to do a re-read of all the books prior to cracking this open, but only made it through four before I cracked this open. True to form, Harrison gives us laughter and epic battles, drama and heartbreak. The family that this world has given its readers is phenomenal and I was ecstatic to see it return. It's my fervent hope that Harrison continues to delve back into The Hollows because she's set herself up with a ton of fresh new avenues to take the characters down.

It picks up a few months after the end of The Witch with No Name minus the last chapter. People hate it that demons aren't stuck in the ever after. The vampires are trying to figure out how to handle things now that Rachel can alter the relationship between undead and living vampires. There is lots of chaos and division among the elves.

I loved the new characters! Zach is an elf whose motives are unknown but wants to get close to Trent. Hodin is a demon and is very different from the other demons. Mainly he's much nicer and has different skills. Due to problems from his past which weren't fully explored, he's hiding from the other demons. He was great, and Rachel could learn a lot from him.

Trent still came off as weak. He has to be the good guy all the time and is screwing stuff up for himself and potentially the elves to protect Rachel. He's going through a rough time, but with his skills it should be considerably easier for him to weather this storm. He appears weak to the degree that Rachel constantly questions if she's good for him or not, which is annoying as hell. Trent needs to find a way to better but still be his old ruthless self and be with Rachel. It was interesting to learn more about Trent's past.

The vampires are in turmoil while trying to figure out how to move forward. It didn't cause any big issues in this book but hinted at big problems to come. Rynn Cormel flaked out after not getting his soul, so he's not an effective leader anymore. I didn't like it that he was a powerful villain in the last book and became weak and ineffectual off page. Some new vampire will be coming to stir up trouble.

I hope there are more books to follow this one since not everything was resolved.

I’ve been a fan of this series since the very first book came out. I was sad to see it end, and I was happy to see the author decided to write more. I dived into this book, and I was surprised it was a little slow at the beginning. However, after a while, it did pick up. Part of the problem, but not the only problem, was I had forgotten some stuff, and it came back after a little bit. This book is as well-written as I remember, and it does have a good plot. The only thing that bothered me was something I had forgotten about Rachel (don’t hate on me): I find Rachel to sometimes be a little wishy-washy about certain things because throughout the book it was “I shouldn’t be with Trent; I can’t live without Trent.” Other than that, I quite enjoyed this new book, and I can’t wait for more. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks!! All opinions are my own.

Book: American Demon

Author: Kim Harrison

Book Series: The Hollows Book 14

Rating: 3/5

Recommended For...: Witches, urban fantasy

Publication Date: June 16, 2020

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Recommended Age: 17+ (witches, magic, language, violence)

Publisher: ACE

Pages: 464

Synopsis: 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.

Review: I haven’t read the other books in the series and I was a bit hesitant to begin this one, but this book was pretty good. The book had a fairly good synopsis of the previous books and where we were currently. The book also had a decent plot.

However, I didn’t feel like the character development was there for me and the book is 14th in the series. I wouldn’t recommend this as a standalone read and the story seems interesting enough to start from book 1.

Verdict: It was a good book, but I need the contexts.

[4.5/5 stars] If you can just mentally delete the epilogue that ended the series at book #13, American Demon is a fantastic continuation to the Hollows series.

I kind of like that American Demon is an (initially) unplanned continuation because otherwise the series might have felt too drawn out. Now it’s moving forward with a fresh intention, and that’s exciting. The book dealt with the aftermath of the crazy things that went down in the first series, and it truly felt like a new beginning in this world. Harrison did an excellent job expanding the playing field by adding a bunch of new characters, and the demon Hodin became an instant favorite (I love characters with duality). But the best part is that this new installment is still filled with the characters we’ve built connections with over the first 13 books, so it already has that developed depth that makes longtime fans like me fawn over every page.

I was enjoying the story for all the things listed above, but what really set this book apart as a strong addition to the series was the inclusion of a lot of complicated spellwork. It was awesome! I remember Rachel spelling in previous books, but I don’t recall it ever being quite this involved. She was trying to develop a new spell, and I found every stage of the process absolutely fascinating. I hope this leveled-up component continues in the next book.

The Hollows is one of my top urban fantasy series. It’s not my overall favorite, precisely, but it is responsible for a couple of my single favorite scenes across any genre. Harrison really knows how to build momentum, and she has truly dazzled me with some of her most epic moments. But that gradual momentum that always leads to amazing payoffs takes time to develop. And so, as we’re just beginning another story arc in American Demon, the pacing is rather casual throughout most of the story. Which is just fine, because when a series touches you like this one has me, even the slower parts have a lot of merit. It was a great way to ease back into the world.

Recommendations: this is a must-read for fans of the series – the story quality continues as strong as ever. With that in mind, I wouldn’t recommend new readers diving in without first reading the main Hollows series. Also, Harrison published a really good prequel novel (The Turn) that she referenced often in American Demon, so if you haven’t had a chance to read that one yet, I think it added a lot to the experience.

Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller

After a six-year hiatus, Kim Harrison seamlessly thrusts us back into the Hollows with her latest installment, American Demon. Amidst the confusion after the rearrangement of realities and ley lines, the salvation of magic, and the fluctuations of Inderlander and human hierarchies, Rachel Morgan returns. Regardless of their unpopular reputation, Morgan and her unlikely gang of kick-ass partners-in-(solving)-crime must investigate a string of both human and Inderlander domestic violence attacks-turned-murders.

Although this is the 14th book in the Hollows series (excluding the prequel), Harrison still manages to create something new from this incredibly well-established world. While there already exists a wealth of information into which old readers can tap, American Demon does not leave the new reader out of the loop or confused. Harrison’s uncanny ability to birth new lore into the Hollows and twist and weave a narrative would leave even the most avid and knowledgeable Hollows fan scratching their heads to solve this mystery.

Characters, new and old, brilliantly come off the page and mold into real people you would not be surprised to meet at your local coffee shop, even if you might not want to! Harrison smoothly reminds us of her numerous characters, without seeming heavy-handed and overt in her characterizations. Some characters have had the privilege to be developed over several books, while new characters have only been just introduced. Regardless, Harrison expertly gives depth to new friends and enemies throughout this book.

In American Demon, Harrison explores the themes of freedom, acceptance, sacrifice, and unconditional love and friendship. In a world of continued discrimination and distrust among and within species, as well as the permanent emergence of demons and the resurfacing of the elven clans, characters must fight for their freedom, both literal and figurative, and for acceptance where it has historically been lacking. Millenia of feuds and carefully balanced power structures lead Morgan and others to fight against the status quo for the sake of her love of Trent and all others she holds dear. If there is nothing else Harrison’s readers will learn by the end of American Demon, it will be that Rachel Morgan will sacrifice her life and wellbeing for the sake of what is right.

As a long time fan of Kim Harrison’s Hollows series, I have loved her novels, each one more than the next; American Demon did not fail to fit that pattern. In this revival of the Hollows series, I sincerely hope that she follows this with another action-packed and inventive dive into the world of demons, witches, pixies, elves, and more.

I loved that series, and when it ended, I was sad. So I was all the more curious to get into this new volume and this continuation of the adventures of our favorite characters.

Rachel has new problems and not the least. A new demon comes to town and wants our heroine’s help, Al is no longer available, some kind of entity seems to be after her and Trent. In addition, Ellasbeth is here to get back into her daughter’s life and hopefully Trent’s as well.

A whole new era has been created with the arrival of the demons on Earth and it has become very difficult for Rachel and Trent to deal with the anger of the people because they are being held responsible for everything that happened by Landon. And then of course, there’s always Jenks and Ivy, even though Ivy is less present and has a lot to deal with on her side.

I was a little afraid to go back to the series after all this time, because it was possible that the author might have been a little bit below the others, but that wasn’t the case. I can tell you that I’m really thrilled and I can’t wait to read the new volumes.

Fans of the series, don’t hesitate, you won’t be disappointed!

This review was originally posted on <a href="http://booksofmyheart.net/2020/06/11/american-demon-by-kim-harrison/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
&nbsp;

<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

So,  <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/40628-the-hollows" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong><em>The Hollows</em></strong></a> series was the very first Read-along I hosted in my early days of blogging at <a href="http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Yummy Men & KickAss Chicks</strong></a>.  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, <strong><a href="http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?p=19872" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Witch with No Name.</a>  </strong>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 <strong>The Turn</strong> and it may help with some of those questions. <strong>American Demon</strong> 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.

American Demon is the surprising 14th installment in author Kim Harrison's The Hollows series. This story takes place two months after the Goddess battle and before the final chapter in The Witch With No Name. Also, I want thank Kim Harrison for the awesome preface at the very beginning with all you need to know to refresh your memory of the previous storylines. But, if you haven't read any of these books yet, buyer beware of spoilers! There, I have done my due diligence in getting the facts out to my followers.

Rachel Mariana Morgan, as I am sure you are aware, is a witch-born demon, and that brings about plenty of trouble on its own. Since her church suffered unimaginable damage, Rachel is currently living on a yacht that was once owned by the deceased Kisten Felps. Even though Demons have been given their freedom, only Al (Gally) and Dali have taken advantage to live and work among humans. Add in the fact that she's dating an elf, Trent Kalamack Jr., is best friends with a pixie, Jenks, and a living vamp, Ivy Tamwood who is now scion to another vampire, Nina Ledesma, and things are not exactly peaceful.

As the story opens, you can see just how complicated her daily life has become. She may have saved the world. She might have managed to create a new Ever After along with Bis, her gargoyle. But, she's under constant observation and is open to an attack by the Goddess. She's also being hammered constantly by the dewar, Landon, who is also at war with Trent who refuses to bow down and marry his former fiancé Ellasbeth Withon who he has a daughter, Lucy, with. Then there's the fact that Ivy has decided to work with Nina at the FIB which has all but ended their business relationship.

The first clue that things are going to get twisted, is when a zombie is found in the church's garden. Then there's a rash of domestic violence on the rise in Cincinnati, and naturally, the world is keen on assuming that demons are behind it, including Captain Edden of the Federal Inderland Bureau (FIB) who is supposed to be a friend. Now it's up to Rachel to prove the truth with help from Trent and Jenks. Add to the mix a new demon named Hodin who has a few things to teach Rachel and is fully engaged participant in this story unlike Al, and Weast, a human from the Order who collides with Rachel over and over again over an evil Baku that has somehow managed to elude capture, and you can see there's plenty of action.

Even though I was shocked by the return to this series, I am honestly glad she did. Rachel is a powerful character with emotions like you and me. She's spunky, she's in love with Trent but it doesn't overwhelm her life with doing what he wants to do when he wants to do it. I would have loved to have more Ivy, but I understand things for Ivy and Nina and maybe even Rachel are going to get even more curious with the arrival of new vampires. I love Bis. I love that he's like a little kid who loves Rachel to no end and would put his life on the line for her. I even loved that Hodin was surprised how useful Rachel is as a student.

Could this be a lead up to Hollows Returns series? We shall see!

Here's a list of other characters who appear in this story:

-Ellasbeth Withon, elf, Trent's ex-fiance and mother of Lucy Kalamack. Ellasbeth and Rachel may not be the best of friends, but they're not mutual enemies.
-Ray Hansen, Elf, child of Quen and Ceri Dulcet.
-Bis, Gargoyle, 50 years old who is bound to Rachel.
-Landon, Elf, current head of the elven religious order the dewar.
-Zachariah Oborna (Zack), Elf, leader-in-waiting of the dewar. *Zack is another key character in this book.
-Weast, Human, leader of the Order
-Quen Hansen, Elf, Trent's head of security and confidant.

Just when Rachel Morgan thought her life could finally have some normalcy while she and Trent Kalamack are learning to be a couple, new and strange occurrences come roaring in relating to the elf/demon world. Rachel’s actions in the previous book led her to believe she had fixed everything, or at least, made the world better for those she cares about, elf and demon alike. She and Trent have a lot of challenges in their relationship because the members of the Elven Dewar are not particularly fans of Trent eschewing his former fiancée and mother of his child, Ellasbeth, by choosing a demon such as Rachel instead who cannot give him children. Trent has foregone a lot of standing to be with Rachel; however, he is determined not to give up this woman whom he loves despite what anyone says, or threatens him with no matter the cost.

Rachel has several major issues going on including repairing her church building, dealing with the changes in her agency partners, Ivy and Jinx, and a set of strange killings all the while feeling a huge amount of guilt for what Trent is sacrificing in being with her. When a previously unknown demon, Hodin, pops up who seems to know what is behind the recent murder and mayhem, Rachel has a new paradigm to learn in order to defeat the enemy who is targeting the man she loves by using her as a weapon for his destruction. An old rival, Landon, is in the mix causing trouble while his acolyte seemingly changes sides to Trent’s camp.

Rachel and Trent cannot seem to catch a break between her issues with this new world order, figuring out what is targeting them, dealing with Trent’s ex who just might want him back, and Rachel’s usual helper Al being off in hiding which indicates how dangerous and uncontrollable this adversary is if the demons are afraid. Rachel’s friends and associates from the Hollows series are on hand to lend their support; however, it will all come down to Rachel, Trent, and their new collaborator whom everyone seems to be warning her against. Can you ever really trust a demon always is the question. Jinx provides his usual saucy comic relief while Bis, the ever-loyal gargoyle, aids Rachel in her quest to figure how to conquer an entity no one seems to really understand except that the elves as usual have some culpability so there is a lot of finger pointing and blame going on by several groups.

Rachel and Trent have been in each other life since childhood including a long adversarial relationship prior to their enemies to lovers reversal so memories of past hurts and encounters are in the mix of emotions and become in some respects a weapon against them. While it’s good to be back in Rachel’s world, some parts of the book feel overlong and repetitive without adding much to the overall plot. At nearly five hundred pages, there is quite a lot of angst, intrigue, spell castings, and some romance as well as references to Rachel and Trent’s past to catch readers up on where they have been and what direction they are now going. Fans of this long running series will be pleased to be back in The Hollows with Rachel Morgan and her crew, friends and foes alike.

Tink's titties, but I've missed this series! Kim Harrison brings us back to the Hollows and the story picks up right where she left us. When Rachel gained an enormous amount of power and Bis helped her to remake the Ever-after, she brought the demons into the fold; making them citizens with actual rights. While doing that she also released an ancient sentient, but non-corporeal being that attacks souls when they are most vulnerable that even the demons steer clear of. But when this entity zeros in on someone she loves, Rachel and the gang are willing to take up the challenge.

Rachel and Trent are dealing with the aftermath of the demons being made citizens. Demons and Elves have always been enemies and the fact that Rachel and Trent are in a relationship throws a wrench in both of their lives. But their character development has been amazing and I'm happy to see that they have both matured and made a true partnership.

The secondary characters are as awesome as ever. Ivy, Jenks, Bis, and Al are the same foul-mouthed, sarcastic, and loyal friends that we've grown to know and love. Some old friends rejoin the gang and some rather interesting new characters have made themselves known as well. I can't wait to see what comes of them and what troubles they will cause in the next books.

I wasn't lying when I said I missed the Hollows. Kim Harrison has built a world that I gladly find myself immersed within. I've loved, laughed, and mourned with these characters. I still can't forgive the paths that she took with Kisten and Matalina. I cried. Ugly tears. I cried in this book as well, but this time I didn't mourn for long. I chose instead to grasp that thin rope of hope that she dangled in front of me with an iron fist. Harrison once again played with my emotions and left me wanting more. I cannot wait for the next installment to come out.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for releasing this ARC to me in exchange for an honest review.

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
First off, I want to talk about two things that Harrison did that really have nothing to do with the plot. First, in the last chap of The Witch with No Name, we're treated to a glimpse into Rachel's future, twenty-five years after that novel. At the time, I said we could've lived without it, but it was a nice way to say goodbye to the series. Now, it seems all the more ingenious of her to do. Twenty-five years provides several opportunities for Harrison to spin new tales. I don't know if it was purposeful or not at the time, but it sure worked out well.

I was a little intimidated about coming back to this series after such a long break—Harrison's novels were typically stuffed (occasionally, overstuffed) with plot—multiple storylines tying the novels together. There was just no way I could remember them all—much less remember all the various characters. The preface to American Demon consists of a portion of Rachel Morgan's Inderland Security file, sketching out her escapades as well as her associates. It's a wonderful refresher course in all things Rachel Morgan and did enough jogging of my memory that I was ready to dive in.

Anyway, what about the novel itself? It's been a few months since the events of The Witch with No Name and those events have caused ripples throughout society (both the supernatural and mundane) as well as the in the lives of the series' characters. Trent's struggling with his bank balance and his relationship to the rest of the elves (although Rachel seems to be having more difficulty with both than Trent is), Rachel and Jenks are struggling to put their church back together, Ivy's dealing with her new reality (and the city is looking for a new Master vampire), Rachel's trying (not too successfully) to cope with the changes to her abilities, and...that's just a taste. As much as things seemed wrapped up, life (even fictional life) isn't that clean. Unlike my usual M. O., I'm not going to get further into the plot—fans don't need it, and new readers won't appreciate it without Rachel explaining what it all means.

Harrison manages to bring back every major, and many minor characters—even working in mentions to the major dead characters from the past. It may just be fan-service to let all the cast make an appearance, but it was done so smoothly, so organically, that it really doesn't matter.

At the same time, Harrison brings in some new faces (and most seem like they'll around for a while)—there's a new elf, a new vampire, a new demon, and a whole new supernatural species. Each of them moves the series in a new direction and add aspects to the ongoing storylines that are very satisfactory. I can see Harrison adding one of these characters per novel—but all of them at once. She's more than shaking up the status quo, she's making a bold move forward for the series.

If I'd fallen into a coma shortly after reading The Witch with No Name and had just woken up in time to read this, I wouldn't have known that Harrison spent anytime away, much less that she'd start a new series that was entirely distinct from The Hollows. For example, in this age of TV continuations—fans of the originals can easily tell the difference between the series that went off years ago, and the new episodes that aired recently. I assumed the same would be true here—not that the book would be bad or anything, just a little different—and I couldn't have been more wrong.

By the way, since I expect some will ask—sure, this is a decent jumping-on point. A lot won't make sense, but you'll be entertained enough to shrug that off and keep going both with this book and those that are waiting in the wings. You'll be given enough reason to go back and read the previous volumes.

From wrapping up a series very nicely with one book to telling a complete story in the next while setting up 4+ (depending on how you count them) multi-book arcs in the next is a pretty nice trick. This could've just been a nice little reunion, but Harrison has done more than that—she's breathed new life into this series as well providing some solid entertainment. Welcome back to the Hollows, folks.



Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for this post -- thanks to both for this.

It was like coming home to visit with dear friends, quirky, determined, earnest and slightly otherworldly and sometimes, demonic, good friends! Kim Harrison’s AMERICAN DEMON kicks off a new series that also is a continuation of the original and I was right back there, in the moment and loving it! It just proves, "You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone!"

There’s a new demon in town and evil is lurking in the shadows. Once again, Rachel is on the job, protecting those she loves at any cost.

Sometimes it’s scary to go blindly where an author takes you, part in fear of disappointment, part because, what if everyone has changed just a little too much? No worries! Kim Harrison has kept us on the straight and narrow, keeping true to her characters, her unique style and most of all, her readers! I loved it and can’t wait for more!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from ACE/Berkley Publishing! This is my honest and voluntary review.

"RACHEL MORGAN IS BACK - AND THE HOLLOWS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

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."

I know I'm not the only one who thinks that summer should be all about new Urban Fantasy reads!

Rachel Morgan is back in a thrilling return of the  bestselling urban fantasy Hollows series . 

It seemed Rachel had found her happy ending.  American Demon came into existence because Rachel evolved and the ending shifted.  She is dealing with her relationship with Trent and his ex, the politics between Demons and Elves.  Something is plaguing people while they sleep, making them attack the ones they love most with tortured nightmares from hurts of the past. Rachel will do whatever she can to unravel the plot before the demons are blamed.  Kim Harrison introduces two new characters into the book.  Powerful demon named Hodin with a shocking connection to Al  tempts her with the dangers and powers of elven magic. Pike, a living vampire, is playing dangerous games as well.  Rachel, who had admittedly grown up, is still a work in progress. 
We encounter same mystery, sexiness, and humor in the new book.

As always, Harrison's characters are endearing, fun, and interesting.

Fans of Rachel Morgan will be dancing the Happy Dance as they get another adventure with Rachel and her crew.

It's been years since I've read The Hollows book, but I remembered that I loved them. When I saw American Demon coming out, I was thrilled.

It took me a bit to remember things, even with the character information in the beginning. Rachel is still with Trent, but Trent has been pretty much shunned by the elves. Landon is in charge now and he's been lying about what happened. Ivy isn't around much and she's only in the book a little which bummed me out a bit. Rachel and Jenks are still planning on working together, but the church needs a lot of work first. Trent and Ellsabeth are still battling over the girls. Trent has been giving her more time with them. Rachel constantly worries about Trent since she can't give him children. She thinks that he and Ellsabeth probably belong together, but Trent makes it very clear that he doesn't agree with that.

There is a new danger and Rachel and Trent are targets. A Baku enters their dreams and he uses people to kill the person they love. Eventually, the Baku takes over the body he's in. He takes parts of their souls over time. A new demon, Hodin, shows up and starts helping Rachel out. There's also a young elf, Zach, that wants to be with Trent and not Landon. Hodin hates Al, but he won't completely tell Rachel why. Al is being kept in hiding after the Baku found him in his sleep and he wanted to kill Rachel. Hodin sort of helps Rachel out and then later Trent, too. He's not very trustworthy, but he knows more about the Baku than anyone else. The growing group works together with both demon and elf magic.

One of the things I love about this series is the found family. Rachel is terrifying to people after everything that's happened. Others are angry. But her friends are always there for her. No matter what, they find their way to help each other.

"Family wasn't just those you grew up with, but those you grow better with."

There was a bit of repeating and I think the book would have been better if it was just a bit shorter. But overall, I really enjoyed this and I'm happy to be back with The Hollows books. I'll definitely be reading the next book after that ending.

I gave this book 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy. Quote taken from an ARC and may change before final publication.

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am so happy to be delving back into the world of the Hollows. Don't get me wrong. I like Kim Harrison's Peri Reed, the palate cleanser she worked on to give herself a break from the "finished" Hollows. I'm really sad that she didn't publish the third one. I didn't care much for her standalone Perfunctory Affection. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't her best work either. I hate to say it, because I know authors need to write other things to keep themselves happy and fresh-minded, but Hollows is where she shines the most. It's where she's at the top of her game.

This one opens, luckily, with a quick recap of characters and recent events, which is a blessing. I tried hard to complete my reread of the series before I needed to read this one. Alas, my reading mojo hasn't been nearly as big as in previous years, so I finished up through book five (gasp, that ending is so hard) and wasn't able to finish more.

I'm so glad we're back in Rachel's life. Jenks is one of my favorite characters, and I love Al. Sadly, Al takes a backseat in this one due to a VERY dangerous enemy, but that turns out to be okay. A few new characters are introduced that I really, really like, and Cincinatti's shaken up yet again with new leadership on multiple fronts.

All in all, I loved this one very much, but I did have to deduct half a star and go with 4.5, strictly because of something at the end. It would have been a whole star, but luckily, Harrison hinted that there will be a revisiting of this specific thing. (Can't and won't spoil it for you, sorry-not-sorry)

Looking forward to the next book, The Rule, already. Hope it releases next year and we get a little extra resolution and a lot more of Rachel and gang. Keep 'em coming, Harrison!