The Outlaw Demon Wails (Rachel Morgan, Book 6) Reviews

• It's Pay Day in a Big Way for Our Girl of the Hollows!

  
  By A1PJ5HW0HI8N2V on 2008-02-26
  Over the course of five Hollows novels, Harrison has teased and alluded to readers about Rachel Morgan's true heritage. Is she really a witch? What did Trent's father exactly do to her DNA? Why does Ceri never let on about what she knows regarding Rachel's unusual talent in kindling demon magic? How is it related to Trent's research for the elf race? Why do demons gravitate towards her as if they have an ulterior motive? Why? Because they do!
  
  Finally, Harrison lets the cat out of the bag in a big way...but she doesn't give it to us all in one big enchilada. The entire meat of the book is a lead in to what we have been waiting for but we stop a few times, glean more along the way.
  
  Two main aspects to this latest tale that stand out significantly are: 1)there is more of a presence and focus on family ties both from Rachel's true family and her urban Hollows one i.e., Rachel's mom has a very dark secret related to Rachel's father, Keasley is revealed, Quen is in dire trouble, Rynn Cormel, the charismatic new Cincy vampire master makes an appearance, Ivy and Rachel come to an agreement of sorts with their blood balance, David the Were appears more nurturing, the addition of Marshal (the witch from Mackinaw Island) provides a potential new love interest, and Ceri...well she's got a bun in the oven from an unlikely source and 2) Rachel's true heritage.
  
  It even gets more complicated and spicier as the search for Kisten's killer ensues, Trent asks Rachel to go on a mission to the Ever-After so that she can retrieve a piece of ancient Elven DNA-that might be able to repair the damage that the demons wrought in the last war. Couple this with Al on a nightly release when some mysterious person keeps summoning him from his jail in the Ever-After-even Minias is hard pressed to catch him. All in all, it's not just a bad day for Rachel but a bad week-Halloween week no less.
  
  Readers get the big payoff and a glimpse into one possible direction that Harrison might be taking the series-one that is freaking irresistible! I felt like giggling and skipping around in a circle chanting a mantra: "We're going to the Ever After- We're going to the Ever After" like it's a really neat school field trip. Well hell...it is! My permission slip is signed and I'm ready to go!
  
  After staying up nearly all night to finish reading (got the book early), and a triple espresso in the shower to wake me up, it was well worth every minute. Worth savoring and re-reading!
  
  Kudos Harrison, did it again!-Laughter in One Word: `mouse burger", and the dialogue between Jenks and Bis was so freaking funny I laffed so hard and loud, that I probably woke my neighbors! (c)Nicola Mattos
  
  
  
  

• She'll Do Anything To Save The Ones She Loves

  
  By AYFNND2XCUXF1 on 2008-02-28
  There's no doubt about it. Harrison has done it again and raised the stakes ever higher with her latest and greatest Hallows book. It's hard to believe this is only book six; it feels like Rachel's character has been with us forever and she only gets more "real" as the series continues. As surely as Rachel twists curses to get herself out of yet another sore spot, Harrison is twisting readers into an absolute fit of excitement with her wicked way with words.
  
  The Outlaw Demon Wails wastes no time and swings into the demon action with the very first chapter. With a trio of sneezes from Rachel, Al's back in crushed green velvet and as ready to wreak havoc as ever. It's October and as the Hallows and Cincinatti residents prepare for the week-long Halloween festivities, Rachel is once again fending off Al's rigorously murderous attentions. Someone is letting him lose from his ever-after jail cell and Rachel has to find out who has it in for her enough to do so. The list of possibilities is long, to say the least. And suddenly, not only is Rachel in danger, but everyone she loves and cares about are too. With guilt and heartache weighing heavily on her with Kisten's demise, not to mention more than one shocking family secret, Rachel is mentally and physically tired. And when a desperate witch just can't take anymore, she'll do anything to save those she loves.
  
  I'd been hearing that at one time this was to be the end of the series, and therefore we'd be seeing a lot of the subplots wrapped up with this installment (even though Harrison's contract has now been extended--which hey, is awesome!). Frankly, I don't agree that that many of them were really wrapped up enough to truly put away. Rather, it read more as if a new chapter had opened in many of them and they'd become even bigger an issue than they were previously. For example, Rachel's lineage has always been of keen interest, what with her surviving a deadly childhood witch illness, one that kills many a witch in infancy. Within this particular subject we have two subplots that intertwine: what Trent's father really did to her in that Make-a-Wish camp and who exactly her father is, a man that had passed on some time ago, a character that we really didn't know much about till this installment. We get oodles `o info on both of these, yet it's such a huge impact that we'll certainly be feeling the effects of them and possibly more info in the books to come. Rachel and Ivy's blood lust marathon...what can I say but that they seem to come to an understanding, finally, of where each stands in this particular relationship. I was especially pleased with Ivy this time, as she finally seems to take a step back and really look at Rachel in regards to the blood lust. I felt she actually listened this time. I do not think it's over, as the new master vamp has made a rather bold claim, but for now, it's come to a much more pleasing, not to mention manageable, point. Ceri's role is as important as ever, and there is a bump of a twist where she and another important character are concerned that ties directly into the main plot of the book. Jenks, as per usual, gets some of the best lines and a very surprising yet wonderful surprise was Rachel's mother. Up till now, her role in this part of Rachel's life has been almost nil, but I have to say that, next to Rachel, she may well have become my second most favorite character. This was a turning point in the series, and that fact is demonstrated in the way Harrison delves back into past installments to bring a lot of info to light and reveal some rather shocking incidents, as well as by incorporating a line that I really didn't think Rachel would ever cross. The following installment will be interesting to say the least, as in a gut wrenching, adrenaline inducing thrill ride, as this one was in spades. There's no need to comment on Harrison's writing/plotting/character development skills other than she has it down solid. As always, I'm feening for the next book and don't know how I'll ever wait another year.
  
  

• Outlaw demons and witchy wonders

  
  By A1D2C0WDCSHUWZ on 2008-02-28
  Kim Harrison ended her last book with a shocking twist: the death of Kisten, Rachel Morgan's vampire boyfriend.
  
  And the repercussions of that climactic twist are felt all over "The Outlaw Demon Wails," a glorious follow-up that continues twisting (or is it spindling?) the plot all over. Harrison weaves together a half dozen vital storues into an even more tightly-written, shocking novel -- where we get lots and lots of new revelations and answered questions.
  
  Rachel and her mother are shopping for Halloween costumes and talismans when the demon Al appears, destroys the shop, and nearly kills Rachel. Somebody is summoning him out of demon prison, and setting him after Rachel -- and her personal patch of holy ground is getting a big cramped, due to an increasingly bloodlusting Ivy and Jenks' massive family moving in.
  
  And as Rachel struggle to cope with these problems, she learns that Ceri is pregnant -- and to keep her baby and the elf race healthy, they need a sample of ancient elf tissue from the ever-after. Though Rachel initially refuses, she finds that this elf drama is somehow connected to the terrible secrets of her past -- and a journey to the ever-after might help her defeat Al. But it might also open a Pandora's box of secrets about Rachel's own future...
  
  Rachel's parentage. Her father's horrible death. Her memory loss after Kistan's death. Her friendship with Ivy. The true nature of the witches, elves and demons. Not to mention her future love life.
  
  Yes, all these plot threads get dealt with in an utterly satisfactory way. And unlike many of her urban fantasy contemporaries, Kim Harrison weaves them into a solid, thrilling plot with a good balance of characters, action and humour. And she can keep the storyline twisting right up to the end -- literally. She introduces two massive twists toward the end that have enormous repercussions for Rachel.
  
  It must be admitted that the plot sags in the middle of the book, when Al and the elf problem seem to get derailed in favour of Rachel's love life/social life problems. But Harrison picks up the slack quickly, and she hasn't lost her knack for tightly written, wry descriptions ("Hence the general weirdness of elves eating hot dogs in my backyard") and snappy, entertainingly self-deprecating dialogue ("Fried eggs!").
  
  And there's plenty of quirky situations that help lighten the rather dark mood -- such as a very apologetic gargoyle crashing into Rachel's church. Jenks and his equally troublesome family provide loads of comic relief as well -- gotta love them pixies.
  
  And Harrison's feisty heroine goes through some painful growth, learns more about her family and her true nature, and has some old wounds reopened. In a sense, this is Rachel's "grief book" -- she spends a great deal of time thinking about the loss of her father and Kisten, and freaking out when she starts remembering how they died. Fortunately Harrison avoids letting her heroine become "emo" -- note the hilarious scene where she's ashamed to admit that she's perused a vampire sex book.
  
  But as Rachel deals with her grief and love for Kisten, Harrison delicately introduces a potential love interest. She doesn't spin anything more than chemistry yet, but it's a person who could become something to her in future.
  
  Other characters get fleshed out as well -- we get to see underneath Trent's coolly slimy exterior to some of his hidden feelings, Ivy's vampiric nature, and even Al gets some new dimensions. And even among the peripheral characters, Harrison's quirky sense of humour is present -- just consider the vampire-sex-manual-writing ex-Presidential vampire master.
  
  Kim Harrison's "The Outlaw Demon Wails" has a slowdown in the middle, but revs up fast for a twisty-turny, revelation-filled finale. Urban fantasy as it ought to be.
  
  

• RERUNrerunRERUNrerunRERUN

  
  By ABCNNP742AV30 on 2008-03-14
  If you read the first two books you've read them all. Granted I have not read 3, 4 or 5 but after reading number 6 and seeing that it is exactly the same as 1 and 2 I'll bet you a hundred buck 3, 4 and five are repeats as well.
  
  Turns out only one year has passed in 6 books! So the characters are static. Rachal and her buds never growup or outward. They never learn much from their mistakes. There isn't time too.
  
  And Ms. Harrison, give the blood lust a break. Man oh man.
  Every time Ivy makes an appearance Harrison goes into overdrive discribing her barely under control blood lust and sexual lust for Rachal and Rachals paralyzing fear and confliction regarding same. It's juvenile . We don't need constant reminding. Just padding out the word/page count are we Ms. Harrison?
  
  Same with Rachals dead boyfriend Kisten. Any contact with any male Rachal has in this book brings up comparisons to Kisten. Hey, we get it she misses him (tho she only actually knew him for a few months so how realistically could she miss him). She feels bad about his death (that I can very well understand) but Ms. harrison has her endlessly pining. Again stop wasting our time over an over with it. STOP PADDING!
  
  It's all the same story. Demon after Rachal. Rachal being conflicted, being stupid, living in constant fear.....lucking out.
  
  
  
  
  

• Happily Ever-After

  
  By A297YKLKP705AZ on 2008-02-28
  Rachel Morgan is one of my all time favorite heroines. I know she does stupid things but strangely enough, I'm always rooting for her to do it because I know that interesting things will come of it. A lot of threads are tied up or at least strengthened in this latest book and I am SOOOO glad since too many series start to lag or fall apart by now. The storytelling was tightly wound and everything happened for a reason.
  
  Rachel is still recovering from the death of her vampire boyfriend Kisten and is trying to move on with life, be a better person, stop acting so impulsive and grow up. But it doesn't seem to matter that her intentions are good becuase she's still being targeted by demons and forced into situations that aren't the happiest.
  
  Her attempts to have a normal friendship with Ivy may finally be paying off even though it's not anything that they would have foreseen as being possible. She has a possible new love interest in Marshal (who's aloso a witch and seems like strong enough person to handle life with Rachel)even though she's fighting it because she knows its too soon after Kisten.
  
  Rachel's mother is a riot and my favorite line from the book may have to be from her...'pee-stained hole' made me laugh out loud. Jenks is awesome as usual and I am loving the mysterious guest in the belfry named Bis and what his arrival portends for Rachel. Al is given some slightly grey shades to his black soul and despite his always frantic attempts to kill Rachel--I kind of like him. He's a great villian and I hope his role continues to grow.
  
  Finally this book ends with the tantalizing thought of what Rachel will become now that her past is revealed and she is heading into the the 'ever-after'. I've a feeling that although she's fighting it, deep inside, she's as excited as we are to be going there. And I just know that in the end, it's going to be a happily ever after for our heroine.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Satisfied -- but can't wait for the next book!
  By A3AVJCB1ZD6ZY5 on 2008-03-17
  Someone's pregnant and the father's going to surprise you...
  
  Someone learns the identity of their parentage and it's no one you'd have expected...
  
  Someone got a husband...
  
  There's a new renter at Rachel, Jenks and Ivy's home...
  
  Rachel's made a new ally...
  
  What I love about the Hollows novels is the nonlinear progression, which is more real life than most novels. Along the way, Rachel's gathered adopted family and friends who are all involved in her business and her life. We have some new people showing up and some old friends from previous novels returning with a bigger role.
  
  What I will say after reading six Kim Harrison novels is that I am not yet tired of the series. I'm still looking forward to the seventh and still enthusiastically recommending the stories. Ms. Harrison writes with great humor and empathy. I love the team she's built up.
  
  
  
• Demon's Wail:
  By AHZFP61Q65FQB on 2008-02-29
  I stayed up all night reading the book. If you're looking for a great read -- sit down with a cup of coffee and open up the Dead Demon Wails. Many plot twists await, several are tied up, and Rachel really changes in this book. Her desire to save others makes her bloodline a bad joke. Yes, Kim finally reveals some secrets she's kept in hiding.
  
  I actually came onto Amazon to rate the book -- one of only two books I've rated with a 5 star. I don't give them out very often. I am depressed about one thing -- Kim's out on tour for the new book and I will need to wait for the next one.
  
  Silvarian
  
  
• exciting Hollows fantasy
  By AFVQZQ8PW0L on 2008-02-26
  Cincinnati based bounty hunter Rachel Morgan remains in shock following the unsolved murder of her boyfriend (see FOR A FEW DEMONS MORE). She plans to solve the case, but neither her mundane hunting skills nor her witchcraft abilities have helped her achieve her objective.
  
  Meanwhile Elf politician Trent Kalamack presses her to perform a special mission in the spiritual realm. Master vampire Rynn Cormel makes demands on her too. Finally her friend Ceri is pregnant; something that never happens to former demons unless the partner is of a certain species. Finally with her failure to track the killer, Rachel begins to doubt her witch magic rationalizing dating and living with a vampire cost her everything; though deep down she knows using demon magic even in a good cause is the probable reason as the means never validates the end. Mom and Rachel's pixy partner Jenks help her cope with the mortal and paranormal crisis tossed at her.
  
  The latest Hollows fantasy is an exciting entry as Rachel is facing a series of calamities in her usual amusing sexual innuendo manner. The story line is filled with several subplots in which none stand out as prime yet coherently come together centering on her investigating the homicide while the demands of the paranormal leave the heroine without a respite. Although lacking the dramatic climax of the previous stunner (Kim Harrison will have a difficult time topping the end of FOR A FEW DEMONS MORE), fans will enjoy Rachel's escapades as THE OUTLAW DEMON WAILS is an entertaining tale.
  
  Harriet Klausner
  
  
  
• Awesome return to the Hollows
  By A342BV4226SM5Y on 2008-03-04
  I could not put this book down, it goes from one adventure to another. Rachel is recovering from the loss of Kistin very slowly. She and Ivy are determined to find the killer and take him out. Rachel is in for some hard knocks, she has many secrets revealed in this book and as the cover says "leaves us panting for the next installment".
  
  Al, the demon is out to get Rachel, and if not her any of her friends and family. But when he tries for her mother Rachel decides it is time to take this demon out.
  There is a new master vampire in town, he is interested in the relationship between Ivy and Rachel. He thinks mixing their auras may be a way to save vampires from self-destructing.
  Quen shows up to beg Rachel to recover something from the ever-after. Rachel is determined to never return there. She already has two demon marks and another one will make her someone's familiar.
  Someone is summoning Al and releasing him to attack her and her friends every night.
  
  There are so many things going on, and she has no idea where they may lead. In fact she is doing what she always does, whatever she has too. I freaked out at some of the revelations and I am positively drooling for the next book.
  
  Do not miss this one. Excellent Reading, well worth the time and money.
  
  
• I got bored...
  By A12I0TDUSVEISA on 2008-04-23
  First let me start off by saying the last book in this series left me cold. I didn't enjoy it so I wasn't looking forward to this one. But I picked it up because I heard rumors of having some questions answered.
  
  I struggled to get through the first 150-200 pages. It just felt like rehash to me (although I do have to say I'm impressed that Rachel is TRYING to change her stupid ways). Ivy still can't control her bloodlust, she isn't over her attraction to Rachel, and is terrified Rachel will leave her. Ivy has NOT changed since book 1 and I'm tired of her and her whining.
  
  I ended up skimming the parts where Rachel was mourning Kisten. When he died, I was having a hard time caring cuz I was so disgusted with the characters and now I still have a hard time caring that he's gone. And Rachel spening about a 1/3 of the book saying she was still grieving and not ready to move on, yet clearly wanting to...was just old. It was fine the first 2 times she mentioned it but by the 15th...I just wanted to slap her.
  
  And the plot hasn't changed much either since the first book. Demons are after Rachel, she has to use one demon to get herself out of trouble with the first demon which means she owes demon #2 another favor. So she gets in hock with Demon #3 to get out of her bargain with Demon #2 and it just keeps circling. She's still doing the trying-to-nail-Trent dance. That's old and boring too. How many times does Rachel have to say how much she hates Trent? Got it the first zillion times over the last 5 books.
  
  And it goes on like that. We do get answers into Rachel's childhood illness and what that may mean for her, but that was the only interesting part of the book. Everything else was just retread. She even has a new love interest sniffing around. He sounds just like Nick and Kisten did in the beginning.
  
  Ms. Harrison has REALLY got to shake things up. But I think its too late for me. I don't think I'll be rushing out to buy Rachel Morgan #7.
  
  
• UK version of "The Outlaw Demon Wails"
  By A3AKOHIYUUDZN2 on 2008-06-02
  This is the latest book in the Rachel Morgan series. However, U.S. fans who have already read "The Outlaw Demon Wails" will be disappointed if they buy this expecting it to be the next book in the series. This is the U.K. version of that same title.
  
  Having said that, I highly recommend this and all of the other books in the Rachel Morgan series. Please search on "The Outlaw Demon Wails" for more in-depth reviews.
  
  Dead Witch Walking (Rachel Morgan, Book 1)
  The Good, the Bad, and the Undead (Rachel Morgan, Book 2) (The Hollows)
  Every Which Way But Dead (Rachel Morgan, Book 3)
  A Fistful of Charms (Rachel Morgan, Book 4)
  For a Few Demons More (Rachel Morgan, Book 5)
  The Outlaw Demon Wails (Rachel Morgan, Book 6)
  
  
• Didn't see that coming
  By A2J9KQAVG5M87Z on 2008-02-28
  Kim Harrison's Hollows is wonderful as always. I love the setting and the characters. (My only complaint is that the stage is getting a bit crowded, and Harrison seems reluctant to let anyone fade into the background for a book or two.)
  
  This is a very satisfying read, as many of the major plot hooks are resolved or revealed. We finally get a good look into the Ever-After and discover what the legacy left by altering Racheal's DNA. (I didn't see that twist coming, but I found it to be very interesting.) I wish that we had learned more about Kisten's death, but look forward to finding out more in the next book.
  
  
• Better and BETTER!
  By A13MAZ85LF0Z7E on 2008-03-01
  I got the newest book in the RACHEL MORGAN series yesterday, could NOT put it down until I finished it (just now), and all I can say is "BRAVO!" Ms. Harrison does nothing but get better and better the more she writes. This book is NO exception. Typical Harrison fare, with more twists and turns than a corkscrew - and a COMPLETELY unexpected, crafty ending that not only surprizes but also delights. Ms. Harrison is a terrific storyteller, with characters that are also people - people with problems, people with joys and sorrows, and, most of all, people that are likeable, loveable and interesting. I was so pleased to learn more about Rachel's background and family (THAT is one of the surprizes that I was talking about), and I laughed myself silly at her crafty trapping of her biggest enemy. So typically Rachel, it isn't even funny!
  
  This book is a wonderful read, and Kim Harrison is a great writer. I only wish that Laurell Hamilton had Ms. Harrison's deft touch, sense of humour and narrative capabilites. Maybe, in the future, Ms. Harrison's books with have that sort of dark and unhappy edge to them; at this point, I don't see that happening. Thank the Goddess! THANK you, Ms. Harrison!
  
  
• Another exciting trip into the Hollows...
  By A392OZ8SX68TCZ on 2008-03-03
  I don't think that I've ever anticipated a book release as much as the latest and greatest entry into Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan/The Hollow series. I stayed up all night, asorbing all the plot twists, and boy are there secrets revealed! I've been a fan of the series since book #1 and in my opinion they are only getting better. To those who've never picked up a Kim Harrison book, go back to "Dead Witch Walking"..you'll be hooked. There is something for everyone, from vamps and weres to demons, this series has it all. Take a trip into the Hollow's for adventure, romance..the books are very well written, characters are well fleshed out, I don't want to give away too much..I highly recomend going into book #1 and then working your way through the series. I am looking foward to the next istallment, especially with Al as Rach's teacher...
  
  
• "Rachel Mariana Morgan...Where a-a-a-a-aare you?"
  By A1LDMSPX4XD4JU on 2008-03-02
  I had a lot of expectations for this book-and they were all met! You can read a plot overview in the other reviews - basically I am too tired to write one because I am exhausted from staying up all last night to finish this latest installment. Almost all of your questions will be answered in this volume that have been lingering from the previous books. The excitement of the book's climax alone makes this the best one yet. If I didn't know any better I would think that this is the last book in the series-it reads like one-but there are enough clifhangers at the end to keep you anxiously waiting for the next book.
  
  
• Wonderful!
  By A1XQB2FMD1XNGI on 2008-03-05
  I loved this installment. What a refreshing departure from the "formula" books so many other authors begin churning out by book six! Instead of things always ending up as you expect- it seems that there is a dramatic change at the end of this one. I am very sad that i will have to wait so l ong for the next one!
  
  
• The best yet
  By AIQAVV7C1TB9A on 2008-03-22
  Without spoiling anything for readers who have not yet read For a Few Demons More (the 5th Rachel Morgan book), I was really very upset and devastated by certain events in that book, and it took me nearly a year to get over my sadness and re-read the book. I wasn't even sure I wanted to buy The Outlaw Demon Wails in hardback, but decided to give Kim Harrison one more chance.
  
  I'm so glad I did, and now I'm waiting with bated breath for the next one. There are so many awesome revelations in this book, things that Harrison has clearly been building up to throughout the whole series, and only now can reveal to us. As well as answering many mysteries, she also sets up many more in this one, and I really can't wait to see what happens next. She's clearly taking Rachel in a very different direction from what I had been expecting, and I suspect it's going to be a hell of a ride.
  
  
• Maybes its just me.....
  By A2S5U4E76GZB04 on 2008-04-03
  I am very new to this series. I just discovered it last month and over 4 weeks, have read all 6 books for the first time.
  
  When I picked up the first one, I thought: YES, FINALLY, ONE WITH A FREASH THEME AND GREAT PLOT!!!!! I loved the second and the third. THe fourth was ok and then the fifth was a little less then ok and then I came to this one.....
  
  It was boring. I could no longer get into the story. I was more caught up in predicting where the author was going next because it was.....predictable. The charecters I had fallen in love with came across as wooden and stilted.
  
  I feel really sorry for those that waited a year for this to come out. Oh, well, another series that didn't live up to its first potential. :(
  
  
• I love this series. Possible spoilers!!
  By A273IHBNTQFNY3 on 2008-04-29
  Rachel's story gets better and better with each book.
  I have to admit I was convinced I would hate this book because of the loss of Kisten's character. But I actually loved it.
  
  In this book things happen and characters go places.
  I loved Trent in the book than I have in any other. He is interesting and I like to read about him. Marshal is good to have around too (though no one will ever be as cool as Kisten.) I thought Ivy was a bit boring this book, same old sulking, hungry, self loathing vampire she always is and I cannot wait until Harrison cracks that character wide open. Ivy has a lot to offer, it just wasn't up for grabs as much in this book.
  
  I sort of felt like Rachel's mom and whole family history thing was kind of out of left field. I wish there would have been more about it in the previous books so that the plot twist didn't feel as force fed as it was. (Though it's been a while since I read the older books.) But I loved it anyways.
  
  I think the demon developments in this book are exciting and as always, interesting. The rules of the demon world, the rules of ley lines, the rules of the family tree of the super natural are really well thought/written out. Al is a very unique character- while he's repulsive morally (being a demon and all) I enjoy reading about his goings on in the ever after. It's a well crafted world that is convincing and Al I think is a very developed character.
  
  One other thing I want to mention about this book is the reality of death Harrison touched on. For once it wasn't a "If I die oh well, but I'm sure I'll make it" kind of mission Rachel went on. It was a "Oh shucks I could really die doing this." Like, her little flaw of craving danger is sort of crumbling and the adventures feel realer now that Rachel isn't portrayed as reckless. Also the fact that she can't leave her house after dark is a real obstacle that "dealing in demons" presents. I like that she has issues and problems and pains in her neck just like everyone else.
  
  The way Harrison dealt with Rachel's grief for Kisten was actually pretty minimal for such a situation but definitely much more thoughtful than I expected. It wasn't glossed over and it wasn't repetitively angst-y.
  
  I have to get a little Jenks fangirly here and just say he is THE best partner ever invented.
  
  Anyways, this book was a thrill. Harrison is talented and it's a pleasure reading about Rachel's adventures. xD
  
  
• Summon Marguerite Gavin !
  By A11U25L0QSIA5E on 2008-06-02
  I've been listening to the last 4 Rachel Morgan's. These have been read by Marguerite Gavin. I've been extraordinarily pleased with her readings.
  
  Gigi Bermingham does the reading of "Outlaw Demon Wails". Its disconcerting. Pronunciations are different. (Its "Piss-Carry", not "Piss-cery".) Voices are different. (Jenks does not sound like that!) Intonations in the delivery are different. I'm not happy.
  
  Draw a circle and summon back Ms. Gavin. Please!
  
  
  
• Shallow Yawning Sobs
  By A24LHF94YOODS7 on 2008-06-29
  This is by far the worse book of Ms. Harrisons to date. She once more features the same shallow characters who seem to all be bipolar misfits. A prime example is Rachel, who decides in this book that she cannot allow Ivy to bite her because she would lose her free will. Then she go'es on to sell herself (part time) to a demon? Come on its insane. Ivy of course continues to be the tormented sex kitten who can't control herself in most situations. Odd for a women who makes a living bringing in bad guys alive. Jenks is the only character with any depth, but he alone cannot carry this book. One last item, whats up with the author photo on the book jacket? Did Ms. Harrison not review it before publication, or was it her intent to come off a fashion reject? I know the wanna be goth crowd will eat this up, but Id advise you to buy anything by K. Armstrong, or P. Briggs, either have fully developed characters and well thought out plots.
  
  
• Many depths -- and all so delicious
  By A1YGWL41MSMYBG on 2008-07-09
  I like this series enormously, because I love the main character and I especially love the demons: no little foot-stamping fire-breathing horned homunculi, these; no, these are immortal, intelligent, horridly efficient beings that have very specific goals and go about trying to accomplish them -- and god help you if you get in their way. The nice thing about this series is that's exactly how Rachel is, and it makes for great conflict whenever she gets into it with the demons -- which is pretty much every book, except the first one and the one with the werewolves (Which are both pretty demony, too, come to think). But the best part about this character and these books is that they focus on the dark part of dark fantasy/paranormal romance, which is often the most interesting part, and yet nowhere in these books does the main character revel in her own angst and Weltschmertz, or demean other people for not understanding the darkness in her soul; she has had to work hard to recognize her dark side as just -- dark. Not evil, necessarily. And as I have watched the character come to terms with this, it has felt like watching an actual person learn to accept themselves for who they are. It has made me sympathetic, and kept me fascinated, through all six books.
  
  In this one, Rachel just goes right ahead and becomes a demon. Well, not really, but she realizes that she has more in common with demons, in some ways, than with witches, and the full secret of her parentage and the magical inheritance, and the future consequences of her inheritance and what Trent's father did to her, finally come out. It's a great reveal, made even better by how badly Trent deals with it and with Rachel. I've had trouble with Trent in the past, because I've always felt that Rachel's hatred of him was unreasoning in some way; sure, he is a murderer and a drug dealer -- but come on. She lives with, and is in love with, a living vampire who was scion to the most evil being in these books -- and I include the demons in that statement. Nobody compares to Piscary, and Ivy did horrible things when she was in his thrall; certainly worse than what Trent has done building his criminal empire. And Trent's crimes are offset by the amount of good he does -- Ivy's crimes are only offset by her protection of Rachel. So I can see the personal attachment to the murderer who keeps you alive and loves you, no problem there -- but why so much bile for the murderer who kept you alive in the past? Anyway, in this book, Trent not only acts like a complete doofus, but he pulls an incredibly crappy move, selling Rachel out, only because he's too stupid to recognize the consequences of what he says. And this guy has the gall to shy away from both Rachel and Ceri because of the demon smut on their souls. Bah.
  
  Jenks is still the best character, and I love Bis, the new gargoyle, who I hope will play a much bigger role in the next one. This one was great as always -- and a really nice resolution to the demon issue, though there is still more to tell, of course. And please, please, let the whole Ivy-bloodsucking-sex thing be done with. Pretty please.
  
  
• Great!! Wonderfull!! Everything I have been waiting for!!!!
  By A2SV7NKIMX7B5V on 2008-03-04
  All I have to say is "Thank you Kim" this book was a treat and a half. Bringing all of the various plotlines, subplots, forgotten about plots ect...together, however, still leaving us with more to look forward to.
  
  Just the right amount of ending and wrap up with a several great new story lines to keep it going.
  
  Brava Brava Brava
  
  
• Great Addition to the Series
  By A17ZD9H0ONAEM4 on 2008-03-05
  In this installment of the Rachel Morgan series, we get to learn some secrets about Rachels heritage - things she never thought possible. The adventure starts with Rachel trying to outwit Al, the demon she's had run-ins with in the past. She learns that Al, who is supposed to be jailed from her testimony against him, is being freed nightly by another witch summoning him to release his fury on her. Ivy and Rachel come to an agreement, Jenks is there to save the day, we meet a new character, the gargoyle Bis, Trent and Quen are nearby to add to chaos. It's all in a day's work for Rachel.
  
  By this end of this tale, you know you are being set up for the next novel, but shouldn't mind too much, except for the waiting. There are character arcs, mutual understandings and enough thrills to make this a stellar addition to the Rachel Morgan series.
  
  
• Definite Page Turner
  By A149E4R7DIKGML on 2008-03-05
  I have read three books on the series so far, and as far as I am concerned I liked this one the best. The first two novels were good, but I wasn't sure if I liked them enough to invest in the rest of the series. However, I found this novel hard to put down. Throughout the entire novel there was enough suspense that I kept wanting to read just a little more. The character, Rachel Morgan, endeared herself more to this reader with each new revelation. However, there were so many surprising twists and turns that I find myself hoping it won't be too long before the next installment comes out...
  
  
• wow
  By A3KZ6ZA5RSCR7N on 2008-03-07
  This was such a great book! I really love how she connects Al and Rachel more and more throughout the story (and the last sentence of the book totally made my day)!
  
  Kim Harrison is one of those gifted authors that always finds their way on my wish list! I always buy her books the day they come out because I know I'm in for a great story that's worth the money. :)
  
  I can't wait to see what happens in the next one!!!
  
  
• LOVE LOVE LOVE Kim!!!!
  By A2RPZDTQU416YT on 2008-03-07
  I am sooo glad I stumbled across this writer. I was reading Laurell Hamilton for awhile and while I was at the bookstore looking at Hamilton's books I saw one of Harrison's books. After the first couple chapters of her first of this series i was totally hooked! This addition to the Rachel saga was just as great as the rest of her books. I'm in love with this series and I can't wait for MORE!!
  
  
• Can't wait for the next one!
  By ATYNE57BK1C37 on 2008-03-12
  In this book Rachel is still mourning Kisten's death, but trying to move on with her life and grow up as well. Things are complicated by Al slipping out of jail. Rachel works out how to protect herself and the ones she loves from the threat of Al.
  
  I loved the book, and I'm eagerly looking forward to the next one. Harrison has allowed her heroine to take a good look at herself and realize she needs to make better choices in life. She's always been an adrenaline junkie, but now she's realizing the costs. It's a well done show of a character growing as her situation changes. We get more of her relationship with her mother, bringing more depth as well. There is also some significant information about her father to add to the mix.
  
  All the usual side characters are present, and I'm glad to see things working themselves out with these characters. There are still plenty of loose ends for another book, but this one was able to tie up many that have been hanging from the first book.
  
  
  
  
• Outlaw Demon Wails
  By AFDTYN5SBTY0M on 2008-04-10
  I loved the story line of the book. True Rachel Morgan drama. I was however very disappointed that they changed the reader of the audiobook. GiGi Bermingham is normally a good reader, but her persona of the characters is totally out of the context established by Marguerite Gavin, the original reader. GiGi also mispronounces alot of the main characters names which somewhat ruins the story. Her loud high pitched voice caused me to constantly adjust the volume on my cd player. If they don't go back to the original reader I will not continue this series. I would recommend reading the book vs the audio if you have time to read.
  
  
• Harrison writes another best-seller
  By A122JUWRLWX26T on 2008-05-19
  Fans of Kim Harrison's demon-hunting, vampire-teasing, werewolf-befriending witch Rachel Morgan will be ecstatic over the sixth installment in the series, The Outlaw Demon Wails.
  
  Morgan is back in Cincinnati having become the first alpha of David's werewolf pack (despite being a witch), and she is eager to track down the killer of her vampire boyfriend, Kisten. In a fast-paced narrative full of action and twists, Morgan has to outwit Al (the demon she has escaped from several times) while saving her nemesis Trent Kalamack from the ever-after and balancing the delicate relationship she has with her bi-sexual vamp roommate, Ivy.
  
  Harrison does a wonderful job growing her characters while staying true to them. She brings back former characters to provide depth to the plot. Harrison teases her fans by revealing shocking truths from each character's past which will eventually lead to cliff-hangers that will need to be addressed in subsequent titles. Harrison adroitly manipulates the reader back to Kisten's death, making it a psychologically intricate part of this book's plot while setting it up to be the main emphasis of the seventh installment. Transitions between plots and subplots are so smooth readers are only able to detect it has occurred after it has happened!
  
  This novel is hard to put down, and will make Morgan fans eager for the next installment.
  
  
  
  

• Blood Noir (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 16)
• From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 8)
• Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, Book 3)
• For a Few Demons More (Rachel Morgan, Book 5)
• Personal Demon (Women of the Otherworld, Book 8)