Ever After

by Kim Harrison

Published by: Harper Voyager

Heather’s Rating: 

The ever after, the demonic realm that parallels the human world, is shrinking. If it disappears completely, so does all magic. It’s up to witch-turned-daywalking-demon Rachel Morgan to avert catastrophe and keep life from changing… for the worse.

While saving the world is important, it isn’t Rachel’s only motivation. There’s also the small fact that she caused the ley line to rip in the first place, setting off a chain reaction of unfortunate events. That little mistake has made her life forfeit unless she can fix it. It’s also made her more than a few enemies, including the most powerful demon in the ever after—a terrifying entity who eats souls and now has an insatiable appetite for her. He’s already kidnapped her friend and goddaughter to lure her out, and if Rachel doesn’t give herself up soon, they’ll die.

But Rachel has more than a few impressive and frightening skills of her own, and she isn’t going to hand over her soul and her life without one hell of a fight. She’s also got a surprise: elven tycoon Trent Kalamack. With this unlikely ally beside her—a prospect both thrilling and unnerving—she’s going to return to the ever after, kick some demon butt, rescue her loved ones… and prevent an apocalypse before it’s too late. Or, at least that’s the plan…

Book Savvy Babe’s Review:

In Rachel Morgan’s world, nothing is ever easy.  Ever After is book 11 in the series, Rachel and her crew have come so very far, been through so much, and the hits keep coming.  Through it all, Rachel is getting stronger, more confident, and I love her more and more.  In some longer book series (8+ books), the series start to wane.  Not this series.  I feel that the most recent books have been awesome, the series just gets better and more exciting.  I do recommend reading this series in order, elements and characters from earlier books play a vital role in Ever After.

Rachel is once again being blamed for supernatural problems.  This time, her rival enemy demon, Ku’Sox, has damaged the ley lines and is killing the ever after.  The demons are willing to kill Rachel to keep the ever after.  On a strict time line, Rachel needs help from the strongest elf around, Trent Kalamack.  Rachel and Trent’s relationship is complicated, each of them have hurt the other and they fight a lot.  However, Trent has begun to open to different perspectives, and really think about who he wants to be.  He is becoming, more and more, a fixture in Rachel’s life.  The pair come together to fight their latest enemy, and try to save Trent’s kids and the demons who are so eager to end Rachel’s life.  It will take a lot of power, trust, and unexpected alliances to defeat this enemy.

Kim Harrison definitely did not skimp on the twists, turns, and complications in Ever After.  Ever After is an epic story; a wild ride full of action packed highs and devastating tragedies.  Characters from Rachel’s past pop in to cause trouble, and some past story lines and characters gain closure.  The world in The Hollows is changing, and Rachel plays a key role.  I found it a bit odd that Ivy did not play as prominent a role in Ever After as she does in earlier books.  Rachel’s relationships are all changing, it’s a bittersweet feeling.  I love that the characters are growing, but I have always loved the solid core of camaraderie and family between Rachel, Jenks, and Ivy that is evolving.

There is so much to take in after reading Ever After.  There were parts of the book that made me ache for the characters, parts that had me laughing, and parts that had me on the edge of my seat, gripping my e-reader eager to learn the outcome of the latest action.  Kim Harrison has never shied away from the tragedies and tough hits throughout The Hollow Series, and Ever After is no exception.  However, the tragedies are balanced by the humor, action, and growth of the characters.  When the main action is over, Kim Harrison sets the stage for more twists, turns, and possibilities to come.  Without a doubt, Kim Harrison is a master at anticipation.  The minute I finished Ever After, I wanted the next book.  Now.

Readers, if you enjoy Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal reads, then I highly recommend reading The Hollows series.  I eagerly anticipate each book release, and Kim Harrison delivers.