Pale Demon (Rachel Morgan Series #9)

I've Got a New Favorite! Harrison's better than ever!

As a fan since 2005, I can say it's without a doubt my new favorite! Kim says it's her fave, too. It took six books, but Book 3 has finally been trumped. Two years ago, she teased her blog followers about an upcoming book involving Rachel, Trent, and Jenks on a road trip out west. Fast forward to now, as Book 9 has finally been released. We have Rachel and Jenks heading out west for what she tries to convince herself will be a pardon with the Coven of Moral and Ethical Standards for using black magic. Oh yeah, and she has her brother's wedding to attend too. Trent Kalamack also needs to get to the west coast, though it's for personal reasons. He's keeping mum on the details; however, he will accompany Rachel to her pardon (more like her trial as far as he is concerned) in an attempt to vouch for her. Rachel is banned from flying commercially and Trent is limited to travelling by land. Neither can get out west without the other. If Trent doesn't make his deadline, he'll miss out on the most important opportunity to help his race. If Rachel loses, she says hello to Big Al and the Ever-After FORever-after. Joined later by Ivy, Pierce, a surprise Coven member, and a few assassins trying to stop either Trent or Rachel in their tracks, we end up with an American Inderlander Road Trip...from Hell. Aside from the banter amongst themselves, they later run into a new demon, a Pale Demon, who can walk in the sun and must eat living souls to sustain himself. He's so dangerous that even the demons sealed him away, but upon his unexpected release, he causes plenty of ruckus on both sides of the lines in more ways than one, proving to be a bit too much to handle for our favorite witch/demoness. Character development, magic, action, comedy, drama, romance--these elements have been what keeps the storyline going and makes it so special for fans of this series. Harrison hits all of that in her writing. While not trying to spoil much here (feel free to skip this paragraph if you're worried), you're certainly strapped in for a roller coaster ride in terms of Rachel's love life. While I've been a card-carrying Trent and Rachel supporter since Book 1, there's attention given to her relationships with him, Pierce, Ivy, and Al too. I have a hard time imagining how Kim plans to iron out everything, but I have certain hopes. Everyone in one way or another is growing in this book, even the demons. Harrison does well with fleshing out their complex personalities, painting them in a new light. Also, certain characters do *finally* pay some consequences for their actions. Acceptance is a major theme this this time around, along with trust and vulnerability. We see Rachel making smarter choices and tapping more into her demonic nature. She and Trent have to learn to work together and trust one another. If you're a Trent fan, he's here in spades and you'll never tire of him. You can see a mile away any opportunity when Rachel will ogle him, which was certainly welcome on this end. I have to admit, I was a little sad when I finished reading it. Loose ends are starting to tie up and this is the first time where I felt the series slightly begin to wind down. There are new obstacles and challenges and arguably a new direction for the story to take, but you definitely reflect a bit about how far things have come since Dead Witch Walking. This is one of my favorite books EVER. The last 30 pages is nothing short of epic. It was worth the wait, Kim!

22 out of 23 people found this review helpful.

A Pivotal Book In This Series

Pale Demon- Kim Harrison
If you are thinking of starting, this series with this novel DON'T! It will leave you confused, disgruntled and crabby since you won't know who is who and what the back story is. BUT I really do recommend that if you love witches, demons, vampires, fairies, pixies elves and assorted other types of creatures then this is one of the best series you will find that will appease your hunger.

Here is a little back-story; years ago a genetically engineered virus has wipe d out almost all of humanity leaving a clear playing field for the other creatures. They call themselves the "Inderlanders" and by coming out of the closet, they have changed the entire face of the world.
Rachel Morgan is a witch who had worked for the government as a bounty hunter.now she works for herself along with her roommate who is a living Vampire.

In this book we find Rachel being forced to travel cross country to prove her innocence of practicing Demonic black magic. Should she be found guilty, a lot more than shunning will happen to her. She may be forced to live in the Demonic Underworld - forever.
Now Rachel , the Pixie Jenks, the living vampire Ivy and sort of arch enemy and Elf, Trent Kalamack have three days to get to the west coast.San Francisco to be exact and to prove her innocence. Which may actually be harder than it sounds.since well...Rachel isn't all that innocent anymore. With assassins after Rachel and a ferocious Demon who can pretty much end the world on their tail, is it any wonder Rachel is a wee bit cranky? But Rachel is smart and pragmatic and will do whatever it takes to stay alive and to keep her friend safe-even damn herself to the Demonic Underworld.

Out of all the books so far, I think that this one will go down as my all time favorite. It shows Rachel growing and having a lot more faith in her ability. She isn't fighting the petty fights and has come to understand that sometimes you have to be a little bad, in order to do a lot of good. This book, for those of you who have been following the series, is also pivotal as far as Rachel and Trent go. This may be the precursor to Rachel and Trent actually (finally) admitting their attraction to each other.
There are many surprises in store for those who are going to pick this book up. Some you may not like, but I suspect many more that you will love. Also don't be surprised if you find yourself doing some crying while reading this book!

12 out of 13 people found this review helpful.

strong urban fantasy

Rachel Morgan knows she is running out of time if she is to avoid execution or eternal exile into the demonic underground realm (see Black Magic Sanction). She has three days to get from Cincinnati to San Francisco where she then must prove her innocence of the capital offense of black demonic magic use at the annual witch convention. She knows how difficult her plea will be as the end never justifies the mean even when saving the world in the white and black magic world. However, she is on the no fly list so a plane is impossible as security will never let her board.

Drug lord Trent Kalamack is the elf who is sort of still in hiding and kind of helped her in her recent fiasco (see Black Magic Sanction) that has led to Rachel's latest condemnation by the witch coven; he offers to chauffeur Rachel and her two BFFs Ivy and Jenks. She accepts though he has an agenda to recover something an ex stole. Their trek through ghost town America is haunting enough, but Ku'Sox the demon trails their not so joy ride.

Besides a strong urban fantasy, Pale Demon is much more jocular in tone than the previous few save the world epics (see White Witch, Black Curse ) while also providing a serious look at a segue of real American heritage, the disposable discard of anything including towns and other locales. The story line is as usual fast-paced even while driving and has what appears to be the beginning of the long waited romantic arc. Fans will relish Kim Harrison's strong tale in one of the best series over the past decade.

Harriet Klausner

7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

loved the story line, so naturally had to get the this book. It

loved the story line, so naturally had to get the this book. It did not disappoint!

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Fantastic installment in the series

Yay finally got to read on of my guilty pleasures. I must say I wasn't disappointed, which could have happened since I waited so long to read this book. I still find Rachel slightly irritating, but she was slightly less irritating in this book than I remember her from the previous books.

This review will be pretty much pointless for anyone who hasn't read the first 8 books, so I'm not going to try to make it understandable for anyone who isn't familiar with the series.

First for the likes:
1) like how much Trent was in this book. He and Jenks are my favorite.
2) barely any sexual content (I'm probably one of the few people that could do without the sexual content in this series. romance is fine, but I'm not big on reading about other people's sex lives)
3) less Ivy/Rachel drama.
4) the plot was not predictable (to me at least, but I don't pick up on things, so maybe it was predictable to others), and I liked the plot twists thrown in there (I won't tell you what. As the Doctor would say, "Spoilers.")

Dislikes:
1) Rachel is still having issues getting off her high horse (admittedly, she was able to at least slightly admit the hypocrisy of disdaining Trent even though she does things just as bad)
2) Despite the unpredictability of the plot, it did rather drag on a bit.
3) stupid witch ghost boy is still in the picture. Although I guess he couldn't just disappear. Kim Harrison could have conveniently left him out of the story. Maybe in between the last story and this one, Algaliarept could have killed him. I would have appreciated that.

If you're a fan of the series, I guess you will either love or hate this story depending on how much you like Trent. Since I would be content to read an entire series centered around him, this was good for me.

5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Must Read!

This is by far one of my favorite series!! As all of these books have, it hooked me in. I was kind of disappointed that I started this book in the middle of a week and then had a crazy weekend because all I really wanted to do was sit down and read it all at once. Now if you have not read any of the books prior to this one do not start here, you will be so confused that you will not enjoy the read. This is really one that you need to read in order and grow with Rachel Morgan, Ivy and Jenks, plus all that come along the way.

I was pleased that this book picked up right where Black Magic Sanction left off. Rachel Morgan knows that she is running out of time before she is executed for her black magic practices, even if she only uses them when someone is trying to kill her. She is due on the West Coast in just three days for her brother's wedding just before the annual witches' convention in San Francisco when she is approached by Trent Kalamack, the elf who is kind of an enemy, to help him get to the West Coast for an "elf adventure" that he will not discuss with her. They end up travelling together as Rachel is not allowed to fly and Trent must travel by land. So off they go Trent, the elf, Ivy, living vampire, Jenks, pixie and Rachel. The adventures along the way are not to be missed.

There are a tons of surprises in this books, things I just did not see coming. As always, Kim Harrison writing is great! We get to know each person even more. While I thought that I knew them, I was proven wrong. I love the wit and banter in the books. Great sense of humor and also great handling of difficult situations and tasks.

I was thrilled with this book. If you have not read this series, I highly recommend you start it right away. My rating is 5/5 stars a must read!

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Really 3.5 Rating

I strongly suggest you read the previous books in the series (Dead Witch Walking, The good, The bad and the undead, Every Witch Way but Dead, A fistful of Charms, For a Few Demons More, The Outlaw Demon Wails, White witch black curse and Black Magic Sanction) prior to reading this installment.

Several times I pathetically attempted pace myself and savor this book slowly. Even though this installment was not Ms. Harrison's best, I still devoured this story and couldn't to put it down. It's too bad the maturity growth that Rachel exhibited in Black Magic Sanction was not present in this installment. During some sections, Rachel regressed to the bleeding heart little girl of Dead Witch Walking. Her usual shenanigans were ok, but some felt forced. Rachel and Trent both had frequent temper tantrums. The rotten-duo felt like they both suffered from some form of schizophrenia. Both their moods were either high as a kite or pouting and sulking. Rachel is by far NO badass like Kate Daniels or Gin Blanco but I was hoping she'd be well on her way by now. At this point in the series, she is still very much a wimp.

I was really generous and didn't balk from this book, simply on the merit of Rachel and Trent's childish and stupid behavior; yet my payoff in the end for reading such an adventurous book..was a completely fizzle. I really wanted to rate this five-stars, however, the ending was so disappointing. I feel like the book was hot and wild magical-action and suspense, and I was completely engrossed in the storyline. Then you get to the end and it was just so depressing and bland. In addition to depressing, Rachel's character does a complete 180-turn in the end. After enduring all of Rachel's annoying antics, and no pay-off in the end, I feel almost cheated and misled.

Besides the crappy ending, everything else was pretty much perfect. The cover was a perfect fit to the story and Al was hilarious as usually. And as a bonus, we actually get to see a domestic side to Al and some other interesting and funny little tidbits.

I highly recommend this book and series to fellow dark urban fantasy fans, however beware, this series requires a lot of patience. I also look forward to the next book in the series due out some time in 2012. I also recommend: J.A. Saare Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between (B&N does not carry this book).

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Super Awesome!

This new addition from Kim Harrison's series is fantastic. Our main characters are on one crazy road trip that doesn't cut them any slack; it's one fabulous disaster after the next. We get to learn more about the demon world in the ever after; the scenes with Al and Newt are illuminating. There's lots of elf activity, a huge suprise from Trent ( in more ways than one), and an acceptance of understanding and personal growth from Ivy. Trust is mainstay in this series, and the characters learn a lot along their way in this one. The absolute best yet!!

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Bad ending

The way the book ended was just frustrating. I still cannot wrap my mind around it, how the main character just stuck her head in the sand and then the book ends. What the hell? The story had such great promise that swiftly became nothing. Save yourself the hassle and check out the book from the library.

2 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Just as captivating as ever!

I have read so many book series that start out amazing, with so much promise, but then the light starts to dim as more books are added and the series starts to flat line...but Kim Harrison's newest book, Pale Demon, is an exception. Book nine of The Hollows series, Pale Demon is just as edgy, spellbinding, and captivating as ever! Rachel Morgan has to pull out all the tricks...even ones that she is not sure she has...to help clear her name, remain free from the demonic ever after, and finally come to terms with what she really is. And what better way to learn who she is then to subject herself to a long car ride across the country with a sexy vampire, an irritatingly handsome elf, a carefree pixy, and a couple coven members, all while trying to dodge assassins. If you have not had the pleasure to read Rachel Morgan's story, do yourself a favor and pick up the first book in The Hollows series, Dead Witch Walking, and continue straight through until you have finished Pale Demon. You will instantly see why The Hollows series is one of my favorite series and I'm sure it will quickly become one of your favorites as well. I can't wait for more from the amazingly talented Kim Harrison!

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Back on Track!

I kind of got mired down in a couple of the more recent books in this series (not that i didn't like them, they just didn't whisk me away like earlier books had). This one was truly back on track, though! And it was LONG! I love that. It was a great read, a fun, fast paced story that brought in most of the characters that we have met in the series so far.
Great work, Kim! Good luck with the CW project :-)

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

So good you'll read it in the bathroom. There's no shame!

After BLACK MAGIC SANCTION drove me to a rating of 3.5 stars, I was worried Kim Harrison was falling into a slump with this series, particularly after the main character, Rachel, went so hypocritical she was bordering on being out of character. Then I started to read PALE DEMON and . . . ROAD TRIP! I know what you're thinking because I was thinking it too: "Jeez, Kim Harrison really is running out of plot ideas." Thank my lucky stars I was dead wrong. So unbelievably, stupidly, idiotically wrong. Please forgive me for ever doubting Ms. Harrison's writing. I'll never make that mistake again, especially after peeling myself off the asphalt after reading this book.

PALE DEMON flipped me on my butt, drug me through the mud, slapped me upside the head, made me fall in love with a demon--of all things--had me gasping for air, caused me to lose myself until all I felt was exactly what Rachel felt, made me take the book into the bathroom, made me forget to eat because I was so invested in the story, had me cheering for a Trent/Rachel kiss, and twisted my gut to the point I dreaded the end. Not because I didn't want to know what happened, but because I didn't want it to end. I knew book ten wasn't out yet, which only made me grow anxious as the pages dwindled. Talk about leaving me salivating for more. I mean, what am I? A damn dog? Right now I couldn't tell you if I have an author crush on Kim Harrison or the expertly crafted and believable characters she created. I freakin' shirked my responsibilities just so I could inhale this book in a matter of hours. I should be ashamed (though I'm secretly not)!

PALE DEMON undoubtedly showed Kim Harrison's strengths as a writer, and with each book I've only seen improvement. Rachel Morgan is the epitome of how a character should be written. She evolves with every book and thrives in this paranormal world because she learns to adapt to what she's given. She never takes her friends for granted, and she continuously proves she is worthy of love and trust and expects it back in return. PALE DEMON really hits the nail hard for Rachel, driving it deep into her soul (and mine). And it's not just Rachel we see cultivating with every chapter but other characters as well. To place the cherry on top, Kim Harrison also did an amazing job with world building. In the first eight books we've become accustomed to this "after the turn" reality, but with PALE DEMON we're able to see a whole new side of the demons and the ever after. I hope in the next book there will be more exploration into all the new and exciting things brought up in this one.

Jeez, Kim, you make me wanna curl up in a ball and hibernate until A PERFECT BLOOD is released. (And, surprisingly, eat lots of tomatoes.)

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Best Book in the Series for Both Character Development and Plot!

Pale Demon picks up a few months after the events in "Black Magic Sanction" left off... Rachel is to be tried for black magic at the annual witches convention in San Francisco where she has been promised to have her name cleared. Of course, nothing ever goes as planned for Rachel.

In the opening of the book, we find Trent asking Rachel for assistance in a task he won't share any details with her - he simply needs her for security reasons. She refuses but after her own travel plans are interrupted, she agrees to travel by car with him to the west coast. To make this more of the "great American car trip," Ivy and Jenks also go with them. The major story arc for this book is the introduction of the new title character - the pale demon. Unlike other demons, he can exist on this side of the ley lines during the day which means there is no escaping him (other demons are drawn back into the everafter at dawn) especially now that he is furious at being imprisoned for so long (which is why he was unknown to us until now). It will take a demon, or our demon curse kindling witch, to confront the threat he poses to all humanity. But will the witch council allow Rachel the freedom she needs?

Throughout this book, we get to see major growth in the characters. We see Trent as a man when he isn't being a politician/shady business man; we see Jenks dealing with the traumatic events of the last book; we see Ivy becoming content to be in her own skin and Rachel finally making decisions that are more than rash, off-the-cuff reactions to her circumstances. Rachel finally stops rebelling against her life and who she is to open up so many avenues of development for her in future books.

After being a little disappointed in the last few books in this series (mostly due to my perceived lack of growth in Rachel), I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Beyond that, we were able to see everyone as a bit more human (even though they may not be). By far, this is my new favorite of the series.

This is a must read for everyone who has fallowed Rachel's adventures - even if you have become disillusioned with the series in the past. However, this is not the book to begin the series with; start with the first book, "Dead Witch Walking", and enjoy the ride to this book. You will not be disappointed!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

To Jaco and Tsinani

It's in the second result, now.

Awesome

Love the storyline

I agree start this series with the very first one,

You will be confused if you don,t start from the beginning but that is a good thing cause you will fall in love with the peoplein it u will laugh with them cry with them yes it is so worth it buy them all. I have them in hard dlback but when i got my nook had to have her on this to a series i read over and over, love them keep them coming,

Another Kim Harrison masterpiece

I am so desperate to get to the next book to see if Rachel takes off that bracelet to see Al again in the ever after.

Pale Demon

Great Rachel Morgan read as usual! Kim Harrison is a fine author and always keeps me entertained!

Awesome Series

I love this series! Ms. Harrison's world is a wonderful and exciting place. Rachel is just the right amount of kick butt and humor needed in a heroine!

Great Author

Another great book from a great author. Rachel is always surprising the reader with how far she will go, how much she loves her friends & who she is as a witch or otherwise :). Great read!