The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison

I just finished this last night and I'm still blinking my eyes over it.

Let me say off the bat, it's a GOOD book. It isn't one that you just can't put down, but it's a very good book.

Actually, that I COULD put it down made it a better book for me. I was able to digest some of the action and dialog that was going on throughout the book.

The plot was engaging and you learn quite a bit about Rachel, her Mom and even her brother in the course of the story. Ivy and Rachel start coming to terms with their relationship and even Ceri has a surprise in store for you. Rachel makes a new friend as well but...alas...we don't get to know much about them in this book.

The parts I had problems with were the reintroduction of Marshall, a bunch of the Demon stuff and the ending revelation that Rachel has. For me, it sort of smacks of Anita Blake...starts out as a normal everyday whatever and over the course of the books becomes SUPER ANITA! *G* I do have to say, it makes SENSE, but...I can't help wishing that it hadn't come about...yet.

But I do like Rachel much more and the way Ms. Harrison is bringing the changes about is MUCH better than Ms. Hamilton's never ending sexcapades.

All in all, I'm giving this book a 3.75 out of 5 berries. It is a 4 in most places but the problems I had with it made me want to give a 3.5. So I'm compromising. *G*

Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel by Kim Harrison. From the anthology Holidays are Hell

Synopsis: A younger Rachel Morgan is confronted by her older brother about her decision to join the I.S. (Inderland Security) Her brother wants her to come west to be with him and to study advanced Earth Magic and gives her a test…if she can stir a spell and bring her father back as a ghost and her father says yes, her brother will sign the paper for her to join the I.S. But of course, things go wrong…

Thoughts: It’s wonderful to see a younger Rachel before she’s the tough chick running for, and from, the I.S. We get to meet her older brother, Robbie, and her first “crush”. To keep from being moved out to the West Coast with Robbie, Rachel stirs a “level 800” spell to bring her father’s ghost back so he can tell Robbie that Rachel should join the I.S. even though that’s what, apparently, killed him.

Other than the fact that the novella was too short, there wasn’t much to complain about. I enjoyed getting to know Pierce (Rachel’s first crush that was alluded to in a previous novel) and especially enjoyed seeing Rachel before she became “kick ass”. She’s still very weak from Rosewood Syndrome that almost killed her but she’s gaining strength, graduating from a 2 year magic degree program at the University of Cincinnati, and already showing the kind of grit it will take to get her into the I.S. and eventually kicked out of the I.S.

All in all, I give this one 4 out of 5 berries. Just 'cause it wasn't long enough to suit me. :o)