The Undead Pool (The Hollows #12) by Kim Harrison
Official Synopsis: Witch and day-walking demon Rachel Morgan has managed to save the demonic ever after from shrinking, but at a high cost. Now strange magic is attacking Cincinnati and the Hollows, causing spells to backfire or go horribly wrong, and the truce between the races, between Inderlander and human, is shattering.
Rachel must stop the occurrences before the undead vampire masters who keep the rest of the undead under control are lost and it becomes all-out supernatural war. However, the only way to do so is through the ancient elven wild magic, which carries its own perils.
Rachel Morgan is at it again! Or, in it again would be more accurate. There’s strange magic at play in the Hollows that is causing magic, spells to backfire and supernaturals to act extremely strangely. The Master Vamps are asleep, the Elf’s are in a religious crisis and our favorite witch turned day-walking demon is in the midst of it all, because the same magic that is being pulled through Cincinnati is coming from Rachel’s personal ley-line.
THE UNDEAD POOL is the best Hollows book we have had in awhile and is without a doubt one of my favorites in the series. It is action packed, funny, filled with those fantasy elements that we all love and to top it off it is romantic. It’s truly amazing how Kim Harrison has been able to keep this series, entertaining and fun for a decade. Usually, I’ve given up by book 12, but not THE HOLLOWS. Never the Hollows, because Kim Harrison keeps me coming back and emotionally entrenched in her characters and in the story.
The story and action in this installment packs a powerful punch, as always. I couldn’t put it down. I had to know who was behind the magic, what it had to do with Rachel’s ley-line. In the midst of all that we get to see how the wild magic effects the vampires, the witches an the shifters. More excitingly, there’s new lore connected to the Elves that we’ve always got a glimpse of, but we finally get to really experience. In THE UNDEAD POOL, we really get to see into Trent’s world. What he’s trying to save and ultimately what he is trying to fight against.
From the moment the cover was revealed fans of the series have been in a tizzy. Why? Trent was on the cover. I picked up the novel with frightful anticipation. After ten years of being enemies then friends, then enemies and friends, it was finally here! Finally, Trent and Rachel were going to be a thing. This could either go one way. This new couple could either destroy the series or make it all the more interesting.
I don’t want to give anything away, but I really want to address the people who have doubts about reading this book, because of rumors or a dislike of Trent. This is not a paranormal romance! This book is as Urban Fantasy as ever. Filled with magic, adventure, fighting and snarky inappropriate comments from one sassy pixy.
Rachel is still Rachel Mariana Morgan. Rachel is still running around, getting too much attention, stumbling into trouble and being a bit too powerful for her own good. She is also guy obsessed, but Rachel has ALWAYS been guy obsessed it’s why she always ends up in trouble. It doesn’t make her any less badass. You may not like Trent, but hey I didn’t like Pierce, Nick or the boring witch guy (Marshall?) and I still loved this series, so please, have some faith in Kim Harrison.
I do want to make it clear that Trent is still Trent. Yup, he’s still all elf business, getting Rachel in as much trouble as he gets her out of. He’s still bullheaded, rich, and kind of a criminal. Yes, he has some swoon worthy scenes and uh-huh some of his focus has altered, but he is still Trent. But, the Trent who turned Rachel into a pet and put her in a cage has been gone for several years now. There’s a reason Harrison took 10 years to put these two characters together. After all this time do you mean to tell me that you have not seen Trent change from the character he has been in book 1? Also, let’s face it guys like Marshall (?) prove that Rachel can never be with someone who is 100% moral, because she’s not. Hello! She’s a demon!
The usual suspects are still rounded up. We will see the Vamps, including Ivy who will always have romantic drama and powerful master vamps mucking up her life. We will see the Demons, yes Al will be there. The gargoyles make an appearance, as do the shifters, the elves and the pixies. Honestly it would not be The Hollows without Jenks and his many many kids!
It’s a mostly fun book, with very little heartache. There is angst of course! And conflict and problems, but hey it’s a book it’s to be expected!
I loved this book. I found the action exciting and the magic enthralling a ever. Though there are moments where the magic takes over and I lost my way a bit. It did get a bit confusing, but not enough to deter me or to take any points away. This is a five star novel.
Recommended for fans of Kim Harrison, and readers of Urban Fantasy. Honestly, if you haven’t started The Hollows, this is the time. There is only one book left!
*ARC Provided by Edelweiss and Harper Voyager
Release Date: February. 25,2014
For more info: Goodreads page and author website.