I’m so happy to bring you another guest reviewer on Utopia State of Mind – Literace! We’ve been friends for a decade now IRL and something that bonded us early on was our similar taste in books. That’s why I’m so excited to introduce you to Literace and this new feature of guest reviews!
Summary
What happens after you’ve saved the world? Well, if you’re Rachel Mariana Morgan, witch-born demon, you quickly discover that something might have gone just a little bit wrong. That the very same acts you and your friends took to forge new powers may have released something bound by the old. With a rash of zombies, some strange new murders, and an exceedingly mysterious new demon in town, it will take everything Rachel has to counter this new threat to the world–and it may demand the sacrifice of what she holds most dear.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
After a six year hiatus, Kim Harrison seamlessly thrusts us back into the Hollows with her latest installment, American Demon. Amidst the confusion after the rearrangement of realities and ley lines, the salvation of magic, and the fluctuations of Inderlander and human hierarchies, Rachel Morgan returns. Regardless of their unpopular reputation, Morgan and her unlikely gang of kick-ass partners-in-(solving)-crime must investigate a string of both human and Inderlander domestic violence attacks-turned-murders.
Although this is the 14th book in the Hollows series (excluding the prequel), Harrison still manages to create something new from this incredibly well-established world. While there already exists a wealth of information into which old readers can tap, American Demon does not leave the new reader out of the loop or confused. Harrison’s uncanny ability to birth new lore into the Hollows and twist and weave a narrative would leave even the most avid and knowledgeable Hollows fan scratching their heads to solve this mystery.
Characters, new and old, brilliantly come off the page and mold into real people you would not be surprised to meet at your local coffee shop, even if you might not want to! Harrison smoothly reminds us of her numerous characters, without seeming heavy-handed and overt in her characterizations. Some characters have had the privilege to be developed over several books, while new characters have only been just introduced. Regardless, Harrison expertly gives depth to new friends and enemies throughout this book.
In American Demon, Harrison explores the themes of freedom, acceptance, sacrifice, and unconditional love and friendship. In a world of continued discrimination and distrust among and within species, as well as the permanent emergence of demons and the resurfacing of the elven clans, characters must fight for their freedom, both literal and figurative, and for acceptance where it has historically been lacking. Millenia of feuds and carefully balanced power structures lead Morgan and others to fight against the status quo for the sake of her love of Trent and all others she holds dear. If there is nothing else Harrison’s readers will learn by the end of American Demon, it will be that Rachel Morgan will sacrifice her life and wellbeing for the sake of what is right.
As a long time fan of Kim Harrison’s Hollows series, I have loved her novels, each one more than the next; American Demon did not fail to fit that pattern. In this revival of the Hollows series, I sincerely hope that she follows this with another action-packed and inventive dive into the world of demons, witches, pixies, elves, and more.
Find American Demon on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.
About Literace
My name is Literace, teacher by day, voracious reader generally also by day…
I am a high school Social Studies and Latin teacher with MAs in History and Latin. When I’m not busy lesson planning and grading, I am trying to get lost in a book or TV show. I spend my time reading urban fantasy, science fiction, and crime thrillers! Books with a strong female lead or feminist themes automatically earn a gold star from me. I am hoping to do more book reviews of new releases with Utopia State of Mind!