Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
Genres & themes: Adult, urban fantasy, witches, vampires, fairies, magic, friendship, trust, mystery.
Received: borrowed
My rating: 3.5 of 5 shadowed stars
SYNOPSIS:
All the creatures of the night gather in “the Hollows” of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party … and to feed.
Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining — and it’s Rachel Morgan’s job to keep that world civilized.
A bounty hunter and witch with serious sex appeal and an attitude, she’ll bring ’em back alive, dead … or undead.
REVIEW:
My head tells me 3 stars, but my heart says 4. Which makes an average of 3.5 (but you knew that already.)
WOW.
Yes, that is the reaction I had after starting Dead Witch Walking (great title by the way.) I was so surprised while discovering every ‘creature’ this book contains. There are witches, vampires, trolls (apparently,) fairies, PIXIES… PIXIES guys. There are PIXIES. Plus, one of them is an important character of the story! I’m talking about this one:
(On the left, we have Ivy (vampire) and on the right…wait for it…RACHEL (witch!)! And, in between, cute little pixie Jenks.)
So, the world building was an A, for me, in the UF genre. The Fever series used to be in the lead, on the very very top, for the world building but The Hollows definitely took its position. (Sorry dear.)
Rachel wasn’t the best female lead ever. I prefer MacKayla Lane way better than her, but she sure has her charm. I just thought she was really acting stupidly and recklessly at some times. Like when she transformed herself in a mink and didn’t plan a way of turning back immediately if being caught. Maybe she just couldn’t but it annoyed me still. That brings another small issue I had with this book…
It’s slow. It was actually my first time, as I remember, reading an UF book that slow. The ones I usually read are fast-paced or have lots of action, events happening or mysteries to be solved. Yeah, I did lose interest when she was a mink. BUT, it’s the only time I did lose interest, because I just couldn’t before with the world building being so amazing. I don’t really like shape shifters. I don’t find anything interesting in reading a book with a person transforming herself into an animal. Although, that’s very personal so maybe it won’t be a bother for you as much as it was for me.
I know I criticize this book more than I should, but I did like it a lot and I will read the sequels very soon for sure. It had few SMALL flaws though. Another one of them is it not having many IMPORTANT sexy, hot, charming and irresistible male characters. There are some random ones but they don’t really last. I heard though that this book is actually not the best in the series so I look very forward to seeing how it’ll go and especially some development (please) in Rachel’s character.
The writing was fabulous and just utterly perfect and surprisingly better than I expected. I read every book in Kim Harrison’s trilogy for YA (Madison Avery) and it didn’t quite work for me. I mean, it was interesting (the main subject) but the characters weren’t as much developed and ‘alive’ as I hoped. Also, in the Madison Avery series, slowness was very (too much) present and this time frustratingly slow. I don’t recommend that series if you have a big TBR pile. Was just OK. I do, however, recommend Death Witch Walking with sparkly eyes (and a big smile.)
View all my reviews on Goodreads.
Image source: http://valliantcreations.deviantart.com/art/Rachel-Morgan-Fan-Art-99707031
Hit or Miss Books 
I’ve never read a Kim Harrison book, but I think maybe I should. (Though I have the same opinion of shape shifters. People who turn into animals are not really something that appeals to me.)
Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics
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Yeah, you totally should. The world building is EXTRA. Really liking it. Ugh, yeah, there is a part in this book that was SO boring because of shape shifting thing but, still, it’s worth it. 😛 Thank you!
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I really liked this one too but I wasn’t in love with the series until book two. Sadly I haven’t had time to read past that but I will…eventually. 😛
Thanks for letting me know where to find you now. 😉
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I’m currently reading book two! I’m a bit confused because there are many characters I forgot who they are so my reading experience is not that good. xd
Of course! 😀
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Lola I love this series, and these characters will grow on you, and twist around your heart 🙂
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Hahaha, I’ll be looking forward to that then! Really like Jenks and the vampire friend. Just Rachel that I’m not really sure. xd
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I honestly I can’t remember if this is the one I have or not…I have to check. I am sure I got one by her
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Ok. 😛
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I read this one a long, long time ago, and I agree with you Lola! It was slow going for me as well at times, and I lost interest here and there, but I did continue on with the series and I think they get better as they go. I’ve fallen way behind now though, so I think it might be time I got caught up! Can’t wait to see what you think of book 2!
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I’m currently reading book two and it’s still slow
but I think it’ll be better since there probably won’t be another tansformation into animal to enter in an office and than… Longest part EVER. xd
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Lola, this series just gets better, more intense and Rachel still makes mistakes, but she keeps growing as a character! Such a great UF world. It’s hard to beat MacKayla Lane though 😉
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It’s Rachel grows, than It’ll be good I guess! Thanks, I really think I’ll continue with the series because I really like whiches. ^^
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Lola, The Hollows series is my favorite UF series ever! Yup, even more so than KMM’s series and others I really love. There are things that happened in this first installment that you’ll realize are important in book eight, or nine, and the way the characters evolve throughout the series is amazing!
I’m glad you enjoyed Dead Witch Walking, even if it didn’t completely blow you away. I look forward to seeing what you’ll think of the future books, too 🙂
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WOW. Really? WOW.I’m really curious then. Will continue with the series for sure, Lexxie!
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I’m still a big sucker (pun not intended :P) for vampire books. I can’t help it. The books and the movies and the shows; it all never gets old to me, because there are so many ways to spin the tale.
The writing sounds SO good. I love it when the writing leads a book. So often there’s a strong plot let down by bad or lazy writing, so yay for that not being the case here!
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That’s very true and for a lot of supernatural creatures. You can almost do anything with witches as well and I love that. ❤ Yeah, Kim Harrison knows how to write a book! I hope you'll like it and I think your love for vampires will be fullfilled, lol. ^^
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One of the thinks I can say I like the most in UF is that you always get a nice spectra of creatures. They always have a nice mix and I always enjoy it. I’m so glad that this one has it too. Also I tend to listen to my heart, not my head when it comes to books 😉 Great review, Lola 🙂
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Yeah, the heart knows it all. 😉 I really hope you’ll like it and think you will in fact, if you don’t mind slow UF series. Thank you, Tanja! 😀
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I’ve been wanting to check out a book by this author for quite sometime. I just keep putting it off . I don’t know if i can handle a book being slow because I love fast paced books. Great review!
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Yeah, I love fast-paced books as well so I really understand you. Although, the world-building kinda made up for it. Thanks! 😀
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Oh what better than the Fever series for world building?! I have to check this out. (I adore the Fever series) Great Review:)
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Yeah, really better though I only read the first book. 😛 Thank you!! 😀
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I haven’t really read any Kim Harrison book and I don’t know why. I just don’t like vampires that much but I do enjoy witches so I’d definitely read this one in the near future. I hope this series will get better and better with each installment. Lovely review, Lola!
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I really have a love/hate relationship with vampires but in this one it was a love one. ^^ I hope you’ll really like it, despite the slowness (if you don’t like that in books.) Thanks, Sarah! 😀
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The books get a bit faster than this one as the series continues. I felt like she wanted to flesh out the world they were in, and succeeded, but all the info was a bit much to take in. Hope you enjoy the rest of the series! 🙂
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Yeah, I guess it’s normal. I’m currently reading the 2nd book and it’s not that ”info dumping kind” long anymore . ^^ Thanks a lot, Lily! 🙂
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Great review! This one has been on my list, I need to give it a try! I keep seeing a lot of praise for Kim Harrison’s books, but I’ve yet to try any! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
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Kim Harrison is definitely a great writer. I prefer her adult book though to her YA ones. Really a recommended series expecially if you like UF series. 🙂 Thank you, Tricia!
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I already gave up all my interest in vampires and witches related story after the season finale of Vampire Diaries but this is intriguing and tempting. I’ll check this one out.
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Hmmm, I haven’t seen that episode yet. I was saving the last episodes for this summer but hey no time right now. So curious though why it had such an effect on you! It’s definitely worth it! Thank you for stopping by, Ima! 😀
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Don’t think about it too much. I guess I’m just frustrated with the finale. 😀 .I’ll still watch the next season anyway. heh
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I’ve got this one to try but still haven’t *hangs head* She came to visit our town and was very fun to listen to. The title is a great one and ahh yes pixies! That’s so neat! I’ll have to try to get this one in sooner rather than later. Hope you enjoy book2!
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Oooh, you met the author? How lucky! I love the title as well. ❤ Thank you, hope you'll be reading this one soon!
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