Funny things - reviews. Perusing reviews of this one, it seems many were bored with the first compared to this, and reviews for the first commented on IT'S slow start. It seems I'm always in the minority - I think the original Dead Witch Walking is an amazing book, and I found it fast-paced from the start. I didn't find it slow and I thought the action was in your face from the beginning. With this one, though, the book is again excellent but the beginning is much slower than the firsts.
Even if the first book had an amazing, tense first half, this one took the slower path. In fact, if it weren't the second section being so impressive, I would have given it a four star rating. One thing's for sure - this one doubled with the first made such a killer impression on me that nothing could have kept me from immediately seeking out and reading the third.
The story starts cute with Jenks (love him) and Rachel working, earning money, and of course falling into pits of trouble. There's a bona fide crime whodunnit with this one. The murders are icky, dirty and horrid too. While Rachel isn't what I'd call a sleuth, she's awesome in her persistence and having bad luck stumble her way. The books focus is of course the protagonist Rachel. She discovers a big secret on why she survived her childhood illness, connections she had no idea existed, and that her abilities dab in darker areas than she could have imagined.
There's a nice climax with Piscary, the big bad master vamp of the city, and the demon who made a killer appearance in the first, Algaliarept (Nicknamed 'Al'.) Seriously, the villain spotlights? Best parts of the book. I LOVED the surprise when Al popped up and deals made, and Piscary in the pizza joint? Creepy. Kisten? OMG. Really. How hot can one of the scenes get? Nick as the boyfriend is still a bit dull but there was a juicy session. Ivy's okay and hasn't grown on me yet enough. I love that in this book you get to reach Rachel's mother, Alice, who is hilarious, tragic, and intriguing in one package.
Rachel's flaws make her easier enough to genuinely like. In this book she finds out something large about herself, and what she can do. Always she struggles with morals.
Harrison is great at adding credible detail to the magic, keeping it realistic, detailed and intriguing. I love her back history with all the supernatural communities and the comical history of the Turn. This one holds a bit more gruesome details than the other but it's still not considered a gory book.
The ending has an a big turn that made me nearly salivate to pick up the third and see where it leads off. Epic battle and great lead-up, even if the first half was a bit slow.
*This Review was based off a Re-Read*
“You are your father's daughter,' he said, the skin around his eyes tightening. "Trent is his father's son. Apart, you are annoying. Together...you have the potential to be a problem.”
Other Reviews from this series:
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