The Outlaw Demon Wails - Kim Harrison

This is book six in the Rachel Morgan series, and I've read and enjoyed all six.  The series takes place in an alternate here-and-now, where vampires, werewolves, witches, elves, and demons all more or less co-exist with humans.  It's a bit like Laurell K. Hamilton without the pointless sex.  (The series has sex.  Just not pointless sex.) The characters are truly unique and engaging, and Harrison draws you in and makes you care about even the ones with insignificant roles.   (More about this new gargoyle, please!)  The reintroduction of Marshall is a solitary example of a character I don't really care about.  His presence feels pointless (except to develop more relationship angst, see below).

Harrrison does a great job of catching you up if, like me, you have trouble remembering any but the most sketchy details from the previous books.  Still, despite the plethora of back story, I think you'd only be deeply, deeply confused if you were reading these out of order.  (Dead Witch Walking is the first one.)

One of the author's weaknesses is a way-too-realistic emphasis on relationship angst.  Sure, Rachel's life is 100% screwed up, and any normal person would spend at least as much time worrying about it as she does, but reading about her worrying about it gets a little old.  Plus the whole "Oh no, has my relationship with Ivy changed?" thing is now tedious.  Let's just write down on a pad of paper that Rachel and Ivy are in it for the long haul.  Refer to as necessary.

Another thing I occasionally find irritating is Rachel's charming recklessness.  It's fun most of the time (and I realize she and the author are trying to tone it down this time around), but sometimes she just seems stupid.  If I can remember that her kitchen is not on hallowed ground, she should be able to, even when distracted.   And she takes the word of other characters far too easily for someone who traditionally questions everything.

Still, all of the negatives are outweighed by my genuine interest in the characters and a great sense of pacing.  Would I read it over?  Probably not.  Am I eagerly awaiting the next one?  Absolutely.  And I'm hoping the gargoyle gets a bigger part.

  

(R rating: some sex-like vampire bloodlust, some violence, some swearing [including pixie swearing, which is  more fun than offensive].  This particular volume is probably closer to PG-13, but the series as a whole has an R feel to it.)