Book Review: Million Dollar Demon by Kim Harrison

 

Million Dollar Demon

by Kim Harrison

Million Dollar Demon is the latest (#15) in the long running urban fantasy series, The Hollows, by Kim Harrison – one of my favorite urban fantasy series.

Harrison takes the premise that back in the mid twentieth century, humans were sickened by a bioengineered plague, delivered through tomatoes. Other groups such as the pixies, fae, witches, vampires, werewolves, etc. came out of hiding to keep society running.

This is not a static series of book after book following the same formula. There is a typical arc of problem and solution but characters and relationships evolve and change over time. Trent Kalamack, Rachel’s love interest, is a prime example. When they first met, they were enemies. He was power hungry and bent on world domination. Rachel reigns him in over the course of several of the books. She loves him and they have great chemistry, but she also has some commitment issues.

I would highly recommend starting from book 1 and working forward. It’s a great ride, interesting and engrossing. There are some sad moments but it’s mostly a fun, fairly light, action-based series of modern fantasy books. A perfect summer read.

The main setting is Cincinnati, Ohio, and specifically the Hollows neighborhood, but they do sometimes venture into the demon realm and even an alternate history Alcatraz jail, where witches are kept. Rachel finds herself back in her old digs for a bit here, the church where she, the pixie Jenks, and her vampire friend Ivy lived at one time. It has been damaged but they need to get it ready to sell. There’s a challenge there as the incoming Master Vampire, Constance, has warned people off of working for Rachel.

Therein lies the crux of the problem for this book – Constance is the new power in town and she’s bent on running things through fear, something Rachel can’t stomach, so there’s bound to be a showdown. There is a whole rule book for dealing with vampires, but Rachel sometimes forgets and reacts, or subconsciously reacts, in ways that are not helpful. She can be a bit impulsive.

Characterization is phenomenal fun here. Jenks, a pixie, has some fantastically creative phrases for swearing. Bis, Rachel’s gargoyle friend, is not forgotten though he is currently stuck as stone. Ivy is stuck in D.C. but she puts in an appearance by phone. David, a lone were, and Etten, a cop, show up to help out in their own ways. The demon Al plays a small but pivotal role.

You can find my review of the prequel, The Turn, here. https://storymusing.blogspot.com/2020/04/book-review-turn-by-kim-harrison.html

This is a great series for a fun, fast-paced read, with solid characterization and setting, and some action. I thoroughly enjoyed this installment.