Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    A Perfect Blood
    Unavailable
    A Perfect Blood
    Unavailable
    A Perfect Blood
    Ebook604 pages10 hours

    A Perfect Blood

    By Kim Harrison

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    Listen to the audiobook instead

    About this ebook

    “I wouldn’t miss a Kim Harrison book for anything.”
    —Charlaine Harris

    There’s nothing more darkly satisfying than time spent in the Hollows—New York Times bestseller Kim Harrison’s alternate urban fantasy Cincinnati where vampires, pixies, and werewolves roam free. Harrison takes us back in A Perfect Blood, as former bounty hunter witch-turned-reluctant daywalking demon Rachel Morgan investigates a series of ritual murders, only to discover to her horror that whomever—or whatever—is responsible is actually seeking her blood.  Rachel’s sexy, supernatural adventures have consistently landed atop bestseller lists from coast-to-coast, and A Perfect Blood is no exception—another supremely satisfying excursion to a deliciously eerie fantasy realm that’s certain to delight Kim Harrison’s voracious army of fans…not to mention Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Kelley Armstrong, Patricia Briggs, and Stephanie Meyers aficionados, and any reader who craves a walk on the wild, dark side.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateFeb 21, 2012
    ISBN9780062101020
    Author

    Kim Harrison

    Kim Harrison, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Hollows series, was born in Detroit and, after gaining her bachelor’s degree in the sciences, she moved to South Carolina, where she remained until recently returning to Michigan because she missed the snow. When not at her desk, Kim is most likely to be found landscaping her new/old Victorian home, in the garden, or out on the links.

    Read more from Kim Harrison

    Related to A Perfect Blood

    Related ebooks

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Freshening

      Sep 15, 2018

      My cashier’s black hair was beautiful. Though not unlike mine, it was shinier and thicker, and hung glamorously down to her waist. It looked strong, too, like Christopher Reeve’s in the Superman movies. A strand of Superman’s silvery hair could hold

      21 min read

    • Article

      A Good Samaritan

      Dec 6, 2022

      It was hot that day, hot for the morning and hot for April and with a stickiness in the air that suggested something had to break. I was headed up the street to ask my neighbor Meech to give me a jump when I heard a scream come from the fourplex next

      10 min read

    • Article

      Pulling Up Azaleas

      Jan 10, 2023

      Throughout their lives, women are showered with bouquets of roses on numerous splendid occasions. But men? They’re only given flowers at their funeral. It’s a harsh world for men, as our lives tend to go unappreciated until death. Such was the case a

      22 min read

    • Article

      Prey

      May 10, 2021

      As I drove slowly towards the mob of angry protestors and my meeting with 200, I thought of 199. The ashes of a once hard man, staring at me with wide eyes that pleaded for hope like a dog begging for treats. I’d somehow found a way to give him that

      41 min read

    • Article

      Righteous

      Jan 22, 2019

      Righteous
      8 min read

    • Article

      Prey

      Mar 10, 2024

      As I drove slowly toward the mob of angry protestors and my meeting with 200, I thought of 199. The ashes of a once hard man, staring at me with wide eyes that pleaded for hope like a dog begging for treats. I’d somehow found a way to give him that h

      41 min read

    • Article

      Shame Is Ever-Present When You’re Sitting in a Cell

      Oct 23, 2020

      Between a strained relationship with my family and the death of a good friend, I’ve struggled to feel like I’m worth something.

      5 min read

    • Article

      Let’s Get Young

      Jan 1, 2019

      Let’s Get Young
      8 min read

    • Article

      The Bathroom

      Jun 10, 2024

      Content Disclosure: Sexual Innuendo The garage light flips on like a flashbulb, freezing me in a mug shot. “Del, you out here?” my wife says sleepily as she steps down the cement riser. She looks at me standing before the window; then her attention i

      12 min read

    • Article

      The After

      Jun 10, 2023

      He is sitting opposite me, staring blankly like a dead fish. Stone eyes. Cobalt and lifeless. Pale gray skin, dripping scales. I imagine him hauled out of the water and dumped on the riverbank, gasping for breath. Just as he deserves. I only agreed t

      13 min read

    • Article

      The Fortune Teller’s Confession

      Aug 10, 2022

      White obscured the man as he waddled down the old dirt path, which was disappearing under the snowfall. I brought the axe down one last time before I paused, stepping back in reflex as the wood split, each half tumbling in an unpredictable direction.

      12 min read

    • Article

      Identity Crisis

      Feb 2, 2019

      Identity Crisis
      8 min read

    • Article

      Lording

      Jun 14, 2022

      It’s 4:38 P.M., eight minutes after I usually go home, but now I’m rooting around under my chair cushion, double-checking my shirt pocket, hunting for an unmarked baggie of white bars, which I shouldn’t have left in my office, which I shouldn’t have

      17 min read

    • Article

      All Of Us Here

      Jun 4, 2020

      All Of Us Here
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Duplex

      Jun 9, 2020

      I moved to Los Angeles to sing. When was this? August? June? I was twenty-nine, and those were shapeless months, when the days blended together and I refused to pull them apart. My landlord was unusually close to her adult son. His name was Jeffrey,

      21 min read

    • Article

      Exodus

      Sep 15, 2018

      My exodus occurred after years wandering the wilderness of my hometown. For bread to live, for bread to leave, I worked a part-time gig at the Oregonian’s downtown insert facility, stacking pallet after pallet of inky-ass newspapers. The day in quest

      15 min read

    • Article

      Supportive Husband

      Sep 12, 2023

      There were less intimate places available, so it was odd when a woman took the seat directly facing mine across the subway aisle. I looked up from my book and right back down: a couple of months before, we’d gone home together. She had a Southern acc

      22 min read

    • Article

      The Man I Should Have Married

      Dec 29, 2019

      The Man I Should Have Married
      11 min read

    • Article

      The Family Plot

      May 7, 2020

      The Family Plot
      10 min read

    • Article

      The Convict

      Jul 10, 2020

      The Convict
      5 min read

    • Article

      Once Bitten, twice Shy

      Mar 7, 2024

      Sipping my coffee in the kitchen, I heard my husband Miles, then 45, call from our bedroom across the hall. ‘Who’s that shouting outside?’ he groaned. It was 9.30am on a Sunday morning in August 2022. I loved relaxing Sundays, and on this one Miles w

      4 min read

    • Article

      Let The Bones Talk

      Jun 16, 2021

      Let The Bones Talk
      6 min read

    • Article

      Let The Bones Talk

      Jun 16, 2021

      Let The Bones Talk
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Missing Limousine

      Sep 28, 2021

      The Missing Limousine
      21 min read

    • Article

      Where Night Stops

      Jan 15, 2018

      Where Night Stops
      6 min read

    • Article

      Kane and Abel

      Feb 10, 2024

      I boarded the train in Council Bluffs. The cargo headed for Cheyenne included a large sum of cash meant to be the payroll for a large mining operation. Any train moving large sums of cash and passengers with all their earthly belongings was a target.

      9 min read

    Reviews for A Perfect Blood

    4.5/5

    716 ratings50 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      I loved this. Don't know what Al is up to now but I loved this as much as Pale Demon. I don't know how many more books there will be but I'll be depressed when this series ends!
    • 5/5
      Another strong entry in Harrison's sometimes hit-and-miss series. Rachel continues the character growth that makes this series more than a "churn 'em out" book sales factory. I'm enjoying her struggle to pin down Trent Kalamac's true character and embrace her own nature. "Plan A it was. Go in brash and come out bashed."
    • 3/5
      An enjoyable adventure not quite as good as Pale Demon. This review will be about this book, eventually, but I wanted to say that, looking back, I'm surprised by how much I like the book before this in the series. I didn't expect much out of a roadtrip book, and got much more than I expected.

      So . . . this book was decent, and I'm really trying to evaluate it on its own merits. Left with the problems created in the last book, Rachel is forced to live a life without leyline magic or face her demon heritage. New factions rising up only complicate things.

      Things I liked
      -How the elf children are changing Trent. For a character I really disliked early on, Trent has become a favorite character of mine, independent of series. Like Kelley Armstrong's Eve, Trent very rarely lets morality impede his protection of those he loves.
      -Rachel making noises suggesting she is coming to accept what she is. Progress is good, but get on with it already!
      -Ivy has a great storyline, trying to help another living vampire that's fallen victim to a senior, undead vamp.

      Things I didn't care for
      -Really, Rachel, you're still whining about the same crap? I know you have to preserve characterization, but let's grow the eff up a little faster. Please? I'm trying to cope and failing.
    • 4/5
      A Perfect Blood is the 10th book in The Hollows series by Kim Harrison. I've been gobbling these books up like Thanksgiving dinner since I found the series! I probably should go slower because there are only two more books published in the series, but one is expected to be published next year. I also read somewhere that the series was only going to 13 or so books. (whimper)Anyway, as always, there's lots of action and excitement. Once again, Rachel is being hunted for something. I know she's the main character in the series, but I'd like to see Ivy or Jenks being hunted as the main story! Still, it was a great storyline that kept me reading way past my bedtime. Rachel's relationship with Trent is changing and both of them are confused. It's fun to watch them circle each other as they try to figure out what's happening. Since Rachel doesn't have a boyfriend in this book, there's not as much adult material, but she does have some naughty thoughts!A Perfect Blood lives up to its predecessors in the series. It's smart, funny, exciting, and enjoyable to read!
    • 5/5
      Finally Ms. Harrison is back!! The series took a turn downhill for a while there, but it's back on track now! I love love love this book! I love where she is taking things! I love how much she developed the characters in this installment! I have already passed this one down to a friend! Cant wait for the next one!!
    • 5/5
      Definitely one of my favorites of the series. Rachel has grown, Ivy, Jenks, and Trent are changing/growing as well. I enjoyed every aspect of this book and couldn't put it down.
    • 5/5
      In some ways, A PERFECT BLOOD felt like a greatest hits or a reunion show - characters, events, and themes that sometimes take a backseat in the Hollows books all play a part. There's lots of Ivy, David the alpha werewolf, politicking amongst I.S. and F.I.B., lame ex-boyfriend Marshal, Ceri, Quen, a very satisfying amount of Trent. This assemblage, friend and foe, all seems to point toward something new, something I've never thought about in the Hollows books before: endgame.

      I've never wondered where Harrison is heading with all of this, what I want Rachel's life to look like when the series is over, if there's any possible way for elf, demon, witch and human to live in peace. A PERFECT BLOOD set all of these issues down on the table for me, and gave me some confidence that Harrison has answers in store.

      There's a plot, which is pretty gripping, about a group of anti-Inderlander humans who want to synthesize demon blood and are willing to commit horrible atrocities in order to do it. But I don't want to talk about the plot. Something about A PERFECT BLOOD put me in a reflective mood. Kim Harrison has made so many choices over the course of this series that turned out right. Like, reviewers often gripe about how annoying it is that every time Ivy walks onto the scene we get a paragraph about how gorgeous and dangerous and irresistible she is. And it's true, I've felt that way myself, "Gah, why must I read another swoony description of Ivy's throat as she drinks orange juice?" - but you know what? The Hollows is the only urban fantasy series I can think of where, ten books down the line, vampires have retained their mystique. Vampires in this world are SCARY. Ivy is Rachel's roommate but she's still strange and foreign, unnerving. And THAT is why vampires retain their mystique in this series. Because Rachel is just as deeply affected by Ivy - by all of them - now as she was way back in DEAD WITCH WALKING. All those descriptions add up to something powerful, something that gives the world integrity.

      I think the last couple installments in the series - PALE DEMON and BLACK MAGIC SANCTION - might be better books in some ways, more pulse-pounding and visceral. There were a couple of major plot points in A PERFECT BLOOD where I knew what was coming and I could guess what would have to happen to trigger the necessary event. Like, for example, Rachel's magic-dampening bracelet. She starts the book wearing a bracelet that cuts her off from the ley lines and prevents her from doing any magic. She wants it on so badly that I knew it would come off, and it was pretty easy to guess what sequence of events would provoke her change of heart.

      But A PERFECT BLOOD felt pretty major to me. It marks a turning point. The last few books have been about Rachel figuring out who and what she is. Her personal story, from sickly child to badass demon, has told us the story of how her world came to be. And now that Rachel is ready to ACCEPT who and what she is, she's ready to change everything, for everyone else.

      I dunno. I just love this series. I love the incredible worldbuilding, the concreteness of all the details, the huge cast of characters, the insane, high-stakes, high-octane moments played off against downtime at the church. I am especially delighted about everything that happens with Trent in this book. Because, seriously, he's got endgame written in big letters on his forehead in A PERFECT BLOOD and as far as I'm concerned, that's how it ought to be.
    • 4/5
      Harrison's The Hollow books are so much fun to read. Rachel Morgan really gets herself into a mess by cutting off her access to the ley lines and refusing to acknowledge her new role as day walking demon. People want to use her blood to turn witches into demons and start an all out genocidal war. I was a little disappointed not to learn more about the organization who captured Rachel to gain access to her blood and the shadow paramilitary organization working to capture them. Overall, this was standard Rachel Morgan fare but saying that doesn't do justice to Harrison's richly created universe or the good detective writing this basically boils down to.
    • 2/5
      Disappointing. It really seemed like the character was getting her act together in the last book, but she really lost it here. She could not make one good decision during the course of this book. And it's not just that they were bad decisions--they were stupidly awful decisions. For a woman who has been through what she has, you'd think her "let's not be a complete idiot" survival instinct would kick in. This was so frustrating it made it difficult to enjoy the story.
    • 5/5
      Another great book from Kim Harrison... All i can say is i hope the series never ends because the characters in the book are great... Great storyline... If you havent read it yet please do . It is MUST READ!!!
    • 4/5
      Harrison pulls off another stellar installment in the Hollows series, a book I could hardly put down for anything. Rachel Morgan's drama expands to epic proportions with the threat of HAPA, an underground organization that is working to eradicate all non-human species. Combine that with Rachel's neutered magic thanks to Trent's bracelet, and it's a catastrophe waiting to happen. My frustration at Rachel's indecision is near constant from cover to cover, and that is just with the bracelet situation.Rachel's romantic interest is also in limbo, as she ignores her attraction to Trent and bickers with her new bodyguard, Wayde - yet another source of frustration. Meanwhile, romance buds for both Ivy and Jenks, and secrets hover in the periphery, such as Glenn's personal motivations and the identity of the vampire Felix. The subplots provide nice diversions to the main one, and will expand in the next book in the series certainly.The introduction of HAPA to the series also adds some backstory to the history prior to the beginning of the series as to the revealing of the inderland species, which I appreciate. Once upon a time, HAPA was much more vocal about their hatred for the inderlanders, and now it seems they have a much greater presence than previously assumed. This provides much fodder for plot possibilities!I also rather enjoyed the interactions between Al and Trent's family at the end of the book. Personally, I think Harrison could turn Al into a very good dad - and children could be the key to truly taming him. Just keep writing, Harrison!
    • 4/5
      I have read the entire Hollows series and love the world that Kim Harrison has created. I enjoyed this book but, it was not one of my favorite installments in the series. It's a departure from the action and surprise that the earlier books have. My favorite thing about this series is the relationships between Rachel, Ivy and Jenks. In this book those relationships are changing which is intentional but I really miss the closeness the characters had in the earlier books. There is too much of Rachel moping around in this book and not enough of her trademark bad assedness. Not a lot of action in this one which is disappointing. Rachel for the most part comes off weak and unskilled. I really hope Kim Harrison changes that in the next book and gets back to having Rachel kick butt and take names.
    • 3/5
      I'm feeling generous... 3 ½ Stars.
    • 4/5
      Another enjoyable installment in the Hollows series. I like the series and I mostly enjoy Ms. Harrison's writing but I do have a few nits to pick. Maybe I'm getting more sensitive to it but I noticed a whole lot more "Rach thinks about every cast member, Rach drinks some water, Rach thinks about every cast member, rinse-and-repeat" in this one. At times it felt tedious and forced, more than I felt before. Being inside R's head is useful but Ms. Harrison needs to show more and tell less.Plot-wise I had a huge issue with her taking Trent's charms on a run without testing them first. Is she an amateur or a professional? No professional takes untested weapons on live action unless they are absolutely forced to.I had a minor issue with her use of undrawn circles to deflect bullets instead of using it to working her way toward the door Eloy wanted to escape through and blocking it. I had a similar minor issue with her not bringing at least Ivy and Jenks with her and Trent in the final showdown. Yes, Trent said come alone. Since when does she listen? And she recently got a better understanding of the need to allow friends to help. Apparently not enough of a lesson.Physically she came across as less physically capable than how I imagine her, beaten in hand-to-hand repeatedly and too easily. Then all-of-a-sudden she's superwoman? I'm thinking of when she went after Eloy with Trent on a broken ankle near the end with just a pain charm.Why does Jenks even bother with a sword? Might as well be armed with a tiny can of pepper spray.Bodyguard Wade was functionally useless as a character in this whole book. His only literary purpose was as a foil to tell Rach some truths that ANY of the other characters could have said.Lots of story tidbits are left open (who the undead IS executive is, HAPA continues, the 'men in black,' her relationship with... everyone, her legal status, and much more) so there is clear material for future books.
    • 4/5
      I'm already hanging out for the next one! Where is Trent and Rachel's relationship heading? If anywhere? It is nice to see a gentler side of Trent too, fatherhood looks good on him. The fact that Jinks and Ivy are drifting away makes me a little sad, but that's life, and Rachel needs to learn to stand oun her own. Or maybe by Trent's side. I am curious to see how Al's little crush on her is going to pan out too. The Al/Rachel pairing seems the most biologically compatible one of all the possibilities, and Al has come a long way from the murdering demon he once was. I enjoy his little interactions with Rachel, and also with the girls at the end.

      I cannot remember Daryl, however, what book did she come into it? Or is she from one of the side stories? Also, the ending, in some ways, reminded me of the ending of BBCs Being Human (I've just watched season 4).

      Another engrossing adventure. Loved it.
    • 4/5
      In this tenth entry in Harrison's The Hollows series, protagonist and narrator Rachel Morgan has become a demon. She wears a bracelet that blocks her from doing almost all magic because without it she would become visible to the her demon mentor, Al, and she fears if he knew she was alive he would drag her into the demon dimension and she would be unable to escape.Meanwhile bodies of witches are being found by Inderland, the paranormal law enforcement agency. Someone has been experimenting and trying to turn the witches into demons and failing, causing the witches to die partially mutated and in great pain. Inderland brings Rachel into the investigation in part because they believe she is behind it. Other evidence points to a human hate group that had been believed wiped out.I've read all this series though I have mixed feelings about it, and always have. Rachel has guts, but she's too impulsive and does dangerous things without sufficient backup, thought, and preparation, or when she is wounded. In this book she more than once gets rid of her bodyguard and of course gets into trouble. By now she should be dead.Another irritating factor is how often another character is her best bud or lover and then becomes her enemy, or is her enemy but becomes her ally and this happen with several characters. Even worse, it cycles through several times with the same character. It call Rachel's judgement into even more question. The final irritation is that some characteristics of Harrison's paranormal world just don't seem sensible. Any demon magic Rachel does, no matter the purpose, even if it is to save someone's life, adds smut to her soul. Meanwhile the bad guys behave horribly without such consequence.I have kept reading, though. Mainly for some of the characters. Rachel is annoying but courageous and warm-hearted. Ivy, her living vampire business partner, is interesting as is Trent Kalamack, a wealthy elf. Perhaps most vital is Jenks, a pixie and third partner in the business. And I have a crush on a Bis, the teenage gargoyle, who, in my opinion, isn't used enough.I would recommend this particular book in the series. Good story, not as much that irritated me as some of the other books.
    • 4/5
      When approach the tenth novel in a series, one hopes that the author can still find ways to keep the series fresh and engaging. I imagine that this is not something that is easy to do, especially when I read other late installments in log running series and wonder when I finish, well what was the point of that? Kim Harrison and her The Hollows series does not have that problem.I started reading this series when the very first book in the series, Dead Witch Walking, was released. The series is set in an alternate reality version of Cincinnati, OH, which is where I live. I was intrigued by the paranormal tale, but also by the fact that the series was set in the place that I call home. My interest in this series quickly moved beyond the fact that it is set in my home town. I became engrossed in the characters and plot lines that Harrison created. It wasn't very many books into the series before I was rating The Hollows as one of my absolute favorite Urban Fantasy series.A Perfect Blood is an excellent example of why this series continues to be a favorite. The plot was extremely interesting and fast-paced. Rachel Morgan is drawn into the investigation of people who are being murdered in a ritualistic fashion, and their corpses are being left all over the city. The plot elements were complex. Who was behind the murders? Why were those specific victims selected/ And how can Rachel Morgan help investigate these horrific crimes when her hands have been magically tied by the events of the previous book? I truly couldn't put this book down.The characters add the special to these books. With plot lines that are often heavy, the characters provide a human (and non-human) touch, which makes for fun, relateable, and often hilarious situations. I had a difficult time in the beginning warming up to some of the characters, particularly Rachel's very complicated best friend and roommate Ivy. My difficulties were by the author's design, though. Ivy is hard to know. She is guarded and mysterious. Rachel has a hard time knowing Ivy. Now, though, Ivy is one of my favorite characters. All of the characters in this novel were well-crafted and excellently portrayed.If you have not read any books in this series, I highly recommend you get a copy of the first book and get started! I love this series and I highly recommend it!
    • 4/5
      Hmmm... I was actually a little disappointed in this one - it felt like there was too much time trying to develop the relationship between Rachel and Trent, and not enough time developing Rachel and her powers. And the resolution of Rachel regaining her demon powers and thwarting Al's attempts to take her to the ever-after was too easy - seamless even - when I think, given the seriousness of the situation and Al's nature, it should have been much more complicated than it was. Actually, I think this whole novel had a different feel to it - more like it was a procedural (catch-the-bad-guys) and less like an exploration of Rachel's life. This, I guess, shouldn't be a bad thing, but I got hooked on Rachel's story, and didn't really care about the catching-bad-guys component. I missed the usual angst and hand-wringing and romance that have been a big part of this series in the past few books.
    • 3/5
      Not as exciting as previous Hollows installments, though you can see Rachel's growth and maturity starting to shine through. The HAPA stuff bored me and they were not my favorite villians to arise in this series. I really enjoyed the interactions between Rachel and Trent and am looking forward to more of these moments between them.
    • 4/5
      In this tenth book in the Rachel Morgan series, Rachel has to come to terms with being a demon. She begins the story in some level of denial. She is still wearing the bracelets that Trent made her to hide her from the demons and which also keep her from doing most of the magic she knows. But when she is kidnapped by a human hate group that is doing experiments to find a way to destroy all paranormals, she knows that she has to come to terms with being all that she is.What I especially liked about this episode was Rachel's changing relationship with Trent. She is tentatively sidling into a kind of friendship with him. We also get to see more of Trent and learn more about him. I liked Trent a lot in this story. The scenes with him interacting with his family were very humanizing and showed a side of him that we hadn't seen before.As usual Rachel gets beaten and battered but ultimately succeeds in whatever mission is put before her. This one adds a secret group of men-who-don't-belong who are after the human hate group and who are working in extreme secrecy. Fans of the series will enjoy this story which has Rachel coming into her own and adjusting to changes in her life.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed it though I have to say that all the volumes of this series are starting to run together in my mind. There's plenty of action in this one plus the usual easy writing style. There's some promise that the some of the romantic tensions that have been hanging around far too long will get resolved. Harrison seems to be shaking up the relationship formula of Rachel/Ivy/Jenks a bit—which will make things a bit fresher.All in all, a good addition to the series that looks to invigorate it a bit.
    • 5/5
      Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales Quick & Dirty: Kim Harrison delivers with her latest Hollows book. A Perfect Blood is action-packed with a dark tone and pitch-perfect pacing that make this book hard to put down. Opening Sentence: The woman across from me barely sniffed when I slammed the pen down on the counter. The Review: Kim Harrison is my favorite author, so fair warning, this review may be a little biased. I love the Hollows series through its high and low points and through tears and laughter. I don’t know what it is about this world that I never want to leave. A Perfect Blood is no exception. It has been several months since the events of Pale Demon. Rachel has been avoiding Trent like the plague after their steamy kiss. She has been officially declared a Demon and she has been cut off from her magic. A magical band of silver strongly dilutes her powers, leaving her with the ability to do only earth magic charms and even that is really limited. When witches are turning up dead as the victims of a demon, the authorities believe that Rachel can get to the bottom of these murders because if she doesn’t she will be blamed for them. There is a new man in Rachel’s life. Wayde has been hired by her parents as a bodyguard to make sure Rachel stays out of trouble. Wayde is a hot, tattooed werewolf that Rachel definitely eyes when his shirt is off. Rachel teams up with Jenks, Ivy, FIB and the I.S. to help catch the hate group responsible for the murders. Rachel has to be careful because they want her blood which will aid them in creating a virus that will kill off the Inderland species. Rachel must stop this genocide from ever happening. The bad guys in this book are truly bad and they don’t care about the consequences of their actions. Rachel begins the book feeling sorry for herself. She has pretty much lost her magic. She feels that Ivy and Jenks are moving on with their lives without her. That they are able to have relationships with people when she is destructive in her relationships and she will just grow old alone, not to mention people now know she is a demon (who would want to be with a demon?). She does mention one time that she is not physically attracted to Trent but she is certainly having some heated thoughts about him. About halfway through the book Rachel begins to feel empowered again, she will stop at nothing to go after the bad guys. Rachel is one of my favorite characters in Urban Fantasy. She is strong yet stubborn, foolish but sure of herself. At times she may not think it but her friends always have her back. They love her. Jenks is still his adorable pixie self with great one liners. Ivy is probably the most level-headed I’ve seen in the series ever but I did feel she took a backseat to the story which worked fine for me. I was a little confused about Wayde. I am guessing he is supposed to be a potential love interest for Rachel but I am one hundred percent for Trent. I was a little disappointed by how little there was of Trent in the first 200 pages of A Perfect Blood but when he shows up the story really ramps up. I love the tone of the Hollows world. It is so dark and realistic. I feel like I am actually standing there in Cincinnati watching the events as they happen. As world building goes, this world has been exceptionally established. Ms. Harrison just touches on basic facts without it seeming like repetition. A Perfect Blood is another remarkable installment into the Hollows world. I recommend this book. If you haven’t read this series before, please start from the beginning, this book isn’t really a good jumping on point to know what is happening in the series. Notable Scene: “Rachel Mariana Morgan,” Al said softly, and I gasped, almost falling as I spun and pain stabbed through my leg. The demon was standing not thirty feet away. He was in the ley line in the ever-after, we were in it in reality. It was a middle ground that bent all the rules, and if he wanted, he could drag me from reality and back down into the foul-smelling earth. “Hi, Al,” I said, my resolve shredded and leaving only the cold fear of self-preservation. “Hey, you look good,” I offered lamely, and the demon tilted his head to eye me from over his blue-tinted glasses, taking in my bland black sweats. Red, goat-slitted eyes peered at me, his lips curling back in a snarl to show his thick, blocky teeth. His grip on his walking cane tightened, and I noticed he was wearing gloves again, their white starchiness bright against the velvet green of his coat and his brilliant vest and dark trousers. Shiny boots with buckles, and lace at his throat and cuffs, added to his vision of a noble British lord at the height of his glory. A tall hat finished the outfit, shading his eyes from the painful sun. “I look good?” Al said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Trent’s stance tightened as Al took three steps toward us. “I look good?” he said louder, his pace quickening and his hand coming out. “I’m broke and living in squalor!” “Hey!” I shouted as I felt the line seem to collapse into Trent, sucked in as he drew a massive amount of energy into himself and threw it at Al. The demon never slowed, a quickly raised hand deflecting the energy. Behind me, Trent’s fish tank exploded. Suddenly my feet were wet, heavy in thick socks. “Stop it, Trent!” I exclaimed, pushing away from him and almost falling. “You promised.” Oh God, he was going to ruin it. All I had going for me were daring and trust, and Trent was trying to prove how not strong we were? “No, I didn’t,” Trent said grimly, and my skin prickled at the energy gathering in his palms. The Hollows Series: 1. Dead Witch Walking 2. The Good, the Bad, and the Undead 3. Every Which Way But Dead 4. A Fistful of Charms 5. For a Few Demons More 6. The Outlaw Demon Wails 7. White Witch, Black Curse 8. Black Magic Sanction 9. Pale Demon 10. A Perfect Blood 11. Ever After FTC Advisory: Harper Voyager provided me with a copy of A Perfect Blood. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 3/5
      I love the whole hollows series. Rachel, Ivy and Jenks pull it off time and time again. Magic, mystery and danger follow them where ever they go.We get to see Rachel without her magic and it is just plain scary. Hiding from the world, Rachel goes through a personal journey of emotional growth. Chaos ensues.
    • 3/5
      The beginning of this book was so slow going that I made up a drinking game:

      Drink Whenever:

      - You are reminded of something that happened in the past (long series - lot of past events to explain)
      - The author uses the word Moulage (WTF Harrison? Word of the day much?)
      - Rachel feels guilty
      - Rachel whines about her magic (or lack thereof)
      - Rachel whines about her friends
      - Rachel whines about her love life
      - Rachel does something INCREDIBLY STUPID (like forgetting to check her gun is working, or that the guy she knocked out is actually knocked out, or running off on her own, leading to the next point)
      - Rachel gets herself captured
      - Vampire Pheromones are mentioned
      - Rachel worries about Jenks being cold
      - Rachel mistrusts the good guy and trusts the bad guy

      I could have made a much longer list but by the time I was a quarter through the book I would be Jersey Shore drunk and, while my infant son was sleeping I didn't think he would appreciate waking up to Snookie passed out on the couch muttering "Moulage" over and over.

      If you can push through the first half of the book it does get better after Rachel takes off the stupid bracelet and starts listening to Trent. It was a decently enjoyable read but, I didn't see much character growth or story progression. In a series as long running as this, we already know the characters and the world building has already been established. As such, I expect the author to use her 400 pages in order to move the larger storyline along rather than let our characters sit stagnant.
    • 4/5
      I was starting to get a little disenchanted with the Hollows series a few books ago. It just seemed like the story lines were starting to become repetitive, took readers in a circle and didn't seem to be moving toward anything. However, things started to turn around in past couple of installments, with the return of Harrison's signature humor and sparks and excitement and action that made the Hollows such a fun place to visit. A Perfect Blood keeps the spark going and the action-packed awesome rolling.Picking up not long after Pale Demon left off, former witch turned day-walking demon (and everyone's favorite heroine) Rachel Morgan is pulled into an investigation of ritually murdered bodies discovered throughout Cincinnati. It doesn't take long for Rachel to uncover the truth behind the murders: a group is creating its own demons to destroy all of humanity -and they need her demon blood to succeed. Author Kim Harrison takes things to another level with Perfect Blood, where Rachel must face humanity itself in a deadly, action-packed battle that will keep readers flipping pages from beginning to end. Everything that readers have come to know and love about Rachel and the Hollows is here: great action, fascinating paranormal characters, semi-tongue-and-cheek humor that makes readers chuckle, Trent being sexy and downright delicious, and plenty of awesome.But most importantly, Perfect Blood is about Rachel's attempt to integrate something normal into her wild, crazy life. Though Harrison throws in several "normal," comfortable scenes throughout the action, things just aren't fully normal for Rachel, though she and her friends enjoy strong, honest relationships that bring Rachel's world to life.Really, with such an excellent formula, there's no way Harrison came go wrong. Perfect Blood is exactly what fans want and love about the Hollows -and it feels like new life has finally come to the Hollows, bringing plenty of action and romance with it. But be warned -if you haven't read all of the previous novels, you'll be somewhat confused here. There's just too much back story that's covered in the previous novels, but for the Hollows faithful, Perfect Blood is the perfect addition to the story.
    • 3/5
      Pretty good follow up in this urban fantasy series. Stayed up way too late finishing it, the series is just fun. I didn't enjoy it as much as the last as it felt a bit like I could see the machinations of the author deliberately moving some plot points along too slowly to set up the next books. Or maybe I was just sad because there was no awesome road trip in this book, unless like the last. I need to go travel somewhere soon.
    • 5/5
      Thanks heavens for the return of Rachel the runner!
    • 4/5
      A Perfect Blood (The Hollows, Book 10) By: Kim HarrisonNow that Rachel is a former bounty hunter witch turned day-waking demon she has cut herself off from her craft to keep the Demons from finding her, her life takes on a bunch of new problems. We know she means well by wearing the bracelet that Trent had made her, we know she is doing so to save her own butt, but was it really the best idea she could have had? She has ignored Trent these last 5 months and will come to find that ignoring you issues don’t make them go away.Actually Rachel has avoided several Key people in her life lately and that doesn’t really speak well of her growth as a character. If anything she comes off a a bit childish in some parts of this book. It is a bit disheartening when the secondary and tertiary characters grow more that the main character.Now there are a series of ritualistic murders in Cincinnati and the clues (which may be placed at the crime scenes by the I.S. so to force Rachel to work this crime) will make the crimes point to Rachel if she doesn’t solve this mess. In addition, the clues add up to it being a human hate group committing these heinous crimes, and yes they really are “people”, mostly! And they want Rachel and her blood quite badly. The hate grope HAPA believes that they can wipe out all of the other creatures in this world that are not human…but boy do they choose an unusual way to do this.And of course like past books we are sort of left dangling not knowing which way the wind is blowing. Will the new Men in Black ask Rachel and Trent to come out and play with them in the future? Will Rachel and Trent do things on their own? Will they screw up? Will Rachel ever learn to trust the fact that someone else can do things better than she can sometimes?Certain past plot lines that should have been developed in this book were sadly given short shrift. And I certainly do wonder how Jenks and Ivy are going to manage to go their own ways and lead their own lives how this can even work. They have both been so important to the series, that I hope Ms Harrison won’t get rid of them period.The action is exciting I have no problem with that and the bad guys really are horrible bad guys and you can tell that they will be playing very important roles in upcoming books. We didn’t get to see all that much of Al (unfortunately) and the issues that Trent and Rachel have could have been handled in a more mature way.This book may be showing us that the series is going to go in a new direction. I for one will be along for the ride…well at least for the next book. If Rachel doesn’t show a little more back-bone, confidence, smarts, personal growth, I may just give up.
    • 3/5
      3.5 stars

      This is not my favorite book in the series. I did enjoy it, but Rachel just has way too much self doubt. I know that is who she is, but it seems to be getting worse not better. I still love Jenks. He is my favorite character in this series. I'm glad to see that he is moving on without Matalina, though you can tell it is hard for him. There is little Al, which is shame, because he is a great character. I find that I'm liking him more and more, especially after this book.
    • 2/5
      I just recently finished an entire re-read of the series in order to have it all fresh in my mind. I have to say - I love the series overall, but I do not really love Rachel right now. I don't hate her mind you - but a reader rather expects a certain amount of character progression and growth over the course of a long series like this one.

      I, however, did not feel like she exhibited any during at least a little more than the entire first half of this book (plus a number of previous books) to reflect any of her experiences through the course of the series. People have flaws, that's to be expected - but jeez sometimes I wonder how she has managed to even live this long - sheer dumb luck and having others pull her fat out of the fire?? I was constantly getting aggravated with her while reading this and wanted to ass punch her.

      I'm sure that there has been some actual growth for her as a character/person but I really wasn't feeling it here. That's what left a bad taste in my mouth. If I ever did a reread again I would probably leave this one out of the rotation.

      The interactions, oh don't get me started, all of them seemed very 'topical' like a itch cream you put on to get past some poison ivy or something. Overall I felt it lacked depth to the things that took place or the way the characters dealt/interacted with one another like there was no real substance to anything.

      Also, I hate repetitive writing, and do I REALLY need to hear about the darn butterfly chrysalis three times in the first half of the book? REALLY?? Really....Really...too blatant if that's supposed to be setup for something later on. Yeah I threw all the Reallys in there just to annoy you...feel my pain people.

      There were of course some saving graces to this book otherwise I would have rated it much lower than a 3 - but for the life of me - I really just can't think of many of them right now. So call me a Negative Nancy. I still enjoyed seeing the characters I've come to love. There was some nice emphasis on Jenks and Ivy "moving on" with their lives - though I got tired of hearing about Rachel whine about it. I liked the idea of Jenks and Belle getting friendly - it worked for me. Other than that - nothing is coming to mind.

      Ok, so I change my mind - after writing this - I have to give it a 2...or 2.5. And no I'm not PMSing...I just can't justify something higher in my opinion. Though I'm sure many will disagree. haha