Pale Demon

"I wouldn’t miss a Kim Harrison book for anything."—Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels

New York Times bestselling urban fantasy superstar Kim Harrison is back with Pale Demon—her ninth electrifying adventure featuring contemporary witch Rachel Morgan. This time Rachel's leaving the Hollows, on a cross-country road trip with a pixy, an elf, and a vampire, as she races to clear her blackened name at a California witches' convention in order to avoid an eternity of torment at the claws of a soul-devouring demon. Pale Demon is Kim Harrison at her gothic best—combining mystery, action, intrigue, paranormal romance, and breathtaking dark fantasy in a delicious witches’ brew that fans of Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Stephenie Meyer, and Jim Butcher simply will not be able to resist.

Incredible Internal Consistency

A good book in any genre is internally consistent. It's a matter of editing and proofing. However, no one expects a series to be internally consistent. We're talking many years, sometimes a decade, of book after book. Kim Harrison is shockingly consistent throughout the series. Early in Pale

Demon, Rachel is attacked by an elf for the first time with what she calls "wild magic." The method of attack is kind of strange: Rachel is attacked by elves singing. This is book nine, and while I listen to this, I'm thinking of my favorite scene from the series in book three, Every Which Way But Dead, where Trent saves Rachel from hypothermia.

"The car picked up speed, and the sound seemed to lull me. I could relax, I thought as I felt the tingling of circulation in my limbs. I was in Trent’s car, wrapped in a blanket, and held in his arms. He wouldn’t let anything hurt me. He wasn’t singing, though, I mused. Shouldn’t he be singing?"

When I first listened to Every Which Way But Dead, that last sentence stuck out for me. Why singing? Now I know. Kim Harrison was able to foreshadow a magical element in Pale Demon 6 years and 6 books ago. This is something that needs to be celebrated.

On Narration:
If you are familiar with Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series or the previous audiobooks in this series (with the exception of The Outlaw Demon Wails, which is narrated by Gigi Bermingham), you are well-acquainted with Marguerite Gavin's voice. If not, she has a strong radio-like voice, which has a sing-song quality to it. It takes about an hour to get used to the cadence that draws out the end of sentences, but once you do, it becomes part and parcel of the way you hear the story. She does fantastic accents and convincing male voices. Also, Marguerite Gavin sings certain parts of the book that require it, which is quite a bonus. She has a good singing voice and I don't suppose Kim Harrison actually had a song in mind when she wrote down what Trent sings.

LOVED IT!

I love this series! I thought the action was intense, a little more so than in the previous books. There are moments, as said in previous reviews, where you lol and look around to see if anyone is looking at you do it! The characters really draw you in! I can't get enough of Al or Trent! I have to say the end did surprise me. You aren't used to Raechel trying the easy/safe way. Leaves you hanging until the next book...can't wait...a year....(sigh). As far as the credits go.... they must be crazy! If you do the 1 credit a month at 14.95 you are paying about 30 bucks for one book???!!! Cheaper to buy elsewhere. Good thing I got this book when it was on sale!

I call shotgun!

What do two witches, one elf, one vampire, one demon killer and a pixie have in common? The roadtrip from hell and a really peeved demon LOL Have you ever gone on a roadtrip and everything go wrong? Well this one will make you feel better about yours.

This is a GREAT book in the series. All the characters we've come to know, love and hate... in a car....together....lord have mercy! Totally worth the listen!!

My favorite..so far

Would you listen to Pale Demon again? Why?

I would probably listen to the entire series again! I love the characters and this book had more Trent and more Al, I like these dangerous guys. I am so hopeful that Rachel and Trent are going to be together. I'm tired of Rachel wasting her time with losers and she is always convincing herself they are ok. I liked this book a lot and up until now I felt kind of frustrated at the end of a book. Mostly because I felt there was so much potential and unexplored territory. I'm eager to see Rachel develop her skills, find the love she needs (hopefully with Trent) and change the lives of the various mythical beings. I have a few more books to listen to...but I feel the happily ever after on its way.

Great book, lousy price

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

What I like about Kim Harrison's books are her consistency but her unpredictability!Listening to Ms. Gavin's narration makes it worthwhile. Even though this is the type of book (vampires, witches, elves...) that I did not think I'd read in a million years, I will if the future audio books in the series are 2 credits. Much too expensive!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

These books would make an excellent tv series.