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snoopydoo77's review against another edition
4.0
http://snoopydoosbookreviews.com/turn-hollows-0-1-kim-harrison/
I’m a huge fan of Kim Harrison’s Hollow series so I really looking forward to this book when she announced it. And now finally got to read it.
I have to say I was a little worried because I read her Peri Reed Chronicles after the Hollows series and sadly was not a fan so I really was hoping I would like this one.
And I was not disappointed. Fan of the Hollows series finally get to see what actually went down with the Turn. We meet people we only ever heard of and of course some really familiar faces.
I should say that even if you have not read the Hollows series, you can still read and enjoy this book. You don’t have to have read the Hollows book and it would actually be a great book to start the series.
While fans of the hollows are familiar of the world it was still a bit different since a major part of the book humans have no idea about the interlander community.
I really liked the flow of the story line. It started out a little slow but picked up pretty fast. It was really interesting, suspenseful and funny at times. It made me not want to put the book down.
I really liked Trisk she is smart, strong and can stand her own against people and demons alike. I think Rachel would have loved her and could have maybe learned a thing or two. Kal ….. Ugh I really disliked him, he is such a manipulative little elf. I really would have liked to hit him once or twice. He made Trent look like a unicorn or steroids, but we cab defiantly see where Trent got his mean streak.
Of course we also get to see Quen, which I must say I like much better in this book. There is Al ….. Well Al is Al and he and some other faces familiar or not, or even some people just mentioned make me miss the Hollows and really made me want to re-read the entire series. I think it be interesting to read it now after this book.
Overall really great book and if you are a fan of the Hollows this book is a must have.
I rate it 4 ★
hirvimaki's review against another edition
2.0
One and a half stars. Prequels always suffer from having to fill in without ruining the suspense of an existing series. This failed miserably. And it took all the things I do NOT like about the Hallows series and just made them bigger. No thank you.
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
The first in The Hollows prequel paranormal fantasy series that takes us back in time to 1963 to 1966 and that first tomato.
My Take
Harrison sets us down in the 1960s with its fashions and music, introducing us to those characters who contributed so much to The Hollows we know and love. It was fascinating to meet Trent's parents, Rachel's father, and the vampires of Cincinnati who will play roles in The Hollows.
It's also the time before women's lib began to set women free, and it's a dominant theme in The Turn, for this is a man's world, one in which betrayal, corruption, and sabotage are all business as usual. It's a capsule look at the negatives of downplaying someone for their sex. Assuming they're stupid, emotionally handicapped, incapable of driving (?), good only for fetching and carrying. Of how a group weakens themselves by ignoring half their brainpower.
Side themes that contribute too well to the ending include the sin of pride and all its negatives, bullying, arrogance, and bigotry — all too obvious through Harrison's use of the third-person point-of-view. Kal's behavior certainly shows his insecurity. The same insecurity all bullies have. One they take out on everyone around them. In the real world, we need to find out what's causing that insecurity. Take it away. And that child — and everyone they interact with in future — will be saved forever. Yeah, yeah, it's a hope, anyway.
It's a story of personal and professional regret. With the elven race on the brink of extinction, being able to have children conveys power, status, and a voice. As a dark elf, Trisk needs both. And, Christ, that Kal has some nerve at the end, insisting on there being no betrayal.
Harrison does come up with some terrifying conflicts: the interactions with Algaliarept, Daniel's unfortunate discovery, subtle romantic triangles, the encounters in Chicago, and Trisk's and Daniel's humane naiveté among others. I do love that Trisk is never taken in by Kal, although I don't understand why it takes Orchid so long to figure him out.
I gotta tell you, it took me a long time to read this. I'd read a few pages and put it down. Sometimes for days. Then I'd read a few pages and…yeah… It was so nervewracking. I knew of the plague coming from the original The Hollows series, and I did NOT like the direction The Turn seemed to be going. The lies. The betrayals. Oh, lord, the lies! It took about one-third of the way in before I got brave enough to read through to the end.
In spite of all this, you really must read The Turn if you enjoyed The Hollows.
The Story
Death comes in the guise of hope when a genetically modified tomato created to feed the world combines with the government's new tactical virus, giving it an unexpected host and a mode of transport.
A plague that also threatens the exposure of the paranormal species who have stayed hidden for thousands of years, and now they have the uncomfortable choice to stay hidden and allow humanity to die or to show themselves in a bid to save them.
Then Detroit broke the silence. The city doesn't exist anymore.
The Characters
Dr. Felicia Eloytrisk "Trisk" Cambri is a dark elf, a heritage that when combined with being a woman, dismisses her brilliance as a geneticist. One who has a doctorate in using viruses to introduce undamaged DNA into somatic cells, the hope for the elven race.
Quen Hanson is a friend and fellow student who majored in security. He's taken a job with the Kalamacks, even though he knows "they'll treat their horses better". I wish I knew why he accepted their offer.
Dr. Trenton Lee "Kal" Kalamack is the last of his elven bloodline and a fellow student albeit a lying, sneaking bully. He's also a brilliant geneticist, but not as good as Trisk. Orchid is the pixy who was rescued by Kal. Lilly is Kal's housekeeper in Sacramento.
Global Genetics is…
…a human research lab based in Sacramento, and Rick Rales, a living vampire, is the new CEO, replacing Dr. Hartsford. The drought-resistant T4 Angel tomato is Trisk's breakthrough and downfall. Angie Harms will be Trisk's lab assistant; Andy is her boyfriend. George is a guard. Barbara is the head secretary who looks like an aged stand-in on American Bandstand.
Dr. Daniel Plank is a human physicist who creates a tactical virus, PTV. Larry is his assistant.
Chicago
It's mostly Inderlanders patrolling the streets in Chicago. Captain Pelham is a cop and a Were, along with most of his men, including: Randy, Tex (is a witch), and Smith. Ormand is a master vampire; Jake is one of his children. Thomas, Phil, Betty Smitgard is a makeup artist, and Matthew are human survivors at the Chicago Stadium. Rob and Adric are some of the helpers. Chuck is one of the civilian Weres helping to patrol the streets. They want to prevent another Detroit. Johnny and his parents, Benson and May, help Trisk and Daniel.
Cincinnati
Piscary is its master vampire. Leo is his scion. Sam and Ellen are some of his children. Fordges is an informant. Senator Rynn Cormel. Professor Thole, a witch, is with the university and has connections with the coven of moral and ethical standards.
Inderland is…
…the collective term for all supernaturals. There are four major species and a number of minor ones, including pixies, gargoyles, and more.
The Weres are…
…werewolves. Colonel Jason Wolfe is a werewolf with NASA. Mrs. Ray is an alpha who owns a limousine company in Cincinnati. Casey is a young Were manning a gas station; Officer Bob is one who sends him home. Sid and Luke are Weres along the way.
The Elven Enclave is…
…the governing political organization for the elves while the dewar is their religious council. Sa'han Ulbrine is a two-faced hypocrite who works for the enclave. He got Trisk the job at Global Genetics. Sa'han is an elven honorific.
The Witches' Coven of Moral and Ethical Standards is…
…the witch governing body. Saladan Industries and Farms is the buyer of the Angel tomato patent. Max Saladan owns it and is a ley line practitioner, a witch.
The vampires
A living vampire has the strength and charisma, but none of the liabilities of a vampire. A scion is an undead vampire's aide who does the daylight work. Mr. Niles is the master vampire of Sacramento, and Rick was his scion.
Algaliarept "Gally" is the name of the demon Trisk's grandmother, Felicia Ann Barren, was said to have summoned.
Donald "Takana" is a young bass player; Ripley is the drummer in the band. April is a young girl on the boxcar. Heather hosts a talk show. Tom is one of her cameramen.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a gentle snowstorm in the woods with Trisk, her long dark hair blowing with the wind, her hands cupping a black tomato, oozing a viscous black down the front of her tomato-red square-cut silk gown, the bottom of it billowing up around her in a red cloud. It's Quen's gold helix pendant that's hanging from her neck.
The title is where it all begins, The Turn, with the tale of how The Hollows Begins with Death.
My Take
Harrison sets us down in the 1960s with its fashions and music, introducing us to those characters who contributed so much to The Hollows we know and love. It was fascinating to meet Trent's parents, Rachel's father, and the vampires of Cincinnati who will play roles in The Hollows.
It's also the time before women's lib began to set women free, and it's a dominant theme in The Turn, for this is a man's world, one in which betrayal, corruption, and sabotage are all business as usual. It's a capsule look at the negatives of downplaying someone for their sex. Assuming they're stupid, emotionally handicapped, incapable of driving (?), good only for fetching and carrying. Of how a group weakens themselves by ignoring half their brainpower.
Side themes that contribute too well to the ending include the sin of pride and all its negatives, bullying, arrogance, and bigotry — all too obvious through Harrison's use of the third-person point-of-view. Kal's behavior certainly shows his insecurity. The same insecurity all bullies have. One they take out on everyone around them. In the real world, we need to find out what's causing that insecurity. Take it away. And that child — and everyone they interact with in future — will be saved forever. Yeah, yeah, it's a hope, anyway.
It's a story of personal and professional regret. With the elven race on the brink of extinction, being able to have children conveys power, status, and a voice. As a dark elf, Trisk needs both. And, Christ, that Kal has some nerve at the end, insisting on there being no betrayal.
Harrison does come up with some terrifying conflicts: the interactions with Algaliarept, Daniel's unfortunate discovery, subtle romantic triangles, the encounters in Chicago, and Trisk's and Daniel's humane naiveté among others. I do love that Trisk is never taken in by Kal, although I don't understand why it takes Orchid so long to figure him out.
I gotta tell you, it took me a long time to read this. I'd read a few pages and put it down. Sometimes for days. Then I'd read a few pages and…yeah… It was so nervewracking. I knew of the plague coming from the original The Hollows series, and I did NOT like the direction The Turn seemed to be going. The lies. The betrayals. Oh, lord, the lies! It took about one-third of the way in before I got brave enough to read through to the end.
In spite of all this, you really must read The Turn if you enjoyed The Hollows.
The Story
Death comes in the guise of hope when a genetically modified tomato created to feed the world combines with the government's new tactical virus, giving it an unexpected host and a mode of transport.
A plague that also threatens the exposure of the paranormal species who have stayed hidden for thousands of years, and now they have the uncomfortable choice to stay hidden and allow humanity to die or to show themselves in a bid to save them.
Then Detroit broke the silence. The city doesn't exist anymore.
The Characters
Dr. Felicia Eloytrisk "Trisk" Cambri is a dark elf, a heritage that when combined with being a woman, dismisses her brilliance as a geneticist. One who has a doctorate in using viruses to introduce undamaged DNA into somatic cells, the hope for the elven race.
Quen Hanson is a friend and fellow student who majored in security. He's taken a job with the Kalamacks, even though he knows "they'll treat their horses better". I wish I knew why he accepted their offer.
Dr. Trenton Lee "Kal" Kalamack is the last of his elven bloodline and a fellow student albeit a lying, sneaking bully. He's also a brilliant geneticist, but not as good as Trisk. Orchid is the pixy who was rescued by Kal. Lilly is Kal's housekeeper in Sacramento.
Global Genetics is…
…a human research lab based in Sacramento, and Rick Rales, a living vampire, is the new CEO, replacing Dr. Hartsford. The drought-resistant T4 Angel tomato is Trisk's breakthrough and downfall. Angie Harms will be Trisk's lab assistant; Andy is her boyfriend. George is a guard. Barbara is the head secretary who looks like an aged stand-in on American Bandstand.
Dr. Daniel Plank is a human physicist who creates a tactical virus, PTV. Larry is his assistant.
Chicago
It's mostly Inderlanders patrolling the streets in Chicago. Captain Pelham is a cop and a Were, along with most of his men, including: Randy, Tex (is a witch), and Smith. Ormand is a master vampire; Jake is one of his children. Thomas, Phil, Betty Smitgard is a makeup artist, and Matthew are human survivors at the Chicago Stadium. Rob and Adric are some of the helpers. Chuck is one of the civilian Weres helping to patrol the streets. They want to prevent another Detroit. Johnny and his parents, Benson and May, help Trisk and Daniel.
Cincinnati
Piscary is its master vampire. Leo is his scion. Sam and Ellen are some of his children. Fordges is an informant. Senator Rynn Cormel. Professor Thole, a witch, is with the university and has connections with the coven of moral and ethical standards.
Inderland is…
…the collective term for all supernaturals. There are four major species and a number of minor ones, including pixies, gargoyles, and more.
The Weres are…
…werewolves. Colonel Jason Wolfe is a werewolf with NASA. Mrs. Ray is an alpha who owns a limousine company in Cincinnati. Casey is a young Were manning a gas station; Officer Bob is one who sends him home. Sid and Luke are Weres along the way.
The Elven Enclave is…
…the governing political organization for the elves while the dewar is their religious council. Sa'han Ulbrine is a two-faced hypocrite who works for the enclave. He got Trisk the job at Global Genetics. Sa'han is an elven honorific.
The Witches' Coven of Moral and Ethical Standards is…
…the witch governing body. Saladan Industries and Farms is the buyer of the Angel tomato patent. Max Saladan owns it and is a ley line practitioner, a witch.
The vampires
A living vampire has the strength and charisma, but none of the liabilities of a vampire. A scion is an undead vampire's aide who does the daylight work. Mr. Niles is the master vampire of Sacramento, and Rick was his scion.
Algaliarept "Gally" is the name of the demon Trisk's grandmother, Felicia Ann Barren, was said to have summoned.
Donald "Takana" is a young bass player; Ripley is the drummer in the band. April is a young girl on the boxcar. Heather hosts a talk show. Tom is one of her cameramen.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a gentle snowstorm in the woods with Trisk, her long dark hair blowing with the wind, her hands cupping a black tomato, oozing a viscous black down the front of her tomato-red square-cut silk gown, the bottom of it billowing up around her in a red cloud. It's Quen's gold helix pendant that's hanging from her neck.
The title is where it all begins, The Turn, with the tale of how The Hollows Begins with Death.
trudyd's review against another edition
5.0
Please tell me there are more books to come. I was glued to The Turn. Life stopped except for the changing of the page. Excitement. Suspense. Friendship. The Turn is a prequel to The Hollows series that ended a few years ago--a said day for the Rachel addict.
Even though this book didn't have Rachel, it had so much packed into the pages. Yes, including inderlanders that we met in the Hollows series. This was worth the wait. Hopefully I won't have to wait to long for more. I really, really want more.
08/22/2020 I just finished the audio, nail biting experience. I would love more books about Trents parents. The drama is off the page.
Even though this book didn't have Rachel, it had so much packed into the pages. Yes, including inderlanders that we met in the Hollows series. This was worth the wait. Hopefully I won't have to wait to long for more. I really, really want more.
08/22/2020 I just finished the audio, nail biting experience. I would love more books about Trents parents. The drama is off the page.
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
4.0
I so very nearly gave this book 5 stars, and the only reason I didn't was because there was one element of the story that I couldn't get past, but believe me when I say that this was a great book. The story was investing and compelling with lots of twists and back stabs, and, of course, fantastic world-building made famous from Kim Harrison's HOLLOWS series. I loved that while this was a prequel, it introduced a lot of familiar heroes (Quen!!!) and villains that reminded me of everything I loved about the classic urban fantasy series. Trisk is a fantastic character who I instantly loved. She's a strong heroine who constantly stands up for her beliefs and against men who try to put her in her place. While I questioned a couple of her choices, I was always on her side, along with her companion Daniel, who she protected fiercely. Then there was Kal, aka Trent from the HOLLOWS books. While he grew on my (slowly) in the HOLLOWS books, I absolutely loathed him in this book. Oh, he wasn't badly written or inherently evil, but his actions were absolutely selfish and he didn't care who he hurt. Someone had something he wanted, and he just wanted to take it because he thought he was entitled. He was awful, and I actually couldn't stand him every time he talked. Again, all that said, he was a well-written character who I just happened to hate. The book itself is actually fantastic and was a lot of fun to read. I highly recommend it to urban fantasy fans and those who loved the HOLLOWS books. Lots of fun!
mpyff's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
athene_sionnach's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent book as usual. I was sad to see this series end so I was ecstatic when the prequel came out.
(Potential spoilers)
My only struggle was getting more of a character tie in to the main series.
(Potential spoilers)
My only struggle was getting more of a character tie in to the main series.
emilybeau's review against another edition
3.0
It was good and put a nice perspective on what happened during the Turn apart from what is said in the Hollows novels. It was fast paced but also seemed a bit rushed as well. It left me wanting an epilogue of how things went as the Silence broke and what not.