Scan barcode
kirstensviews's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Well at # 16 in the series, there is little change in character or storyline. I keep on coming back though to get reacquainted with Rachel, Ivy, Jenks, Al, and Trent and to continue the adventure.
r2wend2's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
snance's review against another edition
2.0
Going the way of the Stephanie Plum series. Past time to end this.
amelia_horseman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
bethtabler's review against another edition
4.0
Reading The Trouble With Cursed by Kim Harrison, I am struck by how lucky urban fantasy, as a genre, has an author like Harrison among its ranks and how happy I am that Harrison returned to The Hollows. When the series “officially” ended in The Witch With No Name, Harrison had done a bang-up job wrapping up the series. It was a spectacular conclusion to the 14-book story of Rachel Mariana Morgan. However, Harrison had more stories to tell. Rachel has more life to live and more adventures. So here we are, three books past the end of the series, and I could not be happier with where everything is going.
“It never ceases to amaze me how someone can possess the world or nothing at all, and still have their happiness hinge on the small moments between them and the ones they love.”
The Trouble with Cursed starts with Rachel working as the Subrosa of Cinncinatti. A Subrosa being a heavy hitter in the interlander community. She and vampire Pike Welroe take their role very seriously now that the former head vampire of the city is stuck in a cage as one pissed-off vampire mouse. Once they police some citizens, Rachel and Pike end up in a coffee shop covered with blood and gore. They hold the city under the illusion that the former crazy head vampire is still in charge. But their hold is tenuous at best. There are quite a few moving pieces and warring factions that want to see Pike and Rachel fail.
The other big plot thread is the Hodin and the ongoing drama of the demons. They have spent millennia making up the rules and enslaving people to do their bidding. But times have changed. There is a common thread throughout the novel of Rachel doing her Subrosa duties to the best of her abilities, even if it destroys her in the process. The different factions push Rachel to her limits.
The Trouble with Cursed is a very typical Kim Harrison novel, which is to say it is exciting and well written. I enjoyed the plots and entanglements between the different races. It is quite a feat that we are in book 14, and the stories do not feel formulaic. The dialog is tight, and the characters are fully realized. Frankly, she could spin off any of these characters into their own novels and have them be successful. I would easily throw money at a pixy novel about Jenks.
Would I recommend this to all readers? Yes, I would. Even the hardest of grimdark readers probably would enjoy a lighter fare every now and then. And while this is lighter, The Trouble With Cursed isn’t “fluffy.” There is substance to this series, great action scenes, believable characters, and an evolving urban fantasy world that is worth checking out.
“It never ceases to amaze me how someone can possess the world or nothing at all, and still have their happiness hinge on the small moments between them and the ones they love.”
The Trouble with Cursed starts with Rachel working as the Subrosa of Cinncinatti. A Subrosa being a heavy hitter in the interlander community. She and vampire Pike Welroe take their role very seriously now that the former head vampire of the city is stuck in a cage as one pissed-off vampire mouse. Once they police some citizens, Rachel and Pike end up in a coffee shop covered with blood and gore. They hold the city under the illusion that the former crazy head vampire is still in charge. But their hold is tenuous at best. There are quite a few moving pieces and warring factions that want to see Pike and Rachel fail.
The other big plot thread is the Hodin and the ongoing drama of the demons. They have spent millennia making up the rules and enslaving people to do their bidding. But times have changed. There is a common thread throughout the novel of Rachel doing her Subrosa duties to the best of her abilities, even if it destroys her in the process. The different factions push Rachel to her limits.
The Trouble with Cursed is a very typical Kim Harrison novel, which is to say it is exciting and well written. I enjoyed the plots and entanglements between the different races. It is quite a feat that we are in book 14, and the stories do not feel formulaic. The dialog is tight, and the characters are fully realized. Frankly, she could spin off any of these characters into their own novels and have them be successful. I would easily throw money at a pixy novel about Jenks.
Would I recommend this to all readers? Yes, I would. Even the hardest of grimdark readers probably would enjoy a lighter fare every now and then. And while this is lighter, The Trouble With Cursed isn’t “fluffy.” There is substance to this series, great action scenes, believable characters, and an evolving urban fantasy world that is worth checking out.
fangirl76's review against another edition
5.0
I love these characters. I can't believe the timeline has only been four years though. Excellent addition to the series.
mallenp22's review against another edition
3.0
This was hard to get through, at one point you just ask yourself how naive can Rachel be and how stupid are the demons to believe she would sell her students. After getting burned so many times you would think she would wise up. Towards the end I just wanted it to be over. I would expect to see some growth after years of her that it, to more proactive vs reactive. Actually take some time to learn to be a demon, not just fly by seat of her pants. Hope next one is better.
Random questions does Rachel live forever? I mean she can, she's a demon. Meaning she will out live Trent, I could see her and Al getting together alot later on.
I will continue reading this series forever. So nostalgic to me. I still think about Kit from time to time.
Random questions does Rachel live forever? I mean she can, she's a demon. Meaning she will out live Trent, I could see her and Al getting together alot later on.
I will continue reading this series forever. So nostalgic to me. I still think about Kit from time to time.
ebonyskys's review against another edition
5.0
I am so happy right now, I loved it.
I turned the last page and was a little confused to find no more words, but omg, it was good.
Hopefully there's another!
I turned the last page and was a little confused to find no more words, but omg, it was good.
Hopefully there's another!
erinremen's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my gosh! I can't believe it just keeps getting better! I was satisfied with the way the series ended the first time and was reluctant to see it ruined in some way but I'm so happy with the way things are going. So exciting, dramatic, action pact, heartbreaking and so freaking awesome! Rachel is the bees knees!
nerdywerewolf's review against another edition
5.0
So, there's a bunch of lore about making deals with demons, right? Rachel's a witch-born demon and this was a story of DEALS. Also, how to defeat a villain that can look like anyone you know?
Now that the demons are out of the Ever After, Rache is on a mission to make sure they're treated fairly-but do they deserve her? Do they really? Spoiler: No one deserves Rache. She's the gold standard.
There were so many great outcomes at the end of this story! A couple of wrap-ups to previous "OH-NOs" that I didn't see coming. I'm wicked excited for the next book! Especially if I get my people back!!