Demon's Bluff (Hollows, #18)

by Kim Harrison

Rachel Morgan must go on a deadly journey—into the past—in the next thrilling Hollows novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

What’s a witch to do when the coven of moral and ethical standards demands she untwist a curse—but an essential spell component no longer exists? There’s only one choice: go back in time.

Caught between self-exile and an Alcatraz cell, Rachel must find an Atlantean mirror to reverse the curse and prove to Cincinnati’s brand-new witch coven that, no, she does not practice illicit magic. Unfortunately, the only mirror of its kind in existence belonged to the insane demon Newt, forcing Rachel to go to the past to bargain with her for it.

But the time-travel spell goes awry, dragging Elyse, the young leader of the coven, into the past with Rachel. They expect to land five years in the past but instead arrive two days before Rachel’s long-lost love, Kisten, dies. Heartbroken and torn, Rachel knows she can't change the past.

Even with no allies, Rachel still has one thing going for her: Cincinnati is her city, now and forever. If she can find a way to work with Newt and prevent Elyse from becoming the demon’s next familiar, they might all get home.

• ISBN10: 0593639987
• ISBN13: 9780593639986
• Publish Date: 22 October 2024
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Ace Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 464
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780593639986

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Rachel just can’t catch a break. After spending ages trying to prevent the new witch council from making the biggest mistake of their lives, she’s now stuck cleaning up their mess - and dealing with their strange bargains.

She has two choices: try to find a way to work with them or run the risk of ending up in the magical equivalent of Alcatraz. The problem is that tensions (and biases) are high, and nobody is willing to play fair.

My Review:

I can't believe we're already on to number eighteen in The Hollows! Worse, I'm a few months behind in reading Demon's Bluff! Oops. I need to stop letting time slip by my hands. (Seriously, how does that keep happening?)

I have a lot of complicated feelings about this one. If you read the cliffhanger teaser of the last book, you probably know exactly why I was worried about Demon's Bluff. Bringing back my favorite character sounds like a dream, but it is never that easy in this world.

The magical politics have gotten a bit more complicated, but it works. Seeing practiced manipulators (vampires) in the same book as inexperienced and overconfident characters (witches) made for a striking contrast.

Sometimes, I wanted to smack Elyse (head witch), but I doubt it's intentional. We have to see how much she has changed and grown up from the beginning to the end of this novel.

As for that subplot I mentioned earlier? Well. Let's just say I don't hate how it ended. I still have complicated feelings, but none of those feelings involve hate.

Highlights:
Urban Fantasy
The Hollows
Witches & Demons
Vampires & Weres
Magical Politics & Shenanigans

Trigger Warnings:
Death of a loved one
Gaslighting & Betrayals (bargains)

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