The Witch with No Name (Hollows, #13)

by Kim Harrison

"Rachel Morgan's come a long way from the clutzy runner of Dead Witch Walking. She's faced vampires and werewolves, banshees, witchs, and soul-eating demons. She's crossed worlds, channeled gods, and accepted her place as a day-walking demon. She's lost friends and lovers and family, and an old enemy has become something much more. But power demands responsibility, and world-changers must always pay a price. That time is now. To save Ivy's soul and the rest of the living vampires, to keep the demonic ever after and our own world from destruction, Rachel Morgan will risk everything"--

• ISBN10: 006195795X
• ISBN13: 9780061957956
• Publish Date: 9 September 2014 (first published 1 September 2014)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Collins
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 480
• Language: English

Reviews

[littleread1]

:-)

[Hixxup]

It was very sad to read this book knowing that it was the last of this series. It's been an adventure following the lives of the characters in this book, and how they've grown during each book. I wanted to cry when I finished the book, not only because of how it ended was just great, but because this was it there is no more. I hope Kim Harrison will start another series that is just as awesome as this one was. I cannot wait to read more!

[Melanie]

My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.

4.5 stars for story
4.5 stars for narration
4.5 stars overall

Title: The Witch with No Name (The Hollows 13)
Author: Kim Harrison
Narrator: Marguerite Gavin
Publisher: Harper Audio
Unabridged
Length: 17 hours 28 minutes
Publication: 9/9/14
Genre: UF
Heat Level: Hot

**No Spoilers

I can't believe it is over. I've been reading this series for the past six plus years. It was one of the first series I started not long after I really got back into reading a lot. It will be really weird not having Rachel, Jenks and the gang going forward. Ending a series can be tough. I've read several series where I've thought that the ending didn't do the series justice, that was not the case with The Witch with No Name.

Harrison wraps everything up really well. Throughout the entire series, Rachel has been trying to figure out how to save the undead vampire souls. That storyline continues into this book. We learn a lot more about the history of the elves, demons and the war between the two species. There is also more on surface demons, undead vampires and the Ever After. All your questions throughout the series are pretty much wrapped up nicely, but not easily.

The vast majority of characters that we've fallen in love with make an appearance in this book, some more than others. Trent, Jenks, Bis, Ivy and Nina get the most page time. Newt, Al and even Dali see a good about of time with Rachel, too. I would've like to spend more time with David. I always liked him and wanted to see more of him throughout the series. Even Ellasbeth is back, yuck.

My one complaint, I wish the last chapter was title "epilogue". It took me a second to figure out what was going on, because there a large jump in the timeline for the last chapter. It was a small thing, but I would have understood the time jump much quicker with a different chapter title.

This is one of my favorite UF series of all time. Rachel is a great character, even if she is always in trouble. Jenks is my FAVORITE secondary character in all Urban Fantasy series. He really brings so much to the story. He is loyal, loving and adds tons of comic relief. He never allowed Rachel to get down on herself.

Narration
The narration was great as it has always been. Marguerite Gavin does a great job with both men and women's voices. She always shows the proper emotion for the scene she is reading and her pace is perfect. Once again, Jenks is my favorite. She gives him a high-pitched voice of a pixie, but still masculine, which has got to be difficult. How she can say, "Tinks little pink dildo" with a straight face and in that voice, I'll never know. I also love Al's voice. "Motherpussbucket" is another word that is hard for me to say with a straight face. I'm really glad they have been able to keep her on for the full series (except The Outlaw Demon Wails, which is book six). I will be looking to see what else Gavin has narrated to see how I like her in other series.

[Berls]

This review appeared first at Fantasy is More Fun.

My Initial Reaction...

I'm so sad it's over! I went into The Witch With No Name so worried about what Kim Harrison was going to do to the characters I've grown to love and she kept me on pins and needles until the very end!

Note: Seeing as The Witch With No Name is the LAST :( book in the series, expect some series spoilers

The Characters...

There really weren't any new characters in The Witch With No Name, which was nice, since I wanted all the time I could get with the full cast I've come to love. Rachel was so RACHEL ---> she drove me crazy! Will this girl ever stop doubting herself and those who love her? Mostly, I'm glad this standard feature of her character didn't just suddenly vanish. Rachel has come a long way and has learned to trust and depend on others so much more than she ever would have dreamed possible way back in Dead Witch Walking, but she's not 100% cured of self doubt.

Trent, though, is doing his damndest to make her believe in them. I think their relationship in The Witch With No Name was EXACTLY what I've been waiting for and it was so worth the excruciating wait. Trent, who used to be so devious and closed, is so incredibly open with his love for Rachel. He can't seem to help himself - he's head over heels for her. I loved it!! :)

In the months between The Witch With No Name and The Undead Pool, my greatest anxiety was about Ivy. She was the one I was least certain about - I felt like Rachel and Trent were on their way, even if they'd have some bumps. But Ivy's future was so uncertain - and I just wanted her to have her HEA so badly. Obviously I won't tell you - but I will say that Kim must have felt what I felt - because in so many ways this is Ivy's book. I mean, we all knew it was going to come down to this right? Can Rachel save Ivy's soul? Needless to say, I was anxious about this pretty much from start to finish - and I will say I cried a lot and though Harrison did a brilliant job with this thread. My one complaint is Nina - I'm not in her fan club. But, she seems to make Ivy happy, so for that, I will agree to like her. Some.

I definitely felt the transition to an ending & new beginnings though too - particularly in Jenks. We've seen this coming, but his garden is just more and more empty :( We also didn't see as much of Quen as I would have liked, but this too felt like a transition - Trent is all growed up :) Quen has had this fatherly like quality, but that role is coming to an end in Trent's life.

Rachel's mom had a much bigger role in The Witch With No Name than I expected, but it was brilliant to see her and Takata. Her life has changed so much now that she's with him and you can tell she's become the powerful witch she put on hold for her children. Her moments were highlights for me... as were the moments with the Demons. Holy hell! Who would have dreamed I'd come to care for this group of "bad guys" so much? I love this about the series in general - NOTHING is black and white, something Rachel's been learning on her journey from witch to demon. Al broke my heart so many times over and Newt! Y'all know we can always count on some crazy surprises with her!

Clearly The Witch With No Name delivered what I was looking for in the character department. I loved seeing everyone, even Ellasbeth because she just adds her own unique flavor to the story.

The Story...

I recommend making sure you really understand what happened in The Undead Pool before reading The Witch With No Name. It was a bit complicated with the Elf goddess, but so important for what happened in The Witch With No Name. For one, Landon is still out to get the vampires and make elves #1 - and he'll do anything to get there. We already know how he feels about Rachel, so it's no wonder he has no qualms about letting her be a causality to his schemes.

Of course, Landon wouldn't have a leg to stand on if Cormel weren't so damned stupid and stubborn about getting his soul back. I don't think I realized the man could infuriate me on such a level. Cormel's pulling out all the stops to force Rachel into figuring out how to reunite undead vampires with their souls - and he's blind to the potential consequences.

Landon and Cormel's madness end up putting everyone at risk, even the demons. The action never seems to letup in The Witch With No Name as Rachel goes from one near disaster to the next - and you seriously wonder if ANYONE is going to get a HEA or if the whole world is just going to fall apart. I was anxious pretty much from start to finish!

Concluding Sentiments...

The Witch With No Name was such a satisfying conclusion to this incredible series. I'm incredibly sad it's over, but I know it's time. Thankfully, Harrison has one last treat for us - a novella from Al's point of view releasing October 28th! Squee! Then it will really be over :(

[kimbacaffeinate]

Caffeinated Dates with The Witch With No Name

First Date: Squee! Ok, I need to breathe 512 pages of itchy-witch goodness await me in the Witch With No Name. I need to savor these dates as they will be the last. Right away Harrison throws us into the action, as Rachel finds herself in trouble with the vampires and trying to save Ivy. Trent is by her side and I am loving what he does to her. Things are complicated and sides are being drawn..gads!

Second date: There is so much action and danger I am squealing. We have a few Trent and Rachel moments that melted the pages for me. I am loving the growth in Rachel and her need to save the world. She is tired though, and despite it she wants to make it right for all those she loves. We have the full cast of characters and everyone has page time..I loved it! I love Al, always have and his scenes were delightful. Ivy, Jenks, David, Newt and Elizabeth *I still hate her* all have get wrapped up in this current world-crisis.

Third date: Twists, turns, shuffles for power, the ever-after, ley-lines, danger and spoken moments of tenderness between characters had me flippin’ the pages. I may be crying because the series is ending, but wow was it ever clear that Harrison knew exactly how it was all going to end. Harrison pulled threads together, answered questions and just WoW. Words cannot express how sastifying this final date with the Hollows was. The plot in this tale was clever, and the descriptions delivered in full HD. Fans will delight in how far our itchy-witch has come and I am anxious to re-read the series and experience it all again.

Reunion: Harrison gave us an epilogue of sorts in the final chapter and it left me giddy, full of hope, offered closure and will allow the reader to create a whole imaginary world with the characters in the Hollows. Thank you Kim Harrison for the wonderful journey and fantastic characters. I will miss them, but I cannot wait to see what you bring us next!

Finished copy provided by publisher. Full review can be found at Caffeinated.This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Linda]

*I received a free ARC of The Witch With No Name from Harper Voyager via Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review*

E. P. I. C.

The Witch With No Name is simply epic, the perfect ending to my favorite Urban Fantasy series, I was filled with excitement, contentment and, of course, a little sadness as I read the last adventure about Rachel, Jenks, Ivy, Trent, Bis and the other fabulous characters in The Hollows universe that is so beautifully crafted.

This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews