Review--Demon's Bluff 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.

I am back and I've finally finished my current read. I feel like the new trend of 2025 is that I get sick every month, as yes I caught a cold just as I was wrapping up this book and got knocked out for a few days while this poor baby collected dust. But I am on the mend and am of sound mind enough to read so that I did and I've finally finished the latest book of The Hollows series! I am once again caught up!

Demon's Bluff is the latest edition to The Hollows series by Kim Harrison and was one I was EAGERLY anticipating when a fan-favorite character was said to return from death! Yes, Kim has brought back a character she offed many, many books ago. Which is why I am always hard pressed to believe any character death in Urban Fantasy, because there's always some way for them to come back! Lol. Not that they always do, but the the genre does leave the door open for the possibility! 

In this one, Rachel's purpose for going back in time was simple. Go back five years, avoid herself, and her friends, and anyone she knows for that matter and try to find an Atlantean Mirror to help undo the curse that was placed on vampire Brad. She did all her homework, got all the supplies she'd need that were around five years ago and was enacting the spell when none other than Elyse, the Coven leader shows up and more or less accidentally hijacks Rachel's spell.

Now instead of going back five years ago, they only went back two, and Rachel realizes with a start they went back to the day that Kisten dies. She knows she can't stop that from happening. To change the past would change the future and the results would be catastrophic. Nonetheless, she must still try to find an Atlantean Mirror and to do that she must bargain with the most insane demon she's ever met, Newt. And now she'll have to find a way to get her and Elyse both safely back home.

This was a wild ride! I was eager to get a glimpse of Kisten again as his death was one of the hardest I've ever been through! He was probably one of my first ones too and I can still remember not realizing that he was truly dead that first time I read it on the page. Denial much? Probably! Lol. But seeing again was hard and it was hard for Rachel as well, as she has now found happiness with Trent. And Rachel knows he has to die in order for the events to play out the same way as they did in her timeline. But then she starts to get an idea...and idea that won't necessarily bring the Kisten she knew and love back 100%, but she could bring a part of him back. And pretty much chaos ensues.

Working with Elyse was another matter entirely as the Coven witch naturally thought Rachel planned all this to leave her trapped in the past. It was chaos for sure, but soon the two would have to learn to trust one another to get through these shenanigans and survive as there were still plenty of people gunning for Rachel two years ago as well.

I really wasn't prepared for this book. I remember Harrison mentioning that Kisten coming back wouldn't interfere with Rachel's happiness with Trent, but I still wasn't positive until I read this one. Even then I had some lingering doubts but I feel mostly confident now. Kisten's role in the story was brief and I don't want to get too into things, but I have to say that I feel like Harrison did right by this. I mean we still have many books to go, so who knows what will happen. I still feel sideswiped by Nick's betrayal all those years ago thinking what he and Rachel had was true, but that turned into a load of malarky! Lol. Time will only tell what path Rachel will choose in the end. And whoo boy, did we get another whopper of a cliffhanger! 

What I love about these cliffhangers are that while they are jaw-dropping, you won't lose you mind waiting for the next book. I mean you might a little bit, but other books will prove a good distraction while you wait! Lol. But man, that was a shocker! 

This was definitely another fun and thrilling installment in The Hollows series and wasn't what I expected. I guess I was hoping for a little more Kisten involvement than what we got, but seeing him again was nice. Even though we know what his ultimate fate is meant to be. It was like one last goodbye. What it will mean for Rachel in the future books remains to be seen of course. I'm anxious to know more, naturally! We had a whopper of a cliffhanger in this one that has me itching for something of the next book!

Fans of The Hollows series, this is the book we've all been waiting for and if you haven't read it yet, like me, then be sure to up it in your TBR piles as this is one not to be missed! A fantastic read and a thrilling installment to one of the greatest Urban Fantasy series of all time!

Overall Rating 5/5 stars