The "Dead Witch Walking" series is a popular urban fantasy series written by Kim Harrison. The series is set in an alternate universe where supernatural creatures, such as witches, vampires, and werewolves, coexist with humans. The main character, Rachel Morgan, is a witch and a bounty hunter who works for the Inderland Security agency. The series begins with Rachel quitting her job at Inderland Security and becoming an independent bounty hunter. She teams up with a living vampire named Ivy and a pixy named Jenks to complete her assignments. Throughout the series, Rachel faces various challenges and threats, including dangerous magical creatures, political conflicts, and personal dramas.
‘A spellbinding blend of sharp wit and vivid imagination. A wonderfully fun romp through the supernatural world.’Kelley Armstrong -
For the last five years Rachel has been tracking down lawbreaking Inderlanders in modern-day Cincinnati, but now she wants to leave and start her own agency. But this witch is way out of her league, and to clear her name, Rachel must evade shape-changing assassins, outwit a powerful businessman crimelord, and survive a vicious underground fight-to-the-death.
Throughout the series, Rachel faces various challenges and threats, including dangerous magical creatures, political conflicts, and personal dramas. She also becomes involved in a complicated love triangle between Ivy and another human named Trent. The books in the series are known for their fast-paced action, intense plot twists, and complex world-building.
Dead Witch Walking – Kim Harrison (Review)
It took me a long time to get round to reading Dead Witch Walking. The book gets a lot of praise, but it was first mentioned to me as “urban fantasy about killer tomatoes,” and that description did nothing for me. It sounded like comic fantasy, and the list of authors who can manage to do that well is extremely short.
Dead Witch Walking is not comic fantasy, and killer tomatoes don’t really feature. Instead, a weaponised virus used tomatoes as a carrier, eventually wiping out a significant proportion of the human population. In the aftermath of this tragedy, vampires/witches/et cetera revealed themselves to humanity. The book takes place long after this, in a post-masquerade world where monsters are feared but accepted as part of reality.
Rachel Morgan is tired of dealing with bad assignments and unreasonable orders. For years, she’s been an employee of Inderland Security, tasked with solving supernatural problems – rogue vampires, black magic, that sort of thing. Now she’s ready to strike out on her own.
Life outside the I.S. isn’t easy though. With only a pixie and a vampire as backup, Rachel has to find steady work and stay alive, all the while dealing with demons, drug lords, and an agency that really doesn’t like people breaking their contracts.
I think the main thing that impressed me about Dead Witch Walking was how well the exposition was handled. There’s an awful lot of world-building and set-up to get through in order for the plot to make sense, and the opening of the book really doesn’t drag at all. The book has an original and complex setting – a twist and an evolution on standard urban fantasy ideas – yet within a few chapters you have a good handle on what’s happening and why it’s important.
There’s a strong plot, with a lot of twists and threads. I felt that, given the amount of background required in the book, that a simpler plot might have worked a little better. Towards the end of the book, there’s almost too much going on. Dead Witch Walking is the first book in a series, and a slower introduction – perhaps with one of the subplots shifted into prominence and the main plot pushed back into a second volume – might have worked well.
Unlike a lot of urban fantasy with a female protagonist, this book is not simply a fantasy veneer over a romance plot. There is a romance between the protagonist and a side-character, but it’s not the focus at all. In fact, throughout the book, I was hoping for a difference romance. The love interest is fine, I guess, but the character who Rachel really has chemistry with is Ivy, her vampire colleague/housemate.
The characterisation of those two and the detail of their relationship is done really well, and while there are hints at a confusing and complex romance, those plot threads just fade away. I’m not saying that the romance has to happen, but the relationship between the two of them is something that deserves more focus and exploration, whether it goes in that direction or not.
Overall, Dead Witch Walking is a strong start to a series. It’s a book that does a lot of work setting up its world, but manages to create interesting characters with compelling problems. It’s definitely worth reading, and I’ll look out for the sequels.
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From New York Times best-selling author, Kim Harrison, comes the first book in her brilliant Hollows series; packed with the perfect balance of wry humour and thrilling action, which will delight fans of thrillers and fantasy alike.
The author, Kim Harrison, creates a vivid and imaginative world that is filled with interesting and diverse characters. The series explores themes of friendship, loyalty, identity, and the consequences of power. One of the standout aspects of the "Dead Witch Walking" series is its well-developed characters. Rachel is a strong and independent protagonist who undergoes significant character growth throughout the series. The supporting characters, such as Ivy and Jenks, also have their own complex relationships and storylines. Overall, the "Dead Witch Walking" series is a gripping and entertaining urban fantasy series. It appeals to fans of the genre who enjoy strong female protagonists, intricate world-building, and action-packed plots. The series currently consists of 14 books, providing readers with plenty of material to dive into and enjoy..
Reviews for "Unmasking the Villains: A Look at the Antagonists in the Dead Witch Walking Series"
1. Rebecca - 2/5 rating - I was really excited to start the Dead Witch Walking series, but I was quite disappointed. The story took a long time to get going, and even when it did, I found it quite slow-paced. The main character lacked depth and didn't feel relatable to me. Additionally, I found the plot to be quite predictable and the worldbuilding to be lacking. Overall, I was expecting more from this series and it just didn't deliver.
2. John - 2/5 rating - I tried to get into the Dead Witch Walking series, but I couldn't connect with the characters. They felt flat and one-dimensional, lacking any real depth. The worldbuilding also left me wanting more. I found it difficult to immerse myself in the story because the world just didn't feel fully realized. The pacing was also quite slow, and I often found myself losing interest. Unfortunately, this series just wasn't for me.
3. Sarah - 3/5 rating - I had high hopes for the Dead Witch Walking series, but I found it to be just okay. The writing style was enjoyable, and there were moments of excitement, but overall, it felt lacking. The main character was a bit annoying and didn't grow as much as I hoped she would. The plot felt a bit repetitive with the same conflicts arising again and again. While it wasn't terrible, it just didn't leave a lasting impression on me.
4. Alex - 2/5 rating - I couldn't get into the Dead Witch Walking series at all. The plot was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters lacked depth and development. There were too many characters introduced without much explanation, making it difficult to keep track of everyone. It felt like the author was trying to cram too much into one story, resulting in a messy and chaotic narrative. Unfortunately, this series just wasn't for me and I won't be continuing with it.