Who's Your Author? discussion

This topic is open for discussion of Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison. Be prepared for SPOILERS.

There's no witch in Cincinnati tougher, sexier, or more screwed up than bounty hunter Rachel Morgan, who's already put her love life and soul in dire jeopardy through her determined efforts to bring criminal night creatures to justice.

Between "runs," she has her hands full fending off the attentions of her blood-drinking partner, keeping a deadly secret from her backup, and resisting a hot new vamp suitor.

Rachel must also take a stand in the war that's raging in the city's underworld, since she helped put away its former vampire kingpin - and made a deal with a powerful demon to do so that could cost her an eternity of pain, torment, and degradation.

And now her dark "master" is coming to collect his due.

Ohhhh I'm in for this one.

When? :D

I'm guessing in June. We have to read the second one first, but plan to get through them all before the September Ending.

Good to know. I was planning on finally continue with the series, so, I'll keep in touch :)

Since Sara and I seem a bit behind with reading The Good, The Bad, and the Undead, I'm guessing we won't get to this one till the 12th?

thank you! I was thinking I would be letting this one go again
:)

I have so many books I want to read...

Thoughts on Chapters 1 - 5

Warning, Spoilers Ahead...

"That the undead vampire who controlled most of Cincinnati's underworld had been sentenced to five centuries for the murders of the city's best ley line witches..." - Doesn't the sentence seem to be a bit light? In our world, people have been known to receive around 200 year sentences and they don't have extended lifespans. I suppose with Piscary being the mastermind behind it and not the actual murderer the law would be limited in it's punishment.

"Ceri. What did I tell you about going barefoot?" - It's a running theme in the series that Ceri doesn't like shoes.

"A glimmer of annoyance crossed her face, far away and distant behind the numb state she was in." - A subtle indicator that Ceri isn't completely broken.

Rachel outsmarts Al and he's not very happy about it: "And I will never let you die. Ask her. Ask her of the never-ending hell. It's waiting for you, Rachel."

The grave marker will become important in the later books of the series.

"Maybe Big Al is having a tantrum and burning your things." - I'm sure that's exactly what Al is doing in the ever-after.

"Warriors. Yeah. We're warriors. I'll be right back. I gotta tell that one to Matalina." - I can just see Matalina's reaction: "Yes, dear, you're a warrior." as she rolls her eyes.

"You smell like Trent Kalamack. What are you?" - Rachel keeping Trent's species a secret from Jenks bites her in the rump later on in the book.

"I'm Ceri. And even my demon captor had enough respect that he didn't curse at me, little warrior." - Ceri has an amazing strength of will if she's able to reprimand Jenks so soon after her escape. Most people wouldn't be forming coherent sentences at this point.

"Call Nick. He'll know!" - Possibly the last time in the series that anyone thinks contacting Nick is a good idea.

"Al is male. Female demons won't let themselves be pulled across the lines. That's how you can tell. Mostly." - I wonder if Kim Harrison hadn't thought of the Newt character at this point - otherwise Ceri could have said there's only one female demon.

"We're a team, and you just stepped all over that!" - Nice foreshadowing for when Jenks discovers Rachel is keeping Trent's species a secret.

I love how the trio dumps a traumatized Ceri on Keasley. Does that count as a abuse of neighbor privileges?

"It's a Bite-me-Betty doll!" - Jenk's excitement over giving this to Ivy is cute. Rachel's not on board with the idea but Ivy ends up loving it.

Tataka appears and the new "Red Ribbons" song drops lots of hints that will pay off in future books.

I had company this weekend and then felt bad yesterday and didn't get much done reading wise. I'm going to start this one tonight.

Sounds good - I hope you feel better!

Okay, I finally managed to start reading. Air conditioning broke because of a power surge. The unit isn't eve two years old. Luckily, it was a small part that was covered under warranty and we are cool again which is needed in Florida during the summer months. That's kind of been how things have been going lately.

*********Comments for Chapter 1 - 6

I'm not sure how good a job Rachel did of avoiding being taken as Al's familiar. I don't think I'd be jumping for joy yet. He'll keep trying to get her.

So Ceri is an interesting addition to the series. I love that Rachel went to such lengths to insure her freedom. How in the world would someone go about acclimating someone to freedom after 1,000 years let alone helping them cope with the abuse they endured? I wonder how she came to be Al's? What all can elf's do?

The Bite Me Betty doll was an interesting little detail that Harrison is great at including. You have to wonder where she comes up with this stuff? Perhaps she wonders what we have in ours and adjusts it for one with supernatural creatures?

Interesting that Nick is afraid of Rachel and avoiding her. Sounds like the brush off to me and done in a way that isn't really final. I want to be with you, but I can't right now? Talk about mixed signals, but actions always mean more than words.

Takata hiring her is interesting. Wonder where that will go? It seems strange he'd seek her out for her opinion.

Comments for Chapters 7 - 16

I am not happy with Kisten and think Rachel's letting him off too easy for what he did. In my humble opinion he's a jerk.

I like the insight Kisten gave into Ivy and vampires in general.

Skimmer looks to be an interesting addition. Not sure I like her though. Wonder how she got the nickname?

"What happens at Piscary's stays at Piscary's." lol

Blood sugared is an interesting concept that I'm not quite sure I've captured. Vamps also are overcome by this condition or not? May need to read the dance club scene again.

Nick is a jerk. Not telling Rachel things foretells where this relationship is going. Looks like Jenks called it. I was surprised Rachel agreed to the date with Kisten. It sounded like Ivy knew what Kisten had planned--they said Rachel was his second choice and Ivy his first. If that's true, why didn't she warn Rachel?

Rachel seems a little cocky where Piscary is concerned. I'm not sure that's smart.

Jenks going out in winter seems pretty risky.

Sara noted, "Al is male. Female demons won't let themselves be pulled across the lines. That's how you can tell. Mostly." That is something interesting to note.

Sara said, "I love how the trio dumps a traumatized Ceri on Keasley. Does that count as a abuse of neighbor privileges?"

I just didn't get why they'd do that. They hardly know the man. This is the one thing that's puzzled me.

Sara said, "Tataka appears and the new "Red Ribbons" song drops lots of hints that will pay off in future books."

I'll need to look at those verses a little closer now.

I never understood the "lets dump our traumatized rescuee on a man we barely know and she's never met" logic either.

On re-reads, I always look closely at Takata's lyrics - Kim manages to sneak in a lot of foreshadowing.

Thoughts on Chapters 6 - 17

Warning, Spoilers Ahead...

"Was tonight a dump dinner?" - Nick takes the cowardly way of dealing with Rachel - which is the path he takes when dealing with anything.

"Do you know what our kids are doing?" - A question moms everywhere are used to hearing.

"Well...He was no good for you anyway, love." - Kisten speaks the truth.

David! One of my favorite supporting characters. If Trent wasn't an option, I would have loved for Rachel to end up with David.

The kitchen fight with Quen - that quickly devolves into a food fight - is one of my favorite scenes. Quen is correct though - without the "57 roommates" he would have won. On the other hand, I'm a big believer in the "cheat to win" philosophy when it applies to physical fights.

I'm not sure why Rachel keeps falling for the "do this or I'll tell the world you were genetically treated" threat. It's a very empty threat as Trent/Quen would take themselves down if they followed through with it.

In ten minutes, Lee proves to be a better date than Kisten.

I wouldn't have been as forgiving of Kisten as Rachel. At this point in the series, Rachel is very dependent on her charms and prep time. Kisten put Rachel in a situation where she could have been killed because he didn't explain to her the reality of the situation.

Skimmer is back in town. I actually find Skimmer to be rather sympathetic - she's genuinely in love with Ivy but in order to be with her she has to play along with vampire politics.

I love Ivy's dad and Erica cracks me up. Typical rebellious teenager - only she has a few issues that are particular to vamps. Can you imagine raising a teenage vamp - all the normal worries along with "no biting" and "no binding a human - they are not pets."

****MORE SPOILERS FOR CHAPTERS 7 - 17****

I forgot about the fish. I was surprised they ate it. You'd think she'd give it back. Plus, confessing you stole it? I'd be afraid of repercussions like Jenks was.

David is pretty great in the next section.

I agree, Lee did a better job than Kisten did. It must have been the biker outfit that made all forgiven. lol

I loved how normal Ivy's family seemed (minus the biting and binding). I'm curious what her dad thought of Rachel? We have yet to see what the mother is like. No, I can't imagine raising a teenage vampire.

I must have listened to the audio book last time around because there is a lot I missed with the first read. I mean a huge portion of the book. I'm glad I decided to read it this time.

****SPOILERS FOR CHAPTER 18 - end ****

The bomb on the boat looks to be the turning point in Trent and Rachel's relationship. I'd love to know more about their time in camp as kids. Does Trent remember it all? Were they friends or enemies at the end of it?

Realizing that Lee is like Rachel makes me wonder. According to Newt, there is something about Rachel that still makes her stand out as the better choice for a familiar. Interesting that a Demon can make another demon into a familiar.

I'm still curious about Rachel's father's death. Pisacary bit him, but he didn't die from the bite. Quen feels guilty because he was supposed to be there instead of her father and that's why he helped her in the last book. I definitely like Quen.

First meeting of Newt was interesting. Comparing Rachel to her sisters was kind of strange. Why couldn't you remember her face after looking upon it? Why does she want Rachel? Did she reveal her secret to Al?

David wanting Rachel for his pack was interesting.

Rachel never told Nick she was alive.

Jenks is still mad about not being told that Trent is an Elf. Strange he's thinking it's his fault and blaming himself.

Loved Jenks gift to Rachel.

I thought it interesting that Rachel had such a huge amount of people upset or touched by her death.

Rachel was kind of mean to Elisbeth, not that she didn't deserve it, but I thought it interesting.

What's with Kisten and the ankle bracelet symbols or whatever it is that he gives his women? What does it mean? Does Rachel want to be a part of it and why do they all wear them? Was ?Claire?, Lee's assistant, the latest one he'd seen it on? Are there more?

I'll probably comment more later after I digest the rest.

I find it funny everyone keeps calling Rachel Canicula. When's the last time you've heard that word used?

Canicula is a very old word. I had to look the word up the first time I read it. Maybe it makes the elves/A; sound more sophisticated when they call Rachel a "canicula" as opposed to the more common word choice for a female dog. I wonder if Rachel knows what the word means?

I think the bracelets are Kisten's "classy" way of marking notches on his belt. Why else would the bracelets for all of the women be the same?

I have Friday off so I should be able to finish the book - work/siblings/nieces have kept me busy this week. Rachel and Trent's boat "date" and aftermath are one of my favorite parts of the series and I refuse to rush through it.

Seems more like his way of letting others he came, he saw, he conquered. But does it also mean he's still seeing them or just that they remained friends?

I would think they would still be friendly or at least a friends with benefits style relationship.

Thoughts on Chapters 18 - End

Warning, Spoilers Ahead...

"I am Ceridwen Merriam Dulciate. I'm not your familiar. I have a soul. Give me the respect that calls for."
"I see you found your ego. How does it feel to be growing old again?" - It was very brave of Ceri to face the demon who abused her for a 1,000 years so soon after her escape.

Bonus points for David willing to confront a demon for an almost-complete stranger. Keasley was awesome too.

"It was illegal to Were in public outside of the three days around the full moon." - Another example of the small details I love in this series.

"You know! You know what he is, and you didn't tell me?" - One of Rachel's biggest mistakes in the series.

"She is going to keep him alive tonight. I'm not going to make her change and wait for him in a secondary office like a paid whore." - Love Quen.

"Ah...oops." - Rachel broke Trent's fancy window!

"The only thing between your head and my foot becoming real close and personal right now is my questionable professionalism." - Rachel vs Jonathan is my favorite feud in the series.

"I hopped off the table. Did I know how to make a good impression or what?" - Poor Rachel - she tries so hard to project a "professional" image and it never seems to work out for her.

"It's not a protection circle, it's a ward. Your aura and the aura of the person who set it up must resonate to a similar frequency." - A bit of foreshadowing on the similarities between Rachel and Lee.

"Yes, Sa'han. But you will take Morgan or you will not be going." - I love when Quen plays the dad card.

"Did he mean I would kill Ellsabeth, or Ellsabeth would kill me? That kind of detail was important." - I think Quen would put his money on Rachel.

"He died doing something with Trent's father, and no one has the balls to tell me what great thing it was that was worth screwing up my life for." - Rachel and Quen's discussion is one of my favorite parts of the book.

"Takata's car is nicer."
"Mine's not a rental."

"And Celtic magic gave me the willies. It was a specialized art, much of it depending upon one's belief, not if you did the spell right or not. More of a religion than magic." - An early reference to the elves' wild magic and the only time in the series that it's referenced as "Celtic" magic.

"Piscary killed my father outright. Your father was bitten while trying to help him. Quen was supoosed to be there, not your father. That's why Quen went to help you subdue Piscary. He felt he needed to take your father's place, seeing as he believes it was his fault your father wasn't there to help you himself." -
Piscary killing Trent's father "outright" contradicts what we learn a few books later in the series. Also, where was Quen that he wasn't able to help with the mission?

"But my father didn't die of a vampire bite."
"No, he didn't."
"He died when his red blood cells started attacking his soft tissues." - I really want Kim Harrison to write a prequel novel about Rachel and Trent's parents.

"So-o-o, who is Ellsabeth?"
"Not my idea." - Feel Trent's enthusiasm for his engagement!

"You're a semi-functioning decoration" - I wonder if Trent realizes he reverts back to a 10 year old when he deals with Rachel?

"Why, thank you, Jon, you freaking bastard." - I enjoyed Trent trying to hide his amusement at Rachel and Jonathan's exchange.

"Congratulations?"
"You've met her", Trent said sourly. - Yep, Trent's very excited about his engagement.

"I was surrounded by men who kept secrets from me. Nick, Trent, and now Kisten. Could I pick 'em or what? And Kist was killing people." - I have never understood how Rachel forgave Kisten for the boat incident or why he never ended up in prison. "I set the bomb but I didn't think the other guy would let it explode" is not a viable defense. It also makes Rachel's criticism of Trent rather pathetic.

I loved Rachel and Trent working together to survive the bomb and it's aftermath.

"Trying to warm up."
"I don't wonder why. He's a cold bastard." - Yep, Trent and Ellsabeth are a clear example of true love.

"Nasty, nasty woman. And you can sack me if you want, Mr. Kalamack, but I don't like her and I never will." - Love Maggie.

"Your father was working with mine trying to find an old sample of elven DNA in the ever-after that we could use as a pattern."

"My father didn't take one cent for saving your life. He did it because he was friends with your father. You and Lee are the only two running under the sun that he pulled back from that death, and that was because of friendship. He didn't make a dime for saving either of you." - The Hollows Insider offers more details on the relationship between the Kalamacks and the Saladins.

I completely spaced that Newt's first appearance was in this book.

Sara said, "You know! You know what he is, and you didn't tell me?" - One of Rachel's biggest mistakes in the series.

Kim Harrison said that she put that little diddy in there so Kisten could seduce Rachel. She needed a way to get Jenks and his family out of the church and that was the only thing she could think of. I'm guessing that's why Ceri ended up with Keasley as well.

I suppose with the sheer number of people living in that house having a private, intimate moment would be difficult.