I am a huge fan of Kim Harrison and this series. I recommend it all the time and will be recommending this book to my patrons also. I continue to love the action, romance and drama.

In this installment, witch-born demon Rachel Morgan finds herself in a hornet’s nest of supernatural trouble. As Cincinnati’s subrosa, the demon ringleader unofficially in charge of keeping all paranormal factions in line, it is Rachel’s job to maintain control amongst the various vampires, werewolves, witches, elves, and demons of the city. When the vampire council sends a long undead master vampire from Washington DC to Cincinnati to confront Rachel and accuse her of killing Cincy’s previous master vampire, Rachel must defend herself and her right to rule the city while also trying to figure out which demons are in her corner and which are plotting against her

It’s always exciting when I can return to the Hollows world, so I was excited to get my hands on TROUBLE WITH THE CURSED. It was nice to see a classic Urban Fantasy series still going strong after its return and TROUBLE WITH THE CURSED won’t disappoint its fans. As soon as I cracked this book open, it felt like meeting old friends. The same banter is there. The same familiar faces. Kim Harrison sticks to what she is good at and keeps readers on their toes by putting together a fast-paced and thrilling book.

*I received Trouble with the Cursed from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley in return for an honest review.*

Honestly, I’m so biased, but Kim Harrison will never disappoint. We have our 16th installment of The Hollows series with Trouble with the Cursed. While my last review of the 15th book Million Dollar Demon indicated some lackluster aspects, Harrison came back in typical witchy style. Continue reading to get my take on this latest book from the Hollows of Cincinnati.

World-building
You’d think with 15 books that Kim Harrison has built her world, you’d be wrong. The universe feels like a gift that just keeps giving. With every book, there is some new aspect of the magics, supernatural politics, and of course new baddies. While returning to the Hollows feels like returning home at times, Harrison is always able to keep things fresh.

At the same time, while new people, problems, etc. are being introduced, it never feels like Harrison has written herself into a corner. Nor is the world overwhelming or crowded, but just very well developed and thought out.

Character Growth
Something I have always appreciated in the Hollows series is the ability to see continual growth and challenges for our characters. Nothing stays static. Trouble with the Cursed in particular had some really important and devastatingly heart-wrenching moments within and between characters. At times my heart was really pounding, and it had nothing to do with me running on the treadmill while listening to it on my kindle.

While in Million Dollar Demon I had some qualms with the absence of certain characters, these were assuaged and to a certain extent explained. As a long-time reader, I greatly appreciated that. I felt heard! This is definitely an aspect of a long-running series that there may be too many characters to give them all their due attention. I was overjoyed that I did not have to have that internal justification when reading Trouble with the Cursed.

Overall
Like many, I am so glad Harrison decided to continue her series after an 8-year hiatus. Reading her books is like talking and adventuring with old friends. I honestly took forever to read this, just because I did not want it to end. If you were a bit disappointed with Million Dollar Demon, I get it. But DO NOT miss the opportunity to read Trouble with the Cursed as it will melt any disappointment away! If you’ve never read The Hollows series, where have you been? Go to your nearest library and get at least the first three to binge-read!

In Trouble with the Cursed, we start out with Ivy coming into town with a long undead who is looking for Cincy's master vampire. He has a suspicion that Rachel has done something to her. Rachel and Pike have been running the city together ever since they took care of Constance. Now they have to come up with a plan to convince Finnis that Constance is still alive and running the city.

Putting together this plan, and other scenes, all seem to revolve around the demons versus the problem of Finnis. In true Rachel fashion, she is betrayed by someone she had put a lot on the line to support. Now she has to gather all her friends and a scarce demon to deal with the problems the demons are causing.

It felt like much of the book ran off into the demon issues versus the problem with Finnis. There were a few times when I would wonder if Rachel would even get back to that storyline. Slowly, pieces come together that weave the two storylines and a plan can come together that will deal with everything.

In the end, I am completely happy with everyone's conclusion. Everyone is where they should be and for the moment happy. I don't know if it is just her frustration, but Rachel really just steps up and takes control of the situation. No wishy-washy, half fast attempts at control, but really digging her feet in and making good decisions that she pushes for. I felt so proud of her because throughout the book I felt like she was kind of flying by the seat of her pants. We know that is typical Rachel, but I was just really proud of the stand she took.

The ending left me with a huge smile on my face and a lump in my throat. If there isn't another book, I would say I'm happy and content with the way everything is at this moment.

How are we already at book number sixteen in The Hollows series?! Okay, I know the series has been out for over a decade, but I'm still impressed (and shocked) by how far we've come—especially considering that the series was meant to conclude three books ago. I will never complain about getting more of Rachel Morgan and her cast of friends. So let's dive into my review of Trouble with the Cursed, shall we?

Somehow Rachel Morgan and her allies have managed to hold down the fort that is Cincinnati. Her new (hidden) role has made this possible, alongside the support of others like Pike, Ivy, and Jenks. But we all knew that the peace they were experiencing wasn't meant to last.

An old member of the vampire ruling council is making his way to Cincinnati, with Ivy in tow. On the surface, he claims he only has concern for the master vampire of the city, his dear friend. However, given that he's a vampire, it's almost certain he has an ulterior motive.

“It never ceases to amaze me how someone can possess the world or nothing at all, and still have their happiness hinge on the small moments between them and the ones they love.”

You'd think that I would have gotten tired of Rachel at some point over the last sixteen books. You'd be wrong. I dove into Trouble with the Cursed with as much enthusiasm as any of the others. Actually, I might have been even more excited for this novel since I missed the series so much.

At first, I wasn't sure how to feel about Rachel's new position. Trouble with the Cursed erased all of those concerns. It will add a whole new world of complications onto Rachel's plate, including demon and vampire politics – which I adore reading about.

Yep, you read that right. Trouble with the Cursed is full of politics, planning, scheming, and counter-scheming. I loved every. Single. Second. Seriously, can I have more (yes, I know, I'll have to be patient and wait for the next novel)?

While I enjoyed every detail of the majority of this book, there is one moment that stole the show. That moment is the last sentence in Trouble with the Cursed, which I will not spoil. It gave me new life and filled my heart. I cannot wait for any news on the next novel!

So, there's a bunch of lore about making deals with demons, right? Rachel's a witch-born demon and this was a story of DEALS. Also, how to defeat a villain that can look like anyone you know?

Now that the demons are out of the Ever After, Rache is on a mission to make sure they're treated fairly-but do they deserve her? Do they really? Spoiler: No one deserves Rache. She's the gold standard.

There were so many great outcomes at the end of this story! A couple of wrap-ups to previous "OH-NOs" that I didn't see coming. I'm wicked excited for the next book! Especially if I get my people back!!

It is always a real pleasure to discover the adventures of Rachel Morgan. This new volume is not all rest for her!

Ivy is back (yay!) but her return also means trouble, because she is accompanied by a master vampire who is determined to prove that she killed Constance and wants to take over the town! And this challenge will be far from easy because he has everything planned to have the upper hand. On top of that, Rachel will have to deal with the demons who seem determined to return to old habits that Rachel has forbidden. But that’s not all, because our heroine is also going to have to deal with Hodin, a demon that she thought was an ally, but who is going to turn her life upside down and not for the best.

I had a great time and I was curious to see how Rachel was going to be able to cope with everything that comes her way. And I have to say she is very imaginative! It’s a very cool series, always with lots of surprises. A must read!

Reading The Trouble With Cursed by Kim Harrison, I am struck by how lucky urban fantasy, as a genre, has an author like Harrison among its ranks and how happy I am that Harrison returned to The Hollows. When the series “officially” ended in The Witch With No Name, Harrison had done a bang-up job wrapping up the series. It was a spectacular conclusion to the 14-book story of Rachel Mariana Morgan. However, Harrison had more stories to tell. Rachel has more life to live and more adventures. So here we are, three books past the end of the series, and I could not be happier with where everything is going.

“It never ceases to amaze me how someone can possess the world or nothing at all, and still have their happiness hinge on the small moments between them and the ones they love.”

The Trouble with Cursed starts with Rachel working as the Subrosa of Cinncinatti. A Subrosa being a heavy hitter in the interlander community. She and vampire Pike Welroe take their role very seriously now that the former head vampire of the city is stuck in a cage as one pissed-off vampire mouse. Once they police some citizens, Rachel and Pike end up in a coffee shop covered with blood and gore. They hold the city under the illusion that the former crazy head vampire is still in charge. But their hold is tenuous at best. There are quite a few moving pieces and warring factions that want to see Pike and Rachel fail.

The other big plot thread is the Hodin and the ongoing drama of the demons. They have spent millennia making up the rules and enslaving people to do their bidding. But times have changed. There is a common thread throughout the novel of Rachel doing her Subrosa duties to the best of her abilities, even if it destroys her in the process. The different factions push Rachel to her limits.

The Trouble with Cursed is a very typical Kim Harrison novel, which is to say it is exciting and well written. I enjoyed the plots and entanglements between the different races. It is quite a feat that we are in book 14, and the stories do not feel formulaic. The dialog is tight, and the characters are fully realized. Frankly, she could spin off any of these characters into their own novels and have them be successful. I would easily throw money at a pixy novel about Jenks.

Would I recommend this to all readers? Yes, I would. Even the hardest of grimdark readers probably would enjoy a lighter fare every now and then. And while this is lighter, The Trouble With Cursed isn’t “fluffy.” There is substance to this series, great action scenes, believable characters, and an evolving urban fantasy world that is worth checking out.

Trouble with the Cursed by Kim Harrison is book 16 in the Hollows series and it’s always a great time when I get to visit Rachel, Jenks, Trent & friends in the Hollows! Started a bit slow but when it got going it was action packed with twists & turns. Always looking forward to the next in this series.

A fun return to The Hollows world. Fast-paced adventures and an overarching storyline. A thoroughly good time.

Given that this is book 16 of the Hollows series, Kim Harrison hasn’t missed a step. The series is as fast paced and exciting as ever with unexpected twists and turns. Just when you think you know what to expect, Kim Harrison changes it up again, bringing you new characters and riveting and exciting action. 

Beyond the fact that I’ve always loved the character of Rachel Morgan, who is never flat and struggles with insecurities and doesn’t always figure out a solution right away but in this book, we get to see a slightly different side to Rachel as she embraces her strengths. I love the way Rachel figures out unique solutions to several challenging problems within the story. 

One of the other elements I love is that Kim Harrison brings up plot points from two to three books prior and then wraps them up in a completely elegant fashion. Since these are plot elements that have been critical to the world for some time, it was fun to see how they were completed and the ending of the novel was perfect, at least to me. I really can’t wait for book 17, especially with such riveting and exciting action.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
TROUBLE WITH THE CURSED is the sixteenth installment in The Hollows series. Can it be read as a standalone or out of series order? No, absolutely not. Not only would it cause massive confusion for the reader due to the ever-expanding, complex world building, but it would spoil major plots if the reader had a taste and decided to read the series. DEAD WITCH WALKING is the introduction for our itchy witch, Rachel Morgan, along with her fellow beasties and cohorts.

As always, I savored the newest installment, beyond thrilled to be immersed into the world Rachel and company dwell, after the series had met its conclusion a few years ago. Reading slowly, this series is a homecoming and a meeting of long-lost friends rolled into one.

Rachel is riding herd on the supernatural community in Cincinnati, with all the headaches, responsibilities, and frustrations that ride shotgun.

For this reader, the anticipation of having Ivy back on the pages and in close proximity to Rachel had me turning the pages at a rapid rate, experiencing the chemistry between the partners/roomies/besties. The only problem, Ivy is followed closely by a vampire whose total focus is proving Rachel killed the previous Master of the City so she could take the power and rule the city herself.

Not only is the world building imaginative and original, the connections Rachel has with her friends and made-family is what has kept me coming back for more, rereading to catch the same feels every time. Rachel is a loyal, fierce, protective woman to have at your back, willing to do anything for the people she calls her own. This novel showcases Rachel's tenacity, loyalty, and devotion, along with the zany humor from Rachel failing almost as much as she succeeds, which makes her feel more human than witch-born demon. The sarcastic flavor of her tone of voice and inner monologue is as entertaining as it is endearing.

The plight of reading a novel by Kim Harrison, before I even get to the ending of the novel, I'm already hankering to reread the series from the start. I always crave the desire to immerse myself in the complex characters, riveting world building, the magic systems, and the rich universe that the author has created. Not to mention the fact that I'm still not over the loss of a character, a decade later. Harrison brings the feels.

This series is at the top of my favorites list, recommended to fans of Urban Fantasy. After a few more books and some work to be done, I'm diving back in, already having the first in the series loaded up for yet another reread.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2022/06/16/trouble-with-the-cursed-by-kim-harrison/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

4.5 hearts

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<blockquote>So,  <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/40628-the-hollows" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong><em>The Hollows</em></strong></a> series was the very first Read-along I hosted in my early days of blogging at <a href="http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Yummy Men & KickAss Chicks</strong></a>.  I  chose it because I had heard so many great things about it but had never read the series. It was also 2014 and the year the "final" book was released, <strong><a href="http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?p=19872" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Witch with No Name.</a>  </strong></blockquote>

I'm so glad this series has continued.  I like how so much how Trent and Jenks work with her even when things are going badly.  Because they always do.  They have things taking them away from her at times but they work well together.   Things start going downhill when the DC vamp, Finnis, comes to Cincy to see Constance.  <spoiler>Constance was really a bitch and in the previous book got turned into a mouse! So Pike and Rachel have been running the city.</spoiler>

Al is mad at Rachel because of Hodin.  Hodin though decides to "help" Rachel make a memory spell of sorts which will make Finnis forget about Constance and feel everything is going well.  Unfortunately, the spell is not as he says and loads her with smut.  Hodin is also having her roomie, Stef, work with him on doing spells.  Rachel is appalled when Stef has a demon mark. Stef runs into a pixy and brings her home to recuperate but the existing pixies try to kill her, other than Jenks.

Trent is doing a big business deal.  He still tries hard to be there for Rachel.  Jenks is busy protecting Getty, the injured pixy.  Stef is always off with Hodin. I'm glad Ellasbeth and also Ivy have limited participation.  Rachel has a lot of time on her own. She notices gradually things are off.  A professor and librarian go missing and when she teaches a class for the professor,  then the students go missing!  She has IS on her about the students and she is really getting worried about Hodin not being honest with her.

Everything gets very exciting and dangerous as the vampires are a problem, IS is after her, the witch coven has an eye on Rachel about "smut" from dark magic and Hodin gets more sneaky.  Dali seems to have quit the coffeeshop and it seems like demons may not be following the rules.  When Rachel figures out what is happening, she is in a tough place and really needs Al.  Luckily,  she figures out a plan and is able to make it happen with her team.

I love her strength and strategy.  Rachel is really smart. She is not afraid to risk herself to improve things for everyone. Her friends are really loyal.  There are some people who take some blows here.  I'm thrilled about one character coming back into Rachel's life.  But I'm totally onboard waiting to see what happens next for Rachel and her allies.

I'm so happy this series is still going. Aside from our main and secondary characters, I absolutely love the gargoyles, pixies, and even the demons.

Rachel Morgan is fumbling her way along as the demon subrosa, trying to keep the DC vamps in the dark about the state of Constance. 🐁 That becomes more difficult with the arrival of Flynn, one of the old dead. But with him, we get Ivy as as a host/guide/hostage, and it's always nice to have the historical characters coming back in. Speaking of, lots of thoughts of our beloved Kisten in this story, which makes me want to go back and read the first book.

As it's Rachel's birthday, she should be lounging with loved ones and eating cake. Unfortunately we know fate never has that in store for this demon-born witch, so instead she will be dealing with stodgy undead, misbehaving demons, betrayal and more distractions than she can count. But, that's her cross to bear and she somehow muddles the way and comes out on top, kinda.

I really loved how the team, new and old, pulled together on this one to get all situations taken care of. I am excited to see where the future of the series is going after these happenings. Relationships were broken, some were mended, and we have new characters coming in, and old ones coming back. The demons are sure to be up to new shenanigans, but maybe they will hate Rachel a little less.

I will be the first to admit I am happy for more of Rachel and the gang. There were some threads I needed closure too, and it’s always good to check in on everyone. After the intensity of the last story, I should preface my review with the warning that this series should be read in the order of its release. You are emotionally cheating yourself if you do otherwise.

With one nasty vampire in a cage, and Rachel accepting her role as subrosa of Cincinnati, she and vampire Pike Welroe have the city running smoothly. However, the D.C. undead believe Rachel murdered one of their own and they send Finnis along with Ivy to investigate. Now, this is trouble enough, but it seems some demons have decided that rules and agreements are stupid and humans are going missing. Then there is Hodin. Is he practicing dark magic? Was Al right?

Trouble is Rachel’s middle name, and I had a blast devouring this from the demons to the vampires I wanted to stake. Jenks is dealing with a problem in his garden, Ivy is under Finnis’s thumb and something is keeping Trent occupied, so it’s up to Rachel and Pike to handle everything.

I loved seeing Al back in the picture, and quickly became caught up in all the threads, trouble and ideas Rachel bounced around. It was brilliant, fun and a little suspenseful.

I wept at the end. Not gonna lie. You’ll have to read it for yourself to discover why. Not sure if this was the last book, but I enjoyed slipping back into this world. Now I am craving a tomato pizza from Piscary’s.

Trouble with the Cursed is the sixteenth novel in the Hollows series with my favorite heroine and witch-born demon, Rachel Morgan. Rachel is back living in the church with Jenks, but that’s the only thing that seems slightly normal. Her roommates are the demon Hodin, and her friend Stef. Hodin has driven a wedge in between Rachel and the demons, a wedge that gets more complicated as this story unfolds. Rachel, as the sub-rosa for the demons, has the tough job of keeping the peace in Cincinnati. Something that she’s been able to do with the help of vampire scion Pike, but it all seems to be getting out of hand. The demons are in disarray, her boyfriend Trent’s business deal has gone awry, and Jenks is developing feelings for a new pixie. Plus Ivy is headed back to town with a DC vamp named Finnis who needs to be convinced that Cincinnati’s master vampire, Constance is still alive (she is but she’s now a mouse). Rachel is a people pleaser and wants everyone to be happy, but she may have bitten off more than she could chew with this one!

Trouble with the Cursed ties up a LOT of loose ends and I’m wondering where Kim Harrison is going to take my favorite heroine next? The “is he or isn’t he” on Rachels side when it comes to the much maligned demon Hodin comes to a head and everything quite literally hits the fan in the most wondrous and fascinating way. Rachel’s version of “I’ve got this!” does not follow a straight line and the fireworks that follow light up the city and paranormal world. This book ends with a big bang and I can’t help but think that the world as our heroine knows it will be much different in the next novel. The only things that I’m completely confident in is that Rachel’s friends have her back and she would absolutely die for them as well. I can’t wait to find out what happens next. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

Rachel Morgan is back in the 16th book of Kim Harrison's The Hollow's series. Like usual, Rachel's life is thrown into chaos. As the new subrosa she is trying to maintain the peace among the different paranormal groups. Her friends are along for the ride. Readers are treated to the usual cast of characters as well as a return of Ivy Tamwood. As Rachel tries to navigate her own responsibilities, her friends are experiencing troubles of their own. Off course, these problems are are connected to Rachel in one way or another.

With Vampire Constance somewhat out of the picture, the vampires send a master vampire from DC to investigate if Constance is still in charge of running Cincinnati. This leads to Rachel turning to the demon Hodin for help. As usual, things go totally sideways. Rachel scrambles to figure out where betrayal lies, protect the ones she loves, and ensure peace.

I think Troubled with the Cursed is a great addition to the series. Harrison jumps right into the action with this book and had me questioning who she could trust and who had their own agendas. I loved seeing the return of Ivy as well as the introduction of new characters like the dark pixie, Getty. Readers are treated to a bit more of Al, though there is still a lot of sorting out in that former teacher/student relationship. Rachel is still a bit of a mess, but I love her ingenuity and the support she receives from her friends. I see a bit more growth in Rachel as she comes to terms with her hopes in relation to reality.

Overall, a fun read. Harrison has a great grip on her characters and a wonderful way of connecting them all to each other. It's something that definitely has kept me enamored with the series and looking forward to each new installment.

Kim Harrison’s latest novel in the Hollows urban fantasy series is the sixteenth novel featuring witch-born demon Rachel Morgan. The author is a superb storyteller who kept me on the edge of my sear with gripping scenes, a brilliant plot, and formidable characters. Rachel is now responsible for keeping the paranormal community in Cincinnati in line. Her best friend, Ivy Tamwood is returning home, but she is bringing a vampire with her who is intent on proving Rachel killed Cincinnati’s master vampire to take over the city. With her friends experiencing problems in their lives, she reaches out to a new ally for help. However, he has his own agenda and things don’t go as Rachel expects.

Rachel is a fiery, bold, and intense protagonist who occasionally needs her self-confidence boosted by her friends. I enjoy the cast of supporting characters who have vastly different personalities and perspectives but manage to work well together. This novel brings back some old favorites as well as adding a couple of interesting new characters, especially Getty. The chemistry between the characters creates a fun dynamic throughout the difficulties they face in this story. As this is the sixteenth book in the series, settling in with characters who already had multiple adventures can be difficult if one hasn’t read at least some of the previous books.

Kim Harrison’s creativity and great world-building stand out in this novel. The author weaves another installment in this series involving relationships, friendship, lies, deceit, stress baking, new magical techniques, selfishness, and selflessness that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. The plot is twisty and absorbing with exciting scenes and an antagonist’s personality that is hauntingly memorable. It brings together compelling characters and a rich storyline that had me wondering how much a person could take before giving up trying to make everything right. Nothing is ever as it seems. The conflict moves the story forward and through unexpected events. The tension was so thick that I could almost feel it. My only quibble is that the ending wrapped up a bit too quickly and could have been extended over a couple of more chapters to add depth.

Overall, this was an engaging novel with suspense, action, adversity, and a little romance. This story will help you escape the real world for a day of thrills and chills. If you enjoy urban fantasies, then I recommend that you check out this series. I am looking forward to finding out what happens next.

Berkley Publishing Group – Ace and Kim Harrison provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for June 14, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

So great to be back in the Hollows with witch born demon Rachel Morgan! Loved it and can’t wait for more!

I have been with Rachel, Jinks, and Ivy since the beginning back in 2009, and while I love this series, always recommend it to fantasy lovers, and will continue to read it, I am a bit fatigued. I tried to figure out why and I think it’s because while the series has been around for 13 years, Rachel and friend’s time span in the books is over just four years.

A lot, and I do mean a lot, has happened to Rachel over those four years, but yet it’s only been four years in that world and she’s still finding her footing and realizing she does deserve to be loved. But it’s been 13 years for me, and by now I feel that she should be at least 95% secure in love and life… but she’s still only around 75%... more when it comes to love and less when it comes to life.

When the scenes repeat about her feeling insecure or not having more control over her magic I have to remind myself that it’s only four years in her time. But does the reader really want to have to keep reminding themselves that and pulling themselves out of the story?

That being said, Trouble with the Cursed, book 16, finally ties up so many story arcs that have been floating around The Hollows, and for that this was a great book. This is not a series you jump in anywhere but book one, so those of you who are reading this have also been along for the wild ride too. I really don’t want to say what happens because you’re going to want to read it, but I will say the band is getting back together, along with some new players. And sweet baby Bis is so much closer to being back in all of our lives… like he should be.