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    Ever After
    Ever After
    Ever After
    Audiobook18 hours

    Ever After

    Written by Kim Harrison

    Narrated by Marguerite Gavin

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Witch-turned-daywalking-demon Rachel Morgan needs to save the demonic realm of the Ever After in the eleventh entry in the New York Times bestselling Hollows series from supernatural adventure master Kim Harrison.

    When Rachel sets off a chain of events that could lead to the end of the world—demonic and human—she must use her gifts to save those closest to her while preventing an apocalypse.

    Satisfying and sexy, a visit to the Hollows will take readers on a wild journey that will capture their imagination. Fans of Charlaine Harris and Stephenie Meyer won't be able to resist Kim Harrison's alternative universe—urban fantasy Cincinnati complete with vampires, witches, and other enchanting creatures—where spine-tingling adventures and fast-paced action are the norm.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateJan 22, 2013
    ISBN9780062237729
    Ever After
    Author

    Kim Harrison

    Kim Harrison is best known as the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Hollows series, but she has written more than urban fantasy and has published more than two dozen books, spanning the gamut from young adult, accelerated-science thriller, and several anthologies and has scripted two original graphic novels set in the Hollows universe. She has also published traditional fantasy under the name Dawn Cook. Kim is currently working on a new Hollows book between other, nonrelated, urban fantasy projects.

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    Reviews for Ever After

    4.5/5

    127 ratings43 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Oh, dear readers. Fellow fans. You've made it this far - you're not going to stop now. And why would you? Kim Harrison doesn't disappoint. EVER AFTER isn't just a great book - it makes the whole Hollows series stronger, more complete, more satisfying.

      EVER AFTER's overarching plot is taking us closer to the endgame - which, at this point, seems to be the reintroduction of demons to earth, along with the reemergence of the elves. The primary obstacle in in the way of happily ever after in the book is the demon Ku'Sox, artificially engineered to be unbeatable. He kicks off the plot with a bang by kidnapping Ceri and Lucy.

      Harrison's got an amazing ability to toss her characters into the frying pan, from the frying pan into the fire, and from there...straight into the fiery pits of hell. Rachel has grown and matured a lot, but so have the challenges she faces. In EVER AFTER, every time Rachel comes within reach of a solution - and our Rachel is pretty badass; she gets stuff done - Ku'Sox steps in to deliver a great big kick in the teeth.

      But it's not all about Ku'Sox, or the future of the demons. EVER AFTER opens on a private meeting between Quen and Rachel. Quen wants Rachel to help with Trent's security. Rachel starts to give her stock answer: she doesn't trust Trent, she doesn't want to be on his payroll, he won't listen to her. And then she stops and realizes that those answers just aren't true anymore. Their relationship has evolved, her understanding of Trent has evolved. Her answer to Quen - and the conversation she has immediately thereafter with Trent himself - make sure that the first thing we're aware of, as readers, is how much these characters have grown and changed since the series started.

      And not just Trent and Rachel - though their mutual, fumbling attempts to respect one another and cooperate just about broke my heart. There's a moment when Ivy has to step back and acknowledge that Rachel is more powerful, more capable than she is - an epic reversal of the relationship that defined the early Hollows books. And capers that would once have taken Rachel, Ivy, and Jenks half a book to execute now take them a chapter.

      This series rises in my estimation with every new book. The overarching story is excellent, the way the fate of the world intertwines with the fate of one woman, our heroine, is so perfectly done. The worldbuilding can't be beat; The Hollows is so concrete, so firmly and thoroughly imagined. And yet for all that the joys and struggles of friendship and family always remain front and center.

      Loved it.
    • 5/5
      Loved this one! Kim Harrison has a way of tying up all the loose ends and still leave you wanting more!
    • 5/5
      Eleven books later, I am still completely addicted to this world and these characters. I zipped through this book too quickly and now must wait again for book 12. Sigh.
    • 4/5
      This is one of my favorites in this series. It will make you laugh and almost made me cry. There is lots of Trent, Al and Bis. There is a fair amount of Jenks. There isn't much of Ivy, though she made me LOL not long after she arrives. Normally, Jenks is the one that is hysterically funny, and he had his moments, but this was not his best book. I can't wait to see where Rachel goes next. I know that series is coming to an end and it seems the Ms. Harrison knows what she's doing.
    • 5/5
      Crap on toast, Rache! You wouldn't have had all that trouble if you'd called Ivy earlier. But at least she got back to Cincy a little more than half-way through the book to help save your little itchy-witchy backside. (Sorry, but Ivy's my Number One XXXOOO.)Aside from the drama, there's some slight spoofing -- elven rings and even something of a "chosen one" -- and you won't guess who this "chosen one" is either, except that I'll say (s)he's a somewhat lesser character who comes into his/her own in this book.Some deaths, too, that might be disappointing to some readers. Anyway, as the series is moving along, Kim is starting to wrap up some (but far from all) loose ends, perhaps in expectation that, after fulfillment of her contractual commitments with a couple more installments, she may decide to bring the series to a conclusion and move on to other projects.5***** -- but ONLY because my Number One XXXOOO got back in time to have some ass-kicking fun. After all, what's The Hollows without Ivy Alisha sharpening her second-best katana? But seriously, although Ivy's starting to disappear in importance (she's somewhat preoccupied right now with her rehab work on Nina), we still have the series of graphic novels that's only beginning, and there Ivy's in finest mettle.
    • 4/5
      Rachel is once again the only one that can mostly save the day in this book. Ivy is off screen for the most part of the story. You do get a reminder that Rachel and Ivy on on a deadline with the vampires about actions from the previous books. Rachel and Trent are trying get the babies back that the demons have kidnapped in order to produce more demons since they suffer from the same illness that Trent's father cured Rachel of and made her in a daylight demon. The story once again pulls no punches and in a way I'll be sad that the series is wrapping up but I think it will be good instead of dragging it all out.
    • 5/5
      Wow! I thought Pale Demon and Perfect Blood were the culmination of what a best selling series should be. I must now revise that to include Ever After. This book will pull at your heartstrings, make you cheer in delight and have you sobbing in tears. Ms. Harrison does not disappoint!

      More to come....
    • 5/5
      I loved this one. The action was great, the angst was great.

      I can't believe after all this time, I actually like, no, love, Trent! He was such an ass at the beginning of the series, and I love how Harrison has added layer upon layer to show that even then, he wasn't really a bad man, just a man who had to make the hard choices to save his people.

      I also loved the parts with Al. Another bastard beastie who I've come to love.

      My only real complaint is that we experienced a couple of losses in this one, and they left me rather cold. Didn't bother me much at all, more in who the losses hurt than in an "aww I loved them!" kind fo way.

      There was a lot less Ivy in this book, which I really appreciated. I just think her part in this story has pretty much run it's course. As Rachel said, Ivy needs to be needed, and Rachel doesn't really *need* Ivy anymore. I'm just tired of Ivy's constant emo angst over what she is and what she might become, and the guilt she feels over the things she wants. I also can't keep her relationships straight, when did she start up with Nina?

      All in all, a wonderful addition to this series, and I am not so patiently waiting to read the next one. I want to know what happens in the Ever After, and what happens when Rachel and Trent finally come together for real.
    • 5/5
      Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. The dynamic trio has been born. This one tipped the scales with action, intrigue and heart thumping moments. The last chapter left me with a smile so large it made my cheeks hurt.
    • 3/5
      It's been quite a long time since I read the tenth book in the series and worried that I'd forget what had happened previously but I needn't have worried, after the first chapter I felt like I was back visiting an old friend I hadn't seen in a while and we were catching up. I won't wait so long before reading the next book, but with only two more in the finished series I don't want to rush it.
    • 5/5
      Excellent as always. Be prepared for a bit of heartbreak in this one.

    • 3/5
      Nice addition to the series but nothing shocking :)
    • 5/5
      The next instalment in this wonderfully addictive and rather creative series. This one offers a few rather shocking moments (no spoilers from me though!) and a few rather sweet ones. Not going to say too much, because if you've read the previous books you'll be reading this one - and if you haven't read them yet, you should probably start at #1, okay?

      I must confess, I am rather fond of Al.
    • 5/5
      I would give it more stars if I could. I love this series and the last 3 books have been phenominal! There were a couple of books in the middle that I didn't like as much but this series by far is my favorite (second is Dresden files). Once the series is finished after the next two books, I'm looking forward to going back and reading them all again. It's that good!
      In this book, I laughed, I cried a lot but I also felt the characters grow into themselves and most of them seemed to be making big strides in who they want to become. Anyway, without giving any spoilers, I loved it!!!
    • 5/5
      Ever After (The Hollows #11) by Kim Harrison is another Hollows book and that means a great novel for sure! Again Rachel is in trouble, this is a given. If it is her fault or not, she will be blamed. Lots of action, suspense, our wonderful characters of Ivy, Jenks, and Al are in it. The elves, gargoyles and demons all play a big role together in this book. There is a major loss in here too ....sob...you just have to read it to find out who. If you have been following the books it will be a big surprise. This one is very suspense-filled. I was glad to see more of the gargoyles in here. I love everyone of the Hollow books! I got this from the library on audio so I could listen to it while I did things around the house. Awesome.
    • 1/5
      I've been a devoted Rachel Marianna Morgan fan for a long time, eagerly awaiting the retelling of each step in her adventures. So, I was excited when Ever After became available, and couldn't wait to read it...until I got started. I can't quite articulate what it is, but this is the most boring and annoying thing I've read in awhile. I'm tired of the incessant summonings to demon court. I'm tired of Rachel's refrain of, "I know I should have done such-and-such, but I was too stupid and lazy to get it done." I'm tired of Rachel not growing up. Yeah, in her world, it's only been two years since the series started, but I know how much I can grow and learn in two years, and I don't have nearly the impetus to change that she has had. After yawning through the opening chapters, when I got the the part where Rachel is yanked, once again, into demon court, and rather than trying to find out what's going on, starts acting like mad kitten and spluttering, "but, Kusox is Up To Something!!!1!", I just couldn't go on. I think I'm just tired of protagonists who blunder their way through dangerous circumstances, overcoming all problems simply *because* they're the protagonist, and not because they think ahead, act effectively, and don't take stupid risks.

      Sorry, Rachel, but we're through.
    • 5/5
      Rachel Morgan oh how I've missed you and the trouble you find yourself in! I won't bore you with a synopsis of the book as the description on the back cover does just fine. If I remember correctly I think there are only one or two books left in this series, and Kim Harrison has promised that everyone in the series will get their HEA. After reading Ever After you can see the direction she is going in and the end is definitely in sight. While that depresses the hell out of me I would love to see Rachel finally get her happy ending and considering where that may take her all I can say is YIPPEEEEEE!Rachel is once again up to her eyeballs in trouble and the fate of the world rests on her shoulders as she must save the ever after from disappearing and taking with it both the demons and all the magic in the world. Of course several people are trying to kill her before she succeeds. This time Rachel must form some unlikely allies to save the world and herself. There is action from cover to cover int Ever After but then again there is in every Hollows book so that is nothing new but somewhere along the way this book becomes different, maybe it is because the end of the series is in sight.Rachel has grown a lot through the series finally coming to terms with being a demon and the choices both she and her circle of friends must make in order to survive, this includes Trent (I have been team Trent since book 1). Like I said this book was different, a lot more focus was on the history between the demons and elves and not so much on the trio that is Ivy, Jenks and Rachel. While Jenks is around through much of the story Ivy really wasn't. Making up for it though is a whole lotta Al, Trent, Newt and Quen and some back story on how the demons came to be the way they are making them not so....demonic. Nick is around too and damn that boy needs to die soon.I found Ever After to be darker, there is tragedy here that we haven't seen since Kisten died. It affects Rachel hugely as well as some of the characters. She gets a whole lot closer to Trent but fans of the series saw that coming......yesyesyesyes. Rachel gets a better understanding of some of the decisions he makes to ensure the survival of all the elves and how lonely that is for him living up to the expectations of an entire race. I have to say this was my favorite book this far in the series and after the awesome ending I can't wait to see what happens next.
    • 3/5
      genial
    • 5/5
      Every Kim Harrison book I read gets better and better. Just when you think you know what's going to happen, she throws a little curve ball in there, and still manages to keep her readers happy. Loved it!!
    • 5/5
      I find it harder and harder as a series continues to write a review. So much has happened and so much rides on little things its hard to not reveal a spoiler so I will keep it short and to my thoughts on a few things. When Lucy and Ceri are kidnapped Rachel is once again at the top of the rescue mission. I cant believe how far Rachel has come since DEAD WITCH WALKING. She is a completely different person and witch. Al has grown on me for a few books now and I absolutely love him after EVER AFTER we truly have seen him in a whole new light where we can understand him a little better. Quen really surprised me in EVER AFTER, I can not say more about this or if its good or bad. I despised the moment that Ellasbeth came back into the picture, She treated Rachel like crap but I'm positive its because she sees her as competition (she should *insert evil laugh*) Rachel and Trent have come so far in there relationship but loved the last chapter of EVER AFTER. It gives me lots of hope and I think most will be happy with things.EVER AFTER is a another great addition to the series. There is plenty of action and messed up situations worthy of a Rachel Morgan novel. I truly love the world that Harrison has built and the characters keep me interested. If you are new to The Hollows series it is an Urban Fantasy must read but you would be crazy to jump into it at book 11, Go grab book one DEAD WITCH WALKING and get caught up!! There are two more books left until the end and I cant wait to get my hands on book 12.
    • 4/5
      In all, it’s a strong return for some of the Hollows characters, while others are sorely missed. In an effort to keep this review spoiler-free, I’ll keep this as vague as possible.Ever After certainly had a lot going on – which was great pacing-wise, as you don’t want to put the book down. However, that’s nothing new for a Kim Harrison book; fast-moving plots are something she excels at working through. I loved the over-arching story in Ever After because, whereas Rachel is usually only in trouble with the non-demon world, this time she was in hot water from both sides, which really raised the stakes this time around.As for the characters, though Ivy was absent for most of the book, Trent’s welcome presence helped make up for it. It is great seeing Rachel’s response towards him and his previous misdeeds slowly evolving. There was also some good development for pixy/fairy relations, and I came to realize how much I like Belle [and Jenks grudging acceptance of her help]. Though she’s no Matalina, her character gets better with every book.Another character that I’m surprised to notice growing on me more and more: Newt. She is such a fun character, and I find myself looking forward to her appearances as she inevitably makes things more interesting – if for no other reason than that her actions are always surprising. You truly never know what to expect from her.Now for the one negative comment I have to make about Ever After: presumably due to the fact that the series is only a few books away from it’s end, Harrison also took the time to start cleaning house by closing up storylines for certain characters. However, something was missing from that development, as I found myself rather indifferent to that particular plot point.**Stop reading to avoid minor spoilers**Considering how invested in those characters I had become, their passing seemed too blasé. The characters didn’t get the send-off they deserved – as their departures were mentioned in passing, and no one really had a true reaction to their deaths, though by rights at least one person in particular should have had more of a reaction than was provided.Also, Ivy was missing for most of the book because she was helping others move away from the Hollows – which was another strange character ending. I expected a lot more from one of the characters, and thought the move was a disappointing way to end their storyline as well.Other than that unexpected response, Harrison’s latest book in the Hollows series was fantastic. While readers will not want to read this one out of order, particularly as a couple character reappearances may not make sense without knowing the backstory, Ever After is a great addition to the series. With only two more books to go, I am really going to miss The Hollows gang when the series finally ends.
    • 5/5
      I laughed, cried ,got angry . I can't wait for the next book ! :)
    • 4/5
      There's plenty of action as Rachel Morgan once again faces a seemingly impossible situation against enemies from the past. In this case the Ever After is shrinking and the demons need to blame someone, and hope that by killing her, the problem will be solved. If the problem isn't fixed the Ever After will disappear and the demons destroyed. She's only given days to fix things. At the same time babies who are miraculously surviving Rosewood Syndrome are being kidnapped and it appears to be the work of a day-walking demon. So again, Rachel is the first person being blamed.But this isn't just an action story; relationships are just as important in this series and we've got a lot going on there as well as both Ivy and Jenks have started moving on with their lives. They're still living in the church and work together, but Rachel realizes the dynamics are changing and they aren't as reliant on each other as they had been. And the author isn't pulling any punches. There's plenty of emotion in this story, including heartache, and through it we actually become closer to the people it affects. Trent and Rachel's relationship does move forward, but you really don't expect this to be easy, do you?We learn more about the war between the elves and demons, and wow, who knew? The book, which appears to be shifting towards the conclusion of the series, gives up some truths which begin to make a difference on a number of fronts to different relationships.It's really obvious how much Rachel has grown in this series. Her attitude, beliefs and the caution she now displays are all part of that growth, as are the changes we see in the other characters. It helps to keep the series interesting.I only have one complaint about this book. While there isn't a cliffhanger, we don't really get to see how the magic community and especially the I.S. view what was accomplished. But, maybe we'll read about it in the next book.The book will be released on 1/22/13.Read as an ARC through Amazon Vine.
    • 5/5
      Need to have read series. Not stand alone.
    • 5/5
      This breath-taking and heart-breaking adventure kept me up well after my bedtime since I couldn't go to sleep without knowing how it was going to end. The concentration in this one is Rachel and the demons. In an earlier book, Rachel created a line in order to save her life. Now the line is draining the Ever After causing it to shrink at an alarming rate. She must fix the line—on a very short timeline—or the demons will kill her. Rachel quickly learns that the problem has been amplified by her old enemy Ku'Sox which the demons know but they are all afraid of him and want Rachel to solve their problem for them. Ku'Sox is psychotic and wants to destroy the Ever After and the older demons. He begins kidnapping babies who are suffering from Rosewood syndrome to put more pressure on Rachel.When he kidnaps Ceri and Trent's daughter Lucy, the excitement ramps up even as the time ticks down. Trent and Rachel have to work together and finally begin to figure out their relationship. Rachel is finally overcoming her distrust of him that has been part of her life since she was a child. I love how much Rachel has changed through this series and how her views of demons have changed. I love the depth of world-building in this series as the world and characters have so much depth. I can't wait to see what happens next for Rachel and crew.
    • 5/5
      Fun as always. Rachel discovers a new talent - and scares the Elves and Demons when they realize what she can do (the Witches don't know about it yet, but you KNOW what their opinion is going to be!)She also discovers some interesting old tech - Both Elven and demon marriage rings and elven slaver rings. We start with the twin problems of kidnapped Rosewood babies to provide life-rafts for Demons caught in the shrinking Ever After - due to a purple sludgey imbalance in Rachel's ley line.Can Morgan once more save the day and a world while rescuing the Rosewood babies, her kidnapped goddaughter Lucy, and her best friend Ceri?Oh yes, and the Demons are encouraging the final winner-take-all, loser-is-buried fight between Rachel Morgan and Ku'sox for the very future of ALL realities.Or is the final chapter in the Hollows series?
    • 1/5
      I do like modern fantasy, but this is a clear miss. Two discs into the audio book, and there is no pleasurable connection to characters, plot, or writing. I don't have the time to waste on mediocre pulp fiction.
    • 5/5
      I wish I could give more than 5 stars. I have read this series since the paperback beginnings and it just keeps getting better. I will cry when this series is done. Kim Harrison writes a world so real that I get homesick to go there. Her characters are so real, things go wrong and Rachel has to get there the hard way most of the time. Just like real life. Her issues with who she trusts, in this book, make the story suspenseful.
    • 5/5
      Rach's hole punch through the ever after is being used by Ku'sux to destroy the demons forever. On top of that her normal group of allies is unable to help. Only by saving the demons can she save herself, Trent, and a bunch of kidnapped babies.An excellent continuation of a very enjoyable story.
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy (allthingsuf.com)With so much in the balance, this was a hard Hollows book for me to read. Rachel is inescapably the focus, and having the cowardice and petty cruelty of demon society dog her footsteps was a frustration the whole book through. I loved the issues of trust explored, was absolutely shocked by the losses suffered, and am angry at the dynastic roadblock impeding a budding romance.My enjoyment of the Hollows books doesn’t stem from a universal love of every plot decision made, if nothing else, I probably enjoy these books even more due to their unpredictability. It’s not a surprise, then, that my relative dissatisfaction with EVER AFTER stems from feeling like I can see exactly where this series is headed. Despite their flaws, I had always harbors some affection for Pierce and even Nick, but while Al is allowed to show his softer, redeemable side, Rachel’s exes slide further down the road to unforgivable. In fact, much of this book read like Harrison cleaning house to resolve the series. I don’t mind her gathering up narrative lose ends, but the plot around these efforts seemed needlessly frustrating. The vagaries of the demon legal system did not make for a satisfactory road block all through EVER AFTER, and I don’t think I’ll have very much more patience with Elvish customs if they continue to be a problem in book twelve.I haven’t been coming back to the Hollows because I need a particular romance to pan out, or a particular villain to be defeated. I visit this nuanced, organic world to enjoy a little time with my friends. To check up on Jenks and Rachel and the group, to have coffee in the kitchen and hear how their life has changed. This means that no matter how beautifully Harrison wraps up this series, I’ll probably be digging in my heels and heading back to earlier books, enjoying the road trips, cheering the triumphs, and crying through the losses along with these beloved characters. EVER AFTER gets us all one book closer to the series finale (coming with either book 12 or 13), but my relationship with The Hollows has no end in sight.Sexual Content: Kissing, references to sex.