A Perfect Blood (Rachel Morgan series #10)
Kim Harrison
HarperCollins, February 21, 2012, $26.99 hardcover/$12.99 digital
Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in to help investigate by the I.S. and the FIB, former witch turned day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth: a human hate group is trying to create its own demons to destroy all Inderlanders, and to do so, it needs her blood.
She’s faced vampires, witches, werewolves, demons, and more, but humanity itself might be her toughest challenge yet.
I love me some Hallows adventures featuring Jenks, Rachel, Ivy, Al, and oh yes, Trent! Ever since the terrible loss of Kisten Felps, the Hallows took on a bit of the sads for me. That is, until Trent Kalamack became a bit more “present” in the most recent books. And whoo boy, is he present in this book!
I must admit that the first 100 pages of Kim Harrison’s A Perfect Blood made me want to rip Rachel’s arm off and beat her to death with it. Stubborn doesn’t even cover it, Rachel makes constant habit of screaming at the wrong people, trusting ones she shouldn’t and sleeping with those who want to kill her. Now throw Demon Al into the mix and you have got a Rachel Morgan roller coaster. Rachel’s been stripped of all her rights and branded a demon—a dead one, no less. In the first twenty pages she alienates officers in the I.S and not long after pisses off someone in the F.I.B.
But in A Perfect Blood we do get to see Trent Kalamack’s “Public Family.” Ceri and elvish children Lucy and Ray, are doted upon by the proud papa, bringing up his likeability factor. Outside of the dearly departed Kisten Felps (an act that nearly had me leaving the series!), Trent is my favorite Hallows male, and in In Perfect Blood, we are finally shown his inner workings.
Much of the page count of this book centers on the odd working relationship between Rachel and Trent. Trent strives for balance, while Rachel wants payback. The male vs. female perspective is really brought into action, delving deep into the emotional machinations of the sexes. Rachel’s stubborn streak knows no bounds, hell in the last book Trent LOST FINGERS FOR HER, and still she refuses to give him an inch.
A Perfect Blood reveals that Rachel still has a lot of growing to do, but viewing the growth of her relationship with Trent is a great way to pass the time while we wait. Meanwhile, let’s just hope Trent doesn’t just give up on the stubborn demon.
Synde Korman talks music and books on her website Tombstone Tails, along with creating a line of literary jewelry on her etsy site Cemetery Cat Designs.
When she’s not herding cats or creating art, she works as a part-time bookseller. You can find her on Twitter as @psynde.
