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    A Perfect Blood
    A Perfect Blood
    A Perfect Blood
    Audiobook16 hours

    A Perfect Blood

    Written by Kim Harrison

    Narrated by Marguerite Gavin

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    “I wouldn’t miss a Kim Harrison book for anything.”
    —Charlaine Harris

    There’s nothing more darkly satisfying than time spent in the Hollows—New York Times bestseller Kim Harrison’s alternate urban fantasy Cincinnati where vampires, pixies, and werewolves roam free. Harrison takes us back in A Perfect Blood, as former bounty hunter witch-turned-reluctant daywalking demon Rachel Morgan investigates a series of ritual murders, only to discover to her horror that whomever—or whatever—is responsible is actually seeking her blood.  Rachel’s sexy, supernatural adventures have consistently landed atop bestseller lists from coast-to-coast, and A Perfect Blood is no exception—another supremely satisfying excursion to a deliciously eerie fantasy realm that’s certain to delight Kim Harrison’s voracious army of fans…not to mention Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Kelley Armstrong, Patricia Briggs, and Stephanie Meyers aficionados, and any reader who craves a walk on the wild, dark side.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateFeb 21, 2012
    ISBN9780062115805
    Author

    Kim Harrison

    The only girl in a large family of boys, former tomboy Kim Harrison invented the first Brigadier General Barbie in self-defence. She shoots a very bad game of pool and rolls a very good game of dice. When not at her keyboard, she enjoys lounging on the couch with a bowl of popcorn watching action movies with The-Guy-In-The-Leather-Jacket. She plays her Ashiko drum when no one is listening, and is hard to find when the moon is new.

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    Reviews for A Perfect Blood

    4/5

    642 ratings53 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I saw a lot of reviews stating how this book was the worst in the series because of how helpless and stupid Rachel was portrayed. I thought it was a good move because Rachel always has to learn everything the hard way and she needed to feel the helplessness. Although her complete and utter oblivion where Trent is concerned did irk me quite a bit. Other than that, in my opinion, yet another great addition to the Hollows series. I love Kim Harrison.
    • 4/5
      Books are fast paced, with fun characters. I’d recommend them.
    • 3/5
      a solid 3.5 stars. harrison's writing is always super fun, and as usual, i really love spending time with rachel & pals. this novel's plot, revolving around a human anti-parnormal hate group, really added even more depth to the already richly realized world that she's created. but it really starts to feel like the past couple of books are filler until some bigger plot arc picks up... how many times can rachel have a moment where a lightbulb goes off over her head as she says, "ah! i really should stop being an impetuous jerk!!"?
    • 4/5
      This was another great installment in a series that is quickly becoming a favorite. Rachel can’t seem to catch a break. She can’t get her car registered with her new demon status and she is being asked to help figure out who is behind a string of ritualistic murders. To keep Al from pulling her into the ever after, she is wearing a cuff that has essentially cut her off from her powers which isn’t going to make the job any easier.After the events in the last book, Rachel’s father has sent a bodyguard to help keep her safe but she isn’t always cooperative with the endeavor. The group that is committing the murders needs some of Rachel’s blood so she is in more danger once again. There is a master vampire attached to the case that isn’t making things easier for anybody. It was great seeing everyone work together to solve the case. All of the key characters play some kind of role in this story, even Al makes an appearance before the book draws to a close.Marguerite Gavin does such a great job with this series. I love the voices that she uses for all of the characters and how she is able to bring this whole world to life. Her voice really is perfect for the series and I have had no trouble listening to her narration for hours at a time. I can definitely say that her narration added a lot to my overall enjoyment of this story.I would recommend this series to others. I would recommend reading this series in order since each book picks up shortly after the events in the previous installment. This was another exciting story and I cannot wait to see what Rachel must face next in this series.
    • 3/5
      It sounds like Rachel Morgan might actually be starting to grow up and regain her self-confidence. The fact that I care, and I’m still reading these books is some indication that there’s enough complexity and interest to keep me going.
    • 4/5
      Another kick butt Rachel Morgan adventure, this is the longest running urban fantasy series that I keep up with and the only one I get the day that it's published.

      I liked this one as much as any in the previous series, and the few doubts about the logic of the plot that I had were more then answered as more facts were revealed by the author.

      This series is so tightly plotted I'd recommend reading the first nine volumes before picking this one up.
    • 5/5
      I loved this. Don't know what Al is up to now but I loved this as much as Pale Demon. I don't know how many more books there will be but I'll be depressed when this series ends!
    • 5/5
      Definitely one of my favorites of the series. Rachel has grown, Ivy, Jenks, and Trent are changing/growing as well. I enjoyed every aspect of this book and couldn't put it down.
    • 3/5
      Not as exciting as previous Hollows installments, though you can see Rachel's growth and maturity starting to shine through. The HAPA stuff bored me and they were not my favorite villians to arise in this series. I really enjoyed the interactions between Rachel and Trent and am looking forward to more of these moments between them.
    • 5/5
      I can not wait until Ever After comes out. I feel like every time I read one of her books I end it on a high note and spend the rest of the year waiting for her next book to be published.

      If you haven't fallen in love with Rachel Morgan yet, you have to pick up one of these books! Every single character in this book is a hoot. Harrison makes you want to be a part of this world. Each and every time.
    • 5/5
      Book # 10 in the series and the plot and characters are still fresh and exciting. Kim Harrison brings us another edge of the seat thriller. I was enthralled by every page unable to stop thinking about it.
      Rachel our little Demon Witch has found herself in a new pickle. She is being hunted. A radical group of haters out to rid the world of non-humans, is torturing and mutilating special types. Junks,Ivy,Trent and several others try to keep her out of danger. They try really hard, unfortunately, That is not an easy task.
      Trent really steps forward in this story. He is busy raising his two daughters and building a safe home for them while running his company. He is there for Rachel, leaving her doubts floundering. They develop a new understanding, talking things through. Perhaps there is a future without hate between them ?
      This was a transitional book, relationships are changed. Environments are altered and a level of understanding is finally found. The next book looks like a new horizon for Rachel and her friends. I am looking forward to reading their new paths.
    • 3/5
      I'm feeling generous... 3 ½ Stars.
    • 5/5
      Really enjoyed the latest addition to the hollows series. Most of the book was taken up on Rachel's struggle with keeping or removing the silver band. And finally she accepts herself! It only took 10 books!

      I did like the addition of a new big bad in the human hate group, HAPA. I love the new characters and hope to see more of Wayde, Winona and Emojin.

      Could have used more Al but I understand why that wasn't possible.
    • 4/5
      Synopsis: Al, and the other demons, think that Rachel is dead. The silver bracelet she's wearing has turned off her powers leaving her vulnerable to practically everyone. She's also not very good at allowing her body guard to actually do his job, nor does she trust Trent to help her regain her powers. Into this mix come personal frustrations, the re-emergence of HAPA, the head of IS abusing a living vampire, and the head of FIB inserting herself in an ongoing investigation. And then there are the-men-who-don't-belong.Review: One of the best by Harrison, this book adds a whole new set of characters while letting established characters 'get on with their lives'. The HAPA mole was rather obvious.
    • 3/5
      An enjoyable adventure not quite as good as Pale Demon. This review will be about this book, eventually, but I wanted to say that, looking back, I'm surprised by how much I like the book before this in the series. I didn't expect much out of a roadtrip book, and got much more than I expected.

      So . . . this book was decent, and I'm really trying to evaluate it on its own merits. Left with the problems created in the last book, Rachel is forced to live a life without leyline magic or face her demon heritage. New factions rising up only complicate things.

      Things I liked
      -How the elf children are changing Trent. For a character I really disliked early on, Trent has become a favorite character of mine, independent of series. Like Kelley Armstrong's Eve, Trent very rarely lets morality impede his protection of those he loves.
      -Rachel making noises suggesting she is coming to accept what she is. Progress is good, but get on with it already!
      -Ivy has a great storyline, trying to help another living vampire that's fallen victim to a senior, undead vamp.

      Things I didn't care for
      -Really, Rachel, you're still whining about the same crap? I know you have to preserve characterization, but let's grow the eff up a little faster. Please? I'm trying to cope and failing.
    • 3/5
      The latest book has Rachel dealing with living as a demon but not using any of her demon powers. A fringe group of humans are killing witches in a ritual to try and make them into demons are trying to get Rachel as she is helping both the FIB and IS track them down in a joint forces task force. A good story and as usual there is character growth and changes in Rachels world that makes this a good read and not just a new power to deal with the latest bad guys.
    • 2/5
      I just recently finished an entire re-read of the series in order to have it all fresh in my mind. I have to say - I love the series overall, but I do not really love Rachel right now. I don't hate her mind you - but a reader rather expects a certain amount of character progression and growth over the course of a long series like this one.

      I, however, did not feel like she exhibited any during at least a little more than the entire first half of this book (plus a number of previous books) to reflect any of her experiences through the course of the series. People have flaws, that's to be expected - but jeez sometimes I wonder how she has managed to even live this long - sheer dumb luck and having others pull her fat out of the fire?? I was constantly getting aggravated with her while reading this and wanted to ass punch her.

      I'm sure that there has been some actual growth for her as a character/person but I really wasn't feeling it here. That's what left a bad taste in my mouth. If I ever did a reread again I would probably leave this one out of the rotation.

      The interactions, oh don't get me started, all of them seemed very 'topical' like a itch cream you put on to get past some poison ivy or something. Overall I felt it lacked depth to the things that took place or the way the characters dealt/interacted with one another like there was no real substance to anything.

      Also, I hate repetitive writing, and do I REALLY need to hear about the darn butterfly chrysalis three times in the first half of the book? REALLY?? Really....Really...too blatant if that's supposed to be setup for something later on. Yeah I threw all the Reallys in there just to annoy you...feel my pain people.

      There were of course some saving graces to this book otherwise I would have rated it much lower than a 3 - but for the life of me - I really just can't think of many of them right now. So call me a Negative Nancy. I still enjoyed seeing the characters I've come to love. There was some nice emphasis on Jenks and Ivy "moving on" with their lives - though I got tired of hearing about Rachel whine about it. I liked the idea of Jenks and Belle getting friendly - it worked for me. Other than that - nothing is coming to mind.

      Ok, so I change my mind - after writing this - I have to give it a 2...or 2.5. And no I'm not PMSing...I just can't justify something higher in my opinion. Though I'm sure many will disagree. haha
    • 3/5
      I love the whole hollows series. Rachel, Ivy and Jenks pull it off time and time again. Magic, mystery and danger follow them where ever they go.We get to see Rachel without her magic and it is just plain scary. Hiding from the world, Rachel goes through a personal journey of emotional growth. Chaos ensues.
    • 4/5
      A Perfect Blood is the 10th book in The Hollows series by Kim Harrison. I've been gobbling these books up like Thanksgiving dinner since I found the series! I probably should go slower because there are only two more books published in the series, but one is expected to be published next year. I also read somewhere that the series was only going to 13 or so books. (whimper)Anyway, as always, there's lots of action and excitement. Once again, Rachel is being hunted for something. I know she's the main character in the series, but I'd like to see Ivy or Jenks being hunted as the main story! Still, it was a great storyline that kept me reading way past my bedtime. Rachel's relationship with Trent is changing and both of them are confused. It's fun to watch them circle each other as they try to figure out what's happening. Since Rachel doesn't have a boyfriend in this book, there's not as much adult material, but she does have some naughty thoughts!A Perfect Blood lives up to its predecessors in the series. It's smart, funny, exciting, and enjoyable to read!
    • 3/5
      3.5 stars

      This is not my favorite book in the series. I did enjoy it, but Rachel just has way too much self doubt. I know that is who she is, but it seems to be getting worse not better. I still love Jenks. He is my favorite character in this series. I'm glad to see that he is moving on without Matalina, though you can tell it is hard for him. There is little Al, which is shame, because he is a great character. I find that I'm liking him more and more, especially after this book.
    • 4/5
      I'm already hanging out for the next one! Where is Trent and Rachel's relationship heading? If anywhere? It is nice to see a gentler side of Trent too, fatherhood looks good on him. The fact that Jinks and Ivy are drifting away makes me a little sad, but that's life, and Rachel needs to learn to stand oun her own. Or maybe by Trent's side. I am curious to see how Al's little crush on her is going to pan out too. The Al/Rachel pairing seems the most biologically compatible one of all the possibilities, and Al has come a long way from the murdering demon he once was. I enjoy his little interactions with Rachel, and also with the girls at the end.

      I cannot remember Daryl, however, what book did she come into it? Or is she from one of the side stories? Also, the ending, in some ways, reminded me of the ending of BBCs Being Human (I've just watched season 4).

      Another engrossing adventure. Loved it.
    • 5/5
      Another great book from Kim Harrison... All i can say is i hope the series never ends because the characters in the book are great... Great storyline... If you havent read it yet please do . It is MUST READ!!!
    • 4/5
      A reboot for the series, this is Rachel's "new normal". This book started slow for me, with Rachel's trademark foot dragging putting off the inevitable. By the end, I felt like I was reading the prelude to the rest of the series... Still completely satisfying to revisit these characters, Wayde was a fun new addition. This book resolves uncharacteristically few issues, but the one it attacks is pretty huge.
    • 5/5
      In some ways, A PERFECT BLOOD felt like a greatest hits or a reunion show - characters, events, and themes that sometimes take a backseat in the Hollows books all play a part. There's lots of Ivy, David the alpha werewolf, politicking amongst I.S. and F.I.B., lame ex-boyfriend Marshal, Ceri, Quen, a very satisfying amount of Trent. This assemblage, friend and foe, all seems to point toward something new, something I've never thought about in the Hollows books before: endgame.

      I've never wondered where Harrison is heading with all of this, what I want Rachel's life to look like when the series is over, if there's any possible way for elf, demon, witch and human to live in peace. A PERFECT BLOOD set all of these issues down on the table for me, and gave me some confidence that Harrison has answers in store.

      There's a plot, which is pretty gripping, about a group of anti-Inderlander humans who want to synthesize demon blood and are willing to commit horrible atrocities in order to do it. But I don't want to talk about the plot. Something about A PERFECT BLOOD put me in a reflective mood. Kim Harrison has made so many choices over the course of this series that turned out right. Like, reviewers often gripe about how annoying it is that every time Ivy walks onto the scene we get a paragraph about how gorgeous and dangerous and irresistible she is. And it's true, I've felt that way myself, "Gah, why must I read another swoony description of Ivy's throat as she drinks orange juice?" - but you know what? The Hollows is the only urban fantasy series I can think of where, ten books down the line, vampires have retained their mystique. Vampires in this world are SCARY. Ivy is Rachel's roommate but she's still strange and foreign, unnerving. And THAT is why vampires retain their mystique in this series. Because Rachel is just as deeply affected by Ivy - by all of them - now as she was way back in DEAD WITCH WALKING. All those descriptions add up to something powerful, something that gives the world integrity.

      I think the last couple installments in the series - PALE DEMON and BLACK MAGIC SANCTION - might be better books in some ways, more pulse-pounding and visceral. There were a couple of major plot points in A PERFECT BLOOD where I knew what was coming and I could guess what would have to happen to trigger the necessary event. Like, for example, Rachel's magic-dampening bracelet. She starts the book wearing a bracelet that cuts her off from the ley lines and prevents her from doing any magic. She wants it on so badly that I knew it would come off, and it was pretty easy to guess what sequence of events would provoke her change of heart.

      But A PERFECT BLOOD felt pretty major to me. It marks a turning point. The last few books have been about Rachel figuring out who and what she is. Her personal story, from sickly child to badass demon, has told us the story of how her world came to be. And now that Rachel is ready to ACCEPT who and what she is, she's ready to change everything, for everyone else.

      I dunno. I just love this series. I love the incredible worldbuilding, the concreteness of all the details, the huge cast of characters, the insane, high-stakes, high-octane moments played off against downtime at the church. I am especially delighted about everything that happens with Trent in this book. Because, seriously, he's got endgame written in big letters on his forehead in A PERFECT BLOOD and as far as I'm concerned, that's how it ought to be.
    • 2/5
      Disappointing. It really seemed like the character was getting her act together in the last book, but she really lost it here. She could not make one good decision during the course of this book. And it's not just that they were bad decisions--they were stupidly awful decisions. For a woman who has been through what she has, you'd think her "let's not be a complete idiot" survival instinct would kick in. This was so frustrating it made it difficult to enjoy the story.
    • 3/5
      The beginning of this book was so slow going that I made up a drinking game:

      Drink Whenever:

      - You are reminded of something that happened in the past (long series - lot of past events to explain)
      - The author uses the word Moulage (WTF Harrison? Word of the day much?)
      - Rachel feels guilty
      - Rachel whines about her magic (or lack thereof)
      - Rachel whines about her friends
      - Rachel whines about her love life
      - Rachel does something INCREDIBLY STUPID (like forgetting to check her gun is working, or that the guy she knocked out is actually knocked out, or running off on her own, leading to the next point)
      - Rachel gets herself captured
      - Vampire Pheromones are mentioned
      - Rachel worries about Jenks being cold
      - Rachel mistrusts the good guy and trusts the bad guy

      I could have made a much longer list but by the time I was a quarter through the book I would be Jersey Shore drunk and, while my infant son was sleeping I didn't think he would appreciate waking up to Snookie passed out on the couch muttering "Moulage" over and over.

      If you can push through the first half of the book it does get better after Rachel takes off the stupid bracelet and starts listening to Trent. It was a decently enjoyable read but, I didn't see much character growth or story progression. In a series as long running as this, we already know the characters and the world building has already been established. As such, I expect the author to use her 400 pages in order to move the larger storyline along rather than let our characters sit stagnant.
    • 4/5
      I have read the entire Hollows series and love the world that Kim Harrison has created. I enjoyed this book but, it was not one of my favorite installments in the series. It's a departure from the action and surprise that the earlier books have. My favorite thing about this series is the relationships between Rachel, Ivy and Jenks. In this book those relationships are changing which is intentional but I really miss the closeness the characters had in the earlier books. There is too much of Rachel moping around in this book and not enough of her trademark bad assedness. Not a lot of action in this one which is disappointing. Rachel for the most part comes off weak and unskilled. I really hope Kim Harrison changes that in the next book and gets back to having Rachel kick butt and take names.
    • 3/5
      Pretty good follow up in this urban fantasy series. Stayed up way too late finishing it, the series is just fun. I didn't enjoy it as much as the last as it felt a bit like I could see the machinations of the author deliberately moving some plot points along too slowly to set up the next books. Or maybe I was just sad because there was no awesome road trip in this book, unless like the last. I need to go travel somewhere soon.
    • 4/5
      The first 4-star book of the series, in my opinion. It's finally firing on all cylinders, Rachel is irritating in more relatable ways, Trent is actually kind of delightful, and the plot is tight. It's a straight-up serial killer mystery with bonus conspiracies, and the focus keeps it together where most of the previous books fell apart. Not quite sure it was worth the slog to get to, but now I'm genuinely looking forward to the finale.

      I will say that Rachel's prime pattern - get told something is too dangerous, do it anyway, fuck it up, and get out of it through a combination of luck, guts, talented backup and massive collateral damage - is so old it's undead at this point. But she is finally both giving other people credit for her successes and preparing at least a little more, so it's not pure eyeroll-inducing stupidity. It's still close, though.
    • 5/5
      Fantastic! A perfect blend of old-school gumshoe detective hitting the streets to solve a mystery, new fangled kick-butt heroine, and paranormal detective novel. Phillip Marlowe meets Sherrilyn Kenyon ... and outdoes them both!