I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: my own shelves
"Waylaid"
by
Kim Harrison
It is part of the The Hollows #13.5, series and is a science fiction, urban fantasy in eBook edition that was published by Pocket Star on April 4, 2016 and has 87 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Dates from Hell, Pale Demon, Unbound, Something Deadly This Way Comes, The Good, the Bad, and the Undead, Every Which Way But Dead, A Fistful of Charms, For a Few Demons More, The Outlaw Demon Wails, White Witch, Black Curse, Black Magic Sanction, A Perfect Blood, "Pet Shop Boys", "Trouble on Reserve", Into the Woods, Holidays are Hell, Ever After, The Drafter, The Operator, The Turn: The Hollows Begins with Death, "Sudden Backtrack"
A blend of Harrison’s urban fantasy The Hollows (13.5) and the science fictional The Peri Reed Chronicles (0.25) with Rachel and Jenks unexpectedly collaborating with Peri.
My Take
Harrison did a nice job of blending magic with high tech and created a reasonable scenario for Peri to encounter Rachel, although I would have liked to feel a touch more of Peri’s disbelief in this encounter.
The scene in the mall in which Rachel is communing with Al and Peri steps into the “conversation” was funny while Rachel’s ability to see the draft was a useful “fly in the ointment”. I hope that keeps Jack and Bill wondering for a long time.
I don’t understand why Rachel has to take the tech back with her? And where did Rachel’s accusation about Bill’s plans come from? I didn’t pick up on anything that would have tipped her off. What did I miss? I’d be curious to know as well where that comment about stealing or patenting tech came from.
The Story
It was a drunken Jack’s interest in vampires and magic as he plays with a device capable of carrying a city’s data stream and pulls Rachel into their time — and their Detroit.
To get Rachel and Jenks home, Peri must decide what will chart her future: her blind trust in those who grant her power or what her intuition tells her to believe.
The Characters
Peri Reed is a drafter and works with Jack Twill for Opti. Carnac is their cat; he looks a lot like Jenks’ Rex as well. Bill is their boss. Hank is a security guard at Opti Health.
Event Horizon hired Opti to steal back their accelerator.
Rachel Morgan is a witch. Jenks is Rachel’s pixy partner. Trent Kalamack gets a mention. Al is the demon.
Anchors remember what happened if a drafter shifts time.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a meld of Peri’s and Rachel’s heads, back to back, although neither of them looks like Rachel with her curly hair.
The title is what happens when Rachel gets “Waylaid”.
