abhrasach's review against another edition
3.0
A pleasant read, though more fun after Rachel got tired of being magic's punching bag. (Also, while unintentional, some of the typos are hilarious.)
bibliobabe94's review against another edition
4.0
Rachel is a witch, employed as a runner for Inderland Security, bringing in Hollows folks. After a few mishaps, her assignments keep getting worse and she decides to quit (even though no one ever leaves IS alive). Her boss is fine with her leaving, but when Ivy Tamwood, another runner, and the last of the Tamwood vampire royalty, decides to leave too, and go into business with Rachel, her boss puts a death threat out on Rachel. Great story, entertaining, imaginative. 072908
peritract's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a long time to get round to reading Dead Witch Walking. The book gets a lot of praise, but it was first mentioned to me as “urban fantasy about killer tomatoes,” and that description did nothing for me. It sounded like comic fantasy, and the list of authors who can manage to do that well is extremely short.
Dead Witch Walking is not comic fantasy, and killer tomatoes don’t really feature. Instead, a weaponised virus used tomatoes as a carrier, eventually wiping out a significant proportion of the human population. In the aftermath of this tragedy, vampires/witches/et cetera revealed themselves to humanity. The book takes place long after this, in a post-masquerade world where monsters are feared but accepted as part of reality.
Rachel Morgan is tired of dealing with bad assignments and unreasonable orders. For years, she’s been an employee of Inderland Security, tasked with solving supernatural problems – rogue vampires, black magic, that sort of thing. Now she’s ready to strike out on her own.
Life outside the I.S. isn’t easy though. With only a pixie and a vampire as backup, Rachel has to find steady work and stay alive, all the while dealing with demons, drug lords, and an agency that really doesn’t like people breaking their contracts.
I think the main thing that impressed me about Dead Witch Walking was how well the exposition was handled. There’s an awful lot of world-building and set-up to get through in order for the plot to make sense, and the opening of the book really doesn’t drag at all. The book has an original and complex setting – a twist and an evolution on standard urban fantasy ideas – yet within a few chapters you have a good handle on what’s happening and why it’s important.
There’s a strong plot, with a lot of twists and threads. I felt that, given the amount of background required in the book, that a simpler plot might have worked a little better. Towards the end of the book, there’s almost too much going on. Dead Witch Walking is the first book in a series, and a slower introduction – perhaps with one of the subplots shifted into prominence and the main plot pushed back into a second volume – might have worked well.
Unlike a lot of urban fantasy with a female protagonist, this book is not simply a fantasy veneer over a romance plot. There is a romance between the protagonist and a side-character, but it’s not the focus at all. In fact, throughout the book, I was hoping for a difference romance. The love interest is fine, I guess, but the character who Rachel really has chemistry with is Ivy, her vampire colleague/housemate.
The characterisation of those two and the detail of their relationship is done really well, and while there are hints at a confusing and complex romance, those plot threads just fade away. I’m not saying that the romance has to happen, but the relationship between the two of them is something that deserves more focus and exploration, whether it goes in that direction or not.
Overall, Dead Witch Walking is a strong start to a series. It’s a book that does a lot of work setting up its world, but manages to create interesting characters with compelling problems. It’s definitely worth reading, and I’ll look out for the sequels.
Dead Witch Walking is not comic fantasy, and killer tomatoes don’t really feature. Instead, a weaponised virus used tomatoes as a carrier, eventually wiping out a significant proportion of the human population. In the aftermath of this tragedy, vampires/witches/et cetera revealed themselves to humanity. The book takes place long after this, in a post-masquerade world where monsters are feared but accepted as part of reality.
Rachel Morgan is tired of dealing with bad assignments and unreasonable orders. For years, she’s been an employee of Inderland Security, tasked with solving supernatural problems – rogue vampires, black magic, that sort of thing. Now she’s ready to strike out on her own.
Life outside the I.S. isn’t easy though. With only a pixie and a vampire as backup, Rachel has to find steady work and stay alive, all the while dealing with demons, drug lords, and an agency that really doesn’t like people breaking their contracts.
I think the main thing that impressed me about Dead Witch Walking was how well the exposition was handled. There’s an awful lot of world-building and set-up to get through in order for the plot to make sense, and the opening of the book really doesn’t drag at all. The book has an original and complex setting – a twist and an evolution on standard urban fantasy ideas – yet within a few chapters you have a good handle on what’s happening and why it’s important.
There’s a strong plot, with a lot of twists and threads. I felt that, given the amount of background required in the book, that a simpler plot might have worked a little better. Towards the end of the book, there’s almost too much going on. Dead Witch Walking is the first book in a series, and a slower introduction – perhaps with one of the subplots shifted into prominence and the main plot pushed back into a second volume – might have worked well.
Unlike a lot of urban fantasy with a female protagonist, this book is not simply a fantasy veneer over a romance plot. There is a romance between the protagonist and a side-character, but it’s not the focus at all. In fact, throughout the book, I was hoping for a difference romance. The love interest is fine, I guess, but the character who Rachel really has chemistry with is Ivy, her vampire colleague/housemate.
The characterisation of those two and the detail of their relationship is done really well, and while there are hints at a confusing and complex romance, those plot threads just fade away. I’m not saying that the romance has to happen, but the relationship between the two of them is something that deserves more focus and exploration, whether it goes in that direction or not.
Overall, Dead Witch Walking is a strong start to a series. It’s a book that does a lot of work setting up its world, but manages to create interesting characters with compelling problems. It’s definitely worth reading, and I’ll look out for the sequels.
ezichinny's review against another edition
2.0
More of 3.5 because it finished well. Now I want to know who is Nick and what is Trent?
I think I will read Book 2.
I think I will read Book 2.
bleucaldwell's review against another edition
3.0
This book felt like the first in a series in that it was a little slow-moving due to the world-building, but I really enjoyed it. I like the world being built, and the characters are a lot of fun. Plus, there were enough loose ends and mystery surrounding them all that I'm looking forward to reading more.
rouver's review against another edition
2.0
Eh, just like the rating I gave it...it was ok. Interesting story, just kind of poorly written. Humanity has been decimated by a virus that was accidentally released, meaning that half of the population is now "Interlanders"...witches, were, leprechauns, pixies, etc, who were immune. Fearful of Interlanders, most humans live in the cities. The suburbs & countryside is populated by the magically-inclined. The story focuses on a witch who is a 'runner' by trade. Think FBI/cop combo that brings in Interlander perps. She decides to quit her job & strike out on her own as an independent, but her company doesn't take well to witches who decide to leave & she now has a contract out on her head.
There are enough cliff hangers that aren't resolved at the end that I'm going to give the 2nd book in this series a try, but so far, I wouldn't really recommend the book.
There are enough cliff hangers that aren't resolved at the end that I'm going to give the 2nd book in this series a try, but so far, I wouldn't really recommend the book.
pkrawr's review against another edition
5.0
Highly recommended. First book in the Rachel Morgan series. This supernatural sleuthing novel features a lot of memorable characters. You quickly become involved in the elaborate world of an alternate present-day Chicago, in which supernatural beings struggle to live normal lives alongside humans.
waheela's review against another edition
5.0
This is the third time I've read the book over the years. Its still good and I hope to get though the whole series this time.
Worldbuilding is good. The protagonist is not annoying. She is bad ass without being a Mary Sue with flaws and vulnerbilities.
Side characters especially Jenks is one of my favourites.
Worldbuilding is good. The protagonist is not annoying. She is bad ass without being a Mary Sue with flaws and vulnerbilities.
Side characters especially Jenks is one of my favourites.