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At issue once again is a werewolf artifact capable of catastrophic power, the Focus (readers will remember this relic as the source of conflict in A Fistful of Charms). Word is out that the Focus is in Rachel’s home town of Cincinnati and every species leader in town wants it for their own (certainly nefarious) purposes. When werewolves begin to turn up dead, it becomes Rachel’s job to learn who wants the Focus badly enough to kill for it. And she needs to do so before anyone figures out that she’s holding the powerful object. Meanwhile, her personal life is more tumultuous than it’s ever been as pixie and business partner Jenks is nearing the end of his life span; living vampire, roommate and business partner Ivy continues to struggle with her lust for Rachel’s blood and, this time around, Rachel’s willingness to give Ivy her blood; and Rachel’s boyfriend – another living vamp – Kisten, is ever watchful and insecure about Rachel’s eagerness to enter into a blood-balance with Ivy, yet not him.

In this chapter, the ever story-rich Hollows series seems to have two competing A storylines versus a more cohesive main storyline with supporting B and C subplots. There are the werewolf murders and then there is elf Trent’s wedding for which Rachel is hired to run interference between wedding guests and possible demon attacks. The latter eventually leads to the return of previously – if temporarily vanquished – bad guys, demon Al and master vampire Piscary. Rachel has significant histories with both these characters, with considerable scores to settle on both fronts. Piscary’s return alone is a catalyst for long simmering personal issues with Rachel, Ivy and Kisten to boil over with tragic consequences and, as such, it is too important to compete for page space. But, because these events do share time with the werewolf murders, Al and Piscary’s storylines feel as of they’ve been given short shrift. Ultimately all plot points fold neatly together as everyone battles for the Focus, but the resulting ties that bind are a bit too tentative.

After five entries into this series Rachel remains compelling for the constant conflict she faces as well as her never ending (losing some might say) struggle to learn about life’s gray areas. Throughout the series, Rachel has made the move from earth witch, to ley line witch, to twisting demon curses to, now, being known as a demon practitioner. Rachel is nothing if not a girl who’s never found a sword she couldn’t fall on and Harrison never fails to reward Rachel’s self-sacrifice with heavy consequences. For this book, and the series as a whole, Rachel’s personal conflict is relentlessly driven by the cost of her actions.

It would be remiss of any reviewer to spill end book plot points, which makes it difficult to address the next issue. There is a significant event at the end of For a Few Demons More that Harrison allows to happen off the page, despite Rachel’s presence in the action, and then blocks the details of the incident from Rachel’s memory. As readers, we never leave Rachel’s point of view, we can’t know what she doesn’t know, so that like Rachel we know the outcome of the event but not the all important particulars. Rachel will doubtlessly have abundant storylines in future installments as her memory recovers and she deals with fallout of this episode. But for now, Harrison’s handling of the situation is frustrating and frankly she is too accomplished a storyteller to fallback on such a cheap tactic that cheats the reader. It would seem the off-the-page action could have been more honestly and skillfully handled than with the too convenient loss of the protagonist’s memory.

Otherwise, Harrison’s world building is spot on, Rachel’s limited third person point of view enthralling, and the story-rich plot forces the turn of every page by splitting time between pushing forward, enticing with what is to come and circling back to long seething issues. There is so much that’s done right here, it’s almost blasphemous to suggest the series’ end should be in sight. Rachel’s much deserved peace will have to wait for now. For a Few Demons More will satisfy Hollow’s fans eager to see their favorite witch with her back against the wall, vampires at her throat, and charms at her fingertips.

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