What’s a witch to do when the coven of moral and ethical standards demands she untwist a curse—but an essential spell component no longer exists? There’s only one choice: go back in time.

Caught between self-exile and an Alcatraz cell, Rachel must find an Atlantean mirror to reverse the curse and prove to Cincinnati’s brand-new witch coven that, no, she does not practice illicit magic. Unfortunately, the only mirror of its kind in existence belonged to the insane demon Newt, forcing Rachel to go to the past to bargain with her for it.

But the time-travel spell goes awry, dragging Elyse, the young leader of the coven, into the past with Rachel. They expect to land five years in the past but instead arrive two days before Rachel’s long-lost love, Kisten, dies. Heartbroken and torn, Rachel knows she can’t change the past.

Even with no allies, Rachel still has one thing going for her: Cincinnati is her city, now and forever. If she can find a way to work with Newt and prevent Elyse from becoming the demon’s next familiar, they might all get home.

Even on book 18, Kim Harrison has with Demon’s Bluff created an immersive story, with action that is fast paced and complex characters. Even when all alone and without allies, Rachel can still find a way to make friends, create change and confront her past.  

One of the aspects I like the best is Rachel going into the past and confronting the man she once loved. Even though she has moved on with a new partner, having her tangle with Kisten again is satisfying as a reader. For me, I always missed the character and find it intriguing for Rachel to handle that narrative from a very different angle and viewpoint. As a writer, I appreciate the skill that went into writing a book intersecting with previous novels. And Kim Harrison does a fantastic job of keeping her timeline intact. 

I loved the complexities of the relationships, particularly between Rachel and Elyse. There are surprising twists in the story and the challenges Rachel faces as she confronts her past. It is an incredibly immersive story with engaging characters and one with a great resolution as well, one that will cause ripples in the universe of The Hollows. 

If you like urban fantasy at its best and are a fan of Rachel Harrison, I suggest reading this next book in the series. It won’t disappoint. I do recommend you to have at least read the earlier books in the series as the story will have more impact for you. But if you love the series, you will love this novel, especially the stunning end. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 demons