The Good, the Bad, and the Undead: Rachel Morgan, #2 -- Kim Harrison

I was a huge fan of the first Rachel Morgan book, so when I brought it back to the library, I immediately ILLed* the second one.

Plotwise:  Someone is murdering ley line witches, Ivy's vampirism is making living with her difficult, an extremely dangerous pizza-making master vampire has taken an interest in Rachel, the demon Rachel tangled with last time is back, Rachel thinks she's got a chance to nail Trent Kalamack for murder, and she looks into Kalamack's mysterious background.

Okay.  Sadly, this one really didn't do it for me.  I felt that the Last Book Recap was far, far too long, so that made the first third of the book kind of, well, dull.  I got the distinct feeling that the Ivy-goes-vampy-and-attacks-Rachel scene is going to happen again and again and again, and it's already feeling kind of old.  Also, I should just get over myself, but there were a LOT of typos in the edition I read, and it was distracting.

But my main problem is this:  I hate Nick Sparagmos.  I hate him, hate him, hate him.  I don't understand why Rachel is dating him, he's untrustworthy at best, and also just plain lame.  He might be book smart, but he has no common sense, and I think it wouldn't take much of a push for him to go over to the Dark Side.

If he goes away** later on, I'll be much more likely to continue with the series.  I really like the world Kim Harrison has created, the politics and the magic system.  For the most part, I like the characters.  The action is well done, and the big sex scene in this one (while a tad long, didn't feel gratuitous -- well, much) wouldn't have even made me blink if it had been with pretty much anyone BUT stupid Nick Sparagmos. 

I am very curious about the history between Rachel's father and Kalamack's father, as well as possible team-ups between Rachel and Kalamack and especially Rachel and Quen.  And I do love the pixies.  So, yeah.  I talked myself into it.  I'll probably continue with the series.

*Against her better judgment, my lovely co-worker finally taught me the official KFL procedure for ILLing materials.  Now she's worried that she's created a monster.  Honestly, she may have.

**I'd prefer to see him get killed off, but I'd settle for a move to Japan or something.