Title: Blood Crime
Author: Kim Harrison
Series: The Hollows #0.3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Graphic novels, Paranormal fantasy, Strong women, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 14th June 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Graphic novel
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: 2012

You can’t tell the story of how it all began for supernatural cops Ivy Tamwood and Rachel Morgan without telling how it all nearly ended. The fiery living vampire and erstwhile earth witch never asked to be paired up in the first place. And having to work Inderland Security’s crummiest beat—busting two-bit paranormal street punks—sure didn’t sweeten the deal. But when it counts, Ivy and Rachel always have each other’s backs. They’d better—because someone just hung targets on both of them.

It doesn’t take a hotshot homicide detective to know that nearly getting flattened by a falling gargoyle or impaled by a lead pipe aren’t on-the-job accidents. But it doesn’t seem possible that the class of crooks Ivy and Rachel routinely collar could kill anything but brain cells. So who put Cincinnati’s tough and tender twosome on their “to do in” list? Is Ivy’s vampire master, the powerful and seductive Piscary, jealous of her growing bloodlust (and just plain lust) for Rachel? Or have forces unknown—living or undead—made the partners prey in a deadly witch (and vampire) hunt?

Before this case is cracked, Ivy and Rachel will face down vicious dogs, speeding locomotives, rogue bloodsuckers, and their own dark desires; spells will be cast and blood will be spilled; and Kim Harrison’s hair-raising, heart-racing, dark urban world of magic and monsters will leap howling from the pages of her second electrifying, full-color graphic novel.

I finished off Blood Work feeling really tense. Although I know that Ivy and Rachel must have a good, ongoing relationship after this first case, I still was seriously concerned for Rachel’s health. Blood Crime helped to continue on this origin story where you understand a little more of Ivy’s obsession and dark past. It also highlighted the strength of Rachel and the potential fun and sass of future cases.

The vivid imagery throughout this graphic novel completely swept me away. As did the total darkness of the storyline. Obsessive love is constantly featured. Actually I wouldn’t even really call it love. Just obsession. An obsession that is all consuming and seriously not healthy. I expected it from Piscray. I didn’t expect Ivy to mimic and mirror many of these emotions. Alright, Ivy’s thoughts and feelings came from a much nicer place, but they’re still totally not okay, and kind of seriously creepy.

The crime story throughout this is kind of interesting. But the part that I loved most about this was the darkness. The revealing of the damaging relationships between vampires and the ways in which there is constant abuse. It was completely blood curdling. Yet when I started reading Dead Witch Walking, I was ten times more committed to the characters within the first page.

Image source: Goodreads