The Hollows Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order: Start at the Beginning

For the best experience, readers should follow the publication order of the main novels. While the series includes prequels and spin-offs, the narrative relies on character growth, complex political dynamics, and lore revelations that build sequentially. Starting anywhere other than the first book will spoil major twists and character arcs.

The ideal entry point is Dead Witch Walking (2004). This novel introduces Rachel Morgan, the post-apocalyptic Cincinnati setting, and the unique rules of Harrison's magic system. Reading in publication order ensures that you experience Rachel’s journey from a rogue bounty hunter to a powerful day-walking demon exactly as the author intended.

The Hollows Main Series in Publication Order

Below is the complete list of publications in the main Hollows series sequence, which includes the core novels, world guides, and key standalone novellas integrated into the main release timeline:

1. Dead Witch Walking (2004) – The novel that starts it all. Rachel Morgan quits her job at Inderland Security and starts a private agency.
2. The Good, the Bad, and the Undead (2005) – Rachel, Ivy, and Jenks take on a series of supernatural murders in Cincinnati.
3. Every Which Way But Dead (2005) – Rachel deals with the consequences of deals made with demons.
4. A Fistful of Charms (2006) – Rachel must rescue her ex-boyfriend Nick with the help of the werewolf Jenks.
5. For a Few Demons More (2007) – High-stakes tension rises as a dangerous relic surfaces in Cincinnati.
6. The Outlaw Demon Wails (2008) – Published in the UK as Where Demons Dare, this novel deepens Rachel's connection to the ever-after.
7. White Witch, Black Curse (2009) – Rachel struggles to cope with personal loss while investigating a series of banshee attacks.
8. Black Magic Sanction (2010) – Rachel is targeted by the human coven and threatened with being declared a rogue witch.
9. Pale Demon (2011) – Rachel embarks on a cross-country road trip to save her own life.
10. The Hollows Insider (2011) – A comprehensive, in-universe world guide filled with dossiers, maps, and world lore.
11. A Perfect Blood (2012) – Rachel investigates a series of ritualistic murders targeting demons.
12. Trouble on Reserve (2012) – A short story focusing on Rachel and Trent Kalamack on an escort mission.
13. Ever After (2013) – Rachel must travel to the ever-after to repair the failing ley lines.
14. The Undead Pool (2014) – Supernatural tensions reach a boiling point as a new magic threatens the city.
15. The Witch With No Name (2014) – Originally written as the grand finale to Rachel's epic story.
16. Sudden Backtrack (2014) – A novella told from the perspective of the demon Al, exploring historical elven-demon wars.
17. Waylaid (2016) – An ebook crossover novella connecting the world of The Hollows with Harrison's science-fiction series, The Drafter.
18. The Turn (2017) – A full-length prequel novel explaining the historical origins of the tomato virus.
19. American Demon (2020) – The series revival book. Rachel deals with the immediate aftermath of the events of the original finale.
20. Million Dollar Demon (2021) – Rachel relocates to navigate vampire politics and new threats.
21. Trouble With the Cursed (2022) – Rachel must travel to the sub-level of the ever-after to save her allies.
22. Demons of Good and Evil (2023) – High-stakes magical diplomacy as Rachel attempts to bridge the gap between elves, demons, and vampires.
23. Demon's Bluff (2024) – Rachel faces new challenges in this thrilling addition to the ongoing series.

The Hollows Graphic Novels

Kim Harrison expanded the universe with two graphic novels that serve as prequels, focusing on Rachel Morgan's early internship days. While not essential to understand the main plot, they offer great visual context for fans:

• Blood Work (2011) – Tells the story of Rachel's first major case as an intern at Inderland Security.
• Blood Crime (2012) – Continues Rachel's early struggles under the watch of her supervisors.

The Hollows Anthologies and Collections

Many of the shorter stories set in the Hollows universe were first published in multi-author anthologies before being compiled. The major collections to look out for are:

• Dates from Hell (2006) – Features the crucial Ivy-centric novella Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil.
• Into the Woods (2009) – A comprehensive short story collection containing multiple stories, including Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil, Dirty Magic, and Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel.

What to Know Before You Start

The Hollows takes place in an alternate timeline where history split during the Cold War. Instead of the space race, scientists focused on genetic modification, leading to a bioengineered tomato virus known as 'The Turn'. The virus wiped out a quarter of the human population but left supernatural species (Inderlanders) completely unaffected. With humanity severely weakened, witches, vampires, pixies, and werewolves stepped out of the shadows to co-exist openly.

One of the series' most famous quirks is that almost all of the main book titles are direct plays on Clint Eastwood movie titles. Harrison chose this convention to emphasize Rachel Morgan's role as a gritty, lone-wolf protagonist who dispenses her own brand of justice, much like Eastwood's iconic Western and action characters. For example, The Good, the Bad, and the Undead riffs on The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, while Million Dollar Demon plays on Million Dollar Baby.

Additionally, readers should note that the series experienced a significant hiatus. The author initially concluded the series in 2014 with The Witch With No Name. However, due to strong fan support and new story ideas, Harrison returned to the universe in 2020 with American Demon, starting a new era of adventures that picks up shortly after the events of the original finale. A nineteenth main novel, titled Absolute Demon, is scheduled for release in early 2027.