Title: Black Magic SanctionAuthor: Kim Harrison
Genre: Urban fantasy
Pages: Paperback, 546
Published: 2010
Opening Lines: "Tucking my hair back, I squinted at the parchment, trying to form the strange angular as smoothly as I could. The ink glistened wetly, but it wasn't red ink, it was blood -- my blood -- which might account for the slight tremble as I copied awkward-looking name scripted in characters that weren't English."
"Rachel Morgan has fought and hunted vampires, werewolves, banshees, demons, and other supernatural dangers as both witch and bounty hunter -- a lived to tell the tale. But she's never faced off against her own kind . . . until now.
"Denounced and shunned for dealing with demons and black magic, her best hope is life imprisonment -- her worst, a force lobotomy and genetic slavery. Only her enemies are strong enough to help her win her freedom. But trust comes hard when it hinges in the unscrupulous tycoon Trent Kalamack, the demon Algaliarept, and a lowlife ex-boyfriend-turned-thief."~ Jacket copy
Thoughts: I admit, since I started the series as a collection of paperbacks, I have held off reading/buying this book until it was finally released in paperback. While I'm happy that Harrison's books are getting enough attention to be printed in hardback, I really wish they would go back :( I hate waiting! Aside from that, it was worth the wait! After being badly burned by Laurel K. Hamilton, Harrison's Books of the Hollows are really refreshing!
After being shunned in the previous book, Rachel now has to deal with a pseudo price on her head. The coven of moral and ethical standards has decided that they want to deal with Rachel once and for all. Convinced that she is a demon, they are going to lock her away, lobotomize her to keep her from using magic, and take her ovaries. The only way out of this mess is by learning to trust the new people in her life and accept who/what she really is.
I really enjoyed this book. There were some very sad sections, but it really helped add depth to the story. In this book, Rachel had to finally take a close look at herself and fully see what/who she is. While black magic isn't necessarily the good first option, she was confronted with it head-on. In addition, after her multiple dealings with the coven and listening to Pierce, she was forced to question good magic and the views thereof.
I felt that on a character level, this book was very deep. Harrison has always done a good job of making Rachel a real and fleshed out character, but this book took her to another level. In addition, I found myself siding with Al on certain issues! When Al first appeared in book 1, I never thought I would want to see them together, but . . . Sheesh! In this book, he has really stolen the show!
On the whole, I really enjoyed this book! It was a fast read, but it didn't lack for plot or character development. Even though I am dying to know what happens in the next book, I'm not too excited about Trent having a big part to play. Admittedly, I'm not a huge Trent fan.
Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Currently: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Pages: 6569
Horror/Urban Fantasy Challenge: 14/24
Current Progress:
20/50 books
Well thought out and well written review!
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