Book Review: Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison

Black Magic Sanction

Author: Kim Harrison

Publication: Harper Voyager; 1 edition (February 23, 2010)

Description: Rachel Morgan has fought and hunted vampires, werewolves, banshees, demons, and other supernatural dangers as both witch and bounty hunter—and 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—at worst, a forced lobotomy and genetic slavery. Only her enemies are strong enough to help her win her freedom, but trust comes hard when it hinges on the unscrupulous tycoon Trent Kalamack, the demon Algaliarept, and an ex-boyfriend turned thief.

It takes a witch to catch a witch, but survival bears a heavy price.

My Thoughts: Rachel seems to go from one crisis to another is this the eighth book in the Rachel Morgan series. We begin the book with Rachel shunned by the Coven - an association of white witches - for using demon magic. They want her dead or, if not dead, at least sterilized and lobotomized (which probably isn't a word even though it doesn't raise a spelling flag). Naturally, Rachel is not in favor of this action. 

She is also busy learning more about her demon heritage, discovering new talents, and frantically pretending to be "normal." Al, the demon who has taken Rachel as his student, assigns Pierce to be her bodyguard. Pierce is also a black witch and Al's familiar. He is way to eager to use black magic for Rachel's tastes but she likes him. She doesn't want to get close to him because of her previous bad experiences. The men she loves either die or betray her. 

Rachel is cautious in choosing those she can trust. Ivy and Jenks are the inner circle. This book kept Ivy as very much a side character but Jenks got a larger role. This is the story when his beloved Matalina dies. But unlike most pixies, Jenks doesn't follow her into death. Rachel isn't willing to let him leave her and uses extraordinary measures to convince him that she needs him.

The story was exciting and twisty. It both resolves some old issues and sees Rachel learning and accepting her new powers. Fans of the series won't want to miss this one. 

Favorite Quote:

Together Ivy and I looked at the innocuous-seeming thing. The knots were hard under my fingertips, the hari they were made from silver and black  It tingled as if the power was leaking out. Elven magic. Wild. Unpredictable. God, I hoped I wasn't making a mistake. Trent had mad it, and I didn't know how good--or evil-- he was. Knowledge is power. Frowning, I fingered the first knot. Ignorance is bliss.

But curiosity--even if it had killed the cat--was king, and heart pounding, I moved the box from the bed and sat down. "You won't leave?"

I bought an copy and had it autographed at a book signing a couple of years ago. You can buy the book here. 

Teaser Tuesday: Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My teaser is from a book that has been on my TBR mountain since Feb. 25, 2010. I chose Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison. This is the eighth book in the Rachel Morgan series. I also happen to have an autographed copy of the book since a friend and I took a road trip to the Twin Cities to attend her author signing.
Here is the description:

Rachel Morgan has fought and hunted vampires, werewolves, banshees, demons, and other supernatural dangers as both witch and bounty hunter—and 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—at worst, a forced lobotomy and genetic slavery. Only her enemies are strong enough to help her win her freedom, but trust comes hard when it hinges on the unscrupulous tycoon Trent Kalamack, the demon Algaliarept, and an ex-boyfriend turned thief.

It takes a witch to catch a witch, but survival bears a heavy price.

Teaser:

Sentencing? Fear slid through me, and at my alarmed expression, Brooke smiled. They were railroading me into custody because a trial would bring it out into the open that witches ere an offshoot of demons  Humans would massacre us in our sleep like thy once had vampires.

ARC Review: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Shadow of Night
Author: Deborah Harkness
Publication: Viking Adult (July 10, 2012)

Description: 

"Together we lifted our feet and stepped into the unknown"—the thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestseller A Discovery of Witches

Deborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel, A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.

Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.

Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season.

My Thoughts: This book felt very much like the second book in a trilogy. It begins immediately after the cliffhanger ending of A Discovery of Witches. Matthew and Diana are traveling back in time to try to locate Ashmole 782, a rare book that could answer some questions about the origins of daemons, vampires and witches. Diana also needs to find a teacher so that she can learn more about her powers as a witch.

This one is a honeymoon story but with lots more magic and political intrigue. I found the first section which takes place at Woodstock, The Old Lodge in 1591 England to be a little confusing and slow going. The combination of Elizabethan intrigues, alliances, and plots combined with the tensions between witches and vampires made me wish for a scorecard so that I could keep track of who knew what and which side everyone was on. It didn't help that Matthew seemed to have a foot in all camps and was a spy. Diana quickly learned that the scope and number of secrets Matthew was keeping from her was daunting.

Diana, as a scholar and historian, was also stressed as she tried to learn to fit in during a time period she had studied. It didn't help that there were a growing number of plans to get rid of all the witches at the same time she needed to find a teacher. Diana makes intriguing discoveries about her own powers.

When the story moved to Sept-Tours and became more of a romance, I found it easier to feel engaged in the story. I liked watching Diana and Matthew forge a marriage of equals. They are both strong-minded, intelligent people who are very different. In fact, part of the conflict in this book is that vampires and witches don't have anything to do with each other. Yet here are Diana, a witch, and Matthew, a vampire, falling in love and fighting through massive opposition from just about everyone to be together. It was also hard seeing Matthew interact with his father who was no longer living in the present time. Matthew had a chance to go back for a history redo. He was also helped by Diana and his father to get over the grief and guilt he was suffering. 

This was a massive story filled with historical figures and plots and counter plots happening both in 1591 and in the present. The prose was engaging. The descriptions made me feel that I was there with the characters. And there was a massive cast of characters to keep track of. Fans of historical fiction as well as fans of paranormal fiction will find a lot to enjoy in this rich, complex story. But it doesn't stand alone, read A Discovery of Witches first.

Favorite Quote:

I was perched on an uncomfortable wooden chair in a confining array of smocks, petticoats, sleeves, skirts, and a tightly laced bodice. My career-oriented, twenty-first-century life faded further with each restricted breath.

I received this eARC from Viking via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. You can buy a copy here.

Friday Memes: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week.

Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness has reached the top of my review stack this week. This is the sequel to A Discovery of Witches. I got my copy from Viking via NetGalley. It will be published on July 10.
Here is the description:

"Together we lifted our feet and stepped into the unknown"—the thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestseller A Discovery of Witches

Deborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel, A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.

Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.

Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season.

That cliffhanger ending had me waiting impatiently for this book!

Beginning:

We arrived in an undignified heap of witch and vampire.

Friday 56:

"But mark my words, Matthew Roydon. Every creature within a day's journey suspects that you are a foul beast who feeds on blood. When they discover you are harboring a witch with these dark powers, God will be merciless on those who have turned against Him."

Book Review: Counterfeit Magic by Kelley Armstrong

Counterfeit Magic
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publication: Subterranean; Deluxe Hardcover edition (November 30, 2010)


Description: Return to the world of Kelley Armstrong's best-selling novels Dime Store Magic and Industrial Magic for a long original novella.

The first rule of a supernatural fight club? Don't kill your opponent.

When the fighters come with lethal spells, werewolf strength and half-demon powers, that can be a lot tougher than it sounds. It's hard to attract talent if they know they might not leave the ring alive. So when fighters at a California club start dying -- it's bad for business.

Witch detectives Paige Winterbourne and Savannah Levine take the case. Going undercover in the power-heavy arena of the fight club is a welcome change of pace for Paige, relegated to the role of The Wife as her husband struggles to find his place in his family's Cabal--the corporate Mafia of the supernatural world.

As Paige is drawn deeper into new and dangerous corners of her world, she quickly discovers the greatest threat isn't the killer in her sights. It's something much, much closer to home. And this is one fight she can't afford to lose.



My Thoughts: This novella features Paige, Lucas and Savannah and a case at their investigations agency. A half-demon comes to hire them to investigate her brothers' death at a supernatural fight club. She also makes a major play for Lucas. While Lucas goes off with her to investigate one end of the case, Paige and Savannah go off to investigate the fight club. The case quickly gets more complicated than they thought.


Paige is feeling more uncertain about Lucas since he has become more involved in the Cortez Cabal. She knows that that organization of male chauvinist sorcerers will never accept her, a female witch, as anything except an eccentricity of Lucas's. She is worried that Lucas will come to the same conclusion. This case seems designed to play on her fears.


This story is a lot about trust and how people can grow and change in a relationship. Paige and Lucas' relationship is tested in this one. This was also an entertaining mystery involving characters fans of the Women of the Otherworld series have come to know. It was a great added glimpse of that world for those fans. I recommend it for fans of the Women of the Otherworld series. 


Favorite Quote:

Ethan's car was there, alongside on old Camaro, complete with an eagle on the hood and big-breasted women on the mud-flaps.


"Classy," Savannah said. "Love the mud flaps. I didn't think they still made those."


"No hit on the plate," I said as I finished searching it on my phone. "Fake."


"Like I said, a classy guy. Since we don't have a name, I vote for Guido." She caught my look. "Yeah, yeah, I'm sure there are perfectly nice guys named Guido. In some universe."

I found this one buried in my TBR mountain and decided it was time to read it. You can buy yourself a copy here.

Teaser Tuesday: Counterfeit Magic by Kelley Armstrong

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I stumbled across Counterfeit Magic by Kelley Armstrong when I was browsing through a basket of older TBR books this past weekend and decided to move it to the top of my list. I bought it November 22, 2010. This is one of her original novellas published by Subterranean Press with some illustrations.

Here is the description:

Return to the world of Kelley Armstrong's best-selling novels Dime Store Magic and Industrial Magic for a long original novella.

The first rule of a supernatural fight club? Don't kill your opponent.

When the fighters come with lethal spells, werewolf strength and half-demon powers, that can be a lot tougher than it sounds. It's hard to attract talent if they know they might not leave the ring alive. So when fighters at a California club start dying -- it's bad for business.

Witch detectives Paige Winterbourne and Savannah Levine take the case. Going undercover in the power-heavy arena of the fight club is a welcome change of pace for Paige, relegated to the role of The Wife as her husband struggles to find his place in his family's Cabal--the corporate Mafia of the supernatural world.

As Paige is drawn deeper into new and dangerous corners of her world, she quickly discovers the greatest threat isn't the killer in her sights. It's something much, much closer to home. And this is one fight she can't afford to lose. 

Teaser:

Unlike the movie, the first rule of our fight clubs was not "don't talk about." Most supernaturals plugged into the seamier side of our world knew about them. Even finding one wasn't all that tough, if you knew who to ask.

Book Review: Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by H. P. Mallory

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble
Author: H. P. Mallory
Publication: CreateSpace (September 2, 2010)


Description: A self-deprecating witch with the unique ability to reanimate the dead. A dangerously handsome warlock torn between being her boss and her would-be lover. A six hundred year old English vampire with his own agenda; one that includes an appetite for witches. The Underworld in a state of chaos. Let the games begin. Life isn't bad for psychic Jolie Wilkins. True, she doesn't have a love life to speak of, but she has a cute house in the suburbs of Los Angeles, a cat and a quirky best friend. Enter Rand Balfour, a sinfully attractive warlock who insists she's a witch and who just might turn her life upside down. Rand hires her to help him solve a mystery regarding the death of his client who also happens to be a ghost. Jolie not only uncovers the cause of the ghost's demise but, in the process, she brings him back to life! Word of Jolie's incredible ability to bring back the dead spreads like wildfire, putting her at the top of the Underworld's most wanted list. Consequently, she finds herself at the center of a custody battle between a villainous witch, a dangerous but oh-so-sexy vampire, and her warlock boss, Rand.


My Thoughts: This book started out well but somewhere along the line either it lost focus or I did. I found myself easily distracted from this story. I kept using various avoidance techniques (check for new email, time to update my blog, anything new in my Google Reader?). And each time I came back to the story seemed like another opportunity for Jolie, the main character, to exhibit a lack of self-confidence or to put herself down in some other way. Of course, it also seemed to me that she had a major case of ADD (attention deficit disorder). I mean, who else would think she needed to start a work-out routine and mention in an internal monologue that she didn't really put on weight even though she wasn't active and could eat whatever she wanted, in the middle of a seduction scene?


Rand, the warlock who gets Jolie into the whole supernatural world, is also a ditherer - handsome, cut, powerful and completely unable to make up his mind about what sort of relationship he wants with Jolie. It was a constant case of "come hither, stay away" between the two of them which certainly didn't help Jolie's confidence (or advance the plot).

Speaking of the plot, it is fairly straightforward. Jolie is a psychic who is living a perfectly ordinary, if boring, life when Rand comes to her, tells her she is a witch, and offers to hire her to help him find out who killed a ghost. She travels with him to Chicago, finds the ghost, and brings him back to life. This very rare witch power drops Jolie right in the middle of supernatural politics. There are rival factions of witches. Rand opposes the evil Bella who really wants Jolie to be on her side. Rand takes Jolie under his wing to protect her from Bella. Also in the mix are vampires, werewolves, fairies, and demons who are choosing sides between Bella and Rand. Jolie's second reanimation is with the leader of the werewolves - Trent - who then becomes her boyfriend (until he dumps her) which puts his group of werewolves in Rand's camp. Many of the characters have hidden agendas and loyalties. This story revolves around gaining allies for the upcoming civil war in the underworld.

I found the ending to be rather abrupt but it certainly leads the way for the next book in the series - Toil and Trouble. While I felt that the book could have been shorter -- especially all the relationship dithering when Rand takes Jolie home with him to England, I did still find it interesting. I liked the world that the author created. And I liked the new Jolie that appears in the last few pages of the book. I will be following along to see how the story develops.

Favorite (Representative) Quote:

My head ached like a bitch. But it wasn't the pain that disturbed me the most; it was the sudden exhaustion that visited like a bolt of lightning. It was a fatigue the level of which I've never experienced before--like I hadn't had a thing to eat for two days and had just run a marathon--that sort of exhaustion. Course, I've never runa a marathon, but if I had, I'm sure I'd feel as tired as I now was.

I won this book back in Oct. 2010 for my Kindle. You can buy your copy here.