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tiffanyxcc's review against another edition
3.0
Black magic sanction is book 8 in Kim Harrison's Hollows series. I have to disagree a bit with the book description above, about this being the most complex or emotionally charged adventure. That does not mean it was a disappointment, however. Does the book have it's tear jerker moment? Yes. Get a box of tissues ready. But, we've had a few equally as heart wrenching for Rachel and her friends.
Adventure wise, I would say this one is less action packed than other novels in the series. Mostly, Rachel just wants to escape the covens efforts to sterilize her, or imprison her in Alcatraz. Again.
There are quite a few interesting developments as far as Rachel's interactions with Al, who is a big part of this book. They are in the beginning stages of ACTUALLY trusting one another. Could be interesting...
Rachel's plan to get the coven off her back is equal parts ingenious and humiliating, but that is what she's great at, right?
I don't want to give away too much of this novel, as I feel there are only a few noteworthy points in this novel. It's just one of the slower novels in the series.
For more reviews visit Kickassurbanfantasy.ga
Adventure wise, I would say this one is less action packed than other novels in the series. Mostly, Rachel just wants to escape the covens efforts to sterilize her, or imprison her in Alcatraz. Again.
There are quite a few interesting developments as far as Rachel's interactions with Al, who is a big part of this book. They are in the beginning stages of ACTUALLY trusting one another. Could be interesting...
Rachel's plan to get the coven off her back is equal parts ingenious and humiliating, but that is what she's great at, right?
I don't want to give away too much of this novel, as I feel there are only a few noteworthy points in this novel. It's just one of the slower novels in the series.
For more reviews visit Kickassurbanfantasy.ga
jimbowen0306's review
3.0
This is a strange book. It's the 8th book in the Rachel Morgan series. In the books Morgan (a witch) works with Ivy Tamwood (a vampire) and Jenks (a pixie) as she battles the forces of the dark side.
In this book, the witches coven hear that Morgan works with demons to "do down" the baddies and decide that she needs to be reigned in. They tried "shunning her" at the end of last book. When that didn't work, they decided to be more proactive and attmpt to arrest her (and send her to Alcatraz) or lobotomise her.
The first half of the book is good. It sets up the arrest attempts well and I was thinking (at that stage) that this was the best book in the series. The problem is that I think that once she gets to the "dealing with the coven" stage, it takes too long to get to a conclusion.
Through the second half of the book, I was thinking "Come on, come on, get a fricking move on." In short, it dragged and that dragged down my view of the whole book to my mind.
In this book, the witches coven hear that Morgan works with demons to "do down" the baddies and decide that she needs to be reigned in. They tried "shunning her" at the end of last book. When that didn't work, they decided to be more proactive and attmpt to arrest her (and send her to Alcatraz) or lobotomise her.
The first half of the book is good. It sets up the arrest attempts well and I was thinking (at that stage) that this was the best book in the series. The problem is that I think that once she gets to the "dealing with the coven" stage, it takes too long to get to a conclusion.
Through the second half of the book, I was thinking "Come on, come on, get a fricking move on." In short, it dragged and that dragged down my view of the whole book to my mind.
darienjade's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
hirvimaki's review against another edition
4.0
The Hollows keep getting better and better. A very enjoyable read.
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Eighth in the Hollows or the Rachel Morgan urban fantasy series revolving around the Vampiric Charms Agency consisting of Rachel, Ivy Underwood, and Jenks.
It's a tricky in and out twisting through this story as Rachel desperately attempts to figure out how to get the coven off her case and lift the shunning.
Rachel can be such an idiot at times...look at how she forgot what she was doing at Big Al's! Although, she does gain some interesting concessions from Al and the coven. I think this is where we begin to discover that Rachel likes Trent...as in like-like. Her relationship with Pierce also undergoes a sea change.
Big Al has set Rachel up with this latest spell and Pierce takes advantage of it, talking Newt into sending him back to Earth as Rachel's backup. Of course, Newt was doing her own bit of setting Al up. A betrayal that is reflected in the mortal world with the coven of moral and ethical standards as they pursue Rachel with illegal intent. The treatment to which they subject Rachel spurs her on to forcing Big Al to swap summoning names with him for Rachel refuses to take any more chances on the coven's idea of restraint: lobotomies, sterilization, and lifelong imprisonment. Of course there's the "freedom" of becoming a brood mare for the coven…
It all prompts Rachel to come up with a bizarre plan to get both Trent and the coven off her back. All it takes is trusting Nick, stealing an artifact, and giving it back very publicly while ensuring the media hears all about it.
Quite the hunting experience.
Rachel Morgan has been getting in so much trouble with the coven and the accusations of her dealing with demons. Ivy is a living vampire and plays a role in the background this time while Jenks is a pixy and is somewhere in between in this story. Although the whole pixy family does have some major action. Matalina is Jenks' wife. Rex is Jenks' cat who only recently decided to accept Rachel. Bis, the teenage gargoyle who lives with them, discovers some new powers.
Gordian Nathaniel Pierce is the coven ghost buried alive who has been following Rachel for some time. Al found him a body, Tom Bansen's to be accurate and now he's Big Al's familiar. Algaliarept, "Big Al", is a demon who has been after Rachel since the beginning. Treble is Al's gargoyle ordered to teach Bis. Newt is the crazy, nutcase demon who rules over all the others and would love to get her own hands on Rachel. Krathion is a crazed demon soul whom Newt slipped to Al. Nick Sparagamos is a lying thief who uses everyone around him; he really digs himself a hole in this one. Sidereal is the leader of the attacking fairies.
Trent Kalamack is an elf, a drug lord, a billionaire, and now he's running for mayor in Cincinnati. He's also constantly trying to force Rachel to work for him exclusively; it certainly doesn't help that Rachel owns Trent as a familiar. Their adversarial relationship has been in place since they were children. Mr. T is his horse with an interesting secret. Ceri is a 1000s-of-years-old elf whom Rachel rescued from imprisonment as a familiar for Big Al and now she helps Rachel with the curses she needs. Quen is in charge of Trent's security and is Ceri's lover, the father of her child. Jonathan also works for Trent and he hates Rachel. Stanley Saladan is another of Trent's dad's successes in reversing the Rosewood syndrome; Trent, Rachel, and Lee were at the same children's camp. He managed to escape Big Al's service and actually comes in useful here.
Detective Glenn is having it off with Ivy; he's also Captain Edden's son (both are with the FIB). David is the alpha of the pack to which Rachel belongs and makes his appearance primarily through references by other characters. Rynn Cormel also plays offstage and very sub rosa refusing to help Rachel and holding Ivy back. Those belonging to the so-self-righteous coven of moral and ethical standards include Vivian with her white curses that are destroying people; Brooke; Oliver; Amanda; and, Wyatt.
Federal Inderland Bureau (FIB) is the human policing agency. Inderland Security (I.S.) is the supernatural policing group.
The black, white, and royal blue of the cover really pops the red of the title. It showcases a Rachel wearing a low-cut, cropped black tank top with hip hugger jeans with a studded bicep brace and chainlink belt as she holds an extremely sharp blade. Rachel is in a watching stance next to an angry, red-eyed Bis perched atop the church steeple, a full moon shining behind them.
The title refers to Rachel's trouble with the coven and the order of shunning, a Black Magic Sanction.
My Take
It's a tricky in and out twisting through this story as Rachel desperately attempts to figure out how to get the coven off her case and lift the shunning.
Rachel can be such an idiot at times...look at how she forgot what she was doing at Big Al's! Although, she does gain some interesting concessions from Al and the coven. I think this is where we begin to discover that Rachel likes Trent...as in like-like. Her relationship with Pierce also undergoes a sea change.
The Story
Big Al has set Rachel up with this latest spell and Pierce takes advantage of it, talking Newt into sending him back to Earth as Rachel's backup. Of course, Newt was doing her own bit of setting Al up. A betrayal that is reflected in the mortal world with the coven of moral and ethical standards as they pursue Rachel with illegal intent. The treatment to which they subject Rachel spurs her on to forcing Big Al to swap summoning names with him for Rachel refuses to take any more chances on the coven's idea of restraint: lobotomies, sterilization, and lifelong imprisonment. Of course there's the "freedom" of becoming a brood mare for the coven…
It all prompts Rachel to come up with a bizarre plan to get both Trent and the coven off her back. All it takes is trusting Nick, stealing an artifact, and giving it back very publicly while ensuring the media hears all about it.
Quite the hunting experience.
The Characters
Rachel Morgan has been getting in so much trouble with the coven and the accusations of her dealing with demons. Ivy is a living vampire and plays a role in the background this time while Jenks is a pixy and is somewhere in between in this story. Although the whole pixy family does have some major action. Matalina is Jenks' wife. Rex is Jenks' cat who only recently decided to accept Rachel. Bis, the teenage gargoyle who lives with them, discovers some new powers.
Gordian Nathaniel Pierce is the coven ghost buried alive who has been following Rachel for some time. Al found him a body, Tom Bansen's to be accurate and now he's Big Al's familiar. Algaliarept, "Big Al", is a demon who has been after Rachel since the beginning. Treble is Al's gargoyle ordered to teach Bis. Newt is the crazy, nutcase demon who rules over all the others and would love to get her own hands on Rachel. Krathion is a crazed demon soul whom Newt slipped to Al. Nick Sparagamos is a lying thief who uses everyone around him; he really digs himself a hole in this one. Sidereal is the leader of the attacking fairies.
Trent Kalamack is an elf, a drug lord, a billionaire, and now he's running for mayor in Cincinnati. He's also constantly trying to force Rachel to work for him exclusively; it certainly doesn't help that Rachel owns Trent as a familiar. Their adversarial relationship has been in place since they were children. Mr. T is his horse with an interesting secret. Ceri is a 1000s-of-years-old elf whom Rachel rescued from imprisonment as a familiar for Big Al and now she helps Rachel with the curses she needs. Quen is in charge of Trent's security and is Ceri's lover, the father of her child. Jonathan also works for Trent and he hates Rachel. Stanley Saladan is another of Trent's dad's successes in reversing the Rosewood syndrome; Trent, Rachel, and Lee were at the same children's camp. He managed to escape Big Al's service and actually comes in useful here.
Detective Glenn is having it off with Ivy; he's also Captain Edden's son (both are with the FIB). David is the alpha of the pack to which Rachel belongs and makes his appearance primarily through references by other characters. Rynn Cormel also plays offstage and very sub rosa refusing to help Rachel and holding Ivy back. Those belonging to the so-self-righteous coven of moral and ethical standards include Vivian with her white curses that are destroying people; Brooke; Oliver; Amanda; and, Wyatt.
Federal Inderland Bureau (FIB) is the human policing agency. Inderland Security (I.S.) is the supernatural policing group.
The Cover
The black, white, and royal blue of the cover really pops the red of the title. It showcases a Rachel wearing a low-cut, cropped black tank top with hip hugger jeans with a studded bicep brace and chainlink belt as she holds an extremely sharp blade. Rachel is in a watching stance next to an angry, red-eyed Bis perched atop the church steeple, a full moon shining behind them.
The title refers to Rachel's trouble with the coven and the order of shunning, a Black Magic Sanction.
amandalyn's review against another edition
4.0
I have no idea why it took me so long to read this. I enjoyed it a lot but still took me forever to read it, when her other books have always only taken me a week tops. It must be that I'm still in mourning for my favorite character. Though a certain scene towards the end did make me forget about him. Only for a moment though.