A review by laurenjodi
Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison
4.0
Black Magic Sanction
4 Stars
Rachel becomes the target of the Coven for Ethical Standards who view her as a threat due to her ability to twist demon magic. Forced to evade the witches sent to capture her, Rachel must find a way to convince the Coven that she poses no danger, but this is easier said than done.
It would seem that The Hollows is finally living up to its potential. Whether it be the action surrounding the hypocritical Coven with its conflicting agendas, or the insights into Rachel and Trent's shared past, or the updates on the various secondary characters who have appeared in previous installments, Black Magic Sanction hits most of the right notes.
That said, there are some minor irritants such as a certain rat that keeps raising its ugly head. Once again the treacherous rodent is in his human form and set on betraying Rachel again and again. It is taking far to long for this nefarious thief to meet his well deserved demise.
While the Rachel/Ivy angst that detracted from the earlier books seems to have settled down, there are one or two annoying reminders that are completely superfluous. Harrison really needs to let this go; she made a choice with this relationship and needs to move on.
The same is true of Rachel and Trent. The glimpses into their interactions as youngsters are very tantalizing and demonstrate that despite the surface animosity, there is a deep seated trust between them that comes to the fore when necessary. Now if only the two of them could see what the readers already do.
In sum, Black Magic Sanction sets the stage for some compelling developments in Rachel's life and I am looking forward to seeing where Harrison takes her.
4 Stars
Rachel becomes the target of the Coven for Ethical Standards who view her as a threat due to her ability to twist demon magic. Forced to evade the witches sent to capture her, Rachel must find a way to convince the Coven that she poses no danger, but this is easier said than done.
It would seem that The Hollows is finally living up to its potential. Whether it be the action surrounding the hypocritical Coven with its conflicting agendas, or the insights into Rachel and Trent's shared past, or the updates on the various secondary characters who have appeared in previous installments, Black Magic Sanction hits most of the right notes.
That said, there are some minor irritants such as a certain rat that keeps raising its ugly head. Once again the treacherous rodent is in his human form and set on betraying Rachel again and again. It is taking far to long for this nefarious thief to meet his well deserved demise.
While the Rachel/Ivy angst that detracted from the earlier books seems to have settled down, there are one or two annoying reminders that are completely superfluous. Harrison really needs to let this go; she made a choice with this relationship and needs to move on.
The same is true of Rachel and Trent. The glimpses into their interactions as youngsters are very tantalizing and demonstrate that despite the surface animosity, there is a deep seated trust between them that comes to the fore when necessary. Now if only the two of them could see what the readers already do.
In sum, Black Magic Sanction sets the stage for some compelling developments in Rachel's life and I am looking forward to seeing where Harrison takes her.