Black Magic Sanction (The Hollows Book 8)

It takes a witch to catch a witch, but survival bears a heavy price. Hardcover , 1st Edition , pages. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Black Magic Sanction , please sign up. Michelle Lang I am currently reading the series, and would recommend reading it in order.

See 1 question about Black Magic Sanction…. Lists with This Book. If I'm being honest then this did not live up to my expectations.

I expected something more than some random action. While this, like its predecessors, was highly entertaining it lacked the thrill the others gave me. By the time I had finished the book I was feeling as if the plot had become extremely thin on the last few pages. The ending was nowhere near satisfying.. Now, as for the characters, in this one my disappointment in Rachel skyrocketed.. I hate how she can't control her sexual attract If I'm being honest then this did not live up to my expectations. I hate how she can't control her sexual attraction, and yes, sometimes it's good to keep that thing in check instead of sleeping with whomever makes her blood run high because for her, that means T-R-O-U-B-L-E.

This book also has a returning character. Won't mention his name, but I'm sure you know who I'm talking about. I also didn't like how judgmental Rachel was of him.. She's done some pretty bad things for the sake of her friends, she's taken lots of smut and she keeps on getting more and more tangled up in her mess. Meanwhile, she just won't let the guy forget what he's done, and I'll admit he's not a saint, but has she ever stopped to think about what made HIM do the things he does?

The only part in this book that made me feel some thrill was something that has to do with an important loss in Jenks life. I won't delve into that one because the wound is fresh for me and Jenks both.. I just hope that the next novel in the series works out some of the malfunctions this one had for me.. Aug 19, David rated it did not like it. That was annoying You know the relationship you are in is in trouble when you start to be annoyed by your partner They probably aren't doing anything different than they were doing a month ago, but one morning you wake up and think to yourself, "Man, the way she baby-talks to the dog is annoying" or "Oh my God, if he clips his toenails in the living room one more time I'm going to scream.

I woke up this morning and realized Rachel Morgan and Kim Harrison have begun to really annoy me. Now, to be fair, I came to Black Magic Sanction pre-annoyed at having to wait an additional month for the Kindle edition. Yes, I realize that Ms Harrison had no control over that, but I was never-the-less annoyed.

Paperback Editions

I also understand that this is the eighth book in the Hollows series, and that any review of something this far along is more to vent than anything else. My secret fantasy is that Ms Harrison reads all of these reviews and takes them to heart. If White Witch, Black Curse already had you questioning Ms Harrison's abilities, then I would borrow her latest from a friend or the library. If you've been enjoying the series up until now, then a bunch of negative reviews aren't going to mean a whole lot. They wouldn't have stopped me from getting it.

Until now, I've been a big fan. Black Magic Sanction is strike 1.

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I've not gone back to re-read earlier Hollows books to see if the bloom is off the rose or if this is really the first failure in the lot. I really hope it's the latter. And now, a rant-ish list of spoiler-filled grievances If the goal is to make Rachel a homophobe, fine, but just do it already. All Rachel's mewling and whining about wishing she could be the friend she wanted to be got old a while ago. I am annoyed that Nick is still alive. We know that Rachel won't because we learn in this book that she is so adverse to taking a life that murderers go free, loved ones go unavenged, and she probably loses sleep at night for all the micro-organisms she kills from respiration.

I am annoyed that Nick is apparently a Master Thief, capable of figuring out Trent's vault: I didn't even know I could do it until Nick suggest you could. Why don't you check his mommy's basement. That's apparently where Master Thieves live when they're not stealing priceless magical artifacts, cracking impenetrable vaults or running elaborate cons. I am annoyed that Pierce, who is essentially hundreds of years old with more tragic experiences than someone twice even that age, is apparently hopelessly in love with Rachel.

Let me explain something to you, Ms Harrison, because you make the same mistake every other female author I have read makes when hooking up really old steamy vampire, reincarnated spirit, angel, etc men with twenty-something, kick-ass heroines. Take it from a man in his 40s, after Pierce or Bill, or Dante, or Dracula I am annoyed that Ms Harrison's solution for how to get the Coven off of Rachel's un-shunned back is to have Trent and the Coven essentially go on record with a hastily concocted lie so preposterous that no one in their right mind would believe it.

Never mind that just a few pages prior to the unveiling of Rachel's ridiculous plan, we learn that lie-detection rings are standard issue among reporters so the public statements Rachel needs to have made by Trent and the Coven will be known to be false. I am still annoyed prior book carryover that Jenks is alive.

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Don't get me wrong, I love the Jenks character. It was with almost dread that I approached his seemingly inevitable demise, but at the same time I was wholly impressed by Ms Harrison's choice to make a pixy's life span so short and was really looking forward to how she would handle so traumatic an event in the dynamic of her characters. Silly plot contrivance and Jenks gets to live And on the subject of pixy death, I am annoyed As someone who found themselves a widower at 39, trust me when I say that a few heartfelt platitudes do not transform someone from suicidally-grief-stricken to I-miss-her-a-bunch-but-I'm-wholly-functional.

I especially loved Rachel's whole, "I know what you're going through because my dad died when I was 10 and my boyfriend of I'm the reason they attacked. I think, Ms Harrison, that either you or your editor need to have your world shattered by loss before attempting another such subplot. As it is, I found your handling of Jenks and Matalina sophomoric and offensive. I am annoyed with Rachel's seeming inability to learn from repeatedly making the same mistakes.

I am annoyed with trying to understand why Rachel's cadre see her as some sort of leader when she is portrayed as an immature, serial screw-up. And finally, out of the myriad other plot failings of Black Magic Sanction I've not mentioned, I am annoyed lawyering is apparently more binding that magic. Or how about the Coven? They fight with magic and red tape. We want to abduct you, give you a lobotomy, and then use you as a vegetative baby maker And let's not forget that the primary tension device in the climatic end-scene is whether or not David will show up on time with Nope, a bunch of legal papers.

I assume Matlock will be showing up as some sort of guardian wraith in the next book. Please, Ms Harrison, find an editor who has both the intellect and the stones to tell you when what you are writing is stupid. View all 8 comments. Rachel and Ivy are minding their own business, doing a bit of grocery shopping, when this blonde chick in a frumpy suit starts making eyes at Rachel. Or so she thinks. I smell a rat.

Especially when the previously thwarted coven of moral and ethical standards becomes privy to this information, using it to, yes, summon Rachel. Which puts her in a bit of a JAM. Al and Rachel grow in their new roles as teacher and student, and Rachel finally shows some caution on the romance front. Trent is consistently NOT evil, and even shows that he values Rachel as a person. My other reviews for this series: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond View all 11 comments.

Dec 09, Jacqie rated it did not like it. I think I'm done with Kim Harrison now. Her last book didn't really float my boat, and this one was more of the same.

Publisher's Summary

Rachel feels misunderstood, tired, hungry, cranky, angry, and roughed up, due to yet another horrible bad thing that makes her worry about her friends, feel that she's not ready for a relationship, and take everything on by herself so no one she cares about gets hurt. In the first pages she's attacked three times by the same baddie, summoned and sent to prison and escapes, dri I think I'm done with Kim Harrison now. In the first pages she's attacked three times by the same baddie, summoned and sent to prison and escapes, drinks lots of coffee, and never gets 8 hours of sleep due to all the madness.

It makes me tired- too much Perils of Pauline. Pacing is one thing, but all the action is becoming a substitute for character and plot development. Rachel's angst and self-doubt are starting to get tired. The character she was in the first books would be appalled at the actions she's taking now.

She needs to lose the pseudo-morality and just get the job done. I'm tired of her judging other characters for using black magic while she's making deals with demons. I didn't actually finish the book- I got tired of the round-and-round. Not sure I'll crack the next one. View all 3 comments. Feb 28, Lightreads rated it it was ok Shelves: The better the orgasm, the longer they clamp down and keep the participating penis in place!

Jan 30, VampireNovelFan rated it liked it Shelves: I enjoyed this book much more than the previous installment, however I think I would have been happier had Harrison stretched plot out over two books instead of dragging it out in book 7 which I can hardly remember anything important happening and then cramming a million and one things into this book. On one hand it is fast paced which I like, but on another it's a big mess.

I am with the lot that does NOT like Pierce. I had Gary Stu vibes at the beginning which raised flags but it only got wor I enjoyed this book much more than the previous installment, however I think I would have been happier had Harrison stretched plot out over two books instead of dragging it out in book 7 which I can hardly remember anything important happening and then cramming a million and one things into this book. I had Gary Stu vibes at the beginning which raised flags but it only got worse and worse as the book progressed as he got more and more clingy and now I can stand him less and less.

He is officially the least tolerable boyfriend. He has to be at Rachel's side every second and it's nauseating. He has a lot of knowledge, but just leave it at that. Maybe I could stand her other boyfriends better because they weren't on every freakin' page.

Kisten I loved to vampy bits though, rest is double dead soul. It is a sad day when I can say I preferred Nick!! Why is it that Rachel's boyfriends save for Kisten have 0 chemistry with her? Kisten could make chemistry with a cardboard cut out, so he just might be an exception to anything. I really hope Harrison limits Pierce's presence significantly in the next books because after a while I found myself skimming and outright skipping pages that involved him I was enjoying the book 20 times more when he wasn't there.

I'm just not feeling the retcon of how he gets dibs so fast because he was "there all along. She was such an afterthought in this book and that was a real shame. That was Ivy's place, not his and it angered me a lot. I was really disgusted by that. I hear book 9 should be a real treat for us, so I am looking forward to it! There were definitely some priceless scenes here. I was glad we got a glimpse into their past as well.

They have their own bond that is complicated and hard to explain, but it's oh so important at the same time! I do hope they explore a relationship at some point. I would have never thought around book 1 that I would ever want to see Rachel and Al together, but by golly I wouldn't mind it now!! I started to like him a bit more in WWBC probably because there wasn't much else to like in that book , but here he really began to stand out. I couldn't help but enjoy him knocking Pierce around like a rag doll.

So all in all, there were times I loved the book, and then times I hated it, so I will have to give it a 2. One star for Trent and one star for Al. The plot being all over the place knocks it down half a star, and then Pierce knocks it down 2 more. Books 3 and 6 are still my favorites.

Here's hoping book 9 can bring it back to that 5-star mark that I know, love and miss with this series! View all 15 comments.

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Feb 26, Smash added it Shelves: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Why can't I choose more than 5 stars? This was my favorite book of the series, thus far. Or maybe it just seems like my favorite because of my sincere disappointment in WWBC. The first pages were a friggin whirlwind of action, and it doesn't ever slow down. There were great highs and serious lows in this book, and it made for an all around fantastic journey. Al is a sneaky, devious Why can't I choose more than 5 stars? Al is a sneaky, devious demon though, and I think he is cooling his heels until the right opportunity comes for him to claim Rachel completely.

Jenks had some great lines, as always. I must say that I didn't mind too much that Ivy wasn't as present in the book. I like Ivy, and think her relationship with Rachel is important, as is her involvement in Vampiric Charms, but I've been eh lately about her.

Rachel Morgan: The Hollows (8) - Black Magic Sanction

I do look forward to the budding romance she has going with a certain character though. I was glad to see Rachel try and move past Kisten in this book. His memory still haunts her and me! Hope it continues to become something significant. I really like Pierce, and I do find him sincere in his use of black magic. I hope I'm right about him! I could go on I loved this one. Rachel finally is accepting what she is and what she can do. Anyway, the book was a masterpiece! Dec 14, Sheralyn rated it really liked it Shelves: Thank heavens for ARCs. I won't drop spoilers, although I can thank Kim Harrison for not leaving me drowning for book 9.

I can actually take a deep, calming breath and mentally accept the year wait until the next book I've always been a spoiler fan and speculator, though, so I have to say I hope the next book is the story that finishes what the short story "Unbound" started, Thank heavens for ARCs. I've always been a spoiler fan and speculator, though, so I have to say I hope the next book is the story that finishes what the short story "Unbound" started, with Daryl causing some SERIOUS fireworks on all levels and I can only pray in my little heart of hearts that 10 Skimmer gets out alive or undead--but undead would be better and goes on a rampage.

Love Glenn, but I want him to die a hero saving someone. Rachel and Trent are like siblings to me. I would gag and lose respect for everyone if they became an item. And that's all I have to say about that, although I welcome other speculators to throw their thoughts in: Jan 20, Marissa rated it really liked it Shelves: Now that I have finished the book, I am pleasantly surprised at where it ended. I wanted to give it 4. Al is one of the best characters I have read in a while, and Trent has been my number one pick for Rachel since almost the beginning.

All my excitement and enjoyment came from these three and the ways they play off each other. It is so fascinating! 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.

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. I waited for this book for a year.

In book 7, Rachel found herself shunned by the Witch community and ex-communicated because of her demon dabbling. Rachel was at an all-time low, and I was eager to find out how she would deal with this new catastrophe. My first big complaint has to do with the introduction of yet another male love interest for Rachel, in the form of ghost Pierce. I really liked that short story, and admittedly Pierce and Rachel had quite a bit of sparkage in just that little anthology. Pierce was silent until he stopped right before me, his face showing an unreadable emotion.

No matter what your choices lead you to, you will remain such. But I refuse to get invested in his character.

Black Magic Sanction (Rachel Morgan / Hollows, book 8) by Kim Harrison

Her series has amazing scope; they are truly epic and grand-scale. Meanwhile Rachel is denying her growing feelings for Pierce…. It certainly feels like Harrison is going over old territory and not giving readers anything new. Rachel, Ivy and Jenks and their unconventional but steadfast friendship is the main reason I keep coming back to this series. This price is set by the publisher and is ineligible for a promo code discount. About this title Audio Format. Ratings and Reviews 0 1 star ratings 0 reviews.

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