Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison

It is always a long wait between Kim Harrison books, actually it's only a year, but well worth it.

In New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison's most complex and nuanced adventure yet, bounty hunter and witch Rachel Morgan fights a deadly battle—mind, body, and soul

Black Magic Sanction

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.

I just want to say that Kim Harrison is one of my all time favorite authors. I laugh, cry, mourn, and love right along side her characters. And Black Magic Sanction keeps with all the rest.

There are three things you can always expect from a Kim Harrison novel:
1. Action
2. Humor
3. Character Development
Black Magic Sanction had them in spades. There is plenty of action as Rachel has to deal with the Coven of Moral and Ethical standards (or whatever it is called), Trent, Big Al, and a blast from the past Nick.
The humor is always abundant in the Hollows. One minute it's Jenks calling Nick "Crap for brains" and the next it's Rachel going off on someone because they "made" her do something. I love when books make me laugh out loud. And I am proud to get the funny looks from my husband every time I read a book from the Hollows.
One of the best things about this latest book is the character development. Rachel grows so much in this book, I can honestly say I am proud of her. And oddly enough, my favorite character in this installment was Al. We get to see a different side to our favorite demon, and a whole lot more.

Black Magic Sanction was a joyride from start to finish. For long time fans of the series it is a superb addition to the already stellar series. And for those just starting, make sure you start at the beginning, Dead Witch Walking, you don't want to miss a single sentence of this fascinating and beautifully told series.

For series information, and details on how to receive freebies visit her website here

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

This is one of those books I found by trolling around amazon. I read some of the reviews, and lets just say some were not good. But I have never let that stop me before. And I am glad I bought this book any way.

Love can be a dangerous thing....
Hanna simply wants to be loved. With a head plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly, violet dresses, Hanna's tired of being the outcast, the weird girl, the freak. So she runs away to Portero, Texas in search of a new home.
But Portero is a stranger town than Hanna expects. As she tries to make a place for herself, she discovers dark secrets that would terrify any normal soul. Good thing for Hanna, she's far from normal. As this crazy girl meets an even crazier town, only two things are certain: Anything can happen and no one is safe.

Where do I begin with this book. Let me first say that I really liked this book. It was imaginative and well written, but to sum it up in one word I would have to say it was "crazy." But in a good way. The story and the characters were something else.

The story follows a sixteen year old girl that has been diagnosed with manic depression and bipolar disorder. She has run away to this town that is not normal, full of residents that are unique (they only wear black, except for a few that wear green).

It was such a joy to read this book. Please give it a chance. Go into it with an open mind and enjoy it for what it is. A well written escape from the norm!

Here is a link to the authors webpage http://www.diareeves.com/

Homeland by R.A. Salvatore

Whenever I am in a discussion about favorite Sci-fiction/fantasy characters one name always comes up, Drizzt Do'Urden. I had never read a book by Salvatore before and decided it was time to pick one up.

Travel back to strange and exotic Menzoberranzan, the vast city of the drow and homeland to Icewind Dale hero Drizzt Do'Urden. The young prince of a royal house, Drizzt grows to maturity in the vile world of his dark kin. Possessing honor beyond the scope of his unprincipled society, young Drizzt faces an inevitable dilemma. Can he live in a world that rejects integrity?

Being a huge fan of science fiction/fantasy I was really looking forward to reading a book by one of the best writers of the genre there is. I was not disappointed.
Salvatore has created a world that is dark and savage. The Drow elves live deep underground in a land called the Underdark. It is a hard life, survival of the fittest. If you can get away with it, it never happened, especially murder.
Drizzt Do'Urden was a pleasure to read about. In a society where cruelty and deception prevails, he realizes that it is not the way he wishes to live. Throughout his childhood, adolescents and further onto school and then his career he tries to come to terms with his own perceptions and those of the society he is supposed to live by.
Homeland was a wonderful read. The world of the Underdark was built so well I could see it clearly in my mind. The characters were well written and the plot flowed nicely. It was a story full of action, heartache and self discovery.
I look forward to reading more about Drizzt Do'Urden!

Here is a link to the authors website http://www.rasalvatore.com/

My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

This is the sequel to My Soul to Take

When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.
So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn't wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can't cry for someone who has no soul.
The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad's ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend's loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can't possibly understand.
Kaylee can't let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk….

This book was so good. It picks up pretty much where My Soul to Take leaves off. I won't get into the plot for those that haven't read the first book. But it was exciting and I read the book in one sitting.

You don't have to read the first in order to enjoy this one, but I recommend it. It will make more sense if you do. I also recommend reading the short story on the autors website that starts everything off. It is called My Soul to Lose and you can find it here http://rachelvincent.com/MSTL.html

2010!!!

Wow, where have I been. It's been a pretty busy new year. I am looking forward to all the wonderful new releases we will be able to devour. The ones I am most looking forward to are Kim Harrison's Black Magic Sanction and Patricia Briggs's Silver Borne. Young adult have some to look forward to as well: The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong and Gone by Lisa McMann are two I am excited about.

2010 is shaping up to be a really good year for reading. So snuggle in and enjoy!