Black Magic Sanction - Kim Harrison

Book 8 of Rachel Morgan Series

Rachel studies with Al don’t always go smoothly, infact they can be possitively dangerous.  However, when the witch community decide she is to be imprisoned and forced to have a lobotomy to stunt her abilities, her life becomes far more dangerous.  Having Al's summoning name makes things much worse as the Witches learn this and constantly call her over state lines in their attempts to capture her.  Then Nick comes back on scene and makes her life even harder.  The Witches send fairies to attack her in her home, with terrible consequences.  Some sad parts to this book in the series.  Plenty of action as Rachel is constantly put into dangerous situations and being on the run.  Did get a little tiring at times, and the print of the book was way too small

Rating - 3.5/5

Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff

Book 1 of Keeper Chronicles

This first book of the Keeper series introduces us to Claire - a Keeper - who is called to were she is needed.  She finds herself at a run down bed and breakfast where a hole to hell has been left open and an evil Keeper has been trapped in one of the rooms for years.  There is a lot of humour included, and I found the cat character became my favourite.  The magic used throughout the story was entertaining, and not always predicatable too.  I enjoyed how the author approached familiar creatures (vampires and werewolves) and the Olympus Gods were a nice touch.  Despite the good humour in the plot, the tense scenes were well written and strenghtened a readers connection to the characters.  Dean and Claire's relationship developes throughout the book, however, they are still orbiting around each other by the end of this book.

Rating - 4/5

City of Ash by Cassandra Clare

Book 2 of The Mortal Instruments Series

Id put off getting this book as the first was only a fair read. However, this second instalment is much better.  The characters are stronger, better established.  The foes they face are powerful demons raised by Valentine.  Jace is still my favourite character, rather than his sister Clary, who is suppose to be the lead character in this series.  There are some changes for those closest to Clary too.  The magic and fighting are more interesting in this story, and some side characters are more developed, possibly to play bigger parts in the next book

Rating 4/5

Sebastian by Anne Bishop

Book 1 of Ephemera series
Sebastian is the main character that drives this storyline.  He’s character develops as the plot progresses and I enjoyed how he discovers his true nature through the various dangers he faces.
His home the Den of Iniquity is a home for Demon’s, a landscape created for them by the Landscaper Belladonna.  Personally, I found this realm wasn’t intoxicating and erotic (as described on the cover), but rather a world of naughtiness, with a touch of risky banter. I would agree that most of the sexual content of this story, is more romantic based, with few sexually explicit scenes.
The more interesting storyline is of the battle between Belladonna and the Eater of the World.  Unfortunately this first book mostly introduces us to Ephemera and it’s quite a complex place.  With so many possible types of landscapes and character storyline’s I did feel not enough time spent on the Eater of the World element.


Rating - 3.5/5