Ritual Magic by Eileen Wilks

“Feelings are not always a guide to truth, and guilt is an indulgence you cannot afford. It clouds the mind.”

Title:  Ritual Magic (World of the Lupi Book #10)

Author:  Eileen Wilks

Rate:  C

In Eileen Wilks’s new Novel of the Lupi, FBI agent Lily Yu is about to confront a power even darker than magic…On her 57th birthday, Lily’s mother suddenly loses all memory beyond the age of twelve. Lily knows her mother was attacked by something more than magic. More . . . and darker.
When Lily and Rule discover that others suffered the same, mysterious loss—at the same time on the same night—their investigation into the darkness begins. Joining them is someone Lily never thought she’d see again: Al Drummond, who once tried to destroy her. He also happens to be dead. But the mysterious attacks were caused by a power strong enough to affect matters beyond the world of the living.
With some victims losing years of memory and others their lives, Lily must discover what on earth—or beyond—connects them. 

Thoughts:  To be honest, I dragged my heels when it came to getting this book….and then dragged them some more when it came to actually reading it.  I absolutely loved this series in the beginning, but it has become one of those series that has started to lose its spark for me.  Part of me feverently hoped that this would be the book that sets it back on track….and yet another dreaded it because I feared it would be the final straw for me with the series.  Unfortunately, it seems to be the latter for me.

With most other series, it usually comes down to just the whole plotline/story just not living up to the spectacular standards set by the previous books.  What makes this series a bit odd for me is instead it seems to be a loss of the integral part of the characters – now, in the tenth book, I honestly have forgotten why I loved these characters so much.  It doesn’t even seem like I am even reading about the same people anymore.  And that is truly a sad state of affairs since the characters used to be so vibrant.  The story is still a good one – but I miss the connection that used to exist for these characters – for example, Lily and Rule could almost be strangers they seem so different from who they used to be.  Not to mention their real, true interactions are few and far between.  It’s almost like now that they are together romantically, the author doesn’t know how to write them anymore.

I doubt I can handle reading another book in this series – it just reminds me of what is missing from those amazing books in the beginning.

 

 

The Witch With No Name by Kim Harrison

“I like beginnings better than endings.”

Title:  The Witch With No Name

Author:  Kim Harrison

Rate: A+

It’s Rachel Morgan’s ultimate adventure . . . and anything can happen in this final book in the New York Times bestselling Hollows series.

Rachel Morgan has come a long way from her early days as an inexperienced bounty hunter. She’s faced vampires and werewolves, banshees, witches, and soul-eating demons. She’s crossed worlds, channeled gods, and accepted her place as a day-walking demon. She’s lost friends and lovers and family, and an old enemy has unexpectedly become something much more.

But power demands responsibility, and world-changers must always pay a price. Rachel has known that this day would come—and now it is here.

To save Ivy’s soul and the rest of the living vampires, to keep the demonic ever after and our own world from destruction, Rachel Morgan will risk everything. . . .

Thoughts:  OMG…that quote is so true, and definitely applies to this book!  Beginnings are better….because seeing this series come to an end really SUCKS.  On an epic scale.  From cracking open that very first book and getting caught up in the chaotic world that is Rachel Morgan’s, I have been addicted to this series.  Every book was a must read – and every one was simply amazing.  This one was certainly not an exception.  Classic Hollows material, with a classy, perfectly fitted ending….it was nothing short of brilliant.  Though I definitely want to cry at the end of such an amazing series of books – I will miss these characters dearly!

 

 

The Undead Pool by Kim Harrison

Title:  The Undead Pool

Series:  The Hollows Series Book #14

Author:  Kim Harrison

Rating:  A+

Supernatural superhero Rachel Morgan must counter a strange magic that could spell civil war for the Hollows in this sexy and bewitching urban fantasy adventure in acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison’s Hollows series.  Witch and day-walking demon Rachel Morgan has managed to save the demonic ever after from shrinking, but at a high cost. Now, strange magic is attacking Cincinnati and the Hollows, causing spells to backfire or go horribly wrong, and the truce between the races, between Inderlander and human, is shattering. Rachel must stop this dark necromancy before the undead vampire masters who keep the rest of the undead under control are lost and all-out supernatural war breaks out.  Rachel knows of only weapon to ensure the peace: ancient elven wild magic, which carries its own perils. And no one know better than Rachel that no good deed goes unpunished . . . 

Review:  This is the book I have been waiting for!  For those of you who follow this series, you are already well aware of the sparks between itchy-witch Rachel Morgan and elven prince Trent.  While we have been tortured through numerous books on the yay-nay of a possible romance between these two, we actually get a book focused mostly on those feelings and desires – and I was in seventh heaven.  If you had asked me in book one, I would have said I didn’t see them together, but which each passing book I began rooting more and more for them!  In this one, they finally start really facing their feelings for each other – and realizing what lengths would be required of each for them to actually make it work.  And I relished every minute of it!

Of course, a Hollows book wouldn’t be the same without the requisite cast of characters – Ivy, Jenks, Biss, etc. – and the gang is certainly all here in this one.  Not to mention all of Rachel’s antics and luck!  You don’t want to miss the wild roller coaster ride that is a Rachel Morgan book – whether your an old fan or a new one.  Fans will love, love, LOVE this installment!  And if your new to her?  I definitely recommend this series – it is one of my absolute favorites!  You definitely want to read it from the very beginning, but trust me – it’s well worth it!

Witch Interrupted by Jody Wallace

Title:  Witch Interrupted

Series:  Shifter World Book #2

Author:  Jody Wallace

Rating:  B

Two decades ago, assassin Katherine Zhang faked her death to escape the Keepers, a secret council of witches who use magic to kill those who pose a threat to their kind. Once a powerful Keeper, she lives a solitary-but peaceful-life as a tattoo artist. Until a strange, handsome lone wolf named Marcus Delgado walks into her shop.

Marcus has his own reasons to hate the Keepers. A scientist who sacrificed himself to test the fragile boundaries between witch and wolf, he believes there’s a way to harness the combustible power between the two species. If he succeeds, he’ll be protected from the Keepers, but he needs a willing partner-and the delicious Katie just might be the perfect test subject.

Katie knows working with a wolf, an adversary she’s undeniably attracted to, is a dangerous proposition…no matter how tempting she finds Marcus’s proposal. But when a common enemy from their past threatens them both, working together might be the only option.

Review:  Witch Interrupted is a very original paranormal novel in which there is just a thin line between witches and werewolves.  Genetically, they are one in the same, however there is a whole story behind what causes witches to devolve into a werewolf.  Once that takes place however, it is impossible for the witch to find their way back to their former selves.  Marcus is seeking to change that.  Deciding to take place in events that lose him his witchy powers, he instead becomes a wolf, using his scientific background to see if he can reverse the changes.  Unfortunately, he needs a witch to help him – and having been betrayed before, he is at a loss as in who he might be able to trust without earning him the Keepers attention.  Enter Katie.  A former Keeper herself, Katie is also on the run – for her very life, and that of her families.  When she crosses paths with Marcus, can the solve the mystery between witches and wolves?

The creation of this whole genetic line linking witches and wolves was very interesting to read, and very original compared to other books I have read, with some amazing world-building.  The characters were all interesting, and it has a great plotline to it.  My only complaint was that it was a bit long winded at times, with the middle getting somewhat repetitive with the whole Katie gets captured by Marcus, she tries to get away – and repeat cycle.  Needless to say, the characters spend at exorbent amount of time not listening to one another and managing to build up a level of trust.  It could have been a bit narrowed down a bit for me, but overall a very good read.  It’s definitely a bit different for those who enjoy a good paranormal tale that is not your stereotypical fanfare.    Even though it’s part of a series, it is very much a stand alone novel, so no worries on that front.