Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Want the Next Book Now!, 5 Jul 2006
I love this series. No, I mean I REALLY love this series! A quick rundown of its finer points: It's got action, though not over the top. It has a smidgeon of romance that lends a slight sensitive air to an often dangerous and suspenseful atmosphere. It has amazingly strong characters, from villain to heroine, that make you feel and know who they really are. And finally, though never least, it has a solid plot that advances satisfactorily with each progressive installment.
Rachel Morgan has had some tough issues to deal with in less than one year. She's been marked for death by the organization that she once worked for and survived. She's been marked and almost claimed by a rather nasty demon, yet managed to best even that complex being. And so achingly close to home, she's still coming to terms with her scattered love life, confusingly twisted around her roommate Ivy, her lover Kisten and former boyfriend Nick. It's not a love triangle, but it comes durn close! When her estranged partner, Jenks, comes on board for one last run, they're off to Michigan to pull Nick and one of Jenks' sons out of trouble. As always with our dear, flawed Rachel, she gets way more than she bargained for and soon they're fending off the unwanted attentions of some disturbingly unified Were packs. Why are the Weres uniting and what will it bring as the normally submissive species climbs its way towards top of the supernatural food chain? Nothing good for the vamps, which have much to lose if the packs do unite. With ultra aggressive Weres sniping from every direction, and more undead looking on her with not so subtle lust, what's a poor earth witch to do? With Rachel, it's an open book and fans may be surprised at the lengths she's willing to go to in this one.
If Harrison's new book is on the shelves, every other book I've got waiting to be read will just have to wait longer. Harrison pulls readers right in once again with this excruciatingly enticing installment, which I am completely convinced is the best of the series to date. Told in the first person, we're allowed a depth of Rachel's character that seems so much more personal than with books told in third person. Readers will feel every punch, every wound and recovery effort Rachel takes on throughout the story, as well as every emotion. This is an emotional wringer, with Rachel, Jenks and Ivy's problems laid barer than they've ever been before. There are two levels of betrayal that raised the bar in this one, one towards Rachel, the other towards Jenks that helped set this one apart from the previous books. And of course, the ever suspenseful situation of Rachel and Ivy... Kim Harrison is an amazing author, one I am so happy to see continuing with this thrilling rollercoaster ride we're on with her. Waiting with not much patience here for the next one!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jenks and Rachel rule!, 29 Jun 2009
I was so impressed with this book. It's the fourth in the Rachel Morgan series and is definitely the best so far. The pace was much better managed; I never felt as if the story lagged on -- indeed, from start to finish I could barely put it down! 'A Fistful of Charms' takes the characters out of their usual haunts (Cinncy and the Hollows) and into another city way out of town. This made for a nice change of pace and gave the book, as well as the characters, a nice breather.
Rachel soon finds that her AWOL ex-boyfriend Nick has run off with Jenks's son Jax and has stolen a very important (formerly lost) Were artefact. Despite Jenks's and Rachel's falling out in the last book they team up again for the rescue mission. Trent and Al are nowhere to be seen in this book, usually I would have been disappointed but Jenks more than made up for their absence. He was truly the star here and we got to see a very different side to him -- in more ways than one! For this run he agrees to be made human-sized via a spell; with some persuading he turns into a hunky six-foot-four eighteen year old blond. Hilarity thus ensues the whole way through as Jenks gets to grips with his new height; we learn a lot more about him and he becomes probably the best drawn character in the book. I thought it was funny Rachel drooled over him the entire trip -- it was a nice call-back to the first book when she ogled him as a small mink. Speaking of call-backs there were a heck of a lot in this book, which is always nice as it gives the series a feeling of connection. It reminds us that the story and their various events don't exist in isolation and what happens affects the characters.
The friendship between Rachel and Jenks was more fully explored here and almost the entire first half of the book is devoted to them. It says a lot that these two characters could carry the weight of the story with ease. Proving that when it comes down to it, they only really needed each other to have a successful run (plus some sleepy time charms). This story started with them both after all. There's a great moment where Rachel tells Jenks they're going to 'plan B', and he references back to the second book where he says: 'grab the fish and run like hell!' meaning they were going to wing it like they always enjoy doing. Even in the face of insurmountable odds! In some parts, however, I wanted to throttle Rachel for her stupidity. She's made to take a good hard look at herself due to the events of this book and I would hope it means she wises up a little. Her dumb behaviour at times beggars belief.
The scenes between Jenks, Rachel and Ivy being probably some of the best stuff Harrison has written in the series yet. It was very emotional and tense. Needless to say things get moving a lot more, ironic seeing as this book was barely in its normal location... and without its usual villains. Overall, an excellent book. I hope the next one is as good!
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6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
fantastic fun, 13 Oct 2006
everytime I buy a new rachel morgan novel i worry that it's not going to be as good as the last one - happily I haven't been disppointed yet. She hasn't fallen prey to series-tiredness as her characters become more involved and more twisted up with each book, which just gives the action more weight and makes me more addicted. And, with the pixy one-liners too... well, what more reason do you need to pick these books up? Heartily reccomended for pure escapism and a shot of adrenalin.
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