White Witch, Black Curse audiobook

How could I not love this like all of the previous books? Not sure when there's going to be a book in this series that I do not give it 5 stars. This one deserved every single one of them, and so did its predecessors.A child banshee unable to control her powers and a mother bringing hell on earth to keep her safe and to herself. Bashees suck on emotion and eventually kill you. I dig this hard, it's amazing to see how powerful some creatures are and it's not even a demon. After the events of the last book, now that we know that every child Rachel has is going to become a demon.. She's acting nonchallant about it but it hurts her. Hell, who wouldn't it hurt? Rachel and Ivy are working things out, they are again at a good place, maybe the best they've been. Ivy is controlling her bloodlust better than ever and that's affecting their relationship. I loved how Rachel kept Marshall at distance. Rachel and Marshall get a no from me. But that's all in the past now. A new love interest arrives. Hmm, well, it arrived on the last pages of the book. And it made Rachel realize something. Kisten's killer is found. Yes, yes. Finally. I was disappointed by this but it's okay because there were many other things that surprised me throughout the book, so I'll forgive the author for that.Wow, I'm on to the next one now. The 8th book in the series. This may actually be the longest series that I've ever tried to read. It's worth its time, undoubtedly.

Tinks’ titties!* The rage was strong in this one. And rightfully so. Rachel wants to finally remember what happened on Kisten’s boat and thus find the killer that even tried to blood-bind her. She is helped in her endeavors by Ford, a very uniquely talented psychologist.But then there is an attack on Glenn, the FIB officer Rachel has been working with for a while. So „Vampiric Charms“ is investigating who attacked him, how and why - and, of course, it’s not going to be easy.Last but not least, Rachel’s mother is coming home from a trip and bringing Rachel’s older brother with her. That plus weird stuff happening around the house church (such as the phone ringing instead of being on vibrate or the ringtones being changed despite Jenks not having done anything) results in a tense and mysterious atmosphere. *snickers*Naturally, there is darker stuff, too. Like (view spoiler)[Al (broke) starting to snatch people who are with Rachel (hide spoiler)]. She can't let that stand, of course.I found myself getting angrier and angrier with all the people avoiding Rachel for her aura - you know, civilians who don’t know shit but presume they can judge those who fight (for them, also). Or all the slander. Right down to the fucking hospital daring to refuse treatment for Rachel on the witches’ wing, none of the stores selling to her anymore or the prison and the guard’s plan (view spoiler)[to let Rachel question Skimmer in the hope that she’ll get bitten, maybe even killed (hide spoiler)]. It was made worse by it not only being interlander civilians but the humans at the FIB, too, who still think that Rachel’s amnesia about Kisten’s death was too convenient.And don’t get me started on the arrogant idiot of a brother. Not just his opinion on her getting shunned or him never telling her about their bio-dad, but also him thinking the IS and everything else Rachel has done not being „a real job“ or that her friends aren’t real friends / good enough and that she should make new / better ones. Arrogant, ignorant little twat! Having a certain view on the world and god help anyone not fitting into that.The worst, though, is that these characters (there are others just like Robbie) get away with their terrible behavior and the second an abused character (like Rachel) is pushing back, they are automatically told to cut them some slack and to be better and all that self-righteous shit that is nothing but bull meant to give people like Robbie even more power over others. Not that Marshall was much better. I get that he doesn’t want to live outside of society but Rachel only did what was right, reacting to terrible situations - sometimes you have to break some eggs to make an omelette! Though worst of all is that ungrateful bastard, Trent! *screams in frustration*Thus, this volume made me feel all the feels and was a bit darker than the previous one again. Though not too much. Rather, by having the afore-mentioned infuriating elements it made the plot even more fast-paced. Not that the fights needed to get any more fast-paced. ;)Certain Schadenfreude-inducing turn of events ((view spoiler)[Tom finally getting what he deserved (hide spoiler)]) also made it more bearable.Moreover, we’ve slowly but surely moved more and more away from the usual witchcraft and towards demon magic, summonings etc. Since I love the more traditional witchcraft (making potions and stuff like that), I felt a slight pang. But I have to admit that I still love where the author is taking the series. The wit behind dealing with demons, the lessons with/from Al, the history behind the different species (especially what witches actually are), Ford’s unique magic, the banshees, the ghost - it was all rather wonderful. Though I think my favorite moment was Biss’ encounter with Al. *lol* So yeah, the writing was as good as ever and the plot keeps thickening while there are endearing as well as hilarious moments counter-balancing the darker stuff.* Jenks is easily still the best character and his curses are fantastic! :D

I can never quite love the Hollows books, but I never stop reading them, either! This is a world that you can't forget...there's something about the unique casting of characters and the way they all interact together that makes them so very memorable. I just love Rachel and Jenks. Their friendship and complete and utter loyalty to each other make this series for me. What about Ivy, you ask? That vampy chick pisses me right the hell OFF! I rant about Ivy in every review, but I'll do it again here. She is so freaking doom and gloom, whiny, bitchy, and grumpy. She STILL hasn't come to terms with the fact that her so-called best friend Rachel doesn't want to sleep with her or give her blood, or both. She STILL makes Rachel feel bad about it, and still can't control her bloodlust. I think Rachel is one hell of an admirable friend to put up with her, and I think Ivy is selfish. Moving on...Rachel is still lonely, even with the myriad variety of creatures around who are friendly. She doesn't have anyone of her very own aside from Marshall, and they are trying to keep their relationship platonic and actually doing a very good job with it. Al the demon is now getting Rachel's assistance in the ever after every Saturday...and believe it or not, I actually really like Al. He's a demon, sure. But he makes no apologies and doesn't pretend to be someone that he's not. That's a quality that most of Rachel's other acquaintances are sorely lacking.Trent makes a bit of a cameo (sigh!) but not much comes from it. He's still peeved at Rachel and wrongly crucifying her for circumstances that he MUST know, deep down, were completely out of her control. I love me some Trent, but he's also a selfish bastard sometimes!This installment to the Hollows didn't do much in the way of moving the story in the way that I WANT it to go, but I think I'm okay with the fact that events never unfold the way I expect OR want them to when it comes to Rachel Mariana Morgan. It keeps me on my toes, for sure, and I'm really stoked to know that I don't have the slightest clue as to how the next book will play out!

The great Hollows Re-Read continues!Back when I first started this series, I tore through the already published books only to have to wait what seemed an interminably long time to get to this one. And after the gut punch, the memory issues, and the tragedy in the previous book, I didn't think it could get much worse.And so we get to this book, trying to pick up the pieces while trying to hunt down a supernatural murderer that is *rather* out of everyone's league. Can you hear the banshees calling now? Of course, while this part of the plot was delicious, there was something else that slammed me up against the wall harder: finding out what really happened in the previous book and getting closure.Kim Harrison has it all planned out and unrolls this carpet slowly. Oh so slowly. And the tears come all too easily. I should note that this book is also a huge payoff for anyone who has read the complete short story catalog up to this point. Lots of backstory and extras for Pierce, Mia, and Ivy come home to roost here, deepening the experience for everything. And then there is Rachel's shunning. Perhaps the hardest thing to get through. And worse, there is no easy resolution. Her entire people are against her. This is slightly more than being canceled. This book is hard-hitting and one of the best in the series.

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/I really liked this book! I am quickly discovering that I am enjoying this series more and more with each book I read. Rachel has been through a lot and at this point in the series, I am pretty invested in seeing things work out for her. Unfortunately, it seems that she just can’t catch a break so this was another installment full of excitement that made it hard to step away from the book. I am so glad that I am finally making my way through this incredibly entertaining series.So Rachel has a few things that she needs to work out in this installment. She is still trying to learn what really happened to Kisten and she is determined to find out what it is that she can’t seem to remember regarding his death. When she hears that Glenn has been injured, she wants to find out what happened to her friend within the FIB. Before you know it she is up against an almost impossible force, a banshee. Throw in more problems with Al, a ghost from her past, and some surprises in her family and there are plenty of things to keep Rachel, Jenks, and Ivy more than a little busy.I had no idea how Rachel would deal with everything going on in this book. I felt so frustrated for her because she is constantly putting herself at risk to protect others and society seems to want to punish her for her efforts. There were some pretty exciting scenes in this book and Rachel found herself in a heap of trouble more than once. I have a strong feeling that a lot of the things that happened in this installment will have a big impact on future books.Marguerite Gavin was back to narrate this installment in the series. I have to admit that I was really happy to hear her version of Jenks and the rest of the gang, along with pronunciations that were consistent with the early books in the series after listening to a different narrator for the previous book. I thought that she did a fabulous job with this book and really helped to bring the story to life.I would recommend this series to others. It is quickly becoming a favorite but I would definitely recommend that it be read in order. This was an exciting story that helped to move the series along and kept me glued to my headphones. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.Initial ThoughtsI really liked this book! Rachel just can't seem to catch a break. I am glad that we finally got to know what really happened to Kisten. In this installment, Rachel is up against a being more powerful than she is but she is determined to do what she can. I thought that the narrator did a fantastic job with this book.Book Source: Purchased/Library

As much as I love the action and adventure in this series, it was nice to take a slight step back and get a bit of a softer side with Rachel and her interactions with her family, specifically, her brother Robbie and her mom, who I absolutely adored. And while this book was a touch lighter on the action side it was still packed full of emotion as Ivy and Jenks still have a mystery to solve, memories to retrieve and demons to deal with. So very much happens in this book, heck so much has happened in this series and you can't help but want a reprieve for this group of friends but sadly, while there are some short moments of happiness, they never seem to last long for Rachel and gang. This book was a bit bittersweet in that we finally are getting some answers to things we have been questioning for awhile now but those answers come at a cost as they always seem to for Rachel and my heart broke numerous times for her. It seems like she gets the raw end of the deal more times than ought to be necessary and yet you can't help admire her because she never lets it get her down for very long. She picks right back up and fights. She is a fighter through and through and I love her for it. She isn't one that gives up easily or who even takes the easy way out of things and I think she is what truly makes this series a great one. Between her Jenks, and Ivy, it is so very hard to resist. I'm both excited and nervous to see where it goes from here and even a bit upset with all that transpired and hope that several wrongs will be righted and that this group of friends get their HEA by the time it is all said and done.

When I started this series, I wanted to punch Rachel in the face and tell her to listen to the people around her instead of going charging into a situation half cocked. Now, all I want to do is give her a hug and tell the others to back the hell off. Like seriously, everyone is on her case about every little thing, and I want them all to get fucked! I think this is the first time that Rachel has really showed her vulnerabilities so openly, because when you think about it, her house is full of people who can’t hold her when she is upset, help her to her feet when she is down, or even come to her rescue when she needs it. How I wanted to help her bleeding heart.I needed someone to hold me and tell me it was going to be okay. But I was alone. Jenks couldn’t help me. Ivy couldn’t touch me. Hell, even Bis couldn’t touch me. Everyone else I had come close to was dead or not strong enough to survive the crap that my life dished out. I was alone, just like Mia had always said, and I always would be.Rachel is trying to trigger her memories of the night her friend was killed, wanting to take vengeance upon the vampire who almost made her a shadow and robbed her of the one person she truly loved. (view spoiler)[Kisten’s death is something that has impacted Rachel and Ivy right down to their soul, and even two books after the incident, it is still affecting everything they do and how they feel. Rachel doesn’t know if she could enter a new relationship, while Ivy feels responsible for what happened but also guilty that she can’t track down who killed him. The chapter when Rachel remembers in full what happened the night Kisten died was heartbreaking. He died twice for her and Ivy because he loved them both. Rachel wanted to save him, she really did, but in the end she was overpowered. The fact that they found who had done it and finally got some closure was a long time coming, but it felt right. Rachel and Ivy have said that they feel like they can move on, and I hope they can. (hide spoiler)]In amongst all of this, Rachel has been commissioned by the FIB to find a succubus who is leaving a trail of destruction, and has a young child in her care whose power is unstoppable. After almost sucking her aura dry, Rachel has to weight up whether chasing the succubus is worth the trouble, and she actually turns her back it (for one), but of course, trouble always finds its way back to her. Dealing with a ghost in her kitchen, her demon marks, and being accepted by her family, means that Rachel pretty much has her hands full. Then Rachel goes and gets shunned. As if things couldn’t get any worse for her.But Rachel does what she can in the moment, and she has sacrificed her own well-being to help those around her, and what does she get? Shunned, threatened with jail, and people either avoiding her or leaving her. I understood why Marshall had to leave, because it would be unfair if he dropped everything for her, and this was an actual calculated decision instead of one made for passion’s sake. I’m not too sure about Pierce, the ghost from Rachel’s past. I just don’t think they have been together that much to really make me see what he is to her and vice versa. Trent made a guest appearance, but he wasn’t really important, with Ceri and Kelsey being notably absent this time around.I love the chemistry between the character as well, specially the main three, and despite others being introduced to the story along the way and even in this book, in the end it comes down to Rachel, Jenks, and Ivy.I gripped the wheel of my car tighter in annoyance as Jenks continued to sing. Though the sun was going down and the roads had an arid frozenness, the interior of the care war hot. I had half a mind to turn off the heat. Anything to get Jenks to shut up. “Five trolls in dra-a-a-a-ag,” the four-inch man sang from my shoulder. “Four purple condoms, three French ticklers, two horny vamps, and a succubus in the snow.” “Jenks, enough!” I shouted, and from the passenger seat, Ivy snickered, idly tracing a hand on the inside of the misted window to clear a spot from which to graze out at the evening. The street was thick with holiday lights, and it was holy and serene, in a money-oriented, middle-class sort of way. Unlike Jenk’s carol. Which was thirteen-year-old humour to the max. “On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me – ”This series, while becoming very complex, is so intriguing. I love the characters, the plots, and really everything about this world that Kim Harrison has created. With every book it gets better and better, and I can wait to see what waits for Rachel and her friends next.

Tell the truth. Did you take the time to read all of those Hollows short stories scattered in anthologies over the past few years? If the answer is yes, you're finally getting your payoff. Just about every short story associated with the series comes into play here. And while you didn't HAVE to read them all to understand, they certainly give the reveals here something-extra for the fans who went beyond the novels. We pick up with Rachel accepting her deal with the demon, Al, to become his student. Her friendship with fellow witch, Marshall, is deepening and looks like it may just develop into something more. Things seems to be evening out a bit, until someone attacks Glenn, a human officer and good friend to Rachel. It's quickly revealed that a banshee named Mia and her husband Remus are to blame. We met Mia back in "Undead in the Garden of Good & Evil" (Dates From Hell.) She was the person who convinced Ivy that she could change her life, be more than the monster Piscary crafted her to be. In return, Ivy gave her the wish Rachel granted her in Dead Witch Walking. And Mia used that wish to fashion herself a family. In the meantime, Rachel finds out someone is haunting her church. Do you remember any ghosts in her past? Think back to "Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel" (Holidays Are Hell.) Yep, good old Pierce is back. And he is a welcomed sight. Especially as we see Rachel struggle to remember bits and pieces of the night Kisten died. The last book gave me a small break from the heartbreak I felt in For a Few Demons More. But it is back with a vengeance as Rachel finally remembers his sacrifice with heart-breaking clarity. And his killer? Another familiar face with a grudge set up in (you guessed it) another short story. Rachel suffers even more hard knocks in this book. While nothing will ever touch the loss of Kisten (and believe me, she is still suffering that), the indignities and loss just keep piling on. Thank goodness for Ivy and Jenks. They are her anchors and her true family. Another great Hollows installment. But please, Kim Harrison, do you have to make me cry so much? 5 stars. P.S. I was surprised at how many poor reviews I read here on Amazon. And I guess I can agree with those who made the point that Pierce, as the great benchmark for Rachel's love life, is a little far fetched. And while he could never replace Kisten in my heart, I did like him quite a bit in the short story. Perhaps without reading that, though, he may not have made me nearly as excited. As for Rachel's impetuousness, it doesn't strike a dark chord in me. That's simply who she is. And while she is trying to grow, she is still acting very much in character with what we've seen in past books.

The seventh book in the series, I found this one dragged a bit more than some of the others, although I think it ended really strong. It also tied up a number of loose ends that had been lying around, and although a few new ones were started, this had the feel of closing a major chapter or arc before beginning a new one.This is also the first book that directly incorporates events from the novellas and short stories which have been published in anthologies (specifically Dates From Hell, Holidays Are Hell, and (I think) Hotter Than Hell), rather than just from the previous novels. Although this material is not critical for appreciating the story in this book, it does help fill in some of the back story which might otherwise seem to have come from nowhere (thus far, I've only read the story from the first of the above anthologies, but I suspect my reaction to the effect of the material in the other two will be similar).

5/5 ⭐️ Banshees are always a must read for me so when you add witches vamps and pixies to the mix it’s a automatic yes from me.

** spoiler alert ** Fast-paced, plot twists and witty humor, unputdownable from start to finish.**SPOILER ALERT**THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**Rachel can’t take it anymore. She needs to know who killed Kisten. Her determination leads her back to the boat with her psychiatrist, Ford, who is trying to help her remember what happened that day. Ivy’s investigation is going nowhere, and Rachel is determined to get a new lead. She remembers a thing or two and can’t wait to get back to Ivy to tell her what she remembered. But as they leave the boat, Ford receives a phone call. While investigating a case on the side, Glenn was badly beaten and left for dead. And his stepfather, Captain Edden of the FIB, is asking for Vampiric Charms for help. And while she’s accused of having no crime scene etiquette, Rachel’s unconventional methods find clues that crime scene techs missed, and blows the case wide open.For banshees are what Glenn had encountered. A human couldn’t have beaten him so badly without the use of a weapon. And to make matters worse, a banshee child is part of the case. Banshees drain energy and emotions, and if they latch on, can literally kill a person by draining their life source.Emotions ride high as Rachel’s brother, Robbie, comes to town to visit - and brought news with him: he’s getting married.And the roller coaster doesn’t stop there. Rachel is nearly killed more than once, a ghost named Pierce is back from her past, Al is up to his usual tricks, Ivy not only blames herself for Kisten’s death but for their new banshee problem, Rachel is being called a Black Witch and is shunned, and now her mother is moving to Portland, then her full memory of what happened on Kisten’s boat comes back. Can things get any worse?** An emotional roller coaster to say the least. Rachel is one hell of a character. Strong, she pushes herself to the max to do what is right, what is necessary, regardless of what happens to her. And no matter how she plans it, the repercussions come back to bite her in the ass, leaving her to defend herself, all while no one is listening.Emotions roll right through the reader. Ms. Harrison writes it in such a way that you feel it, feel everything, that the characters feel, whether it’s guilt, desperation, determination, you feel it all.Filled with mystery, action, suspense and emotions, White Witch, Black Curse is more than your typical roller coaster ride with characters that you love - and love to hate. Descriptions so clear and concise, you feel everything, see everything. In my opinion, her best book yet!****And I’m going to make this interesting. Now, everyone who knows me knows I don’t buy hardcover - too expensive, and I’ve already planned on buying the paperback for my collection. However, I got this copy to read and review, along with the T-Shirt and Tomato-seed packet for the contest. I’m upping the contest. Would you like my copy of White Witch, Black Curse? Don’t forget to email me daily at [email protected] for a chance to win one of the three items up for grabs! The contest runs from now until March 31st.****

I've been reading the series since the beginning & this is book 7. It got an extra star because it is still so engaging. It's entertaining fluff & fun. Our heroine, a witch, is still trying to do right & still coming up with nothing but problems. She no sooner gets one thing settled than two others pop up. Which problems get solved & which new ones will pop up is the mystery. After 6 other books, I knew there wouldn't be a clean, happy ending. Hopefully, she'll end the series on a good note one day, but until then, there is plenty of fodder for new books.She's had the opportunity to go the Hamilton route & bring lots of graphic sex into the story, but hasn't. I appreciate that.Here's the books in the Rachel Morgan series:1. Dead Witch Walking (2004)2. The Good, the Bad, and the Undead (2005)3. Every Which Way But Dead (2005)4. A Fistful of Charms (2006)5. For a Few Demons More (2007)6. The Outlaw Demon Wails (2008) aka Where Demons Dare7. White Witch, Black Curse (2009)

Mon avis en FrançaisMy English reviewIt’s been a while since I told myself that I should return to the series. Lexxie and Jessica’s reviews really made me want to go back to the stories, not that I needed that, because I really enjoyed all the novels. But it is true that with the release of the last volume, and given the great reviews, I was even more curious to get into the novels. Want to know why I did not read it sooner? Because I knew perfectly well that at the end of this book I was going to rush and order the next one. And you know what I did? Yes! Right on!The summary does not say a lot but yet Rachel will be at the heart of many problems. She is trying first of all to live with the death of Kisten on her consciousness, something which is also very difficult to do. Indeed, the young woman is determined to understand what happened to her lover and wants to remember his last moments to find the killer. But this is not an easy thing to do. If the death of a loved one was not already difficult enough, our witch must also manage Al and the worries that come along. Her reputation as a black witch pursues her and it has many consequences on her life. Yet she does not expect that the repercussions would be that important. Some implications that could change her life. On top of that (yes, there is more), Rachel and Ivy must find a Banshee, a woman who seems to kill without remorse and whose baby also has strange abilities. But the whole thing looks much more difficult than expected and could put their life in danger many times. Anything else? Oh yes, because we will not stop there! Marshal will take an important place in the Rachel’s life and yet all could soon be in Jeopardy. Many things and it is true that I am very curious to see what will happen afterwards.Did I forget to mention that a character introduced in a novella is being rediscovered here? I enjoyed learning more about Pierce and to understand what he was trying to do. But it’s not just him because Rachel’s brother is also present throughout the novel, and it’s true that it will not be easy for her. Judged, misunderstood, alone, nothing will be easy because she will face her brother who does not accept her lifestyle choices.I was curious to find out the truth about the Kisten’s murder, and even if the whole process is very difficult, I admit that I was excited to discover everything. Yet it is true that I shed a few tears reading what actually happened on that boat. In any case, it was a good novel, more focused on the story surrounding our heroine that on the action but it’s really not a problem. I was curious to see if Trent would be present, if he would make an appearance, and even if he finally doesn’t have an impact on the story, I hope we’ll have the opportunity to see him a bit more in the next volume.Rachel is changing dramatically in the novels and it’s true that she’s trying to do her best even if nothing is easy and that she does not really know how to resolve everything. But it’s certainly always interesting to follow her and see what she is going to do.

This instalment seemed a little darker than some of the previous books in the series. What I didn't like so much is that it started a little slow and very little happened in general. Before the last third of the book I felt it somewhere below 4 stars but the last part totally made up for a solid 4 stars read.In White Witch, Black Curse Rachel is mostly in a state of personal gloom. She needs to find (view spoiler)[Kisten's killer (hide spoiler)], to tag down a banshee who thinks she rules the world, to deal with a friend/possible boyfriend(of course :)) and to take care of Al's last manifestation ;). I liked the banshee story and I'm eager for the next book where Mia will be the major antagonist. I'm also happy that (view spoiler)[Kisten finally can rest in peace and Rachel is ready to let go of him (hide spoiler)]. Although this plot ended a little bit anticlimactic it was very emotional. I loved how Rachel/Ivy relationship got stronger through this.And if you took the time to read all of those Hollows short stories it's worth it for this book. Just about every short story associated with the series comes into play here. And I like that a lot. Especially the parts with Pierce. But this parts were just a few. I want more of him and also more of Al and the other demons and Trent. That's why I like the end so very much! Another presence I enjoyed was Ford. He is a very interesting character. I look forward to book 8.Audio Note: I can't describe how happy I am that Marguerite Gavin is back for this instalment and for all the next books!

3 1/2 starsSo Rachel has been getting on my nerves lately. This girl just has waaaaay to much drama and the stuff with guys in her life is a bit ridiculous but I’m also still upset about the whole Kistan thing. So it was like rubbing salt in a wound when all they did was talk about Kistan in this book and then when Rachel finally remembered the memory she had spelled to forget, that just gutted me and is not helping me move on with this new story plot! I will still press on though.