.JPG)
2012 Cincinnati Reds
Dancing With The Stars finale
Missing in America Memorial
Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2010 > February > 21 > Entry
The Vampires of Cincinnati
“Black Magic Sanction” by Kim Harrison (EOS/Harper Collins, 487 pages, $25.99)
Anne Rice breathed some new life into fantasy fiction by writing vampire stories set in New Orleans. Rice abandoned the genre long ago yet vampire fiction has never been stronger. The burgeoning literary realm of the paranormal is flourishing.
Leading writers in this field are Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, and Kim Harrison. Harrison’s “Hollows” series features bounty hunter Rachel Morgan. She hunts demons, vampires, and werewolves in a haunted Cincinnati. Her paranormal thrillers are seething cauldrons of intrigue, magic and romantic spice.
Some Harrison titles evoke that intrepid bounty hunter in spaghetti westerns, Clint Eastwood. She wrote “Dead Witch Walking,” “The Good the Bad, and the Undead,” “Every Which Way but Dead,” “A Fistful of Charms, ” For a Few Demons More,” “The Outlaw Demon Wails,” and “White Witch, Black Curse.”
The eighth series entry, “Black Magic Sanction,” just came out. Here we find the tables are turned on our winsome bounty hunter. In “Black Magic Sanction” Rachel Morgan has been transformed from the pursuer to the pursued.
Fortunately she has a band of supernatural allies that gives her a hand or lends a claw. Her best friend is a vampire. Another friend is a pixy. A gargoyle drops by when required.. There are elves, and demons, and lots of witches. Rachel Morgan is a witch and a demon, too.
I know, it can get confusing. I was certainly confused. Thankfully, Harrison has got this shape shifting world down pat and when this reader felt lost she would usually toss out a line of knowledge to reel me back in to the story.
The world she fashions is strangely compelling. At one point Rachel is driving through downtown “Cincy” with her friends Ivy (the vampire) and Jenks (the pixy) when some paranormal creatures decide to use their supernatural powers to transport Rachel to the west coast.
Rachel narrates: “There was a quick hum of wings, and then a terrifying jerk. The sound of plastic splintering and the screaming of wheels was loud. My face hit something that felt like a wall and smelled like plastic. The hold of my will was cracked, and with the suddenness of a drop of water leaving a faucet, I felt my body suck inward, pulling my soul and aura with it.”
“And I wasn’t in the car anymore.” This kind of thing happens to her all the time. There are paranormal events, sci-fi martial arts, betrayals, revenges, long held grudges, and a power hungry politician. I guess you could say that it is business as usual in a supernatural Cincinnati.
Oh, I almost forgot the sizzling romance part. Here’s a taste: “Slowly, I shifted my weight to lean into him. My heart pounded at the simple motion that was anything but. I felt his warmth mingle with mine as the curious sensation of hesitant trust and tension swirled, sparking even more desire.”
Will Rachel escape her pursuers? Will she mend her broken heart? Will she add any other supernatural incarnations to her resume’ ? Read “Black Magic Sanction” to find out.
Kim Harrison visits Books&Co. at the Greene in Beavercreek on Thursday, February 25, at 7p.m.
Vick Mickunas
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: clearing the cobwebs
Comments
By Nick
February 22, 2010 4:57 AM | Link to this
I think it is just a phase, but I think you make a good point that the current phase was from Anne Rice. I was still in Jr High back then, reading Conan books, before branching off to reading Robert Jordan and Jack Higgins. (And I don’t know how Higgins got into the mix, oh, when paperbacks could be expected to be under $5…)
By vick
February 21, 2010 7:54 PM | Link to this
Ron, I think it stems from the desire for escapism. That is my speculation. These are fantasy worlds that are far removed from the jolting reality of life. Sheer escape for the users of these genres in books, films, etc. They want to get away from it all…
By ron
February 21, 2010 7:47 PM | Link to this
so, Vick… why do you think there are soooooooooooooooooooooooooo many vampire stories, novels, movies and TV shows today? why are they so popular? what does it say about us? curious for your thoughts…