White Witch, Black Curse

The rule seems to be that sequels never live up to the original story.  I’ve been fortunate to find the exceptions to that rule lately and this Kim Harrison novel is one of them.

The novel is set in a semi post apocalyptic time with most of humanity killed off but the bureaucracies remain.  Exempt, now they have supernatural equivalents that are just as if not more powerful than their human counterparts.

One of the things I truly enjoy while reading these novels is how the supernatural element is folded so neatly into what appears to be ordinary life for the characters.  The author is able to move through the story by relying on the personalities of the characters, not by making up some new kind of magic to save the day.  I’m left feeling that the characters are complete with their supernatural alterations, not just humans with powers smacked on top of them.

There is a part that leaves me a little disappointed at the end though.  The characters seem to fall in love a lot and for reasons that don’t appear obvious.  I’m not quite grasping what the connection or attraction is between so many of the players that causes them to have such strong feelings so quickly, which makes their decisions somewhat confusing when it involves them.

But overall, the williness to explore the characters as complete beings with their gifts and failings and veering off the so well tread stereotypes for this genre makes this a series I’ll keep buying and enjoy reading every page.