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A Fistful of Charms (The Hollows, Book 4) by Kim Harrison
Book Summary InformationAuthor: Kim Harrison Edition: Mass Market Paperback Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 2006-06-27 ISBN: 0060788194 Number of pages: 544 Publisher: HarperTorch
Book Reviews of A Fistful of Charms (The Hollows, Book 4)Book Review: Werewolf Difficulties Summary: 5 Stars
A Fistful of Charms (2006) is the fourth Urban Fantasy novel in the Rachel Morgan series, following Every Which Way But Dead. In the previous volume, Rachel almost caught Stanley Saladan, but Lee jerked her into the ever-after, where they were confronted by the demon Algaliarept. Rachel escaped only with the assistance of the very powerful Newt, but returned to the real world with another demon mark.
In this novel, a group of Werewolf alpha males, including David Hue's boss, are upset about her status as the alpha female of David's pack. They lure Rachel and David to a deserted building, escort David back out, and strap Rachel so that she cannot use ley line magic. Then Karen -- an old flame of David's -- challenges Rachel for the position. Since Rachel is not a Werewolf and cannot use her magic, it will be Rachel in human form fighting against Karen as a wolf.
Rachel learns something new about Werewolves during the fight. A pack can share their power with a member. Karen turns to wolf form in thirty seconds flat and doesn't feel any pain despite the injuries inflicted by Rachel. Then David returns without his escorts and starts distracting the remaining alpha males.
Karen soon learns that the human form can inflict pain on a wolf. Rachel punches, bites and throws Karen around the floor and every bit of it causes pain. When David tosses the splat ball gun to Rachel, the fight comes to an abrupt ending. Since the three alpha males who went out with David never returned, the requisite eight alphas were not available to witness the fight, so Rachel wins on a technicality.
After that unexpected occurrence, Rachel gets together with Ceri and they modify a ley line spell to allow Rachel to turn into a wolf. The next time anyone tries to challenge her for alpha status, Rachel is going to give them a surprise. She can become a wolf on the whisper of a single keyword.
In this story, Rachel also has problems with fairies. Ever since Jenks -- the pixie partner in Vampiric Charms -- moved out with his family, the churchyard garden has been open to invasion by fairies. Now Rachel has a nest full of the hateful creatures tearing up the herbs and dandelions just to get at bugs and she isn't doing too well at driving them off.
Luckily, Matalina and Jih -- the eldest daughter -- come visiting to ask Rachel for a favor. Upon seeing the fairies, Matalina draws an arrow in her bow and orders the fairies off the property. Jih waves her silver sword at the fairies. After a single arrow through a fairy wing, the garden is soon free of the fairy presence. Pixies are very deadly little creatures.
When Matalina returns from checking out Jih's garden, Rachel learns that her ex-boyfriend Nick Sparagmos had talked Jax -- the eldest son of Jenks and Matalina -- into going with him to steal a statue. Matalina told her husband to ask Rachel and Ivy for help, but Jenks refused. Now he is trying to raise money to take a plane to Michigan to rescue Jax, which only shows how poorly he is thinking since pixies get really sick flying in planes due to the pressure changes.
Rachel finds out where Jenks will be working and ambushes him in an alley. She forces him to listen to her as she casually mentions that she will soon be driving to Michigan and might have room for him in the van. Unfortunately for Jenks, he agrees to go with her before learning that Rachel plans to transform him into human size so that he can help drive and eat human food on the way.
The next day, Rachel and Jenks are on their way to Michigan. Ivy and Kristen remain behind to watch out for Piscary's interests. Jenks is dressed in an old set of sweats donated by Kristen, so Rachel plans on a shopping excursion as soon as they reach Mackinaw.
This story achieves a new high point in tensions and action. Rachel finds herself in situations that she had never previously even imagined. Maybe she IS an adrenaline junky!
Highly recommended for Harrison fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of preternatural creatures, high adventure, and some sexual antics.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Summary of A Fistful of Charms (The Hollows, Book 4) The evil night things that prowl Cincinnati despise witch and bounty hunter Rachel Morgan. Her new reputation for the dark arts is turning human and undead heads alike with the intent to possess, bed, and kill her -- not necessarily in that order. Now a mortal lover who abandoned Rachel has returned, haunted by his secret past. And there are those who covet what Nick possesses -- savage beasts willing to destroy the Hollows and everyone in it if necessary. Forced to keep a low profile or eternally suffer the wrath of a vengeful demon, Rachel must nevertheless act quickly. For the pack is gathering for the first time in millennia to ravage and to rule. And suddenly more than Rachel's soul is at stake.
Literature & Fiction Books
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Every Which Way But Dead (The Hollows, Book 3)by Kim Harrison Harper Voyager; Published: 2008-09-02; Hardcover; BookBest price: $12.48Price in other shops: $21.99
White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows, Book 7)by Kim Harrison Eos; Published: 2009-03-01; Hardcover; BookBest price: $4.50Price in other shops: $25.99
Pale Demon (The Hollows, Book 9)by Kim Harrison Harper Voyager; Published: 2011-11-29; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $4.38Price in other shops: $7.99
Black Magic Sanction (Hollows)by Kim Harrison Harper Voyager; Published: 2010-12-28; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $3.80Price in other shops: $7.99
White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows, Book 7)by Kim Harrison Harper Voyager; Published: 2009-11-24; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $4.00Price in other shops: $7.99
The Outlaw Demon Wails (The Hollows, Book 6)by Kim Harrison Harper Voyager; Published: 2008-11-25; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $3.49Price in other shops: $7.99
For a Few Demons More (The Hollows, Book 5)by Kim Harrison Harper Voyager; Published: 2007-11-27; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $4.00Price in other shops: $7.99
Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows, Book 1)by Kim Harrison Harper Voyager; Published: 2004-04-27; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $3.68Price in other shops: $7.99
The Good, the Bad, and the Undead (The Hollows, Book 2)by Kim Harrison HarperTorch; Published: 2005-01-25; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $4.41Price in other shops: $7.99
Every Which Way But Dead (The Hollows, Book 3)by Kim Harrison Harper Voyager; Published: 2005-06-28; Mass Market Paperback; BookBest price: $3.00Price in other shops: $7.99
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