White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison

Publisher: EOS Books / Harper Collins Publishing
Pages: 504

From the cover: Some wounds take time to heal.....and some scars never fade. Rachel Morgan, kick-ass witch and bounty hunter, has taken her fair share of hits, and has broken lines she swore she would never cross. But when her lover was murdered, it left a deeper wound.....

As the story opens, Kisten has been dead, truly dead, for six months. Rachel cannot get passed the fact that she can't remember that unforgettable night......

Kisten's boat rocks gently on the waves of the Ohio River. Rachel stands in his bedroom drinking in the atmosphere, remembering Kisten's touch, his lips, his eyes, his quirky little accents, everything, but the thing she most desires, his murderer remains a mystery. Ford, the FIB psychic assigned to Rachel, encourages her to let go, maybe it's better not knowing than knowing too much.

But Rachael can't let go--Ivy, she needs Ivy to come to the boat to pick up the scent of the undead vampire that killed Kisten. But can she do that to Ivy, make her relive Kisten murder too? She has to move on with her life or Kisten's death will kill her. Ivy and Jenks are worried and guilty, Ivy because she can't figure out the killer and Jenks because he hit Rachel with a forget spell after Kisten was killed. Now, they find they have been co-habituating with one of Rachel almost boyfriends, Pierce, a ghost that Rachel accidentally conjured when she was eighteen and he hasn't like any of Rachel's boyfriends.

When Edden's son Glenn is attacked by a banshee, Rachel is pulled into another FIB investigation. His aura has been shredded and it's a wonder he's alive. Auras helps to keep the soul intact, and his has been severely damaged. When Rachel, Ivy, and Jenks become involved in the investigation, Rachel is also attacked by the banshee, Mia, who is just trying to keep her daughter alive. When Rachel touches the child, Holly, she happily drains Rachel's aura as well, leaving her clinging to life and time in the hospital. When the witching community becomes aware of another brush with black magic, she is shunned. No witch will speak to her, sell her ingredients to make charms, how will she live?

To make matters worse, it's time for her weekly demon curse twisting lesson with Big Al, but when she calls Al, but instead of taking her, he snatches Pierce. Before his death, Pierce was a demon hunter and he's been trying to make contact with Rachel, waiting in the ley lines for her to appear. Now, Rachel has to retrieve Pierce and gain Al's respect if she's going to have to continue working with him.

After the fight with the banshee, Rachel's memories become stronger. The banshee has been living underground and has the same scent as Kisten's killer. This event triggers Ivy's memory to a dispute at the I.S. (Inderlander Security). Who was Kisten's killer? Was it Piscary as everyone assumes who bartered away Kisten last blood on a whim or as a punishment? Does Skimmer know who had access to Piscary while he was in prison? If Rachel is to have a successful and peaceful life all these questions and more must be answered.

Kim Harrison's White Witch Black Curse was an excellent read. As the book continues Rachel's story from the point of Kisten's death and works its way forward, it leads Rachel to the only possible conclusion. Along the way, Rachel is sidetrack time and time again, and I started to wonder if finding Kisten's killer would be possible. I couldn't help but feel for Rachel, she tries to help where she can, but Kisten's death has left her drained. Top that off with a banshee attack and shunning, and Rachel is at the end of her rope. She needs hope and is able to find only hopelessness. It's as if the gods are conspiring against her. When her memory is finally jostled by the scent of old concrete on Mia's body, it's all she can do to relive the memory. Even with Ford there as a buffer, it drains Rachel worse than the banshee attack. But with the return of those forgotten moments, she is able to let herself, Ivy, and Jenks move on the next step in their lives. Rachel character is so stronger that she pulls you into the story, making you feel her emotions. Watching Kisten die with Rachel brought tears to my eyes, and when she remember his death, it brought tears again. He forgot who she was, why she was there, and until the moment of his true death, all he could remember was that she used to be someone he loved. WWBC is the seventh book in the The Hollows Series center around Rachel Morgan. If I were a first time reader, Dead Witch Walking would be the place to start. The books are best when read in order. I highly recommend this series to all who love paranormal/urban fantasy. For more information about all Kim Harrison great books please visit her website @ http://www.kimharrison.net/.

Dottie vv