Really, what's interesting to me about this series is Rachel's attitude. Which everyone seems to get all along the way, except for her until this book. When she finally gets a glimpse of herself, her true motivations, in Charms she's scared - appalled and defiant. And she makes some poor decisions just like any normal girl would, forget that her world isn't really normal. I'm tempted to do an Anita | Rachel comparison, but I think it'd be a waste of space. Suffice to say, that if you liked Anita in the early days, you're going to love Rachel Morgan, and Ivy and Jenks.

In Charms Rachel gets to leave Cinncinati, something most series (aside from Rachel Caine's Weather Wardens) don't do. I think writers get comfortable in their cities, with their characters, and while they go through many changes - the scenery isn't one of them. I like the ability to expand and see Rachel and Ivy working somewhere different, and what that means for them seperately and together. I hope Harrison does something like this again in the future for Rachel.




Rebemdee (USA: CA) (2006/09/02):
I really liked the preceeding three books, and felt the writing was getting stronger with each book. Now Harrison has taken a step back with the latest novel. It is repetitive, too long, and tiresome. Around the middle, it seemed like the book consisted of, "First we went here, then we went there, then we did this..." There was no suspense or foreshadowing; it was just a litany of what was done or where people went. I found it boring. It also had a juvenile edge, with the MULTIPLE, "Note to self, self being Rachel, Jenks is a MARRIED pixy, oooh, but what a cute butt...oh, I mean he's married....blah blah blah." Rachel seemed to be more mature and thoughtful in books 2 and 3, developing as a character and learning. In this book she seems like a petulant, overstimulated, somewhat whiny teenager willing to rub against whomever will pay her attention. I don't find that interesting at all. I hope the author will get back on track with the character development. Otherwise I'll have another boring book to read when the next is published