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Tinks� titties!* The rage was strong in this one. And rightfully so.

Rachel wants to finally remember what happened on Kisten’s boat and thus find the killer that even tried to blood-bind her. She is helped in her endeavors by Ford, a very uniquely talented psychologist.
But then there is an attack on Glenn, the FIB officer Rachel has been working with for a while. So „Vampiric Charms� is investigating who attacked him, how and why - and, of course, it’s not going to be easy.
Last but not least, Rachel’s mother is coming home from a trip and bringing Rachel’s older brother with her.
That plus weird stuff happening around the house church (such as the phone ringing instead of being on vibrate or the ringtones being changed despite Jenks not having done anything) results in a tense and mysterious atmosphere. *snickers*
Naturally, there is darker stuff, too. Like (view spoiler)[Al (broke) starting to snatch people who are with Rachel (hide spoiler)]. She can't let that stand, of course.

I found myself getting angrier and angrier with all the people avoiding Rachel for her aura - you know, civilians who don’t know shit but presume they can judge those who fight (for them, also).
Or all the slander. Right down to the fucking hospital daring to refuse treatment for Rachel on the witches� wing, none of the stores selling to her anymore or the prison and the guard’s plan (view spoiler)[to let Rachel question Skimmer in the hope that she’ll get bitten, maybe even killed (hide spoiler)].
It was made worse by it not only being interlander civilians but the humans at the FIB, too, who still think that Rachel’s amnesia about Kisten’s death was too convenient.

And don’t get me started on the arrogant idiot of a brother. Not just his opinion on her getting shunned or him never telling her about their bio-dad, but also him thinking the IS and everything else Rachel has done not being „a real job� or that her friends aren’t real friends / good enough and that she should make new / better ones. Arrogant, ignorant little twat! Having a certain view on the world and god help anyone not fitting into that.
The worst, though, is that these characters (there are others just like Robbie) get away with their terrible behavior and the second an abused character (like Rachel) is pushing back, they are automatically told to cut them some slack and to be better and all that self-righteous shit that is nothing but bull meant to give people like Robbie even more power over others.
Not that Marshall was much better. I get that he doesn’t want to live outside of society but Rachel only did what was right, reacting to terrible situations - sometimes you have to break some eggs to make an omelette!
Though worst of all is that ungrateful bastard, Trent!
*screams in frustration*

Thus, this volume made me feel all the feels and was a bit darker than the previous one again. Though not too much. Rather, by having the afore-mentioned infuriating elements it made the plot even more fast-paced. Not that the fights needed to get any more fast-paced. ;)
Certain Schadenfreude-inducing turn of events ((view spoiler)[Tom finally getting what he deserved (hide spoiler)]) also made it more bearable.

Moreover, we’ve slowly but surely moved more and more away from the usual witchcraft and towards demon magic, summonings etc. Since I love the more traditional witchcraft (making potions and stuff like that), I felt a slight pang.
But I have to admit that I still love where the author is taking the series. The wit behind dealing with demons, the lessons with/from Al, the history behind the different species (especially what witches actually are), Ford’s unique magic, the banshees, the ghost - it was all rather wonderful. Though I think my favorite moment was Biss� encounter with Al. *lol*

So yeah, the writing was as good as ever and the plot keeps thickening while there are endearing as well as hilarious moments counter-balancing the darker stuff.



* Jenks is easily still the best character and his curses are fantastic! :D