"you blame the one who fights evil instead of blaming the evil she fights.""i didnt think of that." "yeah take a good thirty, forty seconds, and beat yourself up about that.""it was one of those sneaky headaches that starts small so you wont notice it and take action, but the little guy with the big crowbar had clocked in at some point and was hard at work prying open her skull. the little guy is industrious. as long as you're still, he can keep working. if you move, it jostles him. that makes him mad and he whacks you with the damn crowbar.""it doesnt feel true, but thank you." "feelings are not always a guide to truth, and guilt is an indulgence you cannot afford. it clouds the mind. set it aside and think.""the unsundered gods, in their insanity, forgot surrender; they submit only to what they already know and confuse will with purpose. so each is certain that his or her aspect encompasses all wisdom, with all others being lesser, distortions, or lies.""which color of the rainbow is most true? is red more true than green? is blue the best path to understanding and should you therefore outlaw yellow cloth and purple vases and the soft blushing sky awakening to day?" 4.5 Stars ReallyAs if 2 weeks and 5 days before your wedding doesn't carry its own drama, Lily has a front row seat for her next case. At a family dinner Lily's mother, Julia, goes to the ladies and returns missing the last 45 years of her life! Before long similar cases are popping up all over the city and threads to a complicated plot are apparent. Is this Friar's latest gambit for Her? Or is it a diabolical plot being carried out by a new and nefarious someone else?The pacing for this installment seemed much faster than usual for me and I found myself completely engaged immediately. Rule and Lily weren't the only couple this time out and they had a few meaningful scenes. Julia and Toby had some great scenes and even better chemistry together while Toby tried to help Julia adjust to her changes. The altered Julia came across as a much softer and more vulnerable version of the Julia we've come to be wary of and avoid. Lily had some good moments but seemed rather subdued for most of the read while Rule seemed to still be struggling with insecurities. This is definitely a backward move from the larger than life alpha introduced in Tempting Danger. I loved that Rule! This time out also had Cynna playing key roles for both the home and field teams (with barely a mention of Ryder). Cullen was out of the all-purpose box he's been relegated to lately and (IMO) had a stronger role in this read. It was also good to get a peek at Benedict and learn more about Lily's family.Although the story was neatly wrapped, pieces of it felt incomplete. Sam, Grandmother Yu, Nettie and Friar's actions all left more to be said or done. There was also an end of an era tone alongside the thread promising more installments. I believe this installment would make a good ending for the series, leaving those loose threads for a novella or so to tie an offshoot series back into this one. If you're already a fan of the series, there's nothing I can say that will change your mind about reading this installment. If you're new to the series, it's best that you start at book one for this very layered tale or much won't make sense.
What do You think about Ritual Magic (2013)?
I found this book I bit disappointing. I guess I was expecting more. Much more.
—Condorflemingo
