Audio: Magic Triumphs - Ilona Andrews

Audio CD, 12 h

Renee Raudman (narrator)

Expected publication: August 28th 2018 by Brilliance Audio

Kate Daniels #10

UF

Own

My thoughts:

Are you crazy! Audio for book 10! Whaat? And yes I was all, no, that is not Kate, no, that is not Curran. I have lived with them for 9 books and to suddenly hear was so freaking weird. The only person who was right at once was def Conlin, lol. But then slowly everything fell into place, and I felt this need to start from book 1 and listen to them all.

What can I say. It was the end of an era. I am sad. I read Andrea's book, I have read Hugh's book, and I read that Derek and Julie one. But nothing compared. They were good, but not great. And now I do despair. Will I ever love like this again? At the end there was a pairing that did feel right, and all I am saying is that if that makes it to a book, then maybe...just maybe I will love again. It felt funny, it felt right.

Kate is facing a new threat. Oh and there is the ever present Roland (so hard to hate him at times, damn, I like him. He just wants to rule it all.) 

Curran, omg, there is this thing that happens that just had me whaaaaaat?!

Their kid was adorbs! Omg the thing with...ahem eyes, ha, it cracked me up.

Erra!

The new threat brings old enemies.

And then  the perfect ending. I did not think it could happen but it did, and I felt satisfied. See, this is how a series should end! On top! Not after a couple of meh books.

I am sad. Farewell! Come here kitty kitty

Narration

It was so weird, because after years of hearing Kate's voice, I suddenly heard Kate's voice. And it was not at all as it was in my head. But then it just was right. And she is a great narrator, range, emotion, oh she brought it all. There at the end I almost cried.

Cover

Awesome

BLurb:

Kate has come a long way from her origins as a loner taking care of paranormal problems in post-Shift Atlanta. She's made friends and enemies. She's found love and started a family with Curran Lennart, the former Beast Lord. But her magic is too strong for the power players of the world to let her be.

Kate and her father, Roland, currently have an uneasy truce, but when he starts testing her defenses again, she knows that sooner or later, a confrontation is inevitable. The Witch Oracle has begun seeing visions of blood, fire, and human bones. And when a mysterious box is delivered to Kate's doorstep, a threat of war from the ancient enemy who nearly destroyed her family, she knows their time is up.

Kate Daniels sees no other choice but to combine forces with the unlikeliest of allies. She knows betrayal is inevitable. She knows she may not survive the coming battle. But she has to try.

For her child.

For Atlanta.

For the world. (less)

Iron and Magic - Ilona Andrews

Hugh d’Ambray, Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Warlord of the Builder of Towers, served only one man. Now his immortal, nearly omnipotent master has cast him aside. Hugh is a shadow of the warrior he was, but when he learns that the Iron Dogs, soldiers who would follow him anywhere, are being hunted down and murdered, he must make a choice: to fade away or to be the leader he was born to be. Hugh knows he must carve a new place for himself and his people, but they have no money, no shelter, and no food, and the necromancers are coming. Fast. 

Elara Harper is a creature who should not exist. Her enemies call her Abomination; her people call her White Lady. Tasked with their protection, she's trapped between the magical heavyweights about to collide and plunge the state of Kentucky into a war that humans have no power to stop. Desperate to shield her people and their simple way of life, she would accept help from the devil himself—and Hugh d’Ambray might qualify. 

Hugh needs a base, Elara needs soldiers. Both are infamous for betraying their allies, so how can they create a believable alliance to meet the challenge of their enemies? 

As the prophet says: “It is better to marry than to burn.” 

Hugh and Elara may do both. 

ebook, 322 pages

Expected publication: June 26th 2018

The Iron Covenant #1, Kate Daniels #9.5

UF PNR

For review

My thoughts:

Aaaaaaargh, Baby S deleted my review. SIGH. I so do not want to write this again. I am already two days behind on writing it.

What else to do then to write it again. Now 3 days late.

I did not like Hugh at first, but then something changed. I liked him even though he was evil. Aint that always the story. 

Here he is messed up cos Roland dumped him. Until his people tell him to shape up and save them. So he tries. 

I liked that we got a bit of his backstory and understood why he is all Roland is my god! And get to see that there is still light in there.

Elara was pretty cold as Hugh said. I get that she has a lot of responsibilities, protecting her people, living in their castle, hiding from baddies. So it took a while to warm up to her, if I ever did, but I get why she and Hugh fit together. I can not tell you, cos spoiler. But she has another side to her.

She hires him. He goes fighting. There are baddies. They argue. The end.

I do like Hugh ;) 

Nice story, Even if not as good as Kate, but then neither of the sidestories has been to me

Magic Binds - Ilona Andrews

Mercenary Kate Daniels knows all too well that magic in post-Shift Atlanta is a dangerous business. But nothing she’s faced could have prepared her for this...

Kate and the former Beast Lord Curran Lennart are finally making their relationship official. But there are some steep obstacles standing in the way of their walk to the altar.

Kate’s father, Roland, has kidnapped the demigod Saiman and is slowly bleeding him dry in a never-ending bid for power. A Witch Oracle has predicted that if Kate marries the man she loves, Atlanta will burn and she will lose him forever. And the only person Kate can ask for help is long dead.

The odds are impossible. The future is grim. But Kate Daniels has never been one to play by the rules… 

My thoughts:

What can I say, it's book 9 after all. We all know Kate is totally kick-ass, and I do like her darker side. It shows more now. Her father's legacy is hanging like a sword over her. The power of magic is influencing her. And she did claim Atlanta, not an easy thing to live with. But I like all that, she is struggling without even realising it all times.

This book is sort of a filler and sort of not. The peace between her and Roland is not an easy one. And now he has kidnapped Saiman (oh and there is thing happening and I am so curious about how that will impact things, but hey I can not say a word.)

And of course the wedding date of her and Curran is coming closer, but then there is that whole Atlanta will burn and you will all die thing if that happens.

Conclusion:
I enjoyed the ride. I liked her dealing with her legacy. I even grew to like Julie (we have had our ups and downs). I liked to learn more about her family. But...I also wished more had happened. I want a big showdown soon.

Cover
Curran looks very serene there

Mass Market Paperback, 342 pages
Published May 4th 2017 by Ace (first published September 20th 2016)
Kate Daniels #9
Urban fantasy
Own

Magic Stars - Ilona Andrews and Chance on Love

Scarred, solitary Derek Gaunt has separated from his Pack, and is truly a lone wolf. With no family he answers to no one; but is fiercely loyal to a chosen few. So, when several of those close to him are murdered, he’ll stop at nothing to hunt their killer through the magic-drenched streets of Atlanta. 

Never one to be left on the sidelines, equally determined—some might say stubborn—Julie Lennart-Olsen soon joins in his pursuit; and what began as revenge turns into a race to save the city. Their search pits them against powers they never imagined and magic so old, it predates history. It may cost Derek his life, but there are things for which even he would risk everything. 

My thoughts:

I will give it a 3 because it is Andrews, but to be honest, if this was a new series I would quit it. It was not that interesting, I did not care for anyone in the story.

I have never really been a Julie fan, Derek, eh.

Ok I changed my mind, it will get the 2 it deserved. To me it was not good (since I would not read more books), it was only ok.

It only showed that Julie is an idiot.

I still love Roland though!

Cover

ok

ebook, 64 pages
Published December 8th 2015 by NYLA
Grey Wolf #1, Kate Daniels #8.5
Urban fantasy
Own

Sean Reynolds is content wielding his dominant personality as the public face of Kagan Industries. Pack leadership--and all the responsibilities that go with it--doesn't interest him. But when alpha-in-waiting Nic Kagan skips town, there's no one to take on his aging father's spirit wolf. No one but Sean.

Sean wants none of it, but with his wolf growling in eagerness to fill that void, he heads for the bar in an attempt to drink the beast into submission.

He'd like to ignore the sultry blonde shifter burning up the dance floor with moves that make him painfully aware of the full moon. But when she abruptly disappears, his wolf sends him in hot pursuit. Following the scent of a female he can see in his bed not for a single night, but for a lifetime...

NOTE: The Kagan Wolves series is set in the same world as the Royal Pride series. 

My thoughts:

A short story about a wolf who does not want a mate.

And about another wolf who just wants some fun, since wolves in her tribes are idiots.

They meet. They lust. They know they are mates to be.

It was passionate and short. I think I can do pnr in small doses...small doses ;)

Kindle Edition, 1st. Edition, 44 pages
Published February 23rd 2016 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Kagan Wolves 0.5
Short story
Own

Magic shifts - Ilona Andrews

Mercenary Kate Daniels and her Mate, former Beast Lord Curran Lennart, have broken with Pack, but Curran misses challenges of leading, so he grabs when Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild. As a veteran merc, Kate can take over Guild’s unfinished jobs, not knowing they are connected. An old enemy has arisen.

My thoughts:

I wanted to read the PB, so I waited, all while everyone else read this one so much earlier. But I need my fix in print ;)

They are out of the Keep. I kind of miss the Keep now. But they are both happier and that is all that matters.

The Guild is going to hell.

Strange things eating cats.

A missing buffalo.

And something else hunting in the city.

Seriously when you get to 8 you go all eh, I have said it all. Though I must confess, I am crushing on evil EVIL Roland. He is just so evil you know. But then there was an even more evil thing, gods he is evil

So...everyone is kickass. Not a lot happened. It was a good book, but not as awesome as those in the early days. Or maybe that is just me wanting an ending, cos when it get to these many books I always fear that they will start to drag. I worry ok.

But...good book :)

Cover

She really is the perfect Kate

Mass Market Paperback, 375 pages
Published February 23rd 2016 by Ace (first published August 4th 2015)
Kate Daniels #8
Urban fantasy
own

Magic Breaks - Ilona Andrews

As the mate of the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than it seems possible to juggle. Not only is she still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, but she must now deal with the affairs of the Pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel, ancient being with godlike powers.

As Roland’s long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend a gathering of leaders from Atlanta’s supernatural factions. When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered by a shapeshifter, Kate is given less than twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she’ll find herself embroiled in a war that could destroy everything she holds dear… 

My thoughts:

Of course it was good, but was it as good as previous books? Not exactly. Close, but not close enough. Not the same squeee-ness of it all. Not the same I must finish this in a second.

Still, I love Kate, she is so kick-ass.

Curran is so grrrrrrr alpha yum!

The gang is still awesome.

I totally love Roland..what? I do! He is so I WILL DESTROY THE WORLD AND BUILD TOWERS! I mean the note at the end, awesome.

And there is non-stop action. Danger. Vampires. Creepy towers. And finally finally a meeting. i have waited for that for aaaages.

Still, not as good. Good enough. But, it's the whole, this series will surely go on forever. But I rather prefer an ending and not 100 books if there is to be a decline. However tiny.

I am still gonna give it a 4, even if it was more like..3.75. Close, but yes you heard it already.

Cover

I do like how she finally looks like herself

Mass Market Paperback, 357 pages
Published March 3rd 2015 by Ace (first published July 29th 2014)
Kate Daniels #7
UF
Own

Review: Magic Rises - Ilona Andrews

Atlanta is a city plagued by magical problems. Kate Daniels will fight to solve them—no matter the cost.

Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta.

Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap…

Mass Market Paperback, 1st Edition, 327 pages: Published July 30th 2013 by Ace: Kate Daniels #6: Urban Fantasy: Own

My thoughts:

Yay, I got the book much faster than I thought I would and I started to read at once and did not want to put it down. 

There was just something about the first half of the book. I went ohhhh! at one time, and then later on I giggled. The book kept trying punches my way and I was loving it and despairing for everyone.

How to review book 6? I suck at these kind of things.

Could Kate be more kick-ass?!

Curran is awesome as always, but there were times...I was boiling inside for a reason I wont say.

Aunt D!

Saiman! Hugh...yes him too.

Roland of course. I wonder how it all will play out.

Yes the list of cool characters is long and I love them all.

There is action. Cool new monsters, revelations and the perfect setting for it all.

Conclusion:

If you have not started this series you really should. And what a mess I made of the review, it's just that I am all !!!

Cover

Finally! Kate looks more her age and origin

Review: Gunmetal Magic + Magic Gifts - Ilona Andrews

After being kicked out of the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea's whole existence is in shambles. She tries to put herself back together by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend. When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano--the male alpha of the Clan Bouda, and Andrea's former lover--die unexpectedly at a dig site, Andrea is assigned to investigate. Now she must work with Raphael as her search for the killer leads into the secret underbelly of supernatural Atlanta. And dealing with her feelings for him might have to take a back seat to saving the world... 

My thoughts:

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it. It was just not as good as later Kate books. It was more like the earlier ones and therefore it gets a grade like those.

Andrea was kick-ass, she has always been kick-ass. She has a horrible past, she is also something not that liked, beastkin. Yup her dad was actually an animal first. But she is just so Andrea, she fights, she wants to belong and I like her.

Raphael, oh what to say about him. Sleek, sexy, the favorite of the pack. Some of the things he did here just made me go all awwww, alpha ;) and other thing made me grind me teeth. They have issues to work through. But it was always been a dance between them.

The plot is that Pack members have been killed and it's up to her to find out who. I will say no more as it delivers a lot of different things into the mix.

Conclusion:

I liked it. It gave me what I wanted. And I am a sucker for the mate frenzy shifters go through, all the mine mine mine...But did I wish it was up to Kate standard? Of course.

Cover: Kick-ass

Series: Kate Daniels World #1, Kate Daniels #5,5
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 326
Published: July 2012 by Ace
Source: Own

A dinner date after a hard day at work sounds heavenly. Of course, when that date is between the Beast Lord and Kate Daniels, things don’t go as planned. Before you know it, undead are running amok, heads are being chopped off, lawyers are deployed and used with extereme prejudice, and drunk vikings are calling people out.

This novella takes place around Andrea's book and it's about ..vikings, well that is one clue I can give. Andrews continues to come up with new things and as a novella this story worked well.

So my final word is that I liked it :D Kate and Curran was good, the ending leaves things open for Andrea's book and I can't wait.

Series: Kate Daniels #5,4
Pages: 100
Published: 2011

Kate Daniels - Curran reviews megapost

It's time for a bunch of reviews of short stories told from Curran POV:

Curran Vol 1

Pages: 29

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Kate Daniels

It seems I had forgotten to ever write a review so I read these stories again :)

The first one will be my fav as it takes place at their first meeting and Kate says the famous first words, Here Kitty kitty. And of course I did love the chicken-soup scene from his perspective and how he felt when he saw her and Saiman. All goof stuff.

A great companion to the Kate Daniel books and who would not like Curran's POV! ;)  A collection of scenes from the first few books.

Curran volume 2

Pages: 21

Curran is angry, you do not want to see him angry.

Again a nice novella how Curran feels after he wakes up and finds out that his pack has been challenging Kate. As this one takes place after Magic Bleeds, it has to be read after that to be appreciated.

Curran #3

Ohh I really liked this one. Jim is telling the story of who Kate really is, and who her father is. Exciting stuff. Sure I know it already but Curran sure has a few things to think about.

Yup I need more Ilona Andrews :=D This story takes place after Magic Strikes.

Curran #4 Hot Tub Scene

18 pages

I do fear that I am all reviewed out today, I have read a lot of short stories ;)

Anyway hot tub scene, hot. And the end where he thinks that she will be his mate *melts*

I love Curran. The scene takes place in Magic Strikes.

Conclusion: If you love the Kate Daniels books then these are a must, and best of all..they are free!

Review: Magic Slays - Ilona Andrews

Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.

Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.

So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price . . 

Series: Kate Daniels #5, Genre: urban Fantasy, Pages: 308, Published: 2011 by ACE, Source: Own

My thoughts:

And again I face the same problem as before, how to review the 5th book in a series. I have said everything already.

Kate kicks ass, duh, no surprise there because she is cool and yet vulnerable too. I like her origin and I keep wondering about the big show-down when she meets daddy dearest. I like how she even fights with Curran, because they are not a couple who should sit and stare lovingly into each others eyes.

Curran then, well he is the beast lord and I do like his jealous side. He must go a bit weird sometimes and as I said before they fit so well together.

Great evil guys, I hated them so much. I wish I could have gone there myself to kick some ass.

The world is great, this I knew from the beginning. A world turned upside down when magic comes back and eats technology.

A great book 5 and I want more. Which means Andrea's book and then one day the 6th Kate book. I can't wait. What I also like is that there are no cliffies. Yes bad things will come, but that is one day and for now everything is good.

Conclusion:

Recommended!

Cover:

No no no, french manicure? Boobjob? NO

Review: Magic Bleeds - Ilona Andrews

Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for the magic. When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it rose. 

Kate Daniels works for the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, officially as a liaison with the mercenary guild. Unofficially, she cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to handle—especially if they involve Atlanta’s shapeshifting community. 

When she’s called in to investigate a fight at the Steel Horse, a bar midway between the territories of the shapeshifters and the necromancers, Kate quickly discovers there’s a new player in town. One who’s been around for thousands of years—and rode to war at the side of Kate’s father. 

This foe may be too much even for Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family…

Series: Kate Daniels, Pages: 349, Genre: Urban Fantasy, Published: 2010, Publisher: Ace, Source: My own

My thoughts:

It comes to a point in a series when I just start to repeat myself. Then I tend to make it short or just list awesome things. Let's go with the last one.

1. I liked Curran before, it did take me a while to warm up to him but I did fall and in this one. Mmm, in this one I love him. He is so freaking alpha, so obsessive, such an idiot, so lovable. I declare myself quite the Curran fangirl. Of course in reality I would kick him in the nuts if he tried that crap with me ;)

2. Kate Daniels is as kick ass as she ever was. She is not afraid to take down the big baddies, even if she risks everything.

3. I think Saiman is making the list this time cos he is just such a weird freak. I love those.

4. The world is great. A world where magic came back with brute force.

5. Her dad, he is, oh I want to meet the old horror. What a showdown that would be.

Conclusion:
I think that is about it. This was the best book in the series so far. Two idiots that are arguing, hot passion, and great fight scenes. I am happy, and I could not put it down.

Cover: Meh

--------------------

My flash fiction for this week

Review: Hexed

Anthology by Ilona Andrews, Jeanne C.Stein, Allyson James and Yasmine Galenorn
Genre: Urban Fantasy and Paranormal romance
Pages: 336
Published: June 7th 2011 Berkley

Shapeshifting tigress Dali Harimau finds herself in deep waters when she must challenge a dark being to a battle of wits or risk losing the man for whom she secretly longs.

Iris Kuusi, a Finnish house sprite, journeys to the frozen Northlands to confront the crazed shadow of her former lover and break the curse that is keeping her from marrying the man she loves.

 Stormwalker Janet Begay and her friends are trapped by a powerful curse. It will take every bit of magic simmering beneath her skin for the Stormwalker to survive being "Double Hexed."

Bounty-hunter-turned-vampire Anna Strong is visited by three witches who ask her to right an old magical wrong. Anna will have to live up to her last name to make it through alive. 

My thoughts:

Since this is an anthology I am going to review the novellas separately.

Magic Dreams by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #4.5)
In this one Dali and Jim fight together to bring down a Japanese demon. Dali is not a scary shifter, but she does know her magic. Jim is an alpha and they have always been at odds. That is you know they both like each other but never get together. So therefore I looked forward to reading this novella knowing it would finally happen. Interesting mythology and in a way I did not feel like you had to have read the Kate Daniels series to understand the novella. Of course by having read them you would have met these two before and wanted the same thing I wanted. I enjoyed this novella.

Ice Shards by Yasmine Galenorn (Sisters of the Moon #9.5)
I never ever come across Finnish mythology and here I did. Iris Kuusi is a house sprite from Finland and she is going to the Northlands to find out if she killed someone 600 years ago. Ok I was a bit lost here at times, not really lost, but it was the fact that there have been 9 books in this series about three sisters. And this character who I guess is a minor character there. Also, they would not have had last names that far back and some names in it would not have been used. Still it was interesting in its rich mythology. There seems to be a lot going on in that world (worlds).

Double Hexed by Allyson James (Stormwalker #3.5)
This one was my favorite because it really made me want to read the series behind it. Janet and her friends are trapped in her hotel because someone has put a hex on it. I found myself wanting to read more about Janet and her dragon lover Mick. Coyote was funny, the vampire seemed nice (when not crazed) and the rest of the cast interesting. It's a world I want to read about and book 1 made it to my wishlist.

Blood Debt by Jeanne C. Stein (Anna Strong Chronicles #6.5)
Yes 6 before this one but I never felt at loss. I got a bit of explanations what Anna was and what she had been through. In this book she stands trail for something she has done. And that made me know about her history. I would definitely be interested in reading her story from book 1. The writing and story was good and I do like kick-ass UF heroines.

Conclusion:
Interesting novellas that made me want to read more about the worlds presented. And as always some better than other.

Rating:

Good in the end

Cover: 

Cool

Review: Magic Strikes - Ilona Andrews

Kate Daniels, book 3

Genre: urban fantasy
Pages: 310
Published: November 2010 Gollancz

Drafted into working for the Order of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems than she knows what to do with these days. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that's saying a lot.

But when Kate's werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games—an invitation only, no holds barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament—she and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta's shapeshifting community…

Plot:

Kate is going on with her life, trying not to think too much about the beast lord, when she finds Derek half dead. Her investigation leads her to the midnight games, and fighters that are not all what they seem do be.

My thoughts:

You all knew this day would come, I am officially converted and can say that this series kicks some serious ass.

I kept reading, giggling and laughing, this book is certainly the best so far and if this continues I my heart will be lost. Kate is a great character, strong, and she does not back down. I got the meet the pervert Saiman again, and he does amuse me. Then there is Curran, ok ok I admit he makes me drool, but my heart is not entirely lost, he is just too alpha for me. But for Kate he is perfect. Those two, the chemistry, and him trying to woo her his way. Makes it really hard for a girl to put this book down.

Then there is the action that keeps coming, the best part of UF. And this freaky world, loving it. This time bad guys are, I am not going to say, but I like where she took it, oh and what Saiman really is, very nice.

But honestly what keeps making me coming back is her origin. First who is her father, then what is he, then what is she, and when she will meet him. That conflict is what I like about this series.

Final thoughts and recommendation.

The best book so far, and at the end it made me ache to get book 4 and see where it all is heading. I am giving it a 3,75, it has been a step up all the way and I do think the next one will be even better.  It was good, and I need the next book.

And yes I do recommend this series to UF and PNR lovers, and to the rest too.

Reason for reading:

Read book 2

Cover:

They all look so alike

Fav Quote:

"I had no idea you were a sausage expert," Curran said with a completely straight face.

Review copy from the publisher

Review: Magic Burns - Ilona Andrews

 Kate Daniels, book 2

Genre: urban fantasy
Pages: 260
UK pb publication: October 2010 Gollancz

As a mercenary who cleans up after magic goes wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate's going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger scale; a divine one.

When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta's paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realizes much more is at stake. During a flare, gods and goddesses can manifest - and battle for power. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug-of-war between two gods hoping for rebirth. And if Kate can't stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive.

I may not be in love with Curran yet, but here my heart did skip a beat.

Plot:

Kate Daniels needs to find some stolen maps for the pack, but a mysterious man keeps getting in her way. The flares are getting worse and soon strange creatures are after here, this time Gods wants to come out and play. Curran still annoys and this time she becomes responsible for someone else  too.

My thoughts:

Kate can still kick some serious ass, and she is not afraid to take anyone on. I like that she is so unafraid and that she can stare down the mighty Curran.  But for the most of this book I kind of wanted her to get together with Bran, he was such a hottie in my head, but then I love a good Celtic hero. But then came the quote that made me for the first time fall for Curran. I may not be a Curran lover yet, but I can see myself heading that way.

"Animals expresses love through food. When a cat loves you, he'll leave dead mice on your doorstep, because you are a lousy hunter and he wants to take care of you." - Aunt B

Awww, Curran likes her. Ok I am starting to see why everyone adores him. Still Bran had my heart in this book.

The kid Julie brought something more to the book, I got to see some motherly instincts from Kate, because she is so reckless and will get herself killed. I keep hoping someone will tell her to slow down.

The magic still rocks, the dystopian world is a great invention, the things that keep showing up are interesting and I wonder what will happen next. And then there is Roland, I need to know more! I need to know about him, and for that reason alone I would keep on reading.

Recommendation and final thoughts:

An interesting UF series, a kick-ass heroine, and a plot that drives the book forward. I am aching to know more, and to see if Curran wins me over. Because he is on his way doing that. I would give it a 3,5 because it was good, and I would recommend this series. But I think it can get even better, and there is only one way to know that, and that is by reading book 3.

Cover: At least her expression is better here than on book 1.

review copy from the publisher, all my thoughts are my own

Review: Magic Bites - Ilona Andrews

 Kate Daniels, book 1

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 260
UK publication: September 2010 Gollanz

Quote:  "What kind of a woman greets the Beast Lord with "here, kitty, kitty"?"

When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.

Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate's guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta's magic circles.

The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate's guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she's way out of her league—but she wouldn't have it any other way…

I finally got to meet Curran, it seems that everywhere I look there is always talk about Curran, and what a man he is. And he wasn't that shabby.

For a quick summary. Kate Daniels hunts down out of control magical beasts and so on. She can kick some serious ass, and she has magic. But then her guardian is killed and she heads to Atlanta to find the murderer. Here she meets Curran and his shifters, yay, and the vampires.

I must say that I would have liked some more info about how things came to pass. It seems that magic came back to the world with a bang, and that meant shifters and vampires too. Magic prevents cars from running when there is a big flow coming through the city, electricity is not what is used to be. Now one has to rely on magic, until the day is goes away again. So a story set in a near future, but a future that is totally different. I liked this even if I wanted more. She explained at one time why phones works sometimes and that is because people can't understand how they work, it's just like magic, so they work when magic prevents other things from working. That gave me a pretty good idea about the world. And what a world, riding a horse through a crumbling city, people trying to work magic, and evil things coming through the cracks.

The romance is there but not that much, there is this other guy first. And then there is Curran, those two sure has a lot of chemistry, or they really dislike each other. The bantering is hilarious and she is punching some great lines there.

Magic is everywhere, society is really different, and that means that this is a book has created something really interesting in concern to what if worlds. Because what if magic came back after being gone for millennia? 

The heroine is kickass, the action is good, and soon there is a mystery with her origin that I am dying to find out more about. Still not the best first book, but I have been told the rest are so much better. For that they are worth it.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: She looks a bit young

Reason for reading: From the publisher

Final thoughts: Not in love with Curran, sorry all, I am more in love with the fascinating world.

3,25