Big love to Ilona Andrews for creating and sharing this Kate Daniels novella as a Christmas gift to fans.
The story runs concurrently with Gunmetal MaBig love to Ilona Andrews for creating and sharing this Kate Daniels novella as a Christmas gift to fans.
The story runs concurrently with Gunmetal Magic, the Andrea-centered novel coming out next year... and contains some teaser/ mini-plot spoilers as a result. It follows Kate and Curran as they attempt a dinner date in the city. But everything goes to hell when a woman is killed in the restaurant. And they're pulled in further when the metal necklace that killed her, is placed around a child's neck. From there, it's a race against time for Kate to find out how to get rid of the necklace before it kills the child too.
The story has all of the Kate trademark wit. There's great interaction between her and Jim as they try to work out problems with the Guild. And her relationship with Curran is as strong as ever --as they work side by side to save the child. The story leans much heavier on action than heart, but that's ok every once in a while.
It didn't do much to advance the ongoing Kate Daniels arc, but it definitely whet my appetite for the Andrea book. I can't wait to see how it all hashes out between her and Raphael. 4 stars. ...more
Coming off the high of the spectacular ending of Magic Slays, I've been staring at the computer for 10 minutes, trying to figure out why it took me a Coming off the high of the spectacular ending of Magic Slays, I've been staring at the computer for 10 minutes, trying to figure out why it took me a little while to really get into this book. And I think I've finally come up with the answer.
As the story begins, Kate is running the new agency that Curran set up for her since she has left the Order. But despite her competence and reputation, she doesn't have any clients. But just as her best friend Andrea returns from a two month absence, Kate is hired to find a missing man and the mysterious device he has built. She investigates; she is snarky; she is magic and bad-ass. But (insert light bulb here) I wasn't very invested in any of it, because Kate seemed to have no stake in it all, beyond completing a job. No justice mission like she had when searching for Greg's killer; no revenge for a brutal attack on a friend; no saving the world from a deranged aunt. Just a job.
It was when Kate realized what the device could do and what it would mean to her world, that I began to perk up. And then we were off and running. Without spoiling too much, I'll say that the device could have huge ramifications on Kate and all those she loves, if it is activated. And as we get into the second half of the book, Kate encounters a personal crisis, that makes her willing to risk everything to fix it. It's when Kate is desperate and loyal and determined that she is at her best. And here she shines, a heroine in the greatest sense.
Curran is back as Kate's mate, and I was worried that some of the spark would be missing from their relationship, now that it's more permanent. But Kate's paranoia keeps them from falling into the old-married couple routine. She still has questions about whether things can work for them long-term. But as the story progresses, he proves himself to be an utterly worthy hero. And I still enjoyed the fire between them.
For the last third of the book, I was completely unable to put it down. The ending was fantastic and sets up even more drama for the next installment. I can't imagine that Kate will be able to keep her secret for much longer. 4 1/2 stars.
I really didn't think the Kate Daniels series could actually get any better after Magic Strikes. But as good as that one was, this one was better.
As the book begins, Kate is preparing for that naked dinner she promised Curran. But he doesn't show. She calls The Keep and gets the brush off. And hours later, she decides she's been played for a fool. A few weeks later, she is back at work and determined to forget her feelings for the Beast Lord. She gets pulled into a case, where a mysterious being is bringing a plague to Atlanta. Throughout the course of the investigation, Kate has to use her contacts with the mercenary guild, Saiman, and even the shapeshifters. Which throws her plan to avoid Curran out of the window.
It's clear these two are crazy about each other, but there's a lot working against them... The worst offenders are their responsibilities and stubbornness. But it is so gratifying to watch them work it out. Their relationship is so great, because they can retain their individual strengths, while allowing the other in. During their courtship, we learn a lot about Curran's background and pack politics. Not only that, we see what it will mean if Kate needs to carve herself a place in his life.
While Kate's personal life heats up, her investigation into the Plaguemaker takes a more personal turn. As so many things in her life do, it ends up with a major connection to Roland. And it forces her to share some of her most closely kept secrets.
AND THERE IS FINALLY SOME SEX.
I can't say enough about how good this book was. Not only does it put most other series to shame... It puts the first two books in this series to shame as well. All hail Kate Daniels. 5 stars.
I’ve liked the Kate Daniels series from the very first book. But with Magic Strikes, that like has turned in to full-blown love.
Two months have passedI’ve liked the Kate Daniels series from the very first book. But with Magic Strikes, that like has turned in to full-blown love.
Two months have passed since the massive magic flare and epic battle that ended the last book. But there are new problems on the horizon. They start when Derek gets caught trying to break in to Saiman’s apartment. To keep the young wolf out of trouble, Kate agrees to accompany Saiman to a Gladiator-style game, to help him learn more about a mysterious team of participants called the Reapers. But it seems Derek has a particular interest in one of the team-members and convinces Kate to pass the woman a note while she is there.
Kate senses it’s a bad idea. But things go more wrong than she ever imagined they could. For vengeance, for justice, Kate and a band of her closest friends end up competing themselves. Their goal, to take down the Reapers and win the grand prize.
There’s a lot of emotion in this book. Most of it centers around the fact that Kate has real friends for the first time in her life. Their fragility terrifies her. She is also hyper-aware that her love for them can be crippling. To lose one of them, could damage her in a way that couldn’t be done when she lived her life as a loner. We see how much Derek, Andrea, Julie… and even Curran have ensconced themselves into her heart. –And speaking of Curran, the sparks between these two grow hotter with every book. There is phenomenal sexual tension and it’s played to perfection.
We also finally find out the big secret Kate has been carrying. It’s been foreshadowed, but hearing her admit her heritage is still a pretty big deal. And you can tell it’s only a matter of time before it all blows up in her face.
This book was outstanding. It had big emotion, lots of action, and the fantastic & witty dialogue that’s a hallmark of the series. 5 stars.
The most appealing thing about any Kate Daniels book, is hands-down, Kate Daniels herself. She strong and smart, witty and irreverent. And it doesn’t The most appealing thing about any Kate Daniels book, is hands-down, Kate Daniels herself. She strong and smart, witty and irreverent. And it doesn’t look like she ever gets a moment’s peace. As the book begins, a few months have passed since the events of Magic Bites. Kate is working as a liaison between the mercenary guild and the Order of Merciful Aid. And the waves of magic in the world are growing more frequent and intense, indicating a flare is on the horizon.
While on a mission for the Pack, Kate’s path crosses with a young girl named Julie. Her mom is missing and soon Kate realizes that the woman was part of a coven that was messing with forces beyond their control. Kate makes it her mission to take care of Julie and figure out where her mother is. The coven’s work, though incomplete, has already unleashed some serious baddies which are coming after Julie and Kate. And if that weren’t distraction enough, there’s a sexy archer named Bran thrown in the mix… and his only clear intentions seem to be bedding Kate!
Of course, it’s hard to root for anyone to be with Kate, other than the super-sexy alpha Beast Lord, Curran. There are some great revelations here about his intentions toward our heroine. And their interactions are great fun to watch. Their dialogue is fast, funny, and sometimes sexy. One of my favorite things about the series is watching the slow-build between these two!
There are also some great secondary stories here, some featuring familiar faces like Crest and Red; others are new, like Andrea and Julie. Old relationships end; new ones begin. And we’re still getting nuggets of information about Kate’s past and the secrets to her power. Not a dull moment in sight. 4 1/2 stars.
I love Kate Daniels. She is brash; she is mouthy; she's funny; and she kicks ass. Kate lives in alternate or perhaps future version of Atlanta. VampirI love Kate Daniels. She is brash; she is mouthy; she's funny; and she kicks ass. Kate lives in alternate or perhaps future version of Atlanta. Vampires exist. So do shapeshifters... and perhaps most importantly, so does magic. In fact, the onset of magic into the world has changed its very landscape. Magic is the antithesis of technology. It comes in waves, and when it does, mechanical instruments stop working. That means everything from lights to cars to tv's are out of commission, until the magic recedes and technology reigns again.
Kate has magic in her blood, so much of it in fact, that she keeps it and its source, a tightly guarded secret. She uses her magic and kick-butt skills as a mercenary for hire, until her childhood guardian Greg is killed. She takes it upon herself to solve the mystery of his grisly death and bring his killer to justice. To do that, she must align herself with the Order of Merciful aid, an agency that sort-of polices the supernatural. And she must work with the local shapeshifters.
Next to Kate herself, Curran --the Lord of the Beasts-- is the most fascinating character in the story. The two of them have absolutely explosive chemistry. They're not romancing each other... at least not in the traditional sense. Every word, every action is a challenge, a chance to one-up the other. Their exchanges are witty and funny, and it's hard to miss a bit of sexual heat creeping in.
The world-building is clear, consistent and easy to understand. The characters were three-dimensional and easily defined. And despite a big supporting cast, I never had to ask myself, "Who was that again?" about any particular character.
As I gush, I do have to admit that the book is not perfect. There were two points that did make me scratch my head. (view spoiler)[(Once, wondering why the heck Curran would blame Kate for getting the wrong idea about Crest, when she never supported the idea that he was the bad guy. The other why everyone assumed the case was closed with the death of Roland's concubine, when there was no proof or explanation as to why she killed Greg.) (hide spoiler)] But both these issues were minor.
I can tell you that each one of the books in this series gets progressively better. And I loved them so much that they inspired me to start writing book reviews in the first place. If you've never read Kate Daniels, and you're a fan of Urban Fantasy, what are you waiting for? You're missing out on something great. 4 1/2 stars.
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