Teaser Tuesday 26

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Want to play along?

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share 2 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers
• Share the title and author

In honor of Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews being finally released today, and since I've already read the book I can't hold my excitement and even my emotions in. And because of that (and because I couldn't chose just one) I'm going to share to share two teasers and they are longer then two sentences. Enjoy!

"A young dijigit stopped by my room," I said. "His name is Volodja and for three thousand dollars he will walk me deep into the mountains and show me where the bad shapeshifters live."
"How fortunate." Aunt B's eyes lit up. "Would you like some compmany for this wonderful trap, I mean, adventure?"
"I would." 

 "So this is what it's about? This is your mature response-to go off into the mountains rather than talking about it and have s'mores with a gnome and a mountain man."
"Yep."
"What's your plan for tomorrow? Brunch with a unicorn?"
"As long as it doesn't involve you, it fine with me."

Review: Magic Rises from Ilona Andrews

Magic Rises (Kate Daniels #6) by Ilona Andrews
Publication Date: July 30, 2013
Publisher: ACE
Number of Pages: 327
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
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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…

What's that you say? This book isn't out till tomorrow? Yes I know. But I happened to won a copy from a giveaway on Goodreads. I was beyond excited. And of course after waiting two years I couldn't wait to read it.

Both Curran and Kate has been asked to arbitrate a dispute and to protect a pregnant shapeshifter from the European packs. They both know it's a trap, but being paid in medicine that will help the children stop going loup. They can't ignore it and must go. But they aren't stupid enough to go alone, and take with them a team. The only one that I'm sad didn't go was Jim. I really do love him, and I thought it would feel weird not having him around. But in his place we get his sister, Kira. Love Kira, who is equally amusing.

They all are staying at a castle in a neutral area. The lord of the castle is human, but is widely respected by the shapeshifters and even have them as guards. The first holy shit moment happens, the lord turns out to be Hugh, Roland's warlord. And what seems to be a filler book suddenly turns into something much more. But Kate can't figure out what Hugh is up to, he's not actively trying to kill Kate nor seems like he has alerted Roland. I was fully expecting to hate Hugh. But DAMNIT! I ended up liking him, and seems like he's interested in Kate more than just turning her into Roland.

But Hugh isn't the only thing Kate has to worry about. The shapeshifter princess from the Alaskan pack is there. And it's obvious that she wants Kate's position. And as everyone keeps telling her, she's easy to replace since her and Curran aren't married.

The book isn't all sunshine and unicorns. It's emotional draining for Kate and Curran. Through majority of the book I just wanted to jump in there and beat him. There were plenty of times where I just wanted to throw the book out the window. I wanted to cry through most of the book. Trust me, when you read this book have lots of tissues around you. And a punching bag, and someone/something to scream at. There were times where I wanted to fine Ilona and just scream at them and ask why. But hold on to hope. It will be worth it in the end.

There's an almost death that had me in tears. And who saves the character will shock you to the core. But just when you think they may all get home safe, a shocking death that you never saw coming. I never thought I would miss this person.

Amazing isn't the word for this book. I haven't read a book/series that made me feel this way since Fever series by KMM. It will make you laugh, cry, scream, punch things. After I was done all I could do was sit there, and cry. It's been two days since I've finished the book and I still can't get over it. I find myself skimming through the book and re reading passages. Ilona Andrews have outdone themselves. Hands down the best book in the series yet.

Tomorrow when the bookstores open, run don't walk. You will not be disappointed in this book. This book deserves a million stars.

Rating: 5/5

Review: Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

Magic Slays (Kate Daniels #5) by Ilona Andrews
Publication Date: May 31, 2011
Publisher: ACE
Number of Pages: 308
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
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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 .

Being mated to the Beast Lord has it's perks. Kate has now opened her own private investigation business, and things would be great if only Kate could get some business. When the Red Guard comes to her and want her to find a missing inventor and his invention, Kate jumps to the chance at her first paying job.

This is the first book in the series that isn't connected to Roland. But the danger could be worst than anything they have seen before. The missing device has the power to kill anything in its range that has any kind of magical abilities. And a secret society is behind it all and wants the world magic free. I won't go into much detail because it would give a lot away.

We finally get to see Kate and Curran as a couple. It's also a fear in books once your favorite duo gets together they will become boring and lose that spark. Kate and Curran could never be boring. He's still a control freak and she still fights all authority. We even discover they have pet names for each other. How sweet.

This book is just as amazing as the rest. We learn the fate of Andrea, whom true identity was discovered by the Order, and was forced to retired. With no job, Kate offers Andrea a job with her. I've always enjoyed Andrea and I love her and Kate's scenes together. We see Julie return, getting kicked out of school. But not everything is peachy. Julie is bitten by a shapeshifter and is endanger of going loup. Kate refuses to kill her. And her only other option is something dangerous. And Kate barely comes out of it alive, and in return ends in a coma, and it's Curran's turn to sit by her.

Of course I can't have a Kate review without some quotes:

The tension in his voice eased. "You sure you don't need your Prince Charming to come and save you?"
The kot in my stomach evaporated. My Prince Charming, huh. "Sure, do you have one handy?"
"Oh, I think I could scrounge one up somewhere. As often as I have to rescue you..."

 “Andrea raised her hand. “This is the hand that slapped Aunt B.”
“Maybe you should have it gold-plated.”
“Here, you can touch it, since you’re my best friend.”

 “Yes I can,” Curran snarled. “Listen: this is me telling you what you will not do.”
I raised the cookbook and tapped him on the nose. Bad cat.

 “It’s your duty as my best friend to be outraged with me.”
“I’m outraged!” I snarled. “That bastard!”
“Thank you,” Andrea said.

 “I know it's late, but could you find a book for me? It's called The Slavs: Study of Pagan Tradition by Osvintsev."
Barabas sighed dramatically. "Kate, you make me despair. Let's try that again from the top, except this time pretend you are an alpha."
"I don't need a lecture. I just need the book."
"Much better. Little more growl in the voice?"
"Barabas!"
"And we're there. Congratulations!”

 Shapeshifter parenting motto—if your kid slit somebody's throat, always have a backup plan to make the body disappear.

 “You snore worse. At least I don't turn into a lion in my sleep."
"I only did it once."
"Once was weird enough, thank you.”

 “I clawed my eyes open and rolled off my bed. For some reason, someone had moved the floor several feet lower than I had expected, and I fell and crashed with a thud.
Ow.
A blond head popped over the side of the bed, and a familiar male voice asked, “Are you okay down there?”
Curran. The Beast Lord was in my bed. No, wait a minute. I didn’t have a bed, because my insane aunt had destroyed my apartment. I was mated to the Beast Lord, which meant I was in the Keep, in Curran’s rooms, and in his bed. Our bed. Which was four feet high. Right.
“Kate?”
“I’m fine.”
“Would you like me to install one of those child playground slides for you?”

 Andrea stared at me. "You're not taking me seriously!"
"That's probably because you're not excited enough," Derek said. "You should clench your fists like they do in the movies, shake them, and yell, 'This is bigger than any of us! It goes all the way to the top!”

 “Did he just rip out the engine?" I asked.
"Yes", Saiman said. "And now he is demolishing the Maserati with it."
Ten seconds later Curran hurled the twisted wreck of black and orange that used to be the Maserati into the wall.
The first melodic notes of an old song came from the computer. I glanced at Saiman.
He shrugged. "It begged for a soundtrack.”

We also learn that Kate's mother was a witch and learn about her power. And we learn the truth what really happened when Kate's mom ran away with Voron. I like to ignore that. It's not a happy picture.
As I said this is the first book not to have a direct threat from Roland. But at the end Kate receives flowers and a card from Hugh, Roland's warlord. In the note he calls Kate Highness, which I find interesting. Or maybe not too interesting, just that Hugh knows for sure who Kate is.

Rating: 5/5

 

Review: Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews

Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels #4) by Ilona Andrews
Publication Date: May 25, 2010
Publisher: ACE
Number of Pages: 349
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Add to Goodreads

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 arose.Kate Daniels works for the Order of 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 on the border between the territories of the shapeshifters and the necromancers, Kate quickly discovers that there's a new player in town. One who's been around for thousands of years-and who rode to war at the side of Kate's father.This foe may be too much even for Kate and Curran, the Beast Lord, to handle. Because this time Kate will be taking on family.

The fourth book picks up on the night of the dinner date between Kate and Curran. Kate has pulled out all the stops and even puts makeup on. Only one problem, Curran is a no show. When Kate calls the Keep she is informed that he is too busy to talk to her and next time to go through the proper channels. Ouch. Naturally Kate is pissed, no beyond pissed. She's heartbroken.

But magic doesn't wait for Kate to nurse her broken heart, and it seems like someone is targeting shapeshifters...again. It doesn't take long for Kate to realize that her crazy aunt has come to town. And once coming face to face it didn't take long for her aunt to realize who Kate is, especially since Kate and her aunt looks exactly a like. Even though her aunt wanted to destroy her, their meeting before hand I actually enjoyed. Especially since it was kind of nice to see Kate have a somewhat civilized sit down with one family member, since I'm sure she won't get that with her father. Also her life was saved by an unusual shapeshifter. And who hired the shapeshifter comes at a complete shock, but once you think about it makes sense. Kind of hoping we will see her again sometime in the future. I'm curious about a reptile shapeshifter, plus she knew exactly where Jim's safe house was.

And then we have Curran. He refuses to let go of Kate, the night of the dinner was a misunderstanding. But once Kate gives in she realizes that he expects to give all or nothing. Which Kate simply can not do with working for the order. Curran threatens to walk away from it all, but is Kate strong enough to let him go?

Keeping in theme with the last review here's some amazing quotes:

"You don't return your phone calls." The vampire leaned forward, tapping my doodle with a scimitar claw. "Is that a lion with horns and a pitchfork?"
"Yep."
"Is he carrying the moon on his pitchfork?"
"No, it's a pie. What can I do for Atlanta's premier Master of the Dead?"

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Curran's face. Like looking into a glacier.
"Please relay my greetings to the Beast Lord," I said. "I appreciate his willingness to alter his extremely busy schedule and make an appearance."
Curran showed no emotion. No gloating, no anger, nothing at all. Jim looked at me, looked at Curran, looked back at me again.
"Kate says hi," he said finally.
"I'm ecstatic," Curran said.

"I pulled the plug? You stood me up, you arrogant asshole!"
"You ran away!" He moved toward me. "I deserve an explanation."
Slayer left its sheath almost on its own. It was the fastest draw of my life. One moment empty space lay between us and the next my saber jumped into my hand. "You deserve nothing."
Gold rolled over Curran's eyes, so briefly that had I blinked, I would've missed it. His face gained a slightly bored expression. "Do you honestly think your toothpick can hurt me?"
"Let's find out."
"Let's not." Jim stepped between us.
Curran looked at him. his voice rasped with the beginning of a snarl. "What are you doing?"
"My job."

For the love of God. "I didn't run away. I made you your damn dinner, but you didn't have the decency to show."
Jim's eyebrows crept up. "Dinner?"

"Hey!" Jim barked.
"What?" Curran and I said at almost the same time.
Jim looked at me. "Did you make him dinner?"
He'd find out sooner or later, "Yes."
Jim turned on his foot, went out of the room, and shut the door behind him.
Alrighty, then.
"He thinks we're mated." Curran moved forward, too light light on his feet for a man of his size, his gaze locked on me-a predator stalking its prey. "In the Pack, one doesn't stand between two mates. He's being polite. He doesn't realize you broke it off."

"I'll cal you," he repeated.
"If you call me, I won't pick up the phone."
"You will wait by the phone for my call, and when it rings, you will pick it up and you will speak to me in a civil manner. If you don't know how, ask someone."

"He's making a big deal about never expecting me to behave like a shapeshifter. So I did."
"Are you out of your mind?"
It's not polite to lie to your best friend.
"It's a possibility."

He almost ran me over. Coward. Let's have a partnership, Kate. I offer honestly, Kate. I don't have to outrun the Beast Lord I just pissed off, Kate. I only have to outrun you and hit you wiht my car as I ghttail it out of here.

"I miss you."
This wasn't happening.
"I worry about you." He dipped his head and looked into my eyes. "I worry something stupid will happen and I won't be there and you'll be gone. I worry we won't ever get a chance and it's driving me out of my skull."
No, no, no, no...
We stared at each other. The tiny space between us felt too hot. Muscles bulged on his naked frame. He looked feral.
Mad gold eyes stared into mine. "Do you miss me, Kate?"
I closed my eyes, trying to shut him out. I could lie and then we'd be back to square one. Nothing would be resolved. I'd still be alone, hating him and wanting him.
He grabbed by shoulders and shook me once. "Do you miss me?"
I took the plunge, "Yes."

"Look, you don't get to run my life. We slept together once-"
He held up seven fingers.
"Fine," I squeezed through my teeth. "We had sex seven times in a twenty-four hour period. Just because I'm your lover-"
"Mate."
Words died in my mouth. In shapshifter terms, mate meant monogramy, family, children-a union, civil physical, and spiritual. It meant marriage. Apparently he hadn't given up on that idea.
"Mate," I said finally, tasting the word. He winked at me. Dear God.
I gave him my hard stare. "You're a control freak and I fight all authority. And you want us to mate?"
A wicked spark lit his eyes. "Many, many times."
"What's wrong with you? did I hit you too hard on the head?"
"My mate lives with me," he said. "In the Keep."
"Have you had many mates before?"
He gave me a look reserved for the mentally challenged. "I had lovers."
"So this is a new rule you made up on the spot?"
"That's the perk of being the Beast Lord. You get to make up rules."

I could've picked somebody rational. But no, I had to fall in love with this arrogant idiot. Come to the Keep with me, be my princess. Mourn me when your crazy dad kills me. Yeah, right.

"Little squirrel!You taste like family."
Oh, shit.

Erra chuckled. "I figured out who you are. You're the lost child Im carries on about, when he gets his attacks of melancholy."
Melancholy, right. He mourns the fact he failed to kill me-how charming. "Im?"
"A childhood nickname of your father's. Do you know who I am?"
"The scourge of the ancient world. Plaguebringer. City Eater. My aunt."
 Roland's older sister.

She smiled. "You're too funny to be his. His children tend to take themselves absurdly seriously."

"I will kill him."
Erra's eyebrows rose. "You'd have to go through me first."
I shrugged. "I have to do something for a warm-up."
She laughed softly. "That's the spirit. I do think you might be my favorite niece."

He sighed. "Because certain people aren't altogether rational at the moment. If I came with you, I'd have to answer uncomfortable questions. I ask questions, I don't answer them."
"What kind of questions?"
"Why were you in a vehicle with Kate, alone? What were you wearing? What was she wearing? How long were you there? Did you do something or did you talk? What was the nature of your discussion? Could this trip have been avoided?"
I rubbed my face. "So basically you're scared that His Lordship might get his panties in a bunch?"

So they told him already. "Did you rip anyone to pieces?"
"Not yet, I'm thinking about it."

"We don't live in a safe world. I can't give you the white picket fence, and if I did, you'd set it on fire."
True. "Only if I ran out of kindling."
"Or needed some hardened wooden shards to drive into someone's eye."

"You stayed with me," Curran said.
"Always."

I especially love the last one since it mirrors the quote between them in the last book. Kate was raised to depend on only herself and not to care or let anyone else in. Four books in and we can see that had failed. She has many people in the pack she would die for, she's adopted a kid as her niece, and in this book a dog.

I haven't read a Kate Daniels book yet that I haven't loved. Yes there are times when I want to smack Kate and yell at her. But she has to be one of my favorite heroines ever.

Rating: 5/5

 

Review: Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels #3) by Ilona Andrews
Publication Date: March 31, 2009
Publisher: ACE
Number of Pages: 310
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble 
Add to Goodreads

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…

The third  installment takes place a month or so after the second one ended. Atlanta is still recovering from the magic flare and Kate isn't any shortage of work. But where there is Kate trouble can't be too far behind. It all started with her once sidekick werewolf friend Derek attempting to break and enter into Saiman's penthouse to steal tickets to the Midnight Games, an illegal fight to the death tournament. Kate ends up attending with Saiman, and decides she doesn't want anything to do with the Games. But when Derek is discovered beaten to death by member's of one of the teams, things turn personal. Not to mention they are out to destroyed the Pack. The kicker? Curran has forbidden participation in the games and the group of them most hid from the Beast Lord. Nor does it help that Kate realize that Roland is behind it, and the consequences for her could be deadly.

This may be my favorite book in the series. There are tons of interactions between Curran and Kate, not to mention Curran kicks up chasing Kate a notch. We see more of Andrea and even Raphael and I adore them both. Who Kate really is has been hinted at in the past two books, but this book it's confirms who her biological father is. By a few numbers and years mentioned we also find out that the present year is 2030. Kind of makes you feel like a pervert for crushing on Curran.

I can't help but include most of my favorite quotes/scenes:

In a breath he halted by my side. "I lied. I need your help."
"Who are we killing?"

Because she was my best friend, and sticking knives into your best friend's windpipe was generally considered to be a social faux pas.

"His Majesty needs a can-I girl anyway. And I'm not it."
"A can-I girl?" Andrea frowned.
I leaned back. " 'Can I fetch you your food, Your Majesty? Can I tell you how strong and mighty you are, Your Majesty? Can I pick out your fleas, Your Majesty? Can I kiss your ass, Your Majesty? Can I..."
It dawned on me that Raphael was sitting every still. Frozen, like a statue, his gaze fixed on the point above my head.
"He's standing behind me, isn't he?"
Andrea nodded slowly.
"Technically it should be 'may I,' " Curran said, his voice deeper than I remembered. "Since you're asking permission."

"I see. Is Jim with you now?"
"Yes, he is. We're having rough sex. You're interrupting."

He groaned and I saw his face. "Curran!" I would've preferred a homicidal lunatic. Oh, wait...

"I thought you were some sort of maniac!" I growled.
"I am."
"What are you doing here?"
"Looking for Jim in your bed."
"He isn't here."
"I see that."

"You kept a key to my apartment. You bastard. How often do you come here?"
"Once in a while."
"Why?"
"To check on you. Saves me the trouble of sitting by the phone waiting for your 'come and rescue me' calls."
"You don't have to be troubled: there won't be any more calls. I'd rather die than call you."
"That's what worries me," he said.

"Since when do you give a crap about my welfare anyway? I think you're confused as to the nature of our relationship. You and I, we don't get along. You're a psychopathic control freak. You order me around and I want to kill you. I'm a pigheaded insubordinate ass. I drive you mad and you want to strangle me."
"Once! I did it once!"
"Once was plenty. The point is, we don't play nice."

"You sure you don't want me to stay? I'll make you coffee and ask you about your day."
"Out. Now."

Andrea waved her arms. "Of course I'll do it. I meant shoot-somebody type of help."
"Oh. Not at the moment. But I'll call you if I need a bullet through somebody's head."
"You do that. Try not to get killed."
"Will do."

"I wanted to kiss you when we were in your house. In Savannah."
Why the hell was my heart pounding? "And?"
"You looked afraid. That wasn't the reaction I was hoping for."
Be calm and reasonable. "You flatter yourself. You're not that scary."
"After I kissed you this morning, you were afraid again. Right after you looked like you were about to melt."
Melt?
"You're scared there might be something there, between you and me." 

"Go play your games with Jim. I'll find you both when I need you."
Arrogant asshole. "I tell you what, if you find us before those three days run out, I'll cook you a damn dinner and serve it to you naked."

We have to get the Diamond. And Cesare's head."
They looked at me.
"Why the head?" Doolittle asked.
"Because it's easy to carry and I can torture it for a long time." And I didn't just say it out loud, did I? I checked their faces. Yep, I did.

Also, when he opened the door to leave, Curran told him very casually that if Jim wanted to pick fights with his future mate, he was welcome to do so, but he should keep in mind that Curran wouldn't come and rescue him when you beat his ass. You should've seen Jim's face."
"His what?"
"His mate. M-A-T-E."
I cursed.

As he passed me, he leaned to Curran and handed him a paper fan folded from some sort of flyer.
Curran looked at the fan. "What?"
"An emergency precaution, Your Majesty. In case the lady faints."
Curran just stared at him. Raphael strode toward the Pit, turned, flexed a bit, and winked at me.
"Give me that," I told Curran. "I need to fan myself."
"No, you don't."

"Kiss me and I'll kill you," I warned.
"It might be worth it," he said softly.

He came for me. Into a flying palace full of thousands of armed rakshasas in the middle of a magic jungle. Oh, you stupid, stupid idiot man. What was the God damn point of saving him only to watch him throw his life away?

"Stay with me, baby."
"I will."

"You came for me," I whispered.
"Always," he told me.

"Just staying sharp. Keeping you safe keeps me in shape."

Doolittle  sighed. "Shall I tell you the usual? Where you are, how you are, and in what manner you have gotten here?"
I looked at Doolittle. "Doc, we've got to stop meeting like this."
A sour grimace wrinkled his face. "You're preaching to the choir."

I know that's a lot, but well this book is amazing. And that' only half of my favorite quotes. The ending makes you want to go out and buy the next book to read ASAP. If you're just starting the series and on the fence about the series, hold out till this book. I promise you it will make you fall right in love. This book is AMAZING, and will you begging for more.

Rating: 5/5

 

Teaser Tuesday 25

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Want to play along?

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share 2 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers
• Share the title and author

I know it's been forever since I've done one of these. I kept remembering too late. Since it's been over a month I'm going to do two teasers.  Both from Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews since I'm doing a re read. Both are from Magic Strikes which I just finished.

"I've never seen such a collection of idiots in my whole life." Doolittle shook his head. "If you participate in this lunacy, y'all will get yourselves killed. Then don't come crying to me."
Now that would be a neat trick.

 And this one has to be my favorite quote in the whole series.

"You came for me," I whispered.
 "Always," he told me.

Review: Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews

Magic Burns (Kate Daniels #2) by Ilona Andrews
Publication Date: April 1, 2008
Publisher: ACE
Number of Pages: 260
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Add to Goodreads

Down in Atlanta, tempers – and temperatures – are about to flare…

As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone 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 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…

Kate has managed to stay away from Curran since the ending of the last book and she likes to keep it that way. But fate is a bitch, and she can't keep her distance from him for long. When the Pack's treasured maps are stolen, Kate sets out to find them. Only one slight problem, the thief has the ability to disappeared in thin air.  Or it doesn't help that Kate has retrieved them twice and the thief "pops" back in and takes them all over again.

While investigating, Kate runs into a street kid she met in the last book, Red. With Red is a 13 year old girl, Julie, who Red asks Kate to protect. Her mom was in a witch coven and they all have disappeared. Keeping Julie safe is proving harder than it should be with undead creatures coming after her.

I can't talk about a Kate Daniels book without talking about Kate and Curran. And one of the reasons I love them so much is it wasn't love at first sight, mushy or anything like that. Kate didn't even like him at first, and it doesn't change much in this book. Except that we do get hints of Curran's interest in her. After saving Kate and Julie, Curran takes them back to one of the Pack's offices. Curran feeds Kate some soup, and later it is hinted that it means something significant in the shapeshifter community. Plus he starts call Kate baby, which drives her up the wall, and tells her that she will sleep with him eventually. Not to mention the last scene in the book is just amazing.

And we get some light shed on the mystery surrounding Kate. In this book there are very strong hints at who she really is, and just how powerful she is. It leaves you enough to come up for a theory but wanting to know more.

Rating: 5/5

 

Review: Magic Bites by Illona Andrews

Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1) by Ilona Andrews
Publication Date: April 1, 2007
Publisher: Ace
Number of Pages: 260
Format: Paperback
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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 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.

Doing re reads before a next release book is always fun. You pick up things you didn't noticed before. Enter Atlanta in a post Shift world. Magic comes in unpredictable waves and knocks out all technology.  Meet Kate Daniels, mercenary who can barely scrape by. When Greg,the Order's knight-diveiner and Kate's guardian and only family she has left is killed in the middle of a job Kate is out for justice and blood.

It's unsure in what time the novel is set in, but it seems to be a time in the near future. Kate is definitely kick ass and doesn't take any shit. You can tell immediately she's hiding a deep secret, with her talk about hiding who she is and burning any of her spilled blood. Not to mention that later in the book there's talk about power and magic running through her blood, and hinting she knows a lot more Roland, the mysterious leader of the People, and who he really is. Even though this is a re read, I'm intrigued by these mysteries and then I remember I know the truths. With knowing the truth's it's a lot easier to pick up on the hints and foreshadow of who Kate is.

And of course investigating a very high profile murder warrants the attention of the Beast Lord, ruler of the shapeshifters in Atlanta area. At first Curran and Kate don't get along, they push each other buttons. Well it's not much better towards the end of the book either. But you can't help but smile at them. He even saves her life.

If you haven't read this series yet, you should. It's one of those that will become an instant favorite in one book. Urban fantasy at it's finest.

Rating: 5/5