Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1) - Ilona Andrews
Grade: Adult - UF
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for magic . . .
One moment magic dominates, and cars stall and guns fail. The next, technology takes over and the defensive spells no longer protect your house from monsters. Here skyscrapers topple under onslaught of magic; werebears and werehyenas prowl through the ruined streets; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst of knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds. In this world lives Kate Daniels. Kate likes her sword a little too much and has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, she must choose to do nothing and remain safe or to pursue his preternatural killer. Hiding is easy, but the right choice is rarely easy . . .(Description from Goodreads)
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I really loved Magic Bites. I was concerned at the start, because little of the magical world is explained up front, you have to learn throughout the story what is happening and how. But after a few pages there's no way to put the book down.
A mystery and action story, Magic Bites shows a world that has developed into two zones: the tech zone and magic zone; where society is used to the shifting of power and magic on a daily basis. Trouble comes in the form of magical beings, whether the necromancers controlling vampires or the shapechangers ruled by the Beast Lord or something completely different and unknown. And throughout this novel, trouble comes as we watch Kate try and uncover the mystery of her guardian's supernatural murder.
Kate Daniels (Guild mercenary, temporary Order employee and women on a mission) is a fabulous protagonist. She has a way of getting into your head. You imagine a sword wielding tough chick can overcome anything, but Kate shows there's vulnerability in everyone. Tough impressions don't always make a fearless person. While Kate is a strong woman, she in not immune to fears and that humanizes her.
I cannot get enough of Curran. I find him centred, in control of himself and the Pack, and yet his cheeky side surfaces so much around Kate that you can't help but smile when he makes an appearance. And I think he fixes roofs just fine; I'd certainly wouldn't take the hammer away from him.
4.5/5 stars (because of the slow beginning) Can't wait to get into the next one.
Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)
I really loved Magic Bites. I was concerned at the start, because little of the magical world is explained up front, you have to learn throughout the story what is happening and how. But after a few pages there's no way to put the book down.
A mystery and action story, Magic Bites shows a world that has developed into two zones: the tech zone and magic zone; where society is used to the shifting of power and magic on a daily basis. Trouble comes in the form of magical beings, whether the necromancers controlling vampires or the shapechangers ruled by the Beast Lord or something completely different and unknown. And throughout this novel, trouble comes as we watch Kate try and uncover the mystery of her guardian's supernatural murder.
Kate Daniels (Guild mercenary, temporary Order employee and women on a mission) is a fabulous protagonist. She has a way of getting into your head. You imagine a sword wielding tough chick can overcome anything, but Kate shows there's vulnerability in everyone. Tough impressions don't always make a fearless person. While Kate is a strong woman, she in not immune to fears and that humanizes her.
I cannot get enough of Curran. I find him centred, in control of himself and the Pack, and yet his cheeky side surfaces so much around Kate that you can't help but smile when he makes an appearance. And I think he fixes roofs just fine; I'd certainly wouldn't take the hammer away from him.
4.5/5 stars (because of the slow beginning) Can't wait to get into the next one.
Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)
Yes yes yes!!! I read Magic Bites a few weeks ago and it was amazing! I think I was really expecting a paranormal, and to find this incredibly complex, strange and profoundly other world was a wonderful surprise. It's real urban fantasy and seriously. Just wow. I'm with you on the slow beginning--it was a little hard to slip into because, like you said, you have to learn the world as you go, and you're thrown right in the deep end... but it's worth it. SO. GOOD.
ReplyDelete@Sarah (saz101) I read the series months ago, but that was before I started blogging. I want to put all my Kate Daniels reviews here slowly over the next few weeks. I adore Ilona Andrews and I'm waiting impatiently for the next book in the series. May can't come fast enough.
ReplyDeleteI love the post apocalyptic world, the periods of magic and tech, I think it's a really interesting spin on urban fantasy. I love the character development of not only Kate and Curran but also the supporting cast.
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