Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

rating
(Kate Daniels, Book #5)
Urban Fantasy


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 . . .



What sucked is it was over so soon. I swear these books go too quick and it seemed shorter than 308 pages.

This is one for the series that holds MIXED reviews; personally, I adored it. Some people are complaining Kate is not like herself and is too passive, and Curran too controlling. Frankly I don't see it. She's compromising some to make it work but still as assertive, independent, and strong as ever. Curran's actions and reactions once the relationship has furthered doesn't surprise me, as it matches everything about him that the authors have developed up to this point. I especially dug the warning video tape with the destruction of the cars, yikes.  Currans heartfelt speech to Kate about the pack and safe houses to Kate shows a softer side of him to prove how much he really cares for and loves her for who she is and not just what she can do for the pack.

Character wise I also dug having so much of Andrea, Derek, and the new addition with the witches and teenage bouda (however his odd name is spelled...) I was ticked off about a certain death of a secondary character, however - it was depressing. 


A bit more Ghastek and the "People" in this one --- they are rarely in the books, which is a shame. I'm sure with what happened with Rowena we'll see more of it in the future, here's hoping. THAT was a development I didn't see, and now that it's here it's amusing and opens up a new ballgame for all kinds of possibilities. And the very ending with the flowers? Brutal cliffhanger here, not a cliffhanger-in-books fan but it's not so bad it can be griped at. 

I was especially intrigued with the scene where Kate "saves" Julie. It was surreal and powerful. Shows stepping on the edge of a cliff with great power, to where if you step off that fragile edge you could be in serious trouble. There are of course many debates on who the voice was. My fiance thinks it was herself, a darker version in the future. I personally think it was Roland. We won't know I guess until the later books.

I've rambled on in this review about the characters so much I didn't even touch upon the plot. Again, great. It's really the characters that keep a reader mesmerized with this series, but the plots alone are mentally magnetic. The stakes are as high as ever - total world anarchy, citywide destruction, and many deaths. There's plenty of brutality, violence, icky scenes, and a good dose of hot sex thrown in the mix. Humor is present, as always, it's a natural.

 Excellent book, loved it and can't wait for 2013. I was bummed to hear there wouldn't be a new one in 2012, instead a book for the series with Andrea. I like Andrea well enough, but was itching for more Kate/Curran/pack world.

   Book Quotes:

“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.” 


 “Help me, I can’t breathe, your ego is pushing all the air out of the room.” 

“I’d missed him so much, it almost hurt. It started the moment I left the Keep and nagged at me all day. Every day I had to fight with myself to keep from making up bullshit reasons to call the Keep so I could hear his voice. My only saving grace was that Curran wasn’t handling this whole mating thing any better. Yesterday he’d called me at the office claiming that he couldn’t find his socks. We talked for two hours.”  

“What's with the beard and the horse mane? You look like Rent-a-Villain."

   Author Extras:

First Chapter Excerpt

Kate Daniels World - Author Extra Site

   Reviews of the Series:

http://thepaperbackstash.blogspot.com/2013/08/magic-rises-by-ilona-andrews.html