Magic Rises (Kate Daniels, #6) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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…

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Another great read in this series. One of my favorite paranormal series. Glad that Kate and Curran are strengthening their relationship and hope that series continues to build.




***Kindle Edition
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Gunmetal Magic (Kate Daniels World #1) by Ilona Andrews

Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Includes a free bonus: a Kate Daniels novella, "Magic Gifts."
(Author recommends reading the novella first.)

The New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels novels have been hailed as “top-notch urban fantasy” (Monsters and Critics). Now, Ilona Andrews delves deeper into Kate’s world, and reveals its untold stories…

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…

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So moving right along into Andrea's story line had me a bit concerned. How could the authors possibly keep up the pace that they have set with the Kate Daniels series? How could Andrea's story be anywhere near as good as Kate's? Well they did!! I can not say enough how much I love this world that they authors have created. The new Atlanta is a place that I want to visit on a regular basis, no matter who is the centerpiece of the story.

Andrea's story was just as kick ass, action packed, hot guy filled as any of Kate's books!! I love these characters and would be happy to read nothing but stories about them for the rest of my days!



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Magic Gifts (Kate Daniels #5.4) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Gifts by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Available as FREE download from Ilona Andrews Website for 2 weeks from Christmas Day, this novella takes place at the same time as Andrea’s book, right after MAGIC SLAYS, and the two stories intersect.

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.

Read at your own risk.

MAGIC GIFTS will appear as a bonus in the back of GUNMETAL MAGIC, Andrea’s book.

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I can not say enough how much I love the Kate Daniels series of books. I would read a 10 page essay if the authors wrote it. It always amazes me how much the authors can fit into their short stories and novellas in this series. They almost read like full fledged novels because they contain so much action, emotion and wonderful story lines. I especially enjoyed this story as I read it immediately prior to reading Gunmetal Magic which it is intertwined with. Fantastic Read!!!



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Magic Slays (Kate Daniels #5) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


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 . . .

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As always with any Kate Daniels books this was a fantastic read. I have actually been immersed in the world of Kate Daniels through several books and they have seamlessly blended into one fantastic story that I find myself so totally immersed in that I never want to leave. I don't think that these authors will ever be able to write fast enough to satisfy my voracious appetite for Kate Daniels' world.





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Magic Dreams (Kate Daniels #4.5) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Dreams by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Magic Dreams originally appeared in the anthology Hexed.

From New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews comes a tale of darkness, desire, and werecats.

Alpha Pack leader Jim Shrapshire has always been the strong, silent type. But something has come over him--a magic force currently residing in one of the Pack's headquarters. Were-tigress Dali Harimau has always wished she could get Jim's attention--but now he needs her help.

Stricken with a magic-sickness, Jim needs Dali's flair for magic. And to save him, she must challenge a powerful, dark being to a battle of wits.

Includes an excerpt of Ilona Andrews's upcoming novel in the world of Kate Daniels, Gunmetal Magic, available in August 2012.

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I can not say enough about how much I love this series. These novellas just make it so much better. I love these little peeks into the lives of the characters that I have gotten to know and love from this series.

In this novella we read about Jim, second only to Curran in Alpha status, who has inadvertently been caught in a dark magic curse that is killing him. He goes to Dali, our vegetarian, half blind, were Tiger, who secretly loves Jim, for help.

The fact that the authors manage to fit so much into such a short novella is amazing, and one of the very reasons that I love this series so much. Love the relationship between Jim and Dali and can not wait to see more of them in upcoming books.



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Fathers and Sons (Curran POV #2) by Gordon Andrews, Ilona Andrews

Fathers and Sons by Gordon Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The second volume of Curran POV takes place after the events of MAGIC BLEEDS. Infuriated by Kate’s treatment at the hands of the Pack, the Beast Lord demands an explanation. When words fail, claws and fangs must do the talking.

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Great addition to the end of Magic Bleeds. Loved Curran's POV when he woke up and found out that his people had been challenging Kate as his mate. This was like reading an extra chapter in the book.



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***Kindle Edition

Curran (Kate Daniels) by Gordon Andrews, Ilona Andrews

Curran by Gordon Andrews

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Not short story, novella, or standalone, but collection of scenes written by Gordon Andrews as a companion to our Kate Daniels series of books. These scenes illustrate the point of view of Curran, the Beast Lord of Atlanta and are provided in gratitude to our readers for all of their support.

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Loved reading these little snippets from Curran's POV on events that happened in the first 3 books of the series. Great companion piece to the books!!



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Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels, #4) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Kate Daniels keeps the peace in Atlanta for the Order, humans caught between the vampire controlling People led by her biological father and best kept secret, Roland, and the shape-shifter Pack, led by her mate-to-be Curran, the Lord of the Beasts. But her look-alike aunt Erra, Babylon's god of chaos and terror, has come to town controlling seven naked warriors: Deluge (flood water), Tremor (earth quake), Gale (hurricane wind), Torch (fire inferno), Venom (disease poison), Beast (animal monster), and Darkness (overpowering dread).

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Wow!! Without question the best in the series so far. I just fell in love with these authors and am looking to get my hands on everything that they write.

Loved this book as we learn a lot about Kate's background, get to see her in action, and have some resolution on her and Curran's relationship. Overall a can't put down read.



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Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, #3) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Without question the best book in the series so far. So much happened in this book that really brought this series together. The writing is phenomenal, the characters are a fabulous blend of traits that make them unforgettable. The story line is evolving at a pace that makes you keep wanting more and more.


Investigator for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, Kate Daniels keeps humans safe in Atlanta. But when her werewolf friend Derek is dying in human form, from attack by the mysterious Reaper team at the Midnight Games, she and Curran, the Beast Lord, must fight together to win the Wolf Diamond topaz and save his Pack and her friends.
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We learned a lot in this book about several of the characters histories and it all plays into the plot of the series. Kate's background, which comes out in this book, adds so much depth to her character. It is a wonderful mix of mystery, strength and humor. While Curran is the perfect alpha male, who can be ruthless and ferocious when those he cares about are in danger. I absolutely love the twists and turns of the relationship between the two of these characters.

Not only has the author developed these two strong main characters, but the other characters in the book have just as much depth. I found myself drawn into the emotions of the characters to the point that I did not want to stop reading. I can not wait to start reading the next book in this series.

The world that Ilona Andrews is developing through this series is breathtaking. I can not wait to go back.



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Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, #2) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


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, Celtic god Morfran supersedes goddess Morrigan for witch coven worshippers of the Crow, and sea monsters from the Underworld enter via the Cauldron of Plenty. Kate starts looking for Pack maps and 13-year old Julia's witch mother, and ends up uniting shapeshifters and vampire zombie controllers to save the world.

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I read the first book in this series back in 2008 so I was a little concerned that it would be hard to get back into the series. Fortunately it was not. I was able to jump right in and did not feel like I had missed anything.

I love the main character, Kate. She is definitely a kick-ass heroine with a witty, quirky personality. There are plenty of other interesting characters and the story line keeps you reading. Looking forward to moving on to the next book in this series. Can not wait to see how Kate and Curran's relationship evolve.



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Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews


From the Publisher
Mercenary Kate Daniels cleans up urban problems of a paranormal kind. But her latest prey, a pack of undead warriors, presents her greatest challenge. [close] Mercenary Kate Daniels cleans up urban problems of a paranormal kind. But her latest prey, a pack of undead warriors, presents her greatest challenge. [close]

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Excellent new urban fantasy series. This is much darker than the typical urban fantasy out there but quite enjoyable.



This story takes place in Atlanta, Georgia an undetermined number of years in our future. At a time when magic and technology coexist in a very unstable environment. A time when magic takes over for periods of time that causes technology not to work and even be destroyed by the waves of magic. A time when vampires are creatures that are used by humans as weapons and werecreatures are monsters that try to hold on to humanity by The Code.



The main character, Kate, is a bit of a mystery. A very powerful woman who fights evil, but on her own terms. She gets pulled into a battle when her Guardian is killed that leads to an alliance with The Lord of the Beasts, Curran, a werelion who is the King of the werecreatures.



An excellent read and I was very lucky that the second in the series 'Magic Burns' came up on my wishlist at PBS today and I should have it soon. Looking forward to it!!










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