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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On the Edge (The Edge, #1) by Ilona Andrews

On the Edge by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either.

Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn’t turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off the books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power).

But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them—or they’ll devour the Edge and everyone in it.

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Excellent start to a new series by an author(s) who has moved up to the top of my favorite's list.

It took me a little bit to get into the book, but that was only because I had just finished reading several books in the Kate Daniels series and I had to adjust to a new world in this book. This world is nothing like Kate's world and took me a while to adjust to. But once I did I could not stop reading. I love the way that all of the books that I have read by Ilona Andrews have a wonderful touch of humor written into them.

The main characters are fabulous and the rest of the characters are just as interesting. The story line is exciting and I can not wait to read more about the Weird, the Edge and the Broken.



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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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The Trouble With Magic (A Bewitching Mystery #1) by Madelyn Alt

The Trouble With Magic by Madelyn Alt

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Antiques-shop clerk Maggie O'Neill was a little weirded out when she discovered her new boss Felicity was a witch. But when Felicity becomes the suspect in a local murder, Maggie must enlist Felicity's wiccan friends for help--and discover her own spellbinding talent.~~~



This book was really slow for me. I had a hard time staying interested. I liked the characters and the premise of the book, but the execution was not great for me. The author's writing style was a bit too wordy for me. Overly descriptive in some areas and repetitive in others. I was expecting a paranormal cozy mystery but ended up feeling like I got an intro course in New Age/Mysticism instead. The mystery itself seemed to be a background for Maggie's discovery of 'magic'. (I use the word magic loosely as I feel like it is more about religion than magic in some ways.) I did however like the characters and am hoping that future books in the series get better. I like the mysterious Marcus and the stormy beginning for Maggie and Tom. The intro to the NIGHTS left a lot of possibilities for future characters. So while I may not jump right on the next book in the series, I will eventually get back to it.




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Total Eclipse (Weather Warden #9) by Rachel Caine

Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin, her husband, the djinn David, and the Earth herself have been poisoned by a substance that destroys the magic that keeps the world alive. The poison is destabilizing the entire balance of power, bestowing magic upon those who have never had it, and removing it from those who need it. It's just a matter of time before the delicate balance of nature explodes into chaos-and doom.



Wow! What an ending to a great series. I totally enjoyed it. Lots of action and of course world-saving going on. Enjoyed meeting Luis and Cassiel and really want to start in on the 'Outcast' books now. The end was sad, and sweet, and just about what I would have expected with this series. Gonna miss reading about Joanne and David, but very happy that I rode along on their journey!



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Cape Storm (Weather Warden, #8) by Rachel Caine

Cape Storm by Rachel Caine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Check the forecast for the series that's "an addictive force of nature that will suck you in ." (News and Sentinel)

Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin and her new husband, the Djinn David, are running from a malevolent hurricane bent on destroying her. Joined by an army of fellow Wardens and Djinn onboard a hijacked luxury liner, Joanne has lured the storm into furious pursuit. But even their combined magic may not be enough to stop it-nor the power-mad ex-Weather Warden controlling it..

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I have to admit, I love this series! Yes some of this stuff is repetitive and I really do not like Evil Jo, but overall I love this series. Non stop action, combined with some great friendships and interesting story line makes for a great read. Looking forward to see what they are going to do next. Gonna kind of miss everyone when the series ends.



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Gale Force (Weather Warden #7) by Rachel Caine

Gale Force by Rachel Caine

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin is on vacation when her Djinn lover, David, asks Joanne to marry him. She's thrilled to say yes, even if some others may be less than happy about it.

Unfortunately, Joanne's pre-marital bliss is ended by a devastating earthquake in Florida. And she can't ask David and his kind for assistance. Because the cause of the quake is unlike anything Joanne has ever encountered, and a power even the Djinn cannot perceive.
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This book in the Weather Warden series is a non-stop action ride. Just when you think you can catch your breath something else happens and you take off again.



Seems that Joanne and David can not catch a break. Glad that their relationship is moving forward. Gonna be interesting to see how they get out of this fix in the next book.



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Magic on the Hunt (Allie Beckstrom #6) by Devon Monk

Magic on the Hunt by Devon Monk

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


In the secret lockup of the Authority, the council that decides what can and can't be done with magic, an undead magic user has possessed one of the prisoners. He wants his freedom-and then some. Now Allie Beckstrom and her lover, Zayvion, are the first line of defense against the chaos he's about to unleash on the city of Portland...

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Another good installment of the Allie Beckstrom series. Still have not resolved any of the problems in the books, but having a heck of a time trying. lol I don't have any more of the series right now, which may be for the best. I feel like I am a little burnt out on this series at the moment. Maybe we will see some resolution to some of the problems facing Allie and pals in the next book.



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Magic at the Gate (Allie Beckstrom #5) by Devon Monk

Magic at the Gate by Devon Monk

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Allie Beckstrom's lover, Zayvion Jones, is a Guardian of the Gate, imbued with both light and dark magic and responsible for ensuring that those energies don't mix. But Zayvion lies in a coma, his soul trapped in death's realm. And when Allie discovers that the only way to save Zayvion is to sacrifice her very own magical essence, she makes a decision that may have grave consequences for the entire world.

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The first half of this book was good, about the same as the last few, but the last half............ With the exception of the very first book in the series, it was probably the best yet. I very much am looking forward to the next book in hopes that it keeps the pace set. Love meeting all of the wonderful characters that we are getting to know. All in all a wonderful action packed series.



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