A NIGHT OWL REVIEWS BOOK REVIEW | Reviewed by: Maria
Since quitting her job at the Order of Merciful Aid, Kate Daniels has opened up her own private investigation business. She never thought her previous employer would blacken her name making it difficult to get paying jobs or that potential clients would stay away out of fear of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, her mate. When things are beginning to look desperate and Kate is thinking she might need to borrow more money from The Pack, she gets an unexpected job offer from Ghastek, one of Atlanta's premier Masters of the Dead. When Kate becomes involved she soon realizes this is not an isolated incident, someone has some dire plans for the citizens of Atlanta. If Kate doesn't get to the bottom of this fast, the city and those close to her heart could pay the ultimate price. Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews is simply amazing. The Kate Daniels series honestly gets better with each new release, I had high hopes for this book and the authors simply blew me away with the quality and depth of this story. The world building continues to evolve and the love between Kate and Curran, the Beast Lord, continues to heat up. If you haven't been reading this series, I encourage you to run to the nearest bookstore and pick up the first book Magic Bites, believe me, you'll love it! Kate continues to be one of the best kick-butt heroines in Urban Fantasy today. She's still a warrior at heart but as this series has evolved, we've gotten to see the woman behind the blade. In this installment Kate takes quite a few emotional hits but comes out even stronger than before and more secure in her own identity. She also becomes more secure in her relationship with Curran, one of the sexiest heroes in fiction today. As Kate learns about her past and her present, it's inevitable that we have to wonder about her future and without giving too much away, it's something she's definitely working to be prepared for - she knows she will eventually have no choice but to face her father, Roland, in battle. Curran, the Beast Lord, has always been interested in Kate and how their futures will play out. In book four, Magic Bleeds, Curran finally stepped up to the plate and proved he and Kate belonged together; he was the biggest and baddest shifter around and he would do whatever it took to ensure they survived whatever Roland and his followers threw at them. Curran continues to be the strong Alpha male and leader of THE PACK, but he's also a man in love and we get to see that side of him more clearly in this book. He's willing to take whatever steps are necessary to keep Kate safe, even if he has to walk away from the life he's known for the last fifteen years. The secondary characters in this story have always been important and they continue to be important to the overall plot. One such character, Andrea, Kate's best friend and now her employee continues to be a good ally and her knowledge of weapons is an important asset to have. We get to see Julie, Kate's adopted foster child, whose impetuous action leads Kate into forming a new alliance with Edvokia, the leader of the witches in Atlanta. Edvokia will become very important to Kate and her growth in magical power and strength. She also has ties to Kate's past, primarily her mother. Some of the secondary characters also provide some humor in the story, particularly Saiman, who continues to be one of Kate's allies, even though it drives Curran a little stir crazy. Kate and Curran continue to be the force that brings these different groups together to battle their common enemy. Even Ghastek and his vampires get involved in the fight this time. This time Kate and company's enemy is a group of people who want to destroy magic and return Atlanta to its pre-magic state. They want control to return to the "fully human" members of society and don't care if their process kills all magic yielders - whether they are witches, vampires, or shapeshifters. Kate soon realizes her former employer has been infiltrated by members of this purist group and she finds herself battling people she used to trust. The end of the story is the story's final battle and its aftermath. Once again Kate, Curran and their allies manage to survive the day and come out the victor, though it's not without loss. I was very happy with how the storyline for this particular book was resolved throughout the story, though I will admit to there is a little angst in the final scene and a bit of a tease in regards to the next book - I will admit that I was sorry to close the book and leave Kate, Curran and the rest of the cast behind. Book six should come out sometime in mid or late 2012 and I'll be waiting.
May 04, 2011 | 9780441020423
5 - Rare Top Pick | 4.5 - Top Pick | 4 - I Liked It | 3.5 - Enjoyable | 3 - OK | 2.5 - It just didn't click
Book Blurb for Magic Slays
Kate Daniels has quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but starting her own business isn't easy when the Order starts disparaging her good name. And being the mate of the Beast Lord doesn't bring in the customers, either. So when Atlanta's premier Master of the Dead asks for help with a vampire, Kate jumps at the chance. Unfortunately, this is one case where Kate should have looked before she leapt.
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