This is the third in the series, still in 2040 Atlanta where magic and tech surges alternate and wreak havoc, and humanity shares the planet with strange creatures of all sorts. The first half of Magic Strikes is classic, but heartbreaking. Heroine Kate Daniels races against time to save her– and my–favorite teen werewolf Derek from a gang of death fighters he has angered by encouraging a beautiful young would-be defector from their ranks, but she arrives too late. Derek’s body is discovered shattered and […]
Witches, Vampires, Werewolves … and Celtic Mythology.
Second in this excellent urban fantasy series, author/couple Ilona Andrews gives us lots to chew on in Magic Burns. Part-time mercenary and part-time investigator/warrior for the merciless Order of Merciful Aid, Kate Daniels is asked to rescue some important survey maps for the shapeshifter alliance known as The Pack, and in the process comes smack up against two colliding Celtic gods and their minions who are hoping to re-enter—and re-take—the world during a rare magic flare, which is described as a “magic tsunami. “ Alone […]
Kate Daniels’ world just keeps getting bigger and badder
Okay, so I’ve been reading this “urban fantasy” series the wrong way, I’ll admit. Picking up what’s available, in whatever order I can find them, and then moving on. But it’s not like this series is Game of Thrones or something, with story lines too dense and complicated to follow if you miss one. While it would be nice to read the Magic series from start to finish, I think I’ve managed to fill in the gaps as I read along. The plots are clever, […]
In which I remember what good urban fantasy feels like
While impatiently waiting for the newest Kate Daniels book to come off hold at the library, I remembered that Ilona Andrews doesn’t have just one urban fantasy series, and that The Edge series in particular was recommended to me. So, I dove in. Goodreads summary: “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 […]
“If your family had a quilt, it would be made out of chimera skin and stuffed with feathers from dead angels.”
WARNING! This review will contain spoilers for some stuff in the earlier Kate Daniels books because it’s pretty much impossible to write a review for the SEVENTH book in a series without revealing any of what’s gone before. If you’ve not read this series before, this book is not where you want to start (even though the authors kindly included a handy guide to all the major players in the book and a very concise and informative guide to the fictional universe this series is set in). The […]
There’s a sexy cook, but this heroine’s heart really belongs to her space armour
I picked up this book because one of my favourite authors, Ilona Andrews, recommended it on her blog. I don’t normally like science fiction all that much, but this seemed to be focused more on action and adventure, and I’ve liked recommendation from her blog before, and figured I’d give it a try. Deviana “Devi” Morris is a professional mercenary, and has pretty much risen as fast and as high in the ranks of the elite corps of the Blackbirds as she can go. Her dream […]