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Kate Daniels #8
Magic Shifts
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Fantasy (2015)This is a previously published edition of ASIN B00OQSF7GY. An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
In the latest Kate Daniels novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews, magic is coming and going in waves in post-Shift Atlanta—and each crest leaves danger in its wake…
After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Curran misses the constant challenges of leading the shapeshifters.
So when the Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild, Curran seizes the opportunity—too bad the Guild wants nothing to do with him and Kate. Luckily, as a veteran merc, Kate can take over any of the Guild’s unfinished jobs in order to bring in money and build their reputation. But what Kate and Curran don’t realize is that the odd jobs they’ve been working are all connected.
An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it—before it takes their city apart piece by piece…
In the latest Kate Daniels novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews, magic is coming and going in waves in post-Shift Atlanta—and each crest leaves danger in its wake…
After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Curran misses the constant challenges of leading the shapeshifters.
So when the Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild, Curran seizes the opportunity—too bad the Guild wants nothing to do with him and Kate. Luckily, as a veteran merc, Kate can take over any of the Guild’s unfinished jobs in order to bring in money and build their reputation. But what Kate and Curran don’t realize is that the odd jobs they’ve been working are all connected.
An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it—before it takes their city apart piece by piece…
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2015
About the author
Ilona Andrews
145 books31.5k followersIlona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)
Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.
Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,720 reviews
November 24, 2021
4.5 stars
My love for Ilona Andrews is not something I attempt to keep hidden. I can in fact be rather obnoxious about it. #sorrynotsorry
Their books are typically so far ahead of their peers, so much better in all the major areas--character development, world-building, interesting and original plot lines--AND they're hilarious to boot.
I feel like this warrants a certain level of fangirling.
That being said, I was disappointed by one of their books for the first time when Kate #7 came out last year. Don't get me wrong, it was still a decent book . . . but I've been conditioned to expect more of the Andrews.
By itself, it wouldn't have been a huge deal, but before that, while still really enjoying Kate #6, I had a handful of issues . . . weredolphins, various Kate/Curran situations that I ultimately understood but did not like . . .
And while being a minority, I know that I am not alone in my feelings in either of those cases . . . which makes me happier than I could ever adequately communicate to inform you:
THEY'RE BACK.
One of my favorite things about the Andrews is that in every installment they take a myth, a creature of legend, a campfire story specific to one location or with roots across the globe, and while remaining true to the base elements, they somehow manage to make it wholly their own:
Vampires? Check.
Necromancers? Double check.
Shifters? Check x100.
To name a few.
In MAGIC SHIFTS, we meet their version of the ghoul. *shudders*
Ghouls usually fall on the low end of my Interesting Supernatural Creatures list, b/c 1. I don't like dead things, and 2. They eat dead people.
Kind of a double whammy.
BUT.
These ghouls are sentient . . . ish. Also, they're not dead.
I've encountered ghouls that were cowards and mindless scavengers, and I've encountered ghouls that were basically humans with unfortunate dietary requirements, but never ghouls that fell somewhere in between . . . Ghouls too driven by their hunger for dead flesh to qualify as human, but wily and just capable enough of rational thought not to be disregarded as animals. There are levels, some ghouls retaining more of their humanity than others, but the majority of those we meet . . . o.O
It may not sound like much of a distinction, but I found this version . . . significantly more sinister than either of its counterparts: a smart monster who would like nothing more than to violently end your life for the express purpose of letting your carcass decay before eating it.
*convulses with shudders*
SO. The Andrews put their own unique spin on even the most tired supernatural creatures.
But that's merely the tip of the Andrews' iceberg of awesome.
One of the easiest pitfalls for an UF series to fall into is the Post Get Together Doldrums. Even if you think you have no idea what I'm talking about, I promise, you do. It's when the heroine and her main love interest finally get their shit together and begin their HEA . . . and you're suddenly bored.
Oh, if they hadn't finally gotten together, you'd be furious, maybe even furious enough to rage quit the series (we readers are terribly hard on authors, aren't we?), but now . . . Turns out there's a reason all the fairytales end with, "and they lived happily ever after."
Happily ever after is boring. It's enough to know that's what they're doing, we don't need to know the specifics.
Not so, KATE DANIELS.
In part, this is due to a slight modification of "HEA."
What Kate and Curran have is more TEA (together ever after) b/c KATE DANIELS is the most action-packed series I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
With the focus on the what is happening to the characters b/c plot vs. what is happening to the characters b/c character development (we no longer need the focus to be on development--they're awesome and we love them already), the Andrews don't have to come up with asinine scenarios in which their love is repeatedly tested, blah-friggin'-blah.
Instead Kate and Curran work together, not only letting each other exist simply as they are, but loving each other for it, and knowing each other's strengths and weaknesses so well that they help each other be their most deadly and efficient selves . . .
It's equal parts refreshing, gripping, and hilarious.
But they aren't mother birds pushing each other out of the nest, no, they are not. They have each other's backs. Always.
When something threatens Kate:
And in return:
But even greater than the Andrews' ability to take a known quantity and make it new and interesting or to keep a steady, committed relationship from becoming meh, is the way they weave threads throughout their story drawing a multitude of different factors, people, and events into a cohesive whole.
I say this a lot, b/c it's an element of one of my book peeves, but with MAGIC SHIFTS it is especially true: the sum is greater than the parts.
No one--NO ONE--does this better than Ilona and Gordon Andrews.
I'm not going to tell you what the Big Bad is. You'll find out in the book. Eventually. I will tell you that I was utterly sick of this creature. I may have even groaned a little bit when I figured out what it was. BUT. Andrews. The end.
Read it and see what I'm talking about. HIGHLY recommended.
Final thoughts:
Pre-review:
WELP. That was freaking awesome. That was the Kate Daniels I've been missing the last two books. No awful secrets like Kate #6. No dramatic departures from accepted behaviors of MCs or inexplicable randomness like Kate #7. Just Kate and Curran (and co.) in all their EPIC hilarity and wonderfulness that is KATE DANIELS.
Full review closer to release date. *fist pumps*
My other reviews for this series:
A Questionable Client (Kate Daniels, #0.5)
Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1)
Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, #2)
Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, #3)
Magic Mourns (Kate Daniels, #3.5)
Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels, #4)
Magic Dreams (Kate Daniels, #4.5)
Magic Slays (Kate Daniels, #5)
Magic Tests (Kate Daniels, #5.3)
Magic Gifts (Kate Daniels, #5.4)
Gunmetal Magic (Kate Daniels, #5.5)
Retribution Clause (Kate Daniels, #5.6)
An Ill-Advised Rescue (Kate Daniels, #5.8)
Magic Rises (Kate Daniels, #6)
Magic Steals (Kate Daniels, #6.5)
Magic Breaks (Kate Daniels, #7)
Magic Stars (Kate Daniels, #8.5, Grey Wolf, #1)
Magic Binds (Kate Daniels, #9)
Iron and Magic (Kate Daniels, #9.5)
Magic Triumphs (Kate Daniels, #10)
Curran POV Collection
My love for Ilona Andrews is not something I attempt to keep hidden. I can in fact be rather obnoxious about it. #sorrynotsorry
Their books are typically so far ahead of their peers, so much better in all the major areas--character development, world-building, interesting and original plot lines--AND they're hilarious to boot.
I feel like this warrants a certain level of fangirling.
That being said, I was disappointed by one of their books for the first time when Kate #7 came out last year. Don't get me wrong, it was still a decent book . . . but I've been conditioned to expect more of the Andrews.
By itself, it wouldn't have been a huge deal, but before that, while still really enjoying Kate #6, I had a handful of issues . . . weredolphins, various Kate/Curran situations that I ultimately understood but did not like . . .
And while being a minority, I know that I am not alone in my feelings in either of those cases . . . which makes me happier than I could ever adequately communicate to inform you:
THEY'RE BACK.
One of my favorite things about the Andrews is that in every installment they take a myth, a creature of legend, a campfire story specific to one location or with roots across the globe, and while remaining true to the base elements, they somehow manage to make it wholly their own:
Vampires? Check.
Necromancers? Double check.
Shifters? Check x100.
To name a few.
In MAGIC SHIFTS, we meet their version of the ghoul. *shudders*
Ghouls usually fall on the low end of my Interesting Supernatural Creatures list, b/c 1. I don't like dead things, and 2. They eat dead people.
Kind of a double whammy.
BUT.
These ghouls are sentient . . . ish. Also, they're not dead.
I've encountered ghouls that were cowards and mindless scavengers, and I've encountered ghouls that were basically humans with unfortunate dietary requirements, but never ghouls that fell somewhere in between . . . Ghouls too driven by their hunger for dead flesh to qualify as human, but wily and just capable enough of rational thought not to be disregarded as animals. There are levels, some ghouls retaining more of their humanity than others, but the majority of those we meet . . . o.O
It may not sound like much of a distinction, but I found this version . . . significantly more sinister than either of its counterparts: a smart monster who would like nothing more than to violently end your life for the express purpose of letting your carcass decay before eating it.
*convulses with shudders*
SO. The Andrews put their own unique spin on even the most tired supernatural creatures.
But that's merely the tip of the Andrews' iceberg of awesome.
One of the easiest pitfalls for an UF series to fall into is the Post Get Together Doldrums. Even if you think you have no idea what I'm talking about, I promise, you do. It's when the heroine and her main love interest finally get their shit together and begin their HEA . . . and you're suddenly bored.
Oh, if they hadn't finally gotten together, you'd be furious, maybe even furious enough to rage quit the series (we readers are terribly hard on authors, aren't we?), but now . . . Turns out there's a reason all the fairytales end with, "and they lived happily ever after."
Happily ever after is boring. It's enough to know that's what they're doing, we don't need to know the specifics.
Not so, KATE DANIELS.
In part, this is due to a slight modification of "HEA."
What Kate and Curran have is more TEA (together ever after) b/c KATE DANIELS is the most action-packed series I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
With the focus on the what is happening to the characters b/c plot vs. what is happening to the characters b/c character development (we no longer need the focus to be on development--they're awesome and we love them already), the Andrews don't have to come up with asinine scenarios in which their love is repeatedly tested, blah-friggin'-blah.
Instead Kate and Curran work together, not only letting each other exist simply as they are, but loving each other for it, and knowing each other's strengths and weaknesses so well that they help each other be their most deadly and efficient selves . . .
It's equal parts refreshing, gripping, and hilarious.
But they aren't mother birds pushing each other out of the nest, no, they are not. They have each other's backs. Always.
When something threatens Kate:
The insect pointed a leg at me. “Die.”
Curran’s eyes went gold. His clothes tore, falling in shreds to the street, as the massive meld of human and lion spilled out. “Let’s see you try that shit on me.”
And in return:
Curran stood in the middle of the street, his hands still locked on the insect’s front pair of legs. The spider-scorpion was lunging at him again and again, trying to grip him with its pincers. If those mandibles closed on Curran, they’d slice his arms off.
Oh no, you don’t.
I charged the spider
But even greater than the Andrews' ability to take a known quantity and make it new and interesting or to keep a steady, committed relationship from becoming meh, is the way they weave threads throughout their story drawing a multitude of different factors, people, and events into a cohesive whole.
I say this a lot, b/c it's an element of one of my book peeves, but with MAGIC SHIFTS it is especially true: the sum is greater than the parts.
No one--NO ONE--does this better than Ilona and Gordon Andrews.
I'm not going to tell you what the Big Bad is. You'll find out in the book. Eventually. I will tell you that I was utterly sick of this creature. I may have even groaned a little bit when I figured out what it was. BUT. Andrews. The end.
Read it and see what I'm talking about. HIGHLY recommended.
Final thoughts:
Pre-review:
WELP. That was freaking awesome. That was the Kate Daniels I've been missing the last two books. No awful secrets like Kate #6. No dramatic departures from accepted behaviors of MCs or inexplicable randomness like Kate #7. Just Kate and Curran (and co.) in all their EPIC hilarity and wonderfulness that is KATE DANIELS.
Full review closer to release date. *fist pumps*
My other reviews for this series:
A Questionable Client (Kate Daniels, #0.5)
Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1)
Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, #2)
Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, #3)
Magic Mourns (Kate Daniels, #3.5)
Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels, #4)
Magic Dreams (Kate Daniels, #4.5)
Magic Slays (Kate Daniels, #5)
Magic Tests (Kate Daniels, #5.3)
Magic Gifts (Kate Daniels, #5.4)
Gunmetal Magic (Kate Daniels, #5.5)
Retribution Clause (Kate Daniels, #5.6)
An Ill-Advised Rescue (Kate Daniels, #5.8)
Magic Rises (Kate Daniels, #6)
Magic Steals (Kate Daniels, #6.5)
Magic Breaks (Kate Daniels, #7)
Magic Stars (Kate Daniels, #8.5, Grey Wolf, #1)
Magic Binds (Kate Daniels, #9)
Iron and Magic (Kate Daniels, #9.5)
Magic Triumphs (Kate Daniels, #10)
Curran POV Collection
February 16, 2023
➽
And the moral of this particular rererererereread is:
why Dear Daddy hasn't yet received a Father of the Year Decade Award is one of the greatest mysteries of the universe, if you ask me.
Quite right you are, Georgie dear.
👋 Until next time and stuff.
🐈 The Adventures Of A Brave Little Kitty Buddy Rerererereread (TAOABLKBR™) with the IA Addicts 🐈
➽ And the moral of this particular rererererereread is: the Grand Mahon Chewing Out (GMCO™). There's nothing quite like it, if you ask me.
➽ And the other moral of this particular rererererereread is: there's not nearly enough Desandra in this instalment. Not to mention Roman the Riveting Russian Rake (aka R⁴). This is slightly very outrageous and stuff.
👋 Until next time and stuff.
[May 2018]
⚔ The Grand IAA™ KD Buddy Rerererereread Extravaganza (GIAAKDBRE™), aka theyellow brick road to Magic Triumphs ⚔
Presenting Episode 8, or How Kate Daniels Learned That Managing An Exotic Zoo In Post-Shift Atlanta Is Not As Easy As It Seems.
» And the moral of this particular rererereread is: are you pregnant? Hormonal? Tired? Famished? Why not have some freshly slaughtered, magical bull meat, tenderized by His Fussiness Himself?Some relatively unbalanced people Desandra says it's pretty good and tastes like grass-fed Angus. Best recommendation ever, if you ask me.
P.S. I want to have dinner with Daddy Dearest at Applebee's. And I want him to call me Nefarious Shrimpy Blossom and stuff.
P.P.S. World-class scumbags who graduated to First-Grade Asshole Status (FGAS™) in this instalment: . Congratulations, go you and stuff!
P.P.S.²: When giant lizards stare at you and start chanting "Meat! Meat! Meat!" you might perhaps want to run the fish away from the scene and stuff. Maybe.
❣ KD is the Cure to All of Life's Problems Buddy Read (KDitCtAoLPBR™) with my dear wife Ange, and the poor souls who have fallen into our deathly KD Surprise Reread Trap (KSRT™) ❣
➽ Last reread: August, 2016.
✎ Previous rating: 14 stars
✎ New rating: I will not be rating this series anymore. If I do, Goodreads might implode. You're welcome.
Forgive me, Ilona Andrews Gods, for I have only read this book three times.
I know, I know, this is definitely NOT proper behaviour for the IAfangirl enthusiast I am supposed to be (don't know where that silly rumor came from, btw), but in my defense, this book was published only a year ago, so I haven't yet had the time to read it 258 times.
Okay, okay, I'm sorry! What do I have to do to atone for this shameful sin, sister? Excuse me? What did you just say? I have to read Magic Steals twice more? Oh. It's that bad, is it? Okay. Sure. No problem. I'll get right to it
» And the moral of this rereread is: no matter how desperate the situation is, if His Fussiness grabs yourshapely ass lovely derriere, all will be right in the world again.
[Last update: Sept. 18, 2015] ← I promise promise promise this will be the last one. Cross my heart, hope to die and all that crap
Be glad and rejoice, for this is as close to a review for this book as you'll ever get from me. Ha.
♦ Previous rating: 12
♦ New rating: 14
First reread [hears someone coughing in the background] Oh please don't tell me you're going to start interrupting my reviews again! [coughing becomes more insistent] Sigh. What is it this time? You have something to say? A stellar comment to make maybe? [Barely audible, fearful, shy voice asks: "But didn't you just read this a month ago?" Owner of said voice then proceeds to duck and hide] BLOODY HELL, I cannot believe this. YES, you dimwit, I DID read this for the first time only month ago, no need to remind me, I'm not suffering from Alzheimer's just yet. You know why? [Barely audible, fearful, shy voice asks: "Why what?"] Please kill me somebody. Why I've already read it twice in a month, you twit! [Barely audible, fearful, shy voice says: "Oh."] Yes, "oh." (I am presently shaking my head in total desperation, just so you know). Because it's never too early for a KD reread, that's WHY. Judge all you want, I don't care what you think.
Are we clear? May I go on now? [Barely audible, fearful, shy voice utters no sound] I'll take that as a yes. Very good. Moving on. So where was I?
First reread, second crappy non review. Because KD is, as usual, too awesome for words. And because you should be reading this book instead of being here, reading this crap. Nevertheless, me being the ever kind and thoughtful soul that I am [I know you're snickering back there, no need to pretend otherwise], I shall give you My Magic Shifts In A Magic Nutshell:
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know that this is as lame as it gets. Please just pretend it is hilariously hilarious. Thank you.
① I want to move into KD's neighbourhood and have breakfast at her place every morning, just so that I can wave my spatula at the Beast Lord ← no, this is not me talking dirty, you dirty-minded people. I'll have you know we're talking actual spatulas here *eyeroll* Oh, and by the way, some you clueless Barnacles might not realize it, but there is a deadly trap in this spatula-waving sentence. Ha.
② I have a very fond interest in nearly-domesticated kitty cats that scare the shit out of Mr Mailman.
③ Mammoth donkeys and deadly, mutant attack poodles are greatly underrated.
④ Tactical tomahawks? Walking, breathing m-scanner? Sense and snark? Julie is going to be a mini-Kate one day, much to her many detractors' absolute despair.
⑤ Blood magic rocks.
⑥ Ghouls and ifrits and ticks and spiders and scorpions and dragons and giants and manticores and djinns and Persian unicorns! Oh my!
⑦ Saiman is –momentarily I hope- an egotistical bastard. Well technically he always was an egotistical bastard, but in a egotistically, bastardly, endearingly enjoyable way. He's just a plain asshole now *cries*
⑧ Hot tubs forever
⑨ Reanimative metamorphosis. Nuff said.
⑩ Not enough plums + not enough pork swords = more Desandra needed.
⑪ Sorry Dali, you still suck, I still can't get over Magic Steals.
⑫ Gotta love family dinners with daddy.
⑬ Doolittle is definitely, absolutely, undeniably forgiven *gasps, faints, the works*
⑭ Where the hell is Roman, the Riveting Russian Rake???!!!
⑮ Ilona Andrews, you almost –almost, I haven't completely lost it yet and still have no heart– made me cry. The achievement of the century.
⑯ We want Hugh! We want Hugh!
→ I'm too funny, I know ← updated August 2016: I want Hugh? Why? Was I insane when I wrote this? More insane than I am now, I mean? Because, Hugh? Seriously? Most unvillainous villain ever. Oh, I think I know what the problem is. The Chronicles of the Black Company happened after I read this book. And believe me, my Little Barnacles, villains don't get much villainous than the ones in this glorious series.
⑰ Kate Daniels. The only one that ever was. The only one that ever will be. As a guy named Roland once said: Your magic is beautiful my daughter. Damn right it is.
✏ And to conclude with the words of one of today's most prominent philosophers: ♫ Bow down to a Goddess ♫
That is all. Bye now. You shouldn't still be here. You should be reading thisbook series right now. Because your life won't be complete until you do. No it won't.
• Book 1: Magic Bites ★★★★★
• Book 2: Magic Burns ★★★★★
• Book 3: Magic Strikes ★★★★★
• Book 4: Magic Bleeds ★★★★★
• Book 5: Magic Slays ★★★★★
• Book 6: Magic Rises ★★★★★
• Book 7: Magic Breaks ★★★★★
• Book 8: Magic Shifts ★★★★★
• Book 9: Magic Binds ★★★★★
• Book 10: Magic Triumphs ★★★★
· Book 10.5: Magic Tides ★★★★★
· Book 10.6: Magic Claims · to be published June 2023
►► All Hail the Queen buddy read with theeye candy IA Addicts starting August 4, 2015.
▧ Pre crappy review update #2:
I can't be around much these days but the most disturbing fact has just come to my attention: some of my dear friends seem to have suffered from a momentary lapse of reason. What seems to be the problem, you ask? Well these self-professed Kate Daniels fans stooped so low as to give this instalment less than 5 stars.
Don't faint just yet, it's about to get worse. Because some of these supposed Kate Daniels fans actually rated this book 3 stars or less.
WTH is going on here? Are you people out of your minds? I stay away from GR for 5 minutes and all hell breaks loose?! You better get your act together dear friends. The countdown has begun. I'll be back in September. And I'll be coming for you. Things are about to get really ugly.
▧ Pre crappy review update #1:
→ Actual rating: 12. Surprise, surprise.
►► Dear Ilona & Gordon: I love you to death.
►► I might or might not write a review for this book in the near future. KD is too awesome for words, so why bother?
PS: When is the first reread planned?
▧ Pre-review nonsense:
It's here. Breathe Sarah, breathe.
▧ Updated May 1, 2015: Magic Shifts excerpt!!!!!!!!!
▧ Updated April 6, 2015: Kate & Curran vs Hidden Legacy debate!
→ Kate & Curran debating with Nevada & Rogan:
"Curran: You are not married. You are not even together. You just have this instalust thing going.
Kate: Yes, you are just “forced together” by “Circumstance” so you can make out in public. Your moral integrity seems to be situational. Also, last time I checked, exhibitionism isn’t exactly a quality people should imitate."
Hahahaha!
▧ Updated April 5, 2015: Kate & Curran Twitter hahaha!
▧ Updated March 7, 2015: Spoiler free snippet!
Quite right you are, Georgie dear.
👋 Until next time and stuff.
🐈 The Adventures Of A Brave Little Kitty Buddy Rerererereread (TAOABLKBR™) with the IA Addicts 🐈
➽ And the moral of this particular rererererereread is: the Grand Mahon Chewing Out (GMCO™). There's nothing quite like it, if you ask me.
➽ And the other moral of this particular rererererereread is: there's not nearly enough Desandra in this instalment. Not to mention Roman the Riveting Russian Rake (aka R⁴). This is slightly very outrageous and stuff.
👋 Until next time and stuff.
[May 2018]
⚔ The Grand IAA™ KD Buddy Rerererereread Extravaganza (GIAAKDBRE™), aka the
Presenting Episode 8, or How Kate Daniels Learned That Managing An Exotic Zoo In Post-Shift Atlanta Is Not As Easy As It Seems.
» And the moral of this particular rererereread is: are you pregnant? Hormonal? Tired? Famished? Why not have some freshly slaughtered, magical bull meat, tenderized by His Fussiness Himself?
P.S. I want to have dinner with Daddy Dearest at Applebee's. And I want him to call me Nefarious Shrimpy Blossom and stuff.
P.P.S. World-class scumbags who graduated to First-Grade Asshole Status (FGAS™) in this instalment: . Congratulations, go you and stuff!
P.P.S.²: When giant lizards stare at you and start chanting "Meat! Meat! Meat!" you might perhaps want to run the fish away from the scene and stuff. Maybe.
❣ KD is the Cure to All of Life's Problems Buddy Read (KDitCtAoLPBR™) with my dear wife Ange, and the poor souls who have fallen into our deathly KD Surprise Reread Trap (KSRT™) ❣
➽ Last reread: August, 2016.
✎ Previous rating: 14 stars
✎ New rating: I will not be rating this series anymore. If I do, Goodreads might implode. You're welcome.
Forgive me, Ilona Andrews Gods, for I have only read this book three times.
I know, I know, this is definitely NOT proper behaviour for the IA
Okay, okay, I'm sorry! What do I have to do to atone for this shameful sin, sister? Excuse me? What did you just say? I have to read Magic Steals twice more? Oh. It's that bad, is it? Okay. Sure. No problem. I'll get right to it
» And the moral of this rereread is: no matter how desperate the situation is, if His Fussiness grabs your
[Last update: Sept. 18, 2015] ← I promise promise promise this will be the last one. Cross my heart, hope to die and all that crap
Be glad and rejoice, for this is as close to a review for this book as you'll ever get from me. Ha.
♦ Previous rating: 12
♦ New rating: 14
First reread [hears someone coughing in the background] Oh please don't tell me you're going to start interrupting my reviews again! [coughing becomes more insistent] Sigh. What is it this time? You have something to say? A stellar comment to make maybe? [Barely audible, fearful, shy voice asks: "But didn't you just read this a month ago?" Owner of said voice then proceeds to duck and hide] BLOODY HELL, I cannot believe this. YES, you dimwit, I DID read this for the first time only month ago, no need to remind me, I'm not suffering from Alzheimer's just yet. You know why? [Barely audible, fearful, shy voice asks: "Why what?"] Please kill me somebody. Why I've already read it twice in a month, you twit! [Barely audible, fearful, shy voice says: "Oh."] Yes, "oh." (I am presently shaking my head in total desperation, just so you know). Because it's never too early for a KD reread, that's WHY. Judge all you want, I don't care what you think.
Are we clear? May I go on now? [Barely audible, fearful, shy voice utters no sound] I'll take that as a yes. Very good. Moving on. So where was I?
First reread, second crappy non review. Because KD is, as usual, too awesome for words. And because you should be reading this book instead of being here, reading this crap. Nevertheless, me being the ever kind and thoughtful soul that I am [I know you're snickering back there, no need to pretend otherwise], I shall give you My Magic Shifts In A Magic Nutshell:
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know that this is as lame as it gets. Please just pretend it is hilariously hilarious. Thank you.
① I want to move into KD's neighbourhood and have breakfast at her place every morning, just so that I can wave my spatula at the Beast Lord ← no, this is not me talking dirty, you dirty-minded people. I'll have you know we're talking actual spatulas here *eyeroll* Oh, and by the way, some you clueless Barnacles might not realize it, but there is a deadly trap in this spatula-waving sentence. Ha.
② I have a very fond interest in nearly-domesticated kitty cats that scare the shit out of Mr Mailman.
③ Mammoth donkeys and deadly, mutant attack poodles are greatly underrated.
④ Tactical tomahawks? Walking, breathing m-scanner? Sense and snark? Julie is going to be a mini-Kate one day, much to her many detractors' absolute despair.
⑤ Blood magic rocks.
⑥ Ghouls and ifrits and ticks and spiders and scorpions and dragons and giants and manticores and djinns and Persian unicorns! Oh my!
⑦ Saiman is –momentarily I hope- an egotistical bastard. Well technically he always was an egotistical bastard, but in a egotistically, bastardly, endearingly enjoyable way. He's just a plain asshole now *cries*
⑧ Hot tubs forever
⑨ Reanimative metamorphosis. Nuff said.
⑩ Not enough plums + not enough pork swords = more Desandra needed.
⑪ Sorry Dali, you still suck, I still can't get over Magic Steals.
⑫ Gotta love family dinners with daddy.
⑬ Doolittle is definitely, absolutely, undeniably forgiven *gasps, faints, the works*
⑭ Where the hell is Roman, the Riveting Russian Rake???!!!
⑮ Ilona Andrews, you almost –almost, I haven't completely lost it yet and still have no heart– made me cry. The achievement of the century.
⑯ We want Hugh! We want Hugh!
→ I'm too funny, I know ← updated August 2016: I want Hugh? Why? Was I insane when I wrote this? More insane than I am now, I mean? Because, Hugh? Seriously? Most unvillainous villain ever. Oh, I think I know what the problem is. The Chronicles of the Black Company happened after I read this book. And believe me, my Little Barnacles, villains don't get much villainous than the ones in this glorious series.
⑰ Kate Daniels. The only one that ever was. The only one that ever will be. As a guy named Roland once said: Your magic is beautiful my daughter. Damn right it is.
✏ And to conclude with the words of one of today's most prominent philosophers: ♫ Bow down to a Goddess ♫
That is all. Bye now. You shouldn't still be here. You should be reading this
• Book 1: Magic Bites ★★★★★
• Book 2: Magic Burns ★★★★★
• Book 3: Magic Strikes ★★★★★
• Book 4: Magic Bleeds ★★★★★
• Book 5: Magic Slays ★★★★★
• Book 6: Magic Rises ★★★★★
• Book 7: Magic Breaks ★★★★★
• Book 8: Magic Shifts ★★★★★
• Book 9: Magic Binds ★★★★★
• Book 10: Magic Triumphs ★★★★
· Book 10.5: Magic Tides ★★★★★
· Book 10.6: Magic Claims · to be published June 2023
►► All Hail the Queen buddy read with the
▧ Pre crappy review update #2:
I can't be around much these days but the most disturbing fact has just come to my attention: some of my dear friends seem to have suffered from a momentary lapse of reason. What seems to be the problem, you ask? Well these self-professed Kate Daniels fans stooped so low as to give this instalment less than 5 stars.
Don't faint just yet, it's about to get worse. Because some of these supposed Kate Daniels fans actually rated this book 3 stars or less.
WTH is going on here? Are you people out of your minds? I stay away from GR for 5 minutes and all hell breaks loose?! You better get your act together dear friends. The countdown has begun. I'll be back in September. And I'll be coming for you. Things are about to get really ugly.
▧ Pre crappy review update #1:
→ Actual rating: 12. Surprise, surprise.
►► Dear Ilona & Gordon: I love you to death.
►► I might or might not write a review for this book in the near future. KD is too awesome for words, so why bother?
PS: When is the first reread planned?
▧ Pre-review nonsense:
It's here. Breathe Sarah, breathe.
▧ Updated May 1, 2015: Magic Shifts excerpt!!!!!!!!!
▧ Updated April 6, 2015: Kate & Curran vs Hidden Legacy debate!
→ Kate & Curran debating with Nevada & Rogan:
"Curran: You are not married. You are not even together. You just have this instalust thing going.
Kate: Yes, you are just “forced together” by “Circumstance” so you can make out in public. Your moral integrity seems to be situational. Also, last time I checked, exhibitionism isn’t exactly a quality people should imitate."
Hahahaha!
▧ Updated April 5, 2015: Kate & Curran Twitter hahaha!
▧ Updated March 7, 2015: Spoiler free snippet!
August 9, 2015
4 I Can't Believe It's Less Than 5 Stars
But not the right kind of shock. I'm shocked I can't bring myself to give this book a 5 star rating but it just felt like a step back for me, it was on the same level as the first two books, which were good of course but they hadn't reached the series' potential yet. The last two books, relationship issues and slight incosistencies in characters aside, were pretty epic in the revelations and bad guys department. They kept my attention 100% of the way. This book sadly lacked their allure.
What I wanted in this book before starting was 3 things. I wanted to see how Kate and Roland would handle their new frenemies status, I wanted to see more of Hugh getting his ass kicked and I wanted to see how the whole "Pack without Curran" thing would work out. I got nothing on Hugh, very little on the pack and just crumbs on the Roland-Kate thing.
Instead what I got was a new bad guy, who wasn't nearly as interesting as Roland, Hugh or even Esra had been. The first 40% of the book was less than interesting and the ending was almost completely lacking excitement. And the side characters... Were where my favorite side characters? Where was Desandra and Derek?? Why were they so unimportant in the story? Derek appears to be used as a tracking dog with no personality and wit at all...
That being said, this was Kate Daniels, from the one and only pair that is IA. The book still was better than most other authors have to offer. It still had great moments. The side characters are as always awesome, even when they are not the ones I wanted(Luther was great and I always love Nick), and Curran and Kate finally got over their annoying relationship problems. And Chapter 11 was an emotional roller coaster.
I seriously hope the next book will have more Roland and Hugh in it and not some random baddie that I care not at all about or some new, uninteresting investigation plot.
Some awesome moments to remember:
“Does everybody think I am an asshole?” Curran asked.
“Only people who know you or have met you.”
“Why am I the expert all of a sudden?”
“Of the two of us, you have more stalking experience.”
He leaned back. “Really?”
“Yes. When you let yourself into my apartment before we were dating, did you fidget while you watched me?”
“Will you let it go?” he growled.
“No.”
“I didn’t fidget. I checked on you to make sure you hadn’t gotten yourself killed. I wanted to know that you weren’t dying slowly of your wounds, because you have no sense and half of the time you couldn’t afford a medmage. I didn’t stand there and watch you. I came in, made sure you were okay, and left. It wasn’t creepy.”
“It was a little creepy.”
“It worked, didn’t it?”
“Worked how?”
“You’re still alive.”
“Yes, of course, take all the credit.”
“Did you think I was sitting on my hands?”
“I thought you might be injured.”
He looked at me. “We’ve met, you and I?” I deliberately took a big step back.
“What?” he growled.
“I’m making room for your ego.”
“Besides, if I’d decided to pull Carver’s spine out of his body, I would’ve done it already.”
“Can you actually do that?”
Curran frowned. “I don’t know. I mean theoretically if you broke the spine above the pelvis, you could, but then there are ribs . . . I’ll have to try it sometime.”
“Okay," Juke said. "Your horse is a donkey, your poodle is a giant wolf breed, and your boyfriend is whatever the hell he is. You have problems.”
*****************************************************
Finally!!
Maybe not all my life but definitely the whole year!!
But not the right kind of shock. I'm shocked I can't bring myself to give this book a 5 star rating but it just felt like a step back for me, it was on the same level as the first two books, which were good of course but they hadn't reached the series' potential yet. The last two books, relationship issues and slight incosistencies in characters aside, were pretty epic in the revelations and bad guys department. They kept my attention 100% of the way. This book sadly lacked their allure.
What I wanted in this book before starting was 3 things. I wanted to see how Kate and Roland would handle their new frenemies status, I wanted to see more of Hugh getting his ass kicked and I wanted to see how the whole "Pack without Curran" thing would work out. I got nothing on Hugh, very little on the pack and just crumbs on the Roland-Kate thing.
Instead what I got was a new bad guy, who wasn't nearly as interesting as Roland, Hugh or even Esra had been. The first 40% of the book was less than interesting and the ending was almost completely lacking excitement. And the side characters... Were where my favorite side characters? Where was Desandra and Derek?? Why were they so unimportant in the story? Derek appears to be used as a tracking dog with no personality and wit at all...
That being said, this was Kate Daniels, from the one and only pair that is IA. The book still was better than most other authors have to offer. It still had great moments. The side characters are as always awesome, even when they are not the ones I wanted(Luther was great and I always love Nick), and Curran and Kate finally got over their annoying relationship problems. And Chapter 11 was an emotional roller coaster.
I seriously hope the next book will have more Roland and Hugh in it and not some random baddie that I care not at all about or some new, uninteresting investigation plot.
Some awesome moments to remember:
“Does everybody think I am an asshole?” Curran asked.
“Only people who know you or have met you.”
“Why am I the expert all of a sudden?”
“Of the two of us, you have more stalking experience.”
He leaned back. “Really?”
“Yes. When you let yourself into my apartment before we were dating, did you fidget while you watched me?”
“Will you let it go?” he growled.
“No.”
“I didn’t fidget. I checked on you to make sure you hadn’t gotten yourself killed. I wanted to know that you weren’t dying slowly of your wounds, because you have no sense and half of the time you couldn’t afford a medmage. I didn’t stand there and watch you. I came in, made sure you were okay, and left. It wasn’t creepy.”
“It was a little creepy.”
“It worked, didn’t it?”
“Worked how?”
“You’re still alive.”
“Yes, of course, take all the credit.”
“Did you think I was sitting on my hands?”
“I thought you might be injured.”
He looked at me. “We’ve met, you and I?” I deliberately took a big step back.
“What?” he growled.
“I’m making room for your ego.”
“Besides, if I’d decided to pull Carver’s spine out of his body, I would’ve done it already.”
“Can you actually do that?”
Curran frowned. “I don’t know. I mean theoretically if you broke the spine above the pelvis, you could, but then there are ribs . . . I’ll have to try it sometime.”
“Okay," Juke said. "Your horse is a donkey, your poodle is a giant wolf breed, and your boyfriend is whatever the hell he is. You have problems.”
*****************************************************
Finally!!
Maybe not all my life but definitely the whole year!!
July 24, 2024
2024
The only thing I have to say that could be considered a negative is that sometimes Kate and Curran lay on the lovey-dovey stuff too heavily for my taste now. The cutsey comments and the teasing back-and-forth had me rolling my eyes (just a tad!) by the end of the book.
I hate to be that person. The joy vampire that runs through young love with a scythe in one hand screaming, give it few years, you pathetic fools! we'll see how adorable you find that habit in another decade or so!, while sneering at all the couples who are gazing at each other with those silly adoring looks.
But apparently, I am that person now.
Rock on, old bitches.
2015
I'm not sure I'm even capable of giving a Kate Daniels book less than 5 stars anymore, so take my opinion of this book with a grain of salt. Some of my friends were disappointed with this one because it was maybe a transition sort of book. You know, what with Kate & Curran having left the Pack in the last book. So, yeah, this book is sorta setting up how they're going to live, what they're going to do, etc... Didn't matter. I could Kate Daniels' grocery list, and probably fangirl over it.
To me, this was gold, and I loved every minute of it!
sigh
Also, and some of you may think I'm a total traitor for this, but Roland is quickly becoming my favorite character in the series. I can't get enough of him! Anyone else kinda loving him a little bit?
This time around we're learning about genies & ghouls, which (I thought) was a pretty cool change of pace from the shifters & vampires. And, no, I'm not going to spoil any of the details...so don't worry. Just know that team Andrews manages to put their special spin on these characters and makes it all very unique to the KD world. I thought the end bit about the ghouls was pretty cool!
Ok, there are already way too many awesome reviews for this one out there, so I'm not going to go into depth with this one.
However, I feel the need to mention one more thing...
Bottom line, if you're a Kate Daniels fanatic, you definitely don't want to miss this one!
The only thing I have to say that could be considered a negative is that sometimes Kate and Curran lay on the lovey-dovey stuff too heavily for my taste now. The cutsey comments and the teasing back-and-forth had me rolling my eyes (just a tad!) by the end of the book.
I hate to be that person. The joy vampire that runs through young love with a scythe in one hand screaming, give it few years, you pathetic fools! we'll see how adorable you find that habit in another decade or so!, while sneering at all the couples who are gazing at each other with those silly adoring looks.
But apparently, I am that person now.
Rock on, old bitches.
2015
I'm not sure I'm even capable of giving a Kate Daniels book less than 5 stars anymore, so take my opinion of this book with a grain of salt. Some of my friends were disappointed with this one because it was maybe a transition sort of book. You know, what with Kate & Curran having left the Pack in the last book. So, yeah, this book is sorta setting up how they're going to live, what they're going to do, etc... Didn't matter. I could Kate Daniels' grocery list, and probably fangirl over it.
To me, this was gold, and I loved every minute of it!
sigh
Also, and some of you may think I'm a total traitor for this, but Roland is quickly becoming my favorite character in the series. I can't get enough of him! Anyone else kinda loving him a little bit?
This time around we're learning about genies & ghouls, which (I thought) was a pretty cool change of pace from the shifters & vampires. And, no, I'm not going to spoil any of the details...so don't worry. Just know that team Andrews manages to put their special spin on these characters and makes it all very unique to the KD world. I thought the end bit about the ghouls was pretty cool!
Ok, there are already way too many awesome reviews for this one out there, so I'm not going to go into depth with this one.
However, I feel the need to mention one more thing...
Bottom line, if you're a Kate Daniels fanatic, you definitely don't want to miss this one!
May 5, 2015
Update 28/04/2015
Asdfghjkl.
I loved this book to pieces.
It's my precious.
It has that old, Kate-merc vibe from first four books and I didn't even know how much I would enjoy Kate NOT being Beast Lady. It leaves her place to be focused on more important things.
LOTS of Curran being awesome and growly; lots of Kate and Curran being awesome together. Their unwavering relationship is one of the strongest points of this book.
Andrews' trademark humor - these characters are all so sassy, I giggled more than once. :)
Plot was interesting and fast-paced as usual and I liked the mythology behind villain. I have 4 words for you: Tactical use of vamps. :)
Roland appears and has some sly moves...:)
Oh, and:
May 13, 2022
Sale Alert: Kindle Daily Deal 13May22 $1.99
Even better on the re-read.
4.75 Let’s play who can be a better killer Stars
Reading with my fellow Kate Daniels is da Bomb fan club at Ilona Andrews Addicts (IAA)
If you have read my profile then you know that my 2 favorite authors are Brandon Sanderson (BS) and Ilona Andrews (IA). I fangirl over them any chance I get so I might not be impartial in my reviews of their books, and I probably add way too many status updates while reading them….I can’t help it.
I didn’t fall into the camp of those who didn’t love the last two books, I still gave them 4 stars and 3.5 stars respectively. I liked the emotional journey that Kate was starting to take I just missed Kate and Curran together. But I’m back to absolutely LOVING all things Kate.
The thing that was missing for me in the other books was really Kate with Curran and fighting the good fight together. I was a little worried that I wasn’t going to like the new direction of the story with Kate and Curran leaving the pack. What about all the side characters I love…what about Curran being the Man….what about Kate having protection from Roland???? But I don’t know why I worried at all because IA would not let me down and I’m loving the new direction of the story.
First, what about all the side characters I love? - They are there! IA finds a way to incorporate them into the new direction of the story and honestly it was so smooth and flawless that afterwards I asked myself how come I didn’t think of that. As always IA has some of the best side characters. Whether it is a giant Donkey, a scraggly poodle, a teenage werewolf (seriously how long is Derek going to be a teenager), a fallen Angel (or whatever Christopher is), a slightly dirty talking (I will never think of plums the same way) Alpha Werewolf Desandra, or your charismatic Father who’s ultimate game I’m still trying to figure out there are so many great cast members that are all distinctive and three dimensional.
IA’s biggest problem is all the great characters that I want to see more of in the book. There are so many and I want to see them all but then I’d have less Kate and Curran time, or the book would be 700 pages long and 350 of that would just be nonsense conversations between my favorite characters. I’m not saying I’d be opposed to it but still IA does such a great job of keeping all the characters in the story relevant and engaging. That has to be hard with such a great cast to choose from.
Luther was my favorite new addition to the cast. He is going to be a hoot, I knew it from his first conversation with Kate
He was such a great addition to the Kate Daniels family, she is building quite a unique list of family, friends and acquaintances for later when daddy comes calling.
Second, what about Curran being the Man - I was never worried about Kate, she is always a badass. But I was worried about Curran and how I would feel about him if he wasn’t the Beast Lord and you know what I love him more. He doesn’t have to put up with pack council meeting and being pulled in a thousand directions and all of the other ridiculousness that goes along with it. He has time to spend with Kate and really dedicate himself to their lives together. Which translates into more page time together and I definitely love that. The banter they have with each other is one of my favorite things.
Beastlord logic at its best. Just because you take the Alpha out of the Keep doesn’t mean he isn’t the Alpha anymore. When the werelion roars everyone cowares…except Kate cuz she would pull on death’s whiskers.
Chatpers 11 and 12 of this book absolutely gutted me emotionally. They happened out of left field and I wasn’t expecting it, but really in life that is how those things happen so it felt too real. If there was even any doubt about the true feelings of these two characters for each other these chapters should take care of that. If you don’t absolutely know Kate and Curran are in love after these chapters I doubt anything would do it for you. They are quite possibly the best written chapters that IA has ever done in any of their books.
If you thought that Curran would be less without the pack well you are dead wrong. He will always be Curran and he will undoubtedly always fall into a leadership role. It will just be very interesting to see how that transitions.
I like it too, anything could happen.
Third, what about Kate having protection from Roland - Honestly I’m not sure anything can help them he is so powerful. I thought they did a great job of showing this in a single telephone conversation. Roland is so powerful that just over the phone to see how he affected the people in the room with Kate really hit it home.
Roland is such an interesting bad guy because part of him wants to be a father and the other part is ready to destroy Kate. He is shrouded in mystery and I’m never quite sure what his true motivations are. But their conversations with each other are mesmerizing. Kate’s conversations with Erra and Hugh were really good but Roland is something else. His explanation of killing Kate’s mother was both terrible and hearbreaking.
IA has a way of making me empathize with Roland and at the same time I’m so worried about what his plans are for Kate. He seems like he is there to cause a lot of trouble like a few other bad guys we know and love.
The Story
Ilona Andrews always finds a way to put a new spin on old lore. This book is no different I love the way they tied in the Ghoul’s to the other Arabic mythologies and Genies. It was different and unique, I’ve never read one of their books and thought that I’ve heard that mythos before. They keep raising the bar on both the weirdness of the creatures they fight and the peril.
Edwardo has disappeared and Mahon doesn’t seem that upset that he is gone. Seems very un-alpha like right. But he has his reasons…they suck but they are reasons and they fit him. George is determined to find someone to help find Edwardo. Kate and Curran are on it, but they keep running into the weirdest creatures that are doing things they aren’t supposed to. Like regenerating when they die into something else. If things can’t get any strangers there are ghouls traveling in packs trying to get into the city and a Giant that decided to roam about. Just another day for Kate and company. On top of that Kate’s dad wants to meet for dinner and bond. Once we hit our stride there in never a dull moment.
That’s all I’m going to give you on the story because I really enjoyed the plot of it and seeing how Kate and Curran juggle all of this and try to be parents to Julie. Curran has some really interesting ideas of how to parent. Most parents try to keep you out of danger but Curran is more hands on and if Kate is your adoptive mom well you will need some practice.
Really it sounds like a great time. I’d love to read about Curran, Julie, Ascandio and Grendel taking on a pack of Ghouls. Kate is the strict parent who knew….lol
I had a great time with this book and loved discussing it with some fellow Ilona Andrews Addicts while we were reading it.
If you were holding off because books #6 and #7 weren’t it for you I think you might like the new direction of the series.
Currently my love breakdown of the series is :
3 > 4 > 8 > 5 > 6 > 2 > 7 > 1
Short Pre Review:
❤ - The new direction of the story. Pack I don’t need no stinking pack.
ღ - The new characters added into the story *cough* Luther *cough*
❣ - The Ilona Andrews special twist to the lore they used. Never look at a Genie or Ghouls the same again.
♡ - The absolutely heart wrenching moments of chapters 11 and 12. Best written chapters in the entire series to date (in my humble opinion). My heart still hurts.
❥- Roland’s fatherly moments. I KNOW he is a sociopath…but he is a charming sociopath and I’d totally meet him for dinner. Most of the time I’m torn as if I like him or hate him.
❦ - Kate/Curran page time. Thank you thank you thank you they are finally together on page more often and I freaking love it.
❧ - Sherrim’s smack down of Saimon and Curran’s smack down to Mahon.
❤ - The inner circle...you know who they are. I loved seeing all their new roles in this book and I can’t wait to see where they all end up next.
Even better on the re-read.
4.75 Let’s play who can be a better killer Stars
Reading with my fellow Kate Daniels is da Bomb fan club at Ilona Andrews Addicts (IAA)
If you have read my profile then you know that my 2 favorite authors are Brandon Sanderson (BS) and Ilona Andrews (IA). I fangirl over them any chance I get so I might not be impartial in my reviews of their books, and I probably add way too many status updates while reading them….I can’t help it.
I didn’t fall into the camp of those who didn’t love the last two books, I still gave them 4 stars and 3.5 stars respectively. I liked the emotional journey that Kate was starting to take I just missed Kate and Curran together. But I’m back to absolutely LOVING all things Kate.
The thing that was missing for me in the other books was really Kate with Curran and fighting the good fight together. I was a little worried that I wasn’t going to like the new direction of the story with Kate and Curran leaving the pack. What about all the side characters I love…what about Curran being the Man….what about Kate having protection from Roland???? But I don’t know why I worried at all because IA would not let me down and I’m loving the new direction of the story.
First, what about all the side characters I love? - They are there! IA finds a way to incorporate them into the new direction of the story and honestly it was so smooth and flawless that afterwards I asked myself how come I didn’t think of that. As always IA has some of the best side characters. Whether it is a giant Donkey, a scraggly poodle, a teenage werewolf (seriously how long is Derek going to be a teenager), a fallen Angel (or whatever Christopher is), a slightly dirty talking (I will never think of plums the same way) Alpha Werewolf Desandra, or your charismatic Father who’s ultimate game I’m still trying to figure out there are so many great cast members that are all distinctive and three dimensional.
IA’s biggest problem is all the great characters that I want to see more of in the book. There are so many and I want to see them all but then I’d have less Kate and Curran time, or the book would be 700 pages long and 350 of that would just be nonsense conversations between my favorite characters. I’m not saying I’d be opposed to it but still IA does such a great job of keeping all the characters in the story relevant and engaging. That has to be hard with such a great cast to choose from.
Luther was my favorite new addition to the cast. He is going to be a hoot, I knew it from his first conversation with Kate
“When I quit the Order, you told me I was besmirched.”
“That’s because you quit in a huff over some silliness like trying to save people’s lives. I quit to maximize my earning potential. Don’t you know being a hero is a losing bet? The pay is shit and people hate you for it.”
He was such a great addition to the Kate Daniels family, she is building quite a unique list of family, friends and acquaintances for later when daddy comes calling.
Second, what about Curran being the Man - I was never worried about Kate, she is always a badass. But I was worried about Curran and how I would feel about him if he wasn’t the Beast Lord and you know what I love him more. He doesn’t have to put up with pack council meeting and being pulled in a thousand directions and all of the other ridiculousness that goes along with it. He has time to spend with Kate and really dedicate himself to their lives together. Which translates into more page time together and I definitely love that. The banter they have with each other is one of my favorite things.
“Why am I the expert all of a sudden?”
“Of the two of us, you have more stalking experience.”
He leaned back. “Really?”
“Yes. When you let yourself into my apartment before we were dating, did you fidget while you watched me?”
“Will you let it go?” he growled.
“No”
“I didn’t fidget. I checked on you to make sure you hadn’t gotten yourself killed. I wanted to know that you weren’t dying slowly of your wounds, because you have no sense and half of the time you couldn’t afford a medmage. I didn’t stand there and watch you. I came in, made sure you were okay, and left. It wasn’t creepy.”
“It was a little creepy.”
“It worked, didn’t it?”
“Worked how?”
“You’re still alive.”
Beastlord logic at its best. Just because you take the Alpha out of the Keep doesn’t mean he isn’t the Alpha anymore. When the werelion roars everyone cowares…except Kate cuz she would pull on death’s whiskers.
Chatpers 11 and 12 of this book absolutely gutted me emotionally. They happened out of left field and I wasn’t expecting it, but really in life that is how those things happen so it felt too real. If there was even any doubt about the true feelings of these two characters for each other these chapters should take care of that. If you don’t absolutely know Kate and Curran are in love after these chapters I doubt anything would do it for you. They are quite possibly the best written chapters that IA has ever done in any of their books.
If you thought that Curran would be less without the pack well you are dead wrong. He will always be Curran and he will undoubtedly always fall into a leadership role. It will just be very interesting to see how that transitions.
”…When I was fifteen and Mahon pushed me to reach for power, I did it because I was young and stupid. I thought it was a crown. I didn’t realize it was a ball and chain instead. I’m off my chain now. I like it.”
I like it too, anything could happen.
Third, what about Kate having protection from Roland - Honestly I’m not sure anything can help them he is so powerful. I thought they did a great job of showing this in a single telephone conversation. Roland is so powerful that just over the phone to see how he affected the people in the room with Kate really hit it home.
Roland is such an interesting bad guy because part of him wants to be a father and the other part is ready to destroy Kate. He is shrouded in mystery and I’m never quite sure what his true motivations are. But their conversations with each other are mesmerizing. Kate’s conversations with Erra and Hugh were really good but Roland is something else. His explanation of killing Kate’s mother was both terrible and hearbreaking.
“Besides, you knew Kalina best.” I watched him closely and the corners of his eyes trembled when I said her name. How does your own bitter medicine taste, Father? Have another spoon on me. “Why don’t you tell me about her? You were there till the end. You saw the light go out of her eyes.”
Roland took a swallow of his wine. “If you wish to know how your mother died, I will tell you, Blossom. Ask me.”
Walk away. Walk away, because that way lie dragons.
IA has a way of making me empathize with Roland and at the same time I’m so worried about what his plans are for Kate. He seems like he is there to cause a lot of trouble like a few other bad guys we know and love.
The Story
Ilona Andrews always finds a way to put a new spin on old lore. This book is no different I love the way they tied in the Ghoul’s to the other Arabic mythologies and Genies. It was different and unique, I’ve never read one of their books and thought that I’ve heard that mythos before. They keep raising the bar on both the weirdness of the creatures they fight and the peril.
Edwardo has disappeared and Mahon doesn’t seem that upset that he is gone. Seems very un-alpha like right. But he has his reasons…they suck but they are reasons and they fit him. George is determined to find someone to help find Edwardo. Kate and Curran are on it, but they keep running into the weirdest creatures that are doing things they aren’t supposed to. Like regenerating when they die into something else. If things can’t get any strangers there are ghouls traveling in packs trying to get into the city and a Giant that decided to roam about. Just another day for Kate and company. On top of that Kate’s dad wants to meet for dinner and bond. Once we hit our stride there in never a dull moment.
That’s all I’m going to give you on the story because I really enjoyed the plot of it and seeing how Kate and Curran juggle all of this and try to be parents to Julie. Curran has some really interesting ideas of how to parent. Most parents try to keep you out of danger but Curran is more hands on and if Kate is your adoptive mom well you will need some practice.
“Just so I get it right, Jim calls you and says, ‘Hey, we found a horde of ghouls in the MARTA tunnels,’ and your first thought was, ‘Great, I’ll take the kids’?”
“They had fun.” A careful note crept into his voice. Curran saw the shark fin in the water but wasn’t sure where the bite would be coming from.
“You even took the dog.”
Grendel chose that moment to try to shove past me. I shoved him back into the Guild and he began running back and forth behind us, growling.
“He had fun, too. Look at him. He’s still excited.”
Really it sounds like a great time. I’d love to read about Curran, Julie, Ascandio and Grendel taking on a pack of Ghouls. Kate is the strict parent who knew….lol
I had a great time with this book and loved discussing it with some fellow Ilona Andrews Addicts while we were reading it.
If you were holding off because books #6 and #7 weren’t it for you I think you might like the new direction of the series.
Currently my love breakdown of the series is :
3 > 4 > 8 > 5 > 6 > 2 > 7 > 1
Short Pre Review:
❤ - The new direction of the story. Pack I don’t need no stinking pack.
ღ - The new characters added into the story *cough* Luther *cough*
❣ - The Ilona Andrews special twist to the lore they used. Never look at a Genie or Ghouls the same again.
♡ - The absolutely heart wrenching moments of chapters 11 and 12. Best written chapters in the entire series to date (in my humble opinion). My heart still hurts.
❥- Roland’s fatherly moments. I KNOW he is a sociopath…but he is a charming sociopath and I’d totally meet him for dinner. Most of the time I’m torn as if I like him or hate him.
❦ - Kate/Curran page time. Thank you thank you thank you they are finally together on page more often and I freaking love it.
❧ - Sherrim’s smack down of Saimon and Curran’s smack down to Mahon.
❤ - The inner circle...you know who they are. I loved seeing all their new roles in this book and I can’t wait to see where they all end up next.
September 18, 2023
4.5 stars
This is the first Kate Daniels book that finds Curran and Kate no longer an official part of the pack. Honestly, thank goodness!!
Though I read lots of PNR and urban fantasy, I usually don’t like shifter stories all that much. The whole “internal animal instincts” stuff and alpha/beta dynamics…nope. I find it all pretty dumb and usually it’s little more than a plot device to justify rape/abuse.
Kate Daniels is one exception among a few shifter-focused series I enjoy, but since Kate became Curran’s official consort, there was way too much focus on pack politics for my liking. Now they’re out, and all my favorite shifter side characters left with them, so I’m plenty happy.
This book focuses on Arabian mythology—the djinn, the marid, ancient jewelry, magic blades… I loved it. It reminded me of the Daevabad universe, which recently joined my favorites list.
I’m super curious how Kate’s relationship with her father will evolve as the series nears its conclusion. I thought the fight to take Roland down would be the final climax of the series, but now it seems like there are more options to deal with him than all-out war. Roland and Hugh are both interesting characters, so I’m open to whatever is next.
This is the first Kate Daniels book that finds Curran and Kate no longer an official part of the pack. Honestly, thank goodness!!
Though I read lots of PNR and urban fantasy, I usually don’t like shifter stories all that much. The whole “internal animal instincts” stuff and alpha/beta dynamics…nope. I find it all pretty dumb and usually it’s little more than a plot device to justify rape/abuse.
Kate Daniels is one exception among a few shifter-focused series I enjoy, but since Kate became Curran’s official consort, there was way too much focus on pack politics for my liking. Now they’re out, and all my favorite shifter side characters left with them, so I’m plenty happy.
This book focuses on Arabian mythology—the djinn, the marid, ancient jewelry, magic blades… I loved it. It reminded me of the Daevabad universe, which recently joined my favorites list.
I’m super curious how Kate’s relationship with her father will evolve as the series nears its conclusion. I thought the fight to take Roland down would be the final climax of the series, but now it seems like there are more options to deal with him than all-out war. Roland and Hugh are both interesting characters, so I’m open to whatever is next.
October 8, 2018
Kate Daniels is my go to series when I am in a bit of a reading slump. It help this time as well because I love her character, with its humour and bad-assness. I am not going to spend too much time reviewing this one because If you already read the series you don't need me to tell you to start this one and if you've never read KD then why are you here and not reading the first in the series?
When I read the blurb I thought it will not be as exciting as the others but i was wrong. The action-meter is at maximum from the beginning and the challenges Kate has to face are satisfying for a long time reader of the Andrews. I am always amazed by their imagination. The relationship between Kate and Curran stabilised and it was refreshing not to read again about power struggles. In addition, Julie wasn't annoying which is definitely a pleasant surprise.
I am glad the authors decided to end the series after 10 books and not milk the cow forever. I don't want to get tired of Kate before her story is over like it happened with other series that I've read.
2 more to go, probably will finish them next year.
When I read the blurb I thought it will not be as exciting as the others but i was wrong. The action-meter is at maximum from the beginning and the challenges Kate has to face are satisfying for a long time reader of the Andrews. I am always amazed by their imagination. The relationship between Kate and Curran stabilised and it was refreshing not to read again about power struggles. In addition, Julie wasn't annoying which is definitely a pleasant surprise.
I am glad the authors decided to end the series after 10 books and not milk the cow forever. I don't want to get tired of Kate before her story is over like it happened with other series that I've read.
2 more to go, probably will finish them next year.
September 26, 2016
The Kate Daniels series was originally plotted to end at book seven, culminating with the classic father confrontation ("I am your father"). While Magic Breaks had a satisfying ending, there was material that felt like it was catering to new readers (in response to a hardcover edition) as well as providing Easter eggs for fans, such as 'guest appearances' by former characters, making it a less than stellar read. Apprehensive of the next, I delayed ordering.
Silly rabbit.
Magic Shifts hits its first fight within three or four pages and doesn't let up until the epilogue. Fast paced, it's filled with plot lines that open up the series to continued development. Kate Daniels and Curran the ex-Beast Lord have moved with their adopted daughter Julie to a new section of Atlanta, giving the Andrews a new setting to play in and new interpersonal dynamics to explore (it becomes a bit of a running joke how often Kate and Curran run into people that say, 'yeah, the Beast Lord is such a jerk'). In book seven, Kate experienced the potentially trope-ridden 'power-up' syndrome, but the Andrews compensated in very clever ways. One of those obstacles involved a new area of mythology, a particularly great idea since it broadened the world-building. But the new beings didn't exist in isolation; they had implications for some local creatures as well. Just really interesting stuff.
On a personal level, I appreciated the general lack of teenage angst that played a role in earlier stories, as well as pulling back on Kate's "I don't want people I love hurt" mentality. We've also passed beyond the self-doubt phase of Kate and Curran's relationship as well, and instead start to see the push and pull of an equal--and respectful--relationship. That puts the focus back squarely where it belongs, in my opinion--on the clever world-building of shifting Atlanta, the myriad of problems it creates, and the external relationships effecting Kate and Curran's lives.
As always, the humor made me chuckle. In an era of stagy self-awareness, it is often misused, but here it is appropriate to character and situation. Kate herself is challenged by admitting emotional intimacy, but there were a couple of scenes where her attempt being funny is quite touching because she is trying so hard to minimize fear and loss.
This one kept me up far past a sensible bedtime, just so I could find a good place to stop. But I never did... until the end.
Re-read 09/16 in preparation for the release of #9. Still holds up.
September 15, 2019
Roland has arrived in Atlanta
So, all the major characters are repositioning in this book.
The king is here and he has just adjusted all his subjects to his liking:
1. He made his daughter claim the city. Now there are invisible boarders around Atlanta and Kate feels responsible for every living soul inside these borders. Not that she did not feel responsible before…but now the pressure is really on.
...But pretending that the claiming hadn’t happened had done me no favors.
2. He blackmailed his future son in law. He made Curran abandon the Pack, he made him deny his kingship and his lordship. He made him move to the suburbs for crying out loud and to become one of the common humans. Not that he can really mingle.
“Did you see the mailman while doing your rounds yesterday?” I asked.
Curran’s face turned carefully blank. “Yes, I did.”
“Did you do anything to scare him?”
“I was perfectly friendly.”
“Mhm.” Please continue with your nice story. Nonjudgmental.
“He was putting things into the mailbox. I was passing by and I said, ‘Hello, nice night.’ And then I smiled. He jumped into his truck and slammed the door.”
“Rude!” Julie volunteered.
“I let it pass,” Curran said. “We’re new to the neighborhood.”
The former Beast Lord, a kind and magnanimous neighbor. “So you sneaked up behind him, startled him by speaking, and when he turned around and saw a six-hundred-pound talking lion, you showed him your teeth?”
“I don’t think that’s what happened”, Curran said.
“That’s exactly what happened, Your Furriness.” I laughed, pulling off my boots.
I can only imagine the horrified face of the mailman. Hahaha….
3. Jim is forced to become the new Beast Lord. And he has to prove that he is the Alpha beast for everybody who does not believe it including all the Alphas of the clans, Mahon (Curran’s adopted father) and Dali the Beast Lady.
“You’re a paranoid control freak.”
“My paranoia is keeping us safe. Dali, I just spent eight hours arguing with the Pack Council. Do you think you could postpone yelling at me until later?”
4. The other shifters have to choose sides. Derek, George, Christopher, Barabas, Ascanio, Louis, Andrea and Raphael.
The Pack lives its weakest moments. The strongest members of the Pack are split into two teams.
5. Everyone is now looking Kate with different perspective. And not in a very nice way.
--Saiman opened his mouth, then closed it. “I won’t be part of this insanity.”
--Rowena smiled at me. “Sharrim. Our deepest apologies for the misunderstanding.”
--“Why don’t you like me?” I asked.
Nick leaned back.
“I could fill the room with it, starting with who you are and what you did.”
6. Hugh (Roland’s favorite soldier) is forced to disappear in order to think, to find himself and to stay away from Kate.
This is also the book that
●Kate realizes how it feels to be humanly weak and vulnerable – even if it just for a few hours. I believe that her stroke must be the less favorite part for most readers.
●Julie slowly realizes her powers after the purification of her blood and as a result she has Roland discreet attention.
●we learn everything about the life of djinns, and ghouls.
●we are taught that nothing really worth the price of asking for favors by a djinn (“You have nothing I want!”)
●we discover that true love always wins any obstacle.
Hurray for the story of George and Eduardo!
Finally
After the last two books, I like Curran again.
I had missed the playful Curran, always in tune with Kate:
A hand rested on the small of my back and slid down.
“Did you just grab my butt?” I whispered.
“What?”
“Curran!”
“Yes?” I could hear controlled laughter in his voice.
Unbelievable. I sped up. “We’re tracking ghouls and you’re grabbing my butt.”
“I always make sure to pay attention to important things.”
“Sure you do.”
And
Roland is trying to clear things with Kate - not very successfully:
“Now that I’ve conceded that point, the wedding. When are you going to stop living in sin?”
“This is rich, coming from you. I’m sorry, how many wives did you have?”
“Recently, only one.”
“Yes, and you murdered her.”
“Let’s not talk about that again.”
“She was my mother.”
“Yes, and I loved her deeply.”
I can only imagine the horrified face of the waiter. Hahaha….
I have included many dialogues from the book in this review, because I honestly believe that my favorite characters’ interactions in this book were just brilliant. Strong and funny.
So Roland is here. Everyone stands by. Let the games begin!
So, all the major characters are repositioning in this book.
The king is here and he has just adjusted all his subjects to his liking:
1. He made his daughter claim the city. Now there are invisible boarders around Atlanta and Kate feels responsible for every living soul inside these borders. Not that she did not feel responsible before…but now the pressure is really on.
...But pretending that the claiming hadn’t happened had done me no favors.
2. He blackmailed his future son in law. He made Curran abandon the Pack, he made him deny his kingship and his lordship. He made him move to the suburbs for crying out loud and to become one of the common humans. Not that he can really mingle.
“Did you see the mailman while doing your rounds yesterday?” I asked.
Curran’s face turned carefully blank. “Yes, I did.”
“Did you do anything to scare him?”
“I was perfectly friendly.”
“Mhm.” Please continue with your nice story. Nonjudgmental.
“He was putting things into the mailbox. I was passing by and I said, ‘Hello, nice night.’ And then I smiled. He jumped into his truck and slammed the door.”
“Rude!” Julie volunteered.
“I let it pass,” Curran said. “We’re new to the neighborhood.”
The former Beast Lord, a kind and magnanimous neighbor. “So you sneaked up behind him, startled him by speaking, and when he turned around and saw a six-hundred-pound talking lion, you showed him your teeth?”
“I don’t think that’s what happened”, Curran said.
“That’s exactly what happened, Your Furriness.” I laughed, pulling off my boots.
I can only imagine the horrified face of the mailman. Hahaha….
3. Jim is forced to become the new Beast Lord. And he has to prove that he is the Alpha beast for everybody who does not believe it including all the Alphas of the clans, Mahon (Curran’s adopted father) and Dali the Beast Lady.
“You’re a paranoid control freak.”
“My paranoia is keeping us safe. Dali, I just spent eight hours arguing with the Pack Council. Do you think you could postpone yelling at me until later?”
4. The other shifters have to choose sides. Derek, George, Christopher, Barabas, Ascanio, Louis, Andrea and Raphael.
The Pack lives its weakest moments. The strongest members of the Pack are split into two teams.
5. Everyone is now looking Kate with different perspective. And not in a very nice way.
--Saiman opened his mouth, then closed it. “I won’t be part of this insanity.”
--Rowena smiled at me. “Sharrim. Our deepest apologies for the misunderstanding.”
--“Why don’t you like me?” I asked.
Nick leaned back.
“I could fill the room with it, starting with who you are and what you did.”
6. Hugh (Roland’s favorite soldier) is forced to disappear in order to think, to find himself and to stay away from Kate.
This is also the book that
●Kate realizes how it feels to be humanly weak and vulnerable – even if it just for a few hours. I believe that her stroke must be the less favorite part for most readers.
●Julie slowly realizes her powers after the purification of her blood and as a result she has Roland discreet attention.
●we learn everything about the life of djinns, and ghouls.
●we are taught that nothing really worth the price of asking for favors by a djinn (“You have nothing I want!”)
●we discover that true love always wins any obstacle.
Hurray for the story of George and Eduardo!
Finally
After the last two books, I like Curran again.
I had missed the playful Curran, always in tune with Kate:
A hand rested on the small of my back and slid down.
“Did you just grab my butt?” I whispered.
“What?”
“Curran!”
“Yes?” I could hear controlled laughter in his voice.
Unbelievable. I sped up. “We’re tracking ghouls and you’re grabbing my butt.”
“I always make sure to pay attention to important things.”
“Sure you do.”
And
Roland is trying to clear things with Kate - not very successfully:
“Now that I’ve conceded that point, the wedding. When are you going to stop living in sin?”
“This is rich, coming from you. I’m sorry, how many wives did you have?”
“Recently, only one.”
“Yes, and you murdered her.”
“Let’s not talk about that again.”
“She was my mother.”
“Yes, and I loved her deeply.”
I can only imagine the horrified face of the waiter. Hahaha….
I have included many dialogues from the book in this review, because I honestly believe that my favorite characters’ interactions in this book were just brilliant. Strong and funny.
So Roland is here. Everyone stands by. Let the games begin!
May 30, 2023
They say a picture is worth thousand words, and that's how I felt throguhout this book...
July 27, 2015
Nothing compares to the charm, wit, action, and emotion of the Kate Daniels series. Nothing. Simply put, if you aren't reading these books, you are missing the very best that Urban Fantasy has to offer. I think I say this every time I sit down to review a new installment, but it bears repeating.
The last story was epic and left us in a very different place. Kate and Curran have left the Pack. She has claimed Atlanta and her father has gone from a distant idea of Something Scary to a flesh and blood reality intruding on Kate's life. The evolution into these new circumstances feels as smooth as silk. Despite the fact that everything is different, everything I love about Kate Daniels remains the same. Her loyalty; her fire; her determination, doggedness, resourcefulness. All topped off with a wry sense of humor and deep appreciation for the family she has created over the course of the series.
As the book begins, Kate and Curran are living in their new home with Julie, and they have just one month left until their separation from the Pack is complete. But life is never boring. Between fighting off ghouls and searching for a missing shifter, they have their hands full. I love how, with each book, Ilona Andrews really goes out of the way to give Kate an adversary that is markedly different from the one before. It's cool because it continues to add layers to the already vast worldbuilding; it gives the reader new puzzles that don't have obvious solutions; and it gives realism to Kate's struggles. I mean, let's face it. She is crazy-powerful. She needs a real challenge to give us emotional investment. In this case, we delve into the realm of Arabic mythology and a powerful djinn.
The plot is great. I love how Andrews artfully ties the ghouls to the Big Bad and back around to Kate's missing friend. The pacing is spot on. The laughs are pitch perfect. (I laughed out loud as Ghastek tried to draw an apple.) But, as always, what really takes the book to the next level is the emotional component. Kate's best battles are ones that are directly connected to her. Saving a friend. Keeping a promise. Protecting her family. That's here and that's great. Andrews takes it a step beyond though... showing Kate's fragility... putting her in real peril. You can really see what her mortality means to the people who love her. It brings home just how loved she really is. It carves out more depth for Curran and Julie. It gives great feels.
And did I mention I cried at the end? In the big battle, when Kate must face her innermost fears? I'm not going to spoil it, but there was a person there with grey eyes and the stage is set with potential for so much heartache -- it totally got me. The bottom line is that Andrews successfully combines the otherworldness of Kate's environment with emotions that any of us can relate to. We could never be Kate, but we can all relate to the things she feels. We feel them with her.
I could go on and on, but how much gushing can I do before it gets a little embarrassing? I will say that I beta-read for this book, but almost all of the magic in the final product was already there in its earlier incarnation. Fans of the series shouldn't miss this one. And if you're new to Kate's world, what are you waiting for? Start from the beginning with Magic Bites and get ready for a great ride.
Rating: A
*ARC provided by author for review
The last story was epic and left us in a very different place. Kate and Curran have left the Pack. She has claimed Atlanta and her father has gone from a distant idea of Something Scary to a flesh and blood reality intruding on Kate's life. The evolution into these new circumstances feels as smooth as silk. Despite the fact that everything is different, everything I love about Kate Daniels remains the same. Her loyalty; her fire; her determination, doggedness, resourcefulness. All topped off with a wry sense of humor and deep appreciation for the family she has created over the course of the series.
As the book begins, Kate and Curran are living in their new home with Julie, and they have just one month left until their separation from the Pack is complete. But life is never boring. Between fighting off ghouls and searching for a missing shifter, they have their hands full. I love how, with each book, Ilona Andrews really goes out of the way to give Kate an adversary that is markedly different from the one before. It's cool because it continues to add layers to the already vast worldbuilding; it gives the reader new puzzles that don't have obvious solutions; and it gives realism to Kate's struggles. I mean, let's face it. She is crazy-powerful. She needs a real challenge to give us emotional investment. In this case, we delve into the realm of Arabic mythology and a powerful djinn.
The plot is great. I love how Andrews artfully ties the ghouls to the Big Bad and back around to Kate's missing friend. The pacing is spot on. The laughs are pitch perfect. (I laughed out loud as Ghastek tried to draw an apple.) But, as always, what really takes the book to the next level is the emotional component. Kate's best battles are ones that are directly connected to her. Saving a friend. Keeping a promise. Protecting her family. That's here and that's great. Andrews takes it a step beyond though... showing Kate's fragility... putting her in real peril. You can really see what her mortality means to the people who love her. It brings home just how loved she really is. It carves out more depth for Curran and Julie. It gives great feels.
And did I mention I cried at the end? In the big battle, when Kate must face her innermost fears? I'm not going to spoil it, but there was a person there with grey eyes and the stage is set with potential for so much heartache -- it totally got me. The bottom line is that Andrews successfully combines the otherworldness of Kate's environment with emotions that any of us can relate to. We could never be Kate, but we can all relate to the things she feels. We feel them with her.
I could go on and on, but how much gushing can I do before it gets a little embarrassing? I will say that I beta-read for this book, but almost all of the magic in the final product was already there in its earlier incarnation. Fans of the series shouldn't miss this one. And if you're new to Kate's world, what are you waiting for? Start from the beginning with Magic Bites and get ready for a great ride.
Rating: A
*ARC provided by author for review
May 31, 2018
3.66 stars (better than 3.5 but not quite a 4). Final review, first published on Fantasy Literature:
In Magic Shifts, the eighth book in Ilona Andrews’ KATE DANIELS urban fantasy series, Kate and Curran struggle with both old, ongoing problems ― in the form of Pack politics and Kate’s father Roland ― and new ones. *obligatory spoiler alert here for earlier books in the series*
Kate and her werelion mate Curran, who has resigned as Beast Lord of Atlanta’s huge pack of shapeshifters, are now trying to live a more ordinary, circumspect suburban life among humans, with mixed results. Some of the neighbors are alarmed at Curran’s walking around the neighborhood in his immense lion form (“He is patrolling,” Kate informs her nosiest neighbor, protecting the area), and Kate finds out that several of their shapeshifter friends, who have also separated from the Pack to follow Kate and Curran, have also moved into homes on their street. It kind of defeats the purpose of fitting into the neighborhood in a low-key way.
But more pressing problems soon arise, distracting Kate from their neighborhood and lifestyle issues. Gangs of ghouls, normally shy and fairly solitary creatures, are on the move in Atlanta and are attacking people ― an unheard-of development. Kate and Curran’s werebuffalo friend Eduardo has disappeared without a trace, alarming his fiancée George, daughter of the werebear Mahon who is the Pack’s executioner. Mahon, who wants George to marry another werebear rather than a buffalo, is shirking his duty as Clan Heavy’s Alpha to investigate Eduardo’s disappearance, so it’s left to Kate. And murderous, oddly magical giants and other creatures, whose bodies belch forth equally vicious monsters (like a ten-foot long spider-scorpion) when killed, have begun terrorizing Atlanta’s neighborhoods and businesses. At first these problems seem random and disconnected, but in the course of their investigation ― punctuated by numerous battles with swordfighting and hand-to-hand combat ― Kate and Curran soon find some surprising connections.
Magic Shifts, though an enjoyable installment in the KATE DANIELS series, wasn’t as strong for me as most of the other books in this series have been. Partly this is because the overarching plotlines of the series, especially Kate’s relationships with her immortal and dangerous father Roland and with Curran, inch forward in more subtle ways in this book. That leaves the burden of the novel to be borne by the action scenes and the mystery that are specific to Magic Shifts, and those just weren’t quite as compelling as most of Kate’s other recent adventures. The slightly disjointed plot, which lags just slightly in some chapters, reminded me of Magic Bites, the very first book in this series.
Still, some of the subplots in Magic Shifts were definitely worth the price of admission. Curran doesn’t miss Pack politics, but he does miss the challenge of making an organization successful. He gets the chance to exercise an ownership interest in Atlanta’s Mercenary Guild, and when Curran finds out that the guild is in horrendous disarray, that actually increases Curran’s interest in taking on the challenge. Mahon, the werebear Alpha who has made life difficult for Kate in the past, gets called on his current and prior antics by several other characters. And Roland becomes a more well-developed character for the first time, as he makes a play for more involvement in Atlanta and in Kate’s life. He can be tremendously charming, though Kate deeply distrusts his motives.
The Andrews team, as usual, does a fine job of weaving together various plotlines and elements. Most of the books in this series focus on mythology from a particular part of the world, and the Arabic mythology developed in Magic Shifts has some unexpected and intriguing elements. These are combined with some interesting developments in the lives of characters who fans of the series have come to care for. Magic Shifts is a solid entry in the overall series.
In Magic Shifts, the eighth book in Ilona Andrews’ KATE DANIELS urban fantasy series, Kate and Curran struggle with both old, ongoing problems ― in the form of Pack politics and Kate’s father Roland ― and new ones. *obligatory spoiler alert here for earlier books in the series*
Kate and her werelion mate Curran, who has resigned as Beast Lord of Atlanta’s huge pack of shapeshifters, are now trying to live a more ordinary, circumspect suburban life among humans, with mixed results. Some of the neighbors are alarmed at Curran’s walking around the neighborhood in his immense lion form (“He is patrolling,” Kate informs her nosiest neighbor, protecting the area), and Kate finds out that several of their shapeshifter friends, who have also separated from the Pack to follow Kate and Curran, have also moved into homes on their street. It kind of defeats the purpose of fitting into the neighborhood in a low-key way.
But more pressing problems soon arise, distracting Kate from their neighborhood and lifestyle issues. Gangs of ghouls, normally shy and fairly solitary creatures, are on the move in Atlanta and are attacking people ― an unheard-of development. Kate and Curran’s werebuffalo friend Eduardo has disappeared without a trace, alarming his fiancée George, daughter of the werebear Mahon who is the Pack’s executioner. Mahon, who wants George to marry another werebear rather than a buffalo, is shirking his duty as Clan Heavy’s Alpha to investigate Eduardo’s disappearance, so it’s left to Kate. And murderous, oddly magical giants and other creatures, whose bodies belch forth equally vicious monsters (like a ten-foot long spider-scorpion) when killed, have begun terrorizing Atlanta’s neighborhoods and businesses. At first these problems seem random and disconnected, but in the course of their investigation ― punctuated by numerous battles with swordfighting and hand-to-hand combat ― Kate and Curran soon find some surprising connections.
Magic Shifts, though an enjoyable installment in the KATE DANIELS series, wasn’t as strong for me as most of the other books in this series have been. Partly this is because the overarching plotlines of the series, especially Kate’s relationships with her immortal and dangerous father Roland and with Curran, inch forward in more subtle ways in this book. That leaves the burden of the novel to be borne by the action scenes and the mystery that are specific to Magic Shifts, and those just weren’t quite as compelling as most of Kate’s other recent adventures. The slightly disjointed plot, which lags just slightly in some chapters, reminded me of Magic Bites, the very first book in this series.
Still, some of the subplots in Magic Shifts were definitely worth the price of admission. Curran doesn’t miss Pack politics, but he does miss the challenge of making an organization successful. He gets the chance to exercise an ownership interest in Atlanta’s Mercenary Guild, and when Curran finds out that the guild is in horrendous disarray, that actually increases Curran’s interest in taking on the challenge. Mahon, the werebear Alpha who has made life difficult for Kate in the past, gets called on his current and prior antics by several other characters. And Roland becomes a more well-developed character for the first time, as he makes a play for more involvement in Atlanta and in Kate’s life. He can be tremendously charming, though Kate deeply distrusts his motives.
The Andrews team, as usual, does a fine job of weaving together various plotlines and elements. Most of the books in this series focus on mythology from a particular part of the world, and the Arabic mythology developed in Magic Shifts has some unexpected and intriguing elements. These are combined with some interesting developments in the lives of characters who fans of the series have come to care for. Magic Shifts is a solid entry in the overall series.
June 23, 2016
After the pivotal 7th installment, I spent about 0.236 seconds worrying about this book and wondering whether the series would successfully find a new direction. It didn’t take me long to remember who I was dealing with – Ilona and Gordon have never failed me before, and they keep proving themselves over and over again. No downturns for Kate, and certainly none for this fabulous husband-and-wife writing team.
Magic Shifts opens up a new chapter for Kate and Curran. It’s a different one, but no less scary and adventure-filled. Some of the dangers they face are the same, and some are completely new and challenging. We see them in a completely different situation, removed from everything we used to take for granted, but the newness of it all isn’t uncomfortable. In fact, only thirty pages in, it was time to recognize that Ilona and Gordon made the right choice for their characters and the series.
Stepping away from the Pack doesn’t necessarily mean losing some of our favorite secondary characters, which was my biggest fear going in. Kate and Curran might be magnets for trouble, but they are also magnets for violent, deranged and insanely loyal shapeshifters. Most of the usual suspects are back in full force, and the humor they bring with them is stronger than ever.
As usual, Gordon and Ilona don’t recycle their mythology. It’s my very favorite thing about Kate Daniels – the opportunity to learn something new and admire the amount of research each and every time. This time, the story is centered around lesser known Islamic myths and as usual, it is accurate, precise and done tastefully. These two always do their homework very thoroughly, and it’s what makes their series the very best urban fantasy has to offer.
Surprisingly, aside from being a constant rollercoaster of action and banter, this book pushes the limits of emotionality by giving us moments of profound sadness and genuine fear, unlike anything we’ve seen before. The messes Kate tends to find herself in are always challenging and alarming to a point, but up until now, we’ve always known that things would turn out well in the end. In Magic Shifts, that certainty is finally removed and we’re left with this heavy feeling in our chests that refuses to go away. There were parts of this book that were heartbreaking for me, more so because they were unexpected, and in the end, with some distance, I concluded that these authors keep growing and taking us in unexpected directions, and instead of going stale, they just keep getting better every single time.
By now, Ilona Andrews spoiled us for all other urban fantasy author. We’ve learned to expect perfection because it’s pretty much what we always get from them and we won’t settle for anything less. But it’s all right. They write, we read, and the world keeps spinning.
A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, have influenced the opinions expressed in this review.
August 18, 2015
Can I still call myself a hard-core Kate Daniels fan if I give this book 3.5 stars? (Please say yes.)
Do you have any idea how much I love this series? Do you?! Wanna know how many times I've re-read these books over the last 7 years? A-FUCKING-LOT. (Yes, that's a real number.) I know entire sections of the first five books by heart. Much like the way my husband can say the lines of the entire Billy Madison movie along with the characters (which is irritating as hell btw, I don't recommend you ever watching that movie with him), if you started reading a line from any one of those books, I'd probably be able to start saying the words along w/you. I'm not exaggerating.
I LOVE this series. I devour each book that comes out, even the last couple ones that I had some problems with, I still was totally into it and devoured 'em.
But this one? I did not devour it.
You know what, though? I don't think it's the book's fault. The book is fine. No, fuck that -- the book is GOOD. It's not the book's fault.
It's the series' fault. This series has just been so freakin spectacular, that good feels like a let down. That makes no sense, I know. A good book is a good fucking book. Right?! Right. So what the hell is my problem? *shrugs* I dunno. Expectations I guess. They can be a bitch.
The Case of the Missing Shapeshifter was not gripping at all to me. You know, I love so. many. of the side characters in this series, good guy, bad guy, doesn't matter, I love SO MANY of them! There's really only a teeny tiny handful of characters that I don't have any feelings one way or another about. And they chose to have the plot of this book revolve around one of those few. Whyyyyyyyyy. I tried to care about him. I did. But it just never happened. The whole investigation was a little. . .boring. (ugh, I feel like such a bitch for saying that!) But it's true, I was kinda bored. I just didn't care enough.
As for the other side characters, I gotta say, I was a tiny bit disappointed in some of them as well. I mean, is it just me or has Derek seemed to have lost all traces of a personality? And Mahon! I have issues with how his character has 'developed', it felt a little lazy. And so many of the others felt just thrown in here, like Raphael and Andrea, just a quickie to show us that they're still alive but no real substance to them. IA always managed to make me care about so many of them no matter how little page time he/she may get, but this time, a lot of the supporting character appearances felt...empty.
Btw, just curious -- am I the only one who cringed at the sex scene? It felt so awkward to me. Was it just me?
And anyway, I think my biggest problem with this book is this -- it just feels like a huge letdown after what has been building up for so long throughout the series. A delayed reaction from the last book? Maybe. I dunno. Most of the earlier books had this same case-of-the-week type plot, some of them good, some not so much, but what made me love them all was that there was so much more going on. Stuff that's not in this book, cuz we've moved past it now. There was the mysteriousness of Kate's heritage. There was the push/pull slow burn romance between Kate and Curran (possibly the best one EVER). There was getting to know the awesome supporting cast. And shadowing over all of that was that slow, steady build-up of the Roland arc; that build-up that increased in intensity with each book, that made my anticipation grow and grow and grow until it turned into this...thing...this thing that says, I want to see something BIG happen, and I WANT IT SOON!!
And here we are at book 8, and I'm left still waiting. I'm getting tired of waiting.
EDIT to add:
I see a lot of people now calling this a "transition" or "bridge" book, and yeah, it makes sense. I just wish there had been a bit more forward movement going on here in the whole overall story.
We're getting near the end of the series, and I'm getting tired of just treading water, even if it is in a different area of the pool. Let's start swimming to the finish line, man! :)
Shit, listen to me! I sound like I hated this book! I DIDN'T HATE IT. There were lots to love in this book, LOTS. The humor was really great, as usual. I found myself smiling often, and some of the funny parts were really, REALLY funny. The fight scenes are written well, as is expected from this seasoned duo who are no strangers to thrilling action. And yep, my heart strings got tugged in this book too, there was a part that I got a little emotional over.
And that little something we saw at the end has me very excited for the next book. Very, very, VERY excited.
Oh yeah, very excited.
Oh, and one more thing.
Do you have any idea how much I love this series? Do you?! Wanna know how many times I've re-read these books over the last 7 years? A-FUCKING-LOT. (Yes, that's a real number.) I know entire sections of the first five books by heart. Much like the way my husband can say the lines of the entire Billy Madison movie along with the characters (which is irritating as hell btw, I don't recommend you ever watching that movie with him), if you started reading a line from any one of those books, I'd probably be able to start saying the words along w/you. I'm not exaggerating.
I LOVE this series. I devour each book that comes out, even the last couple ones that I had some problems with, I still was totally into it and devoured 'em.
But this one? I did not devour it.
You know what, though? I don't think it's the book's fault. The book is fine. No, fuck that -- the book is GOOD. It's not the book's fault.
It's the series' fault. This series has just been so freakin spectacular, that good feels like a let down. That makes no sense, I know. A good book is a good fucking book. Right?! Right. So what the hell is my problem? *shrugs* I dunno. Expectations I guess. They can be a bitch.
The Case of the Missing Shapeshifter was not gripping at all to me. You know, I love so. many. of the side characters in this series, good guy, bad guy, doesn't matter, I love SO MANY of them! There's really only a teeny tiny handful of characters that I don't have any feelings one way or another about. And they chose to have the plot of this book revolve around one of those few. Whyyyyyyyyy. I tried to care about him. I did. But it just never happened. The whole investigation was a little. . .boring. (ugh, I feel like such a bitch for saying that!) But it's true, I was kinda bored. I just didn't care enough.
As for the other side characters, I gotta say, I was a tiny bit disappointed in some of them as well. I mean, is it just me or has Derek seemed to have lost all traces of a personality? And Mahon! I have issues with how his character has 'developed', it felt a little lazy. And so many of the others felt just thrown in here, like Raphael and Andrea, just a quickie to show us that they're still alive but no real substance to them. IA always managed to make me care about so many of them no matter how little page time he/she may get, but this time, a lot of the supporting character appearances felt...empty.
Btw, just curious -- am I the only one who cringed at the sex scene? It felt so awkward to me. Was it just me?
And anyway, I think my biggest problem with this book is this -- it just feels like a huge letdown after what has been building up for so long throughout the series. A delayed reaction from the last book? Maybe. I dunno. Most of the earlier books had this same case-of-the-week type plot, some of them good, some not so much, but what made me love them all was that there was so much more going on. Stuff that's not in this book, cuz we've moved past it now. There was the mysteriousness of Kate's heritage. There was the push/pull slow burn romance between Kate and Curran (possibly the best one EVER). There was getting to know the awesome supporting cast. And shadowing over all of that was that slow, steady build-up of the Roland arc; that build-up that increased in intensity with each book, that made my anticipation grow and grow and grow until it turned into this...thing...this thing that says, I want to see something BIG happen, and I WANT IT SOON!!
And here we are at book 8, and I'm left still waiting. I'm getting tired of waiting.
EDIT to add:
I see a lot of people now calling this a "transition" or "bridge" book, and yeah, it makes sense. I just wish there had been a bit more forward movement going on here in the whole overall story.
We're getting near the end of the series, and I'm getting tired of just treading water, even if it is in a different area of the pool. Let's start swimming to the finish line, man! :)
Shit, listen to me! I sound like I hated this book! I DIDN'T HATE IT. There were lots to love in this book, LOTS. The humor was really great, as usual. I found myself smiling often, and some of the funny parts were really, REALLY funny. The fight scenes are written well, as is expected from this seasoned duo who are no strangers to thrilling action. And yep, my heart strings got tugged in this book too, there was a part that I got a little emotional over.
And that little something we saw at the end has me very excited for the next book. Very, very, VERY excited.
Oh yeah, very excited.
Oh, and one more thing.
August 5, 2015
She's baa-ack!! Yes! The baddest badass chick ever is back to kicking crazy magical ass and being her usual snarky self. Plus, we get the bonus of Kate and Curran no longer being in the Pack, because Pack politics were getting a little monotonous. AND, as an added bonus, Roland, Kate's psychopathic father-dearest makes a couple of epic and hilarious entrances. Why not have dinner at Applebee's with an ancient powerful god?
or maybe some shwarma?
So, in this book, Kate and Curran are living in the 'burbs and trying to play house. Of course, they get all that comes with this arrangement, such as the nosy neighbor who keeps coming up to them and complaining about minor crap that she thinks is the end of the world. On behalf of all of us who live in the suburbs: Welcome to our world.
instead of Robot Satan, we have the Homeowner's Association...
Our magical baddies in this book are ghouls and djinns. I love how each book has some new take on mythological creatures. And, this one is really different and clever.
I don't want to quote too much or spoil the book since it is newly released, so I will just say that it is awesome and Kate Daniels is still my number one girl.
or maybe some shwarma?
So, in this book, Kate and Curran are living in the 'burbs and trying to play house. Of course, they get all that comes with this arrangement, such as the nosy neighbor who keeps coming up to them and complaining about minor crap that she thinks is the end of the world. On behalf of all of us who live in the suburbs: Welcome to our world.
instead of Robot Satan, we have the Homeowner's Association...
Our magical baddies in this book are ghouls and djinns. I love how each book has some new take on mythological creatures. And, this one is really different and clever.
I don't want to quote too much or spoil the book since it is newly released, so I will just say that it is awesome and Kate Daniels is still my number one girl.
February 26, 2024
This was my fifth time reading this series. ENOUGH SAID!!!
......................
I was a bit skeptical about Kate and Curran's life after resigning as Beast Lord and Consort. But there is no lack of excitement. Sure, I'm glad they have a "normal" family life. Curran, Kate, Julie, Grandel, and a house in a calm neighborhood.
Love the house, mundane life things, neighbors, and new/old jobs.
It's not my fave in the series, but it is very enjoyable to read. Very!!!
Kate makes sure of it!!!
You all know by now that I love Kate above all the other heroines. Sorry, not sorry.
She is the best!!!
* rereading this with a huge smile on my face.
What an amazing series I can't even tell you how much I love this.
I loved it more than the first time around....
......................
I was a bit skeptical about Kate and Curran's life after resigning as Beast Lord and Consort. But there is no lack of excitement. Sure, I'm glad they have a "normal" family life. Curran, Kate, Julie, Grandel, and a house in a calm neighborhood.
Love the house, mundane life things, neighbors, and new/old jobs.
It's not my fave in the series, but it is very enjoyable to read. Very!!!
Kate makes sure of it!!!
You all know by now that I love Kate above all the other heroines. Sorry, not sorry.
She is the best!!!
* rereading this with a huge smile on my face.
What an amazing series I can't even tell you how much I love this.
I loved it more than the first time around....
June 1, 2023
Wow, the world-building! I probably sound like a broken record typing this on every single review, but this series literally gets hotter and hotter with every book. I don't know what I'm going to do after I get to the end of the next one and have to wait with everyone else for book ten to come out!
This one featured Kate and Curran (SO glad to see them in the action together this time after spending a lot of time apart in book seven) trying to figure out the mystery around the disappearance of a missing shapeshifter. As usual, nothing in the Atlanta world is ever as simple as it seems, and the details in this one wound up being extremely intricate and fascinating to work out.
My favorite moments: Curran adjusting to suburban life. And it adjusting to him. LOL. Nice friendly family dinners. Applebees. Phone call pictionary. Just a hilarious one, in places. Very much looking forward to the next!
This one featured Kate and Curran (SO glad to see them in the action together this time after spending a lot of time apart in book seven) trying to figure out the mystery around the disappearance of a missing shapeshifter. As usual, nothing in the Atlanta world is ever as simple as it seems, and the details in this one wound up being extremely intricate and fascinating to work out.
My favorite moments: Curran adjusting to suburban life. And it adjusting to him. LOL. Nice friendly family dinners. Applebees. Phone call pictionary. Just a hilarious one, in places. Very much looking forward to the next!
October 23, 2022
5th read, audiobook this time around.
Original, spoiler-free, review below.
*************************************
4.5 blazing stars
rounded up coz I'm getting biased.
Magic Shifts is another amazing addition to Kate Daniels's world.
Kate Daniels has become one of those series of which I cannot get enough and when I visit again, it's like going into a familiar and cozy place. Meeting with the characters again is just like catching up with old friends.
As usual, I got caught in a whirlwind of intertwined mysteries, religious references, fantastical beasts, mythological creatures (inspired this time by Arabic folklore and Islamic references. YES! Finally!), and emotions. Lots of emotions. There were some emotionally challenging and shocking moments. And so beautifully written, without being unnecessarily melodramatic.
The investigation in Magic Shifts was a lot more complicated than usual with a lot of dead ends and incidents/mysteries/attacks that, at first glance, seemed disconnected but presented a pattern as the story unfolded. The pace kept me in suspense but to be honest, some parts were unnecessarily long and contained a lot of descriptions (the blades in the smithy or the description of Eduardo's house...).
The beautiful new french cover
The characters were full of life and continually evolving. Ilona Andrews even managed fresh additions. Luther, for instance, (who made an appearance in Magic Slays) with his disrespectful manners cracked me up and I loved his interactions with Kate. While some characters grew on me or surprised me, others (like Mahon) grated on my nerves. But none left me indifferent and all gave me the feels, in a way or another (with a real soft spot for Doolittle, who consolidated his place as one of my favorite characters).
The romance once again deeply moved me in this book. Despite being tested and despite the responsibilities and the complications induced by events I won't mention for obvious (spoilery) reasons, Kate's relationship makes my heart flutter every time. The attraction and banter and fights are always as passionate, irrational and funny as in the first book.
Conclusion
Despite some lengthy passages, I immensely enjoyed Magic Shifts. I'm so thrilled by the series and I'm honestly dreading the moment I will read the last sentence of the last book. Recommended (for the 100th time) to all UF and PNR lovers and for all readers who enjoy a badass, kickass, sassy heroine!
Original, spoiler-free, review below.
*************************************
4.5 blazing stars
rounded up coz I'm getting biased.
Magic Shifts is another amazing addition to Kate Daniels's world.
Kate Daniels has become one of those series of which I cannot get enough and when I visit again, it's like going into a familiar and cozy place. Meeting with the characters again is just like catching up with old friends.
As usual, I got caught in a whirlwind of intertwined mysteries, religious references, fantastical beasts, mythological creatures (inspired this time by Arabic folklore and Islamic references. YES! Finally!), and emotions. Lots of emotions. There were some emotionally challenging and shocking moments. And so beautifully written, without being unnecessarily melodramatic.
The investigation in Magic Shifts was a lot more complicated than usual with a lot of dead ends and incidents/mysteries/attacks that, at first glance, seemed disconnected but presented a pattern as the story unfolded. The pace kept me in suspense but to be honest, some parts were unnecessarily long and contained a lot of descriptions (the blades in the smithy or the description of Eduardo's house...).
The beautiful new french cover
The characters were full of life and continually evolving. Ilona Andrews even managed fresh additions. Luther, for instance, (who made an appearance in Magic Slays) with his disrespectful manners cracked me up and I loved his interactions with Kate. While some characters grew on me or surprised me, others (like Mahon) grated on my nerves. But none left me indifferent and all gave me the feels, in a way or another (with a real soft spot for Doolittle, who consolidated his place as one of my favorite characters).
“I wasn’t going to kill her,” Dali told him. “I was just going to seal her mouth shut.”
“Knowing Desandra, that would kill her,” Curran said.
The romance once again deeply moved me in this book. Despite being tested and despite the responsibilities and the complications induced by events I won't mention for obvious (spoilery) reasons, Kate's relationship makes my heart flutter every time. The attraction and banter and fights are always as passionate, irrational and funny as in the first book.
“Maybe you just move too slow.”
Argh.
“You should try making more noise as you walk, too.” Curran suggested. “Maybe the ghouls will mistake you for a small underground elephant and run off.”
“When we get out of here, I’ll kick you.”
“You’ll try.”
Conclusion
Despite some lengthy passages, I immensely enjoyed Magic Shifts. I'm so thrilled by the series and I'm honestly dreading the moment I will read the last sentence of the last book. Recommended (for the 100th time) to all UF and PNR lovers and for all readers who enjoy a badass, kickass, sassy heroine!
September 18, 2015
Buddy read with Kate Cult aka
Eilonwy
,
Evgeny
,
Asya
(re-read),
Monty Cupcake
and
Sarah
(re-read) and
Jaime
(re-read)
Well, this book has one hell of a baddie! Very, very creative, but I expect nothing less from the Andrews. Kudos!
On the whole, the book does feel part-filler but it's a very entertaining and enjoyable part-filler. As always, action-packed, witty and heartbreaking at moments(oh, this particular moment)!
One of the things I enjoyed the most is Kate and Curran being together throughout almost the entire book. It's great to see how unwavering their relationship has become. And Kate's vision! And the end! Oh, we have some great things ahead of us in the final two books!
Not sure I'll write a full review but it's possible. :)
September 8, 2015
Pre-read thoughts
The opinions on this one vary. Let's see how much I'll like it. I'm thrilled to know though, this book sets the beginning of the last cycle for Kate - Kate the Sharrim!
Well, this book has one hell of a baddie! Very, very creative, but I expect nothing less from the Andrews. Kudos!
On the whole, the book does feel part-filler but it's a very entertaining and enjoyable part-filler. As always, action-packed, witty and heartbreaking at moments(oh, this particular moment)!
One of the things I enjoyed the most is Kate and Curran being together throughout almost the entire book. It's great to see how unwavering their relationship has become. And Kate's vision! And the end! Oh, we have some great things ahead of us in the final two books!
Not sure I'll write a full review but it's possible. :)
September 8, 2015
Pre-read thoughts
The opinions on this one vary. Let's see how much I'll like it. I'm thrilled to know though, this book sets the beginning of the last cycle for Kate - Kate the Sharrim!
June 30, 2019
Wow, this is amazing, another favourite for me, this series is fast becoming my favourite UF series, hopefully book nine and 10 won't change that. I have such high expectations for them.
This book is somewhat different from the previous, the villian is not after Kate for once, Curran is trying to adjust to life outside the park, I realized when reading this book that this is the first time he is living among none shifters.
“You’re an inconsiderate irresponsible ass.”
“Me?” Curran tore a lizard in half.
“You.”
Juke grinned.
“You wanted to make it personal. I made it personal. You want to talk about irresponsible?” Curran’s eyes sparked with gold. “You saw a giant ripping up a building and you ran into the building. And then you climbed onto the giant so you could poke him with your sword. What was the plan to get down off him? Did you learn to fly and didn’t tell me?”
“Don’t change the subject. I got a call from Seven Star Academy saying Julie didn’t make it to school. I couldn’t find her. I couldn’t find you.”
Juke snickered. “Shouldn’t have taken the kids with you, huh?”
“Stay out of this,” I told her, and pulled Sarrat out of a lizard’s body. “You made all these preparations and never once thought what would happen when I couldn’t find you or Julie. Would it have killed you to leave a note?”
Juke blinked, suddenly surprised.
“It takes twenty seconds.
Kate is awesome as usual, oh how I love her, Julie is growing into a nice teen which isn't surprising, I love her friendship with Ascanio so much.
“Okay,” Juke said. “Your horse is a donkey, your poodle is a giant wolf breed, and your boyfriend is whatever the hell he is. You have problems.”
“Shut up,” I told her.
Derek, Barabas and Christopher are all in this, They are still loyal.
Jim and Mahon disappointed me in this book, I'm still pissed at them.
“If it moves, kill it,” Martha called out. “I don’t want to hear anything but us breathing in this parking lot!”
I held my arm out to Derek. “Pinch me.”
He reached over.
“Ow.”
This book is somewhat different from the previous, the villian is not after Kate for once, Curran is trying to adjust to life outside the park, I realized when reading this book that this is the first time he is living among none shifters.
“You’re an inconsiderate irresponsible ass.”
“Me?” Curran tore a lizard in half.
“You.”
Juke grinned.
“You wanted to make it personal. I made it personal. You want to talk about irresponsible?” Curran’s eyes sparked with gold. “You saw a giant ripping up a building and you ran into the building. And then you climbed onto the giant so you could poke him with your sword. What was the plan to get down off him? Did you learn to fly and didn’t tell me?”
“Don’t change the subject. I got a call from Seven Star Academy saying Julie didn’t make it to school. I couldn’t find her. I couldn’t find you.”
Juke snickered. “Shouldn’t have taken the kids with you, huh?”
“Stay out of this,” I told her, and pulled Sarrat out of a lizard’s body. “You made all these preparations and never once thought what would happen when I couldn’t find you or Julie. Would it have killed you to leave a note?”
Juke blinked, suddenly surprised.
“It takes twenty seconds.
Kate is awesome as usual, oh how I love her, Julie is growing into a nice teen which isn't surprising, I love her friendship with Ascanio so much.
“Okay,” Juke said. “Your horse is a donkey, your poodle is a giant wolf breed, and your boyfriend is whatever the hell he is. You have problems.”
“Shut up,” I told her.
Derek, Barabas and Christopher are all in this, They are still loyal.
Jim and Mahon disappointed me in this book, I'm still pissed at them.
“If it moves, kill it,” Martha called out. “I don’t want to hear anything but us breathing in this parking lot!”
I held my arm out to Derek. “Pinch me.”
He reached over.
“Ow.”
August 17, 2023
2023: It was time for a re-read, and I already know I will have the biggest book hangover after I'm done. This is such an amazing series - it's hard to describe how much I adore the writing, but most of all the characters.
___________________________________
Magic Shifts is one of my most favorite books in this series. There is so much banter, it felt like I was laughing non-stop. All these wonderful new characters and a plot that never got boring made Magic Shifts outstanding in every way.
I love this world. I love the writing. But most of all I love the characters.
Everyone of the characters has their strengths but also weaknesses, and now this being the 8th book, Kate knows her family pretty well, and they know her. I love it when the familiarity brings comfort, banter, loyalty and a love that's impossible to break.
Since this is not surprising, Kate and Curran have their hands full in Magic Shifts. A big case that is as unique as dangerous, keeps everyone on their toes including the reader. And it doesn't surprise that I devoured this book in one sitting. Additionally the mythology is as captivating as it's always been. There is never too much information, just enough to get my imagination running. The fight scenes were amazing. And the way everyone came together to fight the big bad evil was as expected as it was satisfying.
If I had a choice I would never want this series to end. For me it's like coming home. The writing, the humor, sarcasm and wit fits me to a T. There has never been an authors' writing that spoke to me the way Ilona Andrews' does. This is my kind of humor. My kind of wit. I could read their books all week long and never would get bored.
___________________________________
Magic Shifts is one of my most favorite books in this series. There is so much banter, it felt like I was laughing non-stop. All these wonderful new characters and a plot that never got boring made Magic Shifts outstanding in every way.
I love this world. I love the writing. But most of all I love the characters.
Everyone of the characters has their strengths but also weaknesses, and now this being the 8th book, Kate knows her family pretty well, and they know her. I love it when the familiarity brings comfort, banter, loyalty and a love that's impossible to break.
Since this is not surprising, Kate and Curran have their hands full in Magic Shifts. A big case that is as unique as dangerous, keeps everyone on their toes including the reader. And it doesn't surprise that I devoured this book in one sitting. Additionally the mythology is as captivating as it's always been. There is never too much information, just enough to get my imagination running. The fight scenes were amazing. And the way everyone came together to fight the big bad evil was as expected as it was satisfying.
If I had a choice I would never want this series to end. For me it's like coming home. The writing, the humor, sarcasm and wit fits me to a T. There has never been an authors' writing that spoke to me the way Ilona Andrews' does. This is my kind of humor. My kind of wit. I could read their books all week long and never would get bored.
April 30, 2021
4.25/5 ⭐
I honestly don't even know what can I say anymore.
This series is so good and so action-packed that there's no point in articulating anything, it's all there anyway.
I just keep falling in love more and more with those characters.
Oh and, also, I finally met Roland. What a pain...
I honestly don't even know what can I say anymore.
This series is so good and so action-packed that there's no point in articulating anything, it's all there anyway.
I just keep falling in love more and more with those characters.
Oh and, also, I finally met Roland. What a pain...
August 6, 2015
Spoilers
Didn't like this one much, I was bored for the most part. It's definitely my least favourite installment so far, I thought it couldn't get much worse than book 6 but at least that one kept me somewhat engaged, this one I had to force myself to read in the hope I'd eventually come across something engrossing. That said, it wasn't all bad - I really liked some of the side characters (Dali, Julie, Roland, Ghastek) and there were a couple of interesting interactions between a few of the characters. Other than that it was pretty rubbish.
Random thoughts:
-Magic Shifts had the standard UF investigation-of-the-week type plot with a missing shapeshifter and Kate/Curran trying to find them. Most of it just read like filler and set up for the next book.
-Wasn't bothered about what happened to Eduardo or who had taken him or George crying over him. Neither were well enough established characters for me to care about them. Also, their relationship came out from nowhere, so I found all the melodrama and angst surrounding them kind of ridiculous.
-There were too many descriptions of what Curran looked like and sounded like or how angry/dangerous/pissed off he was. I swear Kate spent more time looking at him and monologuing about him than doing anything else.
-Didn't like some of the domesticated scenes at the beginning with Kate cooking for Curran and co like some kind of housewife. Why didn't Curran do any bloody cooking?!
-Hated the pack for not giving Curran the money he was owed and instead fobbing him off with the Guild. They bought the Guild for cheap and even though Curran will eventually make all his money back it was still a crap deal and a low move after everything Curran had done for them. Yea, I don't give a damn about the pack not being able to afford what he was owed, he left the pack so he should have gotten all his investments back, they just screwed him over.
-There were quite a lot of info dumps about magic, mythology, various people and creatures. I didn't even know unicorns, ghouls, djinn and dragons existed within the world. Maybe they'd been mentioned before but not enough to make an impression, but in typical Kate Daniels fashion there were just thrown in there for the latest plot.
-Wasn't impressed with Kate and Curran's relationship, so much of their dialogue was cheesy and lame, I couldn't stop rolling my eyes.
-Kate and Curran calling each other 'baby' and 'honey-bunny' grated on me, it wasn't cute or funny.
-What was the point of Kate's stroke when she pretty much got over it after a chapter or so? They weren't really any long term (or even short term) consequences. Yea, I don't count her tiny bit of memory loss as anything really. The whole thing read like cheap soap opera drama. I was really hoping the stroke would have a long term devastating affect on Kate, something like her no longer feeling the same for Curran/Julie, which could have lead to her venturing out on her own and becoming dark and even more badass, I would have enjoyed reading that.
-I was pissed at Curran guilt tripping Kate when she fought the giants, he needed to get over it and accept that she lived a dangerous life. She accepted him for who he was but he was still trying to control and manipulate her despite knowing about her need to play the hero no matter what the risk was to her.
-I was tired of Kate saying how selfish and unworthy and awful she was, when in reality she was just a do goody martyr who most people walked all over.
-I hate how Kate throughout the series has been repeatedly referred to as titles that come from the men in her life (Consort/Sharrim), as if her identity and only worth came from them.
-I won't be surprised if Kate takes Curran's last name when they get married, despite the series being called Kate Daniels and not Kate Lennart or Kate Daniels-Lennart or Kate Lennart-Daniels. For once I'd like a UF/PNR heroine to keep their own surname.
-WTF was with Kate reacting so melodramatically whenever Curran or some other shapeshifter/supernatural exhibited their strength and ruthlessness?! Her 'holy craps' and 'my gods' were ridiculous, especially when she'd seen years and years worth of brutality from all kind of creatures.
-George being referred to as Curran's sister by Kate was kind of odd. I know Curran thinks of Mahon as a father figure, but George/Curran have barely had any kind of a relationship on page before this book, yet everyone suddenly acted like they were family and oh so close with each other. Yea, I didn't buy the George/Curran relationship.
-That final battle with the ifrit was so bloody cheesy. 'Oh, Curran do you love me? Fight the lure of evil. Give me the earring' and 'Oh, Kate, do you love me? Hand it over to me' and 'Oh, I love you, I can't lose you, be strong' blah blah blah. It was such trite, hollow dialogue.
-Ugh, of course Kate is going to end up being a mother and of course the baby will be a boy and of course her whole battle with Roland will be about her being a mother and trying to protect her son and of course the son will be a speshul snowflake and even more speshul and powerful than Kate. Ugh. No doubt by the end of the series Roland will be 'undone' again because of a mother's love. Ugh, all the cliches need to stop.
-Didn't like how Kate's magic seemed to just do whatever the hell it wanted depending on whatever action was going on. Her blood was used as a cure/magical solution/instrument of power for all sorts of magical craziness (turning ghouls into their true forms, healing people, taking down giants). It being that versatile has started to feel like a plot device so that Kate can always save the day at the eleventh hour with her super speshul snowflake blood.
-Since when has Kate started to say 'piss off' like she's British or something?!
-What the hell is Werewolf Summer? I don't remember that holiday or whatever the hell it is being mentioned before. It's irritating how never before mentioned mythology, history and lore in the series just crops at random. Yes, I know that's kind of how world building works, but decent world building for me is when any new information presented slots into the existing world and makes sense with things that have already been established. Whereas the world building in Kate Daniels is just random unrelated tid bits thrown in here and there that come out of nowhere and don't really fit in or add anything, and are only really there to serve the current plot line. I didn't notice it much before, but after reading other fantasy books it's become really obvious.
-It irked me that so much Middle Eastern magic, mythology and religion was used yet there was only really one Middle Eastern character. I think Roland (and maybe even Kate) was meant to be Middle Eastern or at least partly, but they didn't read like that at all, they read more like white characters who had all the big magical powers of the Middle East. Yea, it didn't sit right with me.
-Liked that Julie was in the thick of the action, she was a bit of a spare part before but in this one she actually seemed to contribute to things and join in on the craziness.
-So the battle with Roland will be Kate putting him in a box to contain him?! Okay, that sounds kind of dull and just a repeat of what happened in this book. At least Roland is a more interesting villain and isn't just a random bad-guy-of-the-week, so the ultimate fight with Kate should be far more engrossing.
Not impressed, I still like the series but after two dud books (book 6 and this one) I'm starting to lose faith in it. I hope the next few books are back on top form so that the series can end on a high note, but I have a feeling it'll all be super cheesy and predictable.
Didn't like this one much, I was bored for the most part. It's definitely my least favourite installment so far, I thought it couldn't get much worse than book 6 but at least that one kept me somewhat engaged, this one I had to force myself to read in the hope I'd eventually come across something engrossing. That said, it wasn't all bad - I really liked some of the side characters (Dali, Julie, Roland, Ghastek) and there were a couple of interesting interactions between a few of the characters. Other than that it was pretty rubbish.
Random thoughts:
-Magic Shifts had the standard UF investigation-of-the-week type plot with a missing shapeshifter and Kate/Curran trying to find them. Most of it just read like filler and set up for the next book.
-Wasn't bothered about what happened to Eduardo or who had taken him or George crying over him. Neither were well enough established characters for me to care about them. Also, their relationship came out from nowhere, so I found all the melodrama and angst surrounding them kind of ridiculous.
-There were too many descriptions of what Curran looked like and sounded like or how angry/dangerous/pissed off he was. I swear Kate spent more time looking at him and monologuing about him than doing anything else.
-Didn't like some of the domesticated scenes at the beginning with Kate cooking for Curran and co like some kind of housewife. Why didn't Curran do any bloody cooking?!
-Hated the pack for not giving Curran the money he was owed and instead fobbing him off with the Guild. They bought the Guild for cheap and even though Curran will eventually make all his money back it was still a crap deal and a low move after everything Curran had done for them. Yea, I don't give a damn about the pack not being able to afford what he was owed, he left the pack so he should have gotten all his investments back, they just screwed him over.
-There were quite a lot of info dumps about magic, mythology, various people and creatures. I didn't even know unicorns, ghouls, djinn and dragons existed within the world. Maybe they'd been mentioned before but not enough to make an impression, but in typical Kate Daniels fashion there were just thrown in there for the latest plot.
-Wasn't impressed with Kate and Curran's relationship, so much of their dialogue was cheesy and lame, I couldn't stop rolling my eyes.
-Kate and Curran calling each other 'baby' and 'honey-bunny' grated on me, it wasn't cute or funny.
-What was the point of Kate's stroke when she pretty much got over it after a chapter or so? They weren't really any long term (or even short term) consequences. Yea, I don't count her tiny bit of memory loss as anything really. The whole thing read like cheap soap opera drama. I was really hoping the stroke would have a long term devastating affect on Kate, something like her no longer feeling the same for Curran/Julie, which could have lead to her venturing out on her own and becoming dark and even more badass, I would have enjoyed reading that.
-I was pissed at Curran guilt tripping Kate when she fought the giants, he needed to get over it and accept that she lived a dangerous life. She accepted him for who he was but he was still trying to control and manipulate her despite knowing about her need to play the hero no matter what the risk was to her.
-I was tired of Kate saying how selfish and unworthy and awful she was, when in reality she was just a do goody martyr who most people walked all over.
-I hate how Kate throughout the series has been repeatedly referred to as titles that come from the men in her life (Consort/Sharrim), as if her identity and only worth came from them.
-I won't be surprised if Kate takes Curran's last name when they get married, despite the series being called Kate Daniels and not Kate Lennart or Kate Daniels-Lennart or Kate Lennart-Daniels. For once I'd like a UF/PNR heroine to keep their own surname.
-WTF was with Kate reacting so melodramatically whenever Curran or some other shapeshifter/supernatural exhibited their strength and ruthlessness?! Her 'holy craps' and 'my gods' were ridiculous, especially when she'd seen years and years worth of brutality from all kind of creatures.
-George being referred to as Curran's sister by Kate was kind of odd. I know Curran thinks of Mahon as a father figure, but George/Curran have barely had any kind of a relationship on page before this book, yet everyone suddenly acted like they were family and oh so close with each other. Yea, I didn't buy the George/Curran relationship.
-That final battle with the ifrit was so bloody cheesy. 'Oh, Curran do you love me? Fight the lure of evil. Give me the earring' and 'Oh, Kate, do you love me? Hand it over to me' and 'Oh, I love you, I can't lose you, be strong' blah blah blah. It was such trite, hollow dialogue.
-Ugh, of course Kate is going to end up being a mother and of course the baby will be a boy and of course her whole battle with Roland will be about her being a mother and trying to protect her son and of course the son will be a speshul snowflake and even more speshul and powerful than Kate. Ugh. No doubt by the end of the series Roland will be 'undone' again because of a mother's love. Ugh, all the cliches need to stop.
-Didn't like how Kate's magic seemed to just do whatever the hell it wanted depending on whatever action was going on. Her blood was used as a cure/magical solution/instrument of power for all sorts of magical craziness (turning ghouls into their true forms, healing people, taking down giants). It being that versatile has started to feel like a plot device so that Kate can always save the day at the eleventh hour with her super speshul snowflake blood.
-Since when has Kate started to say 'piss off' like she's British or something?!
-What the hell is Werewolf Summer? I don't remember that holiday or whatever the hell it is being mentioned before. It's irritating how never before mentioned mythology, history and lore in the series just crops at random. Yes, I know that's kind of how world building works, but decent world building for me is when any new information presented slots into the existing world and makes sense with things that have already been established. Whereas the world building in Kate Daniels is just random unrelated tid bits thrown in here and there that come out of nowhere and don't really fit in or add anything, and are only really there to serve the current plot line. I didn't notice it much before, but after reading other fantasy books it's become really obvious.
-It irked me that so much Middle Eastern magic, mythology and religion was used yet there was only really one Middle Eastern character. I think Roland (and maybe even Kate) was meant to be Middle Eastern or at least partly, but they didn't read like that at all, they read more like white characters who had all the big magical powers of the Middle East. Yea, it didn't sit right with me.
-Liked that Julie was in the thick of the action, she was a bit of a spare part before but in this one she actually seemed to contribute to things and join in on the craziness.
-So the battle with Roland will be Kate putting him in a box to contain him?! Okay, that sounds kind of dull and just a repeat of what happened in this book. At least Roland is a more interesting villain and isn't just a random bad-guy-of-the-week, so the ultimate fight with Kate should be far more engrossing.
Not impressed, I still like the series but after two dud books (book 6 and this one) I'm starting to lose faith in it. I hope the next few books are back on top form so that the series can end on a high note, but I have a feeling it'll all be super cheesy and predictable.
October 8, 2017
As I'm listening to these books I keep thinking that surely these should be getting repetitive by now. I mean, book 8? C'mon!
But then I tell myself to first, don't call me Shirley and second, it's the Ilona Andrews team. They must have every reference book ever written on mythologies in every creed. I sometimes picture bookshelves with a rolling ladder and Belle sliding past.
Anyway, this book finds Kate and company battling an Ifrit. She is still involved in a battle of wills with her father. (Every time he calls her Blossom I shudder.) So, you have to picture Kate, Curran, Julie and Roland sitting around a table at Applebees. It was creepy and funny at the same time. (I would have taken my Triple Chocolate Meltdown to go.)
Excellent book as always! I so hope this series never ends. And spinoffs, please? I would love to read something with Roman. And, how about Nick's story? Some YA with Julie? So many wonderful characters in Kate's world!
But then I tell myself to first, don't call me Shirley and second, it's the Ilona Andrews team. They must have every reference book ever written on mythologies in every creed. I sometimes picture bookshelves with a rolling ladder and Belle sliding past.
Anyway, this book finds Kate and company battling an Ifrit. She is still involved in a battle of wills with her father. (Every time he calls her Blossom I shudder.) So, you have to picture Kate, Curran, Julie and Roland sitting around a table at Applebees. It was creepy and funny at the same time. (I would have taken my Triple Chocolate Meltdown to go.)
Excellent book as always! I so hope this series never ends. And spinoffs, please? I would love to read something with Roman. And, how about Nick's story? Some YA with Julie? So many wonderful characters in Kate's world!
March 23, 2021
May 2018 re-read. This book still gives me all the feels. I was still crying my eyes out at one point. I still can't quite predict where this is all going to end. And I'm more invested than ever.
October 2015 re-read: This holds up as well on a re-read as I expected. The mystery reminds me of earlier Kate Daniels' books. The humor is there, of course. The characters we know and love. And the steady progress on the overall storyline. I'm really interested in seeing how this all comes together.
Ilona Andrews is my favorite author. Her books consistently blow me away. Every series, every story. Sitting here, having finished the latest Kate Daniels (by far, my favorite series, period), I wonder what I'm supposed to say. The husband-wife writing team have hit it out of the park. This book was amazing. The plot was exciting, the characters were the same that I've always loved (with the growth that's natural in all), the setting was beautifully haunting, and there were some awesome revelations that have made me even more anxious for the next books in this series.
When we last left Kate and Curran, Kate had claimed Atlanta, they'd separated with the Pack, and Kate's father was taking an active interest in his daughter's life. I was really anxious when I started this book to find out how life was going to change for my favorite Alpha duo, and it has definitely changed, but let's be honest, Kate and Curran were always going to be out there kicking ass and saving people.
I'm finding it pretty hard to know what to say without giving away too much of the book. The blurb is a bit misleading in some aspects, but does a fairly good job. When we start the book, Kate and Curran are unable to be in the Keep or to try and influence members of the Pack from leaving, so their interactions with other favorite characters was pretty non-existent...in the beginning. All that starts to change when George shows up stating that Eduardo (a were-bison) is missing, and his alpha - Mahon - won't do anything about it. Because of the loyalty both of them feel towards Eduardo and George, our favorite duo decide to take up the case. This leads in interesting (in the way of the saying 'may you live in interesting times') directions with a whole lot of odd occurrences happening.
What I will say is that the duo that is Ilona Andrews writes so vividly and with so much realism that they had me in tears for an entire chapter. I had to continuously put the book down, walk away, and re-compose myself throughout this chapter because it was so vivid, so heart-wrenching, and so real I could barely handle it. Though this section wrenched my heart out, stomped on it, and then tried to grind it into mush, I find myself so much more in love with their writing. It brought back to me a lot of scary, sad and painful moments from my own experiences, but I think that it also helped me. There's something so amazing when that happens for me.
If you wondered where things were going to go after that first inevitable meeting between Kate and her father, if you weren't sure about how much further the story could go... I'll be honest, I did. So, I hope I'm forgiven when I say that this book has opened up a bunch of fascinating possibilities that I can't wait to read more about! Ilona and Gordon introduce new angles and more information, with characters that are gaining nuance with every moment on-screen.
And, is it too much to ask for Hugh to show up again at some point?
For the next year, waiting for the new book, I guess I'll just be sitting in my corner, absorbed in re-reads.
Pre-review thoughts:
Wow. Just wow.
Review to come.
October 2015 re-read: This holds up as well on a re-read as I expected. The mystery reminds me of earlier Kate Daniels' books. The humor is there, of course. The characters we know and love. And the steady progress on the overall storyline. I'm really interested in seeing how this all comes together.
Ilona Andrews is my favorite author. Her books consistently blow me away. Every series, every story. Sitting here, having finished the latest Kate Daniels (by far, my favorite series, period), I wonder what I'm supposed to say. The husband-wife writing team have hit it out of the park. This book was amazing. The plot was exciting, the characters were the same that I've always loved (with the growth that's natural in all), the setting was beautifully haunting, and there were some awesome revelations that have made me even more anxious for the next books in this series.
When we last left Kate and Curran, Kate had claimed Atlanta, they'd separated with the Pack, and Kate's father was taking an active interest in his daughter's life. I was really anxious when I started this book to find out how life was going to change for my favorite Alpha duo, and it has definitely changed, but let's be honest, Kate and Curran were always going to be out there kicking ass and saving people.
I'm finding it pretty hard to know what to say without giving away too much of the book. The blurb is a bit misleading in some aspects, but does a fairly good job. When we start the book, Kate and Curran are unable to be in the Keep or to try and influence members of the Pack from leaving, so their interactions with other favorite characters was pretty non-existent...in the beginning. All that starts to change when George shows up stating that Eduardo (a were-bison) is missing, and his alpha - Mahon - won't do anything about it. Because of the loyalty both of them feel towards Eduardo and George, our favorite duo decide to take up the case. This leads in interesting (in the way of the saying 'may you live in interesting times') directions with a whole lot of odd occurrences happening.
What I will say is that the duo that is Ilona Andrews writes so vividly and with so much realism that they had me in tears for an entire chapter. I had to continuously put the book down, walk away, and re-compose myself throughout this chapter because it was so vivid, so heart-wrenching, and so real I could barely handle it. Though this section wrenched my heart out, stomped on it, and then tried to grind it into mush, I find myself so much more in love with their writing. It brought back to me a lot of scary, sad and painful moments from my own experiences, but I think that it also helped me. There's something so amazing when that happens for me.
If you wondered where things were going to go after that first inevitable meeting between Kate and her father, if you weren't sure about how much further the story could go... I'll be honest, I did. So, I hope I'm forgiven when I say that this book has opened up a bunch of fascinating possibilities that I can't wait to read more about! Ilona and Gordon introduce new angles and more information, with characters that are gaining nuance with every moment on-screen.
And, is it too much to ask for Hugh to show up again at some point?
For the next year, waiting for the new book, I guess I'll just be sitting in my corner, absorbed in re-reads.
Pre-review thoughts:
Wow. Just wow.
Review to come.
January 8, 2024
2024 Re-read
No matter how many times I read this book, I always cry when Kate is in the hospital after her stroke(s) and struggling to survive. Even when it's obvious from plenty more pages and more books that she's going to survive and kick ass again. Even having read the whole series on multiple occasions.
There are other things that I “should" be reading, but I'm trapped in the vortex now. Onwards!
2022 Re-Read
Kate & Curran have switched roles—he has given up the Pack leadership, just as she has accidentally claimed the city of Atlanta. However, the new arrangement seems to suit them. It's the people around them who are worried. This, in my opinion, is where these authors shine, in making so many wonderful supporting characters around Kate. This is the book where we get to know Luther Dillon, the wizard who is always just where he should be. We get a family dinner Roland style. Barabus and Christopher move in next door. If there are any disappointments, it's that not everyone can get the page time that I would prefer. There's very little Grendel in this volume and less Derek than usual but more Julie. Andrea and Raphael make brief appearances, as does Ascanio.
I miss getting a new book regularly to let me know how all of my favourites are doing. That's one of the reasons that I was so delighted when the authors produced the first Aurelia Ryder/Julie Olsen book last year. We got to check in on Desandra, Nick, Siena, and Luther as well as bring Julie and Derek back together again. Circles of friends are what urban fantasy genre is all about, as is so fantastically illustrated by this series.
Original Review
Another enjoyable installment in the Kate Daniels series and I am now caught up to the latest volume that my library has. Magic Binds is still ‘on order’ and I’m tenth in line for when it arrives & gets processed. Yay!
I’m enjoying the new mythologies being used, in line with Kate’s discovery of her Middle Eastern heritage and how the authors are incorporating creatures from previous books (ghouls) into their new framework.
In many ways, this story should have been over in the last book, but after that Star Wars-esque “I am your father” moment in Magic Breaks, how could we not want to know how Kate’s relationship with her god-like father would go? Just like all the rest of us, she gets occasionally cornered into doing things that she doesn’t actually want to do (dinner at Applebee’s, anyone?) and despite her protests, there is father-like interference.
I enjoyed the running gag through the book of random people telling Kate how obnoxious the Beast Lord is, always when she had Curran in tow. The humour in the series is one of the huge pluses for me. I also enjoyed seeing an equal relationship between Kate & Curran and getting a glimpse into what is happening in the Pack that they have left behind. Most entertaining!
I am almost sorry to be caught up on this series—I’m going to be waiting impatiently for the as-yet-untitled number 10 sometime in 2017.
No matter how many times I read this book, I always cry when Kate is in the hospital after her stroke(s) and struggling to survive. Even when it's obvious from plenty more pages and more books that she's going to survive and kick ass again. Even having read the whole series on multiple occasions.
There are other things that I “should" be reading, but I'm trapped in the vortex now. Onwards!
2022 Re-Read
Kate & Curran have switched roles—he has given up the Pack leadership, just as she has accidentally claimed the city of Atlanta. However, the new arrangement seems to suit them. It's the people around them who are worried. This, in my opinion, is where these authors shine, in making so many wonderful supporting characters around Kate. This is the book where we get to know Luther Dillon, the wizard who is always just where he should be. We get a family dinner Roland style. Barabus and Christopher move in next door. If there are any disappointments, it's that not everyone can get the page time that I would prefer. There's very little Grendel in this volume and less Derek than usual but more Julie. Andrea and Raphael make brief appearances, as does Ascanio.
I miss getting a new book regularly to let me know how all of my favourites are doing. That's one of the reasons that I was so delighted when the authors produced the first Aurelia Ryder/Julie Olsen book last year. We got to check in on Desandra, Nick, Siena, and Luther as well as bring Julie and Derek back together again. Circles of friends are what urban fantasy genre is all about, as is so fantastically illustrated by this series.
Original Review
Another enjoyable installment in the Kate Daniels series and I am now caught up to the latest volume that my library has. Magic Binds is still ‘on order’ and I’m tenth in line for when it arrives & gets processed. Yay!
I’m enjoying the new mythologies being used, in line with Kate’s discovery of her Middle Eastern heritage and how the authors are incorporating creatures from previous books (ghouls) into their new framework.
In many ways, this story should have been over in the last book, but after that Star Wars-esque “I am your father” moment in Magic Breaks, how could we not want to know how Kate’s relationship with her god-like father would go? Just like all the rest of us, she gets occasionally cornered into doing things that she doesn’t actually want to do (dinner at Applebee’s, anyone?) and despite her protests, there is father-like interference.
I enjoyed the running gag through the book of random people telling Kate how obnoxious the Beast Lord is, always when she had Curran in tow. The humour in the series is one of the huge pluses for me. I also enjoyed seeing an equal relationship between Kate & Curran and getting a glimpse into what is happening in the Pack that they have left behind. Most entertaining!
I am almost sorry to be caught up on this series—I’m going to be waiting impatiently for the as-yet-untitled number 10 sometime in 2017.
August 6, 2015
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads.
MAGIC SHIFTS is a transition book, there had to be one eventually, right? But, there’s one very important difference between this installment, and the vast majority of other Urban Fantasy bridge novels, it’s NOT FILLER. The story swerves from one plot thread to the next while Kate & Curran adjust to their new lifestyle with their usual sarcastic flair, and on trend, win another battle for team Atlanta. So, more of the same yet also scads of never-before-seen just about sums it up in a nutshell.
Ghouls and djinn are two supes that haven’t played a significant part in this series to date, and I really enjoyed Ilona Andrews’ approach to these two paranormals. The authors accentuated their basic traits while also working in some Arabic mythology. But, the world-building didn’t end there; reanimative metamorphosis makes its grand entrance in all its messed up glory. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like; things die and come back as something completely other. Kate & Curran are basically fighting matryoshka dolls full of beasties!
I loved Kate in this book; well, to be fair, I ALWAYS love Kate, however this time I felt as though I connected with her on a fundamental level. She’s gotten to be pretty powerful over the course of eight volumes, and as much as I enjoy reading about her washing the floor with her opponents, I also like that she still gets her butt handed to her on occasion, and in this installment she even takes a time-out. I was a bit of an emotional wreck after that one because it was a wake-up call that Daniels isn’t invincible. Her family circles the wagons as a result and oh the feels!
My favourite aspect of this novel was probably that Kate & Curran were out of their element; well, technically these two don’t do normal, but their current circumstances are a big change from their former positions as Beast Lord & Consort. Lennart is trying to fit into human society, and Daniels has a “rapport” with her father now. Dinner at Applebee’s anyone? And. like I said in my opening paragraph, this title was just plain more of everything. And, as far as memorable scenes go, I think Kate’s casino entrance is one of the front runners. “Bow, you idiot.”
I really don’t know what else to say about MAGIC SHIFTS except buy it, read it, listen to it, and recommend it to everyone you know including strangers on the bus. ~ 4.5 Stars
MAGIC SHIFTS is a transition book, there had to be one eventually, right? But, there’s one very important difference between this installment, and the vast majority of other Urban Fantasy bridge novels, it’s NOT FILLER. The story swerves from one plot thread to the next while Kate & Curran adjust to their new lifestyle with their usual sarcastic flair, and on trend, win another battle for team Atlanta. So, more of the same yet also scads of never-before-seen just about sums it up in a nutshell.
Ghouls and djinn are two supes that haven’t played a significant part in this series to date, and I really enjoyed Ilona Andrews’ approach to these two paranormals. The authors accentuated their basic traits while also working in some Arabic mythology. But, the world-building didn’t end there; reanimative metamorphosis makes its grand entrance in all its messed up glory. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like; things die and come back as something completely other. Kate & Curran are basically fighting matryoshka dolls full of beasties!
I loved Kate in this book; well, to be fair, I ALWAYS love Kate, however this time I felt as though I connected with her on a fundamental level. She’s gotten to be pretty powerful over the course of eight volumes, and as much as I enjoy reading about her washing the floor with her opponents, I also like that she still gets her butt handed to her on occasion, and in this installment she even takes a time-out. I was a bit of an emotional wreck after that one because it was a wake-up call that Daniels isn’t invincible. Her family circles the wagons as a result and oh the feels!
My favourite aspect of this novel was probably that Kate & Curran were out of their element; well, technically these two don’t do normal, but their current circumstances are a big change from their former positions as Beast Lord & Consort. Lennart is trying to fit into human society, and Daniels has a “rapport” with her father now. Dinner at Applebee’s anyone? And. like I said in my opening paragraph, this title was just plain more of everything. And, as far as memorable scenes go, I think Kate’s casino entrance is one of the front runners. “Bow, you idiot.”
I really don’t know what else to say about MAGIC SHIFTS except buy it, read it, listen to it, and recommend it to everyone you know including strangers on the bus. ~ 4.5 Stars
January 23, 2021
1st read - August 2015
2nd read - August 2015 (yes twice in a month LOL)
3rd read - August 2016
4th read - May 2018
5th read - July 2018
6th read - October 2019
7th read - November 2020
8th read - January 2021
Original Review:
I think I lost the ability to write a sensible review of anything written by Ilona and Gordon Andrews a long time ago and that goes double when it comes to their Kate Daniels series. I just absolutely adore this world and these characters and will never get enough of them. I have been eagerly waiting for Magic Shifts for a year now, I reread the entire series in the run up to it's release, I dove into the book the moment I got my hands on a copy and I absolutely loved it. I loved it so much that I read it twice within three weeks of the release date, something I hardly ever do.
Kate and Curran are without a doubt my favourite fictional couple and we get to see them on top form here. Things were a little rocky in Magic Rises, they improved in Magic Breaks but in Magic Shifts they are back in full force. They are a couple to be reckoned with, come after one and you have to take them both on because they always, always have each other's backs. I love that they're equals, Curran may have the edge on Kate physically but she's no slouch and with her skill with her sword and her powerful brand of magic she's a powerhouse in her own rights and Curran respects that about her. There may be times that he longs to lock her away from the world to keep her safe but he respects her and her abilities and knows that she can stand on her own two feet so instead he chooses to stand with her so they can fight their enemies together. There are some particularly poignant moments between the two of them in this book and there was definitely more than one point where I had tears in my eyes. I love seeing how far they've come as a couple and they really are stronger than ever now.
After the ending of the last book we knew there would be huge changes in this instalment, Curran and Kate are separating themselves from the pack and it's a complicated process that has a knock on effect on their friends and family. I don't want to say too much about what happens but I am very happy with the way things are currently playing out and I think it's going to be very interesting to see where the couple go from here. As always we get to catch up with some of our favourite side characters, some we don't see as much of as I'd have liked (I missed Derek in particular) but I enjoyed what we do see of them and they never fail to add humour to any situation. Julie really gets a chance to shine and there are some wonderful bonding moments between her and both Kate and Curran. Plus we have the reappearance of both Cuddles and Grendel who never fail to make my day.
One of the things I love about this series is the way the authors are always including new creatures to keep things fresh. I'd hate to spoil things for you so I'm keeping this vague but we get the chance to explore some Arabic mythology this time around and we see the Andrews' twist on some powerful new enemies for Kate. Of course just because they have new people to fight doesn't mean that their biggest threat has left the picture. Roland is still very much on the scene and his motives are still unknown. There are some moments when I'm convinced that he wants to be a proper father to Kate and that he's curious about the idea of having a daughter and family to love but there are other times when I keep expecting him to try and wipe her off the face of the planet and I actually kind of love how ambiguous he is. I honestly have no idea how this series is going to end and it's fantastic that the authors are able to keep me guessing.
Magic Shifts was everything I want from a Kate Daniels book, it was full of action, intrigue and mayhem, there were heartfelt declarations, hilarious conversations, moments of compete and utter anxious terror, interesting twists and a couple of huge hints about major events to come. In short it was perfect! So begins the incredibly long wait for book 9, although I know I'll reread the series at least once between now and then to tide me over.
I'm taking part in a mass reread of this series with the lovely peeps from the Ilona Andrews Addicts (IAA) Group
Anyone is welcome to join us & here is the reading schedule if you want to take part:
→ Magic Bites - April 27
→ Magic Burns - May 11
→ Magic Strikes - May 25
→ Magic Bleeds - Jun 8
→ Magic Slays - Jun 22
→ Magic Rises - July 6
→ Magic Breaks - July 20
→ Magic Shifts - Aug 4
________________________
2nd Read
2nd read in less than a month because I just couldn't resist LOL
________________________
3rd Read
2016 Kate Daniels series reread with my fellow Ilona Andrews Addicts!
I think I've run out of sensible words to say about this series. I love the characters, love the world building, love the mythology, the action, the friendships, the relationships, the humour. Everything is just pretty much perfect. Kate and Curran are my favourite fictional couple and the series has some of the best side characters you'll ever come across so rereading these books is like catching up with old friends.
2nd read - August 2015 (yes twice in a month LOL)
3rd read - August 2016
4th read - May 2018
5th read - July 2018
6th read - October 2019
7th read - November 2020
8th read - January 2021
Original Review:
I think I lost the ability to write a sensible review of anything written by Ilona and Gordon Andrews a long time ago and that goes double when it comes to their Kate Daniels series. I just absolutely adore this world and these characters and will never get enough of them. I have been eagerly waiting for Magic Shifts for a year now, I reread the entire series in the run up to it's release, I dove into the book the moment I got my hands on a copy and I absolutely loved it. I loved it so much that I read it twice within three weeks of the release date, something I hardly ever do.
Kate and Curran are without a doubt my favourite fictional couple and we get to see them on top form here. Things were a little rocky in Magic Rises, they improved in Magic Breaks but in Magic Shifts they are back in full force. They are a couple to be reckoned with, come after one and you have to take them both on because they always, always have each other's backs. I love that they're equals, Curran may have the edge on Kate physically but she's no slouch and with her skill with her sword and her powerful brand of magic she's a powerhouse in her own rights and Curran respects that about her. There may be times that he longs to lock her away from the world to keep her safe but he respects her and her abilities and knows that she can stand on her own two feet so instead he chooses to stand with her so they can fight their enemies together. There are some particularly poignant moments between the two of them in this book and there was definitely more than one point where I had tears in my eyes. I love seeing how far they've come as a couple and they really are stronger than ever now.
After the ending of the last book we knew there would be huge changes in this instalment, Curran and Kate are separating themselves from the pack and it's a complicated process that has a knock on effect on their friends and family. I don't want to say too much about what happens but I am very happy with the way things are currently playing out and I think it's going to be very interesting to see where the couple go from here. As always we get to catch up with some of our favourite side characters, some we don't see as much of as I'd have liked (I missed Derek in particular) but I enjoyed what we do see of them and they never fail to add humour to any situation. Julie really gets a chance to shine and there are some wonderful bonding moments between her and both Kate and Curran. Plus we have the reappearance of both Cuddles and Grendel who never fail to make my day.
One of the things I love about this series is the way the authors are always including new creatures to keep things fresh. I'd hate to spoil things for you so I'm keeping this vague but we get the chance to explore some Arabic mythology this time around and we see the Andrews' twist on some powerful new enemies for Kate. Of course just because they have new people to fight doesn't mean that their biggest threat has left the picture. Roland is still very much on the scene and his motives are still unknown. There are some moments when I'm convinced that he wants to be a proper father to Kate and that he's curious about the idea of having a daughter and family to love but there are other times when I keep expecting him to try and wipe her off the face of the planet and I actually kind of love how ambiguous he is. I honestly have no idea how this series is going to end and it's fantastic that the authors are able to keep me guessing.
Magic Shifts was everything I want from a Kate Daniels book, it was full of action, intrigue and mayhem, there were heartfelt declarations, hilarious conversations, moments of compete and utter anxious terror, interesting twists and a couple of huge hints about major events to come. In short it was perfect! So begins the incredibly long wait for book 9, although I know I'll reread the series at least once between now and then to tide me over.
I'm taking part in a mass reread of this series with the lovely peeps from the Ilona Andrews Addicts (IAA) Group
Anyone is welcome to join us & here is the reading schedule if you want to take part:
→ Magic Bites - April 27
→ Magic Burns - May 11
→ Magic Strikes - May 25
→ Magic Bleeds - Jun 8
→ Magic Slays - Jun 22
→ Magic Rises - July 6
→ Magic Breaks - July 20
→ Magic Shifts - Aug 4
________________________
2nd Read
2nd read in less than a month because I just couldn't resist LOL
________________________
3rd Read
2016 Kate Daniels series reread with my fellow Ilona Andrews Addicts!
I think I've run out of sensible words to say about this series. I love the characters, love the world building, love the mythology, the action, the friendships, the relationships, the humour. Everything is just pretty much perfect. Kate and Curran are my favourite fictional couple and the series has some of the best side characters you'll ever come across so rereading these books is like catching up with old friends.
January 27, 2016
To say I was excited about this book would have been an understatement. Like many other UF fans, I'm giddy over the Kate Daniels world with its group of violent but enjoyable characters, weird magic environment, and bigger than bad monsters. I've read every book in the series, with the third (Magic Strikes) remaining my firm favorite until the release last year (Magic Breaks) blew that apart and cemented the seventh in my heart as the absolute best of Kate Daniels. So of course I went into the eighth with held breath.
It's usually inevitable that when you go into a book, movie, or anything else with such high hopes that those hopes will be deflated a little. This turned out to be the case, although I doubt it's not only because it was overrated in my head, but there really were some minor (and let me repeat: minor) letdowns.
Kate and Curran have settled into their new reality, separate from the pack and not bogged down with obligatory, tedious administrative duties that drove them crazy. They have some privacy this time and can get it on or off without a hundred shape-shifters listening in to their every move and grumble. Overall I still applaud this change - Kate not being able to walk down the hall without running into several characters got old, and her daily routine having to be covered and griped about in the book also got old. We remove a little bit of the pack politics, but the pack stayed firm in the book, of course, as there are still key players around for short spurts and new....pack politics. Sigh.
Another change is Cutting Edge is hardly mentioned and rarely worked at. It seems like a ghost town office now that Andrea has moved on. Derek and others are rarely seen except when needed for a short paragraph or so. More of this book is focused on the guild and how much it's fallen apart. This didn't interest me much but showed a new direction for Curran to take and probably Kate as well for their evolving careers.
This book is a semi-filler book really. It shows their transitions of finances and looking at new places that will probably play bigger roles in the last books. It shows their breaks from pack leads and how this affects their lives during the transition, mainly for Curran.
The monster (won't spoil it in case you haven't read it, that is revealed as they figure it out after awhile of investigating and fighting and what not) was creative. The writing duo enjoys digging into mythological lore and old legend to bring forth baddies for Kate Daniels and her group to fight. This one is super powerful and takes awhile to solve, both on what it and is and ultimately how to beat it.
To get help Kate has to consult some regulars like Saiman, who in his brief role is an absolute dick who will probably not be redeemed the rest of the series. Ghastek is around briefly, which disappointed me. I thought with the big reveal of who Kate is that there may be more necromancy work or those politics at play, and they are hinted at for a scene or two but play little relevance. Andrew is there for like two paragraphs, that's it. And there's no way in hell I'd ever pay that $80,000+ bill. The nerve of even suggesting it considering who she is. It's like she had a smudge of respect and first but then nothing.
So with the People and Kate's new revelation, there's very little progress. Still nothing mentioned on supposed training she was supposed to get sequels ago from Rowena. Still nothing bigger on personal development with her powers and exploring that. Strange, unleveled respect from the People - although the conversation and drawing from Ghastek was one of the best parts of the book. The butt/bee drawing had me giggling out loud.
"One does not simply ring Roland."
Besides this, the major disappointment with little Roland development. The dinner scene was classic - loved it - but not sure what to think about the prophecy shown to her. I wasn't hoping for that, but we'll see what the authors have up their sleeves. They usually don't disappoint. We now have a clue on how this way may end (again, a mini filler touch)
Overall the monster was intriguing but for some reason I grew bored with some of the consistent fighting. I wanted more development in other areas, but this was pushed aside for fighting. Some of the fighting was epic, that's fine, but it grew a little old after too much. I expected a lot more from the Roland angle. It seemed like a half filler book. Finally, this hardback was pretty pricey!
On the plus side, the humor was great and worked just as well as it always did, I still love Curran and Kate's relationship, I'm glad about the changes from the pack, and there's plenty left to come before this series goes out in a big bang.
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