Book Review: Magic Rises

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From Goodreads:
Atlanta is a city plagued by magical problems. Kate Daniels will fight to solve them—no matter the cost.

 Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta.

 Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap…

Kate Daniels fans, you will be thrilled with book #6, Magic Rises. Join me after the jump for a mildly spoilery review.




I'll tell you right off, keeping this review only mildly spoilery is very, very hard. Why? Because there was one pivotal moment that made me gape and then scream, "O.M.G.!!!" Okay. *clears throat* Now that I've gotten that out of my system, I can continue. After that moment, I was completely captivated. You will *have* to read this book to find out what it is!

Making me cry in the 1st chapter? Win!
The book starts off packing an emotional punch. Two young pack members go loup with no warning.  Those moments, watching their mother deal with it through Kate's eyes, seeing another pregnant pack member get so emotional she races from the room, had me sobbing by 4% into the book.

The medicine that reverses loupism is called panacea. Kate and Curran need panacea to save the young pack member, and now they have a way to get it. They have to guard a pregnant shapeshifter in Europe, and for doing so, their payment will be ten drums of panacea. They know it's a trap, but they feel they have no choice. They decide who will go with them, and they head across the ocean.

As per a typical Kate Daniels novel, there are plenty of moments for Kate to show off her badass skills. Just about every time, I wonder how is she going to conquer that crazy beast! But what I love the most is when someone else sees what a fierce competitor she is. I LOVE when they underestimate her, and then they get the smack down. Or, they underestimate her, and then they see her lay the smack down on somebody else. Lucky for me, there were plenty of haters in this book. There were plenty of people thinking why is Curran with this lowly human. There were plenty of people thinking this lowly human will just get hurt. Step aside, lowly human. No, no, no, you step aside smug shapeshifter.
Say it isn't so!

Now, for the most interesting, exciting thing about this book, to me...there was a love triangle! No, make that a square.

It is so. You will be annoyed. You will be surprised. You will be hurt (Curran, WHYYYY?). You may even be in denial. And if you are like me...you might just like it a little. I personally love love triangles. Especially ones where you know the one guy doesn't have a chance, but it's kind of hot anyway...seeing him try, seeing her like the attention a little even though she shouldn't, and seeing her main squeeze get insanely jealous.

Here are some things you might be wondering about this book. You will get more information about Kate's father, Roland, and Hugh d'Ambray. That's all I should say about that! Kate's powers are getting stronger, and I was truly impressed with her new skills. Also, I was thrilled to see that Saiman gets an decent amount of face-time.

Ilona Andrews hits the ball out of the park with Magic Rises. I love being able to say that this series just gets better and better!


If you haven't yet checked out the Kate Daniels series, start here: The chronological order of the series, including short stories and Kate Daniels World:

 1. Questionable Client (short story, prequel to the series)
2. MAGIC BITES
3. MAGIC BURNS
4. MAGIC STRIKES
5. Magic Mourns (Raphael and Andrea novella)
6. MAGIC BLEEDS
7. Magic Dreams (Jim and Dali novella)
8. MAGIC SLAYS
9. GUNMETAL MAGIC (and Magic Gifts) – Andrea’s book – Kate Daniels World #1
10. MAGIC RISES – release date July 30, 2013
11. Magic 7 – untitled, under contract
12. Kate 8 – untitled, under contract
13. Magic 9 – untitled, under contract


 Who else here is a Kate and Curran fan? Have you read Magic Rises yet, and what did you think? What storylines do you think we'll see in the future, or what do you hope we will see?

Comments

  1. Shau BennetAugust 28, 2013 at 7:16 AM

    OMG I loved this one!!! Kate and Curran are amazing together! I love Kate (as I've said many many times before)! My number one PNR heroine. I really like her personality and the way she deals with problems. Even though I love her with Curran I can also enjoy her character without a love interest.
    Great post Amanda!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Olga DanielsAugust 29, 2013 at 11:59 AM

    Loved the post, Amanda. Right to the point :D
    I personally adored this book. It's one of the best Kate Daniels'.
    I love Kate as a character, and like Vale said, Kate will always kick ass and be amazing even without a love interest. But Curran just adds more fun to the mix. And angst.

    ReplyDelete

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