Review: Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews

I've just finished devouring Magic Triumphs, the final installment in one of my favourite series. I've been anticipating this book for a long time!

After the jump, I'll explain a bit about why the Kate Daniels series is so special to me and what I think about the way Kate's story ends.

First of all, let's get technical about the whole series

The Kate Daniels series is written by Ilona Andrews, which is actually a husband-and-wife authoring team. The series includes 9 books, 4 novellas, and 3 Kate Daniels World books.

The Kate Daniels series

Here's what Goodreads says about Kate Daniels.

The world has suffered a magic apocalypse. We pushed the technological progress too far, and now magic returned with a vengeance. It comes in waves, without warning, and vanishes as suddenly as it appears. When magic is up, planes drop out of the sky, cars stall, electricity dies. When magic is down, guns work and spells fail.

It’s a volatile, screwed-up world. Magic feeds on technology, gnawing down on skyscrapers until most of them topple and fall, leaving only skeletal husks behind. Monsters prowl the ruined streets, werebears and werehyenas stalk their prey; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst for knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds.

In this world lives Kate Daniels. Kate likes her sword a little too much and has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. But sometimes even trained killers make friends and fall in love, and when the universe tries to kick them in the face, they kick back.

Shau the fangirl

Sharratum

I love this series. It is definitely my favourite urban fantasy. I was sad to see it ending, but it was time, and Ilona didn't disappoint.

What I loved about the whole experience was the world building, the clever use of different mythologies, and Kate as a character. She is a skilled warrior, very intelligent (even though she hides it), and incredibly powerful, fast, strong, and determined. She was raised to be a loner, basically a weapon, but over time we see her true colours: a caring, loyal friend and partner who never leaves anyone behind. She's a heroine, Sharratum (the Queen).

If you like smart-mouth characters, team spirit, amazing new worlds, fun banter, interesting characters, and cool use of various mythologies, I think you are going to love the Kate Daniels series.

Now let's talk about Magic Triumphs

Here's the SPOILER-FREE synopsis from Goodreads.

Kate has come a long way from her origins as a loner taking care of paranormal problems in post-Shift Atlanta. She's made friends and enemies. She's found love and started a family with Curran Lennart, the former Beast Lord. But her magic is too strong for the power players of the world to let her be.

Kate and her father, Roland, currently have an uneasy truce, but when he starts testing her defenses again, she knows that sooner or later, a confrontation is inevitable. The Witch Oracle has begun seeing visions of blood, fire, and human bones. And when a mysterious box is delivered to Kate's doorstep, a threat of war from the ancient enemy who nearly destroyed her family, she knows their time is up.

Kate Daniels sees no other choice but to combine forces with the unlikeliest of allies. She knows betrayal is inevitable. She knows she may not survive the coming battle. But she has to try.

For her child.

For Atlanta.

For the world.

My impressions

Magic Triumphs brings the overall storyline to a head. Kate and the gang have to investigate mass murders and put a stop to them. This requires her to make some difficult decisions and face some possibly unwelcome developments. I won't go into detail, because I don't want to spoil it for all of you who have been reading the series. I'll say only a few things, in general.

I am happy with the way Ilona finished Kate's storyline — and it is an ending for only Kate's storyline. The story leaves enough room for possible spinoffs or Kate Daniels World books (!!). Kate has had her ending and I liked it. Mind you, I'm a big fan of this series, so I could be biased.

Almost all the characters from the previous books make an appearance. They all have important roles in the finale of the storyline.

There was one thing I didn't like, and that's a secret everyone keeps from Kate. It's not a really monumental secret, but it's an important one, IMHO. I thought Kate didn't deserve that — they should have told her. Kate, being Kate, forgives them way too quickly and without any real appologies from her friends. Maybe other fans will say that it's no big deal and I'm making it into one. But it was a big deal — to me, anyway. I was just a bit disappointed with that.

However, just to be very, very clear, I liked everything else!

This wench rates Magic Triumphs: