Magic Breaks – Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews

Published: June 29th, 2014

by: Ace

Series: Kate Daniels #7

Genres: Adult-Fiction, Urban-Fantasy, Mythology

Format: ebook

Source: Library

My Rating: 5 Stars

Add To Goodreads

 

 

Review

Forgive me, I thought that I wrote this review back in the beginning of February, but I saw on Goodreads that I hadn’t. I think it was that week my schedule got all crazy and I didn’t know whether I was coming or going. Nevertheless, here I am now, ready to rave about my favorite series and characters. I’ll say this for the hundredth time, read this series. You will not regret it.

Have you ever loved a character so much, that it physically pains you if something happens to them? I felt that the whole time reading this, I think. I was scared for Kate because there was too much going on and not enough pages to make me hopeful of a good outcome. The moment has arrived to meet the man behind it all, and I thought I would s**t bricks. Pardon my French, but it’s the truth. I can only imagine what Kate felt like. First, she had to deal with Hugh and whomever his spy was at the Keep. Was I surprised? Hell, yes! I mean, I knew that character held a grudge, but I didn’t think it would be like that. A lot of stuff went down in this installment. From the moment they stepped into Bernard’s, until the very end; Kate and Company were fighting battle after battle. Some characters felt they were owed explanations about Kate. Some wanted to be in charge. But nothing prepared me for the moment when everything changed. I was “holy-s**tting” with every turn of the page. And “did-that-just-happen” came out of my mouth a lot. Kate is that kick-butt heroine you want with you in a dark alley. She’s powerful and will make you wish you’d never stepped to her. The question is now, do you trust Roland? 

Roland. The man we have been conditioned to hate since book one. He’s not at all what I expected. I take that back. His demeanor isn’t what I expected; he’s still the all-powerful being that we’ve read so much about. I just was looking for an epic battle, but what I got surprised me. The writing team that is Ilona Andrews are very meticulous when it comes to this series. I have no doubt in my mind that they are planning something that may stop our hearts soon. Mark my words. Even so, I’m ready for my heart to stop. Not really, but you get my point. I loved everything about this book. Characters from previous books make appearances, and not all ends well. Desandra is showing all what she can do. She’s not that same girl from Magic Rises that we know. This chick has fought her way to the top of Clan Wolf. She has Jennifer spooked! I freaking love Desandra in this book. There are no words for the things that come out of her mouth. Curran and Kate make a big step at the end that I wasn’t at all surprised about. It was expected and I’m ready for the next chapter. Sometimes you just have to say f**k it and go with what life throws at you. They are my favorite couple to sit down with, because those two get each other like no couple before them. Curran knows the fury that’s inside Kate. Kate knows the beast inside Curran. I just hope they both make it to the finish line together.

 

---

 

 

Published: August 4th, 2015

by: Ace

Series: Kate Daniels #8

Genres: Adult-Fiction, Urban-Fantasy, Mythology

Format: Hardcover

Source: Purchased

My Rating: 5 Stars

Add To Goodreads

 

Review

The thing I love about this series the most, aside from Kate and Curran, is the mythology. I love how Andrews takes something that we’ve read about in other books, and spins a different take on it all. This installment is focused on Arabian Mythology – mainly djinn and ghouls. It’s so refreshing and it’s very detailed to the point that I couldn’t give a crap if it was real or not. If some ghouls rolled up right now and caused a racket, I’d turn on my inner Kate Daniels and kick butt. And then I’d tell the dead carcasses that Ilona Andrews told me how to kill them. Seriously, this was all sorts of cool. And if a djinn ever wants to grant me three wishes, I’d tell him to take a hike. 

We are dealing with Kate, Curran, and Julie living in the suburbs. I love the domesticity, but we all know there are creatures that go bump in the night. Kate and Curran still run Cutting Edge, so they have jobs to do. George comes to them for help to find Eduardo, because the Pack won’t help. It’s all bloody fights with giants, ghouls, big-as-all-hell ticks, and a djinn with an ax to grind. Of course, Mahon forbids George to marry Eduardo because he’s not a bear. *rolls eyes* I just can’t get over his outdated notions. He is a master manipulator, and I’m so glad that Curran figured him out a long time ago. Truth be told, the final straw for Curran was in Magic Bleeds, when he was in a coma and Mahon didn’t stand up for Kate when she battled her way through Pack challenges to remain by his side. I’ve never liked Mahon because of his mindset. He needs to stop with the bigotry and start living in the present. You can’t tell someone they can only love, marry, and have kids by someone of the same species. I’m surprised Martha is still with him.

Aside from the Eduardo issue, Kate deals with her father. I’m not sure where all this is going, but he almost makes me want to like him. But then, he’s being too kind for my tastes. Julie is also becoming her own little person. She’ll be a woman soon, and Curran may be breaking a few necks to fend off the boys that are sure to come knocking. Reality sets in for Kate. She is not indestructible. She can die with the best of them. But Julie’s and Curran’s pain through Kate’s voice almost made me tear up. It was just shocking for me because she always bounces back. Derek, Barabas, Christopher, and others are here. Does it surprise anyone with the living arrangements? Not me. I actually laughed because I saw it all coming. I’m ready to see what Curran does with the Mercs. They need a swift kick up the butt. So does the Order. 

A lot of messy fights went down, and this installment wrapped nicely. I’m looking forward to the next book, but I’m just hoping to live through the rest of the series. Roland’s presence is starting to make me paranoid. I can’t recommend this series enough. It took me only a few hours to read this book, that’s how engrossed I was. This whole series is addicting, so I am sure I’ll have every book on my shelf by the Summer, to do a reread. It is, hands down, my favorite series. 

Also in this series: Magic Bites | Magic Burns/Magic Strikes | Magic Bleeds/Curran’s POV | Magic Slays | Magic Rises | Gunmetal Magic/Magic Dreams/Magic Gifts