Title: Magic Bleeds
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels (bk#4)
Release Date: May 2010
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Kate Daniels works for the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, officially as a liaison with the mercenary guild. Unofficially, she cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to handle – especially if they involve Atlanta’s shapeshifting community.
When she’s called in to investigate a fight at the Steel Horse, a bar midway between the territories of the shapefshifters and the necromancers, Kate quickly discovers there’s a new player in town. One who’s been around for thousands of years – and rode to war at the of Kate's father.
This foe may be too much even for Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family…
Review:
Overall this series is something of a post-apocalyptic universe where technology and magic struggle for control over the world. The plots are complex, exhilarating and even though this is urban fantasy there is still a healthy dose of romance. This book has the most romance so far, but this is not your standard romance where you know that all will be well in the end.
Kate is such a great heroine. She is strong-minded and tough, smart ass chick that is totally likeable. And in this 4th installment of the series, we do not just see the tough sword swinging Kate but we also get to see her softer side.
If you are up to date on the series then you will remember the bet that Curran made with Kate about dinner in the last book, Magic Strikes. (I won't go into details in case you are new to the series.) We get to see what happens with that bet and all hell breaks loose after a misunderstanding between the would be couple. Kate is pissed and hurt and so is Curran. For the first half part of the book, their budding romance is put on hold while they try to work with each other a case.
Kate tries to work with the Order, the Mercenary Guild, the government, and the Pack to uncover the villain's identity before Atlanta's supernatural population is reduced to nothing. After learning the who the villain is, Kate learns more of her family history. Every family has their problems but boy does Kate have her hands full with hers.
Some of my favorite secondary characters are present in this book. Saiman the mysterious shapeshifter has a few good scenes in this one. He is still trying to get Kate into his bed so you know there's a scene or two where Curran lets his fillings about that be known to everyone in roaring distance. There are some heart breaking scenes involving Derek, Kate's young werewolf sidekick.
Ilona Andrews does another great job with plot, character and world building in this book. The series just keeps getting better. I highly recommend this book to any urban fantasy fan. Keep in mind that with most of the UF genre this series can be very dark but it's every enjoyable to read.
I've already pre-ordered the next book, Magic Slays (release date May 31, 2011) and I can't wait to see what Kate and her band of misfits brings us next.
Also if you are a fan of the series you should check out the free read Curran: Volume I Look into the Beast Lord's mind. A collection of scenes from Curran's point of view.
This is my favorite in the series so far. I LOVE Kate Daniels!
ReplyDeleteOMG! Are you just recently reading this series? IT IS AMAZING! I seriously have a full blown addiction to this series and I don't want help LOL
ReplyDeleteI read the next in the series, MAGIC SLAYS and OMFG! I want the nest one. This series is amazing! My favorite is ugh....I can't choose. It is a tie between Magic Strikes and Magic Bleeds. I dunno. too hard to choose.
Another blog was posting about this series so I picked up and read all 4 books in 4 days. I mean I literally 5 minutes ago finished the 4th. I love it. I cant wait for the next one!
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