Review - On the Edge

Title: On the Edge
Author: Ilona Andrews
Publishing Date: 2009
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: B+
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I received a used copy from Paperbackswap.com

On the Edge is the first in a new series by Ilona Andrews. Rose Drayton lives in The Edge. It is a narrow strip of land that divides our world, known as The Broken and the magical world, known as The Weird. Rose can cross over to the Broken. She holds a job there to support her two young brothers. However, Rose has never entered the Weird. Even though her magic is strong in the Edge she is afraid to cross over to the Weird where it might not be strong enough.

Rose is quite a prickly heroine. She has good reason. She is living on the edge of poverty, the guardian to two rambunctious boys and has lived through attempted abductions from people wanting to use her as a brood mare. You'll have to forgive her for not extending trust to anyone who comes her way. One such traveler finds himself at the mercy of that attitude when he stumbles into her front yard.

Declan and Rose work together to fight an evil army that has been infiltrating Rose's small world and threatening her loved ones. Regardless of whether or not Rose wants Declan's help, she can't turn him away all the while fighting her attraction to him. This book is chock full of sexual tension. Declan and Rose fire up the pages. The world building is very creative and thorough. If readers can get past Rose's prickly disposition they are in for a treat. Ilona Andrews has written an intense story that fantasy fans will find hard to put down.

Review - Magic Bleeds

Title: Magic Bleeds
Author: Ilona Andrews
Publishing Date: May 2010
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: A
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I purchased a new copy.

Magic Bleeds is the fourth book in Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series. Kate Daniels is a mercenary who works for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, an organization that polices the Magic in the city of Atlanta. Kate goes to investigate a murder that takes place in a border bar frequented by pack and necromancers. Kate encounters a dangerous enemy with the power to control disease. She must put her feelings for Curran the pack leader aside as she tries to hunt down this harbinger of death.

I will admit that it took me a little while to commit to this series. The romance between Kate and Curran was developing a little too slowly for my tastes. I will now gladly eat those words because Magic Bleeds delivered and delivered well even above my high expectations. Slow in this case really works. The build-up was well worth the wait and makes it all the more delicious. Kate and Curran have a lot of problems to overcome if they are to have a successful relationship. I loved that Curran really comes to light in this book. His motivations for why he does the things he does are revealed and the reader gets some back story on Curran.

The world that Andrews has created is complex and terrifying. These creatures that go bump in the night are very powerful. Amazingly enough Kate is able to fight against them and triumph. I found Magic Bleeds to be better balanced between the grimness of situation Kate is trying to fix and the sarcastic humor with how she handles it. Magic Bleeds was funny. I wasn't expecting that. It's always good when a heroine doesn't take herself too seriously and can see the humor in the situation. It lightens things up. This was definitely the best book in the series thus far and one for the keeper shelf.

Here is what others had to say:
Breezing Through
My Reading Addiction
Impressions of a Reader
Dear Author
Lurv aLa Mode
Smexy Books

This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon

Review - Magic Strikes

Title: Magic Strikes
Author: Ilona Andrews
Publishing Date: 2009
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: B+
Sensuality: Subtle
Book Disclosure: Borrowed from the library.

Magic Strikes is the third book in Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series. I have given a brief summary of this series here if you are interested in learning more about it. In this book Kate's young werewolf friend Derek is viciously attacked leaving him in a comma like state. For a werewolf this is almost unheard of and Kate is determined to help him heal. To do that she must track down the creatures that did this to Derek and she will also uncover why they did it. Meanwhile, Kate and Curran's relationship is also building.

Things are finally starting to heat up between Kate and Curran. Curran is actively courting Kate by shape shifter rules. Since Kate is not a shape shifter she doesn't know what those rules are. She sometimes finds out the hard way. Kate is afraid of being another notch on Curran's belt. She actively tries to resist his courtship even though she is attracted to him and her feelings run deeper than she is willing to admit. Curran is very confident in his prowess and has no doubts that eventually Kate will be his mate.

With each book the reader learns a little more about Kate's background. Finally in Magic Strikes the reader finds out who Kate's father is and why she has been so secretive about her heritage. I think this is the strongest book so far in the series. I have really warmed up to Kate since the first book. She is a total bad ass, but very protective and loyal to those she loves. I am really glad I don't have to wait long for the next book Magic Bleeds.

Here is what others have to say:

The Book Smugglers
Literary Escapism
Anna's Book Blog
Smexy Books
Leslie's Psyche
Good Books, Bad Books and Every Book in Between

This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon.

Series Sunday - Kate Daniels

The Kate Daniels series is an urban fantasy series written by the husband and wife team known as Ilona Andrews. This series is told in the first person point of view from Kate Daniels. Kate's past is very mysterious. The reader doesn't know much of Kate's background in the first couple of books. Kate's survival depends on her keeping her identity a secret.

Kate lives in a futuristic world where magic crashs technology. Magic flares up and technology stops working. Guns can't fire and cars can't drive. Kate herself is employed by the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, an organization that investigates strange magical events and magical beings. Kate is sort of a wild card and a loner. She doesn't do well with authority.

The romance is very subtle and moves slowly. Kate and Curran, the Beast Lord have a very interesting courtship. Finally, in the fourth book Magic Bleeds which is set to release May 25, Kate and Curran will come to a crossroads in their relationship. They will have to decide if they want to be a couple or not. I am really looking forward to this book. *Rubs hands with glee*

I recommend that this series be read in order because the relationships and character development builds from previous books. However, each book can stand alone. Ilona Andrews has a really great website with a ton of information about the world they have created. Serious fans will want to indulge themselves here.

Series Reading Order

1. Magic Bites
2. Magic Burns
3. Magic Strikes
4. Magic Mourns (novella in Must Love Hellhounds Anthology)
5. Magic Bleeds (releases May 25, 2010)

Review - Magic Burns

Title: Magic Burns
Author: Ilona Andrews
Publishing Date: 2008
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: B
Sensuality: Subtle
Book Disclosure: Borrowed a copy from the library.

Magic Burns is book two in Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels series. In Kate's world magic is a part of life, but when magic is up, technology is down. The magic always comes and goes but recently it has been coming more and more frequently and sporadically. These are signs of an oncoming Flare. This could be really dangerous as the type of magical beings gain more power during the Flare. Kate has her hands full as she finds a young girl orphaned and in need of help. Kate has no maternal instincts, but she can't stand to see anyone suffer so she takes the girl home with her and begins a search for the girl's mother.

I have to admit that it had been a few months since I read the first book in this series, Magic Bites and I couldn't exactly recall what happened in that book. At least with Magic Burns, the reader now gets a better sense of Kate's personality. Told in the first person, Kate narrates the story. I didn't realize it, but Kate is a bleeding heart. I can't exactly call her a sucker, because she isn't. She really is quite the Badass. She would however do anything in her power to protect those she feels are deserving such as the young girl, Julie.

Still the reader is guessing who Kate is and what exactly her powers are. There is a lot of sexual tension between Kate and Curran, the King of the Beasts. I love that the romance is slowly unfolding, but I think some readers might feel things are moving too slow. There is a lot of world building and a lot of descriptions of various creatures. Half of it I could imagine and the other half was beyond me. However, I am enjoying this series and think it's best not to let too much time lapse between books. The reader will definitely benefit by reading the books in order.

Here is what others have to say:

Musings of a Bibliophile
Stacy's Place on Earth
Lurv a la Mode
Ciara Stewart
Dark Reviews
Scooper Speaks
LesleyW's Book Nook

This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon.

Review - Magic Bites

Title: Magic Bites
Author: Ilona Andrews
Publishing Date: 2007
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: B
Sensuality: Subtle
Book Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Magic Bites is the first book in Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series. Kate Daniels narrates this futuristic series from the first person point of view. She finds herself alone in the world after her guardian is brutally murdered. She takes it upon herself to investigate his murder. As she begins to do this it appears two big factions have been set up against one another - The Pack, a group of shapechangers and The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires.

Kate Daniels is a complete Bad Ass (with capital letters). It takes a little while to warm up to her at first. She has a very sarcastic and blunt demeanor. She is a loner and likes it that way. Readers aren't exactly sure just how strong Kate is, or are aware of just what powers she possesses. All they know is that she is quite capable of holding her own against a few very powerful, scary foes. Even Curran, the leader of The Pack and Nataraja, leader of the Undead, aren't exactly sure what Kate is capable of or where her powers are derived from. There were hints, but nothing definite came out in this book.

The real strength in Ilona Andrews writing lies in the world building and descriptions of all the unique creatures that inhabit this world. I was amazed at the imagery and creepy depictions of the variety of life living in Kate's world. Some of it is just darn right gross, yet fascinating. I wish that there would have been more of a romance in Magic Bites. As it was, a certain relationship was just barely hinted at, but that is all there was and fans of romance might be disappointed. I found the characters very compelling and the writing very easy to read that I am definitely interesting in continuing with this series. I have heard it mentioned from others that the romance does pick up in later books.

Here is what others had to say:

Babbling Book Reviews
Stacy's Place on Earth
Ink and Paper
Michelle's Book Blog
Items of Interest
Dear Author
Brooke Reviews
Today I Read
Scooper Speaks
Ciara Stewart
Angieville

This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon