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Magic Shifts (Kate Daniels #8)
Ilona Andrews
Published: Aug. 4, 2015 (Ace)
Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon
Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
Reviewed by: Krista
Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars
Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it will make reference to previous books in the series. If you haven’t started yet, check out VBC’s review of book 1, Magic Bites.
Magic Shifts is the follow up to Magic Breaks, the seventh novel in the Kate Daniels series and the original intended series conclusion book. As a fan I was ecstatic to find out that the series was being extended and as a reader I was relieved because I felt trying to wrap up the overarching storyline in the seventh book wouldn’t do justice to the world Andrews has created. So Magic Shifts is the first step in extending the series beyond the original storyline and the question is whether Andrews was successful. In my somewhat bias opinion (llona Andrews is one of my favorite authors), yeah they are.
At the beginning of Magic Shifts, Kate and Curran have stepped down as Beast Lord and Consort and separated from the pack. Cutting Edge is starting to take off and they are settling into their lives as a suburban husband and wife, kind of. It’s as if Kate doesn’t trust it; doesn’t trust that this will be enough for Curran and that someone won’t come take it away from her. She pretty much is just waiting for the other shoe to drop (pardon the cliché). Surprisingly though when trouble does come it’s not directed at them, at least not at first. Kate and Curran come home to find George on their doorstep looking for their help finding her fiancé Eduardo.
One of the things I appreciate about Andrew’s writing is that there are consequences. The hero isn’t always going to come out unscathed. There can or will be a price to pay. You can argue saying that Kate and Curran do get their happy ending but really look back at what they have also lost. Kate and Curran both have to learn what claiming Atlanta and walking away from the Pack will cost them. For the reader this is a much different story than we have become familiar with. I also adore that Kate isn’t some Mary Sue character who always does the right thing, has the right answer or the right power to win the day. Kate’s mistakes and limitations just make her that more interesting.
As much as I enjoyed this latest outing I was almost constantly wondering where they were going. Yes, I loved how much they flushed out post-shift Atlanta, the action scenes were spot on and the dynamic between Kate and Curran is as enthralling as ever. These books are never read slowly, more like inhaled as quickly as I can read them. They move fast with little to no down time. But it wasn’t until the very last sentence that I had my WTF moment and was able to see everything clearly. Well played, Andrews. Well played.
Magic Shifts could be considered a book between books, but it is a book between books done right. It laid the foundation for upcoming books without detracting from its own plot and story. I feel as if there is now an endgame insight. I am completely on board with the shift the series has taken and I am eager to see how everything plays out.
Sexual content: sex
Love this series. Can’t wait to hear or read more. My favorite book would have to be all of them. If I really had to choose then BURN FOR ME.
Oh my goodness, yes! I discovered the series not too long ago (Sept. 2014) and I devoured the books. I got them in ebook first because I just couldn’t stop reading. Then I got them on audio because Renée Raudman is AMAZING and now I’m slowly but surely getting the physical copies. I cannot wait for this installment. I am forever a fan of Ilona Andrews. My favorite book of the series you ask, uhhh… can I say all of them? I seriously cannot choose just one! Thanks so much for the giveaway! =)
Oh hell yeah, I’m a huge fan. As far as I’m concerned, if Ilona and Gordon were writing the phone book, I would read it and probably love it. I’d have a hard time picking a favorite book, but if I have to, my favorite would be Bayou Moon, the second book in the Edge series.
I liked #7 the best Magic Breaks… for no particular reason then it kept my attention for a longer period of time before I needed a break.
By far one of my favorite series and authors’ they are amazing and I am ecstatic for this book! I can’t pick one in the series but I’d I had too, maybe Magic Bites, it got me started, not only in Kate’s world but in all of Illona Andrew’s worlds!
I love them all! I can’t choose one! Read all of them even the short stories of other kate daniel’s character! Can’t wait for the next book. 🙂
Interesting review as always. I can’t wait to read the book.
I love Ilona Andrews and fell in love with them reading Clean Sweep. Then I caught up with the rest of their books.
I love this series. I remember when I started the first book, Magic Bites, I thought it was a bit slow, but then it all turned around. My personal favourites are Magic Burns,I just adored Bran, and Magic Strikes, the Games’ battle scenes were amazing. Can’t wait to read Magic Shifts!!!
Love Ilona Andrews! Thanks for the giveaway.
I ordered my copy already! Cannot wait to start reading.
Just started this series and can’t wait to get to this book!
I recently started reading this series and loved Magic Bites. Thanks for the great giveaway!
I adore this series (and all their other stuff too) but if I had to pick a favorite, I think I’d say Magic Strikes. I just love the whole setting of that book, and their first fight (where they’re supposed to look incompetent and win in like a minute) is one of the funniest parts of the whole series!
All their books are my favorite. It’s impossible to pick just one.
Magic Shifts. Because, man, the more things change…the more things shift into place. Ah, nothing like family.
I love this series and absolutely devour the books as soon as they come out. I then listen to the audio version. Renee Raudman is fantastic and the Kate Daniels books never fail to enthrall me. I don’t know if I can really pick a favorite, but Magic Slays is (possibly) the one I have re-read most frequently. So far.
I’m looking forward to reading this to see where the story is going! I don’t have a favorite, I think they all were at one point. Thanks for the review!
Excited for the new book! Ilona Andrews has been my author obsession this year.
Silent Blade!
SHE IS A NEW WRITER TO ME BUT WOULD LIKE TO TRY HER BOOKS. THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY!
Would love to win this book! I can’t wait to read it.
Just starting the series. Looking forward to reading it.
mythic021@gmail.com
I’ve been looking forward to this all year, Ilona Andrews is my favorite author!
My favorite book is Magic Bites, because nothing beats the magic of the first novel where these wonderful characters were introduced.
Favourite is Magic breaks!!!
Yes, I’m definitely a fan. I’d have to go with the first Kate Daniels book, Magic Bites, because that’s when I fell in love and devoured all their books I could get my hands on.
Magic Bites and Magic Strikes.
yes!!!!!!
can be all of them?if not i would pick magic bites that make me love ilona andrews =)
so excited for this book! read all of them, and I loved Magic Strikes and Breaks and Rises!
If I have to choose, I will go with Magic Bleeds. The sheer awesomeness of that book is simply ridiculous. I actually feel sorry for lesser writers.
Magic Strikes was my favorite, but the entire series is good. Ilona & Gordon managed to write one long continuous story while still making each book reasonably self-sufficient.
Love this series!! And of course I love each new one more than the last so I’m gonna go with Magic Shifts cuz I know it’s gonna be awesome!
Great review (good content, lack of spoilers) for the next book in a good series.
My favourite is almost always the one I am reading now. So as I am re-reading Magic Bites before the release of Magic Shifts, that is my current fave.
My favorite “whole” book is Gunmetal Magic, but I also adore the second half of Magic Breaks.
Favorite is a tie between Gunmetal Magic and Silver Shark, surprisingly.
I can’t wait to see what happens to Kate and Curran !!!!
I love this series!!! Thanks for the giveaway!!!
I listened to the entire series in a month. It was awesome. Love love love the narrators voice; she does a great job.
First of all, the whole series is amazing, and asking me to pick is NOT NICE. But… if you’re going to make me, I’ll say…
Magic Breaks. I love the realization that while she may need to kill her father someday, she’ll do it because it’s the right thing to do, not because someone else told her to. Also, the insights into Ghastek.
I am a HUGE Fan of the series, I have been with it from the very beginning. Ilona Andrews is by far my favorite author! I can’t wait to read what happens next. I always hype myself up for these releases, devour the book in a few hours, and then realize I have to wait another year to find out what happens next. lol Thank goodness for rereading, I tell myself to take it slow but it just sucks me in! 🙂
LOVE THIS SERIES!!! Loved the audiobooks, they make the work day so much better!
Can’t wait to get my paws on this one!
I love this series! Can’t wait to get my hands on this book.
I really have no favorite thay are all wonderful, but I really love Curran’s POV they add so much.
My whole family loves these!
So very excited for this book!
I’m a huge fan and all their books are in my rereads stack. Favorites include Magic Bleeds, the last Edge book (can’t ever remember the title) and Silent Blade.
So going to buy wee early morning hours and stay up. “Sick day” here I come!!!