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
I’m a big fan of all of her books! I could not possibly choose a favorite, but it would probably be one of the later books from the Magic Bites series…
I love All the Kate Daniels books (and teach them in my college classes). My students are most baffled by Saiman!
I can’t wait for this book. Ilona Andrews are my favorite authors!
Hi. I love Ilona Andrews so much. Magic Bleeds is the favorite all time book from them, but Magic Bites comes in as a close second.
I’ll come backl top tread the review later: I want to read this one as a surprise =)
I’m a huge fan and I love all of the Kate Daniels books!
I love them all! This is the only series where When I’m going to re-read a Kate Daniels book I always start a the first one and read them all. But I really do enjoy Magic Bites and Magic Bleeds
Love her Magic series, favorite for now is Magic Breaks but might be Magic Shifts next time I’m asked 🙂
My favorite book is currently Magic Breaks, and I’m really excited for the release of Magic Shifts.
It is awesome!!!
umm is this open internationally?
In Magic Bleeds when Kate discovers Curran’s ex-girlfriends living quarters (“Where is Barbie?” and works over his gym…
I found this series several years ago when I was first getting into magic/romance/ect books. It literally changed my literary life! I felt that the books I had been reading before were sort of YA segues to REAL story lines and characters with depth. I’ve never looked back, and have been a huge fan ever since.
Fan, I’m a HUG fan of the duo writing team of Andrews. As for a favorite I can’t pick one. I LOVE all the books by Ilona Andrews.
I love Ilona Andrews…and my favorite is the next one..LOL
Another big fan of Ilona Andrews. My favorite from Kate Daniels series (so far) is Magic Bleeds as it introduces (and featured quite a bit of) Grendel the loyal attack poodle ;-D
Already a big fan of the Kate Daniels series! My favorite book in the series is Magic Strikes. Thanks for the giveaway!
I am so excited! I can only hope the book delivers on my Kindle early!
I don’t have a favorite. I love them all
I like all their books. All are favorites
I love them all. Favorite authors. They love their readers too.
I love them all but Magic Strikes has to be my favorite, especially because of that ending!
I absolutely love Ilona Andrews’ books! I’d have to say my favorite is actually the short story that got me hooked… “A Questionable Client” snagged my attention and has kept me since!
I love all of Ilona Andrew’s books, but most recently, I’ve greatly enjoyed the Clean Sweep stories!
HUGE fan of Ilona Andrews. I love all her books, but I think my favorite is Burn for Me.
I adore Ilona Andrews and have read all their stories and books, so excited it is still going. Can’t wait.
I love Ilona Andrews! Great series of books! I would love a copy of her new book!
Happy it’s time for Kate and Curran part 8! Thank you for a chance in the book giveaway.
Yessss, I’m a big fan of this mega duo :). My favorite Kate Daniels book is Magic Strike and I love all The Edge books. Love their new book, Burn For Me too 😀
They are royalty imho!
Love, love, love Ilona (& Gordon) so much – favorite book is hard (all of them are great) but I enjoy how the Innkeeper series (Sweep in Peace) brings in my favorite Edge characters as well.
I love them all! I don’t think I can pick a favorite.
I think the books have all gotten better over time, and Magic Breaks was phenomenal! But Magic Strikes, I think will always be my favorite.
Tomorrow can’t come quick enough!! LOVE Ilona Andrews’ books!
I love all of Ilona Andrews books!!!! I just keep rereading!
I’m a huge fan, and I don’t think I can pick a favorite!
So glad this comes out tomorrow.
I love the whole series, but Magic Strikes is probably my favorite.
Burn for Me is my current fave
Favorite book? Do I really have to choose? I guess my favorite book so far is the POV for Curran where we see his side of the story. Course nothing beats the very first Kate Daniels where she calls out “Here Kitty, kitty.” loved that.
My favorite of all the Kate book is Magic Bleeds. You get the first real taste of her backround. plus all the kate/ curran stuff.
I love all of their books. I got hooked on Kate Daniels first but they are all fun.
I can’t wait until I have the new book in my hands 🙂
My favorite book is Magic Rises, followed by Magic Breaks and Magic Rises–I love the battles with Hugh, love Jim, and love the humor and magic and worldbuilding in these!!
Love it!
I have enjoyed all their books and I am really looking forward to this one and getting to see what happens next.
My favorite would be Magic Bleeds 😀
I love all of her books but especially love seeing the relationship between Curran and Kate develop in the later books.
I am a great fan from Ilona Andrew. Love their books. Can´t say which book are my favourite because they all great. I prefere Kate Daniels and Hidden Legacy- The Edge are great but i prefere the others
Obviously I love all Kate books, and even though Kate #7 did feel a bit out of, it was probably my favorite, ‘cuz Kate met Roland and decided/realised that life is more important 🙂
I love this series but my favourite is Magic Strikes number 3 in the series I loved the Midnight Games, but saying that I have really enjoyed every book.
I’ve enjoyed all of their books in all of the series. In the Kate Daniels series, my favorites are ‘Magic Bleeds’ and ‘Magic Breaks’. I think the series keeps getting better and better.