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Review: Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #1)

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Magic Bites by Ilona AndrewsMagic Bites (Kate Daniels #1)
Ilona Andrews
Published: 2007 (Ace)
Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon

Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars

In Magic Bites‘ Atlanta magic is everywhere. And so are the shifters and the vampires. The Order keeps the peace on the magic end, but Kate Daniels would rather not deal with them. Despite her formidable magic abilities, Kate works as a mercenary instead. Doing jobs for money instead of being a part of the all-or-nothing Order. But when her mentor and key member of the Order is murdered, she finds herself investigating his death on their behalf.

He was found slain alongside a vampire, but both showed signs pointing to just about everyone. The shifters and the vampires now want in on the investigation because they’re sure the other is out to frame them. And the killer now has sights on Kate. She’ll be forced to pick sides, work with the powerful Lord of the shifters Curran, fight bloody battles and consider just who is she really.

Curran reminds me of Barrons from Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series. Not in actual behavior, but in that he’s one of those heroes you’ll see readers swooning over. Magic Bites doesn’t have a romance angle. (Though, it lays groundwork.) Yet, there is this undeniable magnetism that cloaks Curran through the novel. He’s powerful, loyal and a fierce warrior.

And Kate can stand up to him. The girl walks in to meet the Beast Lord of the city — the shifter so strong no one can beat him — and calls out “here kitty, kitty.” Inside she’s scared, but Kate knows how to put on a show of strength and always backs it up. She’s the kind of woman you’re proud to know, even when  you’re shaking your head at her occasional misstep.

Magic Bites is a great start to a new series. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it sets the stage for something great by setting up this world that could run parallel to our own and by allowing us time to get to know a full cast of characters. By the end of the novel all I could think about was the way Kate and Curran play off one another. I want to see that progress (and we all know it does). Kate will be formidable, and Ilona Andrews put us in place to see the beginning of the fireworks.

Sexual content: n/a

7 Responses to “Review: Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #1)”

  1. I.LOVE.THIS.SERIES. Srsly. 🙂

  2. kyatty2007 says:

    I’m w/smexys_sidekick. LOVE LOVE LOVE this series. When you do a re-read (and trust me, you will), you pick up on so much more about the relationship b/t K&C. And yes, you’re right about Curran in that he is super swoon worthy!!

  3. wont says:

    Magic Bites was a serious change from what I had been reading. It took a while for me to make friends with it. Once we passed that awkward stage, it’s been BFF. I love this series more than I can say. There are many favorite vignettes in this book and the rest of the series as well. The dance of Kate and Curran is a masterstroke. It ebbs and flows and never fails to hold my interest. The cast of side characters are all worthy of their own stories. How many books can boast that? I give this book 5 of 5 stars.

  4. Julie says:

    This is one of my mostest favorite series ever! LOVE Kate and LOVE LOVE Curran. And the “Here kitty kitty”…OMG! One of the best lines ever!

  5. Kristin says:

    This is one of my all time fave series. I’m so glad you liked it!

  6. I was WONDERING if this was a re-read for you or if you were just starting the series when I noticed you were reading it on Goodreads. Was going to tell you, if nobody had warned you – this book is just a platform for what’s to come. Each book gets BETTER and BETTER… I can’t WAIT for you to progress through the series!!!

  7. Johanna Sumsky says:

    I notice that you have not posted reviews of anymore from the Kate Daniels series… I am asking that you please look into the next books. This is one of my all-time favorite series and it truely does get better with each book, although I love them all! Books 3,4,and 5 have been given 5 STARS by everyone I know!! Don’t miss out on something GREAT!!

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