Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.

So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price . . .

I’ve talked about how much I absolutely love Kate Daniels before. This series started out rough, but has grown into one of my absolute favorites. It is easily ranked in the top 5 of my OH MY GOD YOU MUST READ THIS SERIES list, if I were keeping one (I am). I don’t simply love this series because Kate is a BAMF, she is, but also because the series itself is continuously growing and changing. Every book has been better than the last and Magic Slays is no different.

Things are different for Kate in Magic Slays. She is no longer living on her own fighting bad guys, fighting Curran, fighting herself. Instead she has accepted her role as Curran’s Mate and lover and finally moved into the Pack’s Keep. There is a certain level of security that comes with being mated to the Beast Lord and living in a fortified castle, however Kate has never been one to sit back on her laurels in style and comfort. Having quit the Order and working for her own agency, a seemingly simple case of a loose vampire and missing person quickly turn into a situation that threatens Kate, her family, and the Pack.

There were so many things I liked about this installment in Kate’s story. Magic Slays is more than just scary monsters being tossed at our heroine left and right, at parts it even has a slight ‘crime novel” feel to it. The romantic tension between Kate and Curran is lessoned slightly, as we are no longer wondering will they or won’t they, and there is an honesty and ease between them that is hard to put words around. They laugh, they argue, they fight (literally), and there are moment’s of doubt, but it is somehow all very natural. Their spats are some of my favorite scenes in the book because the sarcasm and dialogue are delivered so well, yet I was never once distracted from the overall plot. Additionally, I felt the side characters were utilized in a way to fully enrich the ongoing story and lay the groundwork for future novels in a way that I hadn’t noticed before. Kate really is no longer alone and she finally seems willing to accept that.

Kate and Curran’s relationship is a perfect foundation of humor, tension, and tenderness upon which sits a riveting and suspenseful story. I bit off at least three of my fingernails, gasped several times, and went on to whisper “oh my god, they wouldn’t do this…. no!” at least once. Additionally, an older and wiser Kate is thrown a curveball or two that will leave readers wanting more while setting up future books nicely. I agree with Danielle at AlphaReader entirely, this book does feel like the calm before the storm. It is not an all consuming read, but it was enjoyable and well done.

Magic Slays was one of my highly anticipated reads for this year and I am happy to say that it delivered on all of my expectations. There was never a paragraph I wanted to skip or a description I rolled my eyes at. The foreboding at the end was absolutely perfect and I can not wait to see where Kate finds herself next time and who she is faced with. I have a guess. It is taking all of my willpower not to type it.

Favorite Quote

I made a mental note to punch Jim in the arm the next time I saw him. “Thought it was funny, did he?”

“I didn’t think it was funny.”

I bet. “People were about to die and I could save them. There was a girl . . . Anyway, I’m not hurt. I’ll be home for dinner.”

“As you wish,” he said.

My heart made a little jump. I love you, too.

The tension in his voice eased. “You sure you don’t need your Prince Charming to come and save you?”

The knot in my stomach evaporated. My Prince Charming, huh. “Sure, do you have one handy?”

“Oh, I think I could scrounge one up somewhere. As often as I have to rescue you . . .”

“I’m going to kick you in the head when I get home. Repeatedly.”

“You could try. You probably need the exercise since you sit on your butt in the office all day.”

“You know what, don’t talk to me.”

“Whatever you want, baby.”

Now he was just jerking my chain. I growled at the phone.

FTC Disclaimer: This book was purchased by me.

Related posts:

• Review: Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews
• Cover Reveal: Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews
• Review: Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews

Cerise Mar and her clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swathe of the Mire, the Edge swamplands. When her parents vanish, her clan’s long-time rivals are suspect. But all is not as it seems.

Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over into the Edge-and Cerise’s life.

For as much as I enjoyed the first book in this new series from Ilona Andrews, I loved the second even more. I liked Declan, but I absolutely adore William. He is complicated, flawed, and yet just so…. damn adorable. I really enjoyed the glimpses into his mind and the whispers of doubt when he thought about how he wanted Rose, the heroine from book 1, for himself. It was so obvious that he just wanted a family of his own, people to care for, people to love. I just wanted to cuddle and caress him til he was better…. and then jump all over his sexy weapon wielding ass.

Cerise reminded me of Kate, from the Andrews’ Urban Fantasy series, yet she isn’t Kate. Yes, she carries the same kick ass girl aura and the same courage and strength, but she isn’t afraid to be emotionally vulnerable. She is cautious but also trusting and and easy to relate to.

What I adore most about Ilona Andrews writing paranormal romance is that she holds nothing back. Bayou Moon is about the romance and the characters’ journey of finding each other, but it is also about the story. The plots are complicated and the world is detailed, filled with intense characters and tricky politics. These aren’t books that you can skip over the “non sexy parts” and still keep up. Andrews’ writes more than a story of boy meet girl. It is a story of boy meets girl with kick ass world building, intelligence, humor, and nerve tingling tension.

FTC Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the author and/or publisher in exchange for an honest review

Related posts:

• Cover Reveal: Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews
• Review: Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews
• Review: Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews

I know – it’s like I disappeared off the blogging planet. The truth is, I’ve been in a reading funk. But the first step to fixing it? I hear it is admitting it! or something. With the help of a little poking from a friend on twitter, I decided today would be the day I step back into my blogging shoes… or fuzzy slippers as they may be and just write what I have been thinking. Basically.. how did I get into this funk!??! I think I have read may 4 books over the last 2 months…. I was reading 2-3 books a week at one point.

The first thing to consider when questioning why a blogger may be in a funk…. what is going on in my life? Is something I am doing causing me to be in a funk? But really.. the answer is no. Life is pretty much the same as it always has been… the exception that I actually have had more time to read over the summer and plenty of opportunity since I find myself at the gym quite a bit. The kids may drive me batty with their bickering, but they are easy enough to send to their room and let myself cuddle up with my Kindle.

Is it just me? Maybe I need to take a break and stop reading and recollect myself? Maybe I burnt myself out reading 300+ books since I got my Kindle? I took a good hard look at this one, because its possible! Yet, I don’t think its the number one factor. Yes, I read a lot and needed a break.. I’ve taken a bit of one by reading less… by not accepting every review offered to me so I don’t feel obligated. Yet some books I’ve picked up lately, I just felt “meh” about anyway. At the same time, at least one book I picked up over the last 2 months I absolutely LOVED.

What all this rambling comes down to is this…. I think my tastes as a reader have evolved. I have read some really fantastic books over the last year. Moira Rogers, Jim Butcher, Ilona Andrews, Shiloh Walker… all authors that have absolutely blown me away in one way or another with their work. The more I read from them, and other authors of their caliber, the higher I set my standards for a book. At first, I thought maybe this is a bad thing? Maybe they are artificially inflating my expectations for their respective genres?

But really, how could expecting great reads be too much? Why should I settle for things that are “meh” or good when I know there is better waiting for me? The more I think about it, the more I feel this is where I am at. Will I eventually want to spend my time on the just “good enough” ..? I am sure I will. But for now, I want to be completely captivated and blow away when I pick up a book. I want that feeling that you get when you can not bear to set a book down, splashing cold water on your face at 3 am because you do not want to sleep til you get to the next chapter. Maybe this is too much to ask… but then I have to ask you… why would it be?

Related posts:

• 2009 Reading Wrap Up

Upcoming for KindleVixen

Currently Reading: Brains by Robin Becker
Up Next: Red Rock Pass series by Moira Rogers – Be sure to stop by here tomorrow as we will be taking part in a cool contest sponsored by Moira Rogers… you could win a Kindle!

All things Kindlicious

Consumer reports compares the Amazon Kindle to the Apple IPad. I agree with its findings and conclusions. I dropped by the Apple store (what can I say, im a fan girl) and played with the Ipad. Neat to mess with, but I was underwhelmed…. especially as an ereader. The LCD screen for books was virtually useless in the wrong lighting or outside in the sun. With some improvements I think an IPad will be a cool toy to have, but not if you are going to mostly use it for books. For now, I can get all the same functions from my iphone, macbook, and kindle.

Dear Author had three really useful ebook related posts. The first… how to share some ebooks without having to strip the Digital Rights Management (DRM). The second is a good look at the different ereaders available: “Dear Jane, what eBook Reader should I buy?“. The third is a good recap of why Penguin books are just now beginning to trickle back into the Amazon Kindle store and agency pricing.

Not really “kindle” related but ebook related…. Feds are raising questions about the accuracy of big media’s claims that piracy effects them negatively. The article is from April, but worthy of a read.

On that same note, Joe Konrath wrote another excellent blog post on why fighting piracy is a waste of time. I am planning on buying all of his books just because he “gets it“.

Author News

Jeaniene Frost posted a great post full of advice for aspiring authors here.

Ilona Andrews posted a Curran POV snippet based on a scene from Magic Bleeds, written by Gordon of course. Full of awesome, I promise. Congrats to them for hitting the NYT list!

Moira Rogers posted a super long post on how they write as a duo….and you even get cake at the end. Good luck to them as Sanctuary Unbound releases June 1st!

There looks to be a new group author blog making its way to the light of day…. Supernatural Underground has my interest piqued because it includes the likes of Jeaniene Frost, Vicki Pettersson, and Melissa Marr.

Around the Blog World

Buzz is sorely slacking in his blog duties and luckily I am here to point it out.

FictionVixen is giving away a copy of Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur, contest ends June 4th. Moon Sworn is the last book in the Riley Jenson series and on my list to get to this week!

The Book Vixen has a post about book blogger reviews being taken from Amazon.com and used on other sites. I don’t really care either way about the practice, but if you review books at Amazon and do care, you should check out her post.

Books Read This Week (review linked if available)

• Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews – 5 stars
• Master of None by Sonya Bateman – 4 stars
• Cheat the Grave by Vicki Pettersson – 4.5 Stars
• Street Magic by Caitlin Kittredge – review coming
• Demon Bound by Caitlin Kittredge – review coming

Books Added to Kindle This Week…

Music listening to while writing this blog entry…Skin and Bones by Foo Fighters

Related posts:

• Saturday Sound Off (3-27) … ok its Sunday but…
• Saturday (eh Sunday?!?) Sound Off (4)
• Saturday Sound Off (3-13)

On top of that this morning we went out and climbed some rocks.

Upcoming for KindleVixen

Currently Reading: Lion’s Heat by Lora Leigh
Up Next: Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler and The Devil’s Playground by Jenna Black.

All things Kindlicious

Books on Board put up a notice about moving to the Agency Pricing model as required by 5 of the 6 big publishing companies here. What does this mean? It means that books from the following publishers will all be priced according to “Required Ebook Pricing (REP)” which is set by the publisher, not the book store.

Hachette (publisher of Stephanie Meyer, David Baldacci, James Patterson and more)

Penguin (publisher of Nora Roberts/JD Robb, Lora Leigh, Nalini Singh, the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris)

Harper Collins (publisher of much Dennis Lehane, Christine Feehan, James Rollins, Johanna Lindsey, Diane Mott Davidson, Kerrelyn Sparks, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lisa Kleypas, Jodi Picoult, Jeaniene Frost, and Tony Hillerman)

MacMillan (publisher of Lisa Scottoline, Governor Mitt Romney, Terry Goodkind and more)

Simon & Schuster (publisher of Kresley Cole, Kathy Reichs, Sabrina Jeffries

Books from these publishers will probably go up in price and may be susceptible to sales tax when they were not previously. More info on what this could mean here.

Author News

Jeaniene Frost posted the cover for the next book in the Night Huntress World series (the Cat & Bones spinoff) here. I hate to say it because I have loved all of her previous covers, but I am just not feeling this one. I can’t explain why tho…. it just doesn’t do it for me.

Ilona Andrews posted a contest for Magic Bleed advanced review copies. Its over, so don’t go running over there trying to enter. What makes it news worthy is that she actually had more than 1200 entries…. that must be some sort of bloggy world record of some kind. To say that Magic Bleeds is highly anticipated is clearly an understatement…. we are all pervs. We want the Curran/Kate smexin and we want it now!

Moira Rogers has finished Sanctuary Unbound and posted a super neat list of releases and projects they are working on here. Is it sad that even with 4 new releases in the next year I think they need to write faster? I could never be an editor.

Around the Blog World

Have you ever checked out The Pioneer Woman’s blog? I admit I have peeked at it on occasion looking for a recipe, but I have never browsed it fully. I had some spare time on my hands Saturday morning and happened to click on a link called Black Heels to Tractor Wheels and next thing I knew it was 3 hours later. Her real life love story is funny, entertaining, and so romantic I almost wish I had myself a hunky cowboy with a ranch. Click here, you won’t regret it.

FictionVixen had her Josh Lanyon cherry popped over at SmokinHotBooks. There is even a Mr. Clean badge. I <3 me some Josh Lanyon and can't wait to get to Somebody Killed His Editor.

I first found the Mighty Buzzard hanging out over at WickedLilPixie‘s comments and fell in love. He is funny and sarcastic and totally entertaining. I pestered him about signing up for twitter, but instead he now has a blog. Go, read, follow…. you can thank me later. Feel free to pester him into getting a twitter account…. we could use his snarkiness. I am hoping to convince him to do a guest post on ebooks/etc here for me…. so Buzz if you are reading this… wanna? :p

Books Read This Week (review linked if available)

Music listening to while writing this blog entry…Say Hey, I love you by Michael Franti and Spearhead. I need some new music to add to my iPhone… any suggestions?

Related posts:

• Sunday Sound Off (5-30) … it’s been a while
• Saturday (eh Sunday?!?) Sound Off (4)
• Saturday Sound Off (3-13)

Related posts:

• Review: Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews
• Cover Reveal: Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews
• Cover Reveal: Pray for Dawn by Jocelynn Drake