Magic Slays
Ilona Andrews
Release: May 31st, 2011
Purchase Book: Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble | Nook Version | Kindle Version
Rating: 5 Stars

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

Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.

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.