Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1) (original 2007; edition 2007)

Like it enough to start the next one... ( )

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3.5 stars

’Magic could not be measured and explained in scientific terms, for magic grew through destroying the very natural principles that made science as people knew it possible.’

So I finally got around to reading about this ‘Kate Daniels’ I’ve heard so much about. I found the world building to be extremely choppy and confusing, but by the end it started coming together and making more sense. I won’t bother trying to explain it to you though; I would only fail miserably so instead I’ll just tell you what I thought about the book.

This story was quite a bit more gruesome than I was expecting! Quite a few eww moments. I’ll share a few with you:

’Garbage fell, revealing yellow bones and shreds of rotting oozing putrid juices.’
‘The flesh and cartilage parted before the blade and I pulled her rib cage open like a bear trap.’
‘The vamp must have been turned on its side to allow the stringy clot of its nearly atrophied intestines to fall out.’
And my personal favorite:
‘Slayer sliced through decaying tissue in a spray of putrid sluice.’

I think by now you get the picture. Haha!

The author(s) also had an interesting and original take on vampires.

’Homo sapiens immortuus, a vampire. The vampires knew no pity and no fear; they couldn’t be trained; they had no ego. On a developmental level they stood close to insects, possessing a nervous system and yet incapable of forming thoughts.’

Definitely a diversion from the norm, and like Maja stated in her review, it was not one that I particularly enjoyed as I’m quite the vampire lover (the normal vampires that is).

I loved the characters and oh how wonderful it is to find another snarky and spirited female character in the world of Urban Fantasy. Kate is my new best friend; definitely my kinda girl. Despite the fact that ‘snarky’ is slowly becoming commonplace is many novels I read these days, I must say, I’m not getting tired of it at all. Derek was also an enjoyable additional character.

"Derek, never ever tell a woman that someone is prettier than her. You'll make an enemy for life." "You're funnier than she is. And you hit harder."
"Oh, thank you. Please, continue to reinforce the fact that she's more attractive. If you say that I have a better personality, you'll find out how hard I can hit."

And of course I could never forget Curran. :) Rawr. I took an immediate liking to him, despite the fact that he can’t hammer for shit. :D I look forward to seeing what happens between the two of them. AND finding out what the hell Kate is! Ack!

I must say I was quite impressed overall and am really looking forward to continuing the series. ( )

I want to write about this series as a whole-- so good. how eloquent was that? but no, I mean it, if you like Mercedes Thompson or the fever series or the night huntress series or Sookie Stackhouse (though Sookie is not quite the kick-butt type like the others), do not make the mistake of keeping Kate Daniels on your back burner (like I did). Read it now, you'll love it. ( )

I want to write about this series as a whole-- so good. how eloquent was that? but no, I mean it, if you like Mercedes Thompson or the fever series or the night huntress series or Sookie Stackhouse (though Sookie is not quite the kick-butt type like the others), do not make the mistake of keeping Kate Daniels on your back burner (like I did). Read it now, you'll love it. ( )

When I first finished MAGIC BITES, I had no idea that this was going to be one of my favorite series. Looking back, those first "Here, kitty, kitty" moments give me chills.

See Abigail's full review at All Things Urban Fantasy.

6/15/11: After MAGIC SLAYS I had to come back and see where all the magic started. I was pleasantly surprised by this book's re-readability, I found myself going page by page and enjoying re-treading the mystery was much as the characters. Never realized that Derek wasn't the wolf-man that tapped on Kate's window, fun to straighten out a little detail like that year's later. Now off to MAGIC BURNS! ( )