Magic Strikes

Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews is the third in the Kate Daniels series. Yet again we're in for one action packed adventure through Atlanta. The Pack is being hunted. Derek is discovered nearly dead and trapped in his human form, unable to heal. Kate's investigation leads her to something called the Midnight Games -- an invitation only, last man standing, highly illegal, ultimate fighting tournament. The prize for the winning team is called the Wolf Diamond, a fist sized mystic Topaz with unknown powers. And there's something off about the rival gladiator team, the Reapers. They look human, scan as human, but... Kate must discover the stone's secret and unravel this latest plot if she is to save Atlanta's shapeshifter community.

This time show more around Andrews leans heavily on Hindu mythology, specifically around Rakshasas. Everything I know about Rakshasas came straight from D&D so my prior knowledge was mostly wrong. They are a lot more than vicious human/tiger hybrids! I like that Andrews seems to be theming the Kate Daniels books around various world myths as I get to learn small snippets about each one as I go. One of these days I really should expand my horizons beyond Greco-Roman and Celtic mythology.

Ilona Andrews has amazing talent to pack these short books full of just about everything. In a little over 300 pages there is tons of action, weird monsters, magic, expanding the world, character growth and an interesting plot. Kate is even more bad ass which I didn't think was possible. And she has just the right amount of smart ass mixed in. A couple of the side characters are fleshed out more. I think Andrea and Raphael are my favorites so I was happy to see they have a spin off short story. The romance between Kate and Curran is starting to heat up. I'm not sure how much longer the tension between the two of them can be dragged out. show less

Remember when I said I loved [b:Magic Burns|1811543|Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, #2)|Ilona Andrews|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311280284s/1811543.jpg|1810889]? I might just love this book a little more. Just how good is it? Enough that it was my go-to when I was recently recovering from a headache--I wanted a dependable, awesome read and didn't want to start anything new that I'd end up hating.

Magic Strikes is the third book in one of the best urban fantasy series out there. It maintains a very fast-moving plot with nicely developed characterization, has an unusual magic-technology premise, and stars a woman who is by far my favorite heroine.

Kate's rescuing a banshee grandma for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid when she's called to show more a shapeshifter murder. Security chief Jim tells her to butt out, but she accidentally spills the news to Curran the next day when she and Andrea, her best friend, are out at lunch. Once Curran the shapeshifter king is involved, events spiral fast and draw in a large cast of characters, including Saiman in his real form, Derek and an attractive female, and Raphael and Andrea in their elaborate mating dance. Jim has gotten himself and his security team in hot water. Kate joins with them to save the girl, the Pack, and their reputations in a secret underground fight club. A couple sections of this book were an emotional challenge, but in the end, I loved that Andrews aren't afraid to play rough with their characters. It's a risky move that adds tension to the story.

The plot is non-stop action, but leavened with Andrews' trademark humor. I love the balance they achieve. Kate's humor is sometimes only for herself, sometimes for friends, but when faced with a serious situation, she is all business and no laughs.

As usual, characterization is a standout. I love Kate's intensity as she fights in the parking lot, and as she stands up to Jim's stonewalling. In one, she uses her amazing fight skills, in the other, hard-won legal knowledge, shocking Jim. The character Dali is introduced in a way that would be comical if it wasn't so plausible and her other form so beautiful. Julie returns in a moving scene. This book contains some of my favorite scenes, including the scene with Rene the guard, the scene with Jim where Kate quotes the law, the bit with Raphael and the fan that makes me laugh every time, and several fight scenes. The antagonists are unusual characters in UF, believable in their level of ferociousness and able to provide formidable foes for the crew.

Kate continues to be my favorite heroine.

There's Kate and her feelings on vampires:

"Part cult, part research institute, part corporation, all vomit inducing."

There's her opinion on inappropriate displays of emotion:

"Saiman picked up a coffee mug, stared at it, and hurled it against the wall. It shattered into a dozen pieces. We looked at him.
'Your date appears to be hysterical,' Rene told me.
'You think I should slap some man into him?'
Saiman stared at me, speechless. I had to give it to Rene--she didn't laugh. But she really wanted to."

Then there's her friendships:

"'Kate?'
I have a superior reaction time. That was why although I shot out of my chair, jumped onto my desk, and attempted to stab the intruder into my office in the throat, I stopped the blade two inches before it touched Andrea's neck. Because she was my best friend, and sticking knives into your best friend's windpipe was generally considered to be a social faux pas.
Andrea stared at the black blade of the throwing dagger. 'That was great,' she said. 'What will you do for a dollar?'
I scowled.
'Scary but not work a buck.'"

Love it.

Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/magic-strikes-by-ilona-andrews/ show less

Ha! I'm so glad I was right about how much I would love this series. This is another one, like Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series (totally different genre-no one have a cow-I'm getting to the connection), that my husband got to first and has been trying for years to get me to read. Result? That man knows my tastes pretty well. I love them both.

So, what do I like about it? I figure if I give something 5 stars, I'd better back that up with a few words.

Well, I love Kate. It took about half a book (the first one) for her to grow on me, but now I'm 100% on board. She's funny, brave, willing to admit her mistakes (without too much wallowing-just a little wallowing here and there) and change her mind when she needs to, and as much as she tries show more to be a loner, she can't quite make that happen.

She may share many of the same qualities with a myriad of urban fantasy heroes/heroines, but she's not stereotypical. After reading 3 books in the series, I rank her right up there with Mercy Thompson and Harry Dresden. Kate can handle herself in a fight, but she isn't invincible or infallible, and she realizes that. She rescues and she gets rescued, and it makes sense with the kind of life she lives.

The world is cool. I've never seen magic treated quite this way before. It's like weather, and the world that is built around the tech waves and magic waves is original, fun and established without pages and pages of info dumping. It's written in a way that the reader absorbs it without really noticing how much is being absorbed.

The supporting characters are great, especially the members of the Pack. I was shaking with rage after the beating Derek took in this book and that's when I realized just how invested in these characters I'd become.

The romance has had a slow build, and I like how it's progressed. I didn't like Curran (I don't really know if this needs to be hidden as a spoiler, but I will, just in case) any more than she did in the first book, and I like how we see more of his character through her eyes and how those glimpses develop her understanding of him and feelings for him. The romance is there, but it doesn't take over, and that's how I like it.

And the books are almost non-stop action. This is what reminds me of the Dresden files, and Kate probably gets pummeled as much as Harry does.

So there it is. This is a super urban fantasy series, and I know I'm going to blow through it and then regret it when I'm done and have to wait for more. show less

Kate gets into another mess, not so long after the last mess (Magic Burns) and this time the stakes might mean a one way ticket to a hellish death. A lot is uncovered in this third installment of the urban fantasy series--not just in the course of the brutal investigation Kate practically jumps into, but also towards the overall secret of Kate herself. Namely who she is, how she came to be and what exactly is she training for.

I guessed in the second book what her secret was, but it was nice to have this confirmed and perhaps someone should have passed on the Evil Overlord List to Roland so these things wouldn't have happened. I found Kate's past to be fascinating and was relieved to see she didn't angst on it. She didn't have a safe, show more happy childhood in the 'burbs, it was intense, risky and bordering on child endangerment in some cases, but she took those lessons and learned.

More then her father wanted apparently.

I found interesting also just how adaptable she has to be in order to remain sane. Not just what happened in her past, but also her present isn't a peachy show either. Stress with Jim erupts, her need to protect those she loves is tested and she was unwanted emotion's pincushion for much of the book. Curran, of course, continues to 'court' her (were-lion style), which irritates her more often then anything else. She should however be grateful that its Curran and not Raphael (a bouda) courting her since a bouda's courting ritual involves a practical joke to be played upon the intented. A 'this can't be topped by another male' practical joke to prove his worth to the female no less.

I did become exasperated with her in regards to her feelings over Curran. I understand them, they are perfectly reasonable from her standpoint and Curran's history, but I found them exasperating none the less. Practically the entire Pack is telling her, subtly and not-so-subtly, that his intentions are VERY CLEAR, but she insists that they are misreading things. If I was Curran I'd take her over my knee and smack her behind until she gave in (who knows she might even like that).

Oh! And lest we forget Saiman...who we last saw dancing naked in the snow. We learn lots about him. Sure he still manages to scream Pervert just by saying 'Hi!', but at least he comes by it naturally.

All in all I am mighty happy with this third installment and if the snippets on Ilona Andrews blog is any indication Book 4 promises to be just as much fun. show less

Okay I admit it. I'm completely and utterly in love with Kate Daniels and her series. The more I read, the better she gets! Kate is the whole package. She's strong, caring, snarky and can kick your ass in the blink of an eye. I cannot believe that I waited so long to start this series, but I'm more than making up for it with how quickly I'm powering through these books. Ilona Andrews knows how to write a character my friends. Oh, she knows.

My favorite part about Magic Strikes was finally getting to see the back stories of my favorite characters. I learned a lot about Kate, Jim and even Curran. The opportunity to see them at their most vulnerable, to be able to see into the raw parts of themselves, was a treat. Curran especially shines show more in this installment. At first I was dubious about his relationship with Kate. He was just so overbearing and, well, alpha status all the time. In this book though the sweet side of him starts to shine through. I think I'm falling for him, I'm not going to lie. It's apparent how much he adores Kate, and the smolder is starting to turn into a full blown fire!

Then there is the setting. Atlanta is back, and as magical as ever. However this time around there's the added carnage and excitement of the Midnight Games. When Kate discovers that Derek near death, she ties him to these very secretive games. Being Kate, she of course has to investigate! What ensues is a magic-filled, epic set of battles. If I thought Kate and her friends were cool before, they are off the charts now. Getting to see them use the full extent of their powers was delicious. More please!

I'm a fan of this series so I'll rave about it until the end of time. However the point remains that it truly does have it all! Andrews gives the reader well fleshed out and kick-ass characters, humor, action, and even some heart. This is the stuff of obsession. By the time I reached the end of Magic Strikes, all I wanted was more book. If you haven't started this series yet, get to it! It's well worth your time. show less

Kate's kinda like a female version of Indiana Jones in this book. There is so much to like, the world building is sublime. The interactions between Kate and her newly adopted teenager were touching, in a kick ass kind of way. But the best bits was the relationship between Curran and Kate. They strike sparks off each other and the tension and feeling that is developing between them is sublime. The story is so incredibly strong, I can't wait to read the next one.

My favorite line, 'Settle down, Princess. It's not my first time." Kate to Curran during some first aid. She rocks!

Re read AGAIN in March 2013

Norse and Hindu mythology (on top of what all we've had before)! Magical gladiator fights TO THE DEATH! Giant fight scenes! ACTUALLY LEARNING WHAT'S UP WITH KATE'S BACKSTORY!

That's quite a book.

The core of the book revolves around the Midnight Games. Underground tournament to the death with some magical gemstone as prize. The local Pack is banned from participating on account of a rogue werebear, only brought down years ago by Curran (yes, that Curran), so of course they're involved. It's a fascinating way to introduce the more dangerous aspects of various magical baddies and force Kate into a few decisions she's probably going to regret. There's a good amount of gruesome, if that's not your thing (or if it is I guess).

And that ending. show more Oh, things are going to escalate...

On top of that, it's funny. It's not

Seven pairs of glowing eyes stared at me: four green, three yellow. Judging by the glow, the shapeshifter crew hovered on the verge of going furry. One of their own was dead and they were out for blood. I kept my tone light. “You fellows ever thought of hiring out as a Christmas lights crew? You’d make a fortune.”

And then the twist of Order co-worker Andrea? Plus Raphael's wooing thereof? That's cute in a weird sort of way.

Finally, it's kind of amazing that Kate and Curran have yet to end up together. The tension between those two is... intense.

“Kiss me and I'll kill you,”I warned.

“It might be worth it,”he said softly.

Take note other writers: that's how you build up a relationship (even if the both of them are the next best thing to insane). We'll just have to see if Andrews can stick the landing. show less