Review: Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

4345498Magic Strikes
(Kate Daniels, #3)
By: Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Ace
Published: March 31, 2009
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating:
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Goodreads

Drafted into working for the Order of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems than she knows what to do with these days. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.

But when Kate’s werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games—an invitation only, no holds barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament—she and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta’s shapeshifting community…

 
 
1thoughtsDerek is fighting for his life, Jim’s gone rogue, Curran is staking his claim on Kate, and Saiman shows his true form. Oh yes, a lot takes place in this book.

I will say that this series tends to get better with every book but I’m still not really seeing the hype. Yes it’s a good urban fantasy with a lot of action and a sexy lion shifter but I guess I’m just not getting the Curran swoon like everyone else. Yes, he’s Alpha male and doesn’t take orders from anyone, except maybe Kate, but it’s already been done before. I was looking for something fresh and new.

My favorite part of the book was the Midnight Games. It’s a suped up version of gladiator games. People are thrown in the pit and fight until the death. Naturally what starts as a simple observatory outing, turns into participation at one point. The fighting was definitely the highlight for me.

Another quality of the book that I enjoyed was the humor. It’s not bust your ribs laugh worthy but it did manage to get a few chuckles out of me. Kate does not take well to people telling her what to do. So of course her and Curran butt heads a lot. So a lot of the humor comes when she and Curran are dealing with each other.

“Can I fetch you your food, Your Majesty? Can I tell you how strong and mighty you are, Your Majesty? Can I pick out your fleas, Your Majesty? Can I kiss your ass, Your Majesty? Can I…”

“Technically it should be ‘may I’, since you’re asking permission. To answer your question, yes, you may kiss my ass. Normally I prefer to maintain my personal space, but you’re a Friend of the Pack and your services have proven useful once or twice. I strive to accommodate the wishes of persons friendly to my people. My only question is, would your kissing my ass be obeisance, grooming, or foreplay?”

I hope that since Curran has pretty much won the game over Kate that the romance between the two will kick up a few notches and I will understand what all the swooning is about. Until then, I guess I will just have to wait until the next book.

 

1favequote“Er. I was sitting atop the Beast Lord in my underwear, holding a knife to his throat. What the hell was my next move?”

 

Previous reviews from Kate Daniels
Magic Bites
Magic Burns

kRISTIN

3 Thoughts on “Review: Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

  1. It breaks my heart that this is just okay for you. I would die for this series. But happy you still enjoyed it.

  2. i need to work on catching up with this series. I loved the first book, and you and everyone else is just loving the rest. I’m such a procrastinator!

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