Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #7)

Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Bottom Line: A lot of important issues were finally tied up in this story. This novel seemed like more of a way to bring all these situations we've been waiting for into the series instead of having its own separate plot. 

Kate Daniels Series
0.5 Questionable Client
1.   Magic Bites
2.   Magic Burns
3.   Magic Strikes
3.5 Magic Mourns
4.   Magic Bleeds
4.5 Magic Dreams
5.   Magic Slays
5.5 Gunmetal Magic
6.   Magic Rises
7.   Magic Breaks
7.5 Magic Steals (November 25, 2014)
8.   Magic Shifts (2015) 

Synopsis (Goodreads):

No matter how much the paranormal politics of Atlanta change, one thing always remains the same: if there’s trouble, Kate Daniels will be in the middle of it…

As the mate of the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than it seems possible to juggle. Not only is she still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, she must now deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel ancient being with god-like powers. Since Kate’s connection to Roland has come out into the open, no one is safe—especially those closest to Kate.

As Roland’s long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend the Conclave, a gathering of the leaders from the various supernatural factions in Atlanta. When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered there, apparently at the hands of a shapeshifter, Kate is given only twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she’ll find herself embroiled in a war which could destroy everything she holds dear…

My Thoughts:

The Kate Daniels series is my absolute favorite series...of all time. I have read the entire series at least three times this year, thus my enjoyment of this book may be a little biased. That being said, this was NOT my favorite of Andrew's novels. In fact, I think it may be my least favorite of the series--hey, some book had to be my least favorite. Before I start out, I fully recommend reading at least the main novels in this series (I haven't read the short stories yet) before picking up this one or I imagine you'll find yourself quite confused. I would describe this plot as "important"; it included all the necessary components to continuing Kate's story, but it was not the most exciting story on its own. The first half of this book was a little slow for me, as we set up the interactions between the pack and the People, but it certainly picked up towards the end. Without giving away any of the plot, I can say that we finally learn a bit more about Roland and how Kate and Curran will be involved with his plans.

I feel like Kate didn't really do anything super reckless and stupid to save the world in this story, which is always my favorite part of these books! Hopefully she's not becoming *gasp* responsible. In all seriousness, there was something different about Kate in this story that I can't put my finger on. I think perhaps her actions became too businesslike to fit with my view of her. Even her interactions with Curran were a little too stiff, and I certainly did not get enough Curran in this book (a selfish complaint, I know). I still enjoyed the humor and excitement in this story, and I am thrilled to see how Kate's story is finally unfurling. I would say, overall, that this novel did more to get me pumped up for the remaining books in the series than actually pulling me into its own plot.

Find it on: Amazon | Goodreads | Ilona Andrews    

The Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison (The Hollows #2)

The Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Bottom Line: Another very slow start, but boy did it get exciting once the ball got rolling!

The Hollows
1.  Dead Witch Walking
2.  The Good, the Bad, and the Undead
3.  Every Witch Way but Dead
4.  A Fistful of Charms
5.  For a Few Demons More
6.  Outlaw Demon Wails
7.  White Witch, Black Curse
8.  Black Magic Sanction
9.  Pale Demon
10.  A Perfect Blood
11.  Ever After
12.  The Undead Pool
13.  The Witch With No Name (September 9, 2014)

Synopsis (Amazon):

It's a tough life for witch Rachel Morgan, sexy, independent bounty hunter, prowling the darkest shadows of downtown Cincinnati for criminal creatures of the night.

She can handle the leather-clad vamps and even tangle with a cunning demon or two. But a serial killer who feeds on the experts in the most dangerous kind of black magic is definitely pressing the limits.

Confronting an ancient, implacable evil is more than just child's play -- and this time, Rachel will be lucky to escape with her very soul.

My Thoughts:

Just when I thought I was out, Harrison pulls me back in!  I don't know what it is with this series and the slow starts.  I read this book because I wanted to give the series a second chance after my not-so-enjoyable time with Dead Witch Walking.  I was about to just give up after struggling through the beginning of this one.  I swear it took me three weeks to get up the willpower to finish the first 40% of this book.  Then today I sat down, and I just hit some magic point where the story sucked me in, and I couldn't put the book down until it was through.  So I'm telling you, if you can just get through the first 40-ish percent, it's worth it.

In The Good, the Bad, and the Undead,  Rachel Morgan is working as an independent runner with her vampire roommate Ivy, and her pixy associate Jenks, with some help from her human boyfriend, Nick.  After a string of witch murders, the FIB calls in Rachel's help as a link between the inderlanders and humans.  When Rachel begins to suspect that Trent Kalamack is involved in the murders, she happily takes up the case.  Hijinks ensue...

Alright, my opinion on Rachel has not changed...she still bugs the crap out of me.  It's like any time someone suggests that she thinks rationally, she throws a fit.  Come on woman, use your head!  One thing I did enjoy with this book though, was that we get to see a bit more of Rachel's power.  In the first book I found her quite unremarkable, but now we see that she does have a bit of skill.  And I am hoping that we will continue to learn about her family history, since we start to get hints about Rachel's father.  I loved the addition of Glenn, the FIB agent Rachel works with.  I picture Glenn as a hulking, unflappable secret service agent, and picturing Rachel in her leather and mini skirts walking around with him just makes me giggle.

Some important reasons to keep reading this book:  First, we learn what Trent is!  Hallelujah.  I won't ruin it for you, but if you are as impatient as me, that's big news.  Second, Kisten... I want more Kisten. Third, Al the Demon (great name) is fantastic.  He's hilarious and delightfully naughty, and I'm glad he played a large part in this book after his appearance in Dead Witch Walking.  I really applaud Harrison's ability to make the antagonists so appealing.  I think it's what really made this book enjoyable for me.

Nick...I'm not sure about him.  At first, I was excited that this book was a little naughtier than the first one.  But Nick is quite preoccupied with demons, and I'm just not sure how I feel about him anymore.  There were times when Nick and Rachel's relationship was incredibly sweet, then others where he seemed like he was up to something.  I'm thinking we could do with a little swap for Kist.  Or Trent.  Yum.  I will certainly be picking up the third book soon, and I will pray that it gets a quicker start than the first two because the endings are just so fantastic.    

Find it on: Amazon | Goodreads | Kim Harrison 

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison (The Hollows #1)

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison 

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Bottom Line: This story is slowwww to develop.  On it's own, it wasn't great for me, but I'll give this series a second chance.

The Hollows
1.  Dead Witch Walking
2.  The Good, the Bad, and the Undead
3.  Every Witch Way but Dead
4.  A Fistful of Charms
5.  For a Few Demons More
6.  Outlaw Demon Wails
7.  White Witch, Black Curse
8.  Black Magic Sanction
9.  Pale Demon
10.  A Perfect Blood
11.  Ever After
12.  The Undead Pool
13.  The Witch With No Name (September 9, 2014)

Synopsis (Amazon):

All the creatures of the night gather in "the Hollows" of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party ... and to feed.

Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining -- and it’s Rachel Morgan's job to keep that world civilized.

A bounty hunter and witch with serious sex appeal and an attitude, she'll bring 'em back alive, dead ... or undead.

My Thoughts:

I started reading this book after I saw The Undead Pool on display at the book store.  I figured "wow, a book with a fun cover on the main display?  Must be an extraordinary series!"  Yeah, I didn't get that from this first book.  This book is supposed to be about a badass witch kicking some supernatural booty.  It seemed more like a mediocre witch getting herself into situations she couldn't get out of...for the first 300 pages.

Rachel Morgan is a "good" witch who quits her job at Inderland Security...basically she's a supernatural bounty hunter.  Problem is, people don't quit the I.S. and get away with it.  She immediately is put under a death threat, and has to fight to survive with only the help of her horny vampire roommate, Ivy, and her pixy friend, Jenks.  Now I liked Jenks in this book.  I think of him as the comic relief.  Ivy, I suppose, would be the drama side of the book, since she's in a constant struggle not to attack her roommate.  In this book, we meet Trent Kalamack: an attractive, rich supernatural of some unknown sort who has a HUGE mean streak.  Ok, this guy is borderline evil...but I am really looking forward to seeing how he interacts with Rachel in the rest of the books.  The scenes with Rachel and Trent were among the only parts I enjoyed in this book.  As for romance?  There is none...I was disappointed, but I suppose the book never really promised me romance, so I can't be too upset.  Perhaps something will develop in a later book?  Please?

Alright, so why didn't I enjoy this book?  It took a good three quarters of this book to get to something exciting.  Rachel is weak...I know not every heroine has to be a warrior princess, but I really wish Rachel had some sort of useful power.  Half the book was her doing something incredibly stupid, then sitting there thinking about it until someone saved her.

Will I continue on with the series?  Yes, I will give the second book a shot, at least.  The Hollows series has 12 books right now.  I feel like in order to support a series of that magnitude, a lot needs to be introduced in the first book.  So I'm going to continue on in hopes that the next book will contain a few more exciting magical adventures...and a bit less sitting around getting to know each other.

Find it on: Amazon | Goodreads | Kim Harrison