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slayra's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic Audio does wonderful interpretations so I revisited this title once they published their version. It's always good and most times I even prefer it to the text version. Kate now has her own office but has a hard time finding new clients, until the Red Guard asks for her help. Julie has once again ran away from school, and is walking back home. Note that this audiobook also contains the "magic tests" short story in the voice of Julie.
is_book_loring's review against another edition
4.0
Basically everything Kate was simply awesome, she grew a lot in this installment, and her inner monologues could always made me laughed. The only downside was this was the first book in the series that was not heavy in mythology, instead the villain was fanatical terrorists, too human, too familiar, too depressing, and I honestly didn't like this type of take, because fanatics scared the shit out of me. Other than that, as well-written and as fun as ever.
kblevz's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
thenowofmylife's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
soozasaurus_rex's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
katyanaish's review against another edition
5.0
Yet another really great installment in this series... I wish I could erase it from my brain so that I could read it all over again!
It was fun getting to watch Kate and Curran learn to function as a couple. They really are great together, and watching them get through that awkward period that is inevitable - when two independent people try and form a life together - is both hilarious and heart-warming.
The theme of this one seemed to be a bit anvil-to-the-head, or at least it was oft-repeated. From the shackles in Ghastek's office to the Keepers, the idea that nothing in the magical world is as monstrous as plain old vanilla humans was driven home repeatedly. Though it was really a great climax, getting to see the varying factions (some of whom really hate each other) come together to combat this particular human monster.
Couple things I'd like to discuss, that really stood out to me as big points in this one.
Kate's identity seems to be an open secret.
I was shocked at how many people know. Roland must know now, right? I am suspicious
Also, the inevitable conversation with Curran about it... gold. I loved everything about it. And I was so happy that it wasn't an issue.
Curran hasn't forgiven the Pack.
I am honestly really glad about that. What they did was utterly unforgivable. And to someone like Curran, for whom loyalty is everything, I just wouldn't buy it if he shrugged and moved on. In attacking Kate, they betrayed him, and treated him as disposable. Not acceptable.
Yay for some info on Kate's parents!
I'd now like more info on Greg. Also, I am curious about who Roland really is. He looms large as the villain in this series, but ... Kate's mom really loved him. The witch made it clear that she was happy, cared for. Who is this guy, really? I am practically dying of curiosity.
This one was a little slower, overall, than the last. It is clear this book was bridging to the bigger finish, and was also more about the relationship development than anything else. And I am glad for that. I think that we all needed this reassurance that Kate and Curran are rock-solid, and will face what comes next together. I think they both learned, over the last 2 books, that neither of them will be left out of the fight. That's important. Last book, Curran refused to be left out of the fight with Erra, and Kate wouldn't have won without him. This book, Kate refused to be left out of the fight with the Keepers, or held back from I think that this was an important step as we head into the Big Fight - they both need to know that neither of them will be set on the sidelines, that they are in this thing together.
Can't wait for the next!!
Re-read April 2017
I love this series, but this book is a little bit filler to me. That's probably because ... this book can't possibly compare to the immense drama of Erra in the last book - Kate finally being found by a family member.
But that's not a dig. It's an excellent book that still has forward movement. I loved the further detailing of Kate's family and history (so devastating), and I loved seeing Kate and Curran struggle to make this all work.
And I love the reminder that humans are also monsters. In a world with vampires and sea-demons and loups and more, it is easy for humans to feel like fodder. But they aren't. The worst atrocities on this planet were committed by humans, and this book is a good reminder of that (though a bit anvil-to-the-head, as I mentioned in the initial review).
There are some threads in this one that I'm still waiting to see pan out in the rest of the series -
Also, the witches asking for an official tie to Kate - the acknowledgment of their family connection. Still waiting to see their plan there (unless maybe it has happened, and I spaced on it).
I do think that we've had confirmation that the voice that helped Kate was Roland ... given that in more current books, we know he is directly communicating with Julie now. So that's awesome. He's such a great, complex character.
But I do still want to know more about the Roland / Voron / Kalina history. I feel like things are not as simple as they were presented. Kalina really seemed to love Roland. Roland really seemed to love her. What happened? Gimme details!
Onward with the re-read!
Re-read Nov 2018
Because the final book in the series came out, I'm doing yet another re-read. And I don't really have much to add to my earlier reviews, except one quibble. It's not a huge thing, but it bothered me a little in this book, and it bothers me in its repetition through the remaining books of the series. And that's this:
It's particularly annoying when just a moment earlier, in this very book, Curran was expressing unhappiness that Kate holds herself back and doesn't use her magic. But then when she DOES, he treats her as if she's done a filthy, fucked-up thing. It never sat well with me, particularly in combination with his "you have all this magic and you never use it" talk earlier. And I wanted to mention it because it's an event that they continue to give Kate shit about, despite not having any better ideas themselves.
And hey, I'm not a Julie fan. I'd be fine had she just died here. But not because Kate using her magic is bad - she needs it, and at the end of the day, her magic is why they survive Roland's repeated attacks. Her shying away from it has to end. But I hate that her using it seems to disgust the people she cares about. Also, during the ritual, I don't get why they're all screaming at her. Yeah, yeah, Julie is about to die. But Julie was dead anyway - they'd all been pretty clear in their firm opinions that Kate should just kill Julie outright, and not do this - so why in holy hell are they all screaming at her? She's doing what she can. Help out or fuck off, imo.
It was fun getting to watch Kate and Curran learn to function as a couple. They really are great together, and watching them get through that awkward period that is inevitable - when two independent people try and form a life together - is both hilarious and heart-warming.
The theme of this one seemed to be a bit anvil-to-the-head, or at least it was oft-repeated. From the shackles in Ghastek's office to the Keepers, the idea that nothing in the magical world is as monstrous as plain old vanilla humans was driven home repeatedly. Though it was really a great climax, getting to see the varying factions (some of whom really hate each other) come together to combat this particular human monster.
Couple things I'd like to discuss, that really stood out to me as big points in this one.
Kate's identity seems to be an open secret.
I was shocked at how many people know. Roland must know now, right? I am suspicious
Spoiler
about that voice, in the end. Could that be him? Why would Roland help her?Also, the inevitable conversation with Curran about it... gold. I loved everything about it. And I was so happy that it wasn't an issue.
Curran hasn't forgiven the Pack.
I am honestly really glad about that. What they did was utterly unforgivable. And to someone like Curran, for whom loyalty is everything, I just wouldn't buy it if he shrugged and moved on. In attacking Kate, they betrayed him, and treated him as disposable. Not acceptable.
Yay for some info on Kate's parents!
Spoiler
I don't blame her mother, I really don't. And I never liked Voron - he always seemed like a total bastard to me - so I don't really feel bad about Kate's mother frying him. If he was really Roland's loyal Warlord, then he was a bad guy anyway.This one was a little slower, overall, than the last. It is clear this book was bridging to the bigger finish, and was also more about the relationship development than anything else. And I am glad for that. I think that we all needed this reassurance that Kate and Curran are rock-solid, and will face what comes next together. I think they both learned, over the last 2 books, that neither of them will be left out of the fight. That's important. Last book, Curran refused to be left out of the fight with Erra, and Kate wouldn't have won without him. This book, Kate refused to be left out of the fight with the Keepers, or held back from
Spoiler
helping Julie.Can't wait for the next!!
Re-read April 2017
I love this series, but this book is a little bit filler to me. That's probably because ... this book can't possibly compare to the immense drama of Erra in the last book - Kate finally being found by a family member.
But that's not a dig. It's an excellent book that still has forward movement. I loved the further detailing of Kate's family and history (so devastating), and I loved seeing Kate and Curran struggle to make this all work.
And I love the reminder that humans are also monsters. In a world with vampires and sea-demons and loups and more, it is easy for humans to feel like fodder. But they aren't. The worst atrocities on this planet were committed by humans, and this book is a good reminder of that (though a bit anvil-to-the-head, as I mentioned in the initial review).
There are some threads in this one that I'm still waiting to see pan out in the rest of the series -
Spoiler
the Order infiltrated by these terrorists ... and frankly, like Kate, there is no way I believe that Ted was unaware. Kate has said that she left the Academy because of the anti-Other attitudes of the Order, and we've seen that fanaticism play out again and again. I'd love to see just how deep this thread runs.Also, the witches asking for an official tie to Kate - the acknowledgment of their family connection. Still waiting to see their plan there (unless maybe it has happened, and I spaced on it).
I do think that we've had confirmation that the voice that helped Kate was Roland ... given that in more current books, we know he is directly communicating with Julie now. So that's awesome. He's such a great, complex character.
But I do still want to know more about the Roland / Voron / Kalina history. I feel like things are not as simple as they were presented. Kalina really seemed to love Roland. Roland really seemed to love her. What happened? Gimme details!
Onward with the re-read!
Re-read Nov 2018
Because the final book in the series came out, I'm doing yet another re-read. And I don't really have much to add to my earlier reviews, except one quibble. It's not a huge thing, but it bothered me a little in this book, and it bothers me in its repetition through the remaining books of the series. And that's this:
Spoiler
I don't like the way Kate's friends - and Curran - react to her using the Arez ritual to save Julie. I get that it's not a perfect solution, but here's the thing. For all of Curran insisting she not do it, and Dolittle calling it hare-brained and ill-advised ... neither of them have an alternative solution. Their solution is "well, I guess we kill her. So sad." But honestly, if you don't have another option, then put your big boy pants on and help with the only option on the table. They judge Kate for doing this here, and they continue to judge her over it later in the series. Even Derek bitches at her later, in book 9. So what are they saying? They want Julie dead? Is that what they're saying? Is that what Derek is saying?It's particularly annoying when just a moment earlier, in this very book, Curran was expressing unhappiness that Kate holds herself back and doesn't use her magic. But then when she DOES, he treats her as if she's done a filthy, fucked-up thing. It never sat well with me, particularly in combination with his "you have all this magic and you never use it" talk earlier. And I wanted to mention it because it's an event that they continue to give Kate shit about, despite not having any better ideas themselves.
And hey, I'm not a Julie fan. I'd be fine had she just died here. But not because Kate using her magic is bad - she needs it, and at the end of the day, her magic is why they survive Roland's repeated attacks. Her shying away from it has to end. But I hate that her using it seems to disgust the people she cares about. Also, during the ritual, I don't get why they're all screaming at her. Yeah, yeah, Julie is about to die. But Julie was dead anyway - they'd all been pretty clear in their firm opinions that Kate should just kill Julie outright, and not do this - so why in holy hell are they all screaming at her? She's doing what she can. Help out or fuck off, imo.
stephxsu's review against another edition
4.0
So not my favorite of the series so far, but I can never pass up a new Kate Daniels installment. The series has taken a darker turn since the previous book, Magic Bleeds, ever since more and more about Kate's family history is revealed. MAGIC SLAYS also deals quite a bit with Kate and Curran figuring out how to navigate their new relationship. Honestly, I might've liked them better when they hadn't gotten together yet. Now they are trying to work through more domestic disputes, when previously they could just banter and have sexual tension crackle between them. Oh well. Kate also has less power in her new role as private detective than she had as a member of the Order.
All in all, quite a different change of tone and pace for the Kate Daniels series, but the authors' stellar writing and world-building still keep this series near the top of my favorites list, and I will definitely be rereading this series as I am forced to wait for the next installment!
All in all, quite a different change of tone and pace for the Kate Daniels series, but the authors' stellar writing and world-building still keep this series near the top of my favorites list, and I will definitely be rereading this series as I am forced to wait for the next installment!
krismgray1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5