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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
Ilona Andrews is one of my favorite authors and the Kate Daniels series is my favorite of all the books that the husband/wife duo write. The writing style is fast paced and engaging and the characters are completely believable despite the fantastical elements that surround all the books. These books are a must read for me and I eagerly devour them and count the months until the next one arrives. I love that despite the occult and romance leanings of these books there is still a generous dose of humor. I highly recommend the Kate Daniels series.
Original review (jointly reviewed with Kelly): http://onabookbender.com/2012/09/03/joint-review-gunmetal-magic-by-ilona-andrews/
Kelly: OMG!OMG!OMG! Annnnndrea! Who’s happy that she gets to play in all the crazy again??? I AM!
Amanda: *blinks* *covers ears*
Kelly: Oh, c’mon! This book was exciting! Shenanigans! Mating pranks! Death! Blood! ROMAN!
Amanda: This book WAS exciting! I’m just trying to protect the integrity of my eardrums. Gunmetal Magic had all the elements of a typical Kate Daniels book, but with ANDREA! and RAPHAEL! instead, which, honestly, was just as good as having Kate and Curran. And we can’t forget about Roman, though I strongly suspect Kelly may steal Roman for her own devious purposes.
Kelly: Roman fascinated me. I’m not ashamed of my undying love for strong, snarky men who wield a lot of power. Literally, in this case. The guy has some magical chops!
Amanda: Not only that, but it was pretty clear that there was a lot more to Roman than what meets the eye. I see lots of layers with that one. But if we can *kind of* get back to the review here, rather than moon over Roman, I think we should discuss what it’s like to see Kate from someone else’s perspective. Having read all the Kate Daniels books, we truly know Kate because she’s narrated and brought us into her world, but now we actually get to see Kate, and that was a fun experience, too. In fact, it made me anxious to dive back into her story soon.
Kelly: *thinks fondly of Roman for a moment* Very well. I did love seeing Kate from an outsider’s perspective. Spending so much time in her head in the other series, I had forgotten how CRAZY some of her actions must look to others. I think Andrea referred to her “crazy look” on more than one occasion. Speaking of Andrea, her past kind of killed me. The things she suffered through as a child… it makes some of her decisions in the later KD books make a little more sense.
Amanda: Oh, Andrea! It is hard to imagine the kind of brutality she went through as a child. Some of the dreams she had and what happened to her when she had those dreams slayed me. But you’re right. Seeing what she suffered through as a child definitely makes her actions understandable. And I think we needed that understanding, because Andrea became a very important part of Kate’s life in the later KD books.
Kelly: I really enjoyed Andrea’s interactions with Raphael. Well, once I got past the jaw drop in the beginning. They had that whole push and pull thing working overtime as they fought against their attraction for one another. I would LOVE to see more of them. Absolutely love it!
Amanda: OMG! When Raphael was being a total ass, and Andrea goes a little bat shit crazy (or should it be bouda shit crazy? I don’t know), I just about died. Watching Andrea embrace her beastkin side was actually a lot of fun to watch. I mean, it was poignant, too, because I think she reached a point where she realized she had to accept ALL of herself, but how she does it is quite entertaining.
Kelly: YES! The whole wandering the city as her beastkin self pretty much rocked! Let’s talk about the bad guy here. This was one of those sticky books where you’re never quite sure who can be trusted and who’s preparing to stab someone in the back. What did you think of the baddie?
Amanda: Random aside, when I read “sticky books” it looked like “sticky boobs” because of Andrea’s beastskin self. The baddie was a very typical Kate Daniels-ish baddie, especially toward the end, almost to the detriment of Andrea’s story. But the entire investigation leading up to it was absolutely fabulous, and I loved seeing Andrea in action.
Kelly: *giggles at the idea of sticky boobs**focuses at the task at hand* Andrea in action was pretty fantastic. I was glad she got to use her investigative skills. And her sharpshooting. Nothing says fun like pinpoint accuracy!
Amanda: I think Andrea’s story really opened up and expanded the Kate Daniels’ world. I mean, we’ve learned a lot of from the Kate Daniels’ books, but seeing the Kate Daniels world through Andrea’s eyes just continued to add to the world, and I like that. I like that a lot. I hope future KD World books do the same.
Kelly: I hope we get to see more Roman in future KD and KDW books. LOTS more Roman!
Amanda: You just want to see more of Roman so you can do dirty things to him.
Kelly: I hear he has a tattoo. I *am* partial to tattoos, you know. Rawr!
Kelly: OMG!OMG!OMG! Annnnndrea! Who’s happy that she gets to play in all the crazy again??? I AM!
Amanda: *blinks* *covers ears*
Kelly: Oh, c’mon! This book was exciting! Shenanigans! Mating pranks! Death! Blood! ROMAN!
Amanda: This book WAS exciting! I’m just trying to protect the integrity of my eardrums. Gunmetal Magic had all the elements of a typical Kate Daniels book, but with ANDREA! and RAPHAEL! instead, which, honestly, was just as good as having Kate and Curran. And we can’t forget about Roman, though I strongly suspect Kelly may steal Roman for her own devious purposes.
Kelly: Roman fascinated me. I’m not ashamed of my undying love for strong, snarky men who wield a lot of power. Literally, in this case. The guy has some magical chops!
Amanda: Not only that, but it was pretty clear that there was a lot more to Roman than what meets the eye. I see lots of layers with that one. But if we can *kind of* get back to the review here, rather than moon over Roman, I think we should discuss what it’s like to see Kate from someone else’s perspective. Having read all the Kate Daniels books, we truly know Kate because she’s narrated and brought us into her world, but now we actually get to see Kate, and that was a fun experience, too. In fact, it made me anxious to dive back into her story soon.
Kelly: *thinks fondly of Roman for a moment* Very well. I did love seeing Kate from an outsider’s perspective. Spending so much time in her head in the other series, I had forgotten how CRAZY some of her actions must look to others. I think Andrea referred to her “crazy look” on more than one occasion. Speaking of Andrea, her past kind of killed me. The things she suffered through as a child… it makes some of her decisions in the later KD books make a little more sense.
Amanda: Oh, Andrea! It is hard to imagine the kind of brutality she went through as a child. Some of the dreams she had and what happened to her when she had those dreams slayed me. But you’re right. Seeing what she suffered through as a child definitely makes her actions understandable. And I think we needed that understanding, because Andrea became a very important part of Kate’s life in the later KD books.
Kelly: I really enjoyed Andrea’s interactions with Raphael. Well, once I got past the jaw drop in the beginning. They had that whole push and pull thing working overtime as they fought against their attraction for one another. I would LOVE to see more of them. Absolutely love it!
Amanda: OMG! When Raphael was being a total ass, and Andrea goes a little bat shit crazy (or should it be bouda shit crazy? I don’t know), I just about died. Watching Andrea embrace her beastkin side was actually a lot of fun to watch. I mean, it was poignant, too, because I think she reached a point where she realized she had to accept ALL of herself, but how she does it is quite entertaining.
Kelly: YES! The whole wandering the city as her beastkin self pretty much rocked! Let’s talk about the bad guy here. This was one of those sticky books where you’re never quite sure who can be trusted and who’s preparing to stab someone in the back. What did you think of the baddie?
Amanda: Random aside, when I read “sticky books” it looked like “sticky boobs” because of Andrea’s beastskin self. The baddie was a very typical Kate Daniels-ish baddie, especially toward the end, almost to the detriment of Andrea’s story. But the entire investigation leading up to it was absolutely fabulous, and I loved seeing Andrea in action.
Kelly: *giggles at the idea of sticky boobs**focuses at the task at hand* Andrea in action was pretty fantastic. I was glad she got to use her investigative skills. And her sharpshooting. Nothing says fun like pinpoint accuracy!
Amanda: I think Andrea’s story really opened up and expanded the Kate Daniels’ world. I mean, we’ve learned a lot of from the Kate Daniels’ books, but seeing the Kate Daniels world through Andrea’s eyes just continued to add to the world, and I like that. I like that a lot. I hope future KD World books do the same.
Kelly: I hope we get to see more Roman in future KD and KDW books. LOTS more Roman!
Amanda: You just want to see more of Roman so you can do dirty things to him.
Kelly: I hear he has a tattoo. I *am* partial to tattoos, you know. Rawr!
I'm so glad Andrea got her own story. I love her (and Raphael) - and heck, even Roman. I was a little worried that this book wouldn't be as amazing as the Kate Daniels books - because most of what I love so much about this series is Kate herself. But I shouldn't have doubted the author(s). This book was just as good as the rest of the Kate Daniels world books.
Well, that was fun! It's always good to return to Kate Daniels's world, when I need to lighten up and have a good laugh. And now all I have left to do is read all the short 3.5, 0.1, 5.6, etc. stories and I'll be done until 2015. (Bleh, I already miss it!)
So a short list of things I liked about this book:
1. Egyptian stuff, though it was a bit altered, still wicked cool! And some of you might know I used to be (and ocassionally still am) obsessed with Egyptian mythology for the first 11 or 12 years of my life. I have all the books on it and know all the gods and goddesses. I remember contradicting my history teacher in 7th grade about the pronunciation of names and the myth about the creation of the egyptia gods.
2. Andrea. I have to say she turned out to be much cooler that I though. Don't get me wrong, I love Andrea, I just never payed much attention to her. All the spotlight goes to Kate! Sorry, Andi! Also her backstory is so much worse than I thought. That girl has been through some sh....stuff!
3. Raphael. The guy is fun and I like him. (though I might had called him a few very dirty names during the course of the book, especialy in the beginning!)
Not sure there is a Number 4! Or am I'm forgetting something? Ah, yes!
4. Aunt B and all the other side characters. (aka Ascanio, Jim, Barabas, Kate, Julie, who made a brief appearance and of course, His Furry Majesty-The one and only Beast Lord- Curran Lennard.) But mostly Aunt B,cause I missed this woman! And still do!
Thats it! Go read now, mind your own business!
So a short list of things I liked about this book:
1. Egyptian stuff, though it was a bit altered, still wicked cool! And some of you might know I used to be (and ocassionally still am) obsessed with Egyptian mythology for the first 11 or 12 years of my life. I have all the books on it and know all the gods and goddesses. I remember contradicting my history teacher in 7th grade about the pronunciation of names and the myth about the creation of the egyptia gods.
2. Andrea. I have to say she turned out to be much cooler that I though. Don't get me wrong, I love Andrea, I just never payed much attention to her. All the spotlight goes to Kate! Sorry, Andi! Also her backstory is so much worse than I thought. That girl has been through some sh....stuff!
3. Raphael. The guy is fun and I like him. (though I might had called him a few very dirty names during the course of the book, especialy in the beginning!)
Not sure there is a Number 4! Or am I'm forgetting something? Ah, yes!
4. Aunt B and all the other side characters. (aka Ascanio, Jim, Barabas, Kate, Julie, who made a brief appearance and of course, His Furry Majesty-The one and only Beast Lord- Curran Lennard.) But mostly Aunt B,
Thats it! Go read now, mind your own business!
Fabulously brilliant as always. I love Ilona Andrews books
3.5 stars! This was a refreshing book in the Kate Daniels book. It's told in the POV of Andrea, who's Kate's best friend. In this book she has to solve a murdercase, while also coming to terms with her shapeshifter side and the romance between her and Raphael!
It was a good book, but not as exciting or interesting as the other Kate Daniels books. Andrea is a great character and I can honestly say that after reading this she's one of my top favorite female characters. She's strong, stubborn and a very caring character. She grew a lot on me through this book and I'm really happy with her progress in the series.
The mythology and mystery of the book is always fun and entertaining. There's a lot of twists and turns in this book that definitely took me by surprise.
Overall this was a good read and I highly recommend that you read this to get the full story of the Kate Daniels world!
It was a good book, but not as exciting or interesting as the other Kate Daniels books. Andrea is a great character and I can honestly say that after reading this she's one of my top favorite female characters. She's strong, stubborn and a very caring character. She grew a lot on me through this book and I'm really happy with her progress in the series.
The mythology and mystery of the book is always fun and entertaining. There's a lot of twists and turns in this book that definitely took me by surprise.
Overall this was a good read and I highly recommend that you read this to get the full story of the Kate Daniels world!
I love Kate's world, and I loved Roman... And Andrea's ok. I also really dig Ascanio and obviously Julie and he will be showing up together soon, I'm sure. I just...don't get Raphael. He does't invoke a reaction. He is a bit boring. The book was awesome though... If a bit lacking Kate and Curran :)p
Andrea has never been my favourite. I don't dislike her, I was just never as invested in her story as I was other secondary characters in the Kate Daniels universe. First time I attempted to read the series and I didn't read this so second time around I thought I should.
It was an enjoyable and interesting read and o did like it included the novella Magic Gifts too. It was good to see Andrea come into her own and realise her place with the pack butalso accept who she is as a person. She was so strongly in denial about her beastkin status and I really hated how she rejected a whole part of herseld but understood why she did it. It was great to see her consolidate who she is and what she wanted to finally move forward.
It was an enjoyable and interesting read and o did like it included the novella Magic Gifts too. It was good to see Andrea come into her own and realise her place with the pack butalso accept who she is as a person. She was so strongly in denial about her beastkin status and I really hated how she rejected a whole part of herseld but understood why she did it. It was great to see her consolidate who she is and what she wanted to finally move forward.
adventurous
mysterious
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