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kzimm2024's review against another edition
4.0
So I thought about a Kate Daniels re-read and it was indicated that I start here. Cover looked familiar but I bought the kindle version anyway. Turns out I bought the Subterranean Press collectors edition already a while back and just never got around to reading it! Sheesh.
I had read the Swine & Roses, Julie's story and the Curran POV's for free on their website but the others were new to me and very enjoyable. Solid short stories, not quite a 5 star, but really well written. Favorite was Grace's story, separate from any Curran POV of course!
And reading these Currans POV makes me feel like I don't need to go back and read the whole Kate Daniels series again :) so re-read aborted and headed to Clean Sweep again.
I won't be able to add more than the other reviews but here are a few highlights:
Julie's story with Kate:
I rocked back and forth some more. “Do you think I’m your punishment from God?”
“No. I’d like to think that God, if he exists, is kind, not vengeful.”
The assassins' love story:
“Why did you kill him?”
“Linda made a bargain: her body for the life of her husband. The transfer would not be complete until the creature that took her form killed Sobanto. If it took his life, it would no longer be a cloud, Adam. It would be an old god made flesh. It wouldn’t harm me because of what I am. But it would kill you.”
She leaned over him and kissed him gently on the forehead. “I couldn’t let it kill you.”
After all, you’re all I have.
The pig story was delightful:
They walked in silence. “That movie sucked,” he said.
“Yes.”
More silence. This was so not working out. Chad came to a sudden halt. She glanced in the direction of his stare and saw the ice cream stand. A big CLOSED sign hung on it. Chad looked almost pained. For a moment she actually felt sorry for him.
Chad realized that verbal seduction was quite beyond him and her family name prevented him from simply grabbing her and giving her breasts a squeeze, as he obviously wanted to do.
The War settled by Capture the Flag!
“Unfortunately, this case isn’t something that can be settled through litigation,” Nassar answered. “Think of it in this way: instead of having a large war, we decided to have a very small one. The rules are simple.
------------
He touched the photograph. “Somewhere in the zone the arbitrators hid a small flag. Two teams will enter the game zone to retrieve the flag, while the rest of the clansmen will bet on the outcome and enjoy their popcorn. Whoever touches the flag first will win and be ported out of the zone."
------------
It slowly dawned on her. “So I’m free?”
“Yes.”
She stared at him. “You don’t even know me. I could just take off right now and leave you here to deal with the game on your own. Do you have any idea how scared I am? I don’t want to die.”
“Neither do I.” He gave her another sad smile.
------------
The door opened. Three women stepped out, but he saw only one. Grace halted.
Nassar held his breath. She took a small step toward him, and then another, and another, and then she was crossing the street, and coming near. He saw nothing except her face.
Her magic brushed him. She dropped her bag. Her hands went up to his shoulders. Her brown eyes smiled at him.
She kissed him.
And the rest are Curran & Kate:
Unicorn Lane was recognized by all as neutral territory, a no-man’s-land you entered at your own risk. The scared hovered at the edge, the stupid died not far from it.
I was here to meet someone, and if she made it far enough to find me, I would know she was neither. "Here kitty, kitty"! lol
I had read the Swine & Roses, Julie's story and the Curran POV's for free on their website but the others were new to me and very enjoyable. Solid short stories, not quite a 5 star, but really well written. Favorite was Grace's story, separate from any Curran POV of course!
And reading these Currans POV makes me feel like I don't need to go back and read the whole Kate Daniels series again :) so re-read aborted and headed to Clean Sweep again.
I won't be able to add more than the other reviews but here are a few highlights:
Julie's story with Kate:
I rocked back and forth some more. “Do you think I’m your punishment from God?”
“No. I’d like to think that God, if he exists, is kind, not vengeful.”
The assassins' love story:
“Why did you kill him?”
“Linda made a bargain: her body for the life of her husband. The transfer would not be complete until the creature that took her form killed Sobanto. If it took his life, it would no longer be a cloud, Adam. It would be an old god made flesh. It wouldn’t harm me because of what I am. But it would kill you.”
She leaned over him and kissed him gently on the forehead. “I couldn’t let it kill you.”
After all, you’re all I have.
The pig story was delightful:
They walked in silence. “That movie sucked,” he said.
“Yes.”
More silence. This was so not working out. Chad came to a sudden halt. She glanced in the direction of his stare and saw the ice cream stand. A big CLOSED sign hung on it. Chad looked almost pained. For a moment she actually felt sorry for him.
Chad realized that verbal seduction was quite beyond him and her family name prevented him from simply grabbing her and giving her breasts a squeeze, as he obviously wanted to do.
The War settled by Capture the Flag!
“Unfortunately, this case isn’t something that can be settled through litigation,” Nassar answered. “Think of it in this way: instead of having a large war, we decided to have a very small one. The rules are simple.
------------
He touched the photograph. “Somewhere in the zone the arbitrators hid a small flag. Two teams will enter the game zone to retrieve the flag, while the rest of the clansmen will bet on the outcome and enjoy their popcorn. Whoever touches the flag first will win and be ported out of the zone."
------------
It slowly dawned on her. “So I’m free?”
“Yes.”
She stared at him. “You don’t even know me. I could just take off right now and leave you here to deal with the game on your own. Do you have any idea how scared I am? I don’t want to die.”
“Neither do I.” He gave her another sad smile.
------------
The door opened. Three women stepped out, but he saw only one. Grace halted.
Nassar held his breath. She took a small step toward him, and then another, and another, and then she was crossing the street, and coming near. He saw nothing except her face.
Her magic brushed him. She dropped her bag. Her hands went up to his shoulders. Her brown eyes smiled at him.
She kissed him.
And the rest are Curran & Kate:
Unicorn Lane was recognized by all as neutral territory, a no-man’s-land you entered at your own risk. The scared hovered at the edge, the stupid died not far from it.
I was here to meet someone, and if she made it far enough to find me, I would know she was neither. "Here kitty, kitty"! lol
trixx_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I have read the stories Magic Tests and A Questionable Client for the second time, because they were in other books. The former is about Julie's first solo investigation when she has to find a missing student at Kate's request. Even in this short story, you can sense that Julie is going to be a real badass heroine in the future. The latter story is about Kate and Saiman's first meeting, which is exciting, amusing and shocking at the same time. I loved this story because it helped me to better understand the strange relationship between the two.
The main characters in Retribution Clause are Saiman's cousin Adam and his partner Siroun. Of Swine And Roses is a slightly absurd YA story about a girl, a pig and a terrible date. The Grace Of Small Magics is a magically infused forbidden love story that turns into a clan war. These short stories are less connected to the original series, but they show how diverse this urban fantasy world is.
The main characters in Retribution Clause are Saiman's cousin Adam and his partner Siroun. Of Swine And Roses is a slightly absurd YA story about a girl, a pig and a terrible date. The Grace Of Small Magics is a magically infused forbidden love story that turns into a clan war. These short stories are less connected to the original series, but they show how diverse this urban fantasy world is.
spellboundbybooks's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
caitybell's review against another edition
5.0
At this point I am reading every single thing I can get my hands on that involves Kate Daniels universe. I only have one more book to read before I’m entirely done, and I am going to be a wreck when that happens!
christinevellis's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
lectorliber04's review against another edition
3.0
I think that if you have never read Ilona Andrews this collection of stories is a good place to start. Just a taste of the worlds they have built and what kind of heroes and heroines they write about. For those of us who have read most of their books this is like a 'Hello, how are you? Nice to see you again" kind of book. There are stories I wished were longer. Julie's, for instance, deserves another installment. I really want to know how is she adapting to her new school? What of the handsome young divinity, Yu, she met? Her new friends? Because although I think Derek is going to be her love interest, I kind of like this other guy better. Yes, I did enjoy reading this short stories.
cassandra67b07's review against another edition
4.0
I have the Subterranean hc edition with the stunning illustrations and I've enjoyed the stories in this collection. Here you have outtakes and stories that don't quite fit anywhere else or were earlier starts at what became a fully realized series (Swine and Roses leading to Hidden Legacy for example).
The ebook update this week was appreciated as it added a Jim POV after Magic Breaks and some very personalized shopping lists. Fun for dedicated fans and again the art is gorgeous.
The ebook update this week was appreciated as it added a Jim POV after Magic Breaks and some very personalized shopping lists. Fun for dedicated fans and again the art is gorgeous.
wetdryvac's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this a lot, particularly Grace of Small Magics.