Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
This was an excellent beginning to a series. The voice of the heroine is dry, sarcastic and witty without going overboard which makes Kate entertaining to read. The world the author has created with magic vs technology is unique and I really liked it.
I'm excited to see where the series goes.
I'm excited to see where the series goes.
I've heard so much about this series for years. I wanted to wait until I got every book before I started it and I'm finally there. With all the hype, I was expecting to be blown away by this. Don't get me wrong, I still like it and I can see the potential for the next book, but...I wasn't completely blown away in this first book. Sometimes the first book in a long series really is just learning the world building and all the characters, and that can keep it from a 5 star for me. I do think that the more I read, the more I'm going to get hooked. I really liked Kate's character. I'm looking forward to discovering her secrets. I think she is way more powerful than she wants others to know...which I love to see. Curran is going to have to grow on me. I've seen a lot of readers rave about him but he was kind of a jerk to Kate in this first book, so I'm not there yet. Hopefully that is coming. Overall, a great read. I think the hype did me in on this first book.
Kind of fun since I was in the mood for a butt-kicking woman detective story. Some story elements felt thin and poorly-explained, like why Curran thought that Kate was a spotlight-seeker. I kept getting confused about who the jillion incidental characters were when they showed up again.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This felt like an average Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode but because I like Buffy I also liked this.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I listened to the dramatized audio adapation. And it was my first time listening to one of those! Absolutely loved the cast and had a BLAST listening to this while driving.
I would have finished it sooner, but usually I only listen to audiobooks while I'm driving alone somewhere and there just wasn't much of that in the end of last year.
Also I really like the story so far! Kate is just such a badass and I can't wait to find out more about here and follow along with all the shenanigans she gets herself into
I would have finished it sooner, but usually I only listen to audiobooks while I'm driving alone somewhere and there just wasn't much of that in the end of last year.
Also I really like the story so far! Kate is just such a badass and I can't wait to find out more about here and follow along with all the shenanigans she gets herself into
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
fast-paced
The Kate Daniels series was highly recommended to me by a friend with whom I share very similar reading tastes, so I expected to really like this book. However, I have pretty mixed feeling about Magic Bites.
My biggest complaint is that the magic system is vague and confusing. How is magic used? We're introduced to "words of power" at the beginning, but people are also able to perform magic outside of these words. Maybe it gets fleshed out more in the future books in the series, but it seems a flaw in the first book to not have at least a cohesive outline of a system that the reader can understand.
I also wasn't a huge fan of the protagonist, Kate. It's not that I didn't like her character, and more that I was just completely unable to connect with her. It's hard to pinpoint what the problem is, as she seems to tick all the boxes for the fierce and independent female characters I love, but something in her mannerisms just put me off.
That being said, I still found this to be a fast-paced and engaging read. I think the premise of a world that swings between magic and technology is an interesting concept, and I may still continue reading this series to see if it grows on me.
My biggest complaint is that the magic system is vague and confusing. How is magic used? We're introduced to "words of power" at the beginning, but people are also able to perform magic outside of these words. Maybe it gets fleshed out more in the future books in the series, but it seems a flaw in the first book to not have at least a cohesive outline of a system that the reader can understand.
I also wasn't a huge fan of the protagonist, Kate. It's not that I didn't like her character, and more that I was just completely unable to connect with her. It's hard to pinpoint what the problem is, as she seems to tick all the boxes for the fierce and independent female characters I love, but something in her mannerisms just put me off.
That being said, I still found this to be a fast-paced and engaging read. I think the premise of a world that swings between magic and technology is an interesting concept, and I may still continue reading this series to see if it grows on me.