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fitzzula's review against another edition
4.0
Reads like a Raymond Chandler detective novel with a pragmatic, punchy heroine.
geezenstack444's review against another edition
1.0
It was really hard to get into this book and I did not get past the third page. It was too boring.
ac223's review against another edition
4.0
This book started out really slow. I don't know if it was the book or me, but I almost gave up about a quarter of the way through. Now I am glad I stuck with it. The best thing about Andrews is she has a plot in her books, not just sex with a little story! In Magic Bites Kate loses her quardian and sets out to avenge his death. Both the Masters of the Dead (necromancers who control vampires) and the pack (one hot pack leader in particular) are pushing her to find out what is going on, because whoever killed her Guardian could also be the one killing off their people. The (hot) pack leader turns out to be Kates' trusted ally but could it be more? Don't know have to read book 2 to find out!
gillianw's review against another edition
4.0
First read 2014
Second read Feb 2020
I’ve reread almost all the Kate Daniels books at various times over the last few years, but I never went back to book one. I remember after I first read it, I thought it was a little dry and not terribly exciting, but I liked it well enough to go on to the second book. After that, I was well and truly hooked. But I never did go back and read the one that got it all started. Until now.
Maybe it’s knowing how it all ends, who the characters are and how the story all comes together, but I found this reread to be anything but dry and not terribly exciting. It was a downright delight! I had only the haziest recall of the storyline so I found myself really getting into it and excited about how it ended. The barest hints of Kate and Curran’s attraction are there. I laughed at their initial animosity (“here kitty kitty”) and nearly swooned at the final scene (Curran can hammer my roof any day - rawr!). I also forgot this is where Kate and Derek forge their bond, even if it was initially due to a blood oath. Meeting Ghastek for the first time and learning about the Keep - I loved it all.
I’m upping my initial rating because I can and because these books deserve all the praise. Now I have to move on to book two because I can’t just stop here. At least I get to enjoy them all over again.
Second read Feb 2020
I’ve reread almost all the Kate Daniels books at various times over the last few years, but I never went back to book one. I remember after I first read it, I thought it was a little dry and not terribly exciting, but I liked it well enough to go on to the second book. After that, I was well and truly hooked. But I never did go back and read the one that got it all started. Until now.
Maybe it’s knowing how it all ends, who the characters are and how the story all comes together, but I found this reread to be anything but dry and not terribly exciting. It was a downright delight! I had only the haziest recall of the storyline so I found myself really getting into it and excited about how it ended. The barest hints of Kate and Curran’s attraction are there. I laughed at their initial animosity (“here kitty kitty”) and nearly swooned at the final scene (Curran can hammer my roof any day - rawr!). I also forgot this is where Kate and Derek forge their bond, even if it was initially due to a blood oath. Meeting Ghastek for the first time and learning about the Keep - I loved it all.
I’m upping my initial rating because I can and because these books deserve all the praise. Now I have to move on to book two because I can’t just stop here. At least I get to enjoy them all over again.
jenhurst's review against another edition
4.0
Blog Post
I love this book. I have become a major Ilona Andrews fan girl in two books. So in the span of a week, I've become her newest fangirl. The writing makes it a fun read, that isn't overall complex. Even so, the world building is very well done, there is character development and an interesting storyline.
Basically this book is about Kate Daniels, who's a mercenary and spends her time cleaning up messes that are caused by magical problems. Her guardian (and closest thing she had to a family) was murdered. No one knows anything and she wants to find answers. Through this she gets involved with two groups (Masters of the Dead, necromancers) and the Pack (clan of shapeshifter) both think the other group did it, and Kate needs to find out who is in charge of the killings.
Ilona Andrews should write courses on how to write a badass female protagonist. This is one of the few books where the female protagonist doesn't need a man. Sure she wants a man and there is hints of romance, but it doesn't help her career or make her dependent. Anyone writing a female protagonist take notes! Kate had some development and is a really interesting protagonist. She also has a sword named Slayer, which is really cool. Curran is a shape shifting alpha werewolf and I'm sure that he will be a love interest eventually. He seems really hot, so I'm here for this. Curran is also a strong character and seems like someone
I like how this book felt more mature, less drama and certainly more gruesome than any YA that I've read and Patricia Briggs. With saying that it still doesn't cross into the level that my weird fiction or horror novels tend to provide. It walked a fine line and it works. There is defiantly a lot more to be learned about this world, but it's the first novel and if they gave all the answers people wouldn't feel the need to continue.
Supposedly this is the worst book in the series and isn't a good intro. Thus with how much I enjoyed this book, I can only imagine how amazing the rest of the books are and I'm here for it.
4 wine glasses out of 5.
I love this book. I have become a major Ilona Andrews fan girl in two books. So in the span of a week, I've become her newest fangirl. The writing makes it a fun read, that isn't overall complex. Even so, the world building is very well done, there is character development and an interesting storyline.
Basically this book is about Kate Daniels, who's a mercenary and spends her time cleaning up messes that are caused by magical problems. Her guardian (and closest thing she had to a family) was murdered. No one knows anything and she wants to find answers. Through this she gets involved with two groups (Masters of the Dead, necromancers) and the Pack (clan of shapeshifter) both think the other group did it, and Kate needs to find out who is in charge of the killings.
Ilona Andrews should write courses on how to write a badass female protagonist. This is one of the few books where the female protagonist doesn't need a man. Sure she wants a man and there is hints of romance, but it doesn't help her career or make her dependent. Anyone writing a female protagonist take notes! Kate had some development and is a really interesting protagonist. She also has a sword named Slayer, which is really cool. Curran is a shape shifting alpha werewolf and I'm sure that he will be a love interest eventually. He seems really hot, so I'm here for this. Curran is also a strong character and seems like someone
I like how this book felt more mature, less drama and certainly more gruesome than any YA that I've read and Patricia Briggs. With saying that it still doesn't cross into the level that my weird fiction or horror novels tend to provide. It walked a fine line and it works. There is defiantly a lot more to be learned about this world, but it's the first novel and if they gave all the answers people wouldn't feel the need to continue.
Supposedly this is the worst book in the series and isn't a good intro. Thus with how much I enjoyed this book, I can only imagine how amazing the rest of the books are and I'm here for it.
4 wine glasses out of 5.
nyxesss's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't like Kate and Crest together from the start they didn't have chemistry and they didn't fit together, I'm glad they finished it off before the end of the book. Kate and Curran are going to be a way better fit.
I commented on the charecters so now the writing, half of the words in this book are 'He said', 'she said', 'I said' why does the word 'said' has to appear every sentence? It's annoying.
Advice:
"If a man takes you to a restaurant of his choosing, don't compliment him. Rave about the quality of the food and he'll be thrilled, because he took you merc."
Characters 5
Writing 2
Plot 6
Entertainment 6
4.8★
I commented on the charecters so now the writing, half of the words in this book are 'He said', 'she said', 'I said' why does the word 'said' has to appear every sentence? It's annoying.
Advice:
"If a man takes you to a restaurant of his choosing, don't compliment him. Rave about the quality of the food and he'll be thrilled, because he took you merc."
Characters 5
Writing 2
Plot 6
Entertainment 6
4.8★
jnb_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
anna_almli's review against another edition
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
4.0
vermilionred's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not normally an urban fantasy person, but this was really good.