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A review by kzimm2024
Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
4.0
5 stars at this time since I am all in for IA but it was a 4 at original read.
Re-read Jan 2024 and ready to do a proper review. I dragged my feet on starting a re-read of this whole series but someone made a comment on FB about being able to see Hugh's progression all the way to Iron & Magic and Blood Heir and I was like "oh no, now I HAVE to". Not sure why I was resistant since I am really enjoying this!
We meet Kate, who is a mystery really and as tough as they come:
“Gotta be tough or dumb to go down into the sewers these days. So, which one are you?”
“I’m not dumb, but if I tell you I’m tough, you’ll peg me for a bravo, so I’m going to smile cryptically.” I gave him my best cryptic smile.
Her guardian Greg has been murdered and the local Pack is drawn into the investigation as they are dealing with their own people being murdered.
Kate meets Curran in the (now) epic encounter:
Where was he? I scanned the building, peering into the gloom. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the walls, creating a mirage of twilight and complete darkness. I knew he was watching me. Enjoying himself. Diplomacy was never my strong suit and my patience had run dry.
I crouched and called out, “Here, kitty, kitty, kitty.”
As they start working together:
"To think that I had found a kindred spirit in the Beast Lord."
and the banter is delicious:
I turned to leave and paused before the gap in the ruined wall. “One last thing, Your Majesty. I’d like a name I can put into my report, something shorter than typing out ‘The Leader of the Southern Shapechanger Faction.’ What should I call you?”
“Lord.”
I rolled my eyes.
He shrugged. “It’s short.”
Later Curran threatens to kill her:
"It scared the shit out of me, so I laughed in his face."
Kate has an admirer, Crest. He decides to stay and watch Kate "work".
See, it's these little humorous touches that elevates IA writing from the rest:
“Wake!” The dead eyes snapped open. The horrid mouth opened and closed soundlessly, contorting with impossible elasticity.
Crest fell off his chair.
More snark:
“Oh, it’s you,” Curran’s voice said quietly. “I thought it was an elephant.”
----------
Curran looked at me. He wasn't giving me a hard stare. He was just looking at me with no expression at all.
“Where’s the Crusader?” he asked. His voice was level.
“He needed some ‘me’ time,” I said. “I might be wrong, but I don’t think he’s a team player.”
----------
Mahon puffed like an exhausted plow horse.
“You are bad for my blood pressure,” he said to me.
I shrugged and jerked my head in Curran’s direction. “I’m even worse for his.”
----------
“Would you shut that thing off!” I screamed over the noise.
“No! Takes too long to warm up!” Curran roared back.
“Why won’t you ride a horse!”
“What?”
“A horse! Horse!”
Curran’s gesture plainly told me what I could do with the horse in question.
They work together with Nick, a crusader, to kill the upir (sp?) who has been doing horrible things. I guess I didn't remember this story being SO dark. But it is still such a great story.
“Just a minute.” I lowered the receiver.
“Curran?”
“What?”
“Did you get a call from PAD about me?”
“I may have.”
“What did you tell them?”
“I don’t recall. I think I mentioned your discipline and ability to follow orders. I may have said something about you being a team player.”
Derek emitted a strangled cough.
“Why?” I demanded.
“It seemed like a good idea at the time.” Curran resumed hammering.
“I’m sorry,” I said into the phone, sticking my finger into my other ear so I could hear. “His Majesty tends to exaggerate things. I’m not a team player. I’m undisciplined and I have a problem with authority. Also, the Beast Lord can’t hammer for shit.”
On the roof Derek was laughing his head off.
RE-READ 9-2020
The story between Curran and Kate is irresistible. Its the life blood of this series.
Love the characters and since this is all a re-read, I know how much I am going to enjoy seeing these characters again- lots of humor everywhere.
Lots of history, info and fighting, but lots of humor too.
Original read Apr 2018- no review given.
Re-read Jan 2024 and ready to do a proper review. I dragged my feet on starting a re-read of this whole series but someone made a comment on FB about being able to see Hugh's progression all the way to Iron & Magic and Blood Heir and I was like "oh no, now I HAVE to". Not sure why I was resistant since I am really enjoying this!
We meet Kate, who is a mystery really and as tough as they come:
“Gotta be tough or dumb to go down into the sewers these days. So, which one are you?”
“I’m not dumb, but if I tell you I’m tough, you’ll peg me for a bravo, so I’m going to smile cryptically.” I gave him my best cryptic smile.
Her guardian Greg has been murdered and the local Pack is drawn into the investigation as they are dealing with their own people being murdered.
Kate meets Curran in the (now) epic encounter:
Where was he? I scanned the building, peering into the gloom. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the walls, creating a mirage of twilight and complete darkness. I knew he was watching me. Enjoying himself. Diplomacy was never my strong suit and my patience had run dry.
I crouched and called out, “Here, kitty, kitty, kitty.”
As they start working together:
"To think that I had found a kindred spirit in the Beast Lord."
and the banter is delicious:
I turned to leave and paused before the gap in the ruined wall. “One last thing, Your Majesty. I’d like a name I can put into my report, something shorter than typing out ‘The Leader of the Southern Shapechanger Faction.’ What should I call you?”
“Lord.”
I rolled my eyes.
He shrugged. “It’s short.”
Later Curran threatens to kill her:
"It scared the shit out of me, so I laughed in his face."
Kate has an admirer, Crest. He decides to stay and watch Kate "work".
See, it's these little humorous touches that elevates IA writing from the rest:
“Wake!” The dead eyes snapped open. The horrid mouth opened and closed soundlessly, contorting with impossible elasticity.
Crest fell off his chair.
More snark:
“Oh, it’s you,” Curran’s voice said quietly. “I thought it was an elephant.”
----------
Curran looked at me. He wasn't giving me a hard stare. He was just looking at me with no expression at all.
“Where’s the Crusader?” he asked. His voice was level.
“He needed some ‘me’ time,” I said. “I might be wrong, but I don’t think he’s a team player.”
----------
Mahon puffed like an exhausted plow horse.
“You are bad for my blood pressure,” he said to me.
I shrugged and jerked my head in Curran’s direction. “I’m even worse for his.”
----------
“Would you shut that thing off!” I screamed over the noise.
“No! Takes too long to warm up!” Curran roared back.
“Why won’t you ride a horse!”
“What?”
“A horse! Horse!”
Curran’s gesture plainly told me what I could do with the horse in question.
They work together with Nick, a crusader, to kill the upir (sp?) who has been doing horrible things. I guess I didn't remember this story being SO dark. But it is still such a great story.
“Just a minute.” I lowered the receiver.
“Curran?”
“What?”
“Did you get a call from PAD about me?”
“I may have.”
“What did you tell them?”
“I don’t recall. I think I mentioned your discipline and ability to follow orders. I may have said something about you being a team player.”
Derek emitted a strangled cough.
“Why?” I demanded.
“It seemed like a good idea at the time.” Curran resumed hammering.
“I’m sorry,” I said into the phone, sticking my finger into my other ear so I could hear. “His Majesty tends to exaggerate things. I’m not a team player. I’m undisciplined and I have a problem with authority. Also, the Beast Lord can’t hammer for shit.”
On the roof Derek was laughing his head off.
RE-READ 9-2020
The story between Curran and Kate is irresistible. Its the life blood of this series.
Love the characters and since this is all a re-read, I know how much I am going to enjoy seeing these characters again- lots of humor everywhere.
Lots of history, info and fighting, but lots of humor too.
Original read Apr 2018- no review given.