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A review by kzimm2024
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
5.0
Re-read Jan 2024- yes, 5 stars, it was so good. We get more Curran and even when he is being an asshole we know there will be redemption when Kate brings him to his knees.
This one centered around the Midnight Games (gladiator style) where Derek ends up beaten beyond help and the gang jumps into action to save him and humanity from invading forces. They try to save Curran from what they think will hurt him, which potentially led to poor decisions. He finds them of course and helps save them. He definitely saves Kate there at the end, swoon.
We meet HUGH- so yes here we go.
Highlights and spoilers:
“His Majesty needs a can-I girl anyway. And I’m not it.”
“A can-I girl?” Andrea frowned.
I leaned back. “ ‘ Can I fetch you your food, Your Majesty? Can I tell you how strong and mighty you are, Your Majesty? Can I pick out your fleas, Your Majesty? Can I kiss your ass, Your Majesty? Can I . . .”
It dawned on me that Raphael was sitting very still. Frozen, like a statue, his gaze fixed on the point above my head.
“He’s standing behind me, isn’t he?” Andrea nodded slowly.
“Technically it should be ‘may I,’” Curran said, his voice deeper than I remembered. “Since you’re asking permission.”
-------------
“To answer your question, yes, you may kiss my ass. Normally I prefer to maintain my personal space, but you’re a Friend of the Pack and your services have proven useful once or twice. I strive to accommodate the wishes of persons friendly to my people.
My only question is, would your kissing my ass be obeisance, grooming, or foreplay?”
-------------
“You didn't answer my question," Curran said. “What will it be?”
“No,” I said. Curran grinned and my heart made a little jump. I didn’t expect that.
“That’s it? That’s your witty comeback?”
“Yep.” Eloquence ’R’ Us. When in trouble, keep it monosyllabic—safer that way.
-------------
I stared at him helplessly. “How do you always do that? How do you always maneuver me into doing something I don’t want to do?”
Curran’s face lightened a little. “I’ve had a lot of practice.
and Samian- surprise about his original form comes later:
Saiman sighed. “At the risk of sounding crude, wooing you is like playing basketball with a porcupine.
No compliment goes unpunished.”
Kate's memories:
I had never forgotten fighting on the sand, but I hadn’t realized that my memories lay so close to the surface. The sand marked a number of firsts for me. The first time I fought without any guarantee of my father rescuing me.
The first time I killed a woman. The first time I killed in public, and the first time I was deified for it by a bloodthirsty crowd.
Andrea is a great friend, love her:
Andrea blinked a couple of times. “Shit. Fuck shit.”
“ ‘ Shit fuck’ would also have been accepted.”
“The head of Pack’s security has gone rogue, Derek is near death, and you’re mated to the Beast Lord.”
-------------
Andrea sat down on the bench, facing the door. She put one SIG-Sauer on each side. Her face wore a grim expression. “If he injures Raphael, I’m going to shoot him. Just letting you know.”
“You changed your mind about Raphael?”
“I’m still deciding,” she said. “And I’m not going to let the Beast Lord take it from me by destroying him.”
“Aim for the nuts,” I advised and left.
Love the Team Name for the Games:
I had to wait in the lobby while Rene pretended to find my name on the roster of fighters.
“Fools,” she said, flipping through the pages. “Is that a description of your team’s intelligence or your need to amuse?”
“It’s our motto.”
“Hmmm. . . .” She pretended to leaf through paperwork.
“You like screwing with me, don’t you?”
and more fun with Curran and Kate:
Curran looked back at me. “Why is it you always attract creeps?”
“You tell me.” Ha! Walked right into that one, yes, he did.
------------
“You bribed my kid!”
“We reached a business arrangement,” he said. “She wanted to see you fight and I wanted to know when, where, and how you were getting into the Games.”
Julie gave me a big, nervous smile and a little wave.
"Just wait until I get out of here" I mouthed. We were going to have a little talk about following orders.
------------
"I want lamb or venison steak. Baked potatoes with honey butter. Corn on the cob. Rolls. And apple pie, like the one you made before. I really liked it. I want it with ice cream.
You owe me one naked dinner, but I’m not a complete beast, so you can wear a bra and panties if you so wish. The blue ones with the bow will do.
Curran, Beast Lord of Atlanta
*
*
Original read April 2018- 5 stars, no review
This one centered around the Midnight Games (gladiator style) where Derek ends up beaten beyond help and the gang jumps into action to save him and humanity from invading forces. They try to save Curran from what they think will hurt him, which potentially led to poor decisions. He finds them of course and helps save them. He definitely saves Kate there at the end, swoon.
We meet HUGH- so yes here we go.
Highlights and spoilers:
“His Majesty needs a can-I girl anyway. And I’m not it.”
“A can-I girl?” Andrea frowned.
I leaned back. “ ‘ Can I fetch you your food, Your Majesty? Can I tell you how strong and mighty you are, Your Majesty? Can I pick out your fleas, Your Majesty? Can I kiss your ass, Your Majesty? Can I . . .”
It dawned on me that Raphael was sitting very still. Frozen, like a statue, his gaze fixed on the point above my head.
“He’s standing behind me, isn’t he?” Andrea nodded slowly.
“Technically it should be ‘may I,’” Curran said, his voice deeper than I remembered. “Since you’re asking permission.”
-------------
“To answer your question, yes, you may kiss my ass. Normally I prefer to maintain my personal space, but you’re a Friend of the Pack and your services have proven useful once or twice. I strive to accommodate the wishes of persons friendly to my people.
My only question is, would your kissing my ass be obeisance, grooming, or foreplay?”
-------------
“You didn't answer my question," Curran said. “What will it be?”
“No,” I said. Curran grinned and my heart made a little jump. I didn’t expect that.
“That’s it? That’s your witty comeback?”
“Yep.” Eloquence ’R’ Us. When in trouble, keep it monosyllabic—safer that way.
-------------
I stared at him helplessly. “How do you always do that? How do you always maneuver me into doing something I don’t want to do?”
Curran’s face lightened a little. “I’ve had a lot of practice.
and Samian- surprise about his original form comes later:
Saiman sighed. “At the risk of sounding crude, wooing you is like playing basketball with a porcupine.
No compliment goes unpunished.”
Kate's memories:
I had never forgotten fighting on the sand, but I hadn’t realized that my memories lay so close to the surface. The sand marked a number of firsts for me. The first time I fought without any guarantee of my father rescuing me.
The first time I killed a woman. The first time I killed in public, and the first time I was deified for it by a bloodthirsty crowd.
Andrea is a great friend, love her:
Andrea blinked a couple of times. “Shit. Fuck shit.”
“ ‘ Shit fuck’ would also have been accepted.”
“The head of Pack’s security has gone rogue, Derek is near death, and you’re mated to the Beast Lord.”
-------------
Andrea sat down on the bench, facing the door. She put one SIG-Sauer on each side. Her face wore a grim expression. “If he injures Raphael, I’m going to shoot him. Just letting you know.”
“You changed your mind about Raphael?”
“I’m still deciding,” she said. “And I’m not going to let the Beast Lord take it from me by destroying him.”
“Aim for the nuts,” I advised and left.
Love the Team Name for the Games:
I had to wait in the lobby while Rene pretended to find my name on the roster of fighters.
“Fools,” she said, flipping through the pages. “Is that a description of your team’s intelligence or your need to amuse?”
“It’s our motto.”
“Hmmm. . . .” She pretended to leaf through paperwork.
“You like screwing with me, don’t you?”
and more fun with Curran and Kate:
Curran looked back at me. “Why is it you always attract creeps?”
“You tell me.” Ha! Walked right into that one, yes, he did.
------------
“You bribed my kid!”
“We reached a business arrangement,” he said. “She wanted to see you fight and I wanted to know when, where, and how you were getting into the Games.”
Julie gave me a big, nervous smile and a little wave.
"Just wait until I get out of here" I mouthed. We were going to have a little talk about following orders.
------------
"I want lamb or venison steak. Baked potatoes with honey butter. Corn on the cob. Rolls. And apple pie, like the one you made before. I really liked it. I want it with ice cream.
You owe me one naked dinner, but I’m not a complete beast, so you can wear a bra and panties if you so wish. The blue ones with the bow will do.
Curran, Beast Lord of Atlanta
*
*
Original read April 2018- 5 stars, no review