A review by onthesamepage
Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews

adventurous emotional funny medium-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

5.0

 “You should’ve let me twist his head off,” Mahon said. “You can’t let people insult your wife, Curran. One day you’ll have to choose diplomacy or your spouse. I’m telling you now, it’s got to be your wife. Diplomacy doesn’t care if you live or die. Your wife does.” 

Nine books in, and I finally caved and gave one of them a full 5 stars. And it had everything to do with Kate, and the character development we get here.

It's not that Kate hasn't struggled before, but this is the first time where I felt like this was a fight she could lose. I love how deep the authors dug into her psyche for this one. It's so compelling watching her fight against turning into her father, and seeing how the people around her react to the changes they can see in her. It meant changes in her relationships as well. All in all, this book was very character-focused—is it any surprise that I loved it?

He pounced on me. I tried to punch him, but it was like trying to wrestle a bear. He gathered me up and pulled me to him. “Go away!” 
“I love you,” he said. I stopped struggling. “Where the hell would I go without you, Kate? No matter where I went, you would be there in my head. I would miss you every moment of my life.” 
“I would miss you, too.” 

But it's not just the serious stuff. There was a lot of humor here, too. Curran and Kate face another hurdle in their relationship, and they both handled it in a way that felt natural for who they are. I am fully invested in all of these characters, and I'm excited to see how their story ends.