Magic Strikes - Review

Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, Book 3) by Ilona Andrews. Ace, March 31, 2009.

[Reviewed by Patricia]

Kate Daniels lives In a future world where magic and technology vie for control. It takes a bit of adjusting but most people have learned to accommodate their lives when magic is high or technology again flares to life. Kate's knowledge of magic and her own prowess makes her ideal for freelance work with the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid.

One night Kate comes upon her former partner Jim, now head of security for the Pack (the largest shapeshifter society in the South), picking up the pieces of a body. Jim refuses to answer any questions about it, and tells her to mind her own business. Of course she doesn't, especially after learning that Curran, Jim's boss, and leader of the Pack has not been informed of a murder that most definitely is his business.

Kate discovers that Derek, a werewolf friend, became involved with the Midnight Games, illegal, gladitorial, no-holds-barred fights with teams of humans and preternaturals . Now Derek is missing and when he is discovered his injuries are so extensive that even his shifter healing powers may not be enough to save him. Two other shifter were hideously murdered and dismembered.

Since Derek and the other two shifters worked for Jim he is determined to track down the monsters who did this. Kate joins in. Seeing Derek so terribly brutalized enraged. What she could do, though, was combine her powers with those of Jim and his group as they set out to find who or what was behind the attacks.

One problem. She and the others risked the wrath of Curran, the Beast Master and Pack leader. He had forbidden any contact with the Midnight Games. But Kate is not too worried. Curran is a gorgeous, dangerous hunk who never wastes an opportunity to try his seductive powers on Kate. She fights her own growing sexual appitite for him. Not an easy task. The erotic, witty repartee between these two is not to be missed.

A lot of bad stuff goes on, but there is enough snarky humor to keep things from getting too dark. As in the first 2 books of the series deft plotting and a brilliant assortment of engaging characters make this a must for any reader of fantasy - urban or otherwise.

Magic Strikes is book 3 in the Kate Daniel series. Fans will not be disappointed and new readers should have no trouble jumping right in. Although if there is a choice it's more enjoyable to read the stories in order and watch the characters and their relationships develop.

Note: There are vampires in the alternate reality, but none would ever make the hero of a romance novel. Here is how Kate (in Magic Burns) describes them: "Look, you have to remember that vampires are mindless like cockroaches. They are just vehicles for the Masters of the Dead. If you see a bloodsucker and it's not ripping everyone to shred, there's an actual human being riding that vamp's mind...."

[Reviewed by Patricia]

Read a review of Magic Burns

Books in order of publication:

Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1). Ace, 2007.

Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, Book 2) Ace, 2008.

Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, Book 3) Ace, 2009

Book 4 - title unknown - is scheduled for publication in March 2010