Magic Slays (Kate Daniels, #5)

by Ilona Andrews

In this novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series, war-plagued Atlanta has never been so deadly...Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.
 
Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name. Plus, many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.
 
So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. But it turns out that this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her may pay the ultimate price...

• ISBN10: 0441020429
• ISBN13: 9780441020423
• Publish Date: 31 May 2011 (first published 1 May 2011)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Ace Books
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780441020423

Reviews

[booksandcats]

Again, really loved it. The storyline keeps being new and fresh and interesting. I love that we are getting more insights into the magic system of this world, and how thought through and coherent it seems.

This book keeps everything that I loved about the previous ones, the interactions, the romance, the character development, and still seems new and not repetitive, which is quite amazing at the fifth installment in a series.

This was also I think the first time when I wanted to hit Kate for her stupidity when she convinces herself that Curran is just using her and doesn't really love her. Fortunately it is built up really well, with all the revelations about her messed up childhood she is bound to act stupid and because they are both adults and talk about their Problems, Curran is able to set her straight.

I especially loved Kate's interactions with the Pack and how she is clearly much more comfortable with her leader role. So, if you loved the previous books in this series, you will love this one as well. I did at least.

The first time I read Magic Bites I didn't get why there were so many rave reviews. I mean it seemed pretty average. The world building was cool and Kate seemed alright but a bit standoffish. The romance between Kate and Crest was mediocre - it seemed like she didn't like him at all and it felt forced and awkward. The romance between her and Curran wasn't any better. It didn't make sense why he followed her home while he was on his date. I liked Derek and Ghastek was creepy. There was lots of snappy, witty dialogue and I had a few laughs - but I was just confused. It was good but it wasn't great.

Yeah - read the rest of the series. It gets SO MUCH BETTER. Kate stops being standoffish and starts letting people in. Derek becomes a total badass. Ghastek - well he's still pretty creepy. But also funny and kind and sweet when he wants to be. And Curran - I love him now. He is an absolute ass in this first book. But I forgot. He becomes everything you want in a love interest. There's a ton of new loveable characters; Julie, Andrea, Aunt Bea, Raphael, Barbaras. Some new evil ones; Hugh, Roland. So much action and adventure and intensity and laughs.

So do yourself a favour. Keep reading.


This series is crazy intense. So much happens in every book. It can be kind of exhausting at times. I love Derek deciding to branch out with Kate. Julie almost dying ARRGH!!! Asciano is hysterical.

[Mercy]

This was so good. I am enjoying this series more and more and I'm starting to don't mind certain aspects that bothered me in the previous books (like the fucking info dumping at the beginning of each book xD) and Kate is becoming one of my favourite characters ever. She went through a lot of shit in this book and I was so sorry for her but still, she's so strong and I love it.

I also love the rest of characters, the bad guys are always interesting and they make me so angry! Also, there were many hilarious moments, like the scene with the crazy family of witches and volhvs. It was priceless!! 😂

I was afraid I wouldn't like it much after reading some reviews but seriously, this series is getting better and better. 🙌

[Chelsea]

I really liked the plot in this one! And Kate's family is starting to come out to play so we're learning more about her finally. I think we're getting close to a big brutal war and I can't wait for it!

[mitabird]

New Rating 8/18: 4 stars

Original Rating 1/15: 4.5 stars

[nitzan_schwarz]

I'm not sure why I gave this three stars originally - this is a solid installment to the Kate Daniels world. Stakes are higher, more people I wish wouldn't die have, shit goes down and Kate has to make some difficult choices and learn to trust her god damn mate!

I really want the Ronald thing to go down. It's starting to wear on me.

This concludes my re-read of the series. The next book I read in this universe will be a completely new and unknown adventure!

Just a small correction to something from this book, as someone who comes from Israel and speaks Hebrew: Neshama doesn't mean Breath, it means something like soul. Neshima means breath. Slightly different pronunciation.

[EBookObsessed]

Kate Daniels has resigned from the Order of Merciful Aid, and has used her years of experience as a Merc and from training and working at the Order to opened up her own investigation firm. Things are going...slow. Kate isn't sure if it just the usual problem starting a new business or is her new status as mate of the Beast Lord causing clients to shy away.

The slow business is giving Kate plenty of time to fret about the fact that her ward, Julie, has run away from school again and that Curran's trackers haven't been able to find her yet.

When Kate received a call from Ghastek that one of the People's vampires is unpiloted, on the lose and headed in the direction of Kate's office, well...she didn't have anything better to do anyway. Kate manages to lasso the vamp, but a loose vampire brings out the supernatural version of SWAT running. The PAD's idea is shoot first and identify the pieces later, especially when they have all those really, big guns to fire. PAD's involvement isn't going to help the situation and they aren't happy when Kate steps between the vamp and their fun. Everything was under control until Ghastek suddenly takes a nosedive and passes out, losing control of the newly captured vamp. The PAD opens fire on the vampire and Kate, Ghastek and his people could quickly become collateral damage.

The quick arrival of Kate friend's Andrea, retired Knight of the Order and bouda shifter, is the only thing keeping Kate and the others from becoming expendable casualties of the PAD. But there is still something niggling in the back of Kate's brain, how did the vamp lose its pilot and what caused Ghastek to faint after he took control? Ghastek and the People aren't real good at sharing information.

As if her morning hasn't been exciting enough, Kate does get her first client, The Red Guard has shown up at her door needing some discrete help. The Red Guard is an elite protection service but they have recently lost the body they were guarding. Someone managed to get past them and steal the geek scientist they were protecting and his special project. Since it is all hush-hush and rather embarrassing to the Red Guard to have lost their body, Kate is going in with little information, but beggers can't be choosers and solving the case and getting a recommendation from the Red Guard would help Kate and her new employees, Andrea and Derek, get the business off the ground.

The more Kate learns about this missing scientist and his missing device, the more imperative it is that she find him and more importantly his creation.   He has been creating a device that creates a magic-free void -- except anything magical inside the area of the void when the machine goes off is destroyed: including witches, shifters and magic users, like Kate.

THOUGHTS:
I enjoy this series more with each story. I just think Curran needs to hire a battalion of healing mages since Doolittle can't follow Kate around and keep putting her back together.

After growing up to keep her head down, and her friends and confidants to a minimum, it seems more and more people know who Kate's father really is. Kate also has a meeting with the witch oracle, Evdokia and learns a lot of distressing information of about her mother and Voron, indicating that Voron was a puppet to Kate's mother and had no real love for either of them.  Kate knew Voron wasn't the cuddly sort, but to find out that he really never cared for her hurts tremendously.  After throwing Kate off with all this information, Evdokia also gives her opinion that Curran chose Kate for the connection to her real father, not despite of it. Now Kate fears that she has given her heart wholeheartedly to a man who is once again just using her for her magic. This leaves her shaky and vulnerable, especially since Curran is out of the Keep looking for a rouge shifter and she can't confront him on it.

Julie is seriously hurt because of Kate and Kate has no other choice than to delve into her father's blood magic and risk her own life to try and save Julie.

As always, this story is full of action and mysteries to be solved both professional and personal to Kate. It is always an exciting reading experience.



This review was originally posted on EBookObsessed

[celinenyx]

There just is something about these Kate Daniels books that make me read them in a single day. Kate and the gang, as always, get into plenty of scrapes and fights. Magic Slays is a wonderfully quick read. I love how the Kate Daniels books are consistent. You know what you're going to get, and they always deliver: couple worth rooting for, Pack dynamics, and the slowly unfolding over-arching plot of Kate's heritage. Although this is already the fifth book, I feel like there is still plenty of material to work with, and I'm looking forward to reading the next one. 4.5 Stars.

[kimbacaffeinate]

Spoiler Free Caffeinated Thoughts on Magic Slays

In this episode, Kate learns some very interesting things about her mother, and a little seed of doubt creeps in about Curran’s reasons for their relationship. That is enough to keep anyone occupied but poor Kate always has a plate full. Her ward Julie is causing problems, she has hired some employees and the Master of the Dead hires her. Which causes her oh-so-much trouble and Kate soon finds herself trying once again to save the ungrateful folks in Atlanta.

“Put your badass face on and follow me.”

This installment was intense; at times, brutal and we suffer some loss. Kate once again shows how incredibly self-sacrificing she is when dealing with those she loves and even those she does not. Andrews displays some of Kate’s powers and I have to tell you the girl has some wicked mojo.

“I looked at him. "You really need to work on your threats. I can't tell if you're threatening me or inviting me for tea.”

Renne Raudman is brilliant as the narrator and once again my audio experience was engaging, heart pounding and there were moments where I laughed so hard I had to pause the audio. Raudman’s tone and delivery of some of the snark is pure perfection.

We see development between Curran and Kate. I laughed, cried and while we get a little heat, it is all behind closed doors. Character growth, drama in the pack and interesting tid-bits kept me listening. I of course bought Magic Rises the next audio as soon as I finished.

The overall arc is developing nicely and the way in which Andrews weaves character development, current case and overall arc together keeps the pacing finely tuned and the reader addictively engaged.

“Yes I can,” Curran snarled. “Listen: this is me telling you what you will not do.” I raised the cookbook and tapped him on the nose. Bad cat.” This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Linda]

Holy cliffhanger! And what an amazing story! I love learning more about Kate. Curran is so great I want to purr when he arrives on the page!