Linda
Written on Nov 11, 2018
The narration was really well done, and the mystery surrounding the case Andrea was on just made the romance even better.
Includes a free bonus: a Kate Daniels novella, "Magic Gifts"
The New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels novels have been hailed as “top-notch urban fantasy” (Monsters and Critics). Now, Ilona Andrews delves deeper into Kate’s world, and reveals its untold stories…
After being kicked out of the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea’s whole existence is in shambles. She tries to put herself back together by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend. When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano—the male alpha of the Clan Bouda, and Andrea’s former lover—die unexpectedly at a dig site, Andrea is assigned to investigate. Now she must work with Raphael as her search for the killer leads into the secret underbelly of supernatural Atlanta. And dealing with her feelings for him might have to take a back seat to saving the world…
- ISBN10 0425256138
- ISBN13 9780425256138
- Publish Date 31 July 2012 (first published 1 July 2012)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher Penguin Putnam Inc
- Imprint Ace Books
- Format Paperback (US Mass Market)
- Pages 448
- Language English
- URL https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780425256138
Reviews
The narration was really well done, and the mystery surrounding the case Andrea was on just made the romance even better.
EBookObsessed
Written on May 8, 2017
This is for fans of the series.
mitabird
Written on Mar 8, 2017
Original Rating: 2/15 - 4.5 stars
layawaydragon
Written on Mar 4, 2016
I loved seeing Andrea's perspective. It's a great story alone. This is how between the numbers should be done. I'd read more if they were like this!
kimbacaffeinate
Written on Jan 20, 2015
Andrea Nash is kick-ass, snarky and downright hilarious. I should have known, after all she is Kate’s best friend. She is plagued with nightmares from her past but outwardly she personifies this cool, take no prisoners, confident, “I am woman, hear me roar” heroine. Her back history is brutal and socially she is a bit of an outcast even among shifters since she is a beastkin. Wanting to impress Jim, she takes her first PI case and it causes her to interact with her ex-lover Raphael. Shapeshifters in his crew die at a dig site and things look suspicious. Raphael makes some huge mistakes in the beginning and I wanted to slap him in the back of the head. Watching these two one up each other was hilarious. The pranks were the best, prepare to gigglesnort. We get some heat, but it is very fade to black with some tender moments.
Ascanio, Roman, Aunt B, Doolittle and of course Kate and Curran all make appearance. I laughed and even shed a tear for Andrea as we see her overcome some of her fears. Roman is such an interesting character and I loved scenes with him. I just picture him as a younger Ozzie Osborn. We learn more about Ascanio, he is a lunk-head but the kid grows on you. As for Aunt B and her pack, I loved seeing Andrea interact with them and getting the full story...it was absolutely perfect.
Andrews’ use of mythology is twisted and brilliant. This time they weave in Egyptian mythology and I found myself completely caught up in this thread. The battles were gloriously brutal and as always I found myself in awe of the creatures, weapons, and near death experiences. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
elysium
Written on Oct 14, 2012
I’ve liked Andrea before so I was happy that she got her own book. I like her relationship with Raphael and we get to know Raphael bit more in this book. It was nice to see there’s more to him than being Aunt B’s pretty boy whom women drools after. And we learn more about Andrea’s past and we get to see someone from her past. And I’m starting to think Ascanio is adorable. Too many hot men here…
The book was action-packed as all Andrews’ s books are but not as action-packed as Kate books. At least it felt to me like that. Can’t wait for her next book.
Melanie
Written on Sep 15, 2012
littleread1
Written on Sep 1, 2012
I am not sure how it is possible to totally understand the world they live in, yet be utterly lost and confused all at the same time, but that is how I feel about the world of Andrew's Atlanta. Magic comes in waves, and sometimes there are stronger waves, and some magic works during tech, but most of tech goes down during magic, yet phones sometimes work ... I would go crazy living in that world. Never knowing from one minute to the next if I would need a laptop or pen and paper.
This book starts off with Andrea and Raphael broken up. They had a pretty big falling out at the end of Magic Bleeds, and throughout this book they work it out. When a shifter mates, it is for life. So they pretty much have to work it out or be alone for the rest of their lives. I don't consider that a spoiler, since it is pretty obvious they would end up together. What was not obvious, was the story, or how it came full circle.
Of course, one of my favorite things in all of Andrew's books, are the witty comments. A couple favorites.
Andrea, talking about losing it:
When I went off the rails, I didn't do it halfway. No, I flipped a few times, caught a lot of air, and then exploded in a fiery crash.
And the young were-hyena Ascanio is pretty hilarious sometimes:
"Did those nice church ladies come by again?"
He nodded, "I asked them if a man died and then the woman remarried, and the three of them met in heaven, would it be a sin for them to have a threesome, since they were all married in God's eyes. And then they decided they were late to be somewhere else."
I really need to remember that for the next time someone comes knocking on my door wanting to spread the good word.
Overall, this is a good solid Urban Fantasy. I would definitely suggest you read the previous books to understand the world and get to know the characters, but I don't believe it is mandatory. It is meant as a stand alone just set in the same world. I am not sure what it is, but I am not fangirling over this series like many do. It seems there is always something crucial missing for me, but it is good, so it gets 4 out of 5 baskets.
Amanda
Written on Aug 7, 2012
Kelly: OMG!OMG!OMG! Annnnndrea! Who’s happy that she gets to play in all the crazy again??? I AM!
Amanda: *blinks* *covers ears*
Kelly: Oh, c’mon! This book was exciting! Shenanigans! Mating pranks! Death! Blood! ROMAN!
Amanda: This book WAS exciting! I’m just trying to protect the integrity of my eardrums. Gunmetal Magic had all the elements of a typical Kate Daniels book, but with ANDREA! and RAPHAEL! instead, which, honestly, was just as good as having Kate and Curran. And we can’t forget about Roman, though I strongly suspect Kelly may steal Roman for her own devious purposes.
Kelly: Roman fascinated me. I’m not ashamed of my undying love for strong, snarky men who wield a lot of power. Literally, in this case. The guy has some magical chops!
Amanda: Not only that, but it was pretty clear that there was a lot more to Roman than what meets the eye. I see lots of layers with that one. But if we can *kind of* get back to the review here, rather than moon over Roman, I think we should discuss what it’s like to see Kate from someone else’s perspective. Having read all the Kate Daniels books, we truly know Kate because she’s narrated and brought us into her world, but now we actually get to see Kate, and that was a fun experience, too. In fact, it made me anxious to dive back into her story soon.
Kelly: *thinks fondly of Roman for a moment* Very well. I did love seeing Kate from an outsider’s perspective. Spending so much time in her head in the other series, I had forgotten how CRAZY some of her actions must look to others. I think Andrea referred to her “crazy look” on more than one occasion. Speaking of Andrea, her past kind of killed me. The things she suffered through as a child… it makes some of her decisions in the later KD books make a little more sense.
Amanda: Oh, Andrea! It is hard to imagine the kind of brutality she went through as a child. Some of the dreams she had and what happened to her when she had those dreams slayed me. But you’re right. Seeing what she suffered through as a child definitely makes her actions understandable. And I think we needed that understanding, because Andrea became a very important part of Kate’s life in the later KD books.
Kelly: I really enjoyed Andrea’s interactions with Raphael. Well, once I got past the jaw drop in the beginning. They had that whole push and pull thing working overtime as they fought against their attraction for one another. I would LOVE to see more of them. Absolutely love it!
Amanda: OMG! When Raphael was being a total ass, and Andrea goes a little bat shit crazy (or should it be bouda shit crazy? I don’t know), I just about died. Watching Andrea embrace her beastkin side was actually a lot of fun to watch. I mean, it was poignant, too, because I think she reached a point where she realized she had to accept ALL of herself, but how she does it is quite entertaining.
Kelly: YES! The whole wandering the city as her beastkin self pretty much rocked! Let’s talk about the bad guy here. This was one of those sticky books where you’re never quite sure who can be trusted and who’s preparing to stab someone in the back. What did you think of the baddie?
Amanda: Random aside, when I read “sticky books” it looked like “sticky boobs” because of Andrea’s beastskin self. The baddie was a very typical Kate Daniels-ish baddie, especially toward the end, almost to the detriment of Andrea’s story. But the entire investigation leading up to it was absolutely fabulous, and I loved seeing Andrea in action.
Kelly: *giggles at the idea of sticky boobs**focuses at the task at hand* Andrea in action was pretty fantastic. I was glad she got to use her investigative skills. And her sharpshooting. Nothing says fun like pinpoint accuracy!
Amanda: I think Andrea’s story really opened up and expanded the Kate Daniels’ world. I mean, we’ve learned a lot of from the Kate Daniels’ books, but seeing the Kate Daniels world through Andrea’s eyes just continued to add to the world, and I like that. I like that a lot. I hope future KD World books do the same.
Kelly: I hope we get to see more Roman in future KD and KDW books. LOTS more Roman!
Amanda: You just want to see more of Roman so you can do dirty things to him.
Kelly: I hear he has a tattoo. I *am* partial to tattoos, you know. Rawr!
Quirky Cat
Written on Aug 5, 2012