Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

Gunmetal Magic (Kate Daniels, #5.5)

by Ilona Andrews

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…

Reviewed by littleread1 on

4 of 5 stars

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I may be lynched for saying this, but here goes ... I like Andrea & Raphael better than I like Kate & Curran. There. Now it is out there. *ducks the rotten fruit and vegetables*

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.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 1 September, 2012: Finished reading
  • 1 September, 2012: Reviewed