Magic Binds (Kate Daniels, #9)

by Ilona Andrews

[EBookObsessed]

You will remember at the end of Magic Shifts that Kate got a flash of what the witch oracle wasn’t telling her about Roland and his plan for Kate’s future. Think about it…okay!

As we head into Magic Binds, Curran is working to whip the new Guild into shape and even creating his own elite tactical team and Kate, Curran and Julie are settling into their new lives quite well. They have set a date for the wedding and have asked the volhv, Roman, to officiate. This brings a certain comic relief throughout the story since Roman is so excited to be a part of the wedding, he has taken over as wedding planner and shows up at the most inopportune times to discuss fittings, flowers, invites, etc. with Kate.

Comic relief is necessary since things between Roland and Kate are starting to become a problem. Roland is pushing at the borders of Atlanta as a test. He has also been talking to Julie behind Kate’s back with thoughts of making her his next warlord now that he has sent Hugh d’Ambray away. (You know we haven’t seen the last of Hugh. He doesn’t like being foiled and then pushed aside.) When Roland grabs Saimon, a citizen of Atlanta, Kate can no longer sit back. Roland has all but declared war against Kate. She and Saimon are no longer friends but if she let’s it go, he will continue his subtle attacks.

Kate has also found out that her father has created his own secret militia. Highly trained with weapons and magic, these zealots believe that a special place in heaven awaits them for killing or dying on behalf of Roland. When Kate comes across one of his warriors, Kate’s anger becomes so great, she breaks her father’s blood bond in an “in your face Roland” move, except the warrior is now bonded to Kate. Using her blood to bond someone to her is that line in the sand never to be crossed for Curran. Avoiding Curran only pushes off the inevitable confession, but they are both busy keeping the world from imploding and prepping for a wedding which might not happen now.

But Kate hasn’t forgotten the single biggest issue — Roland is centuries older and more powerful than Kate. She can’t win in a head to head battle against him. Worse, the witch oracle has seen one of two futures for Kate: she marries Curran and he will die in battle, or she doesn’t marry Curran and her loss is even greater.

A battle is inevitable and no matter what Kate will lose everything. Kate can’t win in the future being seen by the oracle so Kate needs to change the future to change the outcome, and she will get help from the most unlikely of allies.

Magic Bind brings back the excitement to the series as a battle between Roland and Kate seems inevitable. Changes come to not only Kate, Curran and Julie but several other characters. Like Magic Breaks, there will be series changing revelations, some friendships torn apart and an ultimate battle and an ending that will leave us screaming, “I can’t wait another year!”