Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews

Magic Shifts (Kate Daniels, #8)

by Ilona Andrews

Magic is coming and going in waves in post-Shift Atlanta—and each crest leaves danger in its wake in this gripping novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels series.
 
After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Kate and Curran know that separating from the Pack completely is a process that will take time.
 
But when they learn that their friend Eduardo has gone missing, Kate and Curran shift their focus to investigate his disappearance. As they dig further into the merc’s business, they discover that the Mercenary Guild has gone to hell and that Eduardo’s recent assignments are connected in the most sinister way…
 
An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it—before it takes their city apart piece by piece.

Reviewed by celinenyx on

4 of 5 stars

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As Magic Shifts is the eight book in the Kate Daniels series, this review might contain spoilers for the earlier books. Some really big stuff went down in the seventh book in particular, so beware!

Times are changing for our favourite power-couple Kate and Curran. Having left pack life behind, they moved to a nice suburban neighbourhood. Though perhaps a were-lion is not the kind of neighbour the humans signed up for... When a pack member goes missing, Kate and Curran are faced with an enemy they haven't encountered before - and it's getting stronger every day.

After a book that made some huge steps in the overall story arc of the series, Magic Shifts is a slight return to the monster-of-the-week format. Although the various treads get attention - especially Kate's relationship with her father continues to fascinate - Magic Shifts introduces a rather typical mystery-action-adventure of the kind series readers will recognize from the earlier books. I was glad for this break, allowing some more character growth as roles and relationships change. Events in Magic Shifts illustrate how far Kate has come. Gone is the solitary mercenary, as she has gained responsibility not only for people she loves, but also Atlanta as a whole as she claimed the city.

The loving and stable relationship between Kate and Curran is continued in this book, which makes me terribly happy. It's great to have an established couple as heroes, rather than being in perpetual will-they-won't-they limbo. They will, and they do, and they're awesome together.

Without saying too much about the mystery in Magic Shifts, it draws from Egyptian, Middle-Eastern and Islamic mythology and tradition. These books have been great in highlighting mythologies beyond the Anglo-Saxon, and this was no exception. I will leave the judging the accuracy of representation to actual Muslim readers - it is not my place. The portrayal of the Muslim characters however was sympathetic and complex.

Another great book in the Kate Daniels series. It's great to see Kate and her family come together through adversary. As always, I am looking forward to another volume of witty and snappy prose and sword-wielding adventure.

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  • Started reading
  • 6 January, 2018: Finished reading
  • 6 January, 2018: Reviewed