Title: Magic Shifts
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels #8
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dystopia, Paranormal fantasy, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Ace fantasy
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: My fingers came out bloody.

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, Curran misses the constant challenges of leading the shapeshifters.

So when the Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild, Curran seizes the opportunity—too bad the Guild wants nothing to do with him and Kate. Luckily, as a veteran merc, Kate can take over any of the Guild’s unfinished jobs in order to bring in money and build their reputation. But what Kate and Curran don’t realize is that the odd jobs they’ve been working are all connected.

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…

Curran and Kate start a new life and a new era is ushered in with the beginning of Magic Shifts. Their new life embraces their love and small family – which you quickly realise is much bigger than just the three of them. Having a family away from The Pack was an incredibly new dynamic and one that just feels so right within their lives.

Most children would love for their father’s to be a part of their lives, which helps to make Kate’s reluctance to have hers a part of her life all the more entertaining. His involvement in her life is tenuous and incredibly risky – it is difficult to tell which way he will turn and how this is going to affect Kate’s life. I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series – Kate and Roland’s relationship balances on a knife edge and it is impossible to see which way it will slide.

The message that absolute power can, and often does, corrupt absolutely is poignant throughout this book. Roland has been a reminder of this throughout the series, but there are others. Mahon’s pigheaded ideals cause a huge rift within the tale, and his inability to see beyond his own ideals and grasps of reality had potential disastrous consequences. Contrastingly, when most of the characters are vying for power and control, Kate and Curran find their peace and happiness in the lack of power. Although they are still incredibly formidable in their own rights, the lack of power over others and that responsibility is refreshing and leads to pure happiness in their lives.

Image source: Ilona Andrews

Title: Magic Breaks
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels #7
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dystopia, Paranormal fantasy, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Ace fantasy
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: I don’t know if he bribed them, blackmailed them, or what, but he’s done something.

No matter how much the paranormal politics of Atlanta change, one thing always remains the same: if there’s trouble, Kate Daniels will be in the middle of it…

As the mate of the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than it seems possible to juggle. Not only is she still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, she must now deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel ancient being with god-like powers. Since Kate’s connection to Roland has come out into the open, no one is safe—especially those closest to Kate.

As Roland’s long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend the Conclave, a gathering of the leaders from the various supernatural factions in Atlanta. When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered there, apparently at the hands of a shapeshifter, Kate is given only twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she’ll find herself embroiled in a war which could destroy everything she holds dear…

This isn’t the last book in the series; luckily. However, it acts as a bit of a midway point, a mid-end to the series. It ties up some character arcs and storylines and answers so many questions that it is actually a really safe place to pause reading the series in. Not that I would recommend pausing this series, but regardless, it is a great way to neatly tie up some lose ends. Andrews also managed to seriously surprise me with the way in which they did this – the conclusion was startling and took a turn which I never expected.

There were a number of conclusions to plot lines throughout the piece – Andrea takes her place in The Pack; Kate is forced to face her father and past; and their issues with the order are bought to a head.

There isn’t as much of Curran throughout this tale – he is elsewhere, and Kate is left fighting her battles alone. It’s kind of nice though, so many stories, once the couple couples up, there is always an us and a we, but the fact that Kate reverts back to being independent and kicking butt on her own is exactly what I wanted. Strong independent women are great when they’re coupled, but they’re even better when they are able to stand independently of their partner.

Image source: Ilona Andrews

Title: Magic Rises
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels #6
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dystopia, Paranormal fantasy, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Ace fantasy
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: He tossed the limp body aside.

Atlanta is a city plagued by magical problems. Kate Daniels will fight to solve them—no matter the cost.

Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta.

Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap…

Kate and Curran are truly tested in Magic Rises. This is the most heart-stopping and gut-wrenching tale of the Kate Daniels series so far. At least for me, I cried at multiple points throughout the tale, and just couldn’t put it down until I had read it from cover to cover. Part of that was also the very frustrating relationship between the two primaries – a few times I was even torn between throwing the book across the room after Curran and Kate’s pigheadedness, and ripping through to the next page to hope that they would fix up their many blunders.

Magic Rises leads to the first big conflict between Kate and her Father’s people – it’s a conflict that has been a long time coming, but still, it was a serious surprise. The gradual increasing of the potency of Kate’s enemies is subtly and intricately done. Likewise, the stakes in Kate’s life continue to increase, she’s slowly carving out a family and a life for herself, away from her past and parentage. Although, this tale does help to reveal even more insights into her more-than-slightly obscure upbringing and father-figure.

Children are always a great driver for a storyline – they are the innocents that everyone (well, almost) will battle to protect, regardless of their political and social affiliations. It’s no different for The Pack. From their writing, you can tell that Daniels understands the love for a child and the potential pain of loss. This, in combination with a supernatural flavour helps to indicate the extent to which people will go to save their young, both current and future.

Image source: Fantasy Book Clinic

Title: An Ill-Advised Rescue
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels #5.8
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dystopia, Paranormal fantasy, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Ace fantasy
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: Empty.

An Ill Advised Rescue is the Kate Daniels short story, set a few weeks before the events of Magic Rises.
The story begins when Kate receives a phone call from the Guild informing that Saiman has been kidnapped…

I love that Saiman lands himself in some very serious trouble and needs to be rescued. He is an interesting character, and his continual presence in the Kate Daniels series is a good point of literary humour in the writing. Plus, the fact that the big, bad, whatever he is needs rescuing is such an appealing little side story.

An Ill-Advised Rescue perfectly explains and sets up many of the activities in Magic Rises. Saiman’s presence within the tale is key, and this short story perfectly explains it. It’s not necessary to understand what is happening, but it does make more sense in Magic Rises.

I also love Kate’s solo missions and her preclusion to take on daring tasks because it is the right thing to do. Luckily, Derek and Grendel reappear in this story as her faithful and cunning sidekicks. It’s a tough call which one is my favourite, but I think that the idea of attack poodle might just shift the scales into Grendel’s favour.

Image source: Fantasy Book Clinic

Title: Gunmetal Magic
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels #5.5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dystopia, Paranormal fantasy, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Ace fantasy
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: A loud hyena cackle rang through the clearing.

After eviction from the Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea is a wreck. She starts work for best pal PI Kate Daniels. Shapeshifters under Raphael Medrano — Clan Bouda male alpha, Andrea’s ex-lover — die suddenly at a dig site. With Raphael, she seeks killer in deep dark Atlanta. Her feelings for him may take a back seat to saving the world…

The Raphael-Andrea relationship takes centre point in this story as they both try to negotiate their changes in their lives. It was actually one of the most frustrating, and difficult things that I have read in a while. I became so invested in their relationship throughout the previous Kate Daniels books, and watching two characters that I am so emotionally invested in argue and fumble around in their lives was quite painful. Although, it was so easy to understand both aspects of their argument and frustration – neither Andrea nor Raphael are completely innocent, but both too proud and guilty in their past acts.

In this story, Andrews jumps from Russian folklore to tales of Egyptian mythology. I loved the representation of the god-like characters in the story. The sheer range of religions and mythologies that are alluded to in this series continues to stun and amaze me. Probably part of the reason why I love it so much.

This is well and truly the story of Andrea. She is forced to face up to her past, both the immediate past and her childhood. Undergoing a complete metamorphosis in this story, she not only faces up to her dismissal from the order, but also her place within the Pack hierarchy. I love that this whole process leads to Andrea finally accepting herself, everything that she is and can be.

Image source: Ilona Andrews

Title: Magic Gifts
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels #5.4
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dystopia, Paranormal fantasy, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Ace fantasy
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: “Why the secrecy?”

Dinner date after a hard workday should be heavenly. Of course, dates between the Beast Lord and Kate Daniels don’t always go as planned. Undead run amok, heads are chopped off, lawyers are deployed with extreme prejudice, and drunk vikings call people out.

Magic Gifts is a cute little aside that occurs while Andrea is running around town in Gunmetal Magic. It also helps to fill in some of the gaps to the interactions between Andrea and Kate. I love the way that Andrews is able to fill in the backstory to Håkon and why Curran was so terrified of Kate’s return.

Kate and Curran’s attempts at functioning like any other couple is kind of adorable. They are too volatile and prone to attracting danger in any shape or form. It is so sweet that they try though. Magic Gifts also highlights the love between the two characters – they both try to protect and care for each other, regardless of the outcome. But they also will do anything to protect those that are weaker and innocent, such as children.

Curran has a more than slightly insane protective streak. Sure, it comes from a nice place, but it’s kind of patronising. Kate, however, completely ignores this and does what she wants anyway. The ability to take into account someone else’s feelings, but act of your own accord is something that I greatly admire.

Image source: Ilona Andrews

Title: Magic Slays
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels #5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dystopia, Paranormal fantasy, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Ace fantasy
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: And none of the gods from the Norse pantheon were strongly associated with ants.

Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.

Kate Daniels may have quit the Order 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. Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—and fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price…

Kate has slowly developed and changed throughout the Kate Daniels series, but it is in Magic Slays that this change is most obvious. At the beginning of the series she is prickly and difficult, and has no close people in her life. However, as she slowly lets people in, these walls dissolve around her. Andrews does this so naturally that it is easy to picture this character evolution, and this great character development was so gradual that it is difficult to pinpoint an exact moment in which this change occurred.

Part of this evolution comes in the form of Curran and Kate’s relationship. I love that although they are committed, the parameters of the bond are still being negotiated. Kate refuses to lose herself within his life and role, but, as in all relationships, a compromise must be reached. Their unique brand of sarcastic quips and stubborn refusal to meekly submit left me giggling out loud (not the best thing to do when you are sitting on the bus).

Kate also thaws a little in her relationship with Julie – although she has taken care of and showed her love for her ward throughout the other books, the lengths she is prepared to go to to save her are remarkable. I’m not ashamed to say that my heart skipped a beat, and my eyes leaked a little when I read how far she would go to save part of her small family.

Magic Slays, other than beautifully investigating Kate’s evolution throughout the series, also delves into the idea of ‘them vs. us’. The danger of having such a mentality in its ability to be turned against others (and leads to acts of atrocious inhumanity) is beautifully highlighted in the attempted slaying that takes part throughout the story. I loved the gentle way in which Andrews highlighted this issue, without completely ruining the storyline.

Image source:The Book Smugglers