Magic Bites (Kate Daniels Series #1)

Great urban fantasy

In the near future, the world is a very different place as magic has returned but it ebbs and flows. When it flows, technology fails, but when it ebbs technology works. Kate Daniels belongs to the Mercenaries Guild, taking care of magical problems that organizations won¿t touch. Her mentor Greg Feldman wants her to join his group the Atlanta chapter of the Chapter of the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid but she refuses as she prefers being a lone wolf.-------------- When Greg is killed, she goes to the Order to tell them she wants to find her mentor¿s killer. They tell her she can perform a sidebar investigation under their rule and provide her the information they know and the pictures they have. The crime pictures show the same entity murdered Greg and a vampire. It looks like a shapeshifter is the culprit, which implies hostilities are erupting between that species and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers who control the mindless vampires. Kate has a hunch that someone is orchestrating things behind the scenes to cause a war between the two wary adversaries but she has no idea who has the power to pull off such a diabolically sly ruse.------------------ Ilona Andrews is the newest fantasy magician who makes her world seem plausible yet entertaining mindful of Rosemary Edghill and Mercedes Lackey. The heroine is an enigmatic interesting individual who learns over her investigation that she is capable of trusting others as well as gaining the confidence of Pack King Curran while still keeping much of what she learns to herself. MAGIC BITES is an enchanting paranormal whodunit that takes the supernatural into new natural directions.----------------- Harriet Klausner

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

I absolutely love this series!

My introduction to the world of Kate Daniels was the short story Magic Mourns which was included in the Must Love Hellhounds anthology. I am a fan of Charlaine Harris and picked up the anthology to check out her non-Sookie story. I loved Magic Mourns and started looking to see what else Illona Andrews had written. At that point, there were already three books in the Kate Daniels series with a fourth due out shortly. I bought the first three books and literally read straight through that weekend, finishing all three in a matter of a few days.

I was a little surprised when I realized that the main character in Magic Mourns is actually the best friend of the series main character, Kate Daniels, but got over it quickly as I got engrossed in the very unique world Ilona Andrews has created in a seemingly modern-day Atlanta. I appreciate the unique take on what has become an increasingly popular genre of magical creatures, vampires and shape shifters and enjoy the humor that is infused throughout the story. Kate is not your typical heroine and is definitely not always in the right place at the right time, yet she never gives up. She is dedicated and loyal and while strong, always seems to be full of bumps and bruises which makes her all that more likable as a character.

I highly recommend this series for people who enjoy stories that include an element of magic and myth to go along with action and mystery - and a little romance too!

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Fun, fast read

Great strong lead character, very cool setting and imaginative mix of magic/non-magic. I like the sparse details at the beginning that get fleshed out as the story evolves, keeps you reading. The light romance that seems sure to develop over future books is engaging and will keep me reading the series. The vampires were icky, but I liked the totally different take on them.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Love the Kate Daniels Series

A great kick ass heroine who doesn't feel the need to spout how bad ass she is to the reader, and to everyone in the book. She proves she's kick ass by actually... kicking ass.

I really like Kate Daniels as a Heroine. The story kept me interested, tho I did find some aspects confusing. I enjoyed how Andrews implores her vampires as gross, mean and killing machines. There is no romantic vampire notions here in this series :P

I found the possible romantic and sexual tension between Curran and Kate refreshing.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Fabulous story

Strong female character, strong male characters set in the future of waxing and waning magic and tech. I fell into the fictive dream of story/plot/mystery and characters - read the book in one setting - could not put it down. Would recommend it for urban fantasy lovers and it's really cool if you know Atlanta. Great authors.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great urban fantasy

A little reminescent of Simon R. Green, but this was a fun read. I like that the characters have so much chemistry and scenes turn sexy without turning smutty. The action carries the book well. My only critism is that i wish there was more description in the early parts of the book to help me visualize this world. But the descriptions get better throughout the book and the world emerges through the story.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Magic Bit me

Ilona Andrews (they are actually man and wife tandem. wow) did not hold my hand while I navigate the first few chapters of Kate Daniel's world. I was not used to it I felt lost. The vampires call themselves as the People (and their face / personality, everything leans more on hideous), Magic Guild Mercenary (this is where Kate belongs, assassin of some sort), The Pack that have seven clans and not all of them are werewolves and the Order of the Merciful Aid (the politicians, lol). Fascinating groups, now all I have to do is get use to them and their terms.

I wasn't really jumping up and down with this book. It is actually hard to review this one. It is complex. Kate Daniel's world is somewhat futuristic. Magic is loose to the world and humans live a long side our favorite monsters. But how did it come to that? Did I miss something? Normally I like this kind of a challenge but I wasn't up for it while reading. So the research to understand more came in later. As a result while I was reading, I almost decided not to finish the book. I was confused and sleepy up until about the last few chapters.

But here's what kept me going: There is a mystery in Kate's blood. When she spills she have to make sure that nobody can get a sample of it so she burns her bloodied clothes or whatever after a fight. Or she kill the person/creature who took samples. Her blood is either something special or she's hiding from someone/something and I'm itching to know. Then there's Curran, not impressed at this point but I will give him a chance he is after all the leader of the Pack, I need to read more of his antics.

To those who read this book already, how many are you out there revel on the goriness of that one scene where Kate cut of a vamp's head and order it to wake up and tell her who his master?

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Not sold yet, but going to give the second installment a chance.

Despite misgivings about any book titled MAGIC STRIKES, I picked up the ARC from work without knowing a thing about the book. Of course, it didn't take me long to realize that MAGIC STRIKES was the third in a series...and I was without the first two. Despite being frustrated, I decided to give Andrews a shot (though, to be honest, this decision was helped along by the blurb that Patricia Briggs has on the cover of the Andrews series). After a few weeks of procrastination, I shelled out a few dollars to get the first book, MAGIC BITES. Things turned out with very nice timing, though, considering that MAGIC STRIKES will be released on the 31st of March.

Kate Daniels is a penniless mercenary who specializes in neutralizing magical "problems". In Kate's world, there are tide-like periods of "magic" and "tech" that ebb and flow. When the magic "is up", human technology fails: cars, phones, guns... When the tech comes back up, the magic has left a string of problems. The plot of MAGIC BITES does not, however, revolve around one of these everyday (for Kate) occurrences. Instead, the death of her guardian puts Kate both on the path of solving the mystery and revenge.

Andrews drops the reader into Kate's world with a pace that requires the reader to either hit the ground running or fall to the ground due to the momentum. I took pretty well to this approach, though I felt that a little more explanation wouldn't have hurt the reader (or the size of the book, because the poor volume feels sadly thin at 260 pages). Regardless, I found Kate's world immediately intriguing. Though the world is filled with the usual suspects (vampires, werewolves and the like), each has a very original twist. How can one put any originality into vampires--outside of something silly like making them sparkle? Well, in Andrews' world, vampires are undead and mindless, but also generally used as vessels to be "driven" by the minds of necromancers. As for the "were"-creatures, they come in many forms. Not only werewolves, but were-lions, were-rats and... Kate, herself, is a human who wields magic and a magic-sword, but seems to have more to her than is divulged within this first book. I'm very much hoping for a secret worth waiting for.

Like all books in the urban fantasy genre, I have parts I love and hate respectively. I do adore a strong female protagonist--and Kate definitely has some traits in common with Patricia Briggs' amazing Mercedes Thompson. Alternately, Kate was interesting on her own, but if she seems to run along the danger of being too much this tough persona. Sure, MAGIC BITES covered weaknesses Kate supposedly has, but none really felt real. For one, her grief over her lose of Greg--whether or not their relationship was complex--was not nearly covered well enough.

Additionally, I have to wonder why every urban fantasy starring a female protagonist follows the "everyone must lust after the protagonist" formula. Testosterone driven males everywhere! I won't even bother to explain how unrealistic it is that all these males are so driven to find a hard-headed, "tom-boyish" female that is prone to threats and posturing. Nearly worse is that you can almost always spot the love-interest-to-be by (a) how much he and the protagonist butt heads to begin with and (b) by the fact he is usually the "dominant" male of the story. (Honestly, the near-romance with the unas

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Warewolves, and Vampires,and critters, Oh My!

I picked this up thinking this will be a bit silly but light reading, having just finished a very character and plot heavy book. After a chapter or two I began to get into the story and was hooked. Andrews does a fine job of creating a Koonts-like "Odd Thomas" character. For some it will be a bit on the gory side, because the action sequences are vividly done. The ultimate bad guy is a combination of sinister,strange and deadly types rolled into one. You finish actually wishing it was a bit longer. Sequel, you betcha! Buy this, I think you will like it.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

kate danials is the kind of heroin that its easy to cheer for!

I LOVED this book so much! Its off-beat and unussual in the extreame. kate danials is a very good swordswomen with a mysterirus past. when the last family she has is murdered she neads to find out who did it so she puts away her revulsion of the order and they allow her to do the investigation. while she is trying to find her gaurdians murderer she must team up with the pack. A group of shape-changers. they are volitile and ery teritorial. so she is in shallow water. Especialy since the pack lord curran and kate do not get along. At all. Kate and curran are at best volitile and at worst homicidal. kate and curran must work together to kind the purson who killed kates gaurdian and some shape-changers.

I would recomend this to alot of people but not everyone. If you get squemash at just the mention of blood or guts you will not like these books. However if you like urban fantacy, mystery and action. The next book is called Magic burns and the third one is called Magic strikes. The fourth one comes out in May 2010. read this book! Its positively amazing!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

edgy

this book was a bit dark and edgy, but in a good way. There was a lot of interesting characters in this book that got me engrossed. I can't wait to read the next one. I hope in the next book there might be a lil more romance

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good debut novel: not great but good

In this, Ilona Andrews' first novel, there is magic in the world, and it does not like technology. Set in Atlanta in the not-too-distant future, Magic Bites tells of a world where magic comes in waves, alternating with "tech" (times when technology works). Because of this influx of magic, there are certain agencies which have been created to deal with new magical problems such as harpies, dragons, and the occasional salamander-wielding arsonist. One such agency is the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, a highly-structured system which "helps" citizens who cannot afford any other aid. Another magical clean-up agency is the Mercenary Guild, to which Kate Daniels belongs.

When Kate's oldest friend and sometime-protector Greg is murdered, Kate takes on a mission to figure out why and how he died, and to avenge his murder. Kate's investigations bring her to the Order - which she left several years beforehand due to "authority issues". They put her in league with the Pack (shapeshifters who have conquered their beasts and retain their humanity), and have her facing off against the city's Masters of the Dead (necromancers and their vampire drones) in a battle for the city - and her life.

The story contained within Magic Bites is interesting, and I love Andrews' conceptualization of magic colliding with our technology-laden world. However, it all could have used slightly more editing, or more writing, or...well, something. There were a few parts where I was unclear as to how the characters got to a certain conclusion, and the narrator is constantly hinting at things which we are never told. Perhaps these hints will be further explained in forthcoming books, and I hope they are. This is an interesting series: I have already started on the next book, and hope that Andrews publishes more volumes of Kate's story.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Magically ... or Technologically ... delicious!

"I turned slowly and watched the bloodsucker descend down the snow-white wall of the Casino. It crawled head-first like a mutated gecko, long yellow talons digging into the mortar. The pallid body, taut with dry, stringy muscle, dripped necro magic ... "

Not your typical vampire ...
But this isn't your common Urban Fantasy world ...

The world Ilona Andrews has created as a stage for Kate Daniels is truly unique. Each day is constantly in flux as Magic and Technology struggle to take precedence. While Technology reigns, cars work and guns fire. When Magic reigns, the city is back to horses and swords. In addition to this wonderfully dynamic setting, Kate's world is infused with all manner of creatures ... humans, shapeshifters, witches, vampires, and others that are more exotic ... and she interacts with them in a typical butt-kicking
fashion as she solves crimes. Though the attitude might be similar to other characters in books you've read - the story behind Kate Daniel's attitude is interesting and will make you eager to read all future books in this series.

Try it ... I guarentee you'll like it! :D

Im luvin it

If you or your child like fiction,fantasy,magic,and demon slayers(slaying),I'd definitly get this book.

Another cross over that paranormal readers should check out!

A lion shifter bad-boy......a sassy female with a sword. A world where magic shuts off and on like a light bulb. Welcome to the world of Kate Daniels. This is one of the best urban fantasy series out there. Paranormal romance fans will probably like this although don't count on a juicy stuff. This has elements of a love story that take time to mature but it's definitely on my don't miss list!

Awesome!

The story line kept me interested and intrigued. Wonderful charactors. I can't wait to read further into the series.

Witty, intelligent, and engaging.

From the first sentence, Andrews captures your attention, and holds it to the last moment, leaving you hungering for more. This was the first urban fantasy I've read that captured my attention completely (although, admittedly, I haven't read many yet). Andrews wit, creative description, and skill with the mystery element captivated me - I chose reading her book over preparing for an in-laws visit!. And her marvelous characters were distinct and well-dimensioned. Mix in some insight into human psyche via her sometimes supra-human cast, and I'll read whatever she writes. Highly recommended - even for those who don't usually read urban fantasy.

Is it interesting enough to read the next book?

I'm thinking "no".... this book was really hard for me to get into. I forced myself to continue by reading all the terrific reviews hoping it would kick in... about 70 pages of force reading lead me to a a book finally interesting enough to continue. I felt it was poorly written as several times I would back track a couple paragraphs thinking I had skipped something, but I did not. The flow was just off in some places. Overall, it was an interesting story but I didn't give a hoot about any of the characters and the mysteries that remain don't really inspire me. Therefore I doubt I will continue with this series unless I am really desperate.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Worth every penny

If you like an 'in your face', sarcastic, ass-kicking heroine then you will enjoy this series. The dynamic between Kate and Curran is great. Plus plenty of action scenes that makes each book exciting and refreshing.

Definitely Not An Attention Grabber!

Compared to other books in this genre, I found Magic Bites to be a bit short. I think the author could have used a few more pages for character and emotional development. It was very easy for me to put this book down as I felt little connection to the characters or the storyline. On a side note, this was my first fantasy book involving shapeshifters, and I did not enjoy reading about wererats and werehyenas...seemed a bit silly to me at times. I just didn't get a good mental image from her descriptions. I liked the idea that magic and technology alternate, calling for different modes of transportation. I also liked the idea of the vampires being remotely piloted, and if the pilot dies, the vampire turns into a bloodthirsty monster. Overall, this book could have been much better, and the main character's "witty" comments (that a lot of other reviewers like) actually made Kate seem a little insecure to me.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.