Magic Burns (Kate Daniels Series #2)

WONDERFUL READ

In this second installment, Kate reluctantly agrees to do a favor for the local Pack and investigate the disappearance of some valuable maps. While hunting down the culprit, Kate gets called in on another favor. This time she winds up shackled with a teenage street urchin whose mother recently joined an amateur witch coven and went missing shortly after. Kate promises to find the girl's mother and, in the process, is caught in the crossfire between two ancient deities vying for power. So pretty much an average day for Kate and the city of Atlanta.

The highlights of MAGIC BURNS are definitely the increased personal interactions between Kate and the various people and creatures who've come into her life. The growing attachment between Kate and Julie (the young girl in her care) develops quickly and the protective stance Kate takes throughout the course of the book is quite touching . Equally compelling is the more slowly developing connection between Curran, the Pack alpha, and Kate. Despite their mutual attempts to avoid each other. The reader gains several insights into these two almost painfully private people and the ending promises more good things to come. In fact, these quiet character-driven scenes were so interesting that I wished there were just a few more. The plentiful action and fighting sequences seem to always take center stage and, though we do get a little more information on Kate's background, it is a very little, and I am (of course) anxious for more. A solid second book, I'm looking forward to the third one.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Dark & gritty urban fantasy

In Magic Burns, the sequel to Andrews' Magic Bites, the magic in Kate Daniels' world is going crazy. More specifically, it is leading up to a flare, a period of time where the magic overtakes tech and holds steady and strong. During a flare all kinds of things can happen - including the manifestation of deities into the mortal world, bringing all their squabbles and wars with them.

I'm really liking this series, and cannot wait for the next installment! There are still a few issues in this book which I mentioned in my review of the previous book: namely, twists of storytelling which go too fast for me to follow (I could have used a turning signal, or at least a few more paragraphs) and a few editing and proofreading errors. Nonetheless, this is definitely an entertaining world which Ilona Andrews has crafted, and I enjoy reading Kate's viewpoint of her world.

I am glad that more of Kate's background is coming to light in this book. I have my guesses as to some of her secrets, and am sure that in the next book (or two or three) they will be confirmed. I am also loving the subtle, slowly growing romance between Kate and Curran, the Beast Lord.

I definitely recommend Magic Bites and Magic Burns to lovers of urban fantasy - especially dark urban fantasy, as this series is certainly not light, happy-go-lucky fare. It is real and gritty, with death and blood as much a part of Kate's world as (if not more than) love and happy endings.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This urban fantasy is a spellbinding compelling read

Magic has returned to the world, but it comes in waves. When it flares, it is out of control when it flows it works. The world obviously has changed since the return with cities devastated as the magic hates tech and skyscrapers and either destroys them or changes them into something else.------------- In Atlanta Kate Daniels works for the Order and the Mercenary¿s Guild who helps people in need. She takes dowwn a killer in an underground garage but an unknown person does the actual kill using a special dart. A member of the shapeshifting Pack asks her to find maps stolen from them. The thief used the same dart that killed the man in the garage.. Kate returns to the scene where she got the dart. There she follows a clue to a child Julie, who is looking for her mom, a witch belonging to a nearby coven. Each vanished without a trace. Kate takes Julie home with her, but that proves no haven as sea demons attack. She next brings the child to the Order. She finally meets the dart thrower Bran who informs her that she, the witches and the shifters are caught in the middle of a war between two gods.----------------- This urban fantasy is a spellbinding compelling read. On this alternate earth, vampires, shifters and other paranormals co-exist with humans often not in harmony. Kate has a secret agenda and apparently has powers and a secret that are hinted at throughout the exciting story line. She makes the tale work as this alternate Atlanta seems genuine as a fascinating culture built around magic feels plausible. However it is Kate who will bring fans back for future tales. P Harriet Klausner

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Absolutely Great Series!

Loved it from start to finish. Can't wait for #6 to come out.

Excellent

What can I say? Kate Daniels is as entertaining as ever, and so is all the supernatural friends she's picked up along the way. The writing was spot on in this book, making this sequel much better than the first book.

Awesome

Any kate daniels book is worth picking up. Just make sure you have time to read the whole thing in one sitting because you won't want to put it down.

Kate Gets Better!

Another great read from Andrews.
I enjoyed the Action, the plot was pretty good, the character interaction was great, We get more involved with Jim and the Pack, and of course more Curran :D I am reminded of Briggs' Mercy and Adam with Kate and Curran. That's a good thing.

I can't wait to read book 3 [close]

Kate danials continues to captivate readers in this sequel to magic bites!

In the secound novel to Magic bites kate danials now a representative of the order, is again in way over her head. She is now up against superenaturel powers. To make matters worse a flare is coming(a flare is a super surge of magic that lasts a few days and makes everyone and everything more powerfull.)Kate must again team up with curren- the lord of all shapeshifters-and there relationship isnt any better. I say they should just get together already and stop being stupid. Anyway not only does she have to be responsible for herself now she has to be responsible for 13 year old julie untill kate finds her mother. Tempers sure do flare in this riveting sequel to the fantastic novel Magic bites!

A Must-Read

Simply: I love everything about this series. If you love fantasy, it's a must-read (and for me, a must-have as well).

Wonderful time

Strong heroine - great dialogue and interaction with the charaters

Excellent

Another must read!! Once you start you won't want to put it down either.

Great newcomer to urban fantasy

The Kate Daniels series is a great new read in the Urban Fantasy style. Sharp wit, plausible explanations and a "gotta get it all in one sitting" way.

I enjoyed the spark between between the main characters, but liked the tension too. The combination what we know historically about Atlanta, plus the intriguing adding of known mythology, makes this very entertaining.

This is what I would call a quick read, it's entertaining, engaging and it keeps moving at a nice pace. I went out to buy #3, so I could keep the story going.

I look forward to more from Iliona Andrews and hope she's a prolific writer. She's very fresh.

Very fun and exciting

I was really impressed with this novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it and really came to love Kate. She's likable and motivated and extrememly cool. The story was fast paced and kept you interested the entire time. Highly recommended!

Great Development on Character

I wasn't really into the main mystery in this one (the witches didn't grab me as being that interesting). However, I loved the way Kate's character matured. The relationship she began in the 1st book with Derek has opened a world of friendship and carrying with others. Who needs therapy when you have a teenage wolf sidekick? Kate's maternal instincts kick even further with Julie. The parallels of Kate-Julie and Greg-Kate is great for Kate and the reader. I won't even talk about Curran. There is just too much to be said.

Magic Burns

Kate Daniels is back and she's better than ever. No, really, I mean it. What to know why?

While investigating a crime, Kate stumbles across a street urchin who has lost her mother. The mom had been part of a coven trying to raise a Celtic god to give them more power but that plan sort of backfired and they ended up releasing another power bent on complete destruction. What makes it worse is that Atlanta is currently caught in the middle of a magic flare - a time every few years that magic runs rampant and intensifies. So, releasing bad gods in highly magic time = bad news. Add in the fact that the local Pack has had a very valuable set of maps stolen and we've got ourselves a rockin' good time.

Now onto the good stuff: Kate really shows her mettle in this installment. She willingly takes in a young girl even as she proclaims she's not really the mothering type, more the 'cool aunt' type. What's more she expresses her humanity that almost surprised me in her willingness to save one girl from evil that might end up slaughtering hundreds of people in the process. Her explanations to Bran on the subject were most enlightening.

Additionally, I'm not usually one for battle scenes but the big fight scene in this book truly caught my attention. Kate is powerful and no one really understands how much. Maybe becuase the battle was told from her point of view or maybe it was because she totally kicked-butt and wasn't sorry about it in the least. I'm not sure, but I liked seeing a woman who could bring an entire hoard of bad guys to their knees (literally). I felt so much more connected to all the characters in this one and can't wait for more.

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Unique with a thick plot

I wanted to see what happen with Curran, the Beast Lord, and Kate Daniels. And so far the adventure is worth checking out.

Snarky progatonist, oh my!

The first Kate Daniels book is merely a fun read to pass the time. By comparison, Magic Burns is crafted better and urges the reader through reading the scant 260 pages as fast as possible.

Right where Magic Bites leaves off, Magic Burns picks up. Kate is still broke, still a smart ass, and always getting into trouble. Of course, when someone begins to steal maps from the Pack, Kate gets involved. Things escalate quickly, not only leaving a young girl in Kate's protection with a missing mother but also sticking Kate firmly between the larger problem of two gods competing for rebirth.

The Kate Daniels world is unique, interesting, and entertaining. Perhaps because Magic Bites is just so quickly paced and throws the reader straight into the mix, it isn't until Magic Burns that the world can be appreciated. The shift of strength of the tidal-like "magic" waves and "tech" waves is intriguing. I sincerely hope that the tides come more into play as the story continues, because such a unique aspect should be utilized.

Altogether, many of the issues of Magic Bites were resolved in Magic Burns. Others, remained.

For one, the plot and antagonists moved along a lot better. The antagonist from the first was rather flat and dull, but I rather liked the addition of gray areas in Bran and Red. Although, I do wish that Bran hadn't been working so hard to get into Kate's pants--really now. I find it very hard to believe that so many males would want to seduce a woman like Kate. She's damned ferocious, sharp-tongued, and infuriating. Also, admittedly, she's more striking than beautiful. Generally speaking, that should chase off a good number of these suitors (regardless of their lust-level or seriousness). Also, I still have my irritations with the very obvious relationship-to-be between Kate and Curran. Honestly, I don't like Curran. (Well, anyone who is referred to as "Lord" will have to work hard to make it up to me, but unless he shows up with some redeeming qualities in the third book...)

In the same vein, I wish that more emphasis had been given to Andrea, Corwin, and Bran. While I'm not sure about Corwin (very interestingly, Corwin was first an animal, who is able to shift into a human state), I have high hopes for more Andrea.

I finished Magic Burns with a burning need to immediately being Magic Strikes, which says a lot about the improvement in this second volume.

Excellent story line and exciting how Kate works through the varied landscape and assortment of enemies!

Kate Daniels is very much of an interesting and exciting character. She is tough but sensitive. She is insightful and blunt. This is an excellent plot and very exciting to follow with the knights the wolf pack and the vampires. chase through the damaged Atlanta landscape with her! Excellent fantasy reading!

A very original Dark urban fantasy in an alternate world with magic

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel as the author has such colorful and well developed characters. The setting in this story is fascinating and very unique, which is something amiss in most urban fantasies i think. The battle scenes in this story are amazing, and I really look forward to the third in the series. I highly recommend this series for fans of dark urban fantasy novels as it is my favorite thus far.

Another great paranormal novel!

Kate Daniels rocks. Second in the series, this is even better than the first novel, which I also loved!