Search - Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Bk 1)

I really enjoyed this book. I know it's the first in a series, but it could stand alone. I think a lot of times, especially when a series is "planned" before the first book comes out, an author does not take the time to fully "create" a character, instead letting them emerge over a series of books. I feel like I could have walked away from this book and been just fine. Although my one complaint is that you never fully understand the extent of Kate's power, or how she became so powerful; I hope it is fully explained in the next book. It was a great story with some original ideas. I liked this book much more than "Staying Dead" (Retrievers, Bk 1) by Laura Anne Gilman, even though they both have some things in common. So if you liked that one, I think you'll love this one! 5 stars!! (And I'm super-picky about my paranormal, so that's a huge honor!) Also, this is NOT a "paranormal romance;" Kate goes on some dates, but there's no sex or even heavy petting.

This was a surprisngly good read. The heroine, though pretty bad-ass, has more trouble than suitors, gets depressed, is maligned by the world and though she is, of course gorgeous, she handles everything with grit and intelligence. Can I tell you this is rare in the paranormal/romance genre? Well, it is! I don't think I've ever read a book were the main love interest writes off the heroine as a liar and a psycho. it was...refreshing. the action is top notch and though the villain is a little convenient it's easily forgiven by the grippingly interesting world Ms. Andrews has created. I can't wait to here more about the Crusaders. And the Shapeshifter... all I can say is YUMMY! Enjoy!

Kate Daniels lives on the outskirts of a futuristic Atlanta, where both magic and technology exist in "waves" (one crests, another falls, everyone goes on with their lives, but magic seems to be winning). She is a mercenary with some magic skills, rather a rule breaker and impulsive, she is loathe to join the Order (sort of the magic police, independent of the actual police) - their rules and code are too stiffling for her, no matter how much her guardian Greg tries to get her to join. Greg is the knight diviner in the Order, and one day Kate gets notified of his murder. True to her nature, her reaction is to exact revenge on his killer, even if she has never done detective work before. Her style is to shake things up and get people so mad they reveal themselves, which doesn't help her very much with certain powerful people. Examples include the necromancer puppetiers that control vampires, the Pack of shapeshifters, and the killer who is even worse than either of these. Very enjoyable novel, in a style that reminded me of Patrica Brigg's Moon Called and Blood Called. Kate is an intelligent and likeable heroine, a tough, no-nonsense girl, with maybe one major personality flaw - her mouth! Sometimes I was amused about what came out, other times I winced at her ability to get herself into trouble by speaking, especially with the Curran, Lord of Beasts. I am eagerly awaiting the second book of this series (coming out in 2008!), and will most likely pre-order it. Highly recommended. I read this book in a day, I couldn't stop.

I enjoyed this book, but felt that I was thrown into a world that was not properly introduced. Kate is a mercenary with unknown magic. She becomes a part of the agency her guardian worked for after he is murdered. Curran is the Beast Lord who oversees the shifters in the "new" world. A battle between vampires and shifters puts Kate in the middle. 3.5 stars

I wasn't certain I was going to like this urban fantasy but it ends up being fun, exciting and quite imaginative. I liked the Atlanta the authors created - a world where magic rules at times and technology at other times. When magic is in control monsters emerge and characters with power abound and technology fails and vice versa.

There is an abundance of "blood and gore," more than many can endure but the authors write well. The characters are intriguing, vacillating between supporting the hero and testing her.

The heroine is Kate Daniels, mercenary extraordinaire and poor as can be much of the time. She is fiercely independent, insecure at times and has a habit of getting herself into big trouble, often by spouting off before she thinks. Her job is to find and eliminate the law breakers in this futuristic world - rogue Vampires, changelings, monsters, and anyone who abuses the powers he may have.

The vampires and werewolves can become tools for necromancers who called the People. Were-creatures may become infected by the Lyc-V virus. When a lycanthrope consumes humans, they become a vicious creature. The lycanthropes group is known as the Pack, with codes and hierarchies for self-discipline.

The story actually begins when Kate's guardian is murdered and she sets out to find the murderer. Her adventures are wild, gruesome, and unbelievable but if you are up for moving into a world where nothing much is normal you will enjoy this one. Even Kate has some kind of power but we have yet to discover the source.

Kate comes across as a mix of Sookie Stackhouse and Harry Dresden. I hope Ilona's writing matures, because she could be a lot of fun.