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Magic Slays (Kate Daniels #5)

by Ilona Andrews (Goodreads Author)

4.47 of 5 stars 4.47 · rating details · 16,773 ratings · 1,256 reviews

Kate Daniels has quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but starting her own business isn't easy when the Order starts disparaging her good name. And being the mate of the Beast Lord doesn't bring in the customers, either. So when Atlanta's premier Master of the Dead asks for help with a vampire, Kate jumps at the chance. Unfortunately, this is one case where Kate should have loo...more

Kindle Edition, 320 pages

Published by Penguin Group (USA) (first published May 31st 2011)

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Oct 01, 2011 Kat Kennedy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kat-s-book-reviews

*Before I begin my review, I must take a moment to honour the devastating goddess who made it possible for me to read this book. There are not enough words in the English language to fully capture the incadescents of this magnificent human being. She is beyond reproach, loved by all, exulted in her graciousness. I adore her with the nuclear reactions of a thousand suns. She is worth more to me than all of the precious jewels!*

/Suck up

"The series gets good at book three."

Neil Patrick Harris pretending to shoot himself

Neil Patrick Harris pretending to shoot himself

If I had a penny for ever...more

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May 18, 2011 Mariya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: magic-users, shifters, urban-fantasy, books-i-own, favorites, action-packed, all-nighter, bad-ass-hero, epicness-happening, emotional-wreck, heartwarming-smiles, hot-sex, hottie-harem, kick-ass-heroine, laugh-out-loud, swoon-moments, ultimate-alpha, possessive-hero, best-couple-award, re-read-material, side-character-love

The fifth book in the Kate Daniels Series, Magic Slays is just as AMAZING as all the rest. Ilona Andrews is one of my all-time favorite authors and I am so amazed at how with each book in the Kate Daniels series I grow closer and closer to these characters that I have so much emotion welled up in me. Yes. I cried like a big baby. That is how great and close you come to love these characters. You think of them as real and you adore each and everyone of them.

MAGIC SLAYS is the book! Yes, the book...more The fifth book in the Kate Daniels Series, Magic Slays is just as AMAZING as all the rest. Ilona Andrews is one of my all-time favorite authors and I am so amazed at how with each book in the Kate Daniels series I grow closer and closer to these characters that I have so much emotion welled up in me. Yes. I cried like a big baby. That is how great and close you come to love these characters. You think of them as real and you adore each and everyone of them.

MAGIC SLAYS is the book! Yes, the book where we get to see how Kate and Curran are as a couple, not just as a couple, but as Beast Lord and Consort. Kate and Curran were just as wonderful in this book as they were in the others. And yes, for those who will be begging to know, there is more Kate and Curran in MAGIC SLAYS and all I have to say is after this book, I want to steal Curran for myself. He makes my heart beat like crazy.

I had to stop myself from skimming through the book for all of the Kate and Curran scenes. I have a serious Kate and Curran addiction and I don't want help. Their scenes together were absolute perfection. And we really do see how much Curran cares about Kate. Aww...ummm..Kate do you mind if I steal him away from you? I love him.

So Kate is Consort to the Beast Lord and I bet you are all wondering how she is doing at that. She is so bad ass. Even though Curran tells Kate what to do she won't take any of that shit. haha. Just the way I like Kate. I adored Kate in this book. There are some things that we get to learn about Kate's past that she didn't even know and it made me tear up a bit, but that's because I love her.

As Consort, Kate does have a little power and there's this one scene in MAGIC SLAYS where I am like "Best Kate Daniels Showdown EVER! You Go, Girl!" We do get some surprises along the way that I will not spill, but it made me go WHAT?! HUH?! and YEAH! A lot of crazy emotions all at once. Characters that I worried about, laughed and cried with and you will too.

MAGIC SLAYS does not disappoint. Look forward to having your butt glued to your seat(like Curran glued Kate's butt to her chair in MAGIC STRIKES LOL) all day while enjoying yet another astounding book in the Kate Daniels Series.

More of my reviews at Mystifying Paranormal Reviews(less)

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Jun 02, 2011 Maja rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-can-t-wait-to-read-in-2011, favorites, urban-fantasy, glistening-fangs, role-models, werewhatevers, reviewed-in-2011, own-a-dtb

4.5 stars.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe we have a winner! Ilona and Andrew have done it again.

I have a plan to save urban fantasy. I’m not a megalomaniac or anything, I just think that UF needs saving and I care enough to try. Therefore, I’ve developed a cunning plan: I’m going to buy four more copies of this book. The first I’ll send to Jeanine Frost because she was the first of my favorite UF authors to disappoint me this year. (view spoiler) I’ll send t...more 4.5 stars.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe we have a winner! Ilona and Andrew have done it again.

I have a plan to save urban fantasy. I’m not a megalomaniac or anything, I just think that UF needs saving and I care enough to try. Therefore, I’ve developed a cunning plan: I’m going to buy four more copies of this book. The first I’ll send to Jeanine Frost because she was the first of my favorite UF authors to disappoint me this year. (view spoiler) I’ll send the second book to Chloe Neill, though I’m afraid she may already be beyond all hope. The remaining two copies have to be sent to the queen bee herself, our very own Charlaine Harris. She needs to read one and swallow the other like a medicine. Hell, I might even go wild and send a fifth copy to Patricia Briggs, because let’s face it, River Marked really wasn’t all that!

Amazing, amazing, amazing! That’s pretty much all I can say about this book. I especially love that there’s some Slavic mythology thrown into the mix.

Kate aka bunnycakes and her sugar woogums, His Furriness (hey, her words, not mine) are in a world of trouble… again! A secret society known as the Lighthouse Keepers hired a crazy scientist. He's building a device that can wipe out all magic within a four-mile radius. Life without magic isn’t easy for most of our characters, but the much bigger problem is that the device also kills every single magical person. That means the Pack, the People, witches, mages and just about everybody else. It’s basically an atomic bomb for the magical community.
In addition to that, the Beast Lord and his Consort (who hates to be called Mate) have other problems: Kate finds out the truth about her mother, which brings out a series of very difficult questions regarding her relationship with Curran, Andrea’s retired and not at all herself, a very important person gets mortally wounded, the boudas are creating more trouble than they’re worth and there’s even a pregnant Alpha in the Keep.

Favorite quote:
I could've fallen for someone steady. Dependable. Well-grounded. But nooo, I had to lose my head over this idiot.

After all that, the only thing left to say is: Go read this book. Now!
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Mar 03, 2013 Suzanne the Mighty ~Satin Seductress~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: author-goddess-ilona-andrews, urban-fantasy, 1-series-i-am-rabid-about, 1-top-5-bestest-series, action-adventure, girlies-i-would-take-for-a-tequila, funny-funny-har-har, kings-of-the-harem, hot-male-in-my-harem, magic, mages-witches-magic-users, paranormal-creature-menagerie, smexy-shifters-and-werewolves, va-va-voom-vampires, best-of-the-best-2011

This is the fifth installemnt of the Kate Daniels series and I LOVED IT! I completely completely consumed it this book, no page was left unturned, no word undevoured! In the last book it was left with Kate and Curran finally getting their freak on and becoming mates, and Kate starting up her own PI business with a little assistance from the Pack. In Magic Slays it has been a couple of months and she hasn't had a single client which, isn't surprising been as Ted her former boss at the Order has b...more This is the fifth installemnt of the Kate Daniels series and I LOVED IT! I completely completely consumed it this book, no page was left unturned, no word undevoured! In the last book it was left with Kate and Curran finally getting their freak on and becoming mates, and Kate starting up her own PI business with a little assistance from the Pack. In Magic Slays it has been a couple of months and she hasn't had a single client which, isn't surprising been as Ted her former boss at the Order has been bad mouthing her. But, when she does finally get her first job of finding out where a kidnap victim is she stumble on more then she bargained for and the whole of Atlanta's magical communiity have to team up or face certain death.

Although I love the action packed plots of all the Kate Daniel books, in this book I found myself looking forward to some Kate-Curran interaction and was a little worried that now they have gotton together the funny push and pull of their relationship would disappear; however, it was a needless concern, the two of them have still had heaps of chemistry and the witty banter that marked their relationship from the beginning. I loved watching them figure out exactly how they were going to life together, both of them are stubborn and used to getting their own way so sparks definately fly and although this book is fairly tame in the sex department, it is mostly fade to black, you can still feel the heat between them.

This book also expanded more on Kate's crazy family, and I really can not wait for the final confrontation between Kate and Roland and how it will pan out, Kate is like Spiderman she always beats the big bad guys even though she seems to have less power they they do, I just hope she can do the same with Roland. I have a feeling though that Hugh might be in the next book, her step father's prodigy and Roland's right hand man.

The only thing that was slightly disappointing was that I wanted to see Andrea and Rapheal together! There wasn't a single confrontation between them! They can't split up! I can't allow it damn it *shakes fist*! They were perfect for eachother!

I really loved this book, not only did it have a fast action packed plot, but it had my favourite couple in it and it has left me waiting very impatiently for the next book!(less)

15 likes · like · see review

May 22, 2011 Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kate-daniels, urban-fantasy

Coming off the high of the spectacular ending of Magic Slays, I've been staring at the computer for 10 minutes, trying to figure out why it took me a little while to really get into this book. And I think I've finally come up with the answer.

As the story begins, Kate is running the new agency that Curran set up for her since she has left the Order. But despite her competence and reputation, she doesn't have any clients. But just as her best friend Andrea returns from a two month absence, Kate is...more Coming off the high of the spectacular ending of Magic Slays, I've been staring at the computer for 10 minutes, trying to figure out why it took me a little while to really get into this book. And I think I've finally come up with the answer.

As the story begins, Kate is running the new agency that Curran set up for her since she has left the Order. But despite her competence and reputation, she doesn't have any clients. But just as her best friend Andrea returns from a two month absence, Kate is hired to find a missing man and the mysterious device he has built. She investigates; she is snarky; she is magic and bad-ass. But (insert light bulb here) I wasn't very invested in any of it, because Kate seemed to have no stake in it all, beyond completing a job. No justice mission like she had when searching for Greg's killer; no revenge for a brutal attack on a friend; no saving the world from a deranged aunt. Just a job.

It was when Kate realized what the device could do and what it would mean to her world, that I began to perk up. And then we were off and running. Without spoiling too much, I'll say that the device could have huge ramifications on Kate and all those she loves, if it is activated. And as we get into the second half of the book, Kate encounters a personal crisis, that makes her willing to risk everything to fix it. It's when Kate is desperate and loyal and determined that she is at her best. And here she shines, a heroine in the greatest sense.

Curran is back as Kate's mate, and I was worried that some of the spark would be missing from their relationship, now that it's more permanent. But Kate's paranoia keeps them from falling into the old-married couple routine. She still has questions about whether things can work for them long-term. But as the story progresses, he proves himself to be an utterly worthy hero. And I still enjoyed the fire between them.

For the last third of the book, I was completely unable to put it down. The ending was fantastic and sets up even more drama for the next installment. I can't imagine that Kate will be able to keep her secret for much longer. 4 1/2 stars.

*ARC Provided by Penguin Group USA(less)

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Jun 23, 2011 Melindeeloo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

There is really just no way to write a review that does Magic Slays justice without being spoilerish because, while the writing, the plot and the characters make the story really good, it is all of the little things that make it great. So without giving too much away, here are a just few of the things that made Magic Slays the newest addition to my very small keeper shelf ...

I loved the humor, especially Kate's banter with several of her cohorts and 'his furriness' - I had forgotten how snarkily...more There is really just no way to write a review that does Magic Slays justice without being spoilerish because, while the writing, the plot and the characters make the story really good, it is all of the little things that make it great. So without giving too much away, here are a just few of the things that made Magic Slays the newest addition to my very small keeper shelf ...

I loved the humor, especially Kate's banter with several of her cohorts and 'his furriness' - I had forgotten how snarkily funny this series is.

I loved seeing Kate and Curran together, their relationship will never be a smooth one with such dominant personalities but that is exactly what has the potential for keeping their relationship as interesting in the future as it is now - and there was one spot in the story in particular that was so surprisingly sweet that it had my inner romance reader sighing.

I loved the emotional roller coaster of the story and the gamut of emotions for Kate and me both - including some very nervous moments along the way since there are no guaranteed happy endings or ever afters in urban fantasy.

But most of all I loved Kate, through the series she has been great and here it was so very satisfying to have a heroine who was both powerful and smart - so not only did she rock in the action department, but she managed to hold her own - and actually kick butt - using her smarts instead of her sword in a confrontation of a different kind with the pack as well.

So a big gushing fan girl thumbs up for Magic Slays. I am always afraid that books I anticipate as much as this one will let me down, but no disappointment here on any front - I know it sounds cliche, but since Kate Daniel's world keeps on getting richer and the characters and relationships continue to develop, this series really does keep getting better with every book. And the last few lines of the ending to Magic Slays - Wow, game on - have me totally amped up for the next trip to Kate's magical Atlanta.

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Apr 01, 2012 Bry rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, mystery, urban-fantasy, series, audiobook, 2012, 2011

(Kate) "You can't tell me what to do."
(Curran) "Yes I can. Listen: this is me telling you what you will NOT do."
(Kate) I raised the cookbook and taped him on the nose. Bad cat.

When you have a series that has reached the 5th book it can be really hard to keep readers with you, keep the plots fresh, not predictable, and enjoyable. This was not a problem at all for the awesome writing team that is Ilona Andrews.

This installment in the Kate Daniels universe was full of tension, blood, emotion, tea...more

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Jun 03, 2011 Lisa O. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, uf-or-pnr, with-smut, ebook, vampires

I would like all authors of urban fantasy and paranormal romance out there to stop for a second their feverish scribbling and take a look at this series. THE proof that YES, series don't necessarily need to go down the drain after 4th installment, that YES, series can STILL be interesting after the two romantic interests in the story "do the deed" and that YES, plots do not need to become unbelievably twisted, punctuated by improbable events and where mythology gets slaughtered just to get out o...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Lady Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Kate Daniels fans

Shelves: eagerly-anticipating, ilona-andrews, love-the-author-a-must-buy, magic, shape-shifters, urban-fantasy, vampires, adult, adventure, best-series, domineering-alpha-lead, favorites, fiction, humor, kindle, kick-ass-female-leads, mated-for-life, paranormal-romance, re-read_because-one-of-my-personal, read-in-2012, romance, witches, ilona-andrews_kate-daniels-magic

I loved this book! I thought that once Curran and Kate mated that they would become boring and mundane...but OH NO....there is none of that in this book!
I LOVE Kate's personality! Her wit, the way she thinks, She is perhaps one of my favorite female leads...EVER! She has my favorite characteristic in an Alpha Character - Broken but Strong, and Loyal.
Kate has been trained to be strong, cold, to kill and trust absolutely NO ONE... that she second guesses herself and has a hard time letting her gu...more

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May 16, 2011 Katie(babs) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Magic Slays is book that Ilona Andrews’ fans will eat up. There’s a great deal of action, awesome Kate snarky insight and nice sexy time with her and Curran. I feel Ilona is tying up loose ends that will lead to the ultimate battle between Kate and her father. Also, as much as Curran and Kate really work well together, I feel because they’re now a unit and pretty much dedicated to one another as a mated couple, having this series go on indefinitely is something I can’t see. Kate and Curran remin...more Magic Slays is book that Ilona Andrews’ fans will eat up. There’s a great deal of action, awesome Kate snarky insight and nice sexy time with her and Curran. I feel Ilona is tying up loose ends that will lead to the ultimate battle between Kate and her father. Also, as much as Curran and Kate really work well together, I feel because they’re now a unit and pretty much dedicated to one another as a mated couple, having this series go on indefinitely is something I can’t see. Kate and Curran remind me so much of Eve and Roarke from JD Robb’s In Death series. These two are so settled and cozy with one another. Curran looks out for Kate far too often and is almost smothering in his protection toward her, which she can’t stand. But we all know they won’t get fed up with one another and their HEA is pretty much set in stone. Kate and Curran relationship can be compared to the 1980’s TV show Moonlighting and the Maddie and David character story arc (when Maddie and David finally were in a romantic relationship together after years of not acting on their attraction, the show lost viewers and was soon canceled). I believe the same fate lies here with the Kate Daniel series.

I really do love Ilona’s world building and the cast of characters she has created. Magic Slays has a great deal of heavy moments, but also some light ones, mainly due to the way Kate reacts to situations. Kate’s entire focus has changed. She used to work for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, but after being fired she now has opened her own business calls Cutting Edge Investigations. Business is very slow on her end, mainly because of her reputation and being the female alpha alongside Curran, the Beast Lord. Kate also has an adopted daughter Julie, who causes more problems than Kate can deal with.
Plus, she has to put up with dangerous mindless vampires popping up at any moment when their masters can’t control them. It’s never a dull moment for Kate.

Trouble seems to follow Kate wherever she goes. She takes on a dangerous job of finding a top secret item that was stolen. This stolen item isn’t something simple as locating a piece of priceless jewelry or a painting. A device has been created to bring forth destruction to Atlanta. Think of this as magical atomic bomb that in the wrong hands will bring forth a post-apocalypse, and destroy not only humans, but every supernatural creature that comes in contact with. The inventor of this machine is also missing and the only one with the knowledge to destroy the doomsday device. Kate, along with Curran and his pack must stop Armageddon before it’s too late.

Magic Slays is a wild ride. Poor Kate gets beaten within an inch of her life. I can’t understand how she’s still standing and goes back for more. The last 30 pages are intense, where you’ll practically be on your feet cheering. And even though there are bleak times ahead for Kate, she is mentally strong. She now has a “family” of her own who would die for her. She is no longer alone and trying to survive day to day. Curran won’t let her close herself off, and I’m not just talking about the way they share their bodies with one another. Their tug-o-war is over and they have created a bond that won’t be broken. These two are perfect for one another, although again, this outcome between Kate and Curran has come to an end. There’s not much more Ilona can do with these two in terms of excitement. Perhaps some readers will find Kate and Curran’s relationship like a pair of comfy slippers they can slip their feet into. It’s nice to see Kate have some happiness in her life, but when this romantic part of the series has been tied up, what more can happen with them?

Magic Slays is easy reading where you’ll gasp in outrage, as well as laugh and sigh (sigh as Kate and Curran share a bath together. Le rowl). I really have enjoyed Kate’s take control of the situation attitude, wit and how she keeps getting back up to take down the bad guys whose purpose is to make people suffer. Ilona Andrews fans will not want to miss this one.(less)

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May 10, 2013 Ctanner rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, urban-fantasy

This series keeps getting better. Magic Slays picks up about a month after Magic Bleeds, Kate and Curran are mated and living in the Keep. Kate has started her own private investigation business and it is floundering, until she gets a client who wants her to find a kidnapped inventor; major drama, violence and tragedy follow. Andrews does a great job of balancing the folklore, violence, and romantic aspects so that the story is balanced and extremely well paced. Magic Slays is the best so far in...more

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Jun 11, 2011 Hirondelle rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Better than the previous book, but still somewhere along the line this series has stopped working for me. By the way my rating would be closer to 2.5 stars.

I really liked the first two books. But after that the series stopped working for me. I kept trying to figure out why, and I think I finally worked the two main reasons it´s no longer working for me.

1 - One reason is subjective, the direction this series is going is not quite *my* thing. Everybody has got favorite "ingredients" or flavours,...more Better than the previous book, but still somewhere along the line this series has stopped working for me. By the way my rating would be closer to 2.5 stars.

I really liked the first two books. But after that the series stopped working for me. I kept trying to figure out why, and I think I finally worked the two main reasons it´s no longer working for me.

1 - One reason is subjective, the direction this series is going is not quite *my* thing. Everybody has got favorite "ingredients" or flavours, in plot or tone and this series is not quite mine. For example I adore satire but am not too crazy for banter dialogue or snappy one-liners, which can be just annoying to me. Example (view spoiler). I get it, it´s meant to be funny. I am sure I thought it funny the first time I heard it. And it can be very funny even on repeat use depending on delivery and appropriateness. But here sorry it did not work for me. It´s a line for a snappy character and not sure that character is supposed to be snappy like that. And that is another thing: I do not like Andrea the character - nor do I dislike her, I just get the feeling I am supposed to like Andrea and do not.
Still on it just not my thing: the big fight scenes coming out of the nothing, our heroine getting beaten up badly but somehow killing a big bad thing in a ass-kicking way. And the big baddies being pulled out of nothing for just one book. Not my cup of tea.

2 - This is more important, the plot, actions and character development do not flow logically enough from my point of view. A lot of pretty trees do not make a convincing forest. And all through these last books the plot felt (to me) as a series of points, major drama points, where we are told why characters go from one scene to the other; little extrapolation is expected from the reader and maybe even not desired. This is not a series where you can speculate that character Y did not do something because of something hidden that might be revealed yet. We get told why and expected it to believe it. Or we are told something is mysterious. If smart tough characters act in an unlikely way, just do not notice it. This is all spoiler territory, here goes, and warning, I got carried away with the examples:(view spoiler)[
- Whatever was that stuff with Andrea? End of last book, Kate suffers major emotional impact by her apparent desertion, now she is back (of course on the most melodramatic point possible, middle of a big fight) and it´s oh, nevermind that, it was some bureaucratic stuff I had to take care off, and in that month I totally had no time to contact you again. Kate: "BFF as usual, let me hire you." This was a lame explanation. I was expecting a twist, she was secretely being hostage to something and doublecross Kate, but no, we, like Kate, are to take that at face value. And I get the feeling this subplot was created and resolved just to put some melodrama on the final of last book, and a bit of melodrama at the start of this. It did not make *emotional* sense for those characters, not from my PoV.
- some of the secondary character´s interactions are just odd. I never got Rene motivations for hiring Kate and Company, or how it would fit the larger plot. Then things like the Red Corps sergeant "Rene had ordered him to cooperate and he was a company man, so he answered my questions, but he didn’t exactly recognize my right to ask them." but a few pages later being so helpful and retroactively helpful "“Both graveyard and day shifts are waiting by the house. I figured you’d want to talk to them.".
- Some characters just do not seem to be as smart as they are supposed to be. A few pages after that last example, Kate has this exchange with Luther over the disappearance of wards on that bridge
"Luther focused on me like a pointer on a pheasant. “You know something.”
When in trouble, stall. “Me?”
“You. Tell me.”
“Can’t.""
This is Kate, our tough heroine daughter of the big bad who she was trained all her life to fight , and she can not disassemble, lie, improvise, keep a poker face but let´s a powerless idiot read her clearly enough for him to see she is hiding something? come on, Kate. And a logic complain, if the wards evaporated due to the device which also kills magical beings, how came the wards on the bridge disappeared but the troll they were guarding survived?
- Another example: Kate realizes Curran knew of her parentage and might be using their relationship as political leverage in a possible future confrontation with her father. Points for Kate by talking that through with Curran. But they talk, he has a naïve declaration “I have a string of safe houses set up all across the country,” followed by a surprising “Fuck the Pack. I gave them fifteen years of my life. I fought for them, bled for them, and the moment my back was turned, they attacked my wife. I owe them nothing.” and that is it. She trusts him again despite the surprising character development. And Kate honey, if he was working you, he could be working that scene as well. I do not think the author means it that Curran really is using her that way, it is just that I expected Kate to be more paranoid, more cynical, thinking harder as well as for Curran to have deeper loyalties to his own pack. Maybe the next books might put this scene into context. But I think we are supposed to take it at face value, and it does not work for me.
- Bits of plot just do not make sense. I talked about Rene, another example :the grocery list, WTF? She has a grocery list which includes among others protein shake, bananas, sugar, chocolate, milk (it does not sound that nauseating). Out of that she thinks Saiman was there. But Saiman just as a visitor impersonating an investor, he would not have needed to prepare his own special shake concotion there nor could he have added that to the shopping list.
- One last example: the big bad, Kate´s biological father and his minions are not on this book. I think author is saving that confrontation for later books. But his lack of involvement in this book is waved away in a way I found hard to believe in. It is waved away as his interest in avenging his sister (his milennia old sister, pulled out of nothing in order to be the villain of the previous book. I am not *letting* that go) is explained away as “Erra attacked the Guild, the Order, the Pack, the civilian businesses, the Temple, basically anything she ran across, which constitutes an act of terrorism of federal proportions. Right now nothing officially ties Erra to Roland. If he claimed responsibility for her behavior, the United States would feel compelled to do something about it. I have a feeling he doesn’t want a full-blown conflict, not yet." Kate, he had trouble with the Pack for before he was even aware of you. He could hurt you or them, and people believe he is doing it for all sorts of reasons without in any way associating himself with Erra. No. Not buying that.
(hide spoiler)]
Those are just examples. A *few* examples, there was more.
I guess if you can take a book as a series of nice trees, this will be fine. Everything is *explained* textually away. But if you are the type of reader which tries to see a forest behind the trees, this might not held up to too close scrutiny.(less)

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Aug 10, 2011 new_user rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I waffled, but I can't give Magic Slays more than three stars in the end. Slays is competent work, but I read this to finish it. We didn't learn anything new about Kate or Curran, her enemies are vicious, creative, and quirky per their usual, and she wins by the skin of her teeth as her custom.

Kate & co. also struck me as oddly self-righteous or cruel in this installment. Andrews has never deluded us. Her villains run the gamut, but typically, they perpetrate graphic, criminal violence. They...more I waffled, but I can't give Magic Slays more than three stars in the end. Slays is competent work, but I read this to finish it. We didn't learn anything new about Kate or Curran, her enemies are vicious, creative, and quirky per their usual, and she wins by the skin of her teeth as her custom.

Kate & co. also struck me as oddly self-righteous or cruel in this installment. Andrews has never deluded us. Her villains run the gamut, but typically, they perpetrate graphic, criminal violence. They always elicit horror in the reader. Slay's villains perhaps most so. However, in Slays, so do the heroes. Sorry. Making out near a dude's spilling intestines... we have to draw the line somewhere.

That's only one instance where Kate or Curran derived satisfaction from belittling someone who had dissed 'em. I can't put it any other way. Any time someone stepped awry of them, they put 'em in their place. Someone was always dishing comeuppance. Were the authors angry or is this a new aspect of Kate and Curran's positions? Will they constantly have to put challengers in their places?

I don't really want to read constant humiliation. Werewolf hierarchies aren't comfortable to read for that reason. We would call them a-holes in real life- constantly throwing their weight around. Anyway, I expect a little dignity from my heroes. Kate was self-deprecating in previous books, humble or kicking butt in defense of her life or sommat. She wasn't trying to convince everybody of her superiority. I expect a little darkness from Andrews' novels. I read dark urban fantasy. But there has to be someone to root for.

Then Kate lectures everyone and their mother. She lectures teenagers, she lectures grieving mothers, and on and on. Even when supposedly deeply grieving herself, she apparently has the presence of mind to pose as a therapist for a pregnant friend. I don't mind when authors drop a note or two about true-life issues. Writers have opinions too, and it's natural to express them in one's outlet-- but when it's so un-subtle that I can hear the platform shaking...

I may be getting off this train...(less)

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Nov 15, 2012 Keertana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kick-ass-heroines

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Magic Slays wasn’t nearly as good as Magic Bleeds, but it was pretty darn close. I’ve said it before, but it deserves repeating – this series excels because of its characters. Its formulaic-ness never becomes a problem simply because the characters are so lively and real. Even secondary characters such as Jim, Curran’s best friend; Derek, a werewolf who’s good friends with Kate; Julie, the orphan child Kate is guardian too; and especially Andrea, Kate’s best friend, have all pl...more Rating: 4.5 Stars

Magic Slays wasn’t nearly as good as Magic Bleeds, but it was pretty darn close. I’ve said it before, but it deserves repeating – this series excels because of its characters. Its formulaic-ness never becomes a problem simply because the characters are so lively and real. Even secondary characters such as Jim, Curran’s best friend; Derek, a werewolf who’s good friends with Kate; Julie, the orphan child Kate is guardian too; and especially Andrea, Kate’s best friend, have all played HUGE roles throughout this series and their continued presence, depth, and dialogue just contributes towards making this series as amazing as it is.

With Magic Slays, we begin to see the potential cracks in Kate and Curran’s relationship as they transition from their honeymoon phase to truly needing to work together, all within the constraints of Pack Laws. Much like with Magic Bleeds, it was Kate’s inner reflections that made this novel as remarkable as it was for me. Kate learns more about her past, her parentage, and her true purpose in life and with all these heady revelations, there is bound to be backlash, confusion, and worry. Ilona Andrews manages to convey these emotions so perfectly that, despite the fact that Kate is different from any of us, we can still understand and empathize with her. Even her relationship with Curran, although strained at times, was a pleasure to watch unfold merely because it was so realistic, all while maintaining a strong and healthy companionship.

It’s tough to pinpoint exactly what makes this series brilliant. It’s a combination of everything really; intriguing plot, hair-raising mysteries, well-researched lore, unique world-building, incredible romance, and, at the heart of it all, a protagonist who is impossible not to love. Kate is someone I actually look up to now, someone I admire, and she is just that real to me. Ilona Andrews has gained a fan in me and I only hope that, despite the disaster that was Magic Bites, this series continues to receive the hype and popularity it maintains – and rightfully deserves.

You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.(less)

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May 17, 2012 Julia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, urban, dropbox

Love it, love it, love it! All I want to do after finishing this book is go back and start all over at the beginning. Kate and Andrea, in particular, have some fabulous page time in MAGIC SLAYS, and their witty banter really made the book for me. Andrews does a phenomenal job developing the tension of Kate's eventual conflict with her father without ever making me feel like she was artificially stretching out the series (the revelations of MAGIC SLAYS were both satisfying and realistic). This se...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Maggie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, crushworthy-guys, i-ve-just-read-you-and-i-love-you

I feel I should warn you: Ilona is actually a power word that means read. After 5 books, 3 novellas and 1000 squeals in 6 days, you would think the novelty would wear off. NOPE. There is still such a freshness to the story and so many more storylines to be explored. Derek? More please. Jim and Dali? More please. Kate and Curran? I WILL SAY PLEASE BEFORE AND THANK YOU AFTER.

Basically, I can't get enough and it's a great feeling. Book slump? What is that?

The stakes are raised even more in this boo...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: flights-of-fantasy, 2011-reads

Has it been five books already? My how the time flies, it seems like just yesterday Kate was a Merc who hadn't even met the Beast Lord yet.

The world of Kate Daniels, is an interesting one. Where magic rushes in and out like an unpredictable tide, canceling out technology, and things like street lamps or gas powered cars when it's high, and allowing them to run when it's low. And all this magic comes out of everywhere, legends and myths roam the streetes.

The four previous books have seen Kate's r...more Has it been five books already? My how the time flies, it seems like just yesterday Kate was a Merc who hadn't even met the Beast Lord yet.

The world of Kate Daniels, is an interesting one. Where magic rushes in and out like an unpredictable tide, canceling out technology, and things like street lamps or gas powered cars when it's high, and allowing them to run when it's low. And all this magic comes out of everywhere, legends and myths roam the streetes.

The four previous books have seen Kate's resolve broken down, till now she has let people in. She has a lot of things to shuffle through in any close relationships that she has, first and foremost, she can be a dangerous person to know, and there are people that want to hurt her, through the people she loves.

Since the amount of arcane mythical figures and beasts is fairly vast, these books have a lot to draw from. In this case it's technology versus magic, when someone builds a device that sucks it up, killing everything magical within a set radius.

I wouldn't say that her and Curran lose all their chemistry now that they're a couple, but they definitely lose a lot of the sizzle that they had...I wouldn't mind if a little bit of comes back (and as a side-note, after having seen the movie Thor, I have finally answered my own question of who could play Curran on the bigscreen). I do like the fact that both of them can fend for themselves, I've read a lot of books lately, where one person is the fragile, must be protected all the time, and the plot requires that said fragile person is always doing dangerous and hazzardous things, much to the frustration of the the Alpha of the two.

It's getting a twee bit formulaic, in the Kate puts herself in danger, Kate and Curran fight about it, Kate does it anyway, Curran comes tearing in anyways, everyone gets really banged up and injured, and victorious in the end. Though in this book, she does gain a few relatives she didn't know she had, and the character of Julie is poised to become more involved then previously.

I am always a bit intrigued by the fact that "Ilona Andrews" is in a married couple who teams up to write. It's teamwork that really seems to work for them, and it feels like the characters benefit from having a female and male viewpoint to how their written. I think it makes Curran more realistic, and Kate more well-rounded. And I often wonder if Ilona and Andrew sit at home and practice dialogue, or stand over each other's shoulder saying "You know what would be really cool, is if there were a herd of giant Calcydonian Boars attacking them right about here."

We all know, ever since book one we've known, that eventually that Kate has to have a very big show down with her Father, and every new book that comes out I think...this is the one. And it's not the one. I wonder if the authors are reluctant to let her go into that show-down, because it seems like a definite end-point, a place to put the series to rest. And if they aren't ready for that, I'm not ready for that either. (less)

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May 26, 2011 QueenB rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another great addition to the Kate Daniels series. The story arc is really starting to move forward and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next one. I am waiting with bated breath to see the first meeting between Kate and her father. Eeeek! I can't wait.
A lot happens, there's plenty of action as well as relationship building moments and character development. I love that this series always feels like it's going forward and never stalls out. Curran and Kate are awesome and there are great...more

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Jun 01, 2011 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, challenge-2011, challenge-2012, favorties

I plan to do a full review of this later - these are just my quick thoughts.

I loved it!! Ilona Andrews just continues to blow me away with their stories. It's such a deep, vivid, layered world with complex characters around every corner.

I liked the reality of Kate starting her own business. Of having partners/employees. The difficulties and issues that come with that and how she handled them.

The growth and development in Kate and Curran's relationship is fantastic. This isn't just an HEA, ride...more

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Jun 06, 2011 Laura (Kyahgirl) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action-adventure, favorites, humour, part-of-a-series, sci-fi-fantasy, urban-fantasy, shapeshifters, magic, favorite-authors, re-read

5/5; 5 stars; A+

Re-read; Aug.2012-I think this is the best book in the series. I'm glad Kate is out of the Order and settling into her life with the Pack. It continually amazes me when the Andrews duo comes up with more twists and complexity in the world they've build. Well done.

Original Review:

Ilona and Gordon Andrews can do no wrong.
So often, the first book in a series is great and then it peters out. The Kate Daniels series is the opposite. Every books is strong, every book brings the story...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Ami rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal-futuristic

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Kate now owns her own agency, Cutting Edge, but business hasn't exactly booming. But at least her best friend, Andrea returns after missing for two months. And no one calls her Mate (which is an improvement!) in the Pack -- they settle for Consort. Then Rene, one of the Red Guards Kate encountered during the Midnight Games, hires her to find a missing man who makes a mysterious device. Kate finds out what the device actually does: erase magic. It's up to her and Curran, and the rest of the Magic...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 29, 2011 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011, favorites

To view my favorite quotes from the book, go to http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?... (scroll to bottom of review). There are lots of wonderful lines in this book!

Every time I pick up a book from Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels’ series, I am reminded of why this series is among my mostest favorite out there. I love everything about it. The world, the stories, the style, the characters…all of it. And Magic Slays, the fifth book in the series, is just as wonderful as the rest of the series.

Magic Sl...more To view my favorite quotes from the book, go to http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?... (scroll to bottom of review). There are lots of wonderful lines in this book!

Every time I pick up a book from Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels’ series, I am reminded of why this series is among my mostest favorite out there. I love everything about it. The world, the stories, the style, the characters…all of it. And Magic Slays, the fifth book in the series, is just as wonderful as the rest of the series.

Magic Slays focuses mostly on Kate’s and her new co-worker (yay!) as they work their first case with Kate’s new business venture, Cutting Edge Investigations. (Boy is this case a heavy load!) But on top of dealing with her first case, Kate is dealing with being co-alpha of the Pack. Now that she’s mate to the extra yummy and very alpha Curran, she has to stand up and take on her share of the Alpha duties. I say this every time I write about a book in this series, and I’ll keep saying it over and over: I love Kate and I want to be her when I grow up. Ilona Andrews writes such a real character in Kate. She’s flawed, afraid, human. She’s so brave and full of spunk but she can’t show her true self to the Pack. She can’t show weakness or real emotion. But when she’s with Andrea, or better yet when she’s with Curran, her vulnerabilities come through. Yet they don’t make her any less strong. I am always amazed at how well she is written. She is by far my most favorite part of this series.

I am also quite fond of Curran. (All together now, let’s just get it out of the way – *rawr*) Curran is one of my favorite male characters in any book. There is just something about him. Much like Kate, there is such a human side to him, even though he has to be mostly animal all the time and he absolutely can’t show any sign of fragility. Just one show of how he really feels in a distressing situation and he could not only lose his Alpha status, but also his life. He has the weight of the world on his shoulders yet can still find humor in life. (And I still adore how he courted Kate in the previous two books). Curran isn’t around all that much in the first part of this book, but don’t fret. Curran and Kate share some of the most wonderful couple moments later on. They are so filled with real emotion. In the prologue, there is a time when all Curran does is say “Kate”. Oh wow *swoon* all over! And even though these books take place in a world where magic resides with tech and shifters are everywhere, the feelings and how they are dealt with hold true in any setting.

The story that Ilona came up with this time around is gripping. Kate and the rest of the magical community are dealing with extremists. They manage to capture the hate and fear that these extremists feel perfectly. So much so, even though you know that these people are simply being misled and are too stupid to realize otherwise, you manage to hate them with all your being. The confrontation scenes are gory and heart-wrenching. And even though you know that things will turn out okay, you still hold your breath and cross your fingers when these scenes occur.

We learn a little more about Kate’s ancestry in Magic Slays too. This time we get a glimpse at her mother’s side. Poor Kate… I’ll just say thank goodness for Curran and the joy he brings her. I really hope her magic abilities are explored further in the next book. That would be really neat.

Overall, I was very very happy with this installment. The Kate Daniels series is one of my most favorites and will remain there forever. I know it. The world is so unique and the characters are unforgettable. It’s just a wonderful Urban Fantasy series.

As for Magic Slays, I found it to be just wonderful. I laughed, I swooned and I felt my heart break. And the scene where Kate has to take care of Pack business on her own…the way she handles a certain situation… Let’s just say you’ll jump out of your chair and yell “Oh Yah! You go girl!” Kate rocks, and so does this book.(less)

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Jun 05, 2011 Samina ~ Escapism~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, kindle-pdf, urban-fantasy

Oh my God!!!!!!!Loved Loved Loved the book.The wait of nearly a year was worth it.I am still high from reading this action packed book and finding it difficult to come back. I swear my toes are still tingling from the ending.I don't think I have words to describe how much I love this series and Kate and of course Curran*yummy!I wouldn't mind being called babycakes Curran*.They warm up my heart with their witty banter and there weird twisted display of affection.The plot is fast paced and makes y...more

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Aug 10, 2012 MrsJoseph rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-read, 2012-reviewed, hero-alpha-male, fa-top-100-challenge, fa-top-100-fantasy-books, fantasy, fantasy-urban, format-paperback, kate-daniels, heroine-kick-ass-female-character, series, series-to-build, heroine-spunky-spitfire, weres, werewolves, heroine-woman-warrior

Review IN PROGRESS

(in other words, don't get mad at me for spoiling...I'm not done with the review yet)

After coming down from the high of another Kate Daniels book...I do have a few thoughts. As time has passed...I've learned to deal with the Awesome Overload these books give.

(view spoiler)...more

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May 14, 2011 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

3 likes · like · see review

Jun 26, 2012 Kelly-Jane rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hey-look-a-proper-heroine, i-haz-dis, this-makes-meh-happeh, warning-sex-scenes

4.75 stars

Not to get all mushy here, but Kate and Curran need to have a kid.

Like, right now.

AHAHAHAHAHAH-

Stop laughing.

I'm serious.

We already know Kate's got the maternal instinct from her relationship with Julie. And can you imagine Curran with his own baby? I CANNOT EVEN COMPREHEND THE LEVELS OF SQUISH OH MY GAWD.

Ooh, but I bet some people in the Pack ~~*cough*Aunt B*cough*~~ would be all pissed off that Kate's kids wouldn't be shapeshifters. Because they wouldn't be, would they? Seeing as her blo...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Anja rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well, I wasn't that curious about 5th book like I was for the 4th, but I was still damn curious about the interactions between Kate and Curran as a mated couple. And I'm really glad that they're not a happy, fluffy, sunshine couple. But to strong personaltities together and you get a lot of edges. It's the right balance between being in love and struggling, which won't make that relationship boring soon.

The story as always was very good and the pace with Ilona Andrews never gets slow. Once you...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 13, 2011 Leigh rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars! This was another fantastic addition into the Kate Daniels series!

This book picks up right after Magic Bleeds leaves off, and we get to see the development of Kate and Curran's relationship now that they are mated, and I just loved that aspect of it.

As usual, there was a great plot - Andrews is very creative with their plots, their world, and the incorporation of mythology.

We got to see great and fabulous dialog between the characters, especially that of Kate and Curran (of course),...more 4.5 stars! This was another fantastic addition into the Kate Daniels series!

This book picks up right after Magic Bleeds leaves off, and we get to see the development of Kate and Curran's relationship now that they are mated, and I just loved that aspect of it.

As usual, there was a great plot - Andrews is very creative with their plots, their world, and the incorporation of mythology.

We got to see great and fabulous dialog between the characters, especially that of Kate and Curran (of course), as well as that of Kate and Andrea. Andrea, after missing for some time, has returned to the fold, and she will be working with Kate at the new agency. I'm sad we didn't get to see any of Raphael, but I hope that we will in the next book.

Curran completely stole my heart again. Kate was beginning to doubt a lot of things, especially as she learned new information about her family and herself. But as usual, Curran was there for Kate, he quelched any of her doubts and concerns, and let her know that he truly does love her. What a fantastic pair these two are.

As always, the side characters were great...Julie, Derek, and new addition of Ascanio. The whole part dealing with Julie was very tough and heart wrenching, and (view spoiler). I loved every moment that Derek is on the page, and I hope he will continue to be Kate's "bodyguard" in future books.

And the ending was superb! When the flowers arrived for Kate, (view spoiler)

The only reason I'm giving it 4.5 instead of 5 stars is because there were a couple times where I got caught up in the description of magic, locations, etc., and those parts drag a little for me.

Otherwise, though, it was a fabulous read, and I'm already looking forward to the next installment! (less)

5 likes · like · see review

Jun 14, 2011 Sophia (FV) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Originally reviewed at Fiction Vixen

***Spoilers if you are not up to date with the series***

I always look forward to the sound of the UPS truck stopping in front of my house. Who doesn’t right? I have to fight the urge to run out and help the nice man in brown shorts gather up and sort my packages. He doesn’t seem to think he needs help. Whatever. Part of the excitement is never really knowing what’s in those large cardboard-ish envelopes. There’s always something good and worth squeeing over bu...more

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Jul 17, 2012 NyxShadow rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Génialllll !!
Ma critique très vite, mais j'ai adoré !

http://nyx-shadow.blogspot.fr/2011/06...

3 likes · like · see review

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About Ilona Andrews

Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. author2sm“Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a be...more

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Quotes from Magic Slays

“Andrea raised her hand. “This is the hand that slapped Aunt B.”
“Maybe you should have it gold-plated.”
“Here, you can touch it, since you’re my best friend.” — 243 people liked it

“Did he just rip out the engine?" I asked.
"Yes", Saiman said. "And now he is demolishing the Maserati with it."
Ten seconds later Curran hurled the twisted wreck of black and orange that used to be the Maserati into the wall.
The first melodic notes of an old song came from the computer. I glanced at Saiman.
He shrugged. "It begged for a soundtrack.” — 199 people liked it

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Magic Slays (Kate Daniels #5)

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