Magic Claims

Kate Daniels: Wilmington Years #2

by Ilona Andrews

A new town, new friends, new challenges…. And a new heart-stopping adventure from #1 New York Times bestselling author, Ilona Andrews. Kate, Curran, and Conlan may have left Atlanta for Wilmington, but the usual magic mayhem has also hitched a ride!

Kate and Curran have just settled into their new home and their 'low prolife,' when a local businessman approaches them with an offer they can’t refuse. A mysterious evil has spawned in the nearby forest and is holding a defenseless town hostage. The ‘due date’ is rapidly approaching.

It’s exactly the kind of fight the Lennarts can’t resist, not for the prize the town offers, but for the people who will surely die if they ignore it. If they succeed, they’ll be rescuing an entire community and can build a strong new base for their family and the Wilmington Pack. If they fail...well, fail is a four-letter word.

Nothing comes without a price. Now Kate must decide if she has what it takes to pay it.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Romance, Shapeshifters, Vampires

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 13, 2023

About the author

Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. 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 better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.

Reviews

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, I just gave a 10 million 5-star rating to a Kate Daniels Story! Shock! Dismay! Discombobulation!



I shouldn't even bother writing a review for this one (because if you know, you know, and if you don't, you should) but of course I can't not say anything about it (because duh) so here are some quick maths for you:

Stabby Kate + spoiler spoiler spoiler + Keelanisms & werewolfisms + spoiler spoiler spoiler + slightly ancient pets + spoiler spoiler spoiler + Dear Daddy's ALL-CAPS lectures chats + spoiler spoiler spoiler + blood and gore, yay! + spoiler spoiler spoiler + magic clams (kidding I am not) + spoiler spoiler spoiler + a vaguely familiar Wizard at Large + spoiler spoiler spoiler + moderately exciting new developments = it's official, the Andrews have created a new drug that is more addictive than crack. Oh, and also, this:



P.S: thou shalt not poke random shit you find in the woods with a stick. No, thou shalt definitely not.

👋 Until next time and stuff.

· Book 1: Magic Tides ★★★★★

Original series:
· Book 1: Magic Bites ★★★★★
· Book 2: Magic Burns ★★★★★
· Book 3: Magic Strikes ★★★★★
· Book 4: Magic Bleeds ★★★★★
· Book 5: Magic Slays ★★★★★
· Book 6: Magic Rises ★★★★★
· Book 7: Magic Breaks ★★★★★
· Book 8: Magic Shifts ★★★★★
· Book 9: Magic Binds ★★★★★
· Book 10: Magic Triumphs ★★★★



[June 13, 2023]

The clams are finally here!!!





So it seems some people are having trouble pre-ordering the book from their favorite retailer. Because they type Magic Clams in the search bar. Magic CLAMS.



A friendly word of advice: if the book cover looks something like the one below, there's a slight chance it's not the KD story you're looking for.



Image source: https://www.ilona-andrews.com/2023/ti...



[February 11, 2023]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, there's another one coming up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes it really sucks being the person who has the special magical powers. Sure, it must be nice to be super powerful, all the way up until a whole bunch of non-magical people depend on you to go stop a monster that's killing them. As they say, heavy is the head that wears the crown - or in this case has blood magic. Kate and Curran are trying to keep a low profile but when duty calls and it has a large personal incentive attached to it, then their anonymity goes right out the window. This is definitely one of my favorite series, and the new setting is breathing fresh life into characters I already love.

I received an ARC of the audiobook via Netgalley, which is really two books in one because it also included Magic Tides. The narration is simply fantastic! I especially loved the voices of Kate, Curran, Conlan, and Keelan (say that ten times fast). So if you enjoy audiobooks, this is definitely one worth picking up.

[Corina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's LIVE!!! Time for a re-read :D
___________________________________

OMG, this was so GOOD!!! Better than anything I could have imagined!

Magic Tides was a kind of a bridge (as the authors mentioned before) from the first series to this one, and Magic Claims feels like the real beginning of a hopefully a long and fantastic series. The possibilities are endless. And the new characters are mind boggling good.

Although it's not as long as a regular novel, Magic Claims feels and reads like a fully fledged novel. And it has everything I love about Kate Daniels:

I love that Kate's world is always good for a surprise, and this time it blew my mind and I can't wait to see what's coming next. Also getting POV's from Curran has always been something I wished for, I'm happy that it seems that this is something that's going to happen more often. And the interaction between Kate and Curran is still what makes my heart go BOOM!! Love these two so much!

And then the cast!

Honestly, the new cast is perfection, and it's one of the reasons why this books is already so addicting. Next to the writing, the cast is what makes a book stand out. And this new series has already a plethora of fantastic new cast members. Also I'm loving it that some of the old characters are popping up at the most interesting times.

Also, I could really feel/read how much the authors had fun with this story. I cackled and laughed throughout the book, the dry humor and the banter is so signature AI. It's my kind of humor and banter, and actually the entire book feels like it was written just for me. I loved every word of it and just thinking about the possibilities and what the future might bring makes me giddy.

This kind of stories makes me insanely happy and it's the best kind of re-reading material.#


___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

[carol. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, I pre-ordered. Because when it drops, it's a happy surprise!

past-carol. certainly is full of surprises, isn't she? I went to do a little comfort reading tonight after work and found this entertaining novella. Then when I go to review it, I already started. Ha. Ha. I'm getting heavy Kate vibes of being amusing mostly--only?--to my earlier self.

*********************

At any rate, this installment maintains the vitality that Magic Tides (my review) brought back. Though it begins with a domestic scene with Curran introducing the lay of the land, both literally and politically, it quickly escalates. Visitors are soliciting help in fighting off an unknown menace and they're offering a dream reward. The set-up is organic within the series and moves it forward in interesting directions, calling on Kate's protective instincts as well as Curran's desire to secure a new home. Different from the original series, this book alternates chapters from Kate and Curran's viewpoints. As always, there's a lot of snappy dialogue.

“Yep. They came to negotiate.”
“You haven’t lost your touch, clearly.”
“That was all them. I didn’t do a thing. I talked to them a bit and then their negotiator self-destructed. Not voluntarily.”
“I’ve negotiated with you before. That tracks.”
“Ha. Ha.”

My only hesitation in five stars is the prehistoric werebeasts and animals coming forward. I know, it makes no sense that I object to that when we have everything else, including magic. I'm just saying. Yes, they are adorable. It just feels... sciencey, in an unsciencey world. I've followed a lot of authors over the years, and this is one of the few series that happily and successfully remains on autobuy. Good job, past-carol.

12/23 re-read. Still works. Still like it a great deal. Still would autobuy this series.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate's back!
She is back, right? Like, this left things a bit dangly as far as Kate and Curran and the rest of the characters go.
No, no. I mean the story gets wrapped up, don't worry. But it seems like there's going to be...more.
Sorry. Very hard to talk about it without spoiling anything.



So the gist is that Kate is restless.
She's bored and she misses killing bad things on a regular basis.
She's not going to admit that, but it's 100% what's going on. Her reasoning is that she wants Curran to be happy, and she knows that he was miserable with the weight of the pack on his shoulders. They moved heaven and earth to retire to the country with their child and raise him away from all the craziness in Atlanta.
And yet.
Retirement is rarely what people think it will be, and Kate's experience is no exception.
She misses the action.



Lucky for her, things are about to slide completely sideways.
A local businessman comes to them with a proposition that would give them a massive chunk of land.
The catch?
They'll need to chase out some kind of creature that won't let the people in the nearby town leave and is demanding human sacrifices.
Curran's eyes light up at the prospect, but Kate isn't so sure she wants to expose her family in this way.
However, when a truckload of the next victims to be fed to the monster in the woods gives her the sad eyes on her front lawn, she gives in.
Well played, Ned the Businessman!



Now all they have to do is figure out how to kill an ancient evil living in an enchanted forest.
Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy.



I absolutely loved Magic Tides but Magic Claims upped the ante and took the whole story in a whole nother direction that I didn't see coming for Kate & Curran.
To say I'm excited for what the future holds would be an extreme understatement, as I am a massive Kate Daniels nerd who completely geeks out at the thought of more stories from this world.



Highly Recommended.

Hillary Huber was the narrator of the audiobook I listened to and she was excellent.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every word of this was utter perfection.

When the original ten book series had its stunning conclusion, I was thrilled with the way Ilona Andrews had brought it all together. Yet, beneath that happiness was the uneasy understanding that I would never get to feel the same way again. These characters have a hold on me that few ever manage, to such an extent that I feel like I KNOW them. Any bookworm will recognise this feeling. That moment when the people on the page become more… become friends. I’ve reread these stories countless times, turning to them when I feel low, safe in the knowledge that I will feel better after just a few hours in their company. Of course, I had Hugh to fall back on (and what trip that would be) and more reluctantly Julie, which I had zero interest in (btw, was I ever wrong on that point), but Kate and Curran and all the rest were lost to me. Their stories told.

Until I got an email from the publisher about Magic Tides. It hinted at the potential for a new path, but while it was fun, it was little more than a snippet, over in an hour or less. A surprising and enjoyable diversion, but it seemed to confirm that Kate would only be back in tidbits, forever leaving me and all her other fans wanting.

Except now there is Magic Claims. And this is so much more. This feels like a promise.

Kate and Curran leaving Atlanta made sense to me. Everything they did after the final battle was absolutely understandable: the withdrawal from the very public life they lead, the desire to raise Conlan away from the spotlight and ever present dangers, the choice to be themselves for a time, no longer Beast Lord and Consort or Sharratum. All of it. So how could there be an ‘afterwards’? They have everything they wanted already. Separation from their former world, sure. But safety?

There’s the rub. Try as they might, the world has not forgotten them. Neither have they been able to leave behind who they are inside. The titles they held were merely a reflection of their essential nature, that of protectors. Neither can, or would want, to lose that aspect of themselves and it is precisely this that brings them back into the thick of things. With violent consequences.

I’ll say nothing here of the plot. I wouldn’t want to spoil that for anyone. But this refashioning Ilona Andrews has created, offering a path forwards for Kate, Curren et al, makes even more sense than the isolation. It works. So well that I can’t believe I didn’t see the issues in their choices before. It gave me chills to see it all play out and imagine what could come next. I’m so hopeful that I will get to have my friends back, to experience the new battles and challenges, to see them fight and love and survive. I’m so grateful that I might have more stories to keep me going in dark times, something this series gives me and so many others.

So buy it. Read it. Spread the world. Make sure Ilona and her publishers know the audience is here for more and more and more of this.

ARC via publisher.

[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 3 out of 5]

i have a very big soft spot for all the characters in this story, and i truly will read anything about kate daniels forever and ever because she really is such a big reason why i love urban fantasy and paranormal romance so much still in 2023. In this somewhat spinoff, we get to see her as a mom, in a new city, and claiming a new town that needs a little more protection currently and for what is to come. ee get to see the state of the pack now that curran and kate have left, we get to see kate find out some new information involving her daughter, julie, and this really is starting to set up for what is to come.

but in this installment we see them try to help a little house that is trapped in the forest that is part of their property. i personally really enjoyed this one because it ended up having fae as a part of the mystery. the reason i ultimately gave this three stars, despite all this nostalgia praise, is because i don’t know how i feel about conlan being only eight years old and having to do the things he has to do. i understand this is very much a dystopian version of our world, and he is part shapeshifter, but it still makes me feel bad while reading. but i still will carry on with whatever ilona andrews gives us next!

trigger + content warnings: mention of loss of pet in past, death, murder, human sacrifice, mention of cancer, blood, battle, gore, talk of loss of family in past, slavery, animal cruelty, animal death, spore depictions, brief mention of sexual assault and rape in past, self harm to get blood for magic, abuse mentions (both children and the elderly)

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1.) Magic Bites ★★★★
2.) Magic Burns ★★★★
3.) Magic Strikes ★★★★★
4.) Magic Bleeds ★★★★★
5.) Magic Slays ★★★★★
6.) Magic Rises ★★★★
7.) Magic Breaks ★★★★
8.) Magic Shifts ★★★★
8.5) Magic Stars ★★★★
9.) Magic Binds ★★★
9.5) Magic Stars ★★★
10.) Magic Triumphs ★★★
10.5) Magic Tides ★★★

[Em Lost In Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

These novellas are great but with every new addition I crave a full novel as these feels like an appetizer and now I want a main course.

[Anna [Bran. San. Stan] · Rating 4 out of 5]

For seven years, Kate and Curran have lived as off the grid as possible, trying to raise their son Conlan in relative peace. Once already has Kate volunteered to help save people, as is her way, endangering their anonymity (Magic Tides).

Now, in exchange for their help, they accept a generous offer of land, which prompts their decision to finally bring their 7-year-long self-imposed exile to an end. Kate, Curran and co. set out to figure out what and who is behind a powerful magic force demanding human tribute from the town of Penderton.

The mystery of the foreign magic is another great plot devised by the Andrews, making for a fast pace and as immersive a read as ever. What I liked best, as usual, was seeing our favorite couple, both in action and in introspection. They have a wonderful heart-to-heart, leaving them to reassess the past and the future, to acknowledge who they truly are and to realize they need to build a new base of power, abandoning their exile. That conversation and the character growth it provided was what I love so much about them – they say what they think and feel outright, earning a gold start in couple’s communication. And of the course their trademark humor never fails to make me crack a smile.

“When the shapeshifter jumped us in the forest, and that big one tried to eat my head, and then I stabbed her?”
“Mhm.”
“I enjoyed it.” And there it was. I said it and waited.
“I know,” he said. “After you killed the skull mage, you turned to me and you were smiling. A big, bright smile. Old Kate smile.”
“Old Kate?”
“Dangerous Kate. Stabby Kate. My Kate.”

All in all, I could not be happier that Kate Daniels’s adventures continue in the Wilmington Years and I can’t wait to see where the next book leads. As much as I enjoy the other series by the Andrews, Kate and Curran will always have a special place in my heart – I will never get enough of them.

[aarya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread on July 12, 2023: How could I not five-star this... I've skimmed my arc approximately a hundred times since May... I am a lying liar who lies, but let me repent now. The new narrator is so good. If I won the lottery, I'd bribe someone to produce and rerecord new KD audiobooks (Hillary's Version). Read via audio (narrated by Hillary Huber and Michael Glenn).

First read on May 12, 2023: [Original rating: 4.5 stars]

The Wilmington Years series should really be titled "Kate And Curran Fail At Retirement." Wow. I'm screaming. I need to reread both Tides/Claims in audio to fully process what just happened. I know that Triumphs felt like an ending to Kate's arc, but there's honestly enough storyline here for another five books. There are some Blood Heir questions answered in this short novel, but mostly there's a lot of setup necessary for a showdown in the distant future. Who knows when that showdown will be published, but I will patiently wait.

I am not really sure who this review is for, because new-to-KD readers shouldn't start here (do not pass go, do not collect $200, go directly to Magic Burns). But fans don't need my praise to preorder, either. Honestly, Magic Claims is best experienced without knowing anything beyond the blurb. I feel like I can't discuss the identity of the villains because their magic is so... epic. When I first realized what Kate was facing, I had to push my tablet aside and take a lap around the kitchen table to calm myself down. A lot of weird fuckery happens in Kate's Atlanta, but this truly takes the cake. I now understand why IA asked for a paleontologist expert on their blog, lol. And the epilogue. THE EPILOGUE. I am still in shock.

And Conlan — my sweet, precious boy who is smarter than all the adults in the room. As you can see, I have a normal level of adoration for this eight-year-old werelion. Please, I will take all the short stories about Conlan and the [spoiler place at the epilogue]. I have a desperate need.

A tangent: I burst out laughing at the sly reference to clams in the end. Magic Clams, indeed.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s no surprise I devoured this whole book in the hours after it landed on my kindle. I love Ilona Andrews and the Kate Daniels series is my absolute favorite. I liked that this story seemed to bring Kate back to herself and left such amazing potential for future books which let’s be honest is the only goal for me. The story was well done and while of course I felt it was too short (spoiler, when I love a world they’re all too short) but it did feel more substantial to the last one which is progress I will take. I don’t want to give spoilers, and while I’m sure you could be ok just reading this, I do not recommend it. Start this series at the beginning. You’ll thank me later.

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only the second book in the new series and Kate and Curran are already deciding that they cannot live quietly in the countryside. Everything about them shouts come and get us to their enemies, and they realise they have to take measures to protect themselves and Conlan.

Of course it does not help that Kate feels obliged to help the needy, and in doing so she demonstrates her amazing powers to everyone. In Magic Claims she is up against a very strong magical being plus a number of animals from the Ice Age with Were in front of their names, like Were sabretooth tiger and many others.

The battles are huge and blood thirsty, the magic is amazing and all of the characters are wonderful. Curran and Kate's relationship could not be any stronger and Conlan has great promise for the future. It was all just perfect. I hope I do not have to wait too long for the next one.

[Lucie V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

✅ Characters
✅ World-building
✅ Pace
✅ Plot
✅ Action and some magic
✅ Found family vibe / new secondary characters
🆗 Where are Derek and the others from Atlanta?!
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: mild gore, animal abuse

Strong 4 stars

I loved this book. It felt less like a novella than the previous Wilmington book. The plot and magic folklore were more elaborate, and there were also more characters involved in the story. As usual, it was a quick and engaging read, with foreign magic and folklore that we hadn’t seen already in this series. I really like how the authors managed to give each book a different vibe, depending on the folklore they integrated into it.

The Beast Lord.
He never stopped being one. He just let him sink below the surface of an easy-going husband and father the way I had hidden my psycho killer inside my soul for the last seven years.

We got the “old Kate” back, and the story was full of magic and action. They wanted to live a “normal” life, and they did give it a try, but this is just not who they are. Curran is meant to lead, and Kate is a protector and a fighter at heart.

The newfound family vibe is getting stronger, as Kate and Curran seem to be building themselves a new pack in Wilmington. The idea that Curran might be willing to build a new Keep and open it for more shifters, maybe even some shifters from the Atlanta pack, is thrown in there, but I don’t know if we will ever know how that will go, or what his plan with the Cat’s clan alpha was.

What the hell happened to Jim? The authors sacrificed his character simply to use him as a plot device and a way to push Curran in the direction they wanted him to take. They needed a reason for Curran to want to get involved again in pack life, I guess, but the Jim they portrayed in this book is not the Jim I liked from the previous series, and I was disappointed that he just changed and became such an unstable and bad leader, simply because it worked with the plan the authors had for Curran.

My big issue, though, is the absence of the previous little pack they had in Atlanta. Where are Dereck, Barabas, George, and the others? It’s okay that they stayed in Atlanta, but they left the Keep and the pack to be with Kate and Curran, and now we don’t have the slightest idea of what is happening with them. Even if they are not in Wilmington, it would have been nice to at least know what happened to them and how they were doing.

Julie was mentioned once or twice, and now I really need to read her spin-off book. She had a falling off with Kate at the end of the main series, but it’s been 7 years now, and apparently, things are still a little tense between them, which I find so sad. I want to see more of Julie, to discover what happened to her during those years, and understand where she is at with Kate, and why they seem to still be mostly estranged.

I hope there will be another book in the Wilmington series. I have too many questions about the future of Kate, Curran, and their new pack, and I truly hope we will see their old pack in a potential future book, because I missed them. I like Keelan and his guys, but they can’t compete with Derek, Barabas, George, Christopher, and the other shifters from Atlanta.


0.5 A Questionable Client ⭐⭐⭐
1. Magic Bites ⭐⭐⭐.5
2. Magic Burns ⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Magic Strikes ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
🔫 3.5 Magic Mourns ⭐⭐⭐.5 (Andrea novella)
4. Magic Bleeds ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🐅 4.5 Magic Dreams ⭐⭐⭐ (Dali novella)
5. Magic Slays ⭐⭐⭐⭐
5.5 Magic Gifts ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔫5.6 Gunmetal Magic ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Andrea full-length novel)
🪓 5.9 Magic Tests ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Julie short story)
6. Magic Rises ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🐅6.5 Magic Steals ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Dali novella)
7. Magic Breaks ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
8. Magic Shifts ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🪓 8.5 Magic Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Julie novella)
9. Magic Binds ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🐺 10. Iron and Magic ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Hugh’s book)
11. Magic Triumphs ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
12. Magic Tides ⭐⭐⭐.5


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[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Kate and Curran and I am beyond ecstatic that we get to see their life post Atlanta. Magic Claims is everything I expect from a book set in the Kate Daniels world. It is full of great characters, well thought out plot lines, fantastic fights withs some funny mixed in.

Kate and Curran were trying to live on the down low, but after Kate said a power word in the last book and blew up a baby Kraken she has blown their cover a bit and now someone has come to ask for a bit of help. It seems there is something in the woods, it comes out once a year and demands a human sacrifice from the town it is holding hostage. Kate and Curran have just been asked to go into those woods and root out the evil in them. The prize will be 8500 acres in the center of the woods gifted to them.

“Were you going to poke them with a stick?” Keelan growled.
Hakeem looked uncertain. “Yes?”
“When you find freaky shit in the scary woods, you don’t poke it with a stick. It can explode in your face. What do you do instead?”
Hakeem clearly didn’t know the answer to that question. I almost felt sorry for him. He had just turned eighteen this year, and this was likely his first real outing.
“You ask the Consort. The Consort knows everything.”
“Oh,” Hakeem said. Keelan pivoted to me.
“Consort, please tell us what this is.”
“I have no idea.”
Keelan blinked, his teaching moment temporarily derailed. He took a second to recover. “How do we proceed?”
I held my hand out, and Hakeem surrendered his branch. “I’m going to poke it with a stick.”

I had such a great time with Kate and Curran trapesing through the woods off to destroy evil. I loved the plot of the story and who the villain ended up being. It was unexpected and executed fantastically.

The Andrews even were able to weave in some tie ins to Julie's story and what they are doing in the background. I am very interested in how the new "no pack" or "new pack" plan will play out long term. Oh the sneakiness, Jim will never see it coming and he deserves some payback.

Now I wait for anything else set in this world because I can't wait to devour it all. Whether it is Kate's stories or Julie or Hugh I cannot get enough of this world and the characters that have become like family to me in it.

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to Magic Claims, the second book in the Wilmington Years series, an off-shoot of the Kate Daniels books! Ilona Andrews does it again with another engaging, exciting story that I simply didn't want to put down.

Before anyone asks, these books are NOT stand-alones. I had a bit of a hard time with these books, even though I've read most of the Kate Daniels series, because the amount of background knowledge you need to know about the world is huuuuuge. Sometimes, I would see a reference I was clueless about, and I would just shrug my shoulders and move on. There is a lot to know. However, if you can hang on, it's a hell of a ride.

I am really loving the duel point of view in these stories. I don't remember if the original Kate Daniels books were also a duel POV, but it just makes me so happy here. We see how both MCs really complement one another, though Kate's star shines the brightest. These two are such a team *heart eyes*.

These books are showing that Kate and Curran's stories are FAR from over. They are building up to get more and more intense, and they are going to face greater and greater challenges in the future. I, for one, am HERE for it.

Keep coming with these stories, Ilona Andrews, and I'll never stop reading them.

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[Antonella · Rating 5 out of 5]

"that my best friend, she a real bad bitch"

i just love Kate
more books with her and Curran and Conlan and the new gang




i do not know who belived that these two can just like that retire ...
i adore this series !!! all the stars!!!

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if you want;
- urban fantasy
- strong and badass heroine and an equally fascinating hero
- interesting side characters
-found family vibes
- developing romance stroyline troughout the series
- snark and banter

...READ THIS SERIES

[h o l l i s · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow so like.. wow. There's a lot to unpack in what was supposed to be a short novella that grew a life of it's own. And am I ever thankful! Because this had so much going on that my head is spinning a bit. Even after having tuned in to the spoilery release day chat, which now in hindsight makes a lot more sense!, I'm still boggled. I truly don't know how these authors continue to amaze me but also the cleverness for the things they've laid the groundwork for and then slowly reveal? Amazing.

As always, I'm not really doing to delve deep into anything because we're so many series, and spin-offs, deep into the Kate Daniels world that you're only here if you know it. But even trying to tackle the subject matter is.. beyond me. These reviews are really just to placeholder my feelings about, well, my feels. And the jokes. That clams reference? Genius.

But unlike book one in this particular series, we got so much more Kate and Curran time and that made me heart so happy. Their interactions, the heart-eyes that ensue when they each go feral to hearts, their communication skills.. it's all so so good. And I'm absolutely loving where their story is going.

And I also loved all the teases to other stories that are also ongoing. The Julie comment. The Erra visit. The bits dropped in the live chat which don't belong here because they don't relate to this instalment but that I'm so so pumped for. I'm just a very happy little reader right now, can't you tell?

Obviously I highly recommend this but if you, too, are a bajillion KD books in at this point.. you don't need my endorsement. You're already at the party.

---

This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! I just don't think I can get enough of this family. Kate, Curran and Conlan are so intriguing to read about, no matter what they do. Conlan is getting older and Kate and Curran are teaching him to not only be a good person, but how to survive in such harsh world. Every adventure they set out on makes for an exciting read. I love how powerful they all are and how they are always willing to help those who can't help themselves. It took a long time but to finally see Kate embrace all that she is, makes me so excited for future books. I want to see how this is going to change things. Love it!

[Woman Reading (is away exploring) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ☆

The uber power couple are back in Magic Claims! Curran and Kate (Daniels) Lennart - respectively, the former Beast Lord of the Free People of Atlanta and his blood magic witch / warrior wife - are settling into a new life in coastal Wilmington, North Carolina. They had recently left Atlanta in order to provide a "normal" environment in which to raise Conlan, their 8 year old son. Renovating Fort Kure, their new beachside home, has been their main project.

"I have my smoking hot wife, my troublemaker son, my fort, my beach... What else can a man want?"

As far as they're concerned, they have both "retired" and are no longer in the business of running the Pack or of claiming Atlanta. Sure they had encountered a spot of trouble a month or so earlier (in Magic Tides). But other than that, they intend to just chill at their beach.

"Do you honestly think that you've solved your problems, child? That if you just stay in this little fortress on the edge of the continent, the world will forget about you and you can have a quiet life?"

Kate is displeased to hear this advice but a nagging inner voice recognizes the truth of it. Magic Claims is about the further evolution in their personal journeys. One just can't escape who one really is.

I raised my hands, dropped the magical cloak that obscured my power and let the flow of magic fill me...

I was a great and scary beast, and it was warm and safe under my wings.

Magic Claims was really good in many respects. There was a creatively symbolic twist to the main adversary. The power couple plus shapeshifter friends made a truly formidable military team. And Curran has developed into a romantic who unashamedly makes declarations that leaves Kate weak in the knees.

It didn't have the emotional intensity of some of the earlier Kate Daniels novels when Kate experienced more inner turmoil. But what made it very interesting was that the authors inserted snippets that were essentially teasers for future books. Entering spoiler territory, proceed at your own risk. I was puzzled by the allusion to Kate's "cousin." It was explained during the authors' spoiler-filled marketing launch (major spoilers present - see https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/magic-...). The other elements are relevant for those who have read Blood Heir, which should be set the next summer after Magic Claims. The most significant snippet is that Kate knows about Julie's new appearance and the Lennarts know that the Pack is fracturing. The authors plan to write Blood Heir #2, Iron and Magic #2, and the Wilmington years #3 but they can't promise the publication dates for any of these.

The authors are conscious that new readers might be reluctant to pick up a novel that's positioned later in a series, and they've written accordingly. The Kate Daniels series is my favorite urban fantasy series so I would encourage people to read all of them. But for those with limited time, they could start with these Wilmington stories and still derive a great deal of enjoyment. Currently they number two but the authors plan on completing three and all would be set before Blood Heir.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


#1 Magic Bites 3.5 ☆
#2 Magic Burns 3.5 ☆
#3 Magic Strikes 4 ☆
#3.5 Magic Mourns 3 ☆
#4 Magic Bleeds 4 ☆ - a favorite
#4.5 Magic Dreams 3.5 ☆
#5 Magic Slays 4 ☆
#5.5 Gunmetal Magic 4☆
#6 Magic Rises 4 ☆
#6.5 Magic Steals 4☆
#7 Magic Breaks 4 ☆ - a favorite
#8 Magic Shifts 4 ☆
#8.5 Magic Stars 3.5 ☆
#9 Magic Binds 4 ☆
#9.5 Iron and Magic 4 ☆
#10 Magic Triumphs 4 ☆

#10.5 Magic Tides 4 ☆
#10.6 Magic Claims 4 ☆
#11 Blood Heir 4 ☆

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

***100 Days of Summer Reading***

Reading prompt: Book that has a character that can shift into an animal form that is not a werewolf
Virtual 12 sided dice roll: 10

I got an email from my favourite bookstore yesterday telling me that this book (and several others) were waiting for me. I headed out, trying not to speed. That's more difficult than it sounds, as there are multiple speed zones and school zones between the store and home! But I think I avoided a ticket.

As soon as I got home, I settled in with a cold drink and a snack, then cracked the book open. I barely remember my snack, I was so engrossed in the Kate Daniels world. I enjoyed it so much that when I finished, I returned to the first page and read it again. Truly, I love when Kate is wielding her sword and Curran is roaring, in prehistoric lion form. After seven years of trying to be safe and normal, what a relief it was to see them acknowledge their true natures, Curran as leader and Kate as protector.

The authors add new characters for us to care about and add dimension to some that we thought we knew. Plus I always love Ice Age animals! (I spent a lot of time thinking about Mythago Wood in the course of this novel. And Julian May's Saga of Pliocene Exile.) Things have been set up smoothly for the next installment and I couldn't be happier about that! And I do hope we see more of that wily Wizard, Assistant Director Luther Dillon. I don't think I'm alone in my admiration.

I know that this has already joined my queue of re-readable books, bringing calm and happiness when required. So far, the Andrews have always hit the mark for me and I hope they continue to do so for many years to come.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/

This was even better than I had expected it to be and I went into this book expecting a lot. Kate and Curran make such a fabulous team and it is really no surprise that their quiet life wouldn’t last too long. Something is not only holding a small town near them hostage but it is also demanding that the town sacrifice some of its residents every year. Both Kate and Curran can’t just stand by and do nothing so they fight for the town’s safety in the way that only they can.

I just loved getting the chance to see Kate and Curran back in action and I love the fact that their young son is a force in his own right. Kate is capable of just about anything and her magic in this book feels fresh and exciting. I adore Curran so the fact that sections of the book are told from his point of view was a wonderful bonus. There were a few surprises worked into the story that kept me guessing and I am really excited about the fact that this book left the door open for more to come.

I would highly recommend this book to others. This is the second book in the Kate Daniels: Wilmington Years which takes place after the original Kate Daniels series. I would recommend reading these books in order if at all possible since later books may contain spoilers for those earlier in the series. This book had all of the action and excitement that I hoped for and there were even a few more tender moments between Kate and Curran. I cannot wait to read more from this fantastic writing pair!

I received a digital review copy of this book from NYLA.

[Katyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. Loved, loved, loved, lovedlovedlovedLOVED it. So much so that I'm jumping back to the first Wilmington book for a re-read of that one and this one. Will write a real review after that. Except to say: IA are setting up something really exciting in this series - Kate and Curran not under siege, having the time and space to create the life they want, with the people they want. I am all in for that!

Immediate re-read
Yeah, I loved it. There were so many layers to it.

I'd also like to say that I love how Kate and Curran have grown into their partnership. There's no planning behind the others' back (something that gave me a sad in the last book of the main Kate/Curran series). They talk regularly, they plan together, they grow and change together. They might need a little time to chew and digest - with both of them, in this book, we got to see them slowly realize that they didn't want to shackle themselves into some smaller version of them, to try and make nice with the world. Once they really understood it, they spoke to each other, and were open to the discussion. It wasn't "I've decided and I won't be swayed" it was "I think I want this, I think this is who I am. Do you hate the idea?" That, to me, is serious couple goals.

And I'm so excited to see what they're going to build together. A space not just for shifters, not just for magic users ... a space that doesn't segregate people into little boxes. A true haven. I'm literally jittering with excitement.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I liked this book even more than Magic Tides but that's mostly because I found the use of Conlan less distracting. Now I just have to wait for more! 🥹
Things I liked: 1) Kate and Curran working together! I love it when that is a main part of the plot; 2) I continue to like the allusions to how things have progressed since we last saw Kate & Curran in Atlanta - feels very lived in; 3) the incorporation mythology in this one was particularly rad
Things I didn't like: Conlan was less distracting but still a problem for me in this new series. I think he just needs to act more like an 8 year old or even if he's not, it's distracting to me to have him in battle situations
Things I'm neutral on: I both like and don't like the fact this seems to be ramping up to a full arc. On the one hand, I know Ilona Andrews will deliver a satisfying arc so I'm sure I'm going to love where the story ultimately goes. On the other hand, I kind of liked the episodic vibe of Magic Tides and would like to have more of a "monster of the week" approach. IDK, I know I'll be happy either way, so I guess I'll just happily accept whatever is delivered

[K.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

After all this time, any book about Kate and Curran is still addictive. I love returning to this world and these characters. The writing is peerless; the humor and emotion are both deeply felt; and Conlan is the perfect addition to longtime favorites. Ilona Andrews can't write fast enough for me. Still remains one of the best urban fantasy worlds in publication.

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic Claims is book two in the Kate Daniels: Welmington Years by Ilona Andrews.

Man oh man I read this in one day. I picked it up and couldn’t stop. I just adore Kate, Curran and the rest of the gang. I’m over the moon to visit my favorite world and characters again.

Kate and Curran can’t say no to a town in danger. We continue the Kate Daniels storyline in this deliciously breath taking installment.

Those coming to the sereis do need to start from the beginning to get the most out of this outstanding world.

Life for Kate and Curran is about to change. Kate is slowly realizing they can’t sustain the domestic life-style they have enjoyed for a few years now. She will need to face who and what they are which means getting back in the game.

The Andrews team know how to draw a reader in, building up the advance and let them enjoy a ride of their life. We are treated to duel POV’s; Kate and Curran. I love seeing their romance and partnership. It’s so strong. The core group that sounds them continues to grow and Conlan is such a cool child. It love seeing him grow up. As for the evil in the woods. It was cool to discover what was menacing the town and I loved the parallel made between the evil and Kate/Curran. The future looks to be interesting.

I will say I was hoping for more at the end with all the cool things Kate/Curren discover, but I am content. Maybe one day we will find out.

Magic Claims is a great mix of humor, magic, mystery, action and adventure. Urban Fantasy fans you must read this sereis. It’s an adventure you can surely enjoy over and over again.

Rated: 5 Stars

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listen, I love everything Ilona Andrews writes, but I just don't see the point of this extension to the Kate Daniels series. Since we first met Kate, she has experienced quite possibly the most egregious case of power creep I've ever seen, and it's even worse in these new books. Curren and Conlan are no different. How can you root for characters that are so powerful that you know they will never lose, no matter what they come up against? Where's the tension? The Wilmington years sequel series is basically rehashing the same old, same old, only this time it's eight years later and they're creating some sort of new pack.

Something I never see discussed elsewhere is very apparent in this book: The Andrews only have the ability to write one voice, a sort of distant, straightforward perspective, which every single character in every single book they write possesses. This is an issue in this series, as every book features multiple perspectives - those of Kate, Curren, and Conlan. As a result, the non-changing voice so characteristic of this writing duo leads to confusion regarding who is narrating what part. I think that this is part and parcel of the duo's turn towards independent publishing, and non-mainstream editors who are unwilling to edit critically out of fear of biting the hand that feeds them. Find better editors, you two. Seriously.

Anyways, I will keep reading this series because I like their stories - the Andrews are nothing if not creative; this novel features insight into fae and prehistory which is particularly fascinating - but I just don't see the point of it. Sorry.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best! RTC

[Spasticnontastic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy sighs

4.25

[Aly is so frigging bored · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Amazing Kate and Curran and family addition. The whole idea of the magic and the creatures blew me away.
Also, I understand both Ilona and Gordon were scared by the whole renovation thing 🤣 it's not nice to laugh, but I can't help myself!

[İlkim · Rating 5 out of 5]

En sevdiğim paranormal ikilinin özlerine dönmesine cidden çok hazırmışım yaşasın. Serinin bu şekilde devam etmesine çok mutluyum.