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Magic Triumphs

(Kate Daniels #10)

Ilona Andrews (Goodreads Author)

4.57 · Rating details · 18,543 ratings · 2,218 reviews

Mercenary Kate Daniels must risk all to protect everything she holds dear in this epic, can't-miss entry in the thrilling #1 New York Times bestselling urban-fantasy series.

Kate has come a long way from her origins as a loner taking care of paranormal problems in post-Shift Atlanta. She's made friends and enemies. She's found love and started a family with Curran Lennart, ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, 439 pages

Published May 7th 2019 by Ace Books (first published August 28th 2018)

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Sep 25, 2016 ✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: cool-kick-ass-chicks-harem, favourite-series, diversity-is-slightly-scrumptious, kate-daniels, blood-and-gore-and-violence-oh-my, rawrrr, the-awesome-bunch, br-2019, urban-fantasy, 2018

The Adventures Of A Brave Little Kitty Buddy Rerererereread (TAOABLKBR) with the IA Addicts

And the moral of this reread is: it is decidedly sad but disgustingly true, I still do not quite exactly like the ending of this book very much indeed. But it is KD. And it is IA. So QED and stuff.

And the other moral of this reread is: I want to Eahrratim Of The Lethal Sneers And Deathly Put-Downs (EOFTLSADPD) when I grow up.

Until next time and stuff.

[August 2018]

A well-known 18th century author ...more

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Feb 16, 2018 Robin (Bridge Four) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ghosts, book-boyfriend-material, super-sidekicks, witches-warlocks-and-magic, uf-pnr, 4-5-stars, 2018-reads, chick-i-want-to-hang-out-with, kick-ass-heroines

Joint review with Anne at Books of My Heart

WOW!!! WHAT AN ENDING TO A SERIES

Anne and I both read Magic Triumphs and also listened to the audio version. I was on the beta team. Anne was fortunate to get an eARC and we both received the audio for review. It is hard to do such an amazing book justice. I've said many times how it is my favorite series. So we decided to try to answer some questions for you (without spoilers).

1. If you could give people your reasons for reading the Kate Daniels ...more

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Sep 08, 2017 Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ Rabid Reads-no-more rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: weres-shapeshifters, vampires, that-bastard, some-kinda-magic, pre-ordered, favorite-secondary-characters, betas, urban-fantasy, the-book-boy-is-mine, mythology

It’s been a fun ride, Kate. I know we’ll see other again, but it won’t be the same. You’ve fought your battles, and now you’re letting someone else pick up the torch. Enjoy the peace and quiet. You’ve earned it.

description

Full RTC.

BUT. Know this—it’s everything you could possibly wish for it to be.

2/13/18:

description

B/c why? B/c CURRENTLY READING. *flails* *moonwalks* *booty shakes*

10/26/17 - Derek SNIPPET: http://www.ilona-andrews.com/do-you-m...

10/8/17 - Scooby SNIPPET: http://www.ilona-andrews.com/dear-bar...

...more

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Sep 04, 2017 Anne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, read-in-2018

It's over.

description

But the good news is that it's a pretty nice last installment in a much-beloved series.
I think most fans will be happy with the way everything turned out for the characters, and I'm looking forward to any and all spin-offs that team Andrews comes up with from this world.
*mentally sends out plea for Derek & Julie stories & at least ONE book with Roman*

description

Ok, like every series ending, this is almost less about the Big Battle with Roland and some mysterious new foe, and more about ...more

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Aug 16, 2017 Sh3lly rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: i-read-it-wrong, fantasy-witches-and-wizards, 3-stars, maybe-its-just-me, read-2018, the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it, fantasy-vampires, favorite-authors, fantasy-urban, fantasy-werewolves-and-shifters

$1.99 on US Kindle, December 17, 2019

This was not a bad way to end a ten book series at all. But... I can't say I loved it. For the first 200 pages or so, it felt like another cool Kate magic investigation. Then, the meat of the plot finally kicked in towards the last 100 pages or so. Everything happened SO fast at the end.

Roland must be a crazy hard character to write, and in the end, I felt the authors didn't fully know what to do with the "epic" showdown that was supposed to happen with him. ...more

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Sep 23, 2016 Melanie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, magic, paranormal, vampires, shifters, arc, read-in-2018, dragons, urban, romance

ARC provided by Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

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

“I hold gods prisoner, tormenting them for my pleasure. I bring war and terror. I am Neig, the Undying. I am legend. All who know me bow to me.”

Friends, I promise you, no one wanted to love this book more than me. I have been reading this series for what feels ...more

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Mar 16, 2018 Jilly rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: werewolves-and-other-furry-shifters, vampires, fantasy, faeries-fae, girls-i-want-to-hang-out-with, urban-fantasy, favorites, funny

The book series that has been my favorite thing ever written on paper has come to an end. I feel so empty inside now. I'll just fill that emptiness with ice cream and booze. Pretty much my prescription for anything that ails ya.

Try this at home kids!

This book hasn't been out for very long, so I will just give general quotes to prove its awesomeness. It's basically overflowing with awesomeness. Like spewing it all over the place. Much like you will be doing if you take my ice cream and booze ...more

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Oct 01, 2018 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: vampires-and-werewolves-oh-my, urban-fantasy, fantasy

4.5 stars! Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:

Kate Daniels, after nine novels’ worth of fighting magical villains, romancing Curran the Beast Lord, developing her own über-magical powers and preternatural sword-fighting abilities, and magically claiming all of Atlanta as her territory (and that’s only a start), gets an ending to her story in Magic Triumphs, the tenth and final book in Ilona Andrews’ popular KATE DANIELS series. Well, kind of.

Kate is married to Curran now, who’s 4.5 stars! Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:

Kate Daniels, after nine novels’ worth of fighting magical villains, romancing Curran the Beast Lord, developing her own über-magical powers and preternatural sword-fighting abilities, and magically claiming all of Atlanta as her territory (and that’s only a start), gets an ending to her story in Magic Triumphs, the tenth and final book in Ilona Andrews’ popular KATE DANIELS series. Well, kind of.

Kate is married to Curran now, who’s passed his title as Beast Lord on to Jim. After a very brief prologue in which Kate gives birth, the story jumps forward in time thirteen months, when their son Conlan is a precocious one year old whose antics keep his parents hopping. He still hasn’t started shapeshifting, which is causing Atlanta’s Pack to fret, but Kate is nevertheless something of a helicopter parent, anxious to protect Conlan from any threat … of which there are plenty, so her concerns aren’t without a basis.

The threat level gets amped up when Kate’s power-hungry father Roland ― after a fairly lengthy period of non-aggression ― starts to manufacture confrontations in Atlanta again, aiming at disrupting Kate’s claim to Atlanta and gaining power over her children, Conlan and her adopted daughter Julie. Meanwhile, something or someone is mysteriously murdering entire communities of people in the Atlanta area in a particularly gruesome way, for some unknown but doubtless malicious purpose. An ominous, evil-smelling box is left on Kate’s doorstep, causing thirteen-month-old Conlan to suddenly erupt into a new shape (or two), making Kate even more nervous, Curran joyful, and life exponentially more difficult.

Magic Triumphs is actually one of my favorite books in the KATE DANIELS series, and a great wrap-up to the series. It has a fun, exciting and delightfully complex plot, this time with an ancient Irish mythology spin to it. Lots of old friends from earlier books in the series play a role in the story, and much of the impact of those appearances will be lost on the reader who hasn’t read all of the prior KATE DANIELS books. What one might not expect is that it’s also fairly important to plot understanding and continuity to have also read Iron and Magic, the recently published spin-off novel featuring Hugh D’Ambrey, Kate’s old enemy.

Conlan is an amusing and adorable addition to the cast of characters, and Kate manages fairly well in combining her ass-kicking magical investigator and problem-solver ways with capable parenting, though her spin on it ends up being, well, different than most parents’.

"Look, Daddy killed him dead. All dead.”

Conlan giggled.

Dali was staring at me with a look of pure horror.

“I don’t want him to have nightmares that the bad man is going to get him,” I told her. “This way he knows that his daddy killed him … We are a family of monsters and he’s our child. People will always try to kill him and we will always protect him. He better get used to it.”

Along with the family bonding, there are a few heartbreaking moments in Magic Triumphs, so the Andrews don’t pull all of their punches here. After fudging a little with the ongoing, high-stakes conflict with Roland in Magic Binds, there is an ingenious resolution to the Roland Problem in this novel, which satisfies the need for a wrap-up but still leaves room for possible adventures to come. As Iron and Magic evidences (not to mention the epilogue in Magic Triumphs), Ilona Andrews isn’t yet finished with Kate’s world. Kate is probably happy to take a back seat at this point and let some other characters do most of the driving and monster-slaying. Though I’ll certainly miss Kate’s point of view, I’ll always be deeply interested in whatever adventures in this world may come from the fertile imaginations of the Andrews team.

Initial post: I must be living right! I ran into the library to pick up a book for my real-life book club, and while I was leaving I saw Magic Triumphs sitting on top of one of the bookshelves. I’ve been stalking their online catalog for a month and never saw it in the listing; they must have barely picked it up. Cheers! ...more

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Mar 21, 2014 ☆★Tinja★✮ A Court of Pizza and Laziness rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: action, favourite-authors, love-love-love-it, shifters-werewolves, magic-and-hocus-pocus, obsessed-with-these-books, adults, vampires, dying-to-read-this, original-creative

Thank you, Ilona Andrews

Thank you so very much

OH MY GOOOOOD OH NOOOO THE LAST KATE DANIELS!!!! *SCREAMS*

WHAT I ~~WANT~~ HOPE TO HAPPEN

- ROLAND BEHEADED
- LOTS OF ACTION & EPIC BATTLE
- LOTS OF DEREK AND JULIE ERMERGERD MY SHHIIPPP (SPIN-OFF SPIN-OFF PLEASEEE I BEG) I SHIP THEM SO HARD IT HURTS!!!!@%^$
PLEEEEASEEEEEEEEEEEEE
- JULIE DOING SOMETHING EPIC
- KATE DOING EPIC SHITT
- ROMAN MY SWEETIE
- B & C = BEYOND CUTE
- SMEXY TIMES AND COUPLES AND ROMANCE LOL #sorrynotsorry
- ALL MY FAVS (WHICH ...more

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Apr 01, 2017 Aisling Zena rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: vampires, werewolves-dragons-shifters, paranormal-fantasy-urban-fantasy

Update!20/2/209

So I just found out that we are not getting a Julie/Erra/Derek spinoff (at this point in time) because of the amount of hate mail Ilona Andrews receives over Julie.

Some of us love all the characters because the writing/world building/authors are so good and we would have loved a Julie spinoff. I can't wrap my head around this and I had actually written a rather long rant over it..

I just want to say that it's a damn shame that some of you have made the authors feel this bad over ...more

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Aug 28, 2018 Em Lost In Books rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018, 2010-19, 4-star

It's over!

It's been two weeks since I turned the last page of this book and yet I find myself unable to let this book go. There are so many good things about this book, so many funny moments that still makes me laugh. But there are also things that I want authors should have dealt better with.

Needless to say this was one of the most anticipated book of this year for me. I read 4-9 to get myself ready to read this big finale, one final battle to settle the score with Roland, hence I am teeny ...more

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Jul 24, 2018 Steven rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2018, urban-fantasy-paranormal, favorites, netgalley-or-publisher

OH NO. It's over. The series is over. *dies*

*remembers two more Hughs and potential same world books and kind of perks up a little tiny bit*

*throws temper tantrum*

Review to come on release date. And if you thought there was even a chance this would get less than five stars, you're delusional. ALL THE STARS.

NOTE: READING IRON AND MAGIC BEFORE READING MAGIC TRIUMPHS IS REQUIRED. DO IT. DON'T SKIP IT.
---
Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest ...more

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Aug 17, 2017 Sophia Triad rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: dragons, worldend-endofworldasweknowit, shifters, wolves-lycans, 1paranormal-lovestories, 4fantasy-lovestories, druids, witches-wizards, mythology-gods-semigods, lions

“Behold, the Immortal One, the In-Shinar, the Blood Blade of Atlanta.”

*few spoilers*

It’s a bittersweet feeling every time you reach at the end of a journey. You feel satisfied because this trip has been fulfilling and full of memories, but at the same time you feel so sad because it is time that you need to move on with your life and you know that you will miss your fellow travellers, your companions.

Kate Daniels’s world has been an awesome journey for my: Mystical, mythical, magical, ...more

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Sep 14, 2018 carol. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, fantasy, supernatural-mystery, shifter, female-lead, vampires

The last book in a ten-book series. By all means, don't start here. However, I do recommendreading this series if you enjoy ass-kicking sword-fighters, unusual but accessible world-building, and well-rounded characters. The cast also includes vampires--with quite a different take--shapeshifters, and a wide variety of myths.

Still, I'm not sad the Kate Daniels series is ending. It's odd to me, in a way, that we look for overarching plots in our entertainment, as if the story needs to make sense The last book in a ten-book series. By all means, don't start here. However, I do recommend reading this series if you enjoy ass-kicking sword-fighters, unusual but accessible world-building, and well-rounded characters. The cast also includes vampires--with quite a different take--shapeshifters, and a wide variety of myths.

Still, I'm not sad the Kate Daniels series is ending. It's odd to me, in a way, that we look for overarching plots in our entertainment, as if the story needs to make sense from one book to the next, and each installment moving towards a grand finale. Though I do it as well, it is odd, because that isn't life at all: there is not one overarching mission, some enemy to vanquish before heading into the sunset, some gold ring to obtain before retirement to a village. So Kate and Curran will head into the sunset, and readers will certainly hear more about them through many of the formerly peripheral characters.

What's good here? As always, the Andrews know how to write a plot and keep the momentum going. Sometimes it's almost as if there is too much going on, but you definitely won't be bored. As always, there is a fascinating mix of mythology, but more importantly for the end of the series, most of the important members players at least get a chance to stop by. We get the usual one or two butt-kicking scenes, and an obligatory sex scene or two. Well, probably love scene. The issues with the series-long villain are nicely resolved, and there was an angle to it that was both unexpected and welcome. I did like the role of Kate's aunt.

Parts of this book feel a little underwritten, a far cry from the days of books two and three where more details about the world were shared. The world seems to be more magic than tech these days. I think Andrews have adopted that style on purpose, but I admit I miss some of the depth. Kate and Curran have settled into their relationship, so there's less of that drama, although there's still the 'I want to keep you safe,' and 'no, I want to keep you safe' arguments. Their little tyke is growing, and I was kind of disappointed to see Kate become an anxious mom rushing him off to Dolittle all the time, while Curran was a relaxed dad.

Overall, satisfied, with a solid wrap-up and an intriguing ending. Read in a day, as always. It's not really the kind of book you want to set down, and it's generally an undemanding read. A series not to be missed for those who enjoy fantasy and interesting, tough women fighting for a cause. ...more

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Sep 08, 2018 Evgeny rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Kate Daniels discovered that a very powerful human/being/creature with a big army wanted to destroy Atlanta. If this was not enough her father - another powerful magician - was hell-bent on killing her child (and you think you have some misunderstanding with your parents!)
Bad Parents

In other words, business as usual for Kate. In fact the way I described the plot it could be applied to about half the books of the series.

This one however is special. This is the final book of the series. How was it? As a Kate Daniels discovered that a very powerful human/being/creature with a big army wanted to destroy Atlanta. If this was not enough her father - another powerful magician - was hell-bent on killing her child (and you think you have some misunderstanding with your parents!)
Bad Parents

In other words, business as usual for Kate. In fact the way I described the plot it could be applied to about half the books of the series.

This one however is special. This is the final book of the series. How was it? As a regular installment it is slightly better than an average Kate Daniels book. As a conclusion it is slightly underwhelming.

One of the outstanding feature of the series was new and interesting monsters NOT overused in modern arts. This time the monster was so traditional that the whole genre of fantasy is associated with it (no spoilers, right?)

Humor was another outstanding feature. Not only Kate's wisecracks (Harry Dresden could never hope to be even half as funny), but supporting cast - especially Desandra and Ascanio - was even better at them. This time Kate was in too dire situations most of the time to be funny, Desandra only appeared very briefly twice, and Ascanio was not present at all. I will never forgive the authors for this latter absence. In other words,
Why so serious?

The conclusion for the main overarching plot was too simplistic. I mean this was build up practically from the first book and was resolved in the last two pages? Gimme a break! Now that the series is over I can finally confirm my suspicion that book 8 (Magic Shifts) was indeed a filler.

I am done uploading my criticism on unsuspected people and can say a couple of things about the whole series. This is the best urban fantasy I have ever had pleasure to read. It has its ups and downs, but I never regretted reading it even for a brief moment. I also want to express my great respect to Ilona Andrews (both of them) for ending the series now and not turning it into a cash cow

and beating it to death and beyond à la Star Wars or Star Trek.
The Last Jedi

Any fan of urban fantasy (or even anybody who sometimes read it) owes it to him/her/itself to read the series. It is THAT good. By the way, the rating of 4 stars is more fitting to the whole series than this book. The book itself was slightly weaker than this. ...more

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Oct 04, 2017 Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: needs-review

As always loved it, review and rating soon

Pre-review thoughts

It's Kate Daniels series - always worth a favorite read
We get to see just about every character of the series come together
Liked the working together of those against each other
Felt a little distant --- probably due to having to cover such a large scope
Sad losses
Liked the Hugh scenes
It's still as funny as usual
Ghastek gets more than one scene
Glad they went there with Christopher/Barabbas but the scene was so tiny and emotionless - my ...more

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Jul 24, 2018 Corina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

4.5 stars

I’m not even pretending that this review is easy to write.

From the moment I found out that Magic Triumphs would be the last Kate Daniels novel, I had a hard time accepting it. I couldn’t imagine a life without this series. But now, after reading 10+ novels about Kate’s battles with gods, monsters and the different power plays in and around Atlanta, I can say with absolute certainty that Kate deserves this ending.

Battle after battle she gave it all. Always for the better of the people of ...more

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Sep 21, 2017 Emma rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasybookreview

So now concludes one of the best, if not THE best, urban fantasy series of all time. Kate Daniels got her ending. And worry not, fellow fans, her creators have done her proud.

Firstly, if you haven’t read the other 9, don’t bother finishing this review, just go get Magic Bites and enter the world so many of us have loved for over 10 years. That original book isn’t their best- I struggled to get into it initially and nearly put it aside. When I think about that, it gives me a little tremor inside So now concludes one of the best, if not THE best, urban fantasy series of all time. Kate Daniels got her ending. And worry not, fellow fans, her creators have done her proud.

Firstly, if you haven’t read the other 9, don’t bother finishing this review, just go get Magic Bites and enter the world so many of us have loved for over 10 years. That original book isn’t their best- I struggled to get into it initially and nearly put it aside. When I think about that, it gives me a little tremor inside and it’s what keeps me reading books I might not initially get just in case they turn out to be a treasured companion in the end. As Ilona and Gordon note in their Prologue ‘it’s not our favourite, and we would probably rewrite it if we could, but we all have to start somewhere, and it’s better to begin at the beginning’. Please do begin, you won’t regret it.

Secondly, if you thought you could miss out Iron and Magic, the answer is no. If you’re not a Hugh kinda person, you still need to know what’s going on there, it feeds into this story in a big way and, I imagine, what comes after for a lot of the characters. Learn to love him, if you don’t already, he’s such a goddamn cute murderous psychopath. You know you want to.

Ok, remember that scene in the Midnight Games…actually the whole part of the book set in the stadium, from Kate and her team’s arrival to the bloody conclusion? If you’re anything like me, the first time you picked up the book you had to read it several times over and have gone back to it many times since. Honestly, sometimes I don’t even do the whole book, just that section. I think all that of us will have at least one of those memories from the series, the bits we could read 100 times but still do so with hands clenched, breath held, heart pounding… Recognise the feeling? If so, I know you’ll have it again in this offering. More than once. Maybe because the action was so fast or maybe because the implications were so great or maybe because it was just so damn awesome that an immediate reread was necessary. I’m not exaggerating when I say that there were moments I went over at least three times before moving on to the next bit (and you can imagine how eager I was to see what was coming next) because I just didn’t want to let those special scenes go too fast.

Time and time again, my expectations were crushed into smithereens and I couldn’t be more thrilled about it. Right from the outset, when the timeline didn’t start where I thought it would, both the technical and the creative choices made by the authors were designed to bring out the very best in the overarching narrative as well as the characters’ connected stories. There’s so much here for those who love this series: references, storylines, and jokes that hark right back to the beginning. A whole range of characters are brought back so they could have their moment, their own tales explained, expanded, or … ended. Some people don’t make it, while some get their happy ever after. Either way, it will be a very changed world that follows the final battle. Yet it’s so very funny as well as sad, especially when baby makes three. This, coming from someone who thought the motherhood thing would be Kate’s dullest hour. How wrong could I be? In these hardest of times, she is tested beyond all imagination. After a life full of danger and adversity, will she finally get the happy home she longs for? Not unless she fights for it, and boy does she ever. With every piece of martial skill and magical power at her disposal. It’s spectacular and heart wrenching to see her lay everything on the line for her family, friends, and city.

I already want to read it all again.

Even with the bittersweet goodbye to Kate’s story, I know that I will be back to this place and these people. Not only in my rereads but through the eyes of different characters, notably Hugh and Elara in the Iron Covenant series, but I suspect others may have something to add too… So I won’t yet say a final farewell, just au revoir.

ARC via Netgalley ...more

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Oct 27, 2019 Adina rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy-pr, ilona-andrews

Done. I finished my first Urban Fantasy series. I started a few but Kate Daniels is the first one that I read from A to Z, if I don’t count the additional novellas. I guess it is also my favourite UF series, otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten so far.

It was an exciting, fun, adventurous, scary and sexy ride. I got to know some wonderful characters such as Kate, Curran, Derek, Hugh, Andrea, Aunt B etc. I got immersed in an exciting world full of terrible creatures and fascinating magic. I will miss ...more

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Dec 06, 2017 Geri Reads rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Goodbyes are hard, and it's even harder when you're saying goodbye to a series that you've lived and breathed for the last year or so. I never expected how much this series would come to mean to me when I started reading Magic Bites last year. After 9 books, several novellas and one spin-off later, we finally get the final book in Ilona Andrews' wildly successful Kate Daniels series, and they delivered!

“You and me, Kate. We’re forever.”

Magic Triumphs delivered an ending I will not soon ...more

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Jul 22, 2015 Sarah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own-kindle, read-in-2019, netgalley-3, for-review-read, scanned, favorites, books-i-own-print, read-in-2018

1st read - July 2018
2nd read - August 2018
3rd read - October 2019

Anyone who knows me or who has been following my blog for any length of time should already be aware that I'm a proud member of the Ilona Andrews fan club and totally addicted to this writing duo's books. The Kate Daniels series has been one of my favourites for such a long time now and it's one I reread over and over again so it's fair to say I'm hugely invested in this world and these characters. It's really hard to write a 1st read - July 2018
2nd read - August 2018
3rd read - October 2019

Anyone who knows me or who has been following my blog for any length of time should already be aware that I'm a proud member of the Ilona Andrews fan club and totally addicted to this writing duo's books. The Kate Daniels series has been one of my favourites for such a long time now and it's one I reread over and over again so it's fair to say I'm hugely invested in this world and these characters. It's really hard to write a review for the final book in a much loved series because you want to be able to talk about ALL THE THINGS that happened and rave about how incredible it was but I don't want to spoiler anyone so I'm going to deliberately try to keep this vague.

If you're a fan of this series you'll probably have a good idea of what to expect anyway: there's humour, fabulous banter, incredible characters (ones you'll love and ones you'll love to hate), fascinating mythology, weird and wonderful creatures and high drama action scenes that have you praying all the characters you love will survive. This is a story that will make you laugh and cry but will leave you with the biggest smile on your face by the end. Some series go out on a fizzle but Kate Daniels is going out with a BANG. It ends on the highest of highs and gives us a fitting end to a series that we've invested years in but it also leaves a few doors open for some of the side characters to get their chance to shine.

We already know that Hugh and Elara have another 2 books left in their series, Ilona has also mentioned a potential story about Roman and she's not discounted the possibility of other characters (and possibly even Kate and Curran) to make the occasional come back in a book or novella. I for one will be happy to read any other story that Ilona and Gordon choose to set in this world (or any other for that matter!) but at the same time I'm so, so happy that Kate and Curran are going to get to enjoy the happily ever after they've spent so long fighting for.

This series continues to be an all time favourite and I know it's one I'll continue to reread at least once a year so if you've not discovered this world yet now is the perfect time to start. Whatever you do don't start with Magic Triumphs though, this book is the culmination of 10 books and numerous short stories and novellas and if you don't start at the beginning with Magic Bites then you'll be doing yourself a huge disservice. Please do give the series a try though, it's absolutely wonderful and I'm so jealous of those people who are still going to get to experience it for the first time!

_________________________

Holy shit, first I get approved for Archangel's Prophecy (which I already started reading!) and then I get Magic Triumphs!!!!!! The excitement of this weekend's reading may just kill me LOL ...more

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Aug 27, 2018 ♥Rachel♥ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Re-read by audio book September September 28th 2018

4.5 Stars

Magic Triumphs! Wow! I closed the book thinking wow, I can’t believe this is the last book! But after being disappointed by the ending of another favorite series (I’m looking at you Iron Druid!) I was soooo happy Magic Triumphs does not disappoint! So much to love here! Conlan! Too cute!!! Hugh, Julie, Derek, and of course, Curran!! That’s not to say that I’m not sad that the series is over, but I do have hopes of spin-offs with Hugh, Re-read by audio book September September 28th 2018

4.5 Stars

Magic Triumphs! Wow! I closed the book thinking wow, I can’t believe this is the last book! But after being disappointed by the ending of another favorite series (I’m looking at you Iron Druid!) I was soooo happy Magic Triumphs does not disappoint! So much to love here! Conlan! Too cute!!! Hugh, Julie, Derek, and of course, Curran!! That’s not to say that I’m not sad that the series is over, but I do have hopes of spin-offs with Hugh, Julie, Derek and though I thought I’d never say this, Kate’s morally ambiguous Aunt Erra!

As with the previous books Magic Triumphs has its own mystery/conflict, along with the continuing story arc of Roland (Kate’s father) and his mission to kill or subject Kate to his will. Kate must put aside all her other investigations when a whole neighborhood just disappears, 200 residents just gone. What’s left over is sickening and extremely disturbing and you know things will only get worse. As if that wasn’t bad enough word comes in that Roland is gathering his troops, getting ready to invade. Is Kate and her allies ready for this final battle?

Kate is the star of the show, always facing insurmountable odds and coming out on top with crafty thinking, sheer determination, and a shit-ton of power! I love that she always finds humor and snark even in the most desperate situations. Her friends defend and stick with her because she inspires love and loyalty. Curran comes a close second, as Kate’s husband and mate, he’s fierce in his devotion and love for her, and he is one sexy-beast! Curran is a scary power in his own right, not a force to be reckoned with. These two together have taken on sooo much over the course of the series, but in this book everything has come to a head.

If you haven’t read the Kate Daniels series this is seriously the time to pick it up! All the books are out now, and this is one of my all-time favorite series out there! Epic battles, a wealth of amazing secondary characters, snarky, fun humor, and bizarre but cute animals! Start at the beginning and hang on. Each book only gets better!

A copy was kindly provided by Ace via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This review is also posted at The Readers Den. ...more

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Aug 29, 2018 Bradley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018-shelf, urban-fantasy

It's over. Ish. At least, the Kate Daniels-Lennart cycle is DONE.

It's been one hell of a ride, with bigger and badder enemies, like dear papa wanting to be in her life to take and corrupt his perfect magical grandchild or elder gods/dragons from pocket universes wanting to use and share Kate's new godhood in ruling the whole world.

You know, the same little problems on the same scale as Curran and Kate's little jealous tiffs. Or the fear. You know, fear of godhood or motherhood, of a precocious ...more

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Jul 03, 2018 Jen Davis rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Ilona Andrews probably could have written Kate Daniels books for another 10 years and made a fortune. They are wildly successful and even after 10 books, fans love them every bit as much as they did years ago... if not more. I know I do. But that makes it all the more impressive that they decided to end this series on top. They finished Kate’s story and they did it in spectacular fashion, giving me everything I wanted and needed from an epic conclusion. I can’t imagine the kind of pressure they Ilona Andrews probably could have written Kate Daniels books for another 10 years and made a fortune. They are wildly successful and even after 10 books, fans love them every bit as much as they did years ago... if not more. I know I do. But that makes it all the more impressive that they decided to end this series on top. They finished Kate’s story and they did it in spectacular fashion, giving me everything I wanted and needed from an epic conclusion. I can’t imagine the kind of pressure they were under to satisfy their readers with Kate’s swan song, but somehow, they pulled it off with their trademark blend of humor, action, and heart.

There are so many things that make this book awesome, but the clearest front-runner is an adorable, fascinating, and powerful one year-old named Conlan Lennart. That’s right, Kate and Curran’s baby is born in the prologue and we scoot ahead in time a bit for the bulk of this book. It was a brilliant move, because Conlan has grown enough to feel like a real character here. He is clearly smart and extremely gifted with magic, but at the end of the day he is also a toddler that loves his mommy and daddy. And man, do they love him too.

You think love for her husband and her friends motivated Kate? Just watch out for this mama bear protecting her cub.

I really thought this book was going to be all about Kate's big face off with her father. And that is part of the story, but far from the only conflict. I’ll stop here and say if you have not read Iron and Magic, Hugh's book, go back and read it now before you jump in here. The events of that story are vitally important to this one. Because those bad guys? They’re going to look awfully familiar. Only here, we are finally understanding their origins and their goals. It is the biggest and baddest force that Kate has ever had to fight. And she knows that she still must deal with her dad and his eminent attack on her and her son. So much is happening.

And that means calling in all of the big players. From the family of her heart like Julie and Derek... to the ties of her blood, like Erra and Rowena... to her allies: the Pack, the People, even Atlanta herself. And then there are the men who were basically like estranged brothers, Nick and Hugh. They know better than anyone what kind of foe Roland is. Saiman, Roman, Christopher, Teddy Jo. The list just goes on and on. And they all matter to the story. They all have a part to play, and for long-time readers of this series, it is so gratifying to see all of these pieces come together in this amazing tapestry.

I laughed out loud. I cheered out loud too. But even as I approached the last two chapters, I kept wondering how the authors were going to manage to make everything work out in the end. And I don’t know why I even questioned it, because they have never let me down and they certainly did not start here.

I couldn’t be happier with Kate’s HEA. And I love that they have dangling threads which will allow them to return to this world in the future with stories centered on other characters. I definitely will continue with Hugh’s books and I feel total confidence in a future series for Julie. All the dominoes are set up just right.

I will miss this series terribly, but I am so grateful that I got to see it go out with the kind of quality story it deserved. Thank you, Ilona Andrews for bringing this world to life... and for letting me love Kate Daniels.

Rating: A

*ARC provided by Ace ...more

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Sep 22, 2018 Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller added it · review of another edition

I read that way too fast!

RTC. ...more

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Aug 02, 2019 Deborah Obida rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, urban-fantasy, adult

The best defense is a good offense.

I can't believe it's over, after 10 whole books, I'm so going to miss this characters even though there's a spin-off.

This book is everything I thought it would be, it was amazing, it tied all loose ends, I was skeptical that it won't live up to the previous books but I was shocked I loved it, some authors ruin the final book in the series but not this duo.

Wait until I tell Raphael.”
“I wish you wouldn’t.”
“What? Why?”
“Because your husband gossips like a church ...more

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Feb 08, 2017 Holly rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance-urban-fiction, 2018-read

Well, that happened. It's the end of an era, or rather a book series. I'm not spoiling anything, but just know that there was pretty much no chance of me NOT giving this book five stars short of Andrews deciding to kill off every major character. I think that was a double negative, but whatever, I'm in mourning for the end of my favorite UF/PNR series ever, so cut me some slack. And yes, there are spin-offs of this series and Andrews also writes two other series that I adore, BUT IT'S NOT THE ...more

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Jan 08, 2019 Gavin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal

I felt this book was a great wrap up to the Kate Daniels series. This was one of those very rare series that actually managed to get better and more enjoyable with each new instalment. I felt like the first few books in this series were nothing special but now that I've wrapped up this 10th and final book I can honestly say I enjoyed this series a lot! It probably ranks in my top 2 or 3 UF series.

I was actually surprised by the way some of the things played out in this final instalment. I was I felt this book was a great wrap up to the Kate Daniels series. This was one of those very rare series that actually managed to get better and more enjoyable with each new instalment. I felt like the first few books in this series were nothing special but now that I've wrapped up this 10th and final book I can honestly say I enjoyed this series a lot! It probably ranks in my top 2 or 3 UF series.

I was actually surprised by the way some of the things played out in this final instalment. I was expecting this book to be fully focused on the big confrontation with Roland so was pretty shocked when we opened with a new enemy on the scene and a time jump to a time when Kate and Curran were parents to a magic child! Once I got over my initial surprise I really enjoyed both developments. The new enemy added a fun new dimension to the story and Conlan turned out to be a lot more active and fun part of the story than I was expecting.

I was really happy with pretty much everything in this one and quite happy and satisfied by the way the whole series concluded. I do love it when big series finish on a high!

Biggest shock: Finding out Curran had only be 5"10! WTF! I thought he was the typical 7 foot PNR/UF male lead all this time as he was always described as so physically imposing lol.

I've not always been a giant Curran fan, I actively disliked him in the early books, but I've warmed a lot to him lately and think he was probably the stand out secondary character in the final book. He had a great book and by this point I like both him and his relationship with Kate.

If I had a tiny thing to moan about in this one it would be that scene with Dali asking Hugh to heal her. (view spoiler). That was pretty much my only complaint in the story. Outside of that everything was great!

The epilogue at the end hints at another potential spin-off series that might be fun. I'd be interested in a Julie solo series for sure!

All in all I really enjoyed this last Kate Daniels book and I'm pretty sad it has all ended just as I'm beginning to love it so much.

Rating: 5 stars. I feel like at least one book in this series deserves the full 5 star rating so it might as well be this last one since I was so happy with it:)

Audio Note: I've not always been a giant Renee Raudman fan but I have gotten used to her. She sounds way too old for most of the characters, especially Kate, but she is pretty good at conveying emotion with her voice and sucking me into the mood of the story. She also gets the delivery of the humour. I never realized just how much until I listened to Steve West struggle a little with it in the Hugh spin-off book! ...more

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Jul 12, 2018 Kira rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, urban-fantasy, witches, magic, favorites, shifters, kick-ass-heroine

As happy as I am to have gotten to read this early, I'm also sad because I'll never get to read a new Kate Daniels book ever again. This series is amazing! I love the way it ended. It was better than anything I imagined.

It was funny. It was touching. I didn't want to put it down. I read the whole thing in one sitting while battling a migraine. It was that damn good. Some parts were really gruesome. So much was going on. All of my favorite side characters were there. Kate was great at balancing As happy as I am to have gotten to read this early, I'm also sad because I'll never get to read a new Kate Daniels book ever again. This series is amazing! I love the way it ended. It was better than anything I imagined.

It was funny. It was touching. I didn't want to put it down. I read the whole thing in one sitting while battling a migraine. It was that damn good. Some parts were really gruesome. So much was going on. All of my favorite side characters were there. Kate was great at balancing being a badass and being a mom. Why can't more UF do this? Curran frustrated the hell out of me. The man is too secretive. My heart was breaking for Kate for a while there because it appeared that Curran had gone to the point of no return in what he was doing. Hugh's appearance was fun. He's such a lovable asshole, but it's not the same with him being nice.

The situation with Roland ended in a way that I wanted it to. I can't really say more than that because it would give it away. My feelings towards him have always been mixed since he became an active part of the story. On one hand he is evil, and on the other he does genuinely love Kate in the only way he knows how. I didn't want him to die but didn't want him to remain in power either.

As much as I loved this, there were two things I really didn't like. Conlan being so special was one. It was ridiculous that he was capable of so much as such a young age. It really irritated me that he was a shifter. It doesn't make sense with the world building. Kate's blood destroyed lyc-v, so how could she have a kid with it? It seems like a kid of their's would have either inherited Kate's or Curran's magic for them to be able to survive. I know this is a fantasy and I need to let it go. I'm injecting too much real life medical knowledge into this. The second thing I didn't like was how things ended with Saiman. It was an anti-climatic ending for a character who had been in the series since book one. He was never a good guy because he was extremely self-serving and amoral. It wasn't fair that he was hated as much as he was throughout the series. He didn't do cruel things or hurt people. I hope that (view spoiler)

The epilogue gives me hope for a spinoff series with some characters I love! The two of them would make a fun team.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this in exchange for an honest review!!! ...more

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Sep 30, 2018 Kat rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: library-3, favorites

Have you ever had a series that was everything you ever wanted and you both wanted to consume every book in a crazy-fast reading blur and savor them so they never ended? I am sad to see Kate and company end, but so delighted that I got to be along for the ride. Not sure how to talk about this one without it being one big spoiler-fest, so I’m going to put the whole thing in spoiler tags. (view spoiler) ...more

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About Ilona Andrews

Ilona Andrews

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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 ...more