Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Apr 02, 2011 Lisa Kay rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: setting-usa-georgia, series-k, bom-nbrc, reviewed-by-me, authors-a, m-library-sj-audio-oda, m-audible-dot-com, genre-urban-fantasy, its-magic, m-kindle

I listened to the Magic Bites via a downloadable audio file from my public library. It was narrated by Renée Raudman, who I thought gave an above average reading.

I would strongly suggest anyone interested in this series who, like myself, is not a frequent reader of urban-fantasy, have access to the internet when starting Magic Bites. Here is the link to the vital website: http://kate.ilona-andrews.com/ One can safely navigate the site without running across spoilers. There are many wonderful thi I listened to the Magic Bites via a downloadable audio file from my public library. It was narrated by Renée Raudman, who I thought gave an above average reading.

I would strongly suggest anyone interested in this series who, like myself, is not a frequent reader of urban-fantasy, have access to the internet when starting Magic Bites. Here is the link to the vital website: http://kate.ilona-andrews.com/ One can safely navigate the site without running across spoilers. There are many wonderful things on there that helped me understand the interesting world Ms. Andrews and her husband created. You can read more about the different factions: The Order of Merciful Aid (of which, our heroine, Kate Daniels, is an agent), The Pack, The Neo Cult, The Mercenary Guild (Kate is a member), The Covens, and The People.

In all honesty, I was a little confused at the beginning; however, I do not usually read this genre. I actually thought I had somehow jumped to the middle of the book. After two chapters, I started the book over again and I'm glad I did. I totally enjoyed Andrews’ post-apocalyptic Atlanta and, of course, Kate, who is imperfectly perfect as written.

Basically, our old world changed into this new world due to the overuse of technology and therefore Magic pushed back. The first thing I would have appreciated understanding is that vampires are essentially mindless zombies who are operated by necronavigators. The second thing is what exactly “flare” entails. The website posted this:

Flare is a magic tsunami, a wave of terrible magnitude. It starts as a series of shallow magic fluctuations. During those short waves, the magic never completely falls, coming back stronger and stronger until it finally drowns the world in an enormous surge. Weird things happen during the flare. The magic lasts for three days straight and some really nasty critters come out of the woodwork. The upside to this whole mess is that after the flare, the magic takes a while to return. Weeks if not months.

Ahhhh. So that explains why things are so strange. The world we, the reader, are experiencing is constantly in flux.

This book is fun, horrific, and violent. And a good read – or listen.

My favorite line is when Kate first meets Curran. She calls out: “Here kitty, kitty, kitty!”

P. S. Also at the website is a collection of scenes written by Gordon Andrews as a companion to our Kate Daniels series; they are from the POV of Curran, the Beast Lord of Atlanta, the ruler of the South-East Pack of shapeshifters. Pretty cool. Always nice, when a book is written in the first person female POV, to see what the male was thinking.
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Oct 08, 2012 Mari rated it did not like it

This is exactly why I am starting to be weary of all Urban fantasy books with a female lead. When Buffy the Tv show came out about a million years ago it was fun to see a snarky, take no crap, overly powerful 90 pound girl. Now its as boring as a princess in a pink dress. Actually its worse. At least there is some honesty to a princess in a pink dress. This is a God Mode Mary Sue story. A rude, not terribly bright woman who is constantly belittleling everything and everyone but is somehow loved ...more

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Jun 24, 2011 Cindy (eclecticfirefly) rated it really liked it

Shelves: uf, post-apocalyptic, goodreads-author, alpha-male, futuristic

What an amazing cast of characters! First you have Kate. Snarky, mysterious, sometimes clueless, always in the thick of things whether she wants to be or not. Then, of course, there is Curran. Intelligent, aloof, inscrutable. And, don't forget Atlanta. Yes, the city itself is an important character. I love that!

I've been reading a lot more "dark" books lately - this one did not disappoint! The setting, the unusual take on vampires and zombies, the shapeshifters, the necromancers - all add to th ...more

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Mar 04, 2011 Angi rated it really liked it

I'd probably give this more of a 3.5 than a 4 but I'm hopeful that this series will improve as I like the characters and the forming relationships. There are several unanswered questions that I know will be touched upon later. I'll definitely be reading the next in this series. ...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Michelle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ilona-andrews, michelle-mcm-s-2012-reading-list, read-august-2012

I'm re-reading this, originally read 4/5/09.
Adding a different version so I can count it on my yearly challenge :)

I actually enjoyed this more this time around, I love Curran... ...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Mafi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: eng, 2012

Os primeiros livros de uma série para mim são sempre dificeis de ler. É um mundo novo a descobrir e tentar compreender tudo o que passa na história e conhecer as personagens, demora o seu tempo. Levei algum tempo a tentar perceber esta sociedade de magia e de tecnologia e todos os seres e raças que a habitam e apesar de algumas dúvidas, gostei deste primeiro volume da série intitulada Kate Daniels.

Gostei do humor da Kate, ela é mesmo muito engraçada a mal posso esperar pelo desenrolar do romance ...more

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Feb 08, 2011 Carole rated it it was amazing

It reminded me, in some ways, of the Dresden novels, in that we have a very sarcastic hero(ine), there is magic in what is basically a "normal" world, and we have knights, vampires and were-folk. However, other than that bare description, this book bears little resemblance to Jim Butcher's world. In this world, everyone is aware of magic, which only works some of the time. Conversely, "tech" only works when magic doesn't.

I loved this book and will be starting on the next one this evening. ...more

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Mar 15, 2011 Purple rated it liked it

I'm Curran curious :D Be reading next one soon. ...more

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Feb 28, 2013 R. rated it really liked it

I had the misfortune the last few reads(yes i sometimes measure time by number of books read), to stumble upon a few disastrous historical romances, that left me itching for a strong heroine (physically and emotionally) who would restore my faith in my gender and a non misogynistic cast of character. This book delivered.

On the downside, it took me a lot of time to 'get into it' I'm not sure if I will keep the four stars rating in the future. ...more

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