Andrews, Ilona; Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1); "Relaxed Buddy Read" ; Start Date 9 September 2013 **REVISIT** 12 May 2018

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Elen wrote: "I'm in, Team Hermione Granger.

But I will start a little bit later than 12th May"

Team Sprout and I will probably start a little later as well as I think I'm reading HP#1 first.

[Christina]

so who is starting with this one right away? Team Lockhart btw ;)

ONLY 7 MORE MINUTES!!!!

[Deanna]

Team Flitwick here.

I'll start late Sunday or Monday. I have a few books for another challenge that have to come first.

[Christina]

I don't know if it's me being Austrian, but I didn't quite get all of Chapter One at first to be honest... I did understand the main things of course, the 'important' parts, but this just confused and threw me off a bit since I like to think that my English is usually pretty good. damn.

I already had a feeling I don't trust the Order, but I'm worried about saying anything else because so many of you have already read this series and know what's gonna happen, and I quite frankly don't wanna make a fool of myself :P

but I will say after finishing Chapter Two that I don't. trust. anyone.

but now it's off to bed for me because it's already past 3am and I got work all day 'tomorrow' + on Sunday. yay.

[Silje]

I will probably start a few days later as well, I must finish a couple of books and do HP at the same time:P

[Stacey]

I'm working through the series again on audible, but finished the first one a few weeks ago so I can't use it for TT. :( I'll see you all when you get to book 2!

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Christina wrote: "I don't know if it's me being Austrian, but I didn't quite get all of Chapter One at first to be honest... I did understand the main things of course, the 'important' parts, but this just confused ..."

I found the first book a bit confusing on my first read. Just finished chapter 1 and yeah, it gives you a lot of information, but not a lot of context for it.

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Chapter 2

I love Kate's investigation technique

(view spoiler)["annoy principals involved until the guilty party decides to kill you" (hide spoiler)]

[Diane ~Firefly~]

The whole switching between magic and tech and never knowing how long either would last has to be super annoying.

[Diane ~Firefly~]

chapter 3

(view spoiler)[Kate and Curran's first meeting. The "here kitty, kitty" greeting is funny. (hide spoiler)]

spoiler for more of series
(view spoiler)[It is weird reading the first book and seeing Kate come across as a bit underpowered to others. It is almost like she has been hiding for so long that she has forgotten as well. (hide spoiler)]

[Diane ~Firefly~]

chapter 5

(view spoiler)[We go to see The Beast Lord and meet Derek, who is assigned as our bodyguard after a bad intro. Then we see The People and learn they are missing vampires as well. (hide spoiler)]

[Diane ~Firefly~]

chapter 6 & 7

(view spoiler)[It has been a few years since I've read these, and I'm wondering why Kate is still "dating" Crest? Even she notices they don't have anything in common, he doesn't seem to notice her issues (like when she is limping) and won't even tell her his full name.

Of course it does lead to the scene with the milk saucer! (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

I'm currently close to the end of Chapter 4 but can't continue right now because I'm soo tired and can't focus on the words anymore :(
To be honest I thought I would enjoy this book more, but it's a genre I usually don't read much, so this could be my problem... I'm getting more into it though!!

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Christina wrote: "I'm currently close to the end of Chapter 4 but can't continue right now because I'm soo tired and can't focus on the words anymore :(
To be honest I thought I would enjoy this book more, but it's ..."

The first time I read this, I thought it was average at best. There is a lot you as the reader doesn't know about the characters. But a few books into the series and it became one of my favorites and I even enjoy this book more on re-reads.

[Natalie]

Hello! Team Draco Malfoy here and big fan of everything Ilona Andrews has written so I'm going to join in for a reread of this series. I've been in the mood to reread with the final book coming up later this year. I do read quickly and this is a quick reread, so it should be even quicker, but I will hang around to discuss with everyone.

Also, if you are curious about the authors, I recommend this article they wrote about getting their first book, published:

http://www.ilona-andrews.com/about/

[Diane ~Firefly~]

chapter 8 & 9

(view spoiler)[I had totally forgotten Bono was the upir. But now they know and have to figure out how to kill him and rescue Derek. I did feel for Crest when they suspected him, but he and Kate would never have made a good match. (hide spoiler)]

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Finished.

(view spoiler)[I love Curran and Derek on Kate's roof fixing the hole he caused.

You finally get to see some of Kate's true power in the final battle. Curran already liked her (possibly because she doesn't obey his every whim), but I think seeing the display of power made him more interested. (hide spoiler)]

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Natalie wrote: "Hello! Team Draco Malfoy here and big fan of everything Ilona Andrews has written so I'm going to join in for a reread of this series. I've been in the mood to reread with the final book coming up ..."

Thanks for the link Natalie, it was an interesting read.

[Natalie]

For those new to the series and even me reading it now, I think it feels hard to get into. It kinda throws you into the world with a bunch of explanations, but it does get so much better.

I find it fun to read again the beginnings of these characters and see how they were introduced to the readers.

I'm through chapter 3.

Up to this point: (view spoiler)[ So much of this makes more sense in later books and I feel is better explained. I do like the world and the switches between magic and technology. The "here kitty kitty" scene is one of my favorites and I think indicative of Kate's personality (hide spoiler)]

series spoilers (view spoiler)[ This isn't my first reread of this book, but it always blows my mind how early information regarding the upir is mentioned, but on my first read, I like Kate, ignored it for the most part.

Also getting introduced to the order just makes me sad. I understand that the group doesn't work. Kate's feelings on them is always clear, and I don't think we were ever meant to completely trust them. But there are good people in the group and I just find their downfall sad. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "The whole switching between magic and tech and never knowing how long either would last has to be super annoying."

it would be, but it also sounds super intriguing!!!

[Christina]

Diane & Natalie, after your very first read of Magic Bites, what kept you going, what made you read book #2 /the rest of the series?

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Christina wrote: "Diane & Natalie, after your very first read of Magic Bites, what kept you going, what made you read book #2 /the rest of the series?"

I thought the series was average for the first couple of books. I read lots of average books/series. But there were definitely intriguing points (view spoiler)[the world switching between tech and magic, the Order, the hints to something more about Kate (hide spoiler)].

As Kate became less of a loner and we learned more of her backstory through the books, the more I enjoyed them. The weird thing is I had the same reaction to Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series.

[Christina]

Chapter 5

(view spoiler)[I wonder what made Kate trust Crest so quickly? I don't think she should? we hardly know anything about him, yet she let him watch her do that magic-thing with the vampire's head... (hide spoiler)]

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Christina wrote: "Chapter 5

[spoilers removed]"


Yeah, that is weird. (view spoiler)[He could be a bad guy. Or just a normal guy that would gross out. (hide spoiler)]

[Teddie]

Finally joining in here :)

I’m re-reading, so I have a slightly different perspective this time through.

I think what keeps bringing me back is the dialog. I love Kate’s inner and outer dialog. Even when the reader doesn’t quite know what’s going on, you are getting to know her character so well. For me, some sassy characters are just too sassy - Kate (and Curran) are just right.

Your point about Crest:
(view spoiler)[ Anyone named after a toothpaste has to be off in some way, shape or form. ;) But I agree - she is such a secretive person normally. I write if off to first book, authors getting to know the characters . (hide spoiler)]

[Deanna]

Natalie wrote: "For those new to the series and even me reading it now, I think it feels hard to get into. It kinda throws you into the world with a bunch of explanations, but it does get so much better.

I find ..."

I like the amount of time spent on the world-building in the beginning of the series even the it slows the book down a bit.

Christina wrote: "Diane & Natalie, after your very first read of Magic Bites, what kept you going, what made you read book #2 /the rest of the series?"

This is my second time through the series. It was the world created that I fell in love with first. It just had so much potential for storylines. By the end of the second book the characters began to grow on me and continued to do so as they developed in the series.

[Deanna]

I'm currently though chapter three. I had forgotten how early in the story the idea of the upir is mentioned. (view spoiler)[I remember being frustrated the first time reading the book that all the information was pointing to the upir (the vision of Anna makes it obvious to me), but it seems to take a long time for Kate to start considering it seriously. (hide spoiler)] I love this series starts with Slavic gods (view spoiler)[and continues to deal with less well known pantheons (hide spoiler)].

My favorite part of the book is definitely the (view spoiler)[ here kitty, kitty from Kate toe Curran (hide spoiler)].

[Natalie]

Christina wrote: "Diane & Natalie, after your very first read of Magic Bites, what kept you going, what made you read book #2 /the rest of the series?"

I did enjoy this book, but the main reasons I kept reading was because I had many friends who recommended this series, and every single one of them said it only gets better from here. The other reason was I had read and absolutely loved Clean Sweep so I had faith in the authors.

The world building I think works better on a reread. It makes more sense to me now, knowing the world and how it works.

Up through chapter five: (view spoiler)[I liked these few chapters where we get to meet the pack and the People and learn more about the different factions in Atlanta.

To those of you new to the series, what do you think of Kate? I remember on my first read I was trying to figure out what her secret is and what it was about her that she was worried about. (hide spoiler)]

series spoilers: (view spoiler)[First mention of Roland! I did like the slow but not too slow reveal of who Kate is.

Also, I do wish we could see an actual fight between Kate and Curran. His strength at this point, while not demonstrated, is obvious, but hers we don't know nearly as well. I think she could have taken him, or at least made it a good fight. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

I like Kate, she reminds me of myself a bit to be honest. (view spoiler)[the only thing off to me is that she suddenly trusted Crest, but then was quick to assume he's the upir. but then again I guess Teddie could be right writing it off to first book - the author only just getting to know the characters (which still didn't need to happen in my opinion - she must have known in which direction she wants to take this series /Kate, and still could have changed things once she had finished the first draft of the book) (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Finished!

(view spoiler)[I definitely enjoyed reading this again and I can only say, it gets better from here. I do think this is a good introduction to Ilona Andrews and this series in particular. Also I am dying to know who new readers think Kate is. They drop some clues in this book and I do promise its revealed soon.

Regarding Crest I also put it under a new book. If you read the blog post I had above, they did have to cut roughly 30,000 words from their final draft and I think we would have gotten more Crest development. I think Anna was also supposed to have a bigger role. (hide spoiler)]

Series spoilers (view spoiler)[I always forget we meet Nick in this book! I hope we may get his POV one day. (hide spoiler)]

[Teddie]

@Natalie - I agree N’s origin story would be really interesting.

(view spoiler)[Sonia posted the cover for the new Hugh book and I have to say that is SO not how I ever pictured Hugh. He was more military, rougher around the edges for me. I’m interested to read the book though. (hide spoiler)]

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Come join me over in book 2 BR when you are ready...

[Deanna]

Christina wrote: "Chapter 5

[spoilers removed]"

That was and is one of the things that puzzled me most about this book. (view spoiler)[She keeps her magic secret and burns her blood whenever she is injured, and suddenly she decides to let a random human that she just met watch her work blood magic on a vampire head? It makes no sense to me. (hide spoiler)]

[Deanna]

Chapters 4 - 6

Curran and Kate together are truly annoying at this point. (view spoiler)[I never have understood the purpose of letting some of the shifters mess with Kate when she arrives. She may not think she handled it well, but I don't really see that there were any better options available. (hide spoiler)]

I had completely forgotten about the events in chapter six. (view spoiler)[I know Unicorn Lane itself has plenty of magic to hide all of Olathe's vampires, but I can't help but wonder how she managed to sneak all of those vampires into Atlanta without either the Pack or the People noticing. (hide spoiler)]

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Deanna wrote: "Chapters 4 - 6

Curran and Kate together are truly annoying at this point. [spoilers removed]

I had completely forgotten about the events in chapter six. [spoilers removed]"

I think for Curran and Kate (view spoiler)[I think he expected her to ask him for help but hadn't realized at this point that she isn't capable of doing that. I agree it was a stupid move, but to this point I don't think anyone has challenge Curran. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

Natalie wrote: "Finished!

I definitely enjoyed reading this again and I can only say, it gets better from here. I do think this is a good introduction to Ilona Andrews and this series in particular. Also I am dyi..."

oh I definitely have to read the blog post you linked above! interesting that they had to cut so much from the book. I wish we'd gotten to know Anna better! does she have bigger parts in the following books?

I just finished and only gave Magic Bites 2 stars. I was torn between 2 and 3, but then again I didn't enjoy it that much :( and I'll only continue the series inbetween other books maybe...

[Deanna]

Chapter 7 - end

I didn't think Kate and Crest had any chance as a couple, but I still felt bad for how things worked out. (view spoiler)[It didn't seem to me that Kate really believed that he was the upir, but she couldn't prove that he wasn't and went along with the Pack's decision. (hide spoiler)].

I can't believe I forgot about the (view spoiler)[zombie bone dragon. (hide spoiler)]. How could I forget anything that cool? I love the ending with (view spoiler)[Kate finally getting the chance to step back into the world with people that respect her abilities, a new and interesting job with lots of possibilities, and of course Curran fixing the roof that he broke. A new day, a new chance... Always a great way to end. (hide spoiler)]

[Deanna]

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Deanna wrote: "Chapters 4 - 6

Curran and Kate together are truly annoying at this point. [spoilers removed]

I had completely forgotten about the events in chapter six. [spoilers removed]"

I thi..."

Very true, but still at that point, she's not just Kate. She's a representative from the Order that he invited to the Keep. I don't believe he would have behaved the same if it had been anyone else from the Order.

[Deanna]

Natalie wrote: "Finished!

I definitely enjoyed reading this again and I can only say, it gets better from here. I do think this is a good introduction to Ilona Andrews and this series in particular. Also I am dyi..."

I would love to see more about Nick or something from his POV.

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Finished.

I love Curran and Derek on Kate's roof fixing the hole he caused.

You finally get to see some of Kate's true power in the final battle. Curran already liked her (possibly because she do..."

I agree (view spoiler)[that Kate's power is part of the reason Curran is interested. It makes sense that he would want a mate that can protect herself and demonstrates the desire to protect those with her. She couldn't really have a chance of fitting into the Keep without those qualities. (hide spoiler)]

[Claire]

I'm a bit late to the party but I'd like to join :)

TEAM HERMIONE

[Claire]

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Chapter 2

I love Kate's investigation technique

[spoilers removed]"

Haha, true! it's very funny the way she words it. Must be effective, but also very dangerous !!

[Claire]

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "The whole switching between magic and tech and never knowing how long either would last has to be super annoying."

Yes, but plotwise it's super interesting. I can't wait to see how it will play into the story later!

[Claire]

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "I found the first book a bit confusing on my first read. Just finished chapter 1 and yeah, it gives you a lot of information, but not a lot of context for it.."

I just finished chapter 2 and feel the same way. Right now I'm in information overload.

[Claire]

Natalie wrote: "Hello! Team Draco Malfoy here and big fan of everything Ilona Andrews has written so I'm going to join in for a reread of this series. I've been in the mood to reread with the final book coming up ..."

Thank you Natalie!
I always find it interesting to learn about authors and the the creaton of their first book and then their journey into the publishing industry.

[Deanna]

✿ Claire ✿ ~ The Clever Berry wrote: "I'm a bit late to the party but I'd like to join :)

TEAM HERMIONE"

I just finished last night, but I'm happy to keep chatting.

✿ Claire ✿ ~ The Clever Berry wrote: "Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "I found the first book a bit confusing on my first read. Just finished chapter 1 and yeah, it gives you a lot of information, but not a lot of context for it.."

I just fini..."

I remember stopping after just one chapter a day for the beginning of the book the first time I read it. Then flying though the rest of the book in one day. It all makes sense as you keep going.

[Claire]

Deanna wrote: "✿ Claire ✿ ~ The Clever Berry wrote: "I'm a bit late to the party but I'd like to join :..."

Thank you Deanna !

I suspected that. Otherwise the series would not be so popular! haha. Anyway, I guess it is normal for a first book in a urban fantasy series. The author has to explain how the world works, after all.


On another topic, I'm listening to the audiobook. One thing that is always funny/irritating to me is when authors use french words and the narrator doesn't know how to pronounce them. There's just the one really, "loup". While it doesn't exactly mean the same thing here (well not at all seeing as in french is just means wolf, and here they are "deranged shapechangers") it's fairly obvious to me that that's where the word comes from. It's pronounced \lu\, with a silent p. And the narrator keeps pronouncing the p... lol

edit: it reminds me of the Anita Blakes audiobooks where the silent t in "chat" (cat) is always pronounced. But it that case it's weird because when the t is pronounced you feminize the word and it takes ... interesting connotations... basically Jean-Claude keeps calling Nathaniel "My little pussy". haha

[Claire]

Chapter three

(view spoiler)[I find the colour logic behind the mscam very interesting. Each kind of magic has its own colour and two or more kinds of magic mix you obtain mixed colours too. it's very cool :) I have never seen anything like it to describe and identify magics.

also, btw, that Saiman guy is very expensive ! almost a thousand dollars for just over thirty minutes of his expertise. What a rip off ! (hide spoiler)]

[Deanna]

✿ Claire ✿ ~ The Clever Berry wrote: "Chapter three

I find the colour logic behind the mscam very interesting. ..."

I love the amount of thought the authors put into their world. The logic of the mscan is so brilliantly simple.

Re: Saiman - (view spoiler)[Imagine how much more it would have been if he charged for using his scanner as well as his time. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Christina wrote: "oh I definitely have to read the blog post you linked above! interesting that they had to cut so much from the book. I wish we'd gotten to know Anna better! does she have bigger parts in the following books?"

She does not unfortunately. I'd have to double check, but I don't think she appears at all again.

The blog is really good, it's one of the reasons I follow their page on facebook since they always link the posts. One of my favorites is Brief Analysis of Alphahole Trope in Romantic Fiction. But Ilona writes a lot of other posts about life and the writing industry.

There's also a post to answer the question of Why do the books get better in the series. Warning, there are spoilers for books 2 and 3 in the paragraph that begins "KD was conceived as an episodic series"

I will head over to Magic Burns either tomorrow or Friday probably.

Saiman: (view spoiler)[And imagine if she didn't get a discount! The short story A Questionable Client tells how they met (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

I wasn't sure if I was going to get my book on time but it finally arrived yesterday, so I'll be able to join for sure for Team Hermione Granger!