Andrews, Ilona; Magic Slays (Kate Daniels #5); "Informal Buddy Read" ; Start Date: January 09, 2014

[Teddie]

I do like how Kate and Curran’s ability to communicate evolves. They both are having to say what their personal lines in the sand are, while also conceding to the needs of the other.

I cracked up at the scene (view spoiler)[at the restaurant with Evdokia and Gregorii and their kids. Just your regular, everyday family dysfunction - with some spells and ravens and transforming kittens thrown in. (hide spoiler)]

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Teddie wrote: "I do like how Kate and Curran’s ability to communicate evolves. They both are having to say what their personal lines in the sand are, while also conceding to the needs of the other.

I cracked up ..."

Yeah, that was a funny scene

[Eunice]

Teddie wrote: "I do like how Kate and Curran’s ability to communicate evolves. They both are having to say what their personal lines in the sand are, while also conceding to the needs of the other.

I cracked up ..."

I had to make myself not laugh out loud at that part. Everyone else was just itching to get out of the room.

The way they slowly get better at being in a relationship from their crappy start is what makes following their romance much more fun.

[Natalie]

Starting now. Team Draco Malfoy

[Natalie]

Through Chapter 6

(view spoiler)[This is my second read of the book, but I remember the storyline the least apparently. So I’m trying to put it together as I go.

I do like bringing back Rene. That was always something I enjoy about the series is that characters drift in and out of the books. It’s rare that you never hear from someone again if they parted on goodish terms with Kate.

She definitely makes her personality known to people and that helped her get this job. (hide spoiler)]

[Silje]

starting today/tomorrow. Team Remus Lupin.

[Natalie]

Finished

(view spoiler)[For some reason, I didn't remember enjoying this book as much on my first read through. I know it comes right after my favorite, book 4, and I think I was just too much on the high of that one to enjoy this as much, or at least in memory.

However, on a reread, it is a really compelling book, and while not as lifechanging for Kate as the last book, it introduced a few new important characters and had large charges for existing ones.

I really love the world they built and the addition of the Lightkeepers was well done. I wish they could have stayed around a few more books. They could probably be the villains of their own series, but alas, they only are in this one. (hide spoiler)]

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Natalie wrote: "Finished..."

(view spoiler)[Yeah those LightKeepers are EVIL. Since it is a large group, they totally could have come back again. You would think they would want vengeance for having their grand plan ruined and killing a lot of their people. (hide spoiler)]

[Silje]

Chapter 1-11

I can imagine the shock and disappointment Kate was feeling when she was told that (view spoiler)[Voron just wanted to use her as a revenge on Roland, either by her killing him of making him kill his daughter. That he didn't feel any love for her or her mother, who had basically forced him to do as she wanted. But then again, she did discover som family bonds that might not be so bad in time. Discovering more about herself and her heritage. (hide spoiler)]

I also think Kate and Curran have a few issues to work through. (view spoiler)[He is used to having his way and people not arguing, while she hates to be told to do something without getting a saying in it. The way he manipulated her into a corner concerning the Asciano, giving her no choice, really rubbed her the wrong way. Communication is the key in every relationship! (hide spoiler)]

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Silje wrote: "Chapter 1-11

I can imagine the shock and disappointment Kate was feeling when she was told that [spoilers removed]

I also think Kate and Curran have a few issues to work through. [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, that was hard for Kate, but she will eventually come to terms with it.

Kate & Curran (view spoiler)[Communication is important, especially for two people who are used to just doing what needs done (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Finished..."

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ maybe one of the possible spinoff series villains? (hide spoiler)]

[Silje]

Teddie wrote: "I do like how Kate and Curran’s ability to communicate evolves. They both are having to say what their personal lines in the sand are, while also conceding to the needs of the other.

I cracked up ..."

That scene is hilarious! Such temper!=P

[Silje]

Natalie wrote: "Finished

For some reason, I didn't remember enjoying this book as much on my first read through. I know it comes right after my favorite, book 4, and I think I was just too much on the high of tha..."

I've always liked this book, but my favorite so far would be the 4th as well. (view spoiler)[ I think that this is the book where it is highlighted that man might be the creature capable of most cruelty/evil. Other species might do it because of their nature, but humans can do it simply because of selfish reasons or fear. To quote Dr.Doolittle : "They think the beast takes over and we become loup. Animals don't destroy each other for pure pleasure. They don't have serial killers. They kill, they don't murder. No, it's not the beast in us that makes us lose our balance. It's the man." Food for thought... (hide spoiler)]

[Mary X]

I kept looking for this one in the buddy reads and never found it, I only found all the other ones in the series. Looks like I missed the revisit.

[Steven]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "I kept looking for this one in the buddy reads and never found it, I only found all the other ones in the series. Looks like I missed the revisit."

People are still here and talking. I have to read it this week as well. So stick around ;)

[Deanna]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "I kept looking for this one in the buddy reads and never found it, I only found all the other ones in the series. Looks like I missed the revisit."

Not at all. Please hang out with us! I'm starting this week as well. I'm glad to see others here to talk with.

[Mary X]

I'll see if the library has a ready copy. Another of my buddy reads just got pushed back a week.

[Steven]

Finally got to start! I love Kate's motherly treatment of Julie. And I love that Curran pretty much says YEP SHE'S MINE TOO.

[Mary X]

Library has a short wait list on multiple copies, so we'll see if I get one soon or not.

[Deanna]

Read through chapter 9 today. I didn't mean to read that far but ended up getting sucked in.

Kate and Curran - (view spoiler)[I had forgotten about the early hiccups of trying to learn how to compromise and get along. They did a great job working together for Julie, but totally messed up on the teenage bouda. (hide spoiler)]

The office - (view spoiler)[I know they didn't really have a lot of choice in clients, but somehow I don't see helping the Red Guard as something helpful. I tend to think she is being set up.

Andrea's comments about how a business should be run when Kate turns up with more employee's crack me up. (hide spoiler)]

And Grendel - I love Grendel. He is probably my favorite fictional pet.

[Steven]

I agree completely with your comments, Deanna. I'm around the same spot you are. :) I love Andrea's commentary!!!!!

And Grendel is just awesome. I don't know if he's my favorite fictional pet, but he's certainly top ten. :)

[Deanna]

Read through chapter 18.

Adam's device - (view spoiler)[I can understand a small device to help hospitals cope with the shifts from tech to magic, and the death of his wife was tragic. Still, building a large scale device knowing that it would kill 30% of the population. I have a hard time understanding how it morphed from a small beneficial project to a large scale weapon of mass destruction. (hide spoiler)]

Aunt Bea - (view spoiler)[That stunt she pulled dragging Andrea away from the office and leaving the weakest of her entourage to mind the kids was irresponsible and idiotic. She deserved a lot more than Andrea's slap. I find Kate's lack of anger a bit surprising although I suppose Andrea is angry enough for both of them. (hide spoiler)]

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Deanna wrote: "Read through chapter 18.

Adam's device - [spoilers removed]

Aunt Bea - [spoilers removed]"

Adam's device (view spoiler)[I think it is how lots of things that weren't meant to be become weapons. Someone just has to experiment. (hide spoiler)]

Aunt Bea(view spoiler)[ No one was really expecting an attack at that time, it was just precautionary. Andrea chose to leave and meet her then (not to mention she had put her off previously), so if you blame one you have to blame the other. (hide spoiler)]

[Victoria]

Steven wrote: "I agree completely with your comments, Deanna. I'm around the same spot you are. :) I love Andrea's commentary!!!!!

And Grendel is just awesome. I don't know if he's my favorite fictional pet, but..."

Grendel is my favorite! Although I'd hate to have him as a pet - eating and throwing up everything would not work for me, even if he's a mutant attack poodle :)

[Victoria]

I'm around Ch 12 right now. I almost couldn't read last night because my eye was killing me, apparently due to conjunctivitis, but I was able to download the audiobook from my library. I'm not going to let a little eye pain keep from Kate and Curran!

[Victoria]

Ch 12 - (view spoiler)[ I love Kate's complete take down of Jennifer at the Pack assembly! (hide spoiler)]

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Victoria wrote: "Ch 12 - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Isn't it great. It is weird how Jennifer started out as just an alpha in the background, then kind of Kate's nemesis because of her sister and the fact Jennifer is incapable of placing the blame correctly with herself" (hide spoiler)]

[Deanna]

Victoria wrote: "Ch 12 - [spoilers removed]"

That was definitely a brilliant move on Kate's part.

[Deanna]

Finished this afternoon.

Shane - (view spoiler)[I wonder what the Order's response to finding out some of its members were part of a fanatical humans only group determined to kill anyone with magic. It may be in a later book although I don't remember anything. (hide spoiler)]

Celebration - (view spoiler)[ I love how everyone came together to roast the boars and celebrate. The whole offensive was an amazing display of cooperation and combining of strengths. (hide spoiler)]

Epilogue - (view spoiler)[I have always wondered where that voice came from that Kate hears when she is high on magic and needs to clean Julie's blood. If it looked even half as creepy as it sounded, I completely understand Curran insisting on Kate's never again pledge. (hide spoiler)]

[Victoria]

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Victoria wrote: "Ch 12 - [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I know, when she's first introduced she just appears as one of the masses and you don't think she will be anything other than 'that female wolf alpha'. I wonder if the authors planned on making her a bigger character from the start or if just happened to work out that way. (hide spoiler)]

[Victoria]

Deanna wrote: "Finished this afternoon.

Shane - [spoilers removed]

Celebration - [spoilers removed]

Epilogue - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I don't remember anything either about the Orders response to Shane's involvement. But I wouldn't be surprised if there were other Lighthouse Keeper supporters in the Order covering up his involvement.

And again I don't remember if the voice she hears is ever explained, but during this read I was wondering if it was Roland's voice she hears. (hide spoiler)]

[Steven]

I completely agree with you comments on Adam's device. As an inventor, even in our real world, you have to always consider if something can be weaponized, because if it can be, it will be.

[Steven]

Victoria wrote: "Grendel is my favorite! Although I'd hate to have him as a pet - eating and throwing up everything would not work for me, even if he's a mutant attack poodle :) "

Right, I love reading about him, but no thanks to owning him. I have two special needs animals already, another "normal" dog, and now a kitten I caught in my work parking lot on Friday and am adjusting to living with us... I don't need a big giant mutant attack poodle eating furniture and puking it up all over. Also, for some reason, my feet are like magnets... if there is poop, pee, or puke on the floor, I ALWAYS end up not seeing it and stepping in it!

[Steven]

Jennifer (view spoiler)[ REALLY ticks me off. She was given ample opportunity to have the wolves evacuate as warned, and she chose not to. KATE isn't responsible for the loss of Naomi. JENNIFER is. One thing I remember about Jennifer is that she's constantly causing herself problems and blaming Kate. Time for her to grow up. I can't remember if/when she gets her comeuppance, but I can't wait. (hide spoiler)]

[Steven]

I am going to try to finish today! This weekend was crazy because of that new kitten!

[Steven]

I'm thankful that Jennifer (view spoiler)[ kind of reaches a peace with Kate by the end. I hate that Daniel died, and I know that Jennifer will continue to be a pain to some degree, but at least they can seem to have found some common ground. (hide spoiler)]

Shane (view spoiler)[ deserved way worse than he got. (hide spoiler)]

Julie (view spoiler)[ So glad Julie lived. Even though she's unable to disobey a command in the future, she's alive and has a chance. (hide spoiler)]

For some reason, I've remembered so many details about the first four books (this is my first reread of them, first original read was in 2013 I think), but this one, I barely recalled any details!

[Teddie]

Steven wrote: "I am going to try to finish today! This weekend was crazy because of that new kitten!"

Live action shot of Steven trying to read this weekend:

[Steven]

Bahaha, change it to a kindle and a grey & gold tabby with little white socks, and it's dead on :P

[Melissa]

Starting today :) Team Draco Malfoy

[Mary X]

I finally got a library copy. Anyone around to discuss the book if I start reading?

[Cathy M.]

I plan on starting this in another day or 2 (probably Friday or Saturday) so can chat with you then!

[Mary X]

OK cool.

[Melissa]

Soooo... I ended up reading this in almost one sitting.

The best thing about this installment is that (view spoiler)[ the humans (hide spoiler)] are the bad guys... (view spoiler)[ fanatical nutjobs trying to commit genocide is so scary to me. Freaking Shane, who Andrea thought was her friend and worked alongside her for years, was secretly a crazy cult guy. And I wouldn't be surprised at all if Ted turns out to be a high-ranking member of The Lighthouse Keepers. (hide spoiler)]

[Mary X]

I'm about a quarter into it. So far another enjoyable read from the Ilona Andrews team. I have yet to dislike one of their books.

I was so worried when I started this that the Kate and Curren thing would be several books of will they or won't they mate. So glad they didn't do that. I love these 2 together.

Andrea and Kate: (view spoiler)[I love the idea of these 2 having a kick-ass female detective/mercenary business! (hide spoiler)]

[Steven]

Mary, that's so true. I was worried there would be back and forth between them for a huge chunk of books, but I'm glad they settled into a relationship relatively quickly (for us the reader at least), and have such a great banter.

I also love Andrea and Kate's friendship!

[Mary X]

Boy this one just starts immediately with the action and doesn't let up. That's not a complaint, btw.

[Deanna]

Teddie wrote: "Steven wrote: "I am going to try to finish today! This weekend was crazy because of that new kitten!"

Live action shot of Steven trying to read this weekend:

"
That picture is adorable.

[Cathy M.]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "I'm about a quarter into it. So far another enjoyable read from the Ilona Andrews team. I have yet to dislike one of their books.

I was so worried when I started this that the Kate and Curren thi..."

(view spoiler)[It took me a while to like Curran but by this point in the series, love their relationship! And even though it took 3 books for them to finally get together, I think it helped build something solid and can only get better from here :)

And love Andrea & Kate working together! We got a taste of it in Magic Strikes. There's no stopping them now! (hide spoiler)]

[Cathy M.]

Funny but I don't remember much of this one! So far thru Chpt 5 -

(view spoiler)[That situation with the navigators fainting is concerning because what could be causing that?

What happened with Andrea being let go from the Order was crap. She gave the Order so much of herself & to be let go like that?!

Was suspicious of Rene coming to hire Kate. Have a bad feeling of what is coming because of it! (hide spoiler)]

[Mary X]

Julie: (view spoiler)[As soon as they decided to let her come home and live with that pack that she'd immediately end up in some kind of trouble. Sure enough she's attacked at Kate's office. (hide spoiler)]