IAAA - Ilona Andrews Addicts Anonymous: Kate Daniels: Wilmington Years & Other spinoffs (December 2024)

[Tonari no Emily]

Were we discussing all in here or were there going to be separate threads for the series?

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I'd say, in my original excitement, it was to be one thread... but, more realistically, it should be broken up by series... I'll make the other threads as we get closer to needing them... we can reference other series cross-thread, but we'll do Kate Daniels 1-10+ in this thread in April/May/June/December (extras from the sequel series and bridge content... nice to return after a break and revisit the characters after their HEA)...

Edge thread used in July...
Hidden Legacy thread used in August/November (2 distinct trilogies / sisters)
Innkeeper Chronicles thread used in September/October

Might just include Kinsman Universe in the Innkeeper Chronicles thread... it's super short, and the only other series with sci-fi elements... it's being done in late October...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Added thread plan to first/second post...

[Tonari no Emily]

Ah gotcha!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

No problem... good to get that sorted before we start...

Speaking of, it's almost time to start... Bring on the Boone's Farm...

I dunno why that's so memorable, but the series starts with Kate drinking wine... altho, by the end of book 1 or 2, she's given up alcohol and it's never really brought up again...

Kate Daniels #1 is my least favorite book from Ilona Andrews, altho I think it could be fixed with a 2nd edition bringing back a deleted chapter that would fix my continuity error / plot hole complaints... we'll see what you guys think...

[Charlie]

You're so organised!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

We're all a bunch of planners around here...
This is one series where 95% of the companion material is available on audio, too... even the Curran POVs at this point...

Only things missing are one short story and some deleted scenes, I think?... thanks to the Small Magics anthology last year...

Excited to see some new people try Ilona Andrews, and some mega-fans like myself revisit for a 2nd or 5th or umpteenth re-read... for a number of years, this was one of my book slump breaking authors...

[Narilka]

The authors posted a future publication blog post today: https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/happy-...

To sum up...

-Sanctuary – Summer 2024
-Undetermined novella – Holiday season 2024
-Hugh 2 – 2025
-Innkeeper #6 – 2025/2026
-Some secret project with no date

While I'm sad no new Innkeeper this year, at least we're looking at two releases :D

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I take it Sanctuary is that new IP they were working on last year...

I assume Undetermined novella is to fill the web serial hole, once Roman serial finishes and they take a short break?...

I knew Hugh 2 was on the horizon, so not too surprised Innkeeper 6 is so far out... I assume Innkeeper 6 comes after Undetermined novella in the web serial slot...

And secret project is their new new IP they're probably working on, since the previous one didn't fill their goal of a new entry point series for fresh readers to try... forget the term, but they did a whole series of posts about the importance of bringing in new readers, and not just coasting on the existing BDH (book devouring horde, the term for IA blog commenters/fans)...

Still, great to have a mini State of Sanderson from Team Andrews :D

EDIT: oh wait... just realized Sanctuary is the Roman Serial... in my head I just call it Roman serial... the rest still stands :D

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Started actually reading the post, and all the hinting and explanations are great...

1) Possibly Wilmington 3 or Roman 2 for the fall novella / web serial... (I think the magic police guy deserves a novella too... the competent specialist that Roman & Kate go to when they need someone (PAD?)... the guy that studied the (view spoiler)[proto-djinn- (hide spoiler)] in book 8... and appeared frequently before and after...

2) Why Innkeeper needs time to breath (I want to see the end of the (view spoiler)[Missing Parents (hide spoiler)] Arc as well... happy to hear the door is open for more Innkeeper past the end of the arc... totally deserves to continue... great characters/setting/story options...

3) the secret project is so secret, they didn't even mention it on the tentative schedule at the end :D

[Narilka]

Re #3 - I know lol I added it anyway :) At some point they'll release whatever it ends up being and we'll all devour it :D

[Tonari no Emily]

I'm pretty excited for these! :)

[Charlie]

I'm excited for all of these! with the Roman serial in mind, do you think we'll add that into our BR schedule Iain?

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Charlie wrote: "I'm excited for all of these! with the Roman serial in mind, do you think we'll add that into our BR schedule Iain?"

For sure... it'll get added to the end with Wilmington Years & Aurelia Ryder/Julie book... I'm not 100% sure on the timeline/timing of Sanctuary, but I assume it's around the time of those...

[Charlie]

Fab, excited to read it!

[Diana Stormblessed]

I’m excited to start this. Already took book 1 out on Libby. This is one if my comfort read authors so I’m absolutely giddy about doing a reread lol

[Tonari no Emily]

My Libby only has graphic audio now? Gotta find an alternative...

[Diana Stormblessed]

Tonari no Emily wrote: "My Libby only has graphic audio now? Gotta find an alternative..."

Does your library have hoopla? It’s probably on there as well. Or see if there are any friends from other towns who’ll let you use their library card for Libby lol.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I own all these in their own right from a number of sources, from my many re-reads over the years...

Looking at Hoopla, half the audiobooks are graphics audio, but my library still had some non-GA audiobooks... mid-series Kate Daniels, the whole Edge series, and some anthology shorts... GA audiobooks are Innkeeper Chronicles and a few Kate Daniels... there's also a ton of ebooks on Hoopla: Innkeeper Chronicles, Kinsmen Universe, Hidden Legacy, and the more recent Kate Daniels stuff (Wilmington Years, Aurelia Ryder, Iron & Magic)...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "I’m excited to start this. Already took book 1 out on Libby. This is one if my comfort read authors so I’m absolutely giddy about doing a reread lol"

gonna be great, having a mix of re-readers and first timers... hopefully the pace doesn't scare too many people away... and people can feel free to tag along at their own pace, for the discussions if not the competition bonus points... for competition bonus points the rules are pretty flexible with these book club threads... as long as you read the books within the assigned month generally, I think...

[Diana Stormblessed]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "I’m excited to start this. Already took book 1 out on Libby. This is one if my comfort read authors so I’m absolutely giddy about doing a reread lol"

gonna be great, hav..."

I thought official rule was within 1 week before and 2 weeks after the designated buddy read date. Either way I think it's mostly honor system of you are reading it fairly close to the buddy read date and are participating in the discussion.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

With these book clubs, they're not 100% scheduled... I mostly list a weekly system for my hectic own planning, but some people like to just power through the whole month's plan all at once, in my experience... I add in short stories 3.5 days between weekly novel dates or 5 days between novels every 10 days (depending if it's a 3 book month or 4 book month)... and those are generally optional, and whoever reads it includes a mini-summary for those that skip and are curious...

Nirkatze has been doing that in the October Daye threads, and that's a chore unto itself... Seanan McGuire is as prolific in her short story writing as she is with her novels... she includes short stories with most book releases in October Daye and InCryptid series, then does monthly short stories on Patreon and probably some other sources I'm forgetting... back in the day they were just website freebies and anthology fodder...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

There's also an element of the honor system to it all... who has time to confirm people aren't cheating with 1000s of books read by 26+ people on the spreadsheet?...

Last year I started a T. Kingfisher book as an ebook in February... stalled out for a long time around chapter 7... saw the audio announcement... waited for that in September... read it then, and went back and commented and counted it, since I DID start back in February :D ... and the rule is just that you need to start... people that want to meet that rule just need to read a few pages/prologue... so many people read multiple books at the same time for weeks/months on end, anyway...

[Saar The Book owl]

I'm a first reader and started a couple of days ago. It makes me think of The Others - series from Anne Bischop. The writing style anyways.
(view spoiler)[Well, imagine sitting at your table, drinking your fav lemonade, and right there, a vampire is on your ceiling/wall. Nice way to enter the story. Kate has just found out that Greg has been killed. I wonder why she isn't part of The Order of Merciful Aid anymore. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I'm a first reader and started a couple of days ago. It makes me think of The Others - series from Anne Bischop. The writing style anyways.
[spoilers removed]"

I found Ilona Andrews in March 2013 and quickly fell in love... I found Anne Bishop in April/May 2013, and definitely loved it in a similar way...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I'm a first reader and started a couple of days ago. It makes me think of The Others - series from Anne Bischop. The writing style anyways.
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[It's a very memorable opening, as I noted a bit before, with my Boone's Farm comments...

The vampire/necromancy lore in this book is quite unique and has alot of interesting nuances that are slowly explored... same with Kate's history/backstory and all the worldbuilding in this world...

The magic pendulum system, too, creates all sorts of hijinks and unique phenomena... it also allows for a real melting pot of UF mythology additions...

Jim feels a bit all over the place / inconsistent in the first 2 books on re-reads, I think, but his character is solidified in books 3+ in my opinion (not sure how far you are yet, but he works with Kate at the Mercenary Guild, and says a variety of things about his Pack vs Mercs priority list in the first couple books)...

The introduction of Curran is very memorable, to say the least... don't think that's a big spoiler, even if you haven't reached it yet... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Gonna start... my older ipod is pissing me off, and I can't keep the lightning port working long enough to fully download all the files I was trying to get onto it while my newer ipod charges from a drained battery...

So here we are...

A Questionable Client -- #0.5 -- not sure this is the best place for a new reader to start... #1 gives you a better intro to the characters/etc... this is just a short story that fleshes out the backstory between Kate & Saiman and how they first met... it's referenced in #1 and several other times throughout the series... it was written around the time book 4 came out, based on the anthologies it was included in... it's included in Small Magics for people that want to read it...

Starting now...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Finished Questionable Client: (view spoiler)[I think it's a pretty good exploration of Kate & Saiman's initial interactions & dynamic...

I always find her cluelessness about the apartment building a bit offputting... in post-Shift Atlanta, it has to be one of the few high-rises along the skyline you can probably see from anywhere... most tall buildings collapse, after all... without magical shenanigans protecting them...

I'm also curious about the financial viability of having to throw away shoes at the start... resources are scarcer in the KD world... back to basics kinda deal... (hide spoiler)]

Anyway, summary for those that want it: (view spoiler)[Kate takes a Merc job when others abandon it for reasons... turns out Saiman is a shape-changer, and his uncontrollable changes due to circumstances upset the original bodyguards...

Kate is less squeamish, needs the money, and resists Saiman's wiles/bets, creating their series dynamic... also has moral issues with some of his antics, as evinced when the backstory about the acorn and the fake wife come out... this is a bit of a recurring thing (Saiman infiltrating places with his shape-changing abilities) throughout the series...

Also sets up the series dynamic of Kate always recognizing Saiman by the eyes...

And events transpire that Kate ends up with the Acorn at the time when it's important, and wastes the magic question to give the magic cat some milk... and Saiman pays for the job afterwards anyway, because he's intrigued by her... and offers the discount that makes him affordable to her throughout the series, in emergencies...

The End

(the details on this one I left a bit murky, because they don't matter as much as the Kate/Saiman stuff... it's just a bodyguard job with some attacks Kate mops up, in between interactions with Saiman... some complications, quickly resolved... it's a short story, after all... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Magic Bites #1, 15-20%: Everything I remember about the intro to the series... (view spoiler)[Kate, Ghastek, vampires, Order of Merciful Aid, Greg, magic words, weird magic crime signature, Slayer sword, Jim, Shifter Pack, Bono...

Kate feels like a bit of a loose cannon in this one, which is weird, and not how she's characterized in the rest of the series, where she shows a wide ranging knowledge of mythology and crime-solving/etc... this is more in the vein of the October Daye school of crime-solving...

Jim also sounds younger and more carefree in the narration here, and the whole "you owe me" me thing (view spoiler)[is rich, given how he leaves her high and dry for a Pack emergency at the start of book 2 or 3, even worse than she left him here... (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Magic Bites, 25-33%: More character introductions... (view spoiler)[

Anna: Greg's ex-wife, a seer, and someone who doesn't appear in the series very much... I feel like the authors regret making her a seer, because the power is too useful for solving things, so she kind of fades away after the first few books, and is never really mentioned again until near the end of the series, to explain her absence...

Curran: Here, kitty, kitty... best intro ever :D

Nataraja: quite the character, the local head of The People, and the metaphor of a casino is pretty on the nose, as a front...

Saiman: the backstory mentioned here doesn't quite match up with the short story, but it's generally similar... if you tilt your head a little... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

33-40%: (view spoiler)[Pack Meeting Time...

Derek: biggie...and pretty consistently characterized right from the start, basically... altho he matures pretty quick between here and book 3...

Mahon: talk about another mis-characterization, coming off as a big Teddy Bear here... he's much more the Grizzly/Kodiak... he could have just been pulling one over on Kate, tho...

Jackals: don't feel quite settled on here... they're expanded on much more in future books... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

50-60%: (view spoiler)[Derek is a good substitute for the reader, to give Kate an excuse to infodump some worldbuilding...

Casino/People visit... Rowena, Ghastek, and Nataraja are pretty much the only vampire controllers that matter most of the time, for a long while in the series... and Bono, who was introduced earlier at the bar...

Afterwards, we get to see some vampire, shifter, Kate combat in action...

And the random human kid, Red... he actually cashes in Kate's blank check business card for assistance in book 2... nice connective element... (hide spoiler)]

I'll save the rest of this for after work tomorrow, when I can continue to comment/critique... I definitely feel like I'm critiquing here, more than anything... this first book is the one I'm most critical of... book 2, to a lesser extent (book 2 feels like a bit of a bubble book, that plays with certain things that are never really seen again)... books 3-4 are where the series gets amazing, for me...

[Diana Stormblessed]

I’m starting Magic Bites tomorrow. I need to get into the Kate Daniels headspace so I’m saving A Questionable Client for a little later.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Started Magic Bites. 35% through. This is one of my favorite series now so I totally forgot how meh I was on book 1 when I first read it. Gave it 3 stars. Kate is so arrogant it's to a point of annoying. I know she's young but grow up girl. I'm just at the point where (view spoiler)[a werewolf comes to collect her to meet with the pack council. That's Derek right? I thought he first showed up in book 2 or 3 but i guess i misremembered it. I love him so much. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Started Magic Bites. 35% through. This is one of my favorite series now so I totally forgot how meh I was on book 1 when I first read it. Gave it 3 stars. Kate is so arrogant it's to a point of ann..."

I question so many of her decisions in book 1... she grows so much in book 2-3... by 3-4 she a BOSS... that scene where (view spoiler)[she rushes across the sand and stabs herself with the enemy sword to destroy it was the first holy shit scene in the series for me, I think, first time through... another good one was Erra/erratic :D... I love things like that (play on words, fantasy explanations for things, etc)... (hide spoiler)]

example of questionable decisions: (view spoiler)[she's trying to hide herself with the Knights and keep a low profile, then she's throwing Roland's name around with Nataraja... very risky, even with the paper thin Knight Archives explanation... (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

So no the wolf who went to get her wasn't Derek cuz we just met him at the pack HQ. He was so sweet and innocent at the start of the series...

Timelord Iain wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Started Magic Bites. 35% through. This is one of my favorite series now so I totally forgot how meh I was on book 1 when I first read it. Gave it 3 stars. Kate is so arro..."

She grew so much in the span of the series. I think that's why I love this series so much. I'm very much character driven when I'm reading and the growth that all the characters have throughout the books is awesome to read. I love being able ton experience it all again with this reread.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

75-80%: (view spoiler)[Cress is a character I skipped over earlier, in my mentions of characters...

They had their date here, and it really sets up Kate/Curran as the true couple of the series, with alot of roadbumps along the way... really feels pretty AlphaHole here in book 1, tho... luckily it all works out in the end, and feels more equal...

Regarding other plot developments (better read at 85-90%, I think): (view spoiler)[the jumping to conclusions about Cress here is what drives me crazy, so much railroading and leaps in logic, and then Kate gets blamed (and takes the blame) when it was all Curran and the Pack (who had already dismissed her as a glory hound 5 pages before these developments)... GRRRR... (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

Timelord Iain wrote: "75-80%: Cress is a character I skipped over earlier, in my mentions of characters...

They had their date here, and it really sets up Kate/Curran as the true couple of the series, with alot of road..."

They’re both kind of alpha holes though 😂 Perfect for each other. I do agree that (view spoiler)[putting the blame on Kate is bs since they basically gave her the idea of the killer being obsessed with her and led her down the road to think it’s Cress. As if a normal human man can’t be interested in her just for being her. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

The explanation I've always heard is that a chapter was removed around this point, and the editing of the removal and this chapter were done poorly... I'm not the only person confused by this mess, but I'm definitely one of the most vocal about it, given all my re-reads...

Best I can say is: I never complain this much about any other plot point in any series they've written... altho some people do about the romance drama in #6

[Diana Stormblessed]

Timelord Iain wrote: "The explanation I've always heard is that a chapter was removed around this point, and the editing of the removal and this chapter were done poorly... I'm not the only person confused by this mess,..."

I just chalk it up to being the first book in a series. Some of the best series I know start with the weakest book. It's like a right of passage.

[Choko]

A Questionable Client #0.5

I know people don't like Saiman, but he is one of my favorite characters! He is selfish, "a pervert", and his choices are questionable, but he is lonely and so different from anyone else around him, that I always feel a bit sad for him... (view spoiler)[ That is not to say that I find his methods of obtaining whatever he wants acceptable! He completely ruined the life of the Russian guy he married, just so he can get that acorn and get whatever his question is answered, not considering or caring whose feelings he is hurting or whose life he is destroying... He is not oblivious, the opposite - he is very aware and observant of everything and everyone around him, he just doesn't care! That is why Kate doesn't like or trust him, and the fact he is constantly trying to create the best form he can seduce her with, which has nothing to do with him being attracted to her, but just a challenge for him...

The creatures made of moss and the old lady spirit creature who invites you to vagrancy, were a great introduction to the world's creatures!

The acorn cat, who answers the questions and Kate using her question if it wants a bowl of milk, was great! Sets up the concept that magic always has a price and your best bet is not to use it for personal gains, or you might have to pay for it with everything you have! (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Great, more detailed breakdown, Choko...

[Diana Stormblessed]

Choko wrote: "A Questionable Client #0.5

I know people don't like Saiman, but he is one of my favorite characters! He is selfish, "a pervert", and his choices are questionable, but he is lonely and so differen..."

Oh he's absolutely horrible, and I love him lol. But I'd probably hate him in real life.

[Marie]

I agree, Choko.

Saiman is not a likable character, but he is understandable.

(view spoiler)[The acorn cat is a good setup for the dangers of magic and dealing with magical beings. It's something present in many stories and mythologies. Free wishes are rarely free. Of course the way Kate deals with a cat creature is so Kate. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Yep, Marie:)))) Kate does understand the feline mind:)))

Diana, I can't get enough of him!:)))

[Marie]

67% (view spoiler)[I have yet to reach the problematic part, but I was just reminded that before Kate stabbed herself with the sword, she was already prepared to sacrifice herself to take out a bunch of vampires. Also, Curran getting crispy for her.

She is definitely a bit of a loose cannon here. I guess I would attribute that at least partially to her being on a vengeance streak and also kind of losing her place with losing last family. Hence the rashness? She also admits to Curran that she is in way over her head with the case. (hide spoiler)]

Generally, I have a hard time critiquing in retrospect. I get too attached to the characters. Even on the first read, I already loved book 1, though. Mostly for the worldbuilding, the mystery of Kate's power, as well as some great dialogues, or Kate's inner monologue for that matter.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Started A Questionable Client. Forgot how short it is. Very quick story.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Marie wrote: "67%...."

Yea... (view spoiler)[Kate isn't really in a good place at the start of the series... building new connections helps with that, over the first couple books... (hide spoiler)]

I can't remember if the problematic part annoyed me as much on my first readthrough as it did on later ones... this is probably the 6th time I've read this book... later entries I've read less, since I started reading the series around the release of book 6, so I did alot of re-reads around new releases for awhile...

[Choko]

Finished Magic Bites #1

So good to be back in this crazy post tech world, and bathe in magic Atlanta...

Saar, definitely a lot in common with The Others!

(view spoiler)[ Finding out that Greg is dead, the Andrews have done a great job showing how hard it is to allow yourself to grieve when you have purposely distanced yourself from an important person in your life, but you know you are hurting... As you guys said, he was the last person left whom she considered family. Which also forces her to get involved with The Order of Merciful Aid again, which she obviously left not only because she has issues with authority, but she disagrees with their methods as well...

The KD vampires are some of the most interesting and creepy ones I have encountered! They are incapable of creating thoughts, so are psychically controlled by The People, and if they lose control, they become murderous, ravenous monsters! Ghastek and Rowena are of the controllers, like an immediate subordinates to Nataraja, the head of The People in Atlanta. And apparently Bono is just an average controller, who has been sharing his research about Dempires... Hmmm...

Someone is trying to start a war between The Pack and The People, which wouldn't take much, since they hate each other... But that someone is whoever killed Greg, so finding him would solve all the problems...

The morgue scene was kind of gruesome, with her finding the vampire's mark on his scrotum:( But that is when she meets Dr. Crest and finds the weird energy reading. Good thing she has a discount on getting information from Saemon.

Saemon still finds it a challenge to achieve the perfect man bod for her temptation... He just doesn't get it, that no matter the body, Kate doesn't trust him, so she will never hook up with him. As she said, sex is very personal and private for her, so she can't do casual...

The meeting with Curran at Unicorn Lane was truly iconic!!! "Here, kitty kitty!" And he is such a super alpha asshole! But, as you guys said, she is very much the same, so they deserve each other...

Meeting with the whole Pack and taking control over Derek, was intense! I always remember that scene vividly! The whole thing is so well written, you can feel the tension between all of them after she really challenged Curren ... And then he "assigned" Derek to her, thus our teenage werewolf bodyguard was born:)

Derek drooling over Rowena and asking Kate if she didn't like her because she is prettier, was absolutely hilarious! Yeah, but you are funnier and can hit harder:)))

The fight with the really old vampire almost killed Derek and we got to meet Red for the first time... And we have that necromantic questioning of the severed vampiric head in the kitchen! Dr. Crest seemed like he would be a good fit here, despite Derek thinking Kate is tougher than him and they wouldn't match up well... Then there is some food sharing with The Beast Lord:)

I was very upset when The Pack and Curren in particular, decided that she doesn't want to accept that the case was closed after the scene with Roland's ex-girlfriend, her vampires, and all of them almost getting killed... Once they were healed from their injuries, it was like - see you whenever, stop trying to say there is more danger, because you are obviously looking for attention! The other thing they pissed me off with was deciding that Crest was the perpetrator, and when it comes out he is not, they blamed her for leading them in his direction!!! WTH?! I would have kicked all of their asses and left them to their own devices...

Then the whole last battle was great, but I was very saddened by all those ladies deaths and the death of the Knight... But the battle was totally badass!!!

The scene with Curran and Derek fixing her roof was very cozy:) Loved it! (hide spoiler)]

So very nice!

[Marie]

78% (view spoiler)[So yeah, I just read the plothole part and it is definitely very uncomfortable to read it. Feels to me that initially there was some other scene that made Kate suspect Crest. Since she was already uncomfortable with him on the date maybe she made the mental leap and decided that that discomfort was part of some instinct telling her something was wrong about him. Maybe his being from such a different world made her doubt his honest interest in her. With the added speck of low self-esteem when it comes to her looks. But something big would still be missing there. Some scene that would make her suspicion click in place and make her question the whole relationship so far. Then that scene was scrapped and rewritten with the pack forcing that suspicion on her, but the resulting scene was not rewritten to match the change... (hide spoiler)]