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

[Diana Stormblessed]

Done. Magic Slays isn’t my favorite. It’s ok. (view spoiler)[But at the final battle it’s all of the super powered magic creatures vs some stupid humans and that doesn’t give the same gravitas as some of the other final battles. Like Daniel is killed by a pig. Yes yes it’s a big pig, but he’s the alpha of one of the largest shape shifter clans. It just seems like a disappointing way to go. Plus everything is protected behind wards. These are humans with no or very very little magic power. How did they make magic wards? (hide spoiler)] I’ll still give it 4 stars but the last 3 books were much better.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Done. Magic Slays isn’t my favorite. It’s ok. [spoilers removed] I’ll still give it 4 stars but the last 3 books were much better."

Did my re-read... #5 is one of the rougher mid-book reads for me... it's a pivot book, (view spoiler)[with Kate out of the Order now (hide spoiler)], and also one the authors struggled to write... I remember the blog posts... I think they had to delay release and give it some time to breath, and then the plot took a right turn they didn't originally expect... but it turned out better for it (for them, at least)...

(view spoiler)[Despite the problems I tend to have, and you had Diana, I think some big stuff happens in it... expansion of Kate's backstory/family... introduction of Roman (black volhv)... Ascanio... Julie...

This one really sets up alot of things for a) Kate's stuggle with her blood heritage, and b) Julie's future series...

Also the first hints that Curran is DONE with Pack, after how they treated him/Kate during his coma... the relationship talk here just solidifies the problems I have with the NEXT book tho...

I think the next book has some of the best combat of the series, in contrast to the humans here (I think they got the wards from the MSDU they invaded?... piggyback power)... my problem with the next book is the relationship drama (NO LIES)...

This book is also another brick in the Jennifer storyline... one of those things I don't talk about much, because big spoilers when it all started in book 4 with the death of her sister to Loupism/fear disease/Kate... losing Daniel just sends her off the deep end... and her talk here of being unable to kill her kid if required by loupism... (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Done. Magic Slays isn’t my favorite. It’s ok. [spoilers removed] I’ll still give it 4 stars but the last 3 books were much better."

Did my re-read... #5 is one of the ro..."

(view spoiler)[ I think the next full numbered book is one of my least favorites because a lot of the plot rests on the dreaded miscommunication trope. I def remember it being my least favorite in the series for how much I wanted to throw the book. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Done. Magic Slays isn’t my favorite. It’s ok. [spoilers removed] I’ll still give it 4 stars but the last 3 books were much better."

Did my re-read...."

(view spoiler)[#6 is my least favorite middle, other than the book 1 plot hole...

book 6 END is one of my top 3 endings in the series (previously mentioned 3/6/9)... I remember getting cinematic chills on my first readthrough, of pretty much everything from when the EuroGod cuts the castle in half, Kate runs through the castle, takes over the vampires, melts the necromancer brain, uses the blood to create a blood bubble, jumps off the castle parapet, breaks her leg, WINS COMBAT while immobile and kneeling, and fights Hugh D'Ambray with Curran, until Curran snaps his spine and he "pulls the WoW Paladin trick of bubble hearthstone" and escapes... not to mention the tragedy of Aunt B's sacrifice for Andrea/Raphael...

Coming out by the skin of their teeth, because the broken prisoner actually knew the panacea recipe... (hide spoiler)]

You could say I remember a few details about the next book ;)

[Marie]

Yeah book 6 kinda sucks but the ending is amazing.

[Diana Stormblessed]

I’ll be honest I don’t remember the end right now. Just remember how much I hate the miscommunication trope.

[Nirkatze]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Finished Magic Dreams. It was ok. I gave it 3 stars the first time I read it and I'm giving it the same rating again. I really liked the plot and mythology, but Dali and Jim are not my favorite cha..."

Just read 4.5 Magic Dreams today. I enjoyed the change in character but the tropes had me rather annoyed. And is this Jim the same dude who is like, Curran's second in command and keeps f-ing up Kate's job? (view spoiler)[I liked Dali, and I thought it all of the Asian cultural tidbits were interesting. However, it was a bit too... surface stereotypical? And I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that because Dali is Indonesian, she must know all about all other cultures and languages in Asia... Still, any kind of representation is better than none. And it was cute that Jim learned Indonesian so he could approach her.

However, the machismo in the whole series is really getting to me. I hate the "smart girl who would rather be pretty than smart and it takes a hot guy to see that she's actually beautiful and accept it" stereotype. It just... makes me so mad. Mostly at Dali, for not being proud of her brains, and of the world and society for making this something that women should be ashamed of, or putting looks above brains or empathy or all of the million other things that are more important what esthetically pleasing in a completely subjective way combination of genes someone happened to inherit. And Jim being like "I think you're beautiful" doesn't help. I'd rather him be like "you're smart and kickass and that's the sexiest thing in the world." If beauty comes up, maybe add a "I will thank your mother for giving you such great genes but maybe not tell her how hard it is to keep clothes on around you because you are just that hot."

Okay, rant over. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

I'm about 10% or so into #5 Magic Slays and enjoying it so far. (view spoiler)[Andrea! Yay! I like Andrea. But this whole thing with her bringing her case to the Order? And them completely ignoring it? Assholes! And I also feel like--I want that as a short story. And I love how kickass Andrea is with guns, and Kate is like "nah, gimme a sword."

The whole Julie problem is interesting. Looking forward to see how Kate figures it out--though she's got other stuff on her mind right now... (hide spoiler)]

[Charlie]

Nirkatze wrote: "Just read 4.5 Magic Dreams today. I enjoyed the change in character ."

Yes, that Jim, lol!

RE Dali, I think in this world, where if you're magical it pays to know a lot about different mythos and magical influences, I think it makes sense that Dali is drawn to learn more about the Asian magical influences in the same way Kate researched heavily into the western and Eastern European ones... You start with what you know and branch outwards. I think it actually works well that Dali has Kate level encyclopaedic knowledge in some areas, because she's a super smarty pants and she needs to know how to work her magic without blowing things up :D.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Nirkatze wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Finished Magic Dreams. It was ok. I gave it 3 stars the first time I read it and I'm giving it the same rating again. I really liked the plot and mythology, but Dali and ..."

Agree with all of this

[Marie]

I agree that Dali knowing other Asian stuff makes sense. It's mentioned she is known in the community (the large Asian one not just hers) as she helps people with magical issues. She also feel useless for not being able to fight so it makes sense she would try to be useful as an expert on magic since most shapeshifters don't care about it. And as Charlie said it make sense to branch out from what you know.

[Charlie]

Marie wrote: "I agree that Dali knowing other Asian stuff makes sense. It's mentioned she is known in the community (the large Asian one not just hers) as she helps people with magical issues. She also feel usel..."

I also think it's cool how since Dali isn't a fighter, she made herself useful in another area. The pack's general ignorance of magic, and their usual response to it is to smash it with enough force until it breaks. It is definitely a weakness so she can help address that.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Thinking about it more, the reason I didn’t like Dali this time around is the inner whining of wanting Jim and not being pretty enough. Yes those are things I’ve inner monologue whined about, not in a book heroine I want more confidence I think. I did like her for her magic knowledge and her mythology knowledge. I’m a sucker for anything mythological. Which is probably why I loved her character the first time I read these books. Guess as I age I have less patience for self esteem issues lol. You’re awesome! Own up to it!

[Nirkatze]

Marie wrote: "I agree that Dali knowing other Asian stuff makes sense. It's mentioned she is known in the community (the large Asian one not just hers) as she helps people with magical issues. She also feel usel..."

That makes me feel better. This is definitely a knee-jerk subject for me...

[Nirkatze]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Thinking about it more, the reason I didn’t like Dali this time around is the inner whining of wanting Jim and not being pretty enough. Yes those are things I’ve inner monologue whined about, not i..."

Agree on this--I really like the idea of having a smart, capable female character who's wields knowledge like the weapon it is... It just makes me sad that she devalues herself for something so surface. And is such a huge way that it turns her practically suicidal. And that it requires a man (and not that good of a man) to get her out of that rut. And it's not like she's hideous either (thinking of Squat in Marla Mason), she's just not turn-head beautiful. Turn-head beautiful people have their own set of problems. Grass is greener.

[Charlie]

I definitely agree with you both. She is awesome, she needs to realise that, it doesn't matter if she's not stunning. Her brain is a huge asset and she should absolutely own it. Poor Dali, she has so little self confidence.

[Marie]

From what I heard Asian women seem to be more likely to suffer lack of self-confidence. The standards they are held to, the booming plastic surgery industry, the normalizing of getting plastic surgery, mental issues being taboo subject... Even those living abroad stay within that culture to some extent. I might be a bit generalizing here but that's the general vibe I get of the whole region.

[Charlie]

That's a good point. A lot of Dali' insecurities are likely cultural. It still sucks.

[Charlie]

Just finished the Curran POV collection and I really loved it. (view spoiler)[ I know not everyone does but I just thought it was awesome. Honestly I'd love a few whole books just from his perspective.

I really loved the scene when he comes out of the coma and they all collectively shit themselves while he roars. Absolutely marvellous.

"I bled for them, I mediated their petty squabbles. I had given them everything--they would give me this one thing. Or I
would break it all apart."

"I hoped she would be one of us," Mahon said.
"Well, you can't always get what you hope for. I'd
hoped my own people wouldn't try to murder my mate
while I lay dying."

It really hammers home how betrayed he felt. They're all lucky to be alive honestly and I think leaving the pack and not killing all involved in the betrayal was probably the kindest thing he could have done. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Had to dig out the Internet Archive, but I read the last chapter of the Roman serial from the website (it was removed a week after release, to prepare for editing and traditional release)...

I thought it was a solid final chapter, answering a bunch of the questions left by the rest of the story, and there's a nice juicy epilogue to look forward to, in the official release...

And the romance/ship is confirmed, and people have decided their ship name is Romadora or Romandora (still some dispute)... that final chapter definitely paved the way, with some clearing of the air, and revealing of details to the readers...

I think a 2nd Roman serial was on the table in that poll a few months back, on what to right next, in the fall...

[Nirkatze]

Marie wrote: "From what I heard Asian women seem to be more likely to suffer lack of self-confidence. The standards they are held to, the booming plastic surgery industry, the normalizing of getting plastic surg..."

It's definitely true that the pressure to marry and start a family is still prime in many Asian cultures... even in folks who decide not to, they still feel the pressure... so that could add to Dali's insecurities--if not pretty enough, not going to attract a husband, and give her mother grandchildren to dote over...

[Nirkatze]

Finished #5 Magic Slays earlier this week. I waited a bit too long to type up my notes but let's see how much I remember...

Through Chapter 9 (view spoiler)[Learning that Kate's mom had ensorcelled the man she thought of as her dad... and that her dad never really loved her... ouch. But how accurate is this information? Everything is second-hand... (hide spoiler)]

50% ish (view spoiler)[Showdown with Jennifer was very satisfying. I enjoyed seeing Kate flay her apart using only words and knowledge. Go Kate! (hide spoiler)]

Through Chapter 15 (view spoiler)[The video of Curran freaking out--that's from the ball where Kate was repaying a favor to Saimon, right? Post Mate-announcement? (hide spoiler)]

75% in or so... (view spoiler)[Okay, assholes monologuing... Their argument about magic v. skill only holds up until you think about how magic is also a skill, and that skill is only useful if you work for it. Lazy people everywhere thinking they're entitled to results without work. Grr. (hide spoiler)]

Done (view spoiler)[Enjoyed all the assholes eating it. They deserved it.

Julie getting bit oof. That was a punch... and then Kate using her blood for a cure... but has to keep it secret. Shame.

Sweet that Curran recreated the original dinner. Also liked his "Fuck the pack." statement.

Why did I write "Magic sucker interesting" in my notes?? (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Finished #5 Magic Slays earlier this week. I waited a bit too long to type up my notes but let's see how much I remember...

Through Chapter 9 [spoilers removed]

50% ish [spoilers removed]

Throug..."

Chapter 9: (view spoiler)[I don't think anything ever happens to change that interpretation, the rest of the series... I like the route the series goes, to problem-solve Kate's family issues in later books... (hide spoiler)]

50%: (view spoiler)[Kate vs Jennifer is a recurring thing, for a bit... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15: (view spoiler)[yea... monthly pack meeting where Curran chased Saiman and Kate in car... Kate and Curran hooked up in Kate's apartment, Saiman fled... Curran probably did the damage the next day?... and it's explained that he thought Saiman had blackmail on Kate to keep making her work with him... (hide spoiler)]

75%: (view spoiler)[yep... it's not about fairness... it's about ME BEING #1, under the guise of fairness... (hide spoiler)]

End: (view spoiler)[Kate thinking she can keep the truth from Julie is silly, too... Julie's not stupid... but she knows Kate loves her, and lets the lie lie, for a long time...

You were probably talking about the magical device that could drain magic from an area, so tech worked... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

re: End--oh yeah! I had thoughts about that! (view spoiler)[Like, it does seem that the magic-sucking device could be pretty useful if localized, like originally planned... and I wonder if it like, makes super dense magic pills? Like Luideag blood? That'd be cool too... (hide spoiler)]

[Charlie]

I finished Magic Slays this morning and I have thoughts!

(view spoiler)[ @Nirkatze I also thought learning that Kate's mum was a siren and her dad never loved her was devastating. Poor Kate, when she was listening to the witch talk, my heart was breaking for her. That story of her as a little girl, visiting and wearing dresses and playing, and Voron ripping it away and training her like an animal. It's so awful I can't even express it.

50% ish -Showdown with Jennifer - Yes!! I loved this, I was rooting for Kate to wipe the floor with her.

Through Chapter 15 -The video of Curran freaking out - I adored this! Curran was so unhinged in that moment and I found it adorable that he got himself so worked up over Saiman, who was never a threat for Kate's affections. But he didn't know that.

75% - lighthouse keepers - This dud e is super delusional. Being born with magic can be likened to being born into a rich family, pre shift. Except at least with magic, you do actually have to work at it, to become skilled and make it useful. Money buys you all the privileges of power but magic doesn't always work that way. Look at Kate, she's a magical powerhouse and she was basically on the poverty line. The assholes just want someone to hate ad they chose magic users.

RE the end - Bloody hell that was tense. Poor Julie, kid has it rough. Really glad Kate cured her, even if the ritual was absolutely terrifying. I'm convinced it was Roland's voice in her head.

@Iain I like the way the series turns too. It's becomes more epic, solving the problem of Roland. I do love all the random merc fun too though. I think that's why I enjoy the Wilmington years so much, it's very slice of life and I love that.

Overall, I loved this one. (hide spoiler)]

[Marie]

22%
Wow, forgot what a super douchebag Shane was. Order really likes collecting those types.

[Charlie]

Don't they just! Shane is so awful, I wanted Andrea to shoot him so bad.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Marie wrote: "22%
Wow, forgot what a super douchebag Shane was. Order really likes collecting those types."

It's a worldbuilding decision... it's explained in book 6 or 7, I think, that (view spoiler)[Ted was one of the Founders of the Order, and they're unwilling to let him go, despite his extremist leanings... so they kinda use the Atlanta Chapter to dump similar "problem" Knights... creating a really problematic situation like happens in book 5... the failures in the fight with Erra in book 4 didn't help...

The Order has it's own milder systemic issues, as evinced by Andrea's treatment at her trial/tribunal... (hide spoiler)]

[Charlie]

Well they need to STOP (view spoiler)[ using Atlanta as a dumping ground for unhinged assholes! Honestly, stop making the problem worse! (hide spoiler)]

[Saar The Book owl]

I'm way behind and will read the 9 pages of comments later, but I've finished the first book and I'm hoocked! I've wished I could've picked up the pace more to finish, but life happens.
Still, I will continue for sure.
It was my first book from the authors and I really enjoyed it. It made me think a lot of the books by Anne Bishop.
Kate is a bad ass merc. Okay, she's got an attitude, her sarcasm is great and sometimes it's 'kill first, ask later', but still. In the first book she grew a bit as a character. The pace of the story was good and the different characters where good to follow.
As a first time reader it was a bit difficult to understand the different groups: merc, the People, the Pack and so on, but at the end of the book, there was an interesting which explained everything. Also, the quiz was fun to do and the added stories (Curran POV's, A quistionable cliënt) was fun to read.
I wonder how the dynamic between Kate and Curran will evolve ('Here, Kitty, Kitty!') and what Kate's story is: she's adopted, has magic in her blood, she's hiding things...

[Saar The Book owl]

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..."

I can agree on your thoughts about Saiman.

I've read 'A questionable Client' after the first book and I was curious who Saiman was.
(view spoiler)[Still, I don't know for sure. He's some sort of a shapeshifter, but a bit a weird one and a very interesting person. His interaction and offers to Kate were dubious: as if he only sees her as some kind of throphy. Like that there's no way she can't resist him and he's so full of himself. Well, he didn't got to ask his question after all to the cat. Oh, the acorn cat, that was great! I could picture that scene totally, with his 'little' bowl of milk. Typicial Kate! (hide spoiler)]

[Saar The Book owl]

Marie wrote: "I agree, Choko.

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

[spoilers removed]"

And also: the number '7': (view spoiler)[didn't that meant something in magic too? 7 as a migc number for something else. I think I've read that somewhere ages ago. (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I'm way behind and will read the 9 pages of comments later, but I've finished the first book and I'm hoocked! I've wished I could've picked up the pace more to finish, but life happens.
Still, I wi..."

Yay! Ilona Andrews is one of (well, two of I guess) my favorite authors. Welcome to the bandwagon!

[Diana Stormblessed]

Just finished Gunmetal Magic. I don't have much to say about it. It's ok. I thought the ending was a little chaotic in the fact that they left a lot of possibly big bad consequences to chance. I really really love Roman though. He's def the highlight of the book.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

For anyone unaware, Kate Daniels 5/5.5/6/7, some short stories in multi-author anthologies, Edge 1-4, and the Graphics Audio version of the early Innkeeper Chronicles books are available for free on Audible Plus, if anyone is missing them and/or was reading the ebooks and wanted some free audio access...

[Charlie]

@Saar! Yay! Glad you're hooked, welcome to the cult!

RE Saiman. I love his character, it's super interesting. I'm not rooting for him, he's kind of awfully mean spirited, and he doesn't have good sense. But he makes for some very entertaining reading.

@Diana, I'm about to start Gunmetal Magic. I hope I love it, I really want to.

Thanks for the heads up Iain, I'll see if UK Audible has the same titles in the plus catalogue, will save me some credits.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Read Retribution Clause about Saiman’s cousin yesterday… really interesting… wish there was more… reminded me of Goodman Gray from Dresden Files 15… he got a short story later…

[Charlie]

Can you buy that on Kindle or is it only part of an anthology?

[Diana Stormblessed]

Reading Magic Gifts now. It’s the short story included with Gunmetal Magic. It’s probably my least favorite story. It doesn’t feel like it adds anything but to be macho.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Charlie wrote: "Can you buy that on Kindle or is it only part of an anthology?"

I think it's buyable solo, but the best option is Small Magics, the anthology published last year, that contains pretty much every Kate Daniels short, other than the one included at the back of Gunmetal Magic, where Kate & Curran deal with the draugr and vikings...

[Tonari no Emily]

Finished #5 Magic Slays and sad to see there is more relationship drama especially after this one (view spoiler)[ when Kate starts to doubt if Curran loves her or is just using her.. The overall plot for this wasn't as exciting, but I thought some pretty cool things happened still. Kate shutting down Jennifer's plans with that one guy is court was just awesome! Also her being badass and cleansing Julie's blood! Rather scary honestly! (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

I think I'll skip the shorts for now... Maybe revisit them if I'm craving more. Me and shorts don't seem to be getting along even with audio versions lol

[Nirkatze]

Small Magics was on sale on Audible recently... not sure if it is one of the monthlies right now or if it was that short time sale last week....

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

The back half of Kate Daniels is pretty strong, from the conclusion of book 6 to the finale... book 8 is a minor lull for me, but has plenty of important developments for the finale... and I have some minor quibbles about the finale but like it overall...

Book 6... oh book 6... it's miscommunication to the Nth degree... more accurately, it's (view spoiler)[Curran and the shifters keeping Kate in the dark about alot of things, because they don't think she can lie well enough to fool Hugh D'Ambray otherwise... (hide spoiler)]... so it leaves me grinding my teeth for the middle 50% of the book, from about the 25% mark to the 75% mark... the beginning is solid, tho, and the ending is FANTASTIC... top 3 ending of the series, for me...

[Tonari no Emily]

Glad the next one has a good ending at least! Not looking forward to the miscommunication lol

[Tonari no Emily]

61% in to Magic Rises... Seems more of a no-communication than a miscommunication thing... I don't understand it either... (view spoiler)[ Does Curran want Kate to put whatsherface down? Why is being stupid? (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

There’s a method to the madness… it’s just stupid/annoying… (view spoiler)[Kate gives an ultimatum in the end… do this again and we’re done… no 3rd chances… (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Trying to clear through the shorts today, and finding the timeline and where to find them a bit confusing...

Curran POV Collection shorts in Small Magics (view spoiler)[really enjoyed these. If these had been included say, at the end of each book, I wouldn't've felt so uncomfortable with Curran/Kate pairing... seeing inside his mind makes a difference.

But really? It was him quoting the Lion King at Derek that sold him to me. "Kid, stick with me and you'll never go hungry again."

Also, the narrator did a bang-up job with Curran's growly voice. (hide spoiler)]

There's a "Jim's POV" at the end too--seems to be in the same time era...

[Tonari no Emily]

FInished Magic Rises (view spoiler)[ OMG he didn't tell her tO kEeP hEr SaFe..

That really was very annoying.

But totes agree on one hell of an ending!

So it seems Roland knows she's out there and is content leave her alone for a bit?
Hugh was such an ass. I'm so glad Kate rescued the flighty guy. Convenient he knows how to make panacea :D (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Just finished Gunmetal Magic. I don't have much to say about it. It's ok. I thought the ending was a little chaotic in the fact that they left a lot of possibly big bad consequences to chance. I re..."

Read Gunmetal Magics today--pretty much agree with Diana. Wasn't really a fan of Raphael in this one--I much preferred him in the short. In this one, I felt like Andrea could have done better, and Roman was the obvious choice... much cooler guy. (view spoiler)[I did find the whole plotline with Anubis interesting, though I also agree it felt chaotic and kinda came out of left field. (hide spoiler)]