Kate Daniels Series: Is It Good?

[Alex]

Don't give up so quickly. I almost gave up Darkfever, but luckily a goodreads friend told me not to and now I'm not sorry. :D My advice, keep reading, Kate Daniels is a very good series, unique even.

[Martin]

Is it just me that is missing the deeper plot line with her father and her origin, that seems to have taken a backseat in the latest books to her relationship with Curran. So it has gone from more of UF books to becoming more PNR.

[JB]

@Martin - Respectfully disagree. Kate has really grown & developed as a character since we first met her in Magic Bites, and her relationship with Curran & the Pack is an important part of that. However, her past is never forgotten & if the end of Magic Slays is any indication, we'll be seeing more on that in the future.

PNR's are more bedroom-oriented, IMO, and while Kate & Curran do get it on occasionally (in the later books), it's pretty mild stuff compared to most PNR's. So I'd say the series still retains its UF credentials.

[Martin]

Janice wrote: "@Martin - Respectfully disagree. Kate has really grown & developed as a character since we first met her in Magic Bites, and her relationship with Curran & the Pack is an important part of that. Ho..."

In my definition PNR is where most of the story centers around the romantic relationship between two (or sometimes more) people.
If it's more bedroom focused I call that PNE (think late Anita Blake).

I also didn't say that it's a full on PNR, but since Kate and Curran has "hooked up" it's not the pure UF the series started out as. It straddles both categories with both an action plot line as well as a lot of character/relationship development.

I have either missed or forgotten (it was about a year ago since I read it) how the end in Magic Slays tied in with her past; her abilities yes but not her father with goons.

[Kristen]

Martin,

The thing you have to remember about Kate is, that up to the point of Magic Bleeds & Magic Slays she didn't have friends or family. She had contacts and co-workers and most of all enemies. Her step-father and gaurdian have basically trained her to be a loner and killer.

Yes, there is a slight tilt in the focus now, with Kate and Curran; but it doesn't classify the genre as PNR or even borderline PNR - it's showing Kate's growth as a person and her humanity.
If you re-read the series and asked yourself what is each book about, it wouldn't be Kate and Curran falling in love or romance. That's a side story- it's important as Kate and Curran grow with eachother but it's never the main focus of the novel.

[Fred]

I've really been enjoying this series, and the latest novel's structure is really a lot of fun (although it confused me a bit at first - I'll say no more for fear of spoiling it...). I'd still categorize it as UF rather than PNR, as I tend to think of Romance novels primarily as "the initial hook-up" (as with most of Molly Harper's "Good Girls Don't..." series), whereas Andrews' romances are continuing relationships that don't always go smoothly, and tend to show more character development as a result (I'm big on character development - it's why I gave up on Sookie Stackhouse after 3 novels). For a fantasy novel, I find it remarkably realistic in that respect - relationships take effort to maintain, even in the best of circumstances.

[Scott]

I am recently finished Magic Strikes. I enjoy the series and would say it is a little bit light weight, but that is part of the reason it is fun. I listened to 1Q84 between Magic Bites and Magic Burns and went into genre shock. But unlike to mix things up. Currently I am listening to The Scar (and getting a bit frustrated, though the writing has a certain style) as I waited for the 4th Kate Daniels book. I also want to read / listen to the rest of the Dresden Files.

[Michelle]

Scott wrote: "I am recently finished Magic Strikes. I enjoy the series and would say it is a little bit light weight, but that is part of the reason it is fun. I listened to 1Q84 between Magic Bites and Magic Bu..."

I really enjoyed 1Q84 myself. Listening might have been a better option than reading it, though. I thought that the story dragged in places, and it might have helped to hear it instead of read it.

"Genre shock" - LOL!

[Chris]

The first book of any series is always going to be the roughest. The info dump to get you into the world always eats up so much of the pacing and feel of the book. If you like the general attitude of the main character I would suggest you keep going. She is easily my favorite female lead in urban fantasy.

[Michelle]

Chris wrote: "The first book of any series is always going to be the roughest. The info dump to get you into the world always eats up so much of the pacing and feel of the book. If you like the general attitude ..."

I haven't written the series off yet, lol. I'm not crazy about the MC, but I do like Curran quite a bit.

[Jennifer]

This is my favorite series of all time. But the first book is not as great as the rest. I hope everyone will at least try the second book before you decide how they like the series.

[carol.]

Talía wrote: "Boy, I have just finished book 1, and i have to admit the first pages were a little bit boring, but then the book got better and better and now i cannot wait to read the next books."

Glad to hear it! It's one of my favorite series.

[Anika]

I was not loving this series until book 2, I thought book 1 was just ok now its like I wish they were coming out faster so I can read the next installment.

[Darcy]

Anika wrote: "I was not loving this series until book 2, I thought book 1 was just ok now its like I wish they were coming out faster so I can read the next installment."

That seems to be how everyone feels. Book one has so much world building.

[Stephania]

what is the name of the series?i want to give it a try!

[Jean ~ Kindle Queen]

Stephania wrote: "what is the name of the series?i want to give it a try!"

It's the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. Starts with . It can be a bit difficult to get into the second book, but the series gets better with every book. Happy reading!

[Kouk]

The first book was really confusing to me and i kept putting it down, but once i met Curran i began to get more intrigued.

is a faster read.
This time i understood the world better and knew some of the characters already.
This book made me order the other books in this series!

[Michelle]

Kouk wrote: "The first book was really confusing to me and i kept putting it down, but once i met Curran i began to get more intrigued."

That was my issue with book #1, too. I also didn't like the MC. Curran, though, was awesome! :D

[chucklesthescot]

Jessica wrote: "I'm half way through Magic Bites and i'm just not into it, but i don't want to give up just yet since i've heard rave reviews about the books. So if i don't like it so far am i not going to get int..."

I didn't really like this series. I did finish the first book but I didn't really think that Kate was very interesting or likeable. It was ok but nothing special.

[Lauren]

This is my absolute favorite UF.
The turning point for me was book #3 - I liked Kate well enough in the first two books possibly because I haven't read that much UF and I found her to be original, kickass and a bit of a loner. I love how she has come out of her shell since the beginning and is growing and adapting as a character.

The world building took some effort to get into in book #1 but everything eventually made sense and by book #2 I found the post-apocalyptic world and the shifts in tech and magic to be fascinating.

The elements that I enjoy the most in the series, aside for Kate and Curran (they have such excellent banter), are the different mythology based plots in the books and the secondary cast - the family dynamics in the pack and with Kate's friends is great.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

I just finished the newest, Magic Breaks, this week. It was amazing. Before this book 3 was my favorite, now 7 is definitely it. Loved it.

[Melissa]

This is a good discussion. I started the first one, on audio book from the library, and having trouble. Not sure if it is the narrator's voice or the wording the author uses, so I think I will try again some time with the ebook.

[Snarktastic Sonja]

Melissa wrote: "This is a good discussion. I started the first one, on audio book from the library, and having trouble. Not sure if it is the narrator's voice or the wording the author uses, so I think I will try ..."

I actually listened to these after I read them. (It helps me go to sleep.) I was NOT fond of the narrator, though she did grow on me. In particular, the voice she used for Julie early on really hurt my ears. So, don't judge by the audio book.

[MadameZelda]

I just finished reading my first Kate Daniels' book, Magic Bites. So confusing with the strange names. I don't get the ley line. I don't get the magic words, that she had two and now she has four more. It seems as though there are only three humans in that book. I'm thinking People are not humans.
I think the best way is to plow through as I did with Psy-Changelings and ignore what I don't understand. After the third Psy-Changeling, I finally got it.

[Lindsey]

MadameZelda wrote: "I just finished reading my first Kate Daniels' book, Magic Bites. So confusing with the strange names. I don't get the ley line. I don't get the magic words, that she had two and no..."

You should definitely stick with the series, the Kate Daniels series is one of my favorites, the 3rd and 4th books are pretty spectacular I think, and I love the characters. And I wouldn't say the People aren't human, more just magically inclined humans with the inherent ability (and lots of training) to pilot vampires. But if you continue with the next books I think more of the details and back story will become clear.

[MadameZelda]

At the book's end, I will say I enjoyed it. Curran peaks my interest and so I will read the second book and see where it goes.

[Snarktastic Sonja]

It took me until the 3rd book to actually get into this series. And, there was quite a bit of time between the first and the second for me. I know so many people who so love this series, that I gave it a second chance with the second book! I will also say that I enjoyed the first book more upon the second reading than I did the first. I saw more in the relationships once I knew where they were going.

[Timothy]

What city is the kate daniels series set in?

[Kathy (Kindle-aholic)]

Timothy wrote: "What city is the kate daniels series set in?"

Atlanta

[Timothy]

Thanks :)

[Brooke]

Kate Daniels is one of my favorite urban fantasy series along with Mercy Thompson, they are the reason I love it so much :)

I think the audio books for both are some of the best I have listened to and really added to the story, I'm not sure I would love it as much if I had just read them

[April]

OMG yes!! My favorite series!!!

[Teresa]

One of my favorites

[Dawn]

first few are good then it gets a bit samey, I tried to finish the series twice but couldn't both times.

[Davinia]

nor every book is for everybody. I really like tgus series a lot, but like the previous personeel said, the second book wasn't the best. Personally for me the 3th was the absolute best. So I think if you made it to that and still didn't like it you'd be absolutely sure. Question is: do you want to "invest" that much in a book you don't enjoyable now?