Review: Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews

Title:  Magic Breaks
Author:  Ilona Andrews
Series:  Kate Daniels, #7
Publisher:  Ace
Release Date:  July 29, 2014
Pages:  302
Rating:  

 

As the mate of the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than it seems possible to juggle. Not only is she still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, she must now deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel ancient being with god-like powers. Since Kate’s connection to Roland has come out into the open, no one is safe—especially those closest to Kate.

As Roland’s long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend the Conclave, a gathering of the leaders from the various supernatural factions in Atlanta. When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered there, apparently at the hands of a shapeshifter, Kate is given only twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she’ll find herself embroiled in a war which could destroy everything she holds dear…

"Your sword is made out of your grandmother’s bones?” “Okay, I see how it sounds weird when you say it in that tone of voice…”

I was so very excited and nervous to read MAGIC BREAKS. Excited, because finally I get my hands on another Kate Daniels book and nervous, because I've heard very scary things. You must be warned that some spoilers will be included because it's just not possible to review this book then, except saying how awesome it was, but I want to say so much more!

In the previous book Hugh D'Ambery finally makes his appearance and in this book Hugh still has his sick obsession with Kate and will do anything, kill anybody to get his hands on her and present her to Roland. And of all times Curran is away on business. MAGIC BREAKS is a little different from the previous books, but I still devoured and loved it. We have some minor characters we get to know more. We get to know more or see the rat Alpha, Robert and he is tired of being in the dark about Kate.

A character new from the previous book, Desandra is in the pack now and wants to challenge Jennifer for the role of Alpha. I seriously didn't remember much about the last book with the new characters, so I barely remember her. But, HOT DAMN! I like Desandra. She brought more life into the book in some parts and I loved it. And I loved her showing up Jennifer, because Jennifer is a total bitch, wants everyone to feel sorry for her, because her husband died and she isn't doing her duty as the Wolf Clan Alpha. Desandra deserves the role. So, the back and forth between the fate of Wolf Clan was awesome! Happy with the outcome!

Curran’s eyes went gold. His voice dropped into a rough growl. “If you’re going to shoot, make sure to empty the clip, because after you’re done, I’ll shove that gun up your ass sideways.” Blue Jacket blinked. “Can you even do that?” I asked. “Let’s find out.” Curran stared at the thug. “Well? Shoot, so we can start this experiment.”

My big thing that drove me insane was that Curran was absent for more than half of the book. That didn't sit well with me because I am a Curran Fanatic. You basically see him in the first chapter and won't see him again until you get through half of the book. That probably needed to happen though for storyline development. I freaking love Hugh and I welcome more of his craziness. I love Andrew's characters to death, every one of them!

And finally! We finally meet Roland! I know he's suppose to be the bad guy, but I like him! We get introduced to him, but we don't really know his agenda, because he was introduced close to the end of the book. And all we know right now is that he wants to get to know his daughter. But who knows? I need to get to know more about his character. I just freaking want more of this awesome series!

I don't know what to say about Kate and Curran! Curran was absent, but from what we did get he's still madly in love with Kate and he makes a big sacrifice for Kate and it will be interesting to see what the fallout of that decision will be. By the time I finished this book, I was in happy happy joy joy mode, because I believe there is so much more to come and I'm excited for it!

read more

Review: Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews

Title:  Magic Rises
Author:  Ilona Andrews
Series:  Kate Daniels, #6
Publisher:  Ace
Release Date:  July 30, 2013
Pages:  327
Rating:  

 
Atlanta is a city plagued by magical problems. Kate Daniels will fight to solve them—no matter the cost.

Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta.

Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap…

“One word,” he whispered, his voice taut with suppressed anger. “Say one word, and I’ll rip him apart. He won’t see the sunrise.” I looked into his eyes and realized he would.

I feel like I have been FOREVER for MAGIC RISES. I think been going totally insane for my Curran and Kate fix! But don't worry I am okay, I finally got that bloody book in my paws! YEEESSHHHH! Okay, enough about my nut of a self. MAGIC RISES was definitely a tad bit different from the previous books in the Kate Daniels Series.

The babies of the pack are dying because they can't handle the beast transformation, so the European packs have the medicine that reduces a child from going loup and Kate and Curran will do anything to get it. They will have to travel there and play into the hands of the European Pack. And we obviously know it's a trap of some kind, so Andrea, Rapheal, Mahon, and a few others tag along.

I wasn't a huge fan of this book taking place somewhere else, or the characters of the European pack. We still got that Kate Daniels aura though where it still felt like a Kate Daniels book. MAGIC RISES was so emotionally grinding to your heart in more ways than one. Kate and Curran are never boring and that fact still remains to be true.

He kissed my hair. “I’m used to watching for people with swords,” I told him. “I never saw the knife. You were too close.” “Kate, I didn’t stab you.” “Are you sure? Because it still hurts.”

Their relationship continues to grow, but there are moments in this book that literally breaks your heart in half! I WANTED TO SCREAM! I WANTED TO THROW THINGS ACROSS THE ROOM! And I WANTED TO SHOOT CURRAN IN THE LEG! And by the end I wanted to kiss Curran. I can't explain it! You'll just have to read it. But still those two make me SWOON! My heart goes to Kate as always. She is one hell of a woman and doesn't let anyone push her down. ANd I loved getting those "don't mess with me" moments

I think we're getting closer to meeting Roland. I for one can't wait for that to happen! It will forever be an EPIC MOMENT. I know that even before I end up reading it. Hugh finally makes an appearance and I have a love/hate relationship for the little bastard. The second half of the book was more Kate Daniels bad ass style and I loved it.

By now, from several rumors, I'm sure you know that a character dies in MAGIC RISES. I am pissed about. For me, every side character I ABSOLUTELY LOVE! I have a place in my heart for all of them, so I would be pissed for any of them to die. But this particular character really made an impact in the series and I was sad to see them go. I say, Peace, I Love you and you will forever be remembered. All and all, a pretty awesome book! OMFG to the ending, please continue! I'm looking forward to the next as always, so HURRY UP AND RELEASE ALREADY!!!

read more

Review: River Marked by Patricia Briggs

Title:  River Marked
Author:  Patricia Briggs
Series:  Mercedes Thompson, #6
Publisher:  Ace
Release Date:  March 1, 2011
Pages:  326
Rating:  

 

Coyote shifter Mercy Thompson knows that life with her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will never be boring, but even their wedding doesn't go as planned. Nevertheless, a ten-day honeymoon camping on the banks of the Columbia River, alone, just the two of them, should make up for it. But the trip - and the pimped-out trailer they're using - is courtesy of the fae. And nothing from the fae comes without strings attached...

Being a different breed of shapeshifter - a walker - Mercy can see ghosts, but the spirit of her long-gone father has never visited her. Until now. An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River - and innocent people are dying. As other walkers make their presence know to Mercy, she must reconnect with her heritage to exorcise the world of the legend known as the river devil...

 

“What did you do?” I heard a siren and hoped that it wasn’t someone coming looking for me. I made my brisk walk a little brisker. “Got in a fight with my girlfriend, apparently.” I hung up before he could ask me anything else.

I had seriously been holding off on RIVER MARKED big time! Honestly, I was scared to read it. I had heard it was very disappointing and that scared me off, but now that Frost Burned would be releasing soon I decided to read it to get it over with. Adam and Mercy were wonderful as always, but beyond that I did have some major problems.

Son of a bitch. I would kill him. I didn’t care if he was Coyote or the son of Satan. He was a dead man walking.

What I love about the Mercedes Thompson series is that Mercy has my middle name. Haha! Just kidding, though that is true! What I love about this series is that Mercy is a total bad ass and that she has a super hunky alpha werewolf as her mate that I am totally envious of, the Pack and the wonderful characters of the Mercedes Thompson Series. This book has a lot of Mercy and Adam and then Mercy learning about her heritage and her father. To be honest, it was completely boring!

“Otters,” I told Adam, my teeth beginning to chatter with the effect of the water. “If I start screaming, it’s because the otters have come to get me.”

I could only stand the beginning up to the point where we have the Mercy and Adam scenes and that's it. The new characters and plot I couldn't stand because it was so un-interested. I must be so terrible to say that, but I felt like something huge was missing. The Pack really made the series for me. I guess it took for them to be absent for me to realize that. I could really feel like something was off and missing.

“Sorry,” he said. “Too many changes and not enough food.” I patted his hard belly and kissed it. “Poor thing,” I told it. “Doesn’t Adam treat you right? No worries. I’ll go feed you.” My head bounced when Adam laughed.

Thankfully the Adam and Mercy moments were not boring, Thank the Lords! Adam and Mercy were so darn cute! Adam worrying so much over Mercy and Mercy kicking some serious butt! And there was this really cute scene were they had this fight and they shift and Adam brings her a dead bunny as an apology! I look forward to more of them in the future books for sure! They are just so awesome! Little disappointment like many have pointed out, no sexy honeymoon scene? Come on, Briggs! I want some action here!

“I’ll stay here. But you better put a shirt on, or your gorgeous self will cause an accident if you go running by the road, and someone sees you.” He smiled at that; I think he thought I was joking.

RIVER MARKED would not be my favorite book by any means, but it wasn't so horrible, just the boring parts. Not the worst book in the series, but I wasn't thrilled with it. I'm sure the next book will be tons better since they will all be back in the comfort and home of the Pack where they are supposed to be! I am much looking forward to Frost Burned and can't wait for its release!

read more

Review: Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

Title:  Gunmetal Magic
Author:  Ilona Andrews
Series:  Kate Daniels, #5.5
Publisher:  Ace
Release Date:  July 31, 2012
Pages:  435
Rating:  

 

The New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels novels have been hailed as “top-notch urban fantasy” (Monsters and Critics). Now, Ilona Andrews delves deeper into Kate’s world, and reveals its untold stories…

After being kicked out of the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea’s whole existence is in shambles. She tries to put herself back together by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend.

When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano—the male alpha of the Clan Bouda, and Andrea’s former lover—die unexpectedly at a dig site, Andrea is assigned to investigate. Now she must work with Raphael as her search for the killer leads into the secret underbelly of supernatural Atlanta. And dealing with her feelings for him might have to take a back seat to saving the world…

I pointed my fork at her. “Are you implying that our relationship is like a Spanish soap opera?” “I’m not implying. I’m saying it.”

I admit I was a little scared because I am a Kate and Curran lunatic! And I need my Kate and Curran fix, so when I heard about Andrea getting a full length book instead of Kate and Curran I had a fit! Surprise! Surprise! I did end up liking GUNMETAL MAGIC more than I thought I would. I"m so sorry I doubted you Ilona Andrews! I bow down before you greatness!

To me being a shapeshifter meant being hurt, degrades, and living in fear. Every bone in my body had been broken by shapeshifter a before I was the years old. I've been stabbed, punched and kicked, whipped, and set on fire. I've watched my mother being beaten to a bloody pulp repeatedly and with vicious glee. I had rejected that life and chose the Order instead. The Knights were my pack and Ted was my alpha.

I had always though of Andrea as a side character and how could I ever enjoy her, but this book really gives some insight to her and I have to admit she is just as tough and bad ass of a character as Kate is! I love how bad ass Andrea is! Andrea has been through a lot of stuff and she is sort of a broken character! I won't say broken, tortured character! And it just pains me to find out everything about her past and why she is so reluctant to join the pack! My heart burns for her! And by the end of the book, even before that, I came to really respect and love her as a character!

“You’re touching me,” I chided him. He caressed my back, sliding his hand down, hitting every sensitive point I hadn’t even known I had. “No, this is touching you. That was just accidental contact.” “Oh? Good to know. If you touch me again and I break your arm off, you can be sure it will be completely accidental.”

And then we have Rapheal. They had some business to take care of, to really talk about everything! I think a lot of others agree with me, but Rapheal was such an ass in the beginning. I kind of hated him. And then I loved him again! He felt a bit absent in this book though and I guess that I think about it that is much how the Kate Daniels book goes as well, not enough of the Curran. But that is okay. But alas, we have another mating frenzy which was hilarious! I totally love the purple, Andrea!

“Curran and Kate stood by the door. “I can’t believe you decided to come down here and check on me,” she said. “The guy once handed you a fan and told you to fan yourself if the sight of his naked torso was too much.” “That was like a year ago. Will you let it go already?” “No.” Curran grabbed her and pulled her to him, kissing her. “Never.” She kissed him back and smiled. Awww. Kate and the Beast Lord sitting in a tree…”

We did have some glimpses of Kate and Curran, thank god! Of course, how could I not appreciate it! THANK YOU! And of course some time with the other side characters which I have missed! Can I have some more Ascanio, please? This book was good, I admit, but now I want my Kate and Curran book! I can't be kept away too long or I will go in a mad fit of rage! I look forward to the next Kate and Curran book!

read more

Review: Hot Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Title:  Hot Blooded
Author:  Amanda Carlson
Series:  Jessica McClain, #2
Publisher:  Orbit
Release Date:  April 23, 2013
Pages:  320
Rating:  

 

It hasn't been the best week for Jessica McClain.

Her mate has been kidnapped by a Goddess hell-bent on revenge --- but Jessica is playing for keeps.

Because she's the only female werewolf in town...it comes with its own set of rules...and powers.

Aided by two vamps, two loyal Pack members, and one very reluctant human, Jessica must rescue her man while coming to terms with what being a wolf really means.

All in a day's work for a girl.

The second novel in the Jessica McClain series is a full on action adventure featuring one angry Goddess and plenty of monsters, demons, and a few newly risen beasties...

 

Jessica is turning into quite the bad ass! I liked HOT BLOODED, but not quite as much as the first book in the series, Full Blooded. This book picks up right where the last one ended and it starts all cool and wicked with more prophecies arising to what Jessica is or will become that makes a lot of supernatural creatures wanting to take her down!

There are some new characters that I fell in loved with as well as the old ones and I'm loving these characters and I'm excited for what's to come. In HOT BLOODED Jessica has to go and get back her man, Rourke from the evil clutches of bitch goddess, Sabine. I felt like I spent too much time in the traveling and rescuing department. And there was NOT ENOUGH ROURKE! I need more sexy times, like now! Don't you know the sexy times are the best parts of books?

But I absolutely loved the new developments with Jessica and the new powers, abilities she has. It is wicked cool, but I wanna explore more into that. But the storyline and plot in HOT BLOODED was totally cool and I really can't wait to see what's going to happen next in the next Jessica McClain book!

read more

Review: Full Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Title:  Full Blooded
Author:  Amanda Carlson
Series:  Jessica McClain, #1
Publisher:  Orbit
Release Date:  September 11, 2012
Pages:  322
Rating:  

Born the only female in an all male race, Jessica McClain isn’t just different—she’s feared.

After living under the radar for the last twenty-six years, Jessica is thrust unexpectedly into her first change, a full ten years late. She wakes up and finds she’s in the middle of a storm. Now that she’s become the only female full-blooded werewolf in town, the supernatural world is already clamoring to take a bite out of her and her new Pack must rise up and protect her.

But not everyone is on board. The werewolf Rights of Laws is missing text and the superstitious werewolves think that Jessica means an end to their race. It doesn’t help when Jessica begins to realize she’s more. She can change partway and hold her form, and speak directly to her wolf. But the biggest complication by far is that her alpha father can't control her like he can the rest of his wolves.

When a mercenary who’s been hired by the vampires shows up to extract information about the newly turned werewolf only days after her change, they find themselves smack in the middle of a war and there's no choice but to run together. When it’s up to Jessica to negotiate her release against her father’s direct orders, she chooses to take an offer for help instead. In exchange, Jessica must now swear an oath she may end up repaying with her life.

From everything I knew about wolves, not being in control was an extremely bad sign. If I couldn't subdue my wolf-- couldn't master my Dominion over the new beast inside me-- I wouldn't be allowed to live. Holy shit, I'm a wolf

One of the best Shifter books EVER! Absolutely LOVED! Amanda Carlson is the next big thing in Urban Fantasy! Obviously, if you a huge Shifter fan you'll love it and if you're not, you'll want to devour more shifter books after this one! As soon as you begin reading you become so into the story that you cannot stop reading and it's just full of so much awesomeness. You will seriously be craving for the next book the moment you finish the FULL BLOODED.

What do you think about that, boys? Huh? I'm an unknown risk and the most powerful Alpha in the world can't control me. I'm you're worst nightmare come to life. How do you like me now?

The Story: Jessica McClain is the only female born from a werewolf. There is the myth or legend that she will bring about the destruction of the entire pack and what’s bad is the whole pack believe’s it and so they are trying to kill her before she hits her 20th birthday. Fast forward like 10 years later I believe, Jessica makes her change into a werewolf and all hell breaks loose. Everyone wants a piece of her!

"Rourke, what kind of werecat are you?" He seemed genuinely surprised by the question. Then he narrowed his eyes, flashing me a toothy grin. "I never kiss and tell on the first date."

The Men: There are a lot of men in Jessica McClain's world that you will fall in love with. We have Tyler, her brother, Nick, her best shifter friend, Danny, Tyler's best friend of the pack, James, the sexy Second in command and Callum, Jessica and Tyler's father and the Alpha of the pack! Oh, I must mention Rourke too! I don't know what to make of him yet, but we'll see! I'm pretty hot for James right now! But WOW! Lots of men to drool over!

He wasn't technically breaking in, you see, since he had his own key, but nevertheless he woke me out of a perfectly lovely sleep. I'd been dreaming about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, who are, for the record, a naughty lot of---" "Danny," I said sharply. "Please stay on topic."

And we have quite a few different side characters which I won't go too much into, but you will love all of these characters, main and side ones! Amanda Carlson has created a lot of likable characters! And Jessica is no weakling either, she's a real tough girl! And I love her as the heroine! I really look forward to the next book, Hot Blooded! Trust me as soon as your finish FULL BLOODED you'll want to get your hands on the next in the Jessica McClain Series immediately!

read more