Review: Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
Series: Third in the Kate Daniels series (first is Magic Bites, second is Magic Burns). I would definitely recommend reading them in order. Aside from the fact they're terrific books, there's a lot of background that this book assumes you know.
Genre: Urban fantasy
Cover: Such great books really should have better covers.
Rating: 4/5
Recommended for: All fans of urban fantasy
Going to read more by this author?: I can't wait for Magic Bleeds, the fourth in the series. I'm also requesting On the Edge, the first in different series, from my library.
Buy?: Yep!
Review: Spoilers for this book and earlier ones
This book wasn't quite as good as the last, it was still fantastic. I love Kate, and we're finally starting to get more information about her background (the mysterious Roland!). Her relationship with Curran is developing further, and while it's very well done, it doesn't have the same teasing quality the last book finished with (that final scene is probably my favorite scene from any book, ever). I do like the slow pace of their relationship, a refreshing break from many urban fantasies that have the heroine jump into bed with the hero before the book's half over.
Like all of the books in the series, this one closes with an impressive bang. The tension grows through the book and the final action scene does not disappoint. The descriptions of the Midnight Games, their fights, and the different characters were amazing. I'm a little curious about the range of the fighters -- they all seemed like they'd stick out in normal society (where except for the occasional odd occurrence, nothing has been described as that hellishly weird), but nothing like them has really been described before. That didn't detract too much from the action, though, which was masterfully done. And Curran rescuing her at the end? Be still, my beating heart! It was managed well enough to have a very cute romance angle while not making her into a damsel-in-distress (after all, she had just saved all their lives).
My main complaint was the same complaint as last time -- the sudden shift in one of the characters. This book it was Saiman. She was forced to dance with him atop the roof of his house last time, but I didn't think that accounted for her sudden, intense hostility towards him. Similarly, I knew he was interested in her, but I thought it was simply casual flirting to make their business relationship more interesting. I didn't know he was practically obsessed with her. The reason behind his ability to shapeshift really surprised me -- I would have liked a few more hints about the enormity of his abilities back in the first two books.
Once again, I'm blown away by the writing, action, and romance in this series. I can't wait for the next in the series to come!