Magic Bleeds

I don't really write reviews, and actually I never have, but this series is so mindblowingly hilarious, touching, exciting, and just generally efficient at being awesome, that I needed to add to the mountain of 5 stars. The action is there, the mysterious backstory is there, the romance is there, and the beloved pithy, sarcastic, and occasionally insolent dialogue is there. I actually can't believe a book series this good exists. And the timing is so spot on in these books. The big backstory (I guess it's not technically a mystery anymore, though) is developed, but not resolved. Each book reveals just enough to up the pressure a teeny bit and make the blowout with Roland mean more when it finally happens (pretty sure that's where they're going with this, anyway). And the romance. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm so used to reading UF or paranormal romance, and walking away thinking, "I was entertained for three hours. That was a cute story." This series has something more. Ilona Andrews wraps you up so tightly in these characters that by the time you get to certain points in the book (without giving anything away), you'll be practically vibrating, wanting them to do or say certain things. I promise, it will be embarrassing how much you'll care. If you've read the first 3 books, you know that Kate doesn't blindly fall into Curran's arms (and he might have dropped her if she did). She's not really a 'heaving bosoms' type of heroine, anyway. The relationship is built slowly on a sliver of respect and competition, then on more respect and attraction through the course of several books, and then finally, in the end, you actually really care what happens and what the characters decide, because you buy the relationship and you feel like you've seen it happen. It's not an, "I saw him, he was hot, I was hot, we're soulmates. It's epic, we swear. Have a sex scene. And an adorable baby. Oh, look, it's a happy ending!" type of book. There's some heavy lifting in terms of character development, and I'm so grateful. And the humor. It's in the situations, it's in the dialogue, it's in the descriptions. Even Curran (can you tell I have a fixation?) has a sense of humor. They're able to balance this stoic, hugely powerful person with humor (and you cannot tell me that Magic Strikes didn't end perfectly and hilariously, I simply will not allow it), and they make it seem in-character. It's kind of amazing. For me, this series has been perfect so far, and I'm actually afraid to read the fifth book, because I'm honestly doubtful that this book can be outdone. Hope does spring eternal, though. :)

I have been a fan of the Kate Daniels "Magic" series since book one, "Magic Bites." Since this is book four of a planned seven-book arc, it would make sense for this book to be pivotal to Kate Daniels' story and it is. Although "Magic Bleeds" can be read as a stand-alone story, it is only as the fourth book of the series that it truly shines. If I were to pick a theme for the book, it would be Family. The book turns on the relationships between the family you are born with and the family you choose. Curran, the Pack Leader, werelion and romantic interest for Kate is a choice for Kate in this book. In previous books, Kate has been flirting with the idea of what Curran represents for her: home, hearth, the 'white picket fence' and all the trimmings. However, because of her blood and the family she was born into, she has been brought up to believe that the relationship Curran offers to her is neither something she can have nor something she should even be wanting. Because of events in book three, "Magic Strikes," her chickens are coming home to roost. Unfortunately, this includes family ties that she wasn't even aware of. Kate knew what breaking the sword in book three would mean to her staying under her birth father's radar. When she was a mercenary in book one, she could pick up and go at a moment's notice if she had to. Choices that were made in books one and two shaped the choices she made in book three. The hard choices come in this book and ultimately the rest of the series will hinge on what happens in this book. I felt the story itself was well-written and tightly plotted. There was movement from beginning to end and once I started reading, I didn't want to put it down until I had finished. I am anxiously awaiting book five!!!

The husband-wife writer duo have come out with the best book in the series! I thought it couldn't be possible after the Midnight Games in Magic Strikes but I am simply ecstatic to be proved wrong! Kate Daniel's secret identity is swiftly unraveling, her relationship with Curran is on rocky volcanic plasma, her shape-shifter friends are in extreme danger since a very special big baddie has come to town to target them. And her Order boss doesn't want her to help or assist them. To mention anything more would be a spoiler... I love the combat in Magic Bleeds, which by itself is good enough to rate the book 5 stars. The tension is ratcheted up several notches, the battle scenes are extremely vivid and unlike the earlier books, Kate is tested to the limits of her sword mastery - no easy monsters here. For the folks who don't care much action, the humor and witty repartee that has been a feature of these books since the beginning continue to make you laugh uncontrollably at times (don't read in public or you'll get strange looks). Yet the story is much darker and no character has it easy. This book truly begins the final countdown with Roland. A fantasy series with no boring filler book! To hit the sweet-read jackpot again and again like this takes amazing skill and dedication on part of the authors.

This is book 4 in my favourite series. The previous books were: Magic Bites, Magic Burns, Magic Strikes, and the short story Magic Mourns (from the Must Love Hellhounds anthology). Kate Daniels is an investigator/mercenary in an urban fantasy world where magic and tech waves alternate. She prefers to use her sword, because it works during all waves. She deals with vampires, shape-shifters, mages, witches, etc., and always tries to do what's right. She has a big secret that she tries to keep hidden. Kate is very real, even when she's powerful and using her sword skills. Her relationship with Curran, the leader of the shapeshifters, is riveting. This is the book where their relationship is resolved. The characters are all very well-drawn, the secondary characters are well-rounded, the dialogue is really great, certain parts are hilarious, and the plot is a real twister. I read this book 3 times in the first day, got it in ebook format and got 2 hard copies. Unlike other fantasy series, this series only gets better. I think it does need to be read in sequence with the previous novels. I highly, highly recommend this series. I got tired of Anita Blake (too many new partners for the heroine), Charlaine Harris (unconvincing relationships), Kim Harrison (couldn't relate to the heroine), Carrie Vaughn and Karen Chance (very unconvincing love stories), Sherrilyn Kenyon (meandering plots and universe), etc. Ilona Andrews is the only author(s) who hasn't disappointed.