Review: Magic Strikes – Ilona Andrews

Posted 12 December, 2014 by Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms in Reviews / 12 Comments

Review: Magic Strikes – Ilona AndrewsMagic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels #3
Published by Ace on 31 March 2009
Genres: Adult, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 310
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Purchase
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5 Stars

When magic strikes and Atlanta goes to pieces, it’s a job for Kate Daniels…

Drafted into working for the Order of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems than she knows what to do with these days. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.

But when Kate's werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games—an invitation only, no holds barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament—she and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta's shapeshifting community…

With her trademark humor and magical skills, Kate Daniels made Magic Strikes yet another winner!

My Magic Strikes review:

Kate Daniels continues her amazing adventures, her services are almost always needed in several places at once and she will do her best to help save the day. Magic Strikes is fast-paced and brings Kate into some pretty tough situations. The Midnight Games are the ultimate place for shifters and magical beings to fight for a prize, and somehow, Kate gets herself onto a team with some of her shifter friends in order to save a girl for Derek.

Saiman plays quite a big part in Magic Strikes, and it was quite nice to get to know him better, strange that he is. The power he holds is really something, though, so it was very interesting to see why he wanted Kate with him for some of his meetings in the arena complex. I really loved Kate’s quick thinking, and the way she was always able to improvise to improve the odds in her favor. It didn’t necessarily always work, but my, it was great to see her try!

There are more fights, with great details in Magic Strikes, but at the same time, there is some really good character development and even some romance as well. Curran shows why he is the top alpha, he really is impossible to resist, I don’t even know why Kate tries all the time. Their funny banter had me laughing at loud many times, and the way Kate gives as good as she gets, and doesn’t cower in front of Curran makes their interactions even better.

With some new characters, different kinds of creatures, and Kate feeling like she has to prove herself, Magic Strikes only slowed down a few times from the frantic speed in the narrative – and I loved every single minute of it!

Some of my favorite Magic Strikes quotes:

Second, negotiation wasn’t my forte. I killed things. Quickly and with much bloodshed. Getting elderly banshees in denial off telephone poles wasn’t something I did often.

I kicked the door open and stared at the phone, ringing its head off on the small night table by my bed. Nothing good ever happened to me because of phone calls. There was always somebody dead, dying or making somebody else dead on the other line.

Curran and I mixed about as well as glycerin and nitric acid: put us together, shake a bit, and hit the deck as we exploded. however, despite his many faults, and I would have to borrow Saiman’s fingers and toes in addition to my own to count them all, Curran didn’t play favorites.

During the flare Curran had finally found a way to pay me back for all those times I’d nearly brought him to apoplexy. He had told me I would sleep with him sooner or later and thank him for his services in bed. Hell would sprout roses first.

As I walked back to civilization, I realized that for the first time in the six months I had known Curran, we had managed to have a conversation and part ways without wanting to kill each other. I found that fact deeply troubling.

Sorry about my review being so vague, but I had to be so very careful not to include spoilers…

Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.

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12 responses to “Review: Magic Strikes – Ilona Andrews

  1. Ooh, I think this is one of my favorites in the series, Lexxie. It was so exciting – especially with the Midnight Games. You (and Kimba) are making me want to re-read this series. And who has time for that?!? LOL I’m glad you’re enjoying Kate & Curran. They are definitely one of my favorite couples!

    Enjoy the rest of your day! I will look for you this afternoon. I’d forgotten a doctor’s appt yesterday afternoon so I wasn’t able to be online. If you’re not around, I’ll catch you sometime. 🙂 **BIG HUGS**

  2. Yeah, those Midnight Games were amazing… the hot-tub *sighs* I’ll be looking for you on FB in a little while, Brandee 🙂 *HUGS*

    • That’s how I came to read this series, Stormi! Everybody loved it so much – and now I’m the same way, I can’t say enough good things about this author 😀

    • Really? That’s great – I did get one or two of Kate Daniels on audio during a sale, and also, it’s a lot cheaper to get audios when I already own the kindle 🙂 I look forward to listening now!

    • Iza, I think you’ll love this series – it’s very well done, and the characters are a joy to follow on their different adventures!

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