Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1)
by Ilona Andrews
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Book Summary Information
Author: Ilona AndrewsEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-03-27
ISBN: 0441014895
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: Ace
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780441014897
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1)
Book Review: Poor start to a great series
Summary: 3 Stars
First off, I am now a big Kate Daniels fan. Second, it was a rocky start for me.
Kate Daniels lives in a alternate futuristic Atlanta. We learn later in the series that the year is 2040 (only after doing math with a few of the markers given us.) In this world, magic and technology come and go in waves. During a Magic Wave, you will see banshees outside your window, large monsters coming out of the sewers, and all sorts of mayhem. During a Technology Wave, telephones work, cars function, and you can even watch a movie. Kate works for a Mercenary Guild doing what work comes her way. When she finds out her estranged legal guardian has been killed, Kate goes on the offensive to get details and kill whoever did this. Along the way, Kate goes from a 'No-Name Merc' to the appointed representative by the legal forces that be to solve this case, putting her in the big leagues playing along side the Pack (shapeshifers) and the People (Vampires.)
What I liked:
1. Kate--a lot of reviewers didn't like Kate, and I can see why. Me? I liked her. She is fiercely independent, but insecure on the inside so she puts on a front. She's never had friends (you find out why in later books) but is incredibly loyal. She is pretty snarky in her inter-thoughts.
2. Choice--I love how in this world, everyone still has their free agency. In so many other Urban Fantasy books, the "werewolves" MUST obey their leader. They physically and mentally can do nothing other than what their leader commands them. Here? It is a choice. Shifters can either choose to join a pack or not. They can defy their leader if they want....it might be the last thing they do, but they can.
3. Family--Shifters have families....they have kids. It's not like because they are a shifter that they all the sudden are unable to procreate.
4. Death--that might sound weird, but I'm getting tired of the "Vampires live forever at the age they became undead" and "Werewolves are forever 25." In this world, Shifters are born (and created) and they live a long life (longer than others since they can heal easier than others), grow old, and then they die at a very old age. There is none of that "Eternal Life" crap here. Also, Vampires are really dead....a vampire is a dead body that is controlled and "navigated" by a necromancer. The person's soul/personality/thoughts/memories are all gone except the body. The body continues to "age" as a vampire.
5. Realistic Romance--Kate tries to date and it's not that "instant love" you see so often in books. Her attempts at dating in book 1 are interesting. The love interest that develops as the series progresses is done well showing 2 people who meet and actually get to know each other. Wow. What a concept.
What I didn't like:
1. Rather crude: This book has been described as "gritty." I'd have to agree. But it is also rather gory. There is a lot of crude language, horror not seen in movies, and bestiality. It seemed like the authors were trying too hard to say "Hey look at us, we're edgy and pushing the envelope." It was really rather over the top on the gore.
2. We never are told what Kate is: We know Kate has some power but we are never told what she is or what she can do. We get a few clues in Book 1, some strong hints in Book 2, and finally at the VERY end of book 3 she comes right out and says it.
3. A misunderstanding of characterization: At one point, Kate along with the pack realize what "thing" they need to be hunting. The Beast Lord immediately accuses Kate's current almost-boyfriend. They confront him and EVERYONE says it was Kate who is pointing the finger and Kate acts as if that was true. On first read, I thought it was a problem with editing. But it really ruined the book for me. On reading posts on the author's website, I found out that it was correct, and we were all supposed to understand that Kate felt guilty for going along with this and that the boyfriend reminds her of her guardian and so on. None of that is even remotely hinted at....I just figured the author couldn't keep her own facts straight.
4. Too much unsaid: Not only are we never told what Kate is, but so much of this new world is left unexplained.
Recommendation:
This is a much darker and "grittier" (i.e. crude and gory) universe than Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson universe ( Moon Called (Mercy Thompson)). I thought the first book was okay. It centers more around the action and magic. I was curious enough to pick up book 2 Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, Book 2) and enjoyed that one much better. The second really starts to develop the characters. Kate also softens and we start to get a glimpse behind the tough-girl exterior she puts on. It wasn't until book 3 Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, Book 3) that I really fell in love with this series. Book 3 is the best one of the series: It is full of great characters, hilarious exchanges, snarky inner-thoughts, great action, pasts revealed, and a relationship developed.
So, if you can get past the strong language and the horrors shown I recommend it just to get you started on a great series.
Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1)
Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, Book 2)
Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, Book 3)
Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels, Book 4)
Magic Slays (Kate Daniels) (Book 5 Due June 2011)
**UPDATE**
Just read book 4, and the series continues to get better and better. This series is one of my favorite now, even though it was a rocky start for me.
Summary of Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1)
Mercenary Kate Daniels cleans up urban problems of a paranormal kind. But her latest prey, a pack of undead warriors, presents her greatest challenge.
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