Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, Book 2)
by Ilona Andrews
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Book Reviews of Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, Book 2)
Book Review: tease
Summary: 2 Stars
This book/series is essentially a fantasy book with urban window dressing, and not an urban fantasy. This is important because it creates the expectation of fantasy trimmings, which do differ from urban/contemporary fantasy works.
In an UF we will generally see how the fantastic side of things fits into the life of the character. In UF we also see some of the urban _life_.
This book barely gives lip service to its urban environment, and tells us nothing about the hows and whys.
That's not the biggest problem.
Kate Daniels is really just a tease of a character. She walks around with an enchanted sword. She's dressed in leather armor quite often. She's also an uber-powerful magic slinger. We never see her practice with the sword. We never see her practice magic. When she does cast a spell its always a world beater. Her sword fights all sound like Anakin carving down the initiates in Episode Three, and the climax of the book is about as satisfying as the one in the Fantastic Four movie.
In short, the book was an excuse for the main character to pretend she wasn't lusting after someone she publicly claims annoys her greatly. How fourth grade.
Book Review: The majority opinion (in this case) is also the right opinion - 5 stars for a wonderful book.
Summary: 5 Stars
I couldn't resist adding my own 2 cents. This book is simply outstanding. A very likable main character, a wonderful story line and an action-packed ending - as far as urban fantasy goes, you really won't find anything better.
Short Summary (Possible spoilers?):
Kate takes a contract for the Pack to recover their precious maps from a thief who can turn into mist. While investigating a lair she tracked the thief to, she bumps into a small girl (Julie) who has lost her mother and who has a lot of special un-dead boogie women after her. (called 'reeves' in the book. 'undead boogiewomen' can be attributed to reviewer's license). Julie's mother is a witch who went missing in a coven ritual to a un-friendly deity. The un-dead boogiewomen running about, ofcourse interest "the people", who take up an agreement with Kate to accompany her so they can capture one for their 'studies'.
Kate discovers who the incorrigible thief (who was taken an liking to Kate) really is, recovers the Pack's maps from him, (which are stolen again), fights many battles protecting Julie, figures out what the coven ritual actually achieved and teams up with Curran for the end-game.
Book Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
This book continues the series of the heroine Kate Daniels. She's not your typical 'holier-than-thou' righteous heroine who just wants to save the world. She's working on cases partly because she needs the money too. She trained as a powerful fighter and magic user, but she doesn't show her magic for fear of attracting her (even more powerful) enemies. She has a mysterious past and a supremely powerful enemy who is not aware of her existence. And she has a loud mouth and says the darndest things that sometimes make me laugh out loud.
Kate Daniels is powerful, but she doesn't get crazy power buffs without reason, unlike the crap that is Anita Blake. AND she doesn't screw everything that comes along her way unlike Anita Blake.
Besides a interesting heroine, the story is built upon a world that is not unlike our own, except having magic and supernaturals. The other characters are also interesting and further expanded in this book and the next. The plots are interesting and keeps me riveted to the book from start to end.
Very well written series (up to book 3 that I've read), and right up there with Jim Butcher's Dresden Files.
Book Review: Magic Burns
Summary: 5 Stars
Picking right up where Book 1 left off, this was a delicious read. Another can't-put-it-down book. Ilona Andrews's world building is so vividly good that you can see, hear, feel, and smell it. You care about all the characters she writes about. The mix of legend, fantasy, history, and fact is fantastic. Ms. Andrews's writing style is pure prose and her command of the English language immense. She has raised my already high standards for authors higher.
In this second book, Kate, the heroine, expands her self talk to laugh out loud humor. Her back story begins to unfold bit by bit as her magical abilities increase. Curran's interest and their relationship is hysterically funny, but still leaves one wondering as to whether or not Kate is simply a challenge for him, whether his interest is one of admiration for her fighting prowess, or whether he is truly interested in her as a mate, and probably all three. Whatever it is, it leaves you wanting more time together in between the horrors they face individually and together.
Thank your lucky stars you have Book 3 to read after this one!
Book Review: Packs a lot in for a "short" book
Summary: 5 Stars
Magic burns was a great second book and Ilona Andrews is a wonderful find. I read a lot, many different genres and have for more years than I care to note here. This story manages to surprise and creates a world that is believable and different. It seems like there are only so many variations on a theme that can be created within fantasy and generally it is the characters providing the difference in each book. However, Ms. Andrews managed to create a world that is new and keep me reading as much for the interaction between the characters as because I couldn't figure out what was going to happen next or what the "world" would be like next. There was one place where the next step in the action caught me totally by surprise and I laughed out loud and then laughed again. Very clever. I particulary like the main characters and their development. I recommend this highly and look forward to more books by the author. One other note, generally I stay away from "thin" books because they usually aren't capable of creating good depth in the story. The content of this book seemed much bigger than the size would indicate.