By: Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Ace
Publish Date: August 2012
Format: Paperback 326pgs, pocketbook size
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: 1st in Kate Daniels World, affiliated with Kate Daniels series; 1st Book ~ Magic Bites, 2nd Book ~ Magic Burns, 3rd Book ~ Magic Strikes, 4th Book ~ Magic Bleeds, 5th Book ~ Magic Slays, Curran POV's; Short Stories ~ Curran POV 1 & 2 (Fathers and Sons), Curran POV 3 & 4
Recommendation: Yes, go in looking for an Andrea story and her life, prior and now, not a Kate story and you will be pleased with the action and story you find.
Book Synopsis:
Some people have everything figured out - Andrea Nash is not one of those people. After being kicked out of the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea's whole existance is in shambles. All she can do is try to put herself back together, something made easier by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend, Kate Daniels.
When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano - the male alpha of Clan Bouda as well as Adnrea's former lover - die unexpectedly at a dig site, Andrea is assigned to investigate...and must work with Raphael. As her search for the killer leads her into the secret underbelly of supernatural Atlanta, Andrea knows that dealing with her feelings for Raphael might have to take a backseat to saving the world...
First Sentence:
Thud!
My head hit the sidewalk.
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/ My Thoughts and Summary:
Andrea's harsh past is resurfacing in her sleep, dreams or nightmares. Andrea's neighbor knocks early asking her help as Darin was missing from taking their dog out and Andrea notices the white residue on the walls. Andrea's day starts with magical creatures creating havoc at home and on the streets. Jim calls Andrea at the office of Cutting Edge Investigations, with troubles at one of the Pack's businesses being hit during the night and four pack members are dead. However, the business is run by Andrea's ex-mate, Raphael Medrano - Medrano Reclamation. The relationship seems to have ended on a sour note, and Andrea tries to figure out who she is in relation to her shifter side and human side. Andrea will be strong, as she always is, and carry through with the case for the Pack. She will solve this case on her own, and with a few friends along, even if it kills her in the end.
Gods, snakes, and all sorts of magical creatures are present in this twisting tale while Andrea learns who she is and what position in the world she wants.
Wow! We learn of the harsh past Andrea lived through and when she grew up how she cured those troubles, or most of them, with a gun. We all know by this point, Andrea is the guns specialist, and amazing at what she does whether with knowledge or aiming. This past is haunting Andrea, always has but recently getting worse.
You could read this one without reading the others in Kate Daniels series. There is mention of Kate and whats happening but not enough to spoil Kate's story. Maybe even make you curious more than anything of her happenings. We see why Andrea doesn't trust shifters. We also see she loves Raphael deeply and misses him, but that fight they had about not leaving the Order to help Pack was ugly for them. And what he does to torment her is cruel, leaving a rift in Andrea's heart. Andrea's world is the one and only place that Kate also resides in, but we see her neighbors and familiar parts and new parts of the city, and Andrea's ways of dealing with things. A shifters way, and a shifter with a gun.
Everyone we've meet with Kate is here. Ascanio, the teen bouda working for Kate at Cutting Edge as an intern, is present for much of the first half of the book. He kind of becomes an assistant to Andrea for a short time. Jim, Curran's head of security, makes an appearance as well. Andrea also has Aunt B hassling her to join clan Bouda, sending people her way while trying to get through a strainous and dangerous investigation along with Aunt B's son driving Andrea insane. Andrea goes Beast!! Yes, the one thing you don't expect her to do, she does early on.
My only little complaint about the book, I felt in the first half of the book Andrea and the characters around her were another version of Kate and her top secondary characters. Almost a Kate equation here. But in the second half of the book Andrea became her own person, and took on her own personality 100%.
Kate does make an appearance, along with Curran, that is brief. We get to see her through Andrea's eyes and it's interesting to hear her first thoughts on Kate.
This book did bring one secondary character into a brighter light for me. I do believe I love Roman! The volko. Even though he's of the dark and death, he's opposite in personality. The volko is a job to him, but he's full of life and fun. He has a soft spot I really enjoy and a sense of humor. He's a good man with a crappy job and full of powerful magic.
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By: Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Ilona Andrews, limited edition
Publish Date: December 24, 2011
Format: Novella, print in back of Gunmetal Magic, 108pgs
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: 5.4 novella in Kate Daniels series; 1st Book ~ Magic Bites, 2nd Book ~ Magic Burns, 3rd Book ~ Magic Strikes, 4th Book ~ Magic Bleeds, 5th Book ~ Magic Slays, Curran POV's; Short Stories ~ Curran POV 1 & 2 (Fathers and Sons), Curran POV 3 & 4
Recommendation: Oh my YESSS!! It's great to see Kate and Curran working together solving a mystery.
Book Synopsis:
Available as FREE download from Ilona Andrews Website for 2 weeks from Christmas Day (2011), this novella takes place at the same time as Andrea's book, right after Magic Slays, and the two stories intersect.
A dinner date after a hard day at work sounds heavenly. Of course, when that date is between the Beast Lord and Kate Daniels, things don't go as planned. Before you know it, undead are running amok, heads are being chopped off, lawyers are deployed and used with extreme prejudice, and drunk vikings are calling people out.
Read at your own risk.
First Sentence:
I was ten feet from the office door of Cutting Edge Investigations when I heard the phone ring inside.
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At this time I'm not finding this one outside of the back of Gunmetal Magic. It was only free for that Christmas mentioned in the synopsis.
My Thoughts and Summary:
Curran takes Kate out to eat after her long day chasing a large jellyfish. When they get to the restaurant Curran has in mind, there are two vampires chained outside, their owners inside eating. While on their date the male necromancer gives the female jewelry, a gold necklace...that kills her, unleashing her vampire and her date going into shock looses control of his. When all is calmed and the dead girls mother arrives, she removes the necklace from her daughter and places it on her son more curiosity stirs. Curran and Kate take the now necklaced boy to the Keep curious how to get it safely removed. The mom lets the boy go, and Gahsket want's the necklace because it killed his journey-woman.
This short story has so much happening! Not only is the story about the necklace now slowly strangling the boy, but we have the Guild still divided into two groups trying to decide which should rule. This is still happening from the fall from an earlier book. Jim wants Kate to vote, the Guild wants Kate to make the deciding vote, but Kate doesn't want involved. Eventually, she'll have to being in the position she's in how with the Pack.
We see Kate and Curran as a couple working together. I know, hard to believe. They have their disagreements or different views still and the fun banter, now all is flirty too. But when they start their fun comments as a TEAM on others, oh do watch out!
This story does coincide with Andrea's story in time. It explains a few things as to where Kate's been and why there, which is briefly mention in Andrea's book. And the connection from Andrea's book like wise relates here. Will it spoil to read this first? No way. This is it's own story with Kate and Curran. And do love seeing so much Curran!
I read this book for my own enjoyment.
I did like it, but not as much as the Kate series. But then the Kate books are awesome
ReplyDeleteBlodeuedd, I have to agree with you. Was still nice to hold me over. And I think I love Roland now. lol.
DeleteRoman! I feel for Roman, Blodeuedd. lol.
DeleteShoot I missed the freebie. I swear one day I'm going to get all of these. However, I need to read about Curran before I go the the offshoot type of books (even if it is part of the series).
ReplyDeleteOh Melissa (B&T) You are sooooooo going to love Curran, believe me! LOL! Thank you dear.
DeleteI agree with B - I thought Andrea's book would be different. Better. More edgy. I imagined it so. Well, it was good but not brilliant.
ReplyDeleteAnachronist. I agree. I was expecting something very different from Andrea. I think she came out more in the end of the book. But was nice to hold over, and I fell for Roman.
DeleteGunmetal Magic hit the spot while waiting for the next book in Kate Daniels series and yes it did get better once Andrea stopped channeling Kate and her own personality finally took center stage. I too loved Roman, he was a breath of fresh air that totally stole the show!
ReplyDeleteThe free short story was vintage Kate and Curran and exactly what fans need to remind them that these two as a couple do not take names when they are kicking bad guys behind, it also proves how well matched they are in the mayhem and chaos department and their sense of humor as well!
Oh Jackie Burris, glad to see you felt the same as I with this one. It is a great read to get us through the waiting period. Lol. Thank you!!
DeleteI have GunMetal Magic in my TBR pile so I skipped reading your review except to read your rec. Should I move it further up my pile?
ReplyDeleteThat's cool Bea. :) I know the feeling. If you enjoy the Kate Daniels series, you'll enjoy reading this one. It's great to get us through until more Kate and Curran come out way. :)
DeleteOh my! I have to finish the Kate Daniels series NOW...I only have the first one done so far. I want to read the rest of them so bad. LOVED reading about these two. They sound fantastic. Thank you so much :D Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven
ReplyDeleteLOL! Jaclyn Canada, you do. You'll really love it. :D
DeleteYou know, I never thought of it that way, the first half of Gunmetal Magic is a little like Kate 2.0. But I agree, Andrea really slides into her character after that.
ReplyDeleteSo happy you loved it.
Jennifer Bielman, I think I was looking for something more from Andrea in the beginning, and got it more in the end. She was fun to read though. :)
DeleteThe series has novellas? I like them when they talk about something we want to know but couldn't fit on any of the other books. I'm a little confused what you're talking about Kate 2.0 and all lol, I think I should read the first book
ReplyDeleteRivie Bleu, This is a story in the same world. It's word count is novel length. So it's a full novel it's own. We mentioned Kate 2.0 as it kinda felt like the main Character here, Andrea, was channeling the main character of the series, Kate. So Andrea was like a Kate 2.0 in the beginning of this novel. But she came into her own in the second half. Definitely start at the beginning of the Kate Daniels series. :)
DeleteI really liked them both, Ilona Andrews is always so good! But I confess I'm impatient for the next Kate!!!
ReplyDeleteMelliane, lol! I can't wait for more Kate either. :D
DeleteWell now you have me wanting to read both series, I am off to check them out on GR.
ReplyDeleteKimba, I do think you would enjoy both series very much actually. :) Thank you!
DeleteAhhh.... I love Roman too.... I wish he could've hit on Andrea more, cos I wanted to see how good he was!! Mmmmmm... great review!! (I reviewed it this week too!! How funny!!)
ReplyDeleteNaomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
Naomi Hop, I know! I LOVE Roman. :D He was amazing here. I was hoping he'd hit on Andrea more too. lol. Thank you greatly! And I remember seeing your review when I visited. :D That's to cool.
Delete