Review: Magic Slays

Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels (#5)
Rating: ★★★★★

Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.

Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.

So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price.

Book 0.5: A Questionable Client
Book 1: Magic Bites
Book 2: Magic Burns
Book 3: Magic Strikes
Book 3.5: Magic Mourns
Book 4: Magic Bleeds
Book 4.5: Magic Dreams
Book 5: Magic Slays
Book 5.4: Magic Gifts
Book 5.5: Gunmetal Magic
Book 6: Magic Rises
Book 7: Magic Breaks
Book 8: Magic Shifts
Book 8.5: Magic Stars

I had planned to do a full review of this at some point, but my quick thoughts below ended up being it…

I loved it!! Ilona Andrews just continues to blow me away with their stories. It’s such a deep, vivid, layered world with complex characters around every corner.

I liked the reality of Kate starting her own business. Of having partners/employees. The difficulties and issues that come with that and how she handled them.

The growth and development in Kate and Curran’s relationship is fantastic. This isn’t just an HEA, ride off into the sunset; this is an HEA in progress (to steal Ilona’s words). There are hurdles still to be overcome, trust still to be issues, secrets still to be discussed, and compromises to be made. I’m confident in their HEA, I know they’ll never falter, never give up on one another and never let each other go…but it still takes effort for both of them at times. I like that we see that. Also the issues with Kate being the other half of the Alpha pair. There’s some politics that take place in this book, and all I can say is I was cheering for Kate when she was done. Loved the way she handled a very tense situation.

The action of the storyline is intense. What starts as a job quickly becomes possibly the biggest threat that Kate has faced yet.

There are some mind-blowing bits of Kate’s history revealed in this book. I’m still trying to wrap my head around them, and decide what to take at face value and what to dig a little deeper on.

In addition to this, there’s the trademark humor, smart-assedness and absolutely heart-wrenching moments. I laughed out loud more times than I can count, and teared up just as often.

The last few chapters of the book are a wild roller-coaster of a ride, that I’m going to be reading again right now for what I’m sure I missed.

All in all, great book, great story. Must read and I highly recommend this series.