Review: Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews

After having read Magic Bites (the first book in the "Kate Daniels series"), I was compelled to give Magic Burns a chance by several readers. I'm glad I took their advice.

Title: Magic Burns Author: Ilona Andrews Format: MM Available Formats: Audio CD, Audio Download, Kindle, Sony eBook Page Count: 260 Genre: Urban/Dark Fantasy Publisher: ACE Pub. Date: April 1, 2008 ISBN-13: 9780441015832

The first Kate Daniels book is merely a fun read to pass the time. By comparison, Magic Burns is crafted better and urges the reader through reading the scant 260 pages as fast as possible.

Right where Magic Bites leaves off, Magic Burns picks up. Kate is still broke, still a smart ass, and always getting into trouble. Of course, when someone begins to steal maps from the Pack, Kate gets involved. Things escalate quickly, not only leaving a young girl in Kate's protection with a missing mother but also sticking Kate firmly between the larger problem of two gods competing for rebirth.

The Kate Daniels world is unique, interesting, and entertaining. Perhaps because Magic Bites is just so quickly paced and throws the reader straight into the mix, it isn't until Magic Burns that the world can be appreciated. The shift of strength of the tidal-like "magic" waves and "tech" waves is intriguing. I sincerely hope that the tides come more into play as the story continues, because such a unique aspect should be utilized.

Altogether, many of the issues of Magic Bites were resolved in Magic Burns. Others, remained.

For one, the plot and antagonists moved along a lot better. The antagonist from the first was rather flat and dull, but I rather liked the addition of gray areas in Bran and Red. Although, I do wish that Bran hadn't been working so hard to get into Kate's pants--really now. I find it very hard to believe that so many males would want to seduce a woman like Kate. She's damned ferocious, sharp-tongued, and infuriating. Also, admittedly, she's more striking than beautiful. Generally speaking, that should chase off a good number of these suitors (regardless of their lust-level or seriousness). Also, I still have my irritations with the very obvious relationship-to-be between Kate and Curran. Honestly, I don't like Curran. (Well, anyone who is referred to as "Lord" will have to work hard to make it up to me, but unless he shows up with some redeeming qualities in the third book...)

In the same vein, I wish that more emphasis had been given to Andrea, Corwin, and Bran. While I'm not sure about Corwin (very interestingly, Corwin was first an animal, who is able to shift into a human state), I have high hopes for more Andrea.

I finished Magic Burns with a burning need to immediately being Magic Strikes, which says a lot about the improvement in this second volume.

Quick and Dirty: An acquired taste.
If you're a fan of urban fantasy, especially with a snarky female protagonist, then go ahead and soldier through the first volume of Kate Daniels so you can get to this better, meatier part of the series. Well worth the read, indeed! If you're looking for similar reads, then check out Patricia Briggs' "Mercedes Thompson series" or the Dresden series. Briggs brings the snarky female protagonist, while Dresden works more on having an interesting environment/happenings for his (sometimes overly) sarcastic private detective.