Review: Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

Title: Magic Strikes Author: Ilona Andrews Format: MM Available Formats: Kindle, Audio CD, Sony eBook Page Count: 320 Genre: Urban Fantasy Publisher: Ace Pub. Date: March 31, 2009 ISBN-13: 9780441017027

First of all I want to ask: What the hell happened to the cover of Magic Strikes? Magic Bites and Magic Burns have beautiful covers. And then this? This is horrific. Firstly, the girl looks anorexic--and the yellow shirt makes her look like a naked girl with jaundice. The sword is cut off awkwardly and the lion present on all covers went from a beautiful painting-looking to a bad photoshop insert.

Cover art aside, I have to say that this is by far the best in the "Kate Daniels" series so far. In fact, many of my complaints from the first two books have been addressed quite satisfactorily. Chiefly, I was glad to see that other characters factored more and more into the plot and Kate's life. Magic Strikes evidences Andrews' ability not only to write a gripping story, but also to create characters that are interesting and unique! Also--like I've said in previous posts--the darker Kate's journey becomes, the better Andrews' writing.

In Magic Strikes, Derek is discovered beaten to a bloody pulp and nearly dead. The boy cannot heal through his injuries. Kate--as well as her friends and the Pack--are thrown into the problem of solving Derek's mystery and getting revenge. However, this road leads them to the highly illegal Midnight Games in which gladiator-like fighters kill each other brutally for entertainment.

The plot of Magic Strikes is bloody and dark. Andrews really utilizes these aspects to roll the book forward with wonderful momentum. (Sadly the book ends without the momentum ever stopping, which leaves me waiting far too eagerly for the next book..! Oh, how I hate an unfinished series...) By far, this is the best book of Kate Daniels so far. Kate's relationship with Andrea and the auxiliary characters gets a lot more attention--thankfully. And yet, I can't bring myself to like the Curran-Kate relationship. Perhaps it's because I still just generally dislike Curran. However, it seems I'm in the minority in that opinion.

Quick and Dirty: A Slow Fall Into Love.
Kate Daniels took a few books to grow on me, but I'm right there waiting for the 4th volume with everyone else. In the meantime, if you need to sate the urge for some urban fantasy, pick up Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series or Bitten by Kelly Armstrong.