Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews Series: Kate Daniels #8
Published by Ace on 4 August 2015
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 342
Format: Kindle
Source: Kindle Purchase
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After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Curran misses the constant challenges of leading the shapeshifters.
So when the Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild, Curran seizes the opportunity—too bad the Guild wants nothing to do with him and Kate. Luckily, as a veteran merc, Kate can take over any of the Guild’s unfinished jobs in order to bring in money and build their reputation. But what Kate and Curran don’t realize is that the odd jobs they’ve been working are all connected.
An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it—before it takes their city apart piece by piece…
Magic Shifts shows how life is for Curran and Kate after they leave the pack, and if you thought things would slow down for them, you were very wrong.
My Magic Shifts review:
The Kate Daniels series continues to be among the very best there is when it comes to Urban Fantasy, and in my opinion. Kate and Curran are a big part of why I love this so much! From the first book and up until now, the changes they have both gone through, the growth, the maturing – it’s pretty amazing, let me tell you! Curran became the alpha of a pack when he was very young, so he has never really been an adult who didn’t have a whole lot of responsibilities. Kate was used to be mostly alone, never really trusting anyone, and always on the lookout for one specific vampire – whom she was trained to kill from a very young age. Of course, the two of them together is like firework! Both the beautiful, breathtaking kind, and the ugly, noisy, scary kind…
Without spoiling anything, it’s very hard to say much about Magic Shifts… apart from gushing, and saying how much I loved it! And how strong Kate and Curran are together – even away from the pack. And that I thought it was great to see how they both function when they don’t have the whole pack to take into consideration when they make decisions. And while many, many things are changing in their lives, it was so good to see that the love and respect they have for each other is still strong, and that they would both do most anything to make sure they are both safe. And because they are a team as well as lovers, the storyline was very strong, they weren’t always together when the proverbial shit hit the fan, but they were able to (mostly) help each other out in the aftermath.
Of course, the writing is simply splendid, and the main storyline with its main plot and sub-plots worked really well. The other characters and species were present as well, and while Kate and Curran are not a part of the pack anymore, it seems some of the pack politics – or perhaps simply politics – has followed them to their new dwelling.
Some of my favorite Magic Shifts quotes:
Anyone with a drop of common sense hid behind reinforced doors and barred windows after dark. Unfortunately for me, common sense was never among my virtues.
“[…]Besides, if I ‘d decided to pull Carver’s spine out of his body, I would’ve done it already.”
“Can you actually do that?”
Curran frowned. “I don’t know. I mean theoretically if you broke the spine above the pelvis, you could, but then there are ribs… I’ll have to try it sometime.”
Okay, then. That was not disturbing. Not at all. “What do you suppose normal people talk about on their car rides?”
His broad shoulders and the line of his back curved slightly. The wind pulled on his sweats, revealing a glimpse of his hard body, muscles ready to launch him at some unseen threat in an instant. That potential power was like a magnet. If I didn’t know him and I was driving by, I would’ve stopped to get a second look, trying to figure out who that scary hot bastard was.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
Twitter: bmreviewsohmy
I am about an hour and a half from finishing the first book on audio…lol. I am so behind. It’s been pretty interesting though. 🙂
I love this series so, so much, Stormi! I hope you will too.
Twitter: Mlsimmons
I just love this series so much too. I have the same issues with writing reviews for this series. I basically want to write “READ IT NOW” and include a bunch of quotes. LOL. I loved the quote you picked about the spine. No, not disturbing at all.
LOL Melanie! Yes, that’s exactly how it is! READ IT!! It’s good, TRUST ME! 😀
Eeps. This is one I’ve not read yet. I love love love them but ahh I’m behind. Glad to see it was another knock out 🙂
This series is just made of awesome 🙂 And hey, sometimes, it’s good to be behind in a series, it only means you have more books to read 🙂
Oh those quotes! You have me laughing and smiling BIG, Lexxie. I’m so happy #8 still did it for you. As you know, this is one series I’m working at catching up on. I can’t wait to get caught up as Kate and Curran are one of my favorite couples of all time!
Happy Saturday, my friend! **BIG HUGS**
LOL Kate and Curran are right up there with Cat and Bones for me, Brandee! And that really says a lot 🙂 I look forward to each time you read a book in this series, as I wonder if you’ll pick up on the same things I did 😀 *BIG HGUS*
Twitter: kimbacaffeinate
I love the direction we are heading in, and like you think their writing is stellar. I love this series on audio 🙂
I have a couple of books from this series on audio as well – it’s my way of re-reading 🙂 I’m glad you enjoy it that way, Kim 🙂
I can’t wait to read this. I still need to read the previous book in the series, but am planning to do that as soon as possible. This is one of my all time favorite series!
I agree, Suze, this series is nothing short of amazing! Each installment is even more amazing than the last 😀
I am a few books behind in this series… just wanted to see you’re rating! I have ordered book 6 at the library, and hope to catch up soon!
I hope you’ll enjoy the 6th book, Naomi! This series has become my favorite PNR/UF series.
This series is just awesome right??? I love what this couple has done with writing it. I am only about halfway through, but I love Curran and Kate together. They just work and its written in just the right way for the tone of the story too.
Yes! It’s really one of my favorites, and part of that is definitely because I love Kate and Curran so much. And their dry humor gets to me in every single book 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Renee 🙂