Magic Burns
Ratings121
Average rating4.1
I liked this one less than the first book, but still very much enjoyed this. I didn't really buy Kate suddenly caring about Bran at the end, but maybe that's because I'm running on not a lot of sleep right now. (Thanks baby girl!) I hope we get to see more of Curran soon because he is endlessly entertaining.
Like with many series, this second book was better than the first. I loved seeing different mythologies woven into the world, and Bran certainly kept everyone on their toes.
Originally posted at rebeccasreadingcorner.blog.
The world keeps shifting between magic and tech and during Flair ups the Kate has to clean up magic users use of bad magic. Every 7 years there is a major shift and gods and goddesses are trying to own the world and Kate is caught up trying to save a little girl, some maps and not get killed herself. Really interesting world. I like that she doesn't just fall into bed with the main good looking guy Curran. There is attraction but so far they are staying away from each other.
The magic is rising and falling at a rapidly increasing rate. There is only one thing the fluctuating magic can mean, a massive magical flare is about to be released on Atlanta. And who best but Kate Daniels to be in the middle of it? What starts as an investigation into a simple stolen magical artifact, turns into a literal witch hunt as Kate is dragged into a coven's misguided magic. With the flare drawing ever closer, Kate is in a race against time as an ancient evil threatens to reduce what remains of Atlanta to nothing more than rubble.
Kate is a kickass heroine. Raised to be a weapon, her tongue is as sharp as her sword. But this time she has a street kid named Julie tagging along, and we get to see another side to Kate. Now I won't say she has a soft side, but she certainly shows how protective she can be over an innocent. Helping Julie find her lost mom becomes Kate's goal as they search the streets of Atlanta for clues. It so happens the witch coven Julie's mother belonged to began messing with magic that should have been left alone. During a large flare of magic, just about anything can come into reality if there is enough belief behind it. Even Gods.
The world building in this series is astounding. Each book brings to light the twisted nature of the war between tech and magic. This time, Kate has to search through what used to be a trailer park. It has now been deemed the Honeycomb and not everyone who goes in comes back out. The trailers have warped and expanded, sometimes enveloping their once former inhabitants and banishing them to another realm. Those new to the area are advised to carry a ball of string with them, so if the trailer park swallows you there is at least a chance of finding you before you disappear forever. Then again even if you are found, chances are you will never be the same again.
Readers will also have a chance to see Curran and the pack once more, as they're dragged into the magical mess. It seems a certain thief keeps stealing their maps of the city, a thief with a vested interest in the missing witches. And if you're familiar with the Pack, then you know how furious Beast Lord Curran becomes when something is taken from him. Of course, it doesn't help with Kate constantly at war with him when it comes to snarky comebacks and attitude. Although at this point I think Kate amuses Curran with her ways, the same way a cat is amused by a mouse before it pounces.
Another great installment. Can't wait for the next!
Setelah buku 1 yg membingungkan ternyata buku 2 mulai memberikan penjelasan2 yg kurang jelas di buku 1. Jadi udh mulai ngerti dunia seperti apa yg ingin ditampulkan oleh penulis.
Daaan yg sangat kunantikan adalah sexual tension antara Kate & Currant. Agk berbeda dgn paranormal romance/urban fantasy untuk dewasa lainnya yg mengumbar hot intimate scene, yg ini bkn insta love. Aku bkn penggemar insta love. Jadi menurutku proses jatuh cinta Kate & currant cukup believable.
Penasaran sama kelnajutannya...
Holy freaky moly can Ilona Andrews write a good book. First, they are SO SO SOOOO good at building chemistry and romance, and Curran and Kate havent even kissed! HOW DO THEY DO THIS TO ME. I am sitting over here drooling over Curran, and I do not do that often. And second, that closing scene! That was extremely sexy, and all he did was whisper in here ear.
This book was again, PACKED with action. Bran was an excellent character, I enjoyed his playfulness. There are some things you learn about how Curran is pursuing his relationship with Kate that just makes you go “awwww.” The whole magic/tech thing gets explained a little more in this book too, not too much, but I think I it is starting to make a little sense.
I have the next book checked out from the library, and books 4-9 on hold, because this is a series that needs to be binged on. Oh Ilona Andrews, I love your books.
2019 re-read
Second read through and I did enjoy it much more. I believe the audiobook is my favorite way of reading it.
—
I was still on the fence with this series when I read this book, coming back now to review it Jan. 2017 and I've forgotten most about it, but a few more books in and I am SO into this series.
These books are very entertaining, I'm definitely continuing with the series.
I wasn't sure that Kate Daniels could be more amazing, but once again I've been proven wrong! This book is even better than the first. Our heroine is back! Her sarcastic, strong and utterly likable personality is intact, and even more honed this time. I'm always a sucker for kick-ass female leads, but Kate takes the cake. Not only is she able to handle herself, but she does it for the love and protection of others. I profess to follow Kate until the ends of the Earth! Or, until the end of the series.
The reader is reintroduced to modern day Atlanta. A world filled with magic, rife with both wondrous and deadly creatures. This time around there's a Celtic twist, and I thought that Ilona Andrews did a wonderful job of tying it in with the plot. It makes for an intriguing read. If you are an action rubbernecker, one that loves to see things heading for complete disaster, Magic Burns will be sure to please! The climax of this book almost killed me. It was perfection. Insane, amazing, perfection.
This installment also brings the sexual tension between Kate and Curran even more into the forefront. I think what I love most about Kate is that she doesn't pine over the men around her. She might be able to see herself in bed with them (I mean, who wouldn't?) but she's not a “love at first sight” kind of gal. I can tell that the relationship between these two is going somewhere, but I'm loving the slow, steady and wit-filled build up that it's taking. There are some definite milestone moments in Magic Burns, but I'll leave those for you to uncover.
Best of all, Andrews adds to her roster of characters, and they are all vividly written. Each one brings a new facet into Kate's life. Most notably added are Julie and Bran. Again, no spoilers here! Let's just say that they both bring their own unique problems to the table. It allows Kate to once again show how much she cares about the people in her life. She knows that when people get close to her they are in peril, and she'll do whatever it takes to protect them.
To be honest, I had no idea how much I was going to love this series when I first started it! After two books I'm already completely invested in Kate, her world, and all the other characters in it. Ilona Andrews is an expert at writing a story that will keep you reading ravenously. You need to pick this Urban Fantasy series up as soon as possible! In the meantime, I'll be moving on to the third book.
Despite initially feeling like a bog standard urban fantasy, this world is one of the more interesting twists on magic in the open. The idea of magic and tech battling it out on an over level, the fascinating take on vampires, and whatever the deal is with Simon (sp?)... Beyond all that, I like Kate. Her reaction to the little girl makes her so much more interesting than she was in the first book.
My only issue is semi spoilerific. When Kate is sparring with Kieran, she uses a Word on him. Later, during the flare, she uses the same word against the bad guys. Afterwards, Kieran seems surprised and questions her about it. That didn't make any sense to me. I'm guessing it's an editing gaff, but... perhaps I'm missing something?
Although I liked the first book once the first half was over and it got to the better-paced second half, Magic Burns is a definite improvement. It grabbed my attention much earlier and the plot is more solid than in the first book, which had a lot of wandering around trying to solve a mystery involving the death of Kate's guardian. There were a lot of scenes that felt like they were solely serving as an introduction to the various characters in the first book, and even though this novel introduced more new characters, their appearances flowed with the rest of the story much better instead of feeling somewhat stilted. This book's mystery also unfolded more naturally instead of seeming like Kate was just going to one place then another place trying to gather information.
Full Review