Magic Shifts

I was worried this would be a boring filler book after the crazy events of the last one, but I think this might be my favourite in the series so far! It was a filler book in a way to transition Curran out of the beast lord role, with a lower stakes enemy, but I loved that Kate was back to being regular Kate instead of the consort role that was putting me off a bit the last couple of books. The humour was on point too. My only complaint is really just that I miss Derek, he has been seriously sidelined since his injury in book 3? 4? He was such a good character and I feel like they weren't sure what to do with him after that and he got replaced with other sidekicks like Ascanio or Andrea. I hope they do something interesting with his character before the series ends. 

I liked this book. I noticed some typos in the version I have that threw me out for a minute until I reread and added a different word.

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Magic Shifts

Kate and Curran have discovered that living in suburbia comes with its own battles. The mailman is petrified of Curran and there's that one cranky neighbor who complains about everything they do. Of course, when the monsters follow you home and are ripped apart on the front lawn, it might just push some neighbors over the edge. Despite settling down, Kate and Curran have their work cut out for them. Ghouls are roaming the city in packs and strange reanimating monsters are popping up around town. There's even a giant or two thrown into the mix. Normal will never be in their lives, but if it were normal then I think the two of them would die of boredom.

Ilona Andrews never fails to create an action-packed story where Kate is constantly pushing past her limitations. I devour each of these books, unable to put them down because they are sheer adrenaline filled action. And don't forget the sarcastic humor thrown between Curran and Kate that makes it all the more entertaining. They are the only fantasy couple I know that argue over simple household things while covered in blood and fending for their lives. It goes to show just how different their lives are and that they've come to accept the constant upheaval as their version of normal.

The mythology surrounding each book in this series is fascinating. Each book brings in another culture and its mythical creatures. There are so many new creatures I have learned about from this series alone. And of course, they have their imagined ones that are based on the culture they are focusing on. And despite the new concepts developed as the series progresses, it never feels like there is too much in the world. Ilona Andrews doesn't leave loose ends and slowly brings back familiar sights along with the new encounters, weaving them all together to create a whole story.

I don't want this series to end, but I know at some point it will. And I will rush toward it because I can't stop reading these books. I highly recommend The Kate Daniels series for fans of urban fantasy.

What can I say about this book that I am sure a thousand other people havent said. It is amazing!!! Kate and Curran are kicking ass, their relationship is steady, and they have more bad guys to fight! Being able to stay focused and not get bored with a series this long is impressive. I am slightly disappointed that I finished reading them all, but maybe I will do something that I don't typically do, REREAD THEM! wow.

It was great, so glad their out of the keep now. Can't wait for the next one.

Despite being a momentous book in the series, I was disappointed in the last book, but this one had more of the great dialogue, narrative, and mythology that I love about this series. However, I do think the characters are starting to seem static, and I do wish that potential obstacles for the characters were not so easily removed. 7.5/10

Full Review: http://www.fantasybookcafe.com/2015/10/review-of-magic-shifts-by-ilona-andrews/

My favorite Kate Daniels book since before that disastrous trip to Europe when Curran behaved like a jerkwad. The plot is eh (who is Eduardo and why do I care that he is missing?) but the dialogue is sharp, the adventures are thrilling and the relationship between Kate and Curran is oh-so-satisfying. Who said that just because two people are together more or less permanently that their relationship has to be boring? There were two sections of the book that pretty much stopped my heart, and the ending left me wishing the authors released more than one book per year.