Magic Bites / Ilona Andrews

4 out of 5 stars

4 stars—I liked it (3 stars) and I figure it has potential (plus one star).

So many people have read/are reading this series and giving it high marks, that I felt I had to give it a go. And when better to try it than during my Summer Festival of Fluff?

I like Kate—she has the capacity to become a truly interesting character. Perhaps it’s my Viking heritage, but I love a woman who carries as many bladed weapons as she can conceal on her person. I also appreciate that the writers have given a fresh spin to each supernatural creature. Vampires don’t sparkle and aren’t charming. Shapeshifters aren’t your garden variety werewolves. Magic is a state which ebbs and flows—you never know how much of it will be available at any given time.

So this first volume seems to be mostly world building—constructing a setting in which Kate Daniels will be able to shine. We get to know the surroundings, meet the major players, and learn the dynamics between the groups. We learn that our main character has her issues, but that she is also a decent person who wants to do the right thing (although, like all of us, she sometimes only sees in retrospect what the right thing may have been).

If I didn’t have a veritable mountain of library books already, I would put a hold on book 2 immediately. As it stands, I have to read at least half a dozen books before I can justify that action—I’ve been a bit hasty with the trigger finger, pushing that “Place Hold” button far too frequently lately!