Magic Triumphs / Ilona Andrews

4 out of 5 stars

Kate has come a long way from her origins as a loner taking care of paranormal problems in post-Shift Atlanta. She's made friends and enemies. She's found love and started a family with Curran Lennart, the former Beast Lord. But her magic is too strong for the power players of the world to let her be.

Kate and her father, Roland, currently have an uneasy truce, but when he starts testing her defenses again, she knows that sooner or later, a confrontation is inevitable. The Witch Oracle has begun seeing visions of blood, fire, and human bones. And when a mysterious box is delivered to Kate's doorstep, a threat of war from the ancient enemy who nearly destroyed her family, she knows their time is up.

Kate Daniels sees no other choice but to combine forces with the unlikeliest of allies. She knows betrayal is inevitable. She knows she may not survive the coming battle. But she has to try.  For her child.  For Atlanta.  For the world.

A very fine wrap-up to a series that I have spent many enjoyable years consuming. Kate and Curran are parents and their wee Conlan is more than a handful, a cause of some amusement among Kate’s friends. But nothing is ever easy when you’re Kate Daniels (now Lennert), so of course there’s going to be all kinds of threats to the peace of Atlanta.

As I was approaching the end of the book, fingering the last few pages, I kept thinking, “How can the Andrews tie this up in so few words?” I needn’t have worried—they obviously had a master plan and their plot snapped together crisply, like new Legos. All of the old favourite characters are here, playing their roles perfectly. Plus, we have the advent of a married Hugh d’Ambrey, which messes with both Kate and Curran. Who is this man and can they work with him? (By the way, if you haven’t yet read Hugh’s story, Iron and Magic, do yourself a favour and read it BEFORE tackling this volume).

I was worried—surely adding a baby to the mix would change the dynamic of the final book? Nope, if anything the pace picked up as Kate pursues her little shapeshifter godling whenever he goes AWOL. Can Kate’s issues with her father Roland ever be resolved? (Yes and no—read it!) And my biggest concern? What will I do when this series is over? But you know, there were just enough hints and loose ends on the final pages that I have some hope that we will see more adventures in Magical Atlanta, just following different characters—Julie perhaps? Along with Derek? I would definitely read those!

I hope that the Andrews keep writing in their various fantasy worlds for many years to come. I look forward to each and every installment that tells me more about my favourite fictional people.