Publisher: April 2009 Penguin
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Format: Kindle
Source: Purchased
*Please note that it is very hard to review books past the first one in the series without having any spoilers at all. I will try to keep it as spoiler free as I can, but if you haven't read the first book in this series, you may just want to read that review instead of continuing with this one.
Goodreads Summary
When magic strikes and Atlanta goes to pieces, it’s a job for Kate Daniels…
Drafted into working for the Order of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems than she knows what to do with these days. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.
But when Kate's werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games—an invitation only, no holds barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament—she and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta's shapeshifting community…
When magic strikes and Atlanta goes to pieces, it’s a job for Kate Daniels…
Drafted into working for the Order of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems than she knows what to do with these days. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.
But when Kate's werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games—an invitation only, no holds barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament—she and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta's shapeshifting community…
What's on the menu tonight?
Love, love, love. These just keep getting better as I read further into the series.
The Good
It starts out with action and humor (hello - a banshee on a telephone pole), and continues with more emotion and a harder hitting plot throughout.
Let's start with characters. I love the characters in this series so much. Derek the werewolf is one of my favorites and is pretty central to this story. Then Julie who was a new addition in the last book shows some great growth. Some other side characters I've grown to love along the way are Jim - the surly security guard to Curran. Doolittle is the doctor to the shape-shifters who makes tea like syrup. Andrea is Kate's best friend who is handy with a gun and chews men up and spits them out. She is often seen with Raphael who makes every girl other than Andrea swoon so naturally she is the one he pines after. So far there has always been one new addition that captures my heart and I'm hoping this trend doesn't end. This time around, it is a half-blind vegetarian tiger named Dali. I get the feeling that she's somehow captured Jim's heart as well, but we shall see. I very much hope to read more of her in the future because she is such a fun character. Each and every single character in this series has something that sets them apart and makes them endearing or uniquely terrifying.
I also got to learn more about the back-stories of Kate, Derek, Jim, and Curran. It was fascinating to learn the heritage of Kate finally since this has been a big mystery. I also really enjoyed delving a little deeper into the other's histories. Saimon, who can look like anyone he wants to, was more fully explained as well. He has a very unique heritage and true form. I got more information into how shifters behave as well like their mating habits and their signs of aggression. This was fun and interesting to read about.
Now let's talk about the plot of this one. I was taken aback by a lot of what happened, almost like a gut-punch. I'll tell you one thing, these are not predictable books. My heart-strings were pulled a little but thankfully Kate doesn't sit still long enough to wallow over anything and immediately gets into action to set things right. She makes some hard choices but I agree with how she went about things. Especially an odd confrontation with Jim. I was thrilled with her tactful and brave stand in that circumstance.
Let's start with characters. I love the characters in this series so much. Derek the werewolf is one of my favorites and is pretty central to this story. Then Julie who was a new addition in the last book shows some great growth. Some other side characters I've grown to love along the way are Jim - the surly security guard to Curran. Doolittle is the doctor to the shape-shifters who makes tea like syrup. Andrea is Kate's best friend who is handy with a gun and chews men up and spits them out. She is often seen with Raphael who makes every girl other than Andrea swoon so naturally she is the one he pines after. So far there has always been one new addition that captures my heart and I'm hoping this trend doesn't end. This time around, it is a half-blind vegetarian tiger named Dali. I get the feeling that she's somehow captured Jim's heart as well, but we shall see. I very much hope to read more of her in the future because she is such a fun character. Each and every single character in this series has something that sets them apart and makes them endearing or uniquely terrifying.
I also got to learn more about the back-stories of Kate, Derek, Jim, and Curran. It was fascinating to learn the heritage of Kate finally since this has been a big mystery. I also really enjoyed delving a little deeper into the other's histories. Saimon, who can look like anyone he wants to, was more fully explained as well. He has a very unique heritage and true form. I got more information into how shifters behave as well like their mating habits and their signs of aggression. This was fun and interesting to read about.
Now let's talk about the plot of this one. I was taken aback by a lot of what happened, almost like a gut-punch. I'll tell you one thing, these are not predictable books. My heart-strings were pulled a little but thankfully Kate doesn't sit still long enough to wallow over anything and immediately gets into action to set things right. She makes some hard choices but I agree with how she went about things. Especially an odd confrontation with Jim. I was thrilled with her tactful and brave stand in that circumstance.
The Bad
Not one thing.
The Romance
The slow build-up in this series has worked wonders for my attachment to Kate and Curran. I love these two together. The chemistry is off the charts and the smallest interactions and witty banter along with the universe moving due to a kiss causes me to melt just as Curran accused Kate of doing. I love everything about how this relationship has gone so far. The ending in this book was absolutely spectacular.
Conclusion
This series has everything that I adore in a book: action, lovable take-charge characters, laugh out loud moments, truly scary bad guys, and amazing world-building and back stories. Not to mention my absolutely favorite things to be found: snark, strong independent female characters that find their honest matches in strong perfect-balance men. Absolutely 100% recommended.
Excerpts
"Beast Lord, a man beyond mundane niceties like good-bye and thank you.""Since when do you give a crap about my welfare anyway? I think you're confused as to the nature of our relationship. You and I, we don't get along. You're a psychopathic control freak. You order me around and I want to kill you. I'm a pigheaded insubordinate. I drive you made, and you want to strangle me."
"Once! I did it once."
"Once was plenty. The point is, we don't play nice, we -"
"He jerked his arms out from under my knees, pulled me to him, oblivious to the dagger, and kissed me."
"I understand why you do things, Kate. It's how you do them that occasionally pisses me off."
Occasionally? "I want to assure you, Your Majesty, that I spend long nights lying awake in my bed worrying about your feelings."
"His Majesty needs a can-I girl anyway. And I'm not it."
"A can-I girl?" Andrea frowned.
I leaned back. "'Can I fetch you your food, Your Majesty? Can I tell you how strong and mighty you are, Your Majesty? Can I pick out your fleas, Your Majesty?"
YYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY. So happy you are loving these books. Are these not the best characters ever written??? OMG, the ending. I died. so good. Curran was so yummy in this one. And the story was almost hard to read sometimes. Definitely a gory one. I had to give this book 6 stars. It's just perfection.
ReplyDeleteWoot for a series that gets better as it goes! Curran sounds great and I think I would fall hard for him
ReplyDeleteI'm sooo glad you're loving this series, Jaclyn! I a HUGE fan as well. And I have to tell ya - the sparring between Kate & Curran - yeah, I'm thinking there's a lot of the authors' relationship in there! ;) I laughed at your The Bad - I'd have to agree. And being caught up in this series (one of the few I'm caught up on) I can say that they do just continue to get better! You'll have to read The Edge series too! :) Thanks for sharing your lovely review.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really good!
ReplyDeleteThis one is totally my fav of the series, thus far. ;) I know the romance is slow building, but the feel to it is amazing. I love it with this couple. LOL! So glad you are loving these.
ReplyDeleteIt was so good!!! I really love the romance and this couple. Thank you so much :D
ReplyDeleteThey are some excellent books :D
ReplyDeleteThat's really interesting to hear especially since I'm so uber jealous that you got to MEET them. I looked up The Edge Series and I most certainly have to read that one. Thank you for letting me know about it!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think so too :D I really hope you get to read these!
ReplyDeleteSuch great characters, and he is incredibly yummy. I just finished Magic Bleeds and am giving that one 6 stars. It was even BETTER. I can't believe how each book can get better and better.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that they keep getting better. I don't know if the urban fantasy is too much for me, but this time I'm curious to read the series and see what it's like.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't sure about it until I read my first one and now I'm hooked ;) If you try it out, I hope to hear all about it. Thank you so much for stopping by!
ReplyDelete