Monday, August 25, 2014

*Gizmos Book Reviews* Magic Breaks (Kate Daniels #7) by Ilona Andrews

*Synopsis*

As the mate of the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than it seems possible to juggle. Not only is she still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, she must now deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel ancient being with god-like powers. Since Kate’s connection to Roland has come out into the open, no one is safe—especially those closest to Kate.

As Roland’s long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend the Conclave, a gathering of the leaders from the various supernatural factions in Atlanta. When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered there, apparently at the hands of a shapeshifter, Kate is given only twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she’ll find herself embroiled in a war which could destroy everything she holds dear.



*My Review*

Kate Daniels, former mercenary, former member of the Order, current Consort to Pack Alpha Curran Lennart, owner of the Cutting Edge investigative agency with Andrea, stepmother to Julie, and Roland's daughter who lived, returns with yet another pulse spiking adventure that is sure to make even the sarcastic among us smile for just awhile.

With Aunt B's death weighing heavily on her mind, Curran off on a hunting expedition, and the pack being blamed for the murder of one of the People's leaders, Kate faces the hard core truth that Hugh is insanely obsessed with her, and will go to great lengths to have her submit willingly. Even if it means attacking innocents, staring wars with everyone, and forcing her to make hard choices that go against everything she is.

Add to the fact that the Pack's bullshit just gets even more ridiculous with each passing story, especially the whole Jennifer/Desandra who's got a bigger mouth confrontation, and the fact that certain Pack alphas truly don't like Kate no matter how much Curran threatens them, or Kate's beats them like banjos, and you have Magic Breaks at it's core.

There is the same sardonic and hardcore Kate that puts others ahead of herself. The one that EVERYONE has to tell her constantly that she's not her father or Hugh or Vordon, and that she's a good person no matter what she's done in the past. The one that is still one of my favorite badass heroines even after seven novels.

I'm a bit confused by the ending of the story. According to the authors notes, Magic Breaks ends a particular story arc. BUT, nothing has been done about either one of the dangers that Kate and Curran have faced for several books now. In fact, the ending punched me in the gut, and walked away grinning like a freaking corrupt politician that just stole most of my money while leaving me with nothing in return! Or, the entitled dipshit who tried to walk away with my pizza delivery yesterday, leaving me frustrated, and angry and on the attack.

In a way, Magic Breaks resembles movies like Escape from New York, and the Gauntlet where characters are faced with death defying situations surrounded by a small group of protectors, while somehow managing to overcome even the deadliest of creatures and odds. Yes, Kate shines like always, and yes we finally get to meet the notorious Roland, Kate's god like father who can break a city with a snap of his fingers. But, what happens now with Hugh, The People, The Order, the Witches Coven, and Kate's allies in the Pack?

It's like the authors decided that it's time to write about something else for a change, and sent Kate and Curran on a new journey without any concern that past villains would return to break up their happy home. Now that Kate & Curran did what they did, how exactly is anyone really going to enjoy a quiet and peaceful life? I do believe that Kate has more than proven herself over 7 books, and Curran finally makes the right choice when it comes to Kate. Let's hope the authors don't jump the shark after this.

I do believe that Kate's meeting with Roland is rather anti-climatic. Yes, he's a freaking god like being, but can he really expect Kate to kneel down to him, and do what he asks? While he forces her to use her skills and magic to prove that she's his daughter, and she gets to punish a few people who absolutely deserve it along the way, I was overly eager for a full out Kate/Curran face-to-face, all cards on the table, show down with Roland even if it meant that secondary characters faced their mortality. But, apparently that wasn't to be as others have told me.

My favorite characters besides Kate & Curran: Cuddles (the freak-y donkey); Dr. Doolittle, Derek, Desandra, Andrea, and yes, even Ghastek which I know is shocking. I really have some questions about Nick, that I am hoping the authors resolve. His identity was put out there, and just brushed over. I don't believe we've heard the last from him, or at least I hope not.

Best Scene of the Book:

“I don’t see what the big deal is.”
“It’s a sword made out of your grandmother’s bones, Kate.”
I shrugged.
Landon stared at me through the windshield, turned around, paced back and forth, and stared at me again.
“Do you know what most people have from their grandmother? A tea set. Or a quilt.” Curran smiled. “If your family had a quilt, it would be made out of chimera skin and stuffed with feathers from dead angels.”


Author - Ilona Andrews
Title - Magic Breaks (Kate Daniels # 7)
Published by Ace
Released: July 29, 2014
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: Hardcover 381 pages




No comments:

Post a Comment