Magic Slays

Magic Slays (2011) Ilona Andrews

I’m starting to get nervous. We’re reaching the part of the series where it feels as if we are beginning to build to the final confrontation.

Which often means cliff hanger endings.

And I hate cliff hanger endings.

But so far so good.

Kate and Curran are (sort of) luxuriating in wedded bliss, although there continue to be fights about Kate’s work and the danger she places herself in. Especially when the Red Guard hires for a case that has ugly and dangerous written all over.

Things I really liked: Andrea is back. Do I like what happened to her? No. Is what happened reasonable. Very much so. Is her reaction realistic? Even more so.

Kate and Curran’s relationship. They are still working out their relationship and how two powerful individuals are going to compromise. There are fights, and there are misunderstandings, but within the context of their histories and their personalities, these are reasonable and expected things, and I like the balance of reality with the HEA, and the fact that they recognize the need to talk about their problems like grown-ups. Kudos for having them act (mostly) like grown-ups.

Kate’s recognition that she desperately needs to be trained. She is strong, but there is no way she’ll be able to confront her father without a LOT more hard work. So I was glad to see that appear finally–and in a very interesting way, at that.

Was there anything I didn’t particularly like? Well, I had a really hard time groking the invention, and not just how it worked, but how it could permanently do what it did. I also am not sure how I feel about the resolution of the situation with Julie. But I need to think about it more to decide if I believe it or not.

But all in all, it was another very good entry into the series.

Can you start the series here? Possibly, but I don’t recommend it, not just because of the world building in previous volumes, but also because of the character building, and the relationships between those characters. That’s something that’s hard to get entering this far in the series.

Whereas going back and starting at the beginning would be quite the rewarding experience.
Rating: 8/10

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