Magic Rises

Magic Rises (2013) Ilona Andrews

European shape-shifters have given The Beast Lord and his pack an offer they can’t resist: come guard a pregnant were and you’ll receive barrels of panacea–the potion that reduces the chance of loupism in young weres.

It’s a trap of some sort, but they can’t figure out what kind, until they get there and its entirely too late to turn back.

As usual, the story is good, and the dialog is fabulous:

“Tell Hibla we need maid service,” I said. “We could handle the trash in our room and an odd smell, but now we have a dead body. If this continues, we won’t be able to give your hotel a decent rating.”

It’s also like a greatest hits, with all the best characters together: Aunt B, Andrea, Derek, Doolittle. I think Aunt B gets the best lines.

“A young djigit stopped by my room,” I said. “…(F)or three thousand dollars he will walk me deep into the mountains and show me where the bad shapeshifters live.”

“How fortunate.” Aunt B’s eyes lit up. “Would you like company on this wonderful trap, I mean, adventure?”

Mind you, there’s lots of dark and unpleasant in this story: People are seriously–irrevocably–injured. People die.

But here’s the thing. They are in a very very bad spot, and they have to fight there way out. There was no way they’d waltz out unscathed, so as much as I hate seeing people die, I find it more frustrating when people do NOT die.

I know people may disagree with me on this–that people don’t like death in their fiction, but I prefer my fantasy to not to too far out there, and people getting injured and killed is one of the things that keep fantasy grounded in reality, in my opinion.

All in all, a very enjoyable read, and a great addition to the Kate series. It will be very interesting to see where things go from here.

One last thing: I’d like to point out how fabulous this cover is. Kate looks like she can kick your ass, and isn’t just showing off her butt and boobs. Additionally, she’s dressed to fight–not dressed in some damned chainmail bikini or other improbably outfit.

Kudos to this cover, and may more and more fantasy covers with women follow THIS trend, as opposed to showing T&A at the same time, regardless of how physically impossible that might be, and how.
Rating: 8/10

Published by Ace

 
 

• Browse the archives:
  
• Kitty in the Underworld » »
• « « The Privilege of the Sword, Audio Edition