Kate Daniels World Short Stories

The Kate Daniels short stories and novellas, by Ilona Andrews

I decided I need to read all the Kate Daniels short stories and novellas (even the ones that don’t directly have Kate in them).

 

“A Questionable Client” originally published in Dark and Stormy Knights (2010)

This is story of how Kate came to meet Saiman.

“What do you do for a living, Saiman?”
“I collect information and use it to further my interests.”

As I remain a fan of Saiman, I quite enjoyed this story.

“The value of the information increase with its exclusivity.”

If you remember that, then you know everything you need to, to deal with Saiman.

Well, that and the fact he’s a sexual deviant. But since he’s a trickster, that goes with the territory.
Rating: 8.5/10

 

“Retribution Clause” originally published in Hex Appeal (2012)

This story is set in the world in which Kate lives, but the only regular character that makes any sort of appearance is Saiman, and that is only because he sent a book to his cousin. This story is outside the Kate timeline.

Adam Talford and Siroun work for POM as Insurance Adjustors in Philadelphia. Adam is a frost giant (hence his relationship to Saiman) but no one seems to know precisely what Siroun is, though she has skills that make her something more than human.

They’re given a case that has to be dealt with immediately.

“Mrs. Sobanto’s insurance policy had a retribution clause… In the event of her homicide, we’re required to terminate the guilty party.”

I enjoyed this story, but the mystery bothered me a bit–the retribution clause bit seemed too make less sense with the resolution of the mystery. But it was interesting and enjoyable.
Rating: 8/10

 

Magic Mourns originally published in Must Love Hellhounds (2011)

This story is set after Magic Strikes and is Andrea and Raphael’s story. Andrea is beastkin–the child of a bouda (female werehyena) and a hyenawere.

1. A hyenawere (or anything-were) is an animal that contracted the Lyc virus and shifted into a human. Such creatures are typically killed by human shape shifters, but not always (we met one in the first Kate book). 2. I keep parsing hyenawere as hyen-aware. Hyena awareness week?

Andrea is hiding her status both from the Pack, and from the Order for which she works. She hides from the Pack because she was abused by the pack into which she was born, and she hides from the Order, because they would throw her out if they discovered what she was.

Andrea is also sitting in for Kate, who is recovering from the events of Magic Strikes, and I found mention of those events, and the spin being put out about those events, quite interesting.

“Is it true she broke a red sword during the Midnight Games by impaling herself on it?”
An alarm blared in my head. “I don’t remember it quite that way,” I lied. “As I recall, a member of the opposing team meant to strike with the sword. Kate interrupted his strike, and when he tried to free the blade, he cut himself on it. The blood from his hand shattered the sword.”

I really don’t see Ghastek believing that, but I do see him accepting it and moving on, hoping to research the issue later.

Kate makes a couple of brief appearances, and there is mention of events that will occur in the following book. (See: apple pie) But focus of the story is how Andrea and Raphael finally get together, and the mystery of the giant house-sized dog.

I quite enjoyed this story.
Rating: 8/10

Magic Dreams originally published in Hexed (2011)

This is set between Magic Dreams and Magic Slays. Dali has been in love with Jim for awhile, but he is the Alpha of Clan Cat, and she’s small, mostly blind, weak, and a vegetarian (who’s heard of a vegetarian cat?), so she doesn’t see what he would possibly see in her. But she’s also brave (you’d have to be brave to be nearly blind and still race cars) and a rarity in a shape-shifter: a magic user.

But, she also has an Indonesian mother, which can be… frustrating.

My mother’s eyes sparked. Oh no.
She leaned over and patted Jim’s hand. “That is so nice. My daughter is so smart. Always respectful and well-behaved. Never and trouble and she does as she is told.”
“You don’t say,” Jim murmured.
“Doesn’t spend a lot of money. Two doctor degrees. Little problem with her eyes, but that’s her father’s side of the family.

Dali wrecks her car (again) and when she comes home she finds Jim. Expecting him to chew her out, she instead finds him asleep. He’s discovered a magical problem and wants her to help him discover what it is. Unfortunately, the problem has now extended to Jim.

Very bad.

There are also some lovely bits about magical theory.

Magic tended to stick to nationality and region. People generated magic, and their superstitions and beliefs channeled it. If enough people believed that a certain creature existed and, worse, took precautions against it, eventually the magic birthed it into being.

That’s fascinating and also makes me glad magic isn’t real. Because I’d hate for some of the things we’ve imagined to become real.

This was a lovely story, and I enjoy seeing Kate from the perspective of those around her.
Rating: 8/10

Magic Gifts originally published on their website, as a gift to their fans. Also published in Gunmetal Magic (2011)

This is set after Magic Slays, and you see a peek of events that happen in Andrea’s story, Gunmetal Magic

Kate and Curran want to have a nice dinner date. Unfortunately, their dinner is interrupted by murder and vampires (lucky for the other patrons that Kate and Curran were there).

We also get to spend some time with the Norse Heritage Foundation.

“They don’t permit any technology past fourteenth century AD in their territory. You’ll have to ride a horse.”

But the Norse Heritage Foundation does have it’s positives:

Norse Heritage took everyone in. Viking wasn’t a nationality – it was the way of life. As long as you thought you were a Viking, you had a place at their table.

Since there are vampires, we get to spend time with Ghastek, who I find amusing, but nowhere near as fun as Saiman.

“Excellent.” He put emphasis in the x and the word came out slightly sibilant.
“You need a fluffy white cat. That way you can stroke it when you say things like that.”

It’s fun to see Ghastek get his comeuppance, but we also see an essential part of Kate’s nature–her willing to put her own life on the line to protect a child.
Rating: 8/10

“Magic Tests” originally published in An Apple for the Creature (2012)

This appears after the events of Magic Slays, but is otherwise outside the timeline. It features Julie, Kate’s ward.

Julie is very much a teenager here.

“Do you think I’m your punishment from God?”
“No. I’d like to think that God, if he exists, is kind, not vengeful.”

Me too.

This is Julie’s story, and how Kate tries to help her fit into school–something she never did particularly well at the boarding school she was sent to.

It’s a bit angsty, what with the teenagers and all, but with amusing bits thrown in. I admit it’s not one of my favorite stories, but it is nice to see Julie standing on her own, outside of Kate’s influence, but still influenced by the things Kate holds important.
Rating: 6/10

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