Magic Bites

Magic Bites (2007) Ilona Andrews

This is another series that I’ve fallen behind reading. Unlike Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty series, these books are still coming, but I’m two books behind on my reading, and I’ve forgotten some major points, so I figure it’s time to re-read.

Magic returned to the world, destroying much technology as it came. It also returned creatures that were once believed to be myths and stories: Vampires. Shape-shifters. Mages.

Kate is a magic user and a fighter who belongs to the Mercenary guild. Her guardian is a member of the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, a group to which Kate was encouraged to join, despite her issues with authority.

IIRC, the hardest thing about reading this book for the first time was the world-building. It is NOT a dystopia (I really don’t enjoy dystopias) but it is our world where things have gone really unexpectedly screwy, so although the foundations may seem familiar, there is much that is different.

Magic could not be measured and explained in scientific terms, for magic grew through destroying the very natural principles that made science as people knew it possible.

The theory is that since so many people are ignorant of the basic mechanical principles involved in making the phone work, to them it might just as well be magic.

If you haven’t read the series before, just be aware that the world-building might be a bit overwhelming, but it’s well-worth it to keep going.

Kate is a very interesting character.

Survival took precedence over fashion. Sure, I didn’t weigh a hundred and ten pounds, but my narrow waist let me bend and I could break a man’s neck with my kick.

She is very much of the kick-ass and take names school of fantasy, which I do love (although I also love other types of female heroines as well) and Kate does get hurt–although the magic makes her recovery much faster it seems.

The upside of having a magic sword was that its secretions liquefied the undead flesh. On the downside, the blade had to be fed at least once a month, or it would become too brittle and break.

So, good book, good series, enjoyable, read it.

However.

Ilona Andrews gets some of THE WORST covers I have ever seen. See that cover up top? It is the reissue cover, and it is the exception that proves the rule. The cover to the right? That’s the original cover.

It’s HORRIBLE. Go ahead and zoom in to look at it some more. It’s like they weren’t even trying when the made this.

It’s like they had a high school intern mash together some random pictures in photoshop and that’s what they slapped on the book.

Ace regularly gives them abysmal covers, and I cannot understand why? The cover at the top of the post? That’s a good cover. They put some effort into it, and it gives you a good idea of what you’re getting: fantasy with a strong female heroine.

Most of their other titles? Those make me feel like someone at the publisher has it in for them, and WANTS to keep them from selling books.

I point this out because I am well-aware that the authors have zero control over their covers, but it is inexplicable that Ace keeps giving them terrible covers.

Of course, Avon is just as bad, but really, why can’t they get good covers?
Rating: 8/10

Published by Ace

• Browse the archives:
  
• Magic Burns » »
• « « The Phoenix Guards