Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews

(After rereading this post, I decided a warning was in order because I didn't want to rewrite it, lol.

WARNINGl

You probably will be confused reading this post unless you are familiar with the Kate Daniels world. I'm so fearful of spoilers that I usually end up saying nothing at all ...)

Kate has come a long way from her origins as a loner taking care of paranormal problems in post-Shift Atlanta. She’s made friends and enemies. She’s found love and started a family with Curran Lennart, the former Beast Lord. But her magic is too strong for the power players of the world to let her be.

Kate and her father, Roland, currently have an uneasy truce, but when he starts testing her defenses again, she knows that sooner or later, a confrontation is inevitable. The Witch Oracle has begun seeing visions of blood, fire, and human bones. And when a mysterious box is delivered to Kate’s doorstep, a threat of war from the ancient enemy who nearly destroyed her family, she knows their time is up.

Kate Daniels sees no other choice but to combine forces with the unlikeliest of allies. She knows betrayal is inevitable. She knows she may not survive the coming battle. But she has to try.

For her child.

For Atlanta.

For the world.

This is the last book of the Kate Daniels story arc and it's action packed with a lot of feels. There were surprises (for me), especially with how Roland was handled - that was not how I thought it would be - and although some characters had resolution, others didn't, which is totally real life and makes me hopeful for many more stories in this world. 

I don't think I've read an Ilona Andrews book that I haven't enjoyed and this book was no exception. With one caveat.

I'm not sure how to say this properly: the book was full of epic material and could conceivably have had 700 pages. However, the story had to be told in 336 pages, according to my Kindle. I thought at the time I was reading it that there was a lot of jumping around. Months were covered in this book (and it's already a year after the last book) but it was like the authors were skipping a stone across a lake and we, the readers, got to see the the very tip of the iceberg(s). (Talk about mixing your metaphors!) Some plot lines were just dropped, others hinted at further books, but they all left me vaguely dissatisfied.

Whether skipping ahead and numerous plot lines detract or adds to the story depends on the reader, I suppose. Either way, it doesn't change the fact that these authors can WRITE and they are storytellers supreme. I read Iron and Magic before Magic Triumphs, as they suggested, and that is why I had supposed a different ending for Roland.

This perception of mine regarding stone skipping does not negate the fact that I love the book, love the characters and can't wait for book 2 of the Iron Covenant series and/or any other book about this world the authors might want to give birth to.

Magic Triumphs is not the book I consider their best in this series; that would be Magic Breaks because ... omg, the feels! The trust. The love. the courage and committment.

I have to admit the solution to the Roland problem disappointed me (and the stone skipping). Therefore if I were grading (because y'all know I don't, right?) I would give this book 4 stars and/or a B rather than the five everyone else is gifting it.

Oh, and Dali - WTF???

White Hot by Ilona Andrews

The Hidden Legacy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews continues as Nevada and Rogan navigate a world where magic is the norm…and their relationship burns hot

Nevada Baylor has a unique and secret skill—she knows when people are lying—and she's used that magic (along with plain, hard work) to keep her colorful and close-knit family's detective agency afloat. But her new case pits her against the shadowy forces that almost destroyed the city of Houston once before, bringing Nevada back into contact with Connor "Mad" Rogan.

Rogan is a billionaire Prime—the highest rank of magic user—and as unreadable as ever, despite Nevada’s “talent.” But there’s no hiding the sparks between them. Now that the stakes are even higher, both professionally and personally, and their foes are unimaginably powerful, Rogan and Nevada will find that nothing burns like ice …

Lori:  I haven't been reading as much as I used to so this was a great book to kick my reading mojo in gear.

This book did great in balancing stories. There was a definite romantic storyline between Nevada and Connor, there was the mystery of who killed Nevada's client's wife and also a plot line (probably leading into the next book) with a family issue that's bound to explode.

The sexual tension between the lead characters was great. Of course I had issues with Connor's over-protective urge. There were too many times he overstepped and took away Nevada's power. Despite his accurate reasoning, it always pissed me off. Nevada's independence rests too much on Connor keeping his word, not an okay situation.

Also the one sex scene purple prosed so there was that too...


Carolyn:  

Did you see Ilona Andrew's post about the difference and progressing series http://www.ilona-andrews.com/better-books/ . What makes their series so good is that they are progressing.

And White Hot is a great example.

Here's what I like about this book (unless I think of something more):

1.  We learn more about Nevada's magic.

2.  We learn more (MUCH more!) about Rogan. (Side note: I'm rereading Nora Robert's Born in Fire and the hero's name is Rogan, although it's his first name. He's just about as alpha too, lol.)

3.  We learn more about the Baylor family history.

4.  We learn that Nevada can be honest with herself regarding her feelings for Rogan. She starts to understand him, to realize he's not just a caricature but a real human being with feelings and morals. For me, that was the best part of the book.

5.  New types of magic.

6. Cornelius. Love him, feel so bad for him, love his magic, want those ferrets!

Okay, i give - who the heck is Private Dick???


Lori:  The only Private Dick I know was years ago and I'm not supposed to talk about him...

I agree with most of what you say. I loved the family stuff and I'm actually looking forward to the next book where more of the family magic and genetics is explored. I think Nevada's ........



Spoiler Alert 





..... sudden awareness that not only is she a Prime (a magical person with greater power) but also her siblings are too. That should bring some real drama to the story line.



END




I also think Cornelius was a great character and I'm glad he's going to be involved further in Nevada's life. Who ever knew that any author could make ferrets fun.

I'd give the book a solid 4 out of 5 stars with my only caveats being that my feminist rage burned at Nevada losing so much of her autonomy so quickly and the sex scene was too purply for me to enjoy (her aching core.... I always think of apples and they aren't sexy).

So wrap this baby up Carol.


Carolyn:  To put the awesomeness of this book into some kind of perspective, there are 491 reviews of it on Amazon at this writing and the score is a solid 5 stars. Don't see that happen too often, but this book deserves it.

I did do a double take on some of the phrasology in the single love scene, but that's why eyes have the ability to skim, lol. I much prefered the long, slow burn between Nevada and Connor. (I can call him Connor now because I know him so much better. Hee.) And OMG, he does need Nevada. She'll be his salvation, mark my words. I don't think he's had anyone love him before.

Cornelius brought tears to my eyes. I love this character and I love his magic. I loved that he took his revenge without any bleeding heart nonsense; he deserved it and the villain deserved the punishment.

Like you, I'm so looking forward to the final book in this trilogy and I'm praying that the publisher will offer them a new contract for more books in this world. But if that doesn't happen, there have been hints of self publishing.in the air.  :-)

I can't recommend this series enough and it's a trilogy, y'all, in this day of multiple book series.  It's also at MMP prices.  Can't say better than that.

Dear Lori

What I am about to tell you will have you shaking your head and looking over the top of your glasses at me in disbelief. I know this, and yet I'm gonna say it anyway.

I've discovered a new series. *grin*

Yes indeedy, after much searching and some agonizing, if not downright traumatizing, reads I struck gold. The best part is, there's already seven books. :-D

The series is World of the Lupi by Eileen Wilkes. I gobbled up book one, Tempting Danger, devoured book two, Mortal Danger, and am about to finish book three, Blood Lines.

Why these books? Damned if I truly know. I like both the main characters. I like the secondary characters too. I like the world she's built - there's a faint resemblence to Ilona Andrew's Magic books, but nothing overt. Magic is returning to this world too, just not in as destructive a fashion. Also, while there are other paranormal creatures, so far the author is concentrating on the Lupi and their main adversary is She who must not be named and various and sundry demons.

I like the way she used the mate bond; it's purely physical but there's room to fall in love. When it first hits, the couple can't be too far away from each other, which makes things rather interesting, since Lily's a cop and Rule is the heir to his clan's leadership. The different magics she describes and uses are fascinating too.

I guess is all comes back to voice, that thing that's so hard to pin down. I've seen other attempts along these lines that left me cold. And bored. I just didn't believe in the world. Someone writing these books has to be good enough to suck in the reader, have her believing that, yes, it could happen this way, it all makes perfect sense within the confines of the laws of that particular world.

Good writing helps too. This is some good writing. It flows.

I'm reading these books too fast; soon I'll run out, but I can't slow myself down. Damn Kindle! I know, as soon as I finish the third book, I'll be downloading the fourth.

I'm so easy. Weak and easy. And fortunately plumper in the pocketbook than I usually am, so what the hell.

Luckily the other half doesn't know the password to the bank account,lol.

Hopefully you'll try one of these books, or the Magic books one day. They really are amazing.

But if you don't, I'll love you anyway. ;-)

Carolyn