Review: Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #6)

*Some spoilers ahead*

Atlanta is a city plagued by magical problems. Kate Daniels will fight to solve them—no matter the cost.

Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta.

Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap…

Ebook.

Full length novel.

First person.

Yes, you need the other books in the series.

Happy(ish) For Now.

This is hard to answer... 

Technically no, but by the shapeshifer standards of this book and the rules of their courtship? Yes. 

If you look at it from the angle of want, intent and other reasons for Curran's actions? No. 

Emotions don't have brains though so I spent a good portion of this book raging... But in the end accepted it as a no, there was no cheating. 

Hopefully that serves as a warning without being too spoilerish!

No.

Despite the answer to the 'Infidelity' question, I can honestly say there is no love triangle. 

Good God yes...

What I Liked: 

Are people going to lynch me if I say Hugh? 'Cause... I liked him. Maybe even loved him a little bit. He was perfectly twisted, sexy and, okay yes, the bad guy but he has a love-to-hate thing going on and in another world - a world without Curran - I think I'd have been rooting for him, lol. 

I liked that the book features all the 'old favourite' secondary characters like Derek, Raphael, Andrea, Aunt B, Doolittle, and Barabas but we also got to see more of Mahon - and what makes him tick - George and Jim's sister Keira which was cool. 

New characters, that I think are going to be important in future books, were also introduced and I enjoyed meeting them. I'm especially curious to find out what the story behind Christopher is...

The book is packed full of action, as usual, and I loved seeing Kate finally throw off the chains and cut loose. No more hiding from Roland after that display!

I loved that despite all the crap with Curran, the shapeshifters loyalty to Kate didn't waver and they tried to protect and reassure her. They have accepted Kate as their alpha and the friendship and love some show for her is beautiful to see. Especially when you consider how prickly, bitchy and isolated she was back when the series began.

I also loved that despite all that happens, Kate and Curran remain solid. They push through obstacles, they fight for each other, they risk everything so the other is safe. Neither will ever quit and their love is beautiful. I'm hoping for wedding bells and babies in future books... Although I'm slightly terrified as to how either of them would be able to parent when they almost die so often!

What I Didn't Like: 

The whole Lorelei thing. It pissed me off. Curran's reasons for not telling Kate what was going on were pathetic considering that this is Kate and Kate lives and breathes violence, danger and death. 

Other Thoughts:

This book felt grimmer than the others. The shifters suffer losses, the reality of loupism in their children hits home, and a beloved character dies. I'd be very surprised if it didn't mark a shift in direction with the books going forward.

“I finally realized the source of your mutual attraction," Saiman said, his voice dry.

"You both think violence is foreplay.” 

💬

“Aha! So I’m not crazy.”

“You are most definitely crazy,” Derek said. “But in a deranged, endearing way.” 

💬

“Outside the windows the day was bright: golden sunshine, blue sky, pleasant wind . . . I wanted to punch the happy day in the face, grab it by the hair, and beat it until it told me what the hell it was so happy about.”

💬

“Curran's whore comes to visit us," Jarek said in accented English.

The three men laughed as if on cue. I glanced at Mahon. "You really shouldn't let him talk to you like that.”