Book Review: Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews (spoiler free)

Magic Shifts (Kate Daniels #8)
by Ilona Andrews

Hardcover, 400 pages

August 4th 2015 by Ace

In the latest Kate Daniels novel from #1 New York Timesbestselling author Ilona Andrews, magic is coming and going in waves in post-Shift Atlanta—and each crest leaves danger in its wake…

After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Curran misses the constant challenges of leading the shapeshifters.

So when the Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild, Curran seizes the opportunity—too bad the Guild wants nothing to do with him and Kate. Luckily, as a veteran merc, Kate can take over any of the Guild’s unfinished jobs in order to bring in money and build their reputation. But what Kate and Curran don’t realize is that the odd jobs they’ve been working are all connected.

An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it—before it takes their city apart piece by piece.

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This series never gets old. You would think after 8 books things might get a little "meh." But Magic Shifts is as fresh and exciting as every other book in this series. If you aren't reading this series, you need to go sit in the corner. I've left a copy of Magic Bites (book 1) for you.

Kate and Curran have started a new chapter in their lives and the punches keep coming and they keep rolling with them. I'm glad we are seeing a bit more of Roland. I like him, in a that evil bastard needs to die, but not yet way. By the end of the book we know what his end game is, but Kate has matured through out this series and she is ready to do this the right way...I hope, she is Kate after all <G>.

Still full of humor, mystery and lots of historical information about the latest big bad to invade Atlanta. While I could have done with a little less of the knife history lessons, I'm sure others appreciated it.

Fun scene:

[Kate] "I thought you might be injured."

He [Curran] looked at me "We've met, you and I?"

I deliberately took a big step back.

"What?" he growled.

"I'm making room for your ego."

"Fine. I should have left a note!"

"You should've."

"Answer me this, did you hesitate at all or did you see the giant, go 'Wheee!' and run toward it?"

"She ran toward it." Juke quipped.

"He was biting people in half."

"I rest my case," Curran said. "A note wouldn't have made a difference."

P.S. I still want to be Kate Daniels when I grow up.

5 "Slow clapping" Sheep

SharonS

About the authors:

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Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. author2sm“Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.

Special 2-day pass deal for Authors After Dark 2015 tickets

JOIN US AUGUST 12-16, 2015 AT THE SHERATON ATLANTA!

MASTER OF CEREMONIES: SHERRILYN KENYON!

list of featured authors

http://www.authorsafterdark.org/

Hello everyone!

We at Authors After Dark were made aware of a SERIOUS problem for readers for the 2015 year. Apparently the SOUTH starts school early---- Like end of July and early August, and we had NO IDEA! (please forgive us, the Con director is from NY and the staff are all from the northern states, and school doesn’t start there for the most part till after Labor Day.)

So this, is a problem for a LOT of south dwelling readers who are desperate to attend, but have put off getting their tickets because they were trying to make the event work.

Well… We have news for you!

After talking with about 30 readers this weekend via email, FB chats and messages, we have decided to offer a 2 day ticket for the 2015 year to attempt to allow readers that can’t make the FULL event, time to party with us and Hangout!

The 2 day ticket will be for FRIDAY and SATURDAY. It cost 175$ (plus taxes and fees through Eventbrite) and that price includes 2 Dinners (both balls this year have dinners), Friday’s Lunch, all the parties, panels and events both days AND the 4 hour access to the booksigning.

This ticket will go LIVE on MONDAY May 25th at 9am EST and will run till the 15th of June. This gives readers 20 days to get their days in order to attend, and we can’t WAIT to see them!

Also, rooms WILL be available for FRIDAY and Saturday (though we suggest that readers come in THURSDAY night in order to not miss any of the panels or parties on Friday). Any reader coming in THURSDAY night will be able to participate in the BOOKIES and any evening events authors set up (Info on that forthcoming on the Reader group on FB).

Some information:
We cannot guarantee full welcome bags to anyone coming in just Friday and Saturday. This is because Authors send promo for this based on Numbers we have by June 1st in order to make sure they get their promo in on time.

Room reservations are recommended as the parties and balls run long, are costumed events for the most part, and the after hours events are ONLY able to be accessed if you have room keys. Room reservations are double occupancy, and we have the entire North Tower of the hotel, (meaning 60% of attendees will get balconies!) Once you register Room links are in your conformation emails.

These tickets are LIMITED to 150 ONLY.

All Attendees staying at the hotel will also be entered to win some serious prizes and be invited to impromptu events, parties and special room gigs. You never know who is going to just open up an event in Hospitality with free books and giveaways!

*** All Readers that have bought and WILL BE buying the FULL ticket will get some AMAZING welcome bags filled with premium swag, books (print and e BOOK) And will have EARLY access to the ball seating and extra entries in the welcome event prizes***

Book Review (ARC): Marked (Mindspace Investigation #3) by Alex Hughes

Marked (Mindspace Investigation #3)
By: Alex Hughes
Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: April 1st 2014 by Roc
ISBN13: 9780451466938
Freelancing for the Atlanta PD isn’t exactly a secure career; my job’s been on the line almost as much as my life. But it’s a paycheck, and it keeps me from falling back into the drug habit. Plus, things are looking up with my sometimes-partner, Cherabino, even if she is still simmering over the telepathic Link I created by accident.

When my ex, Kara, shows up begging for my help, I find myself heading to the last place I ever expected to set foot in again—Guild headquarters—to investigate the death of her uncle. Joining that group was a bad idea the first time. Going back when I’m unwanted is downright dangerous.

Luckily, the Guild needs me more than they’re willing to admit. Kara’s uncle was acting strange before he died—crazy strange. In fact, his madness seems to be slowly spreading through the Guild. And when an army of powerful telepaths loses their marbles, suddenly it’s a game of life or death.

This is the third book in the Mindspace Investigation series, Adam is still freelancing as an interrogator for the Atlanta PD, he still has a very strained relationship with Cherabino.

While in the middle of an interview at the Atlanta PD, Adam is pulled away by Chearbino to investigate a murder scene. On the way out Adam is handed a scrap of paper with a note saying he needs to call his ex Kara right away. Adam finds out that Kara's uncle is dead, and it's being looked at as a suicide, Kara knowing her uncle would never kill himself, begs Adam to look into the death and prove that it was in fact a murder and not a suicide.

Despite the anger Adam has towards the Guild and their politics, and his conflicted feelings he has towards his ex, he agrees to help Kara. Adam is stonewalled at pretty much every step of the investigation by both Guild members and members of Kara's family. When no one is willing to help with the investigation, not even Kara, Adam begins to think the Guild is looking for a scapegoat and throw him under the bus. By making an example of him it would show the power the Guild has over everyone.

The relationship between Adam and Cherabino is getting somewhat confusing, I'm not sure if this was done on purpose or not. One minute Cherabino is mad as hell at Adam for the telepathic link created between them, the next minute when the link has "worn out" Cherabino is ready to jump Adam's bones which could recreate the link that she wanted gone so badly.

I enjoyed this book as much as the first two. I'm hoping there will be future books that focus on the outside events that took place between Sharp and Marked. Watching Adam struggle with his personal demons and his feelings towards others that are a part of his life, even if he doesn't want them there, is a great story.

4 Sheep

Danielle

About the Author:

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Alex Hughes, the author of the award-winning Mindspace Investigations series from Roc, has lived in the Atlanta area since the age of eight. She is a graduate of the prestigious Odyssey Writing Workshop, and a Semi-Finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novels 2011. Her short fiction has been published in several markets including EveryDay Fiction, Thunder on the Battlefield and White Cat Magazine. She is an avid cook and foodie, a trivia buff, and a science geek, and loves to talk about neuroscience, the Food Network, and writing craft—but not necessarily at the same time!

**Bonus: Short story “Rabbit Trick” in the Mindspace Investigations world - amazon

Katie, showing some love!

While attending Dragon*Con 2012 you couldn't help but notice all the fine Atlanta men (and women) guarding the city and keeping the convention crowds safe. I made a personal sacrifice and decided to, for the greater good of the website, snap some shots for all to enjoy. It was a struggle but one I did in the name of Sheep!

Don't we make a cute couple?

I was taken to the gun show!

Thank you to everyone who puts their lives on line to keep America safe. Run out there and give some hugs to these brave people! They deserve it. :)