Reviews with content warning for Blood - Magic Burns

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Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews

17 reviews

hazelgirl21's review against another edition

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adventurous funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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bree_h_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I think I would die of shock if I didn’t enjoy a book in this series. From the moment the book started I was reminded of why Magic Bites appealed to me so much.

To start, Graphic Audio always does a great job. It adds so much to the story and really elevates my enjoyment. Especially as an audiodrama fan. These productions really help me get invested and keep focus.

The consistency of the characters and world building was also wonderful. I loved seeing characters from Magic Bites and hearing all the tidbits dropped again as reminders of past events. This consistency also helped my OTP, Currin and Kate. I was FERAL for them. I need them together now. Yesterday, even.

I also loved Kate’s character and growth in this book. Her dynamic with Julie especially was adorable. I was so delighted every time she called Kate her kid. I’m dying to see how that relationship develops. This book also had a wonderful insight into the greater mystery of her past and magic.

Also the way this book wove mythology and folklore into the plot was so good. Every reference I got made me so excited. Despite the variety of cultures and stories, everything fit so well together.

However, despite everything I loved, there were some issues that just barely knocked the book from 5 stars.

The prose were generally very repetitive and it took me out of the story a little. I don’t remember if it was a problem I had with the last book, but it’s possible. This issue in part carried over to the fight scenes as well. It felt clunky and didn’t move as quickly as I would have liked. There was also Bran’s ending. It was cliche and that disappointed me a little, but it wasn’t an awful ending. Those things aside, the only other issue was my main problems with Currin, as mentioned in my book one review. He’s just too “Alpha Male” at times and it throws me a little.

Overall an absolutely amazing book, I’m dying to continue the series.

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thoseoldcrows23's review

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adventurous funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This is a step up from book 1; however, several of my issues with the previous book remain. In both case the world building felt clunky and the ending felt rushed. There's also a general problem in this series so far of the relationships feeling a little forced (like, everyone cares about each other way to fast and for no discernable reason), though I do see that improving a bit, and I'm hopeful it will get better as time goes on. The middle of this was stronger than the start and finish, but I had good time and still plan to continue.

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rorikae's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

‘Magic Burns’ by Ilona Andrews is the second installment in the Kate Daniels series.

This installment further delves into the world first introduced in Magic Bites. Kate discovers a young girl who has lost her mother. While attempting to help her locate her mother, Kate discovers that a flare is imminent and that gods are gearing up to take advantage of the flare to manifest and wage war.

In this second installment, I feel that the world of Kate Daniels is really coming into focus. We get to spend more time with Kate and the rest of the cast of characters that were first introduced in the initial installment. Their characters are coming into better focus as well as the world. I can already tell that this series is likely going to thrive in its worldbuilding and the character growth that happens over multiple books. The first book made me interested, but I can definitely feel my investment in the series and the characters growing in this second installment. I’m excited to continue to book three.

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renpuspita's review

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

First read review: 4 stars
Second read review: 4,25 stars

Second read review:

Reading my first read review, wow the secondhand embarrassment is pretty real, lol.

So, things that I appreciate or notice during the re-read (warning, I'll write some spoilers too):
1. The writing quality have a huge improvement compared to Magic Bites. I can relate more to the characters, especially Kate. Her background also get revealed bit by bit
2. In the first read I got annoyed by Julie. While in the re-read, sigh, Julie is a child, a teenager to be exact. Teenager supposed to be annoying. Heck, I find myself irritated more toward Red compared to Julie. Julie is a brat, yes, but she was lost and Red manipulate her. I wholeheartedly support Kate to kill Red if they cross path again
3. I find that the part when Julie f

ound out that her mother get eaten by the sea demon, the scene feel anticlimatic. Is it happen off screen? Since the disappearance of Julie's mother is the driving force that make the story unfold, I'm kinda disappointed with the way IA write about Julie's mother demise

4. I feel like Bran can be a hard contender for Curran in order to win Kate's affections. Sad about his fate in the end, he look like a good match with Kate compared to Crest in book 1. I also like that Bran's power kinda derived from the legend of Cu Chulainn. Sadly, he's not Cu himself. Like, it will be MOOOORE interesting if Bran is really Cu Chulainn, just sayin'
5. Speaking about Crest, I feel like the way he written is more fleshed out compared to book 1 and that's funny because he didn't make appearance at all in book 2. I know that for sure that he's not compatible with Kate and it's final
6. The soup scene. Why I miss it in the first read? The soup scene between Curran and Kate is a game-changing for their relationship. While Kate and Curran still irritate each other much, the soup scene indicated that the Beast Lord was falling in love first, lol. He fell first, dear reader! Although he did a shitty job to show it with he being Pack's alpha and all that. The scene when Aunt B, Andrea and Raphael recognize the meaning behind Curran's act and tell Kate is hilarious as hell.
7. I still don't get why the Formorians want Julie died. I have read the book twice and still have no idea, lol. What did I miss? Anyway, while I find it weird that Kate is pretty gung-ho to ensure Julie's safety while they are basically stranger and you know that Julie can be ungrateful brat, I realize that Kate's feeling to Julie maybe influenced by when Voron act as her stepfather and how Greg become her guardian when Voron died. Maybe, just maybe, Kate is seeing herself in Julie and she don't want Julie end up like hers.
8. Derek and Julie, hmm, still in early phase and they are both children although Derek is already 18. The metal rose scene is nice, though
9. With the way of the culprit act in book 1 since

Bono, the upir was once Ghastek's journeyman

, it's surprising to see Ghastek act nonchalant with Kate. Like, umm, he didn't feel guilty at all?

See..I'm glad that I give a chance for Magic Bites and the second read of Magic Burns also make me appreciate the book more. Now, onward to re-read Magic Strikes, one of the book that make me read anything that IA write in the future and become their BDH aka Book Devouring Horde.

First read review

Ahhhh, I like this one than book #1, Magic Bites! I guess, that's what happen for all Ilona Andrews's books, at last for me. So hard to enjoy the first book of their series (even I still like On The Edge from Edge series), but the next book become better. What I love more is how the author put Celtic Myth into this. I like, no more likely love that myth! I guess, because there was so many book that put Greek and Norse myth in their books, it become boriiiiing. And so few books have Celt myth on it (even now, it become many. And nope, I will not count Fae. I want to read about Celt Gods and Goddesses). Beside Celt, they also have Hekate from Greek pantheon (but as Ilona Andrews mention in this book, Hekate also from Asia). The fact that Oracle Witch are 3 people that represent Hekate make me.. what I can describe... umm, squeal! Heheheh :P

Yep, I love myth and folklore, that's why I like Magic Burns more that it predecessor. But, I also love Kate. Her sarcasm, dry humor,her dark past (I know kinda guess, who her real father was), her responsibility to Julie. Talk about Julie, what with that kid, huh? Offer her virginity to Red, just because she love him. Blech! She still 13 years old. And Red just 15. I don't like Julie, she's an irritating child. Kate and Curran fight so hard to save her from Fomorians who want she died, and all she cared were about her feeling to Red, especially when that little bastard (uhm, sorry) left her. What a spoiled child!

Curran, hmm Curran. I'm soooo frustated to see his relationship to Kate. I understand that he somehow care for Kate, and who know maybe he plan to court her. But, ugh, at last just one kiss please? Poor Kate doesn't get laid for almost 2 years, her hormones go overload. Just one kiss is enough, no hanky panky is okay *sobs*. The last scene between Kate and Curran make me giddy, lol!

Okay, this review more like me ranting and gushing anyway :P. I'm glad I can enjoy this series now. And I can read the rest of the books very slowly. Book #6, Magic Rises will be released in July. That's mean I can read one book in a month. Slow of course, but at last I will not feel tortured while wait for Magic Rises to be published.

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wickedgrumpy's review

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

And so I continue my re-read of the series.

It's surprising how much a long series can blend into itself and warp when you think things happen. This is furthered by the offshoots and novellas for different POVs. This time around I'm going to try reading everything in chronological order rather than publication order.

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kristen1994's review

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adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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relin's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I love this series and the world, I've reread this so many times over the years. Always a joy.

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beccaand's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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rbash2391's review

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adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Liking this series more as I go. I am interested in the overarcing character development that I'm sure we will see as the series progresses. I'm heavily invested in the multi-book, slow burn romance, despite my usual aversion to this trope. I also hardly enjoy procedurals, but this being a shapeshifter, vampire, magical beings, urban fantasy makes the cop/mercenary stuff fine for me. Some of the plot stuff can be confusing, especially the Celtic lore in this book in particular. I try not to dwell on those details too much and am just along for the ride with the extremely sarcastic, badass FMC slicing dudes apart with her magic sword.

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