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jessie_h's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
The writing duo that is Ilona Andrews have hit it out of the park again. This book was just so wonderfully Kate Daniels that I didn't realize how much I have missed this world until I started reading it. But at the same time it was something new and I loved it! Kate and Curran are still some of my all-time favorite characters. I hope we get more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
renpuspita's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
4.5
Kate and Curran on retirement? Trying to lay low with moving to Wilmington? HA, joke on them, because we always know problems always follow Kate everywhere. Just kidding. I usually give 4 stars for novella in Kate Daniels's world, but the Wilmington novella written as good as the full length novel, my complaint is just a few compared to the delight that I feel after finish read it.
Review will contain spoilers from previous Kate's books
About Kate:I read from some reviews that Kate now more mature. From my observation, it's more like Kate didn't have any high stake threats after her battle against Neig in Magic Triumphs. The sword is no longer dangle above her head, nor that Roland will target Conlan because Roland is entrap in Neig's realms. Oh, Roland will do his best to influence Conlan to his own megalomaniac views but Conlan is lucky to have both Kate and Curran to keep the boy in check. I like that despite Kate want to stay low profile in Wilmington, she can't help to save people in needs although Conlan kinda manipulated her in the first place. I like the discussion between Kate and Rimush, that IA still manage to write Kate as a reluctant leader although she have the capability (and ability) to be a leader. The interesting part is when Rimush said that those who hesitant to use the power of the leadership is those who will benefited people they lead. Also, now Ghastek have a rival because apparently Rimush want to serve Kate, lol (
About Curran and Conlan:I like that IA decide to give Curran and Conlan their own PoV, since in Magic Tides the Lennart family kind of separated in order to save Darin. Kate in search of Darin and Curran try to hold Fort Kure from the gang that kidnapped Darin in the first place. I like the interaction between Curran and Conlan, how Curran didn't forbade Conlan to meet his grandfather but also constantly remind Conlan that Roland is dangerous. Also, I kinda miss the shapeshifters interaction! There's no appearance of Derek, but a new wolf shifter named Keelan got introduced and he's a hoot. Sigh, IA keep introduced interesting new characters! Keelan seems to be a new role model for Conlan. And speaking about Conlan, he's totes adorable and also prodigy. I will wait the time when he will call Roland of all his bullshit, lol
About relationship between Kate & Hugh, also Curran & Jim: I don't know what happen after Magic Triumphs and 7 year gaps that happen, but to sum it up the relationship between Kate and Hugh also Curran & Jim is "water under the bridge". We got scenes when Hugh make amends in Magic Triumphs and maybe time sure heal any wounds because Kate and Hugh is now just like a family to each other. Kate even act as one of Iron Dogs when trying to deceive Barrett, a Master of Dead that responsible for Wilmington's People base, the Farm. Their interaction evolve from enemies to family. Even Curran bonding with Hugh over a moat, although I think they will not forget that once they try to kill each other in the past. But, the process happen otherwise for Curran and Jim. The lack of Jim's appearance in Magic Triumphs now make sense. Curran acknowledge that Jim is no longer his best friend and how his views and Jim's regarding the Pack was different. This is very sad to read because of how Curran lost Jim. Jim once was Curran's Chief of Security, he was Curran's Best Man in the wedding. It's thanks to Jim that Kate and Curran met and the rest is history. To see a friendship turn sour is very heartbreaking. I get why some of BDH perceive Jim as one of the worst villain, but I don't know. Loss of best friend happen because life happen. I will wait what IA have for Jim and if there's any chance that Jim and Curran will reconcile
For a novella, Magic Tides as entertaining as the full novel. My complaint maybe because Kate and Curran separated for almost all the book because I like when they are together in the books. It's just me tho, because Kate and Curran is already become a solid couple and maybe one or two distance is fine. I like the touch of the Celt myth that IA used and with some tidbits about Irish people in Wilmington maybe we will get more Celt myth's fiasco in the future.
Kate and Curran try to stay low and to give a chance for Conlan to live is a normal kid. But maybe, their wish is for naught because we know that they will never back down from any challenge! I welcome for more Wilmington year novella!
Review will contain spoilers from previous Kate's books
About Kate:
About Curran and Conlan:
About relationship between Kate & Hugh, also Curran & Jim:
For a novella, Magic Tides as entertaining as the full novel. My complaint maybe because Kate and Curran separated for almost all the book because I like when they are together in the books. It's just me tho, because Kate and Curran is already become a solid couple and maybe one or two distance is fine. I like the touch of the Celt myth that IA used and with some tidbits about Irish people in Wilmington maybe we will get more Celt myth's fiasco in the future.
Kate and Curran try to stay low and to give a chance for Conlan to live is a normal kid. But maybe, their wish is for naught because we know that they will never back down from any challenge! I welcome for more Wilmington year novella!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Slavery, Blood, Trafficking, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Body horror
theliteraryhooker's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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
After 5 years away from the Kate Daniels world, this novella reconfirmed that this remains my favourite series. Kate remains the perfect blend of snarky and badass, and I still love her relationship with Curran. I did blank on a lot of the finer details of the main series, but this was still a good time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Murder
booksthatburn's review
adventurous
funny
reflective
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.5
I like this more mature version of Kate, I’m not quite sure how old she is here, but it’s been at least a decade since MAGIC BITES. She’s at least in her late thirties, possibly in her early forties, and she makes a few references to what she would’ve done before and how she’s changed. She’s consistent with the threads of that earlier self, but she’s older, wiser, and has a very different set of resources and connections than she had by the time the main series ended. I hope this can be a good starting point for new fans, and I’m excited to see where it goes.
The main plot deals with bringing a kidnapped child home. Kate tracks him down and deals with the people responsible. Implicitly, later books will deal with Kate and Curran continuing to set up their new home, as well as what Conlan is like as he grows up, but this doesn’t make any attempt at a cliffhanger because it’s more about the general path forward rather than trying to keep any particular storyline dangling open.
This is the first book in a new series of novellas within the broader world of the Kate Daniels books. One of the biggest changes as a long time reader of the series is that this is narrated by Kate, Curran, and briefly by Conlan rather than just Kate. There have been various other stories in spinoff series with different narrators, but it’s new to have Kate narrating alongside someone else. It would be very hard for me to really assess how much the summaries of the backstory would make sense to someone who had this is their starting point. I think it does a pretty good job of bringing up only as much is actually matters to this story, which is the only really fair thing to ask for a world developed already through so many stories. I particularly enjoyed getting Curran's perspective. I have read most of the Curran POV stories, but it was nice to get this in an intentional way rather than as an addendum. There's a particular moment between Curran and Conlan that helped me get a sense of who Curran is as a father to a son who's now old enough to understand what he's saying.
I excited for more of Kate and Curran, and I'll have to keep an eye on Conlan as this isn't the only new book where he appears. Splitting new books into a cluster of parallel/intertwining series is a very smart way to keep each specific series focused, not all needing to involve the very extensive cast of characters which had built up in the original series.
The main plot deals with bringing a kidnapped child home. Kate tracks him down and deals with the people responsible. Implicitly, later books will deal with Kate and Curran continuing to set up their new home, as well as what Conlan is like as he grows up, but this doesn’t make any attempt at a cliffhanger because it’s more about the general path forward rather than trying to keep any particular storyline dangling open.
This is the first book in a new series of novellas within the broader world of the Kate Daniels books. One of the biggest changes as a long time reader of the series is that this is narrated by Kate, Curran, and briefly by Conlan rather than just Kate. There have been various other stories in spinoff series with different narrators, but it’s new to have Kate narrating alongside someone else. It would be very hard for me to really assess how much the summaries of the backstory would make sense to someone who had this is their starting point. I think it does a pretty good job of bringing up only as much is actually matters to this story, which is the only really fair thing to ask for a world developed already through so many stories. I particularly enjoyed getting Curran's perspective. I have read most of the Curran POV stories, but it was nice to get this in an intentional way rather than as an addendum. There's a particular moment between Curran and Conlan that helped me get a sense of who Curran is as a father to a son who's now old enough to understand what he's saying.
I excited for more of Kate and Curran, and I'll have to keep an eye on Conlan as this isn't the only new book where he appears. Splitting new books into a cluster of parallel/intertwining series is a very smart way to keep each specific series focused, not all needing to involve the very extensive cast of characters which had built up in the original series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Sexism, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Ableism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Excrement, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
wickedgrumpy's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Seven years after Magic Triumphs, with a whole new crew and some mention of old faves. I'm definitely excited to see what comes next for Kate and co.
I liked the multiple POVs, it was a nice change and it makes for a more robust story when a lot is going on in different places.
I liked the multiple POVs, it was a nice change and it makes for a more robust story when a lot is going on in different places.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Self harm, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
relin's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It was absolutely lovely to see Kate and Curran and Conlan in this book! We even got more varied pov which didn't happen in previous books. The magic world got expanded on and the ways the set up both character growth and stories for future adventures was so wonderful! I read it immediately and I'm so excited for all the books to return to!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and War
Minor: Body horror, Slavery, and Classism
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