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renpuspita's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Contain some spoilers from previous books
Kate and Curran is tying the knot. Finally. After 8 books. But, the marriage will not complete without the doom and gloom. Sienna, one of the Witch Oracle see in the future that Kate will lost Curran (and their future son) if she married. Not a good news, indeed. Roland also shed his "best behavior" persona and keep taunting Kate. War is coming. So do marriage. Because apparently Kate can't never have a calm moment in her life.
Magic Binds is slightly shorter compared to Magic Shifts, but still action packed from the first. Kate is anxious, not from marriage, but about her own power, her claiming into the city's magic and if she will one day turn into her father. A tyrant. Despite all of his charming and wise persona, Roland is indeed a tyrant. I like Kate's conversation with Roland (in civil manner of course) that Roland want to shape those who fall under his rule as he seems fit while Kate think people should have a free will. It's just my guts but I think partwhen Kate criticize Roland is also a societal commentary from IA to socialism/communist at large? Or more like their critic towards dictators alike? Worth a discussion indeed .
For a book that talk about marriage, the marriage topics is a few but often hilarious to read. Roman, our favorite black volvh is agree to officiate Kate and Curran's marriage but that's mean he also their wedding organizer. The part when Kate insist that her marriage ceremony must be small and intimate get veto'd by many people with argument "wedding night is for Kate and Curran. The wedding ceremony is FOR EVERYONE". Lel, I guess the wedding tradition always hold true for many countries, huh. There's no way with so many faction and people that Kate & Curran know, the wedding will be small. Roland's reaction regarding Kate's wedding also a crack with he complaint about "meat or vegetarian option" in the invitation while insult Curran as a pauper and Kate's wedding should have a big feast. For a man who gung-ho in starting a war and tyrannical, Roland sure is wussy about his daughter marriage.
While Curran is not away like in Magic Breaks or doing suck things like in Magic Rises, his appearance is not that much like in Magic Shifts although of course he still support Kate fully and want to marry her. I guess the part whenKate hiding Adora's existence from Curran because Kate doesn't want Curran to see her as a carbon copy of Roland can be handled differently. Or maybe because Kate know that Curran is a control freak. But when she finally come clean, I liked that Curran understand Kate and know that Kate will not turn into another Roland in the future . Honestly? I can't get enough of their interactions, sigh. They are the bread and butter of this series!
Although there's a novella that set before Magic Binds, you can read Magic Binds without reading Magic Stars first. Some event in Magic Stars also written in Magic Binds, although it get explained more in the novella. Such like Julie's status as Kate's Herald and Hugh's fate after Magic Break. We get to know about Julie's background and her affinity for horse and wolf (ehm, more hints toward Metal Rose? *snicker). Nick's pasts and his connection with Kate get revealed. Christopher real identity also revealed and it's funny to know that at first I think Barabas is the top of this couple, but I have a guts it's Christopher instead. Hehe, Christopher and Barabas is another couple in Kate's series that become my favorite and I'm really rooting for their HEA since Christopher admit that he love Barabas *awww. Saiman finally make amend with Kate after his insulted her in Magic Shifts and we got to know that Kate can do ballet, lel. Jim is not in his brightest moment. Yeah, he's a Beast Lord and his paranoia is unparalleled. But he top it to the notch in this book also it seems that he love Dali so much. Sigh, male characters of Kate's series sure love their lover blindly, from Curran, Raphael, Jim and of course Roland even in the end he kill Kate's mother.
The book's blurb also mention a people that Kate know can help her but already long dead and that people isof course, Eahrratim aka Erra. Erra might talk and act high and mighty, as expected from Roland's sister that knows as City Eater. But she also has a heart and not cruel like her brother. The Water Garden scenes when Kate resurrect Erra and then they exchange memories with Semiramis in attendance is my favorite part. Despite her sneering and insults, Erra care a lot about Kate even in the pretend that Kate is one of her bloodlines. Also, Roland apparently afraid of Erra and Semiramis, I wonder if Erra's power actually are stronger than Roland but she decide to not use it to full potential .
The war is coming and yep we get some war chapter although it's more like a battle. Kate finally mastered her magic, get allies and in the end married the man she love more than anything. But, there's one book left so the problem with Roland is still there. Also, I have to know the sick fuck, uhm, I mean, Hugh's fate after he got thrown away by Roland and his book apparently must be read before I read Magic Triumphs!
Kate and Curran is tying the knot. Finally. After 8 books. But, the marriage will not complete without the doom and gloom. Sienna, one of the Witch Oracle see in the future that Kate will lost Curran (and their future son) if she married. Not a good news, indeed. Roland also shed his "best behavior" persona and keep taunting Kate. War is coming. So do marriage. Because apparently Kate can't never have a calm moment in her life.
Magic Binds is slightly shorter compared to Magic Shifts, but still action packed from the first. Kate is anxious, not from marriage, but about her own power, her claiming into the city's magic and if she will one day turn into her father. A tyrant. Despite all of his charming and wise persona, Roland is indeed a tyrant. I like Kate's conversation with Roland (in civil manner of course) that Roland want to shape those who fall under his rule as he seems fit while Kate think people should have a free will. It's just my guts but I think part
For a book that talk about marriage, the marriage topics is a few but often hilarious to read. Roman, our favorite black volvh is agree to officiate Kate and Curran's marriage but that's mean he also their wedding organizer. The part when Kate insist that her marriage ceremony must be small and intimate get veto'd by many people with argument "wedding night is for Kate and Curran. The wedding ceremony is FOR EVERYONE". Lel, I guess the wedding tradition always hold true for many countries, huh. There's no way with so many faction and people that Kate & Curran know, the wedding will be small. Roland's reaction regarding Kate's wedding also a crack with he complaint about "meat or vegetarian option" in the invitation while insult Curran as a pauper and Kate's wedding should have a big feast. For a man who gung-ho in starting a war and tyrannical, Roland sure is wussy about his daughter marriage.
While Curran is not away like in Magic Breaks or doing suck things like in Magic Rises, his appearance is not that much like in Magic Shifts although of course he still support Kate fully and want to marry her. I guess the part when
Although there's a novella that set before Magic Binds, you can read Magic Binds without reading Magic Stars first. Some event in Magic Stars also written in Magic Binds, although it get explained more in the novella. Such like Julie's status as Kate's Herald and Hugh's fate after Magic Break. We get to know about Julie's background and her affinity for horse and wolf (ehm, more hints toward Metal Rose? *snicker). Nick's pasts and his connection with Kate get revealed. Christopher real identity also revealed and it's funny to know that at first I think Barabas is the top of this couple, but I have a guts it's Christopher instead. Hehe, Christopher and Barabas is another couple in Kate's series that become my favorite and I'm really rooting for their HEA since Christopher admit that he love Barabas *awww. Saiman finally make amend with Kate after his insulted her in Magic Shifts and we got to know that Kate can do ballet, lel. Jim is not in his brightest moment. Yeah, he's a Beast Lord and his paranoia is unparalleled. But he top it to the notch in this book also it seems that he love Dali so much. Sigh, male characters of Kate's series sure love their lover blindly, from Curran, Raphael, Jim and of course Roland even in the end he kill Kate's mother.
The book's blurb also mention a people that Kate know can help her but already long dead and that people is
The war is coming and yep we get some war chapter although it's more like a battle. Kate finally mastered her magic, get allies and in the end married the man she love more than anything. But, there's one book left so the problem with Roland is still there. Also, I have to know the sick fuck, uhm, I mean, Hugh's fate after he got thrown away by Roland and his book apparently must be read before I read Magic Triumphs!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Blood
wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
There is a lot that I like about this particular book because many questions that have been lingering for a while are answered. We finally learn more about Christopher, Barabas is wonderful, Julie knows things, Kate and Curran do dangerous shit.
One thing that I don't enjoy is the reuse of description for the side characters... When you saw him you thought of sex, he was a devastatingly beautiful boy that would have females eating out of his hand, he was well dressed but gaunt to the point where he looked like he didn't eat enough, she was plump, when Kate first met x,y,z character they were x,y,z and ever since events occurred in a previous book, they now were x,y,z.
I don't think I ever really noticed it before because the time between previous reads was longer but since I'm doing a re-read in order to get to the new release it is definitely there.
The pacing of this one is also a bit jumpy (by design, yes, but still it's jarring). It takes course over the span of two weeks but so much happens and there are so many cuts that I feel like if I did the math for how many magic waves and days/hours get mentioned it might actually break the timeline.
One thing that I don't enjoy is the reuse of description for the side characters... When you saw him you thought of sex, he was a devastatingly beautiful boy that would have females eating out of his hand, he was well dressed but gaunt to the point where he looked like he didn't eat enough, she was plump, when Kate first met x,y,z character they were x,y,z and ever since events occurred in a previous book, they now were x,y,z.
I don't think I ever really noticed it before because the time between previous reads was longer but since I'm doing a re-read in order to get to the new release it is definitely there.
The pacing of this one is also a bit jumpy (by design, yes, but still it's jarring). It takes course over the span of two weeks but so much happens and there are so many cuts that I feel like if I did the math for how many magic waves and days/hours get mentioned it might actually break the timeline.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
MAGIC BINDS revolves around Kate's attempts to avert two terrible prophesied outcomes based on her marriage (or not) to Curran. Based on the guidance of the Witch Oracle, she tries to do the right thing in a series of seemingly unconnected moments which shape her trajectory on the way to the wedding and/or war with her father. She's trying hard not to be a monster. Sometimes she's trying to remember why that matters at all.
There's a little bit of new worldbuilding, mostly related to the history of Kate's family, but this is a book which pulls together things from the rest of the series so far. It's not trying to build more of the world, it's trying to show how Kate and her allies are determined to defend Atlanta.
I love the details about Kate being interrupted with details of wedding planning in the middle of everything. It shows an enormous amount of trust that everyone even can think about this huge party that will mostly likely happen after the battle where they could all die. They believe that they'll survive, even if that's not outright stated as Roman makes Kate answer about yet another wedding detail she hasn't even begun to ponder.
Kate comes so close to crossing a line she promised Curran she wouldn't cross, and it happens early enough that she has time to sit with that moment and process it. She doesn't want to be her father, she doesn't want to be Sharrim. But it'll be hard to save the city without understand him and her role better before the battles to come.
MAGIC BINDS addresses several things which had been somehow unresolved by previous books, such as Julie’s conversations with Roland, Andrea’s pregnancy, Ghastek, Christopher’s mental health issues, etc. The new storyline for this book involves a prophecy which threatens dire consequences whether or not Kate marries Curran, and her actions have the chance to shape which terrible thing happens. She hopes to avert them both. It both introduces and resolves Saiman’s kidnapping, using that as part of the main plot. The technically-not-a-cliffhanger ending leaves one very specific thing to be resolved by the final book, and the final few events leave some others which will need some more concrete resolution later.
Kate is still the narrator, but the growing influence of her inherited powers means she's starting to sound like someone else sometimes. The differences in narration are sometimes made obvious though things like typesetting, but even without that there's a distinct way that Kate-as-Sharrim speaks when she's in danger of losing herself. It wouldn't make sense for someone to start here. The last good entry point to the series was book seven, where there's a detailed synopsis of the series so far. MAGIC BINDS is the penultimate book in the series, the one where big favors are called in, allies are brought to their side, and old rivals are bound to new service. It feels big, climactic, and very cool for someone who has read the main series so far, even more so for anyone who managed to read the various short stories and associated novels which accompany it. For anyone who tries to read this book without that background, there are too many characters and too few explanations of their importance, combined with not enough explanation of even more characters. This is perfectly fine for the penultimate book in a long series, but it does mean it's a poor starting point for someone determined to ill-use it so.
I love this one, it wraps up enough things to let the actual finale maybe have a cleaner ending, but doesn't feel like it's putting things away early. I'm excited for the final book!
There's a little bit of new worldbuilding, mostly related to the history of Kate's family, but this is a book which pulls together things from the rest of the series so far. It's not trying to build more of the world, it's trying to show how Kate and her allies are determined to defend Atlanta.
I love the details about Kate being interrupted with details of wedding planning in the middle of everything. It shows an enormous amount of trust that everyone even can think about this huge party that will mostly likely happen after the battle where they could all die. They believe that they'll survive, even if that's not outright stated as Roman makes Kate answer about yet another wedding detail she hasn't even begun to ponder.
Kate comes so close to crossing a line she promised Curran she wouldn't cross, and it happens early enough that she has time to sit with that moment and process it. She doesn't want to be her father, she doesn't want to be Sharrim. But it'll be hard to save the city without understand him and her role better before the battles to come.
MAGIC BINDS addresses several things which had been somehow unresolved by previous books, such as Julie’s conversations with Roland, Andrea’s pregnancy, Ghastek, Christopher’s mental health issues, etc. The new storyline for this book involves a prophecy which threatens dire consequences whether or not Kate marries Curran, and her actions have the chance to shape which terrible thing happens. She hopes to avert them both. It both introduces and resolves Saiman’s kidnapping, using that as part of the main plot. The technically-not-a-cliffhanger ending leaves one very specific thing to be resolved by the final book, and the final few events leave some others which will need some more concrete resolution later.
Kate is still the narrator, but the growing influence of her inherited powers means she's starting to sound like someone else sometimes. The differences in narration are sometimes made obvious though things like typesetting, but even without that there's a distinct way that Kate-as-Sharrim speaks when she's in danger of losing herself. It wouldn't make sense for someone to start here. The last good entry point to the series was book seven, where there's a detailed synopsis of the series so far. MAGIC BINDS is the penultimate book in the series, the one where big favors are called in, allies are brought to their side, and old rivals are bound to new service. It feels big, climactic, and very cool for someone who has read the main series so far, even more so for anyone who managed to read the various short stories and associated novels which accompany it. For anyone who tries to read this book without that background, there are too many characters and too few explanations of their importance, combined with not enough explanation of even more characters. This is perfectly fine for the penultimate book in a long series, but it does mean it's a poor starting point for someone determined to ill-use it so.
I love this one, it wraps up enough things to let the actual finale maybe have a cleaner ending, but doesn't feel like it's putting things away early. I'm excited for the final book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Mental illness, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder and Fire/Fire injury
cluckieduck's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Another amazing addition to the Kate Daniels world
This book is in the upper echelons of urban fantasy (the whole series, really - I can't believe I got to it so late!). It is the perfect blend of angst, humour, suspense, and action. My only complaint is that the end battle doesn't begin until the 90% mark leading to a somewhat anticlimactic conclusion, it didn't take away anything from the overall story - it just leaves me wanting more!
The dichotomy of Kate trying to plan a wedding (with an almost too-helpful Roman) while concurrently trying to prevent a war from reaching Atlanta provided much needed comic relief - the way it all blend together was seamless.
This book is in the upper echelons of urban fantasy (the whole series, really - I can't believe I got to it so late!). It is the perfect blend of angst, humour, suspense, and action. My only complaint is that the end battle doesn't begin until the 90% mark leading to a somewhat anticlimactic conclusion, it didn't take away anything from the overall story - it just leaves me wanting more!
The dichotomy of Kate trying to plan a wedding (with an almost too-helpful Roman) while concurrently trying to prevent a war from reaching Atlanta provided much needed comic relief - the way it all blend together was seamless.
“Can he select the cake?” I pointed at Curran. “This wedding involves two of us.”
“He already did,” Mary said. “These are the choices he narrowed down.”
I turned to Curran. “You narrowed it down to sixteen choices?”
“They were all very delicious,” he said.
“Were there any choices you didn’t like?”
“Yes,” he said. “I scrapped coconut and lime.”
We also get some more amazing page time with the fantastic supporting cast, in particular Christopher, as we finally learn his heartbreaking origins. Kate, as always, provides us with fantastically snippy interactions with them all.
"Control your horse!" Jim snarled.
"You control your horse." Oh wow, now that was a clever comeback. He'd surely drop to his knees and bow before my intellectual brilliance.
"You're the least power-hungry person I've ever met. You're also the most stubborn person I've ever met. Disrespectful. Mouthy."
"You mean independent and proactive in taking initiative.”
Anyways, absolutely in love with Kate, Curran, and their fantabulously intense slice of life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content, Slavery, and Suicide
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