Guest Post: Magic Burns (Kate Daniels #2)

Magic Burns (Kate Daniels #2)
Ilona Andrews

Publisher: Ace Fantasy

As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate’s going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger scale: a divine one. When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta’s paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realizes much more at stake. During a flare, Celtic god Morfran supersedes goddess Morrigan for witch coven worshippers of the Crow, and sea monsters from the Underworld enter via the Cauldron of Plenty. Kate starts looking for Pack maps and 13-year old Julia's witch mother, and ends up uniting shapeshifters and vampire zombie controllers to save the world.

Hello everyone, I’m back to help Mel out whilst she deals with a very difficult time in her life.  This is about the only non-Christmas related book I’ve read over the Festive period, and one that Mel told me I could only borrow if I reviewed for her. :-)

Magic Burns continues the story of Kate Daniels, a feisty, mouthy heroine who can just as easily wield a sword as a magical power word.  In her version of Atlanta, the normally sedate transition between the times of magic and technology have been whipped into a frenzy as a magical flare approaches.  Magical beings find their grip on logic failing, and gods and goddesses start making a play for earth-based power.

The characters we encountered in the first in the series nearly all make a comeback, and Kate’s dealings with Curran, Ghastek and Saiman are again highly entertaining.  She’s not all mouth and action this time though, and the reader gets to see some deep emotions behind the feisty façade.  Her interactions with a young girl in particular only serve to heighten Kate’s likeability.

Ilona Andrews once again delivers in the action scenes too, and the book is fast-paced and involving from start to finish, ensuring that the 270-odd pages simply fly by.  The snippets relating to Kate’s heritage are especially delicious, and as tantalizing as the pick and mix stall I keep wandering past on the way to work!

An excellent installment to both the series, and the fantasy genre in general, and one for fans of Patricia Briggs and Carrie Vaughn, 8 out of 10.