Magic Bites (2007)

I picked this up as the first book in the series and was a little thrown off by the sheer number of characters and amount of information stuffed into it -- I even came back here to double check that this was the first book in the series.

Overall I enjoyed the story, although Kate does come off a little bit Mary-Sueish, but sometimes you don't want to think too much, you just want a rollicking good time of vampire gore.

Also, I know nothing about Atlanta but I do appreciate books set in cities other than LA, Chicago and NYC! ( )

I've read this book so many times. It's definitely one of my comfort series. It's just so good though. ( )

I enjoyed the pace, the Kate Daniel's world, the banter, the fights, the mystery and although my poor brain got a bit lost at times trying to picture the beasts featured in this tale I liked the spin created for these paranormal creatures existence.

I will be adding book 2 "Magic Burns" to my wish list ( )

I am thoroughly in love with this series. The kick-butt heroine, the unique urban fantasy setting, the supernatural creatures, and the romance with buckets of chemistry all check my fangirl boxes. The story centers around Kate Daniels, a mercenary who is extremely good with a sword. She lives in Atlanta, but not the Atlanta we know. It's an alternate version of our world where magic has come back with a vengeance. The theory is that magic and technology are opposing forces that constantly push back and forth. In the past, people used and advanced magic to such an extent that it disappeared. Like a pendulum, the forces swung the other way. Technology gained the upper hand, and people developed it in much the way they had done with magic in the past. Now the pendulum has reached the furthest end of that side and is beginning to swing back, which means that magic is crashing back into the world. When magic flares, technology falls. When magic drops, technology sputters back.

With the return of magic, all sorts and weird and wonderful things have happened, along with destructive and awful events. Creatures like vampires, wizards, and shapeshifters are a regular presence. Objects that are the results of technology - skyscrapers, cars, electricity - are destroyed when the magic hits, and the city is full of ruined business districts. Humanity has learned to cope, and rebound from the initial first wave which was hugely destructive and claimed many casualties, and is reframing its existence in the new terms of their world. New forces have developed, such as a paranormal police force division and a guild of mercenaries.

Kate Daniels is a mercenary. She also has some big secrets, and hopes that by keeping her reputation nonexistent as a low-level mercenary, people won't pay attention to her. This all changes when her guardian and friend, Greg, is killed by supernatural means. Kate can't ignore the case. She begins to investigate, and is soon working along with the Pack, Atlanta's clan of shapeshifters, and the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, the former employers of Greg. Kate would rather have avoided both of these powerful groups, but she is determined to avenge Greg's death. As the investigation continues, and the powerful and gristly murders mount, Kate's life becomes increasingly entwined with shapeshifters, knights, and vampires. In particular, she has to work with Curran, the beast lord of the Pack. He is a lion shifter who is used to being obeyed and respected, and Kate is a mercenary with wicked sword skills who doesn't like to listen to authority. They rub each other the wrong way, but sparks also fly as their chemistry is instantly awesome.

To recap: We have a woman swordsman and magic user who kicks major butt, an intriguing fantasy series, a cool setting, a murder mystery, a cool reimagining of shapeshifters and vampires (vampires, by the way, are mindless monsters that are generally piloted, or controlled, by Masters of the Dead), a squee-worthy budding romance, and a fast-paced plot that is fun from first page to last. I love this book, I love this series. I just wish I'd learned about it earlier. ( )

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