Magic Strikes (2009)
Written by: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels #3
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 310 (Paperback)
Publisher: Ace
Why I Chose This: My 2019 Resolution Project for Speculative Chic is to read the books in the Kate Daniels series and finish up with a first read of the final book. I first read Magic Strikes in 2009.
The Premise:
When magic strikes and Atlanta goes to pieces, it’s a job for Kate Daniels…
Drafted to work for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems these days than she knows what to do with. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.
But when Kate’s werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games — an invitation-only, no-holds-barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament — she and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta’s shapeshifting community…
Spoiler free.
A major trope of traditional urban fantasy is a badass female character who can kill you with her pinkie finger and can do everything on her own. Kate Daniels can definitely kill you with her pinkie finger, but as her series progresses, her metaphorical armor has begun to crack. Kate now has friends. (These friends can also kill you with their pinkie finger.)
In this latest book, Kate is dragged into Atlanta’s current shenanigans by virtue of her connection with the Knights of Merciful Aid and the city’s shapeshifter Pack. This story featured lots of interesting details into the physiology of werecreatures, including how the shifter society can only function with such a strong, brutal leader.
Speaking of Curran, that relationship continues to evolve as well. He’s still kind of a dick, but we gain some intriguing backstory about what has shaped his character. Suddenly, his flavor of masculinity becomes slightly less toxic and more relevant to what makes him function as a person who carries so much power and responsibility. Also, he’s still sexy as hell, which doesn’t hurt.
The main plot of this book involves epic gladiatorial games mixed with Pack politics, all connected to more information about the Big Bad Kate knows she’ll have to face sooner rather than later. Once again, the details are a fabulous example of strong world-building by the authors. This time, we learn about mythology from the Indian subcontinent, and it continues to weave seamlessly into the world already created. A major perk to urban fantasy set in America is that it becomes a literal melting pot of history, culture, and magic for writers to draw upon.
As usual, Andrews does not shy away from the gory details when Kate fights for her life and/or the lives of her friends. It was a bit weird that the tournament scenes have some humorous moments in them, but I do understand that something has to break the relentless brutality of combat. Overall, the writing in this series continues to strengthen along with the storytelling and plot intricacies.
In conclusion: Kate might think of herself as a thug, but we readers know that she’s a genuine hero. Her power may be the result of an accident of birth, as is the fate she knows is coming for her, but we care about her (and her friends!) because she’s more than just a bundle of power with some skills with a sword.
I’ve been reading this series and I really liked the gladiatorial games, getting more of Kate’s backstory, and Kate’s attachments to her friends. The one thing that is putting me off is that I don’t like Curran as her love interest. He just doesn’t seem right for her. Why can’t Kate be the biggest bad ass in the relationship? I would like Derek better as her potential boyfriend.