Before we begin, just a reminder this post and its comments will include spoilers for the previous books in Ilona Andrew’s Kate Daniels series. This read-along is for those who have read the books previously and also for those who are new to the series, so please no spoilers for books beyond the one featured in the discussion this week. Our review this month is by my friend Angela at Angel’s Guilty Pleasures.
Book 5: Magic Slays
Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews Narrator: Renée Raudman
Series: Kate Daniels #5
Published by Tantor Audio on January 8, 2011
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Length: 13 hours, 17 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble
Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name. Plus, many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.
So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. But it turns out that this is not an isolated incident. Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—and fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price…
Note: This series does need to be read in order!
Another winner in the Kate Daniels series. WOW just WOW!
Magic Slays brings us a new threat that threatens the very fabric of magic, alliances will be made, people will die, lives will be change forever, and no one will be left without scares.
Lordy, so much is going on in Magic Slays. I just love this series to death and once I pick up any book in it I can’t put it down until the very end. Re-reading this book over still had the same affect as it did when I first read it. Mind Blowing!
(Possible Spoilers Of Previous Books Ahead)
Kate is now mated and living with The Beast Lord (Curran), but many of the shifters, mainly the Wolf Clan, still don’t like her. This is partly; because she is human (little do they know what she truly is), but also; because some bad shit happened in Magic Bleeds that affected the Wolf Alpha pair. Kate now has her own PI business that will benefit her and the Pack. Andrea returns from being MIA and we learn where she has been, what happened to her, and she no longer has a job with the Order. These two have a good friendship and they work well together. Julie also makes more of an appearance in Magic Slays and we see the relationship she has with Kate. Something very bad happens to Julie and Kate must make a very big and hard decision that could kill Julie or both of them.
Our heroine learns some disturbing news about her step-father Vorn. The past is not as rosy as she thought and what she learns affects her deeply. Her world view tumbles downhill and what she thought she knew was not true. With this new information about her step-dad and mom, she will question herself about why Curran is with her? I absolutely love that Curran lays it all out for Kate and chooses her over the Pack. He will stick by her through thick or thin, run with her if that is what she wants, and will do anything for her.
I listen to the Audiobook and LOVED IT! Narrator Renée Raudman did a wonderful job. The voices are distinct and clear. The audio grabs you at the start. I felt like I was reading the book for the first time. I had such a fabulous time listening to Magic Slays. I highly recommend this series, either or both reading and/or listening.
Magic Slays is another fabulous read in the Kate Daniels series and fans will enjoy the new twists, turns, and action-packed adventure.
Who said:
“My lord, my lady, may I say that I am delighted that my favorite alpha is feeling better. Why, you’ll be running recklessly into danger against overwhelming odds anytime now.”
Schedule and wrap up:
We are doing one book every four weeks, posting on Mondays. We should have a review for most of the books with the team here at Books of My Heart plus some of our blogging friends.
Jun 4: Magic Rises
Jul 2: Magic Breaks
Jul 30: Magic Shifts
Aug 27: Magic Binds
Aug 28: Magic Triumphs (release day!)
Miss a post?
Jan 15: Magic Bites
Feb 12: Magic Burns
Mar 12: Magic Strikes
Apr 9: Magic Bleeds
The winner of last book’s giveaway is: Yevhenii P.
This Book’s Giveaway: 
Read-along Giveaway:
About Renée Raudman
Renée Raudman is a multi-award-winning audiobook narrator. A multiple Audie Award nominee, she has earned a number of AudioFile Earphones Awards, including for The Last Secret by Mary McGarry Morris and Wesley the Owl by Stacey O’Brien, as well as a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award for Joe Schreiber’s Chasing the Dead. She has also performed on film, TV, radio, and stage, including the recurring roles of Jordon on ABC’s One Life To Live, Phyllis on NBC’s Passions, and guest-starring roles on prime-time TV. She has been heard in cartoons (The Simpsons, Billy & Mandy), videogames, and on the E! channel. Her narration of Homer’s Odyssey by Gwen Cooper was selected by Library Journal as one of the best audiobooks of 2009, and her reading of Marthe Jocelyn’s Would You was selected by the ALA as one of the best young adult audiobooks of 2009.
About Ilona Andrews
“Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)
Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.
They have co-authored several bestselling series, including the #1 NYT bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels, rustic fantasy of the Edge, paranormal romance of Hidden Legacy, and Innkeeper Chronicles, which they post as a free weekly serial.
About Angela at Angel’s Guilty Pleasures
Hello, My name is Angela and I am the owner/reviewer and mind behind Angel’s Guilty Pleasures. However what I am not is a writer. I apologize now for the grammatical and punctuation errors I make, because I know I’m going to make them.
I never once thought I would start my own blog, but with the help of my computer geek husband and a little pestering from him to do a blog, I ended up with Angel’s Guilty Pleasures.
I’m a mother to a 6-year-old who is non-stop on the go since the day he could walk. I’m a wife, dog owner, animal, and book lover. My favorite animals are horses (i.e. Appaloosas, Lipizzans, & Friesians). I grew up in Northern Indiana on a farm and my father is a veterinarian, so animals have always been in my life and have been a passion of mine. I no longer live on a farm, but we are currently dog owners to a beautiful Australian Shepard named “Saphire”. Some of you book lovers might recognize her name!!
As for reading, my love started as a kid, but then my teen years came and reading fell away. It wasn’t until I hooked up with my husband in College and met his family, who are avid readers, that I really got back into reading. When we moved to the same state as my husband’s Aunt, who is a very big reader of YA/PNR/UF, she suggested I try the first book in Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series Halfway to the Grave. She handed over her Nook and I read the book in a day. That was my first PNR/UF and I got sucked back into reading. Now I read a verity of books and have many authors I enjoy. A few of my favorites are Ilona Andrews, Jeaniene Frost, Gene Showalter, Terry Spear, Lynsay Sands, Patricia Briggs, Setta Jay, Anna Lowe and G.A. Aiken aka Shelly Laurenston.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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What a fun series. It so much fun sharing my review and also diving back into the Kate Daniels world to get read for the new and finally release. Now I that quote is just to funny. ^_^
Thanks for joining us Angela. I am really enjoying the chance to read the series again SO much. That’s why I planned this Read-along.
The read along has been a lot of fun. Thank’s for planning and having me join in. ^_^
Ahhh, that was a great walk down memory lane. Thanks, Angela. I am both excited and dreading the final book.
Thanks for stopping by. I am just excited, because this is a series I will re-read and there will be Derek and Julie as well as Hugh. So it won’t go away completely.
You are welcome. I do like returning to memory lane ^_^. I know how you feel; I’m excited and dreading the final installment in the Kate Daniels series. I just love this world and characters so much.
Great review Angela. I really had to think about who said that quote too. I think I got it though. With a possibility of 3 Hugh books total, a Derek/Julie spin on sometime in the future and maybe even a Roman book I hope we always have some stories from this world. If they write them I will read them.
Oh I love this series so much!!!
I’m in a funky reading mood so I’m reading Magic Rises for next month now. Always in the mood for Kate.
This series is so much fun. I’ve been enjoying the read along so much.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart