Magic Shifts (Kate Daniels Book 8)

Love love love anything by Ilona Andrews, I'm going to be so sad when this series is over!!! I have re-read the series over and over always catching details I've missed, funny, riveting, action, truly the best author!!!!

This was a decent continuation of the series, but it definitely feels like a book where they are setting up all the dominoes that they are going to knock down in the next book. For me, it wasn't as much of a page turner as Magic Breaks or Magic Rises.

Another great Kate and Curren book with wild magic great fights snappy comments and lots of roaring. If you haven't read any of these books I feel sorry for you and I would urge you to take a week off and just read em all

So good! Ilona Andrews never disappoints. One of the few authors whose books I buy both the e-book and the hardcopy. Magic Shifts was absolutely the perfect follow up to Magic Breaks and I can't wait until next summer for the next in the series!

I loved this book as much as I have loved every other Kate Daniels book. I'm sad that there is only one more book in the series, I don't want to see it end so quickly. I'm sure they could add at least another 10 books to the series without it being too much. :)

Sleep is highly overrated... Once you start reading it's impossible too put this new addition to the amazing Kate Daniels series down. Once again I'm grateful to Ilona and Gordon for being such beautiful story tellers and all of their hard work.

This series gets better and better. Kate, Curran, Julie and the rest of their ragtag extended family have never failed to make me smile, cry, worry, laugh, and celebrate. After reading it, now I'll sit back, relax and listen to Renee Raudman narrate the audiobook. Heaven!

Took a little while to get moving, but once on track, this novel really was hard to put down. Leaves enough unfinished to make you excited for the next book, but resolves enough to be satisfying. Great read!

I rated this 4 stars instead of 5 because I got the feeling that this book was rushed to meet a deadline. The way this concluded seemed way too easy and was a slight disappointment. I still enjoyed the book and all the characters as usual. Happy Reading

Introduces new mythology, ups the stakes in the battle of Good vs. Evil, and furthers the stories of the main characters, especially Kate, Curran, and Roland. Plus, post-Shift Atlanta is freakier than ever! Highly recommended!

Overall I liked the series so I bought this book to keep following it, however it lacked the development on the general plot - the book seemed a follow up of the previous one - showing the lives of Kate/Curran outside the pack, but besides the fun that was reading about them in the suburb there was not a real development - Roland appears and disappear, Curran and Kate face a threat and seemed that they will take over the guild. Characters shows and no surprise there, they act the way you'd expect. A short story would take care of it.

I am in awe of this writing duo. Their ability to spin a new and exciting tale is amazing. The characters are always evolving and interesting, the villains spectacular, and the storyline keeps you guessing to the end. Love it

I've fallen in love with this series. With every page I'm itching to read more and more! It has everything you could ever want in a story from mystery to action to hot lions and sexy ass kicking women!

This is not my favorite book by Ilona Andrews. However, it is still a Kate Daniels book and was still fairly good. The truth is I will read this book again and I will read the next book as well and the one after that, and the one after that, and so on.

Sensational! Cannot help but miss Curran as The Beast Lord, that is MY ONLY "complaint." But this is one series that only gets better with each installment. Ilona Andrews cannot write quickly enough for my tastes!!

Loved the book. It was definitely worth the wait. The characters continue to evolve in experience and wisdom. Not just Kate and Curran but Julie, Derek, Mahon, George, Barabas, Christopher, Jim and Dali. We also see Andrea, Raphael, Nick, Ghastek, Ramona, and of course Roland and everyone's favorite honey badger.

(This is a Goodreads 2-star review, which means I thought it was "okay.") Unpopular opinion time. I know it's blasphemy and all, but this book was just meh to me. I found it a struggle to get through.

A couple months have passed since the last book. Kate and Curran are going through the final process of full separation from the Pack. They now live in a suburban neighborhood with Julie and we see a lot of domesticity in the beginning. I don't know why, but this is a trope in urban fantasy that really annoys me. However, it's not like I didn't know it was coming.

The main plot in this one was a werebison goes missing, Eduardo. To further complicate matters, we find out his girlfriend is the Alpha Bear, Mahon's, daughter, and he is a long-standing bigot we all know and are aware of. So we get lots of family and romance angst, mixed in with the domesticity at the beginning.

The good thing to me was in the beginning (around 20%), we see that Kate seems to have hit her stride. She knows how to use her powers more, she's in her prime. I felt like a lot of characters just made a token appearance. The side story of Curran taking over the Guild was okay, I guess. He had to have significance established for the future books.

None of my favorite characters really had a significant role and maybe that was part of it. Saiman has one scene you'd miss if you blinked. The conversation with Roland was nothing more than a huge info-dump, really. I felt like a lot of this book was transitional or info-dumping or just...filler.

There's a lot of things that are repeated, like how many times have we heard Roland described something like..."if the sun had risen" or something to do with what just looking on him when we has happy with you was like the sun rising or whatnot.

I just didn't care about Mahon or Eduardo or George or the big bad in this one. The writing is fine and for people who really get into seeing all the appearances of the various characters in the world, it is great. I hope the next one is a little darker and maybe I just like the "bad guys" in this world too much. They are much more intriguing to me.

I will re-read this in the future and probably will like it more. At least, that happened with the previous book, so I'm thinking it could just be my current mood. I just couldn't get into this one.

Where to start, I have written a review on most if not all of the books in this series and I find myself running out of superlatives. The plots are multilayered, interesting and unpredictable. The characters (all of them not just the main couple) are fully developed, no cardboard cutouts and you actually grow to care about all of them. The thing though that makes this such a huge success is that Kate and Curran are deeply in love at all times, add in the best “graveyard” humor ever and you have a mix that can’t lose.

This time you have to wonder, after last book (shame on you if you have not read that epic) what could even give them any problems? It seems there are a ton of things in this world that Ilona Andrews has crafted that can do that and one of them has come to town (no I won’t tell you, it is part of the plot to find out).

In addition to occasionally saving the world (or at least Atlanta), they seem to now need some kind of a job to go with their new lifestyle in suburbia and so they are getting involved with the Merc Guild which is something that makes me happy since I can see all kinds of fun things coming from that arrangement, providing everybody survives long enough to make something happen. The fact that they have some minor problems with the self-appointed neighborhood HOA (Home Owners Association) in the midst of everything else is just another level of humor here, in spite of end-of-the-world plots I laughed more at this book than many romantic comedies I have read over the last year.

As usual there are a multitude of plots, they all seem to be able to tie themselves back together by the end of the book and we are left with a tidbit or two towards a future book (not always the next one) and in addition to everything else Kate and Curran are trying to look like a family unit, kinda hard but, hey, they are giving it a really great effort (nobody in the HOA was harmed in the reading of this book).

The ongoing [fill in the blank for what you call her relationship with her Dad] is still confusing to me, Kate leaves us no doubt as to where her feelings lie but they keep throwing just enough information into the mix that you have to remember some of the things from previous books to not start to like him a bit. He is still put forth as the big bad thing in some epic battle to be fought in the (I hope) distant future. There may be just the smallest bit of light at the end of that tunnel after this book but it was a teaser at the end of the book.

This book as many of the others revolves around complex relationships and loyalties between friends and loved ones, which is part of why this is such a great series, it is never as simple as “beat up the bad guys”, people’s emotions are involved and used to deepen plots, things that people would never risk are done for the sake of loved ones, and the list of such things is near endless but it takes this series from the swamp of interesting but average urban fantasy and raises it to the level of exceptionalism that you only get from one of the best series being written in this genre or any other.

One of the things I love most about this series are the countless one liners littered throughout any given book. Whenever I'm done I always find myself going back to collect my favorites so that I can include them in my review. This book is certainly no exception. In fact, I think it was better than the last book in that department. Here are my faves:

"This would make sense," Curran said, "if I had no eyes to read it or no brain to understand it. Did Raphael write this?"

“Your horse is a donkey, your poodle is a giant wolf breed, and your boyfriend is whatever the hell he is. You have problems.”

Curran and horses didn’t get along. He thought they were unpredictable and untrustworthy, and they thought he was a werelion.

Quite a few of those are courtesy of Curran and it didn't really occur to me until I started going over them. There is definitely no shortage of screen time with everybody's favorite beast lord and he's one of the strongest characters of the book (not just physically of course). He's well-written, his relationship with Kate is well-written. I don't see any fan of this pair finishing this book unsatisfied with their dynamic. One aspect I did enjoy was that they got to be out for themselves this time. Normally it's all about the pack. And even in this book they don't completely cut ties. You don't go from being the alpha of alphas to nothing overnight. They are feeling the effects of this transition and some things will never change. But I did like at least getting a taste of what it's like for them to do their own thing for a little while.

The action overall was good though I must admit I am becoming less interested in the monsters. It's starting to feel like more of the same there, but it's still an entertaining ride. For me, this time around I was hoping we'd see more development with the Roland situation, but overall there wasn't very much. At this point I think that will really move the plot further along as we reach the end. I believe the series it supposed to wrap up in 10 books so we have 2 more to go. If it's heavy on the Roland subject to finish things out, I will definitely be a happy camper.

Fans of the series can't miss this one!

It's hard to describe, however while I enjoyed this book it wasn't my favorite and felt very much like filler. Perhaps it's because all the other books have been so exciting this one was a a transition book. We get to see Kate and Curran outside of the pack. I actually really missed the drama of the beast lord and consort. It felt weird for me to read Curran as a normal person. I know it is what his character wants, but it made him less interesting to me. I wasn't really sure if this book had any purpose in moving the storyline forward until the last sentence. I missed Hugh as well. Plenty of action but again just didn't live up to my expectations. Still Ilona Andrews is a great writer and I can't wait to see what happens next. I have faith the last few books will be amazing.

MAGIC SHIFTS is a transition book, there had to be one eventually, right? But, there’s one very important difference between this installment, and the vast majority of other Urban Fantasy bridge novels, it’s NOT FILLER. The story swerves from one plot thread to the next while Kate & Curran adjust to their new lifestyle with their usual sarcastic flair, and on trend, win another battle for team Atlanta. So, more of the same yet also scads of never-before-seen just about sums it up in a nutshell.

Ghouls and djinn are two supes that haven’t played a significant part in this series to date, and I really enjoyed Ilona Andrews’ approach to these two paranormals. The authors accentuated their basic traits while also working in some Arabic mythology. But, the world-building didn’t end there; reanimative metamorphosis makes its grand entrance in all its messed up glory. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like; things die and come back as something completely other. Kate & Curran are basically fighting matryoshka dolls full of beasties!

I loved Kate in this book; well, to be fair, I ALWAYS love Kate, however this time I felt as though I connected with her on a fundamental level. She’s gotten to be pretty powerful over the course of eight volumes, and as much as I enjoy reading about her washing the floor with her opponents, I also like that she still gets her butt handed to her on occasion, and in this installment she even takes a time-out. I was a bit of an emotional wreck after that one because it was a wake-up call that Daniels isn’t invincible. Her family circles the wagons as a result and oh the feels!

My favourite aspect of this novel was probably that Kate & Curran were out of their element; well, technically these two don’t do normal, but their current circumstances are a big change from their former positions as Beast Lord & Consort. Lennart is trying to fit into human society, and Daniels has a “rapport” with her father now. Dinner at Applebee's anyone? Anyway, like I said in my opening paragraph, this title was just plain more of everything. And, as far as memorable scenes go, I think Kate’s casino entrance is one of the front runners. “Bow, you idiot.”

I really don’t know what else to say about MAGIC SHIFTS except buy it, read it, listen to it, and recommend it to everyone you know including strangers on the bus.

Reviewing the 8th book of a series is perhaps pointless but still, I really enjoy this series and the 8th book is mostly in line with the expectations. I do however have two issues with the book, Kate's serious injury didn't really seem motivated, more like it's something the author did because it "should" happen in every book. The second issue is that this book doesn't really advance the main storyline with Kate's father at all. All in all this book feels like an interlude/filler.

Let me start by saying that I love love love Ilona Andrews and have loved their Kate Daniels' series. However, this book was not up to their standards. There were parts that were brilliant with the witty dialogue that I love about their writing but other parts that just did not work. A scene that was supposed to be very emotionally charged just came off as flat and kind of pointless. Additionally, there were superfluous parts that made no sense in this book and didn't add anything. Almost like they were just trying to meet a word count so decided to throw in stuff. I don't know, perhaps they were intended to flesh out the next 2 books and will make more sense once they come out. It definitely wasn't worth $12.99. My advice is to buy the paperback or get it from the library

In the last book the main story arc with Kates father was completed. I wondered where team Andrews would go from there. This book has the strong action I have come to expect from the series, but it is getting stale. Even the opening has been used in an earlier book. We have the usual characters with issues in the Guild, People, and Pack mixed together with a new enemy. Still a fun read, but lacks the intensity of the earlier work.

It’s honestly becoming difficult to write reviews for the Kate Daniels series because I cannot find the words to express how amazing the books and overall series are. The world building, story telling, plot development, characters’ relationships… every aspect of the series… it all works so well, the stories are darn near perfection. Every book, while completely original, builds upon the previous story, creating an utterly sublime experience, making me want to reread the series from the beginning each time. If you aren’t reading the Kate Daniels series, you are missing out.

Note: This review may contain spoilers from earlier titles in the series.

So let’s begin with Magic Shifts. It’s been about two months and Kate, Curran, and Julie are enjoying some down time in their new home in the suburbs. Curran is adjusting to retirement as best as he can, but the gang cannot step foot in the Keep or sway anyone into leaving the Pack with them. This is an important point because Mahon’s daughter, George, comes to seek help from Kate and Curran in locating her fiancé, Eduardo. Pack politics and a disapproving father have left George desperate to find the man she loves. Unfortunately, the missing were-bison is only the tip of the iceberg for the gang.

Magic Shifts is a transitional book for the series, yet it is so much more. What makes this book in particular so wonderful?

1) Kate and Curran. Now that Kate has confronted her father and laid claim to Atlanta, she no longer has to hide her magic. Plus Curran is no longer the Beast Lord, so he’s got time on his hands. I absolutely love the interactions between the couple and family dynamics with Julie. Kate and Curran’s relationship has developed to a whole new level. Their mutual respect and love grows with each interaction, making them my absolute favorite literary couple.

2) World-building. It’s complex and so very interesting. I always admire how the authors take generally obscure and unknown mythology, twisting it to fit their magic-infused world. It becomes so logical and believable because they always cover all the basis and explain the intricacies. Magic Shifts makes me want to learn more about Arabic mythology.

3) The characters. I have grown to care about them all. I love how in every book one or more surprise me. Only because the characters change and grow - or they don’t, but their true natures are exposed. This happened more than once during the story, but it never feels forced. The character development is amazing.

4) Roland. I wondered how he’d fit into the series moving forward after Kate’s confrontation. I both enjoyed and grew more apprehensive based on his actions and a prophesy shared during this book. Additionally, the “family time” was touching, funny, and educational.

5) Emotional storytelling. I don’t want to give any spoilers in this one, but there is something that happens and it is heart-wrenching. When it happens, even though as the reader I believed all would be okay, both Kate and Curran don’t know what will happen. Their emotional intensity during this time brought me to tears.

6) Post-Pack dynamics. Let’s face it, from the very beginning, the Pack as been a central part of the series, and where would the series go without those characters? The authors did a great job separating Kate and Curran from the Pack, but kept all the players as central characters.

In the end, Magic Shifts is an amazing story full of action, adventure, and love. I cannot sing enough praises for the Kate Daniels series.

My Rating: A+ Personal Favorite
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by publisher

First things first: I looooove me some KD and her world. But this was hands down the most boring book of the lot. Don't get me wrong, I liked it. I just got really tired of the Curan and Kate show. Kate works best for me when she's interacting with other people----especially Barbaras, Saiman, Ghastek and maybe Derek.

Also, is it my imagination or is Kate becoming weaker with Curran? I'm a dude, so I can't speak from experience----is this just something that happens to women in love? I don't know. But it seems to me like she's too......submissive and insecure, when it comes to Curran. I don't like it.

I also felt like this book was rushed and all over the place. Saiman's actions seemed like an after thought. Given their relationship, I feel like this would have been better served with an explanation of his actions in a short story. I really hate the way he was portrayed this time around.

SPOILER ALERT:******

Finally, I'm really disappointed in Roland becoming a definitive bad guy. Before this book he was just amoral and I was ok with that. But this %$#@ about him stealing Kate's child is cheap. I really liked the idea of K & R having a better relationship. If they kill R off, I may stop reading these books.

It just feels too convenient for me to have them become enemies.

PS. Please make Dali an ass kicker. I'm sick of the whole non-violent tiger thing. Tigers are the ULTIMATE land predator. Write her accordingly, please.

I love IA and this series has been a fav of mine for many years,buuuuut this book was not close to what I expected.
Some other reviewers stated some things I had the same issue with..
The long drawn out fight with the giant, good god I kept thinking enough already!
The silly, pointless near death scenes with Kate (as if she'd die)
Julie is becoming an annoying teen, maybe that's the point, IDK?
Can we PLEEEEZ get on with Roland?
I don't like that Kate has become so mushy & weak with Curran, yetCurran has remained the same verile, pompous & strong character. NO balance

Nothing compares to the charm, wit, action, and emotion of the Kate Daniels series. Nothing. Simply put, if you aren’t reading these books, you are missing the very best that Urban Fantasy has to offer. I think I say this every time I sit down to review a new installment, but it bears repeating.

The last story was epic and left us in a very different place. Kate and Curran have left the Pack. She has claimed Atlanta and her father has gone from a distant idea of Something Scary to a flesh and blood reality intruding on Kate’s life. The evolution into these new circumstances feels as smooth as silk. Despite the fact that everything is different, everything I love about Kate Daniels remains the same. Her loyalty; her fire; her determination, doggedness, resourcefulness. All topped off with a wry sense of humor and deep appreciation for the family she has created over the course of the series.

As the book begins, Kate and Curran are living in their new home with Julie, and they have just one month left until their separation from the Pack is complete. But life is never boring. Between fighting off ghouls and searching for a missing shifter, they have their hands full. I love how, with each book, Ilona Andrews really goes out of the way to give Kate an adversary that is markedly different from the one before. It’s cool because it continues to add layers to the already vast worldbuilding; it gives the reader new puzzles that don’t have obvious solutions; and it gives realism to Kate’s struggles. I mean, let’s face it. She is crazy-powerful. She needs a real challenge to give us emotional investment. In this case, we delve into the realm of Arabic mythology and a powerful djinn.

The plot is great. I love how Andrews artfully ties the ghouls to the Big Bad and back around to Kate’s missing friend. The pacing is spot on. The laughs are pitch perfect. (I laughed out loud as Ghastek tried to draw an apple.) But, as always, what really takes the book to the next level is the emotional component. Kate’s best battles are ones that are directly connected to her. Saving a friend. Keeping a promise. Protecting her family. That’s here and that’s great. Andrews takes it a step beyond though… showing Kate’s fragility… putting her in real peril. You can really see what her mortality means to the people who love her. It brings home just how loved she really is. It carves out more depth for Curran and Julie. It gives great feels.

And did I mention I cried at the end? In the big battle, when Kate must face her innermost fears? I’m not going to spoil it, but there was a person there with grey eyes and the stage is set with potential for so much heartache — it totally got me. The bottom line is that Andrews successfully combines the otherworldness of Kate’s environment with emotions that any of us can relate to. We could never be Kate, but we can all relate to the things she feels. We feel them with her.

I could go on and on, but how much gushing can I do before it gets a little embarrassing? I will say that I beta-read for this book, but almost all of the magic in the final product was already there in its earlier incarnation. Fans of the series shouldn’t miss this one. And if you’re new to Kate’s world, what are you waiting for? Start from the beginning with Magic Bites and get ready for a great ride.

Rating: A

I admit, I was a little worried what would happen when Kate and Curran settle down. I obviously shouldn’t have been worried because, if anything, I like them even more. What seems like a “retirement” of sorts is actually just the turning of another page in the Kate Daniels saga.

Sure, they don’t live with the pack any more, but that doesn’t stop the pack from coming to them. In the time of their split, all the pack members were given a choice about who they choose (like a divorce). While this is still settling down, there is another mystery afoot – where did Eduardo go? He has been missing and the obvious choice of follow-up would be the leader of clan heavy, however, it seems that George and Eduardo having a secret relationship might have stirred the pot a bit too much.

Some highlights of this book involved Roland (I know, I’m falling for his games). There are some truly surreal moments in Kate’s life, but her trying to find her footing with her father is certainly the top of the list. We spent a lot of time in her head (due to some of her catastrophic choices) and it has led me to love her even more. Her power, also, seems to be evolving in new and interesting ways that can lead to even more surprises moving forward.

As usual, Kate’s life is never very straightforward. What starts as a missing person case ends up leading to a whole mess of supernatural drama that somehow draws Kate and Curran to consider taking over the Guild as payment for Curran’s tied up pack holdings. With that looming after the close of this book (along with other prediction-related cliffhangers) I cannot wait for more. It looks like there is a short story put between this book and the next, but I’m terrified because that means I’ll have to wait for more Kate! Please give me more of this world!

MAGIC SHIFTS is the first book after Curran and Kate left the pack. I was really excited to see how they would live their life now and I wasn't disappointed. I really enjoyed the storyline and the fight that Kate and Curran found themselves in. They left the pack, but their allies wouldn't let them leave them and I really enjoyed how they rallied around Kate and Curran. Now that Kate knows her father and they have a sorta kinda relationship, it was interesting to see them interact. They got together in the most unlikely place that made them seem like the two normal people they are definitely not. Fun times.

Some thoughts on things you won't understand until you read MAGIC SHIFTS. *Warning they can be a little spoiler-ish, so go forward at your own risk.* There was some really hard things to read in MAGIC SHIFTS. A character was very close to death and never having heard them give up before, it was really hard to hear them do so now. I balled my eyes out, messy crying at its finest during this point in the book. I LOVED when Kate visited the casino, EPIC! I am really excited for the time that Kate and Curran become pregnant, but I really hope the prediction made (by the bad guy) towards the end of MAGIC SHIFTS is not something that comes true.

I can't think of anything in MAGIC SHIFTS that I didn't enjoy. I loved the character development and I loved how the storyline progressed. Bring me more Kate!

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

As someone else noted, this installment of the Kate Daniel's series is a transition book, or what I think of as a 'bridge' book. And as Ilona Andrews explained, this book is the start of a three book story arch of Kate as the Sharrim, and to Roland's eventual defeat.

One of the purposes of this book is to show us how Kate's claiming of Atlanta has affected her. Remember Roland has claimed lots of land, and it is important for us to see what the claiming means in terms of her power, and by extension his. Also the book illuminates the way forward, both for defeating Roland and for Curran is a 'normal citizen' instead of the beast lord.

In general, I love this series and the authors' writing. I did not like Magic Rises (book six) as much as the rest of the series . I felt it was awkward and forced. This book, too, felt forced at times. Whereas the journey of the characters in the rest of the books in the series flows and feels organic, in this one you could see the authors' thoughts and goals like they were a checklist: Show Jim and Dali as the Lord and Lady of the pack, check. Show how the claiming has affected Kate's magic, check. Show what Curran's path will be, check. Figure out a way for Kate to defeat Roland eventually, check. So in that way it was a more awkward effort than the rest of the books in the series (except Magic Rises). And that's why I deducted a star in my rating. Still, it was better than your average bridge book. So 4 stars .

Now that Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran Lennart, have totally split from the pack, they are on their final 30-day countdown to shift all their assets from the pack and to bring over anyone who wants to leave the pack and be with them in their new lives. That would be enough to keep them busy, but it seems that a member of the pack, Eduardo, who they now discover is a mate to a really good friend, has disappeared. To top it off, it appears that the Mercenary Guild is involved. Kate hasn’t really been involved with the Guild while dealing with the other things that had taken over her life. But she is still a senior member of the Guild and will pull every string she can to find out just what he was doing when he disappeared.

Curran and Kate begin this hunt, which becomes even more involved as they discover that the Guild is involved with the pack. If that doesn’t top it off, it appears that Kate’s father dearest has decided that he wants to be closer to Kate. Kate and Curran are now in a multi-angled race against time. They have to find out what is behind Eduardo’s disappearance and save him before they find evidence of his passing; they have to lay down the law to Kate’s father; and they have to complete their untangling with the pack all while complying with the rules that are part this untangling from the pack. Talk about dealing with a tightrope walk. As the clues on what happened to Eduardo come clear, it appears his disappearance was brought on by something he never knew about and saving him will involve dealing with an action done many years before. To round things out, drastic changes will happen to the Guild and the pack before it’s all over. Just another week in the normal life of Kate and Curran.

Kate and Curran were hoping that as they separate themselves from the pack that maybe, just maybe, their lives might settle down a wee bit. However, they discover just how wrong they are in Magic Shifts. I wondered just how things would go now that Curran was no longer the Beast Lord and Kate had adopted her city. I also wondered if Kate would get back to doing more with the Guild. I found these answers and so much more as I began turning the pages in this latest chapter of their lives. I loved how they immediately took up the search for Eduardo when they discovered he was missing. Watching as both Kate and Curran worked together in finding the answers to Eduardo’s disappearance and trying to get through these last 30 days of separation from the pack told me that, even now, the pack would be always around them. I really loved how Curran turned a bad faith act into something that will probably be a plus for him and Kate in time. There is a whole lot more going on that I can’t tell you without spilling the beans on too much. All I can say is that you really need to read this book if you have followed Kate and Curran at all. Magic Shifts is an outstanding new adventure with Kate and Curran full of love, danger and, of course, the action-packed suspense that we expect from Ms. Andrews with this couple.

This book was reviewed by Jo for Joyfully Reviewed (JR), and was provided by the publisher/author at no cost to JR for the purpose of being reviewed.

Magic Shifts is the eighth book in the Kate Daniels series, so you definitely don’t want to be starting with it! You need to have read at least some of the prior books, especially Magic Breaks. If you’re interested in starting the series (a fun urban fantasy with great world building and a female lead), the first book is Magic Bites, although it’s also the weakest. You may want to consider skipping it and picking up the second book, Magic Burns instead.

Also, I have to warn you that spoilers for earlier books, particularly Magic Breaks, are inevitable. Don’t read any further in this review if you don’t want to encounter them.

Kate and Curran are still adjusting to life outside the Pack when George, Mahon’s daughter, comes to them, beseeching them to find her finance Eduardo, a werebuffalo working as a mercenary. They quickly find that Eduardo’s disappearance seems to be related to a sudden influx of ghouls and other creatures steaming from Middle Eastern and Islamic mythology.

As always, this installment in the series is packed with action and fight scenes with various monsters. Despite this, I felt like it had a bit of a slow start, and I didn’t get completely sucked in until the plot threads started coming together later on in the book.

This book is sort of in an awkward place in the series. A seven book long plot arc about Kate confronting her father has been completed, which leaves Magic Shifts to establish a new arc, which I thought it did very well. I’m already excited to see where it will go.

I really love how Kate’s grown through this series. At the beginning, she was almost completely solitary, no friends, hardly any important relationships to other people. Now, by book eight, there’s a whole host of people she cares about. She’s taken on increasing responsibility for friends, family, and now the whole city while remaining the fun, snarky, badass action heroine I loved in the first place.

Also, the world building in this series is fantastic. The Gordens (Ilona and Andrew Gorden) do such an amazing job here. I love their vision of a future post-Apocalyptic/fantasy Atlanta and their amazing inventiveness when it comes to new takes on fantasy creatures. They are wonderful at how they incorporate mythology, and Magic Strikes is no exception.

So in summary, Magic Strikes is another fun, hilarious, and action packed addition to the Kate Daniels series.

Originally posted on <a href=https://theillustratedpage.wordpress.com/2015/08/06/review-of-magic-shifts-by-ilona-andrews/>The Illustrated Page.</a>

Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series, along with Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson series, are really the only two urban paranormal series that have kept my interest beyond the first 3-5 books.

In other series, the main character either goes down a path that makes me lose interest, or it becomes to repetitive.

Kate Daniels and her alpha love-squeeze Curran-the-Beast-Lord have been together for several books now, and somehow the author(s) still manage to keep things lively without resorting to obvious ploys/misunderstandings. Also, I appreciate the fact that while their enemies keep getting stronger and stronger, Kate and Curran essentialy remain unchanged-- no major super-powers suddenly evolving (except for Kate's blood-magic, but even that unfolded over several books slowly so I got a chance to get used to it.) Their friends evolve, and they gain new allies, but they also lose allies, too (Like Saiman in this book or Auntie B in a former book.)

The kick-ass action scenes, the snarky banter, the loving attention to the details of weapons, and the relation-ship focus both on the emotional and physical level that mark this series are still here in this book; but there's also something new for us long-term fans. There's djinn and ifrit magic, a deeper look into the politics of clan Heavy, plumbing the depths of Curran's love for Kate when he think he might lose her, and the repercussions of her breaking promises.

And besides a bathtub love scene, there's also a dinner at Applebee's with Roland (Kate's arch-nemesis father) and a scene where Kate basically takes down a giant slowly metamorphosizing into a metal, fire-wielding monster by stabbing her lovely blade Sarrat into the giant and using it to climb up the giant's back.

I mean, really. You can't get much more actiony-hero than that.

Still love Kate and Curran. And this book is evidence the magic is still alive for me as a reader. And unbelievably, the book also seems to be setting the stage for more developments! There's Curran's take over of the mercenary guild, possible hints about Julie becoming more than just a kid for Kate to worry about, murky prophecies about more children on the horizon, etc. Can't wait to see what comes next.

*This review may contain mild spoilers for some*

"Stop trying so hard to fit in. I love you because you don't."

I spent the tail end of my birthday finishing this book. I took my time reading this, really savoring this story and all of its bits and pieces. I adore this world and the magic it places over me while reading about it. I still think this is one of the best series to date, and this installment is a vast improvement from a few of its predecessors.

This book starts out with Kate and Curran (ex-Best Lord now) adapting to life outside the keep. I never pictured them as home owners, in the suburbs, with Julie and their demon poodle, but boy do I love seeing the spin they put on it. Even with leaving the Pack and the Mercenary Guild, their members always come back for Kate and Curran's help. This time it's George (Mahon's daughter) in search for her missing secret boyfriend Eduardo, who has been working for the Guild.

Well, soon enough they find out just how bad of shape the Guild really is in. There are also a lot of unfinished jobs, and tons of different monsters running amuck. Mostly ghouls and giants, and the giants are being a real pain in the ass.

Another cool and different thing was that the book's main villain is a Djinn (Arabic Genie) Ifrit. I've never really read anything like this, so I thought it was an awesome concept that IA executed really well. (view spoiler)

I've had my problems with Curran, BIG PROBLEMS, but he was amazing in this book. He was trusting, considerate, there for Kate in every sense of their relationship, and he filled my heart with happiness. This was the book I needed of Curran. I can't wait for the last day of the Werewolf Summer.

You know who I don't have a problem with? Roland. Call me evil, heartless, whatever you want, but if the Applebee's scene didn't have you smiling the entire time, I have no words for you. I absolutely loved the whole thing. I understand you can't trust him, and he could be just pulling the wool over my eyes, but I can't help but like him. The story of Kate's mom brought so many tears to my eyes. I really don't know how to think, but I know how to feel, and my feelings aren't bad towards Roland. I can't wait to see how this relationship develops in 2016.

I also just want to add what a wonderful job these authors do with their side characters. The amount of love I have for Julie, Derek, Dali, Christopher, Ghastek, heck even Cuddles, is insane. They could write spinoffs for the rest of my life, and I'd buy them all. And this book is so freaking funny. This is one of the few series that actually make me laugh out loud while reading the whole thing. Literally, giggles from the first page to the last page. The banter in this book is 11/10.

"I will always be there. I will walk across the whole planet if I have to."
I closed my eyes and whispered, "I’ll meet you halfway."

This is a great installment in the ongoing Kate Daniels ("Magic") series by Ilona Andrews. I'm a big fan of the series and I thought this was a great entry. Kate and Curran are back in Atlanta and trying to separate themselves from the pack.

The mystery to solve in this novel is the disappearance of were-buffalo Eduardo who was a minor character earlier in the series. In this series we have a lot of scenes with Curran and Kate, but we also have some earlier characters coming back around for some page time including Julie, Kate's adopted daughter, Dali, Jim, Mahon, Derek, and of course Roland. We are definitely seeing continued growth in Kate's character as well as her abilities with the magic from her father's bloodline.

Without getting too far into spoiler territory, I love that a lot of the books in this series feature the folklore/monsters from a particular area or culture and this book is no exception. Very cool new monsters for Kate and Co. to battle.

Lots of action and a good dose of humor - exactly what I expect and love about this series!

My love for Ilona Andrews is not something I attempt to keep hidden. I can, in fact, be rather obnoxious about it. #sorrynotsorry

Their books are typically so far ahead of their peers, so much better in all the major areas--character development, world-building, interesting and original plot lines--AND they're hilarious to boot.

I feel like this warrants a certain level of fangirling.

That being said, for the very first time, I was disappointed by one of their books when Kate #7 came out last year. Don't get me wrong, it was still a decent book . . . but I've been classically conditioned to expect more of the Andrews.

By itself, it wouldn't have been a huge deal, but before that, while still really enjoying Kate #6, I had a handful of issues . . . weredolphins, various Kate/Curran situations that I ultimately understood, but did not like . . .

And while being a minority, I know that I am not alone in my feelings in either of those cases . . . which makes me happier than I could ever adequately communicate to inform you:

THEY'RE BACK.

One of my favorite things about the Andrews is that in every installment they take a myth, a creature of legend, a campfire story specific to one location or with roots across the globe, and while remaining true to the base elements, they somehow manage to make it wholly their own:

Vampires? Check.

Necromancers? Double check.

Shifters? Check x100.

To name a few.

In MAGIC SHIFTS, we meet their version of the ghoul. *shudders*

Ghouls usually fall on the low end of my Interesting Supernatural Creatures list, b/c 1. I don't like dead things, and 2. They eat dead people.

Kind of a double whammy.

BUT.

These ghouls are sentient . . . ish. Also, they're not dead.

I've encountered ghouls that were cowards and mindless scavengers, and I've encountered ghouls that were basically humans with unfortunate dietary requirements, but never ghouls that fell somewhere in between . . . Ghouls too driven by their hunger for dead flesh to qualify as human, but wily and just capable enough of rational thought not to be disregarded as animals. There are levels, some ghouls retaining more of their humanity than others, but the majority of those we meet . . . o.O

It may not sound like much of a distinction, but I found this version . . . significantly more sinister than either of its counterparts: a smart monster who would like nothing more than to violently end your life for the express purpose of letting your carcass decay before eating it.

*convulses with shudders*

SO. The Andrews put their own unique spin on even the most tired supernatural creatures.

But that's merely the tip of the Andrews' iceberg of awesome.

One of the easiest pitfalls for an UF series to fall into is the Post Get Together Doldrums. Even if you think you have no idea what I'm talking about, I promise, you do. It's when the heroine and her main love interest finally get their s*** together and begin their HEA . . . and you're suddenly bored.

Oh, if they hadn't finally gotten together, you'd be furious, maybe even furious enough to rage quit the series (we readers are terribly hard on authors, aren't we?), but now . . . Turns out there's a reason all the fairytales end with, "and they lived happily ever after."

Happily ever after is boring. It's enough to know that's what they're doing, we don't need to know the specifics.

Not so, KATE DANIELS.

In part, this is due to a slight modification of "HEA."

What Kate and Curran have is more TEA (together ever after) b/c KATE DANIELS is the most action-packed series I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

With the focus on the what is happening to the characters b/c plot vs. what is happening to the characters b/c character development (we no longer need the focus to be on development--they're awesome and we love them already), the Andrews don't have to come up with asinine scenarios in which their love is repeatedly tested, blah-friggin'-blah.

Instead Kate and Curran work together, not only letting each other exist simply as they are, but loving each other for it, and knowing each other's strengths and weaknesses so well that they help each other be their most deadly and efficient selves . . .

It's equal parts refreshing, gripping, and hilarious.

But they aren't mother birds pushing each other out of the nest, no, they are not. They have each other's backs. Always.

When something threatens Kate:

"The insect pointed a leg at me. “Die.”
Curran’s eyes went gold. His clothes tore, falling in shreds to the street, as the massive meld of human and lion spilled out. “Let’s see you try that s*** on me.”

And in return:

"Curran stood in the middle of the street, his hands still locked on the insect’s front pair of legs. The spider-scorpion was lunging at him again and again, trying to grip him with its pincers. If those mandibles closed on Curran, they’d slice his arms off.
Oh no, you don’t.
I charged the spider"

But even greater than the Andrews' ability to take a known quantity and make it new and interesting or to keep a steady, committed relationship from becoming BLAH, is the way they weave threads throughout their story drawing ALL of a MULTITUDE of different factors, people, and events into a cohesive whole.

I say this a lot, b/c it's one of my book peeves, but with MAGIC SHIFTS it is especially true: the sum is greater than the parts.

No one--NO ONE--does this better than Ilona and Gordon Andrews.

I'm not going to tell you what the Big Bad is. You'll find out in the book. Eventually. I will tell you that I was utterly sick of this creature. I may have even groaned a little bit when I figured out what it was. BUT. Andrews. The end.

Read it and see what I'm talking about. HIGHLY recommended.

Lions, Tigers and Bears, oh my.
What a tangled web of trouble poor Kate finds herself in. All she wanted was a few hours of the simple life. Just time to drink coffee and gaze at her loved ones in the mornings, time for privacy and time for laughter. Too bad their neighbors hate/fear them. Her friends husband disappeared, and she is forced to take on the search because of pack stuff BS. Things go from bad to much worse quickly, her father seeps into the edges of her sphere, a magical ancient baddy makes people die with a side of serious crazy. Then Kate makes a move, a move that will backlash into a tissue box worth of heartbreak. Holy crispy critters, that is all I'm saying on her role, you do not want this surprise ruined.
Curran, Julie, Derek, Jim and others are all second in this edition. I felt it was very Kate based, more than previous books. She had some issues to overcome and some lessons to learn, the others really could only support her while she did her thing. We had very little time with Curran outside of blood death and tears but them time was well worth the wait. He roared, ripped, snarled, shuttered and gave his all to his mate. Yes, there was pie, apple pie and Curran are never to be far apart. I just happen to have one in my fridge right now. < wink >
I really loved the book, it took the story to a higher level with the evolution of Kate. I did miss the interaction with side characters but she needed this push to keep the story fresh and moving. I read it an plan to listen to the audio next I think I would enjoy it even more on audio with all the action.

I read this in a binge of other books in the Kate Daniels series. This one stuck out to me with a slightly different voice. It seemed as if it was written more towards new readers as there was a great deal fo info dump in the beginning. It was broken up to only be introduced as needed, but still stuck out as a little too much. I think this flowed from teh other point that bothered me, she kept acting like she didn't know about Curran's presence. It was approached from a I have to get used to it aspect in the storyline, but the way it was described was as if these characters are realizing he is big and bad for the first time. This effect is used a few times to many in the introduction of this story and then dropped compeltely.
I was also disappointed in the magical escape from death that just seems too easy. Kate is finally seriously hurt (after powering through the injury through a great deal of battle) and is completely fine a day and a half later.

Even with these tiny annoyances the banter between Kate and Curran is there and the storyline presents the same non-stop challenges for her to overcome.

Magic Shift by Ilona Andrews
Urban Fantasy -Feb 23rd, 2016
5 stars

In Magic Shifts, Ilona Andrews brings up back to magical Atlanta. The heroine Kate has just taken over the city and become its guardian from her all seeing, powerful and slightly scary, father Roland.

Now that Kate and Curren have has resigned as Consort and Beast Lord. They thought their life would be simple, maybe even boring. Unfortunately, when Kate found herself becoming the rule/guardian of Atlanta the power shift changed. And with that that power comes the ambitious that want to take it from her. As Kate finds herself battling ghouls, the Order and even the Guild. Instead of enjoying domestic bliss Curren and Kate are constantly defending the city and trying to raise a young girl to boot. However, no longer being Beast Lord has meant that Kate and Curren are not as financially stable as they once were. Adding to their stress, Kate father is building a suspicious tower nearby and she hopes he won't try to take over her beloved Atlanta again. Will they be able to juggle work, defending the city, taking care a child and not go crazy?!

This book was fantastic. Humorous, exciting and non-stop action. It was way better than expected. I literally savored every scene. The last book had was such a triumph that I wondered how the authors would top it. What would Kate and Curren do now that Curren has retired as the powerful Beast Lord? And how will Kate find the power to defend against her father and the beings that want to contest her right to rule Atlanta? Well, the authors made this book an unqualified hit by starting them on a grand and great new adventure that reminds me a bit their earlier books in the series. The authors are very clever in that they build an engrossing story with fantastic and engaging characters but still maddeningly leave questions and clues that will guarantee to make the readers want to know more. Kate and Curren are still the star power couple and I love how they sweep up the bad guys. I also loved how they find their own, new community. Now that they are unable to return to the Keep I was worried they would be isolated and alone. Instead they are still surrounded by true friends that support them. I loved reading about their friends and sort of wished more was mentioned about Dali and Jim (Hint- book please?!). I was also exhilarating reading Kate push her new found powers and Curren takes some really kick a## control. Curren is not fazed in the least by resigning as Beast Lord in fact it almost seems to make him more free and deadly now that he is not held by the pack and ruling them. I can't wait to read more. What mischief and mayhem will they both get themselves into? Since they are now 'free' agents they are sort of making up their own rules and is it fun to read. I was also surprised by the small cameos with Kate's father and others will be intrigued by their new relationship. This series just gets better.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Eager anticipation flooded me as I nabbed up this latest installment in the Kate Daniels' series. Things were left in an interesting place with the last book (aren't they always?) and I really wanted to see what would happen next now that Curran and Kate have separated from the shifter community and Kate has drawn the figurative (and actual as it happens) line in the sand around Atlanta to keep her dear acquisitive daddy from adding her city to his conquer list.

This exciting Post-Apocalyptic Urban Fantasy series does not work well unless read in order, but it is fantastic so don't even think about getting skittish because this is book eight.

The story opens with Kate and Curran attempting to adjust to living in the 'Burbs with Julie, working cases through Cutting Edge, and adjusting to Curran no longer the Beast Lord. Kate laying claim to Atlanta in the face of her father's acquisitional plans is sure to begin having repercussions. But instead of getting to focus on being back to business as usual at Cutting Edge, Kate is informed that a large heard of ghouls is loose in the city and then they are begged to find missing were-buffalo, Eduardo Ortega, because the shifters won't look for him. And if that isn't enough, Kate can add a few more disturbing elements to her growing list of issues like giants rampaging, giant disgusting bugs, a mysterious stalker, trouble in the new neighborhood, issues with the Guild, and most disturbing of all? Her father wanting to have a sit-down family dinner at Applebee's to discuss wedding plans.

But with each new appearance of a giant, Kate and Curran can see that the one behind it all is growing more powerful and will soon get beyond their ability to stop if they doesn't come up with answers quick.

The world building and encounters with new mythology continues to amaze along with the intense action, suspense, and series story line.
I love following along with this familiar cast of characters (yes, even Kate's meglomaniac dad, Roland) as they are confronted by each new dangerous attack on their people and their city.
It's exciting and the pace clips along, but it doesn't become dizzying or confusing.
Kate is a heroine with depth. Her flaws and her strengths make her believable and engaging. I enjoyed how the authors took some time teasing out how the transition from Beast Lord to independent status living in the human world affects Curran. Cracked me up to see the nosy, bossy neighbor lady trying to address her complaints about the new eccentric neighbors that Kate and Curran are (the huge lion scaring the mail carrier made me giggle).

The twists of the case and the rallying of all the allies with the big scene battle near the end was perfect to keep me glued to the book. I groaned with disappointment to see the last page and now must await the next release.

Magic Shifts is a gripping, high-energy, fascinating read the likes of which only the dynamic writing team that is Ilona Andrews can deliver. Fans of the Kate Daniels series have come to expect an exciting, well-crafted, humorous, and unique adventure with each book in the series and Magic Shifts does not disappoint.

In their latest outing, Curran and Kate are adjusting to their new roles in life. No longer the Beast Lord and Consort, they must separate themselves from the Pack, which is easier said than done. While there are definitely some benefits to being civilians, Kate and Curran’s lives have been so wrapped up in the Pack for so long that it’s not always an easy adjustment. It’s interesting to watch them – and their friends – deal with the new order, and between Curran adjusting to life in the suburbs and Pack members circumventing the rules there are plenty of laughs to be found in this story. I can’t count the number of times I grinned at Kate’s one-liners and I am in awe of how seamlessly the authors blend humor and action.

But Magic Shifts isn’t all wry humor and ghoul-slaying. When one of their friends goes missing, Kate and Curran are thrust into the middle of a mystery that involves monsters, mercs, and mayhem. I won’t go into detail for fear of spoiling the story. Suffice it to say that – while the book’s main villain is as interesting and well-researched as one would expect and the stakes are high – the real treat for fans is that we learn new and important information about Kate that moves the overarching story forward. We also get to see how Kate and Curran are likely to find places for themselves on this new path they’ve taken. There is a lot going on in Magic Shifts, but somehow the authors keep the story light on its feet. Every new piece of information we learn is woven perfectly into the fabric of the overall series, making this an incredibly satisfying read on two levels – as an individual book and as a piece of a greater world. Also, don’t get me started on the scenes with Roland. I never expected to love the big bad of the series, but the authors have really outdone themselves in crafting a complex, interesting, shockingly appealing villain.

Magic Shifts is the eighth main novel in the Kate Daniels series. Though the authors do provide a sufficient amount of background information so that you could follow along if you were new to the books, this is unquestionably a series best read in order. Kate, Curran, and the family they’ve made for themselves have all grown and developed in fascinating ways over the course of the series. Every new story adds layers to the overarching plot and these fully-drawn, endearing characters, making it impossible not to care about them. The small moments and the large in this book all have meaning when you follow the series, and truly, there isn’t a dull moment to be found. I simply cannot do this story justice without spoiling the book, so I’ll leave you with this: fans of Kate Daniels, don’t miss Magic Shifts!

Kimberly
Review courtesy of Wit and Sin

In Magic Shifts, the magic didn't shift much, but Kate shifted from Consort at the Keep to homeowner at a suburban neighborhood. That's some shift. She's still a snarky kick-ass killer, though. The first few pages of this book have her snarking at Ghastek, much to his dismay, then analyzing a huge squad of ghouls, then joining with Curran to kill said squad. Then they go home to shower off all the ghoul gunk, and then someone has to be emotional at them. George somehow fell in love with Edward the were-buffalo she was snarking at last book, and her Dad Mahon the Kodiac Bear isn't having any of it. Now Edward disappeared, she can't ask her dad for help because what if he -did- it, and she can't ask Jim the new Beast Lord for help because of power plays among the alphas.

So, is this book going to about ghouls or about the missing buffalo? Yes ;)

So, George has daddy issues, Curran has daddy issues, Kate has daddy issues with multiple dads, Edward has daddy issues that he doesn't even know about yet, the mysterious man on the beautiful flying horse has daddy issues - the only one who doesn't have daddy issues is the djinn, and he wants to destroy the world.

The Good:
-Curran as a next door neighbor. Trying to be normal.
-The neighbors reacting to a 7 foot lion ghosting through the neighborhood.
-The -reason- a djinn grants three wishes. Hint, it's not because they're nicey nice creatures.
-Head damage causes amnesia, people's reactions to it, and information that was found out because the amnesia made people look in unexpected directions

The Bad:
-I got nothing. Book was great.
-Except for the 'girl+boy/hate each other = girl+boy/falling in love" trope. I really don't like it, at all.

The Double Take
-You know the phrase 'dead and gone'? There's a reason both phrases are needed. Also a flamethrower.
-Is it a dragon or isn't it? What's a proto dragon or a dracnoid?
-When you take Julie out of school, leave a note for the other parent or there will be Arguments. This is such normal thing, but the place they were having the argument was just so Kate&Curran that I kept snickering through the arguments. While Julie rolled her eyes.
-Ghouls. They eat dead people. And they -- what? Really? Cool!

This is a book from the Kate Daniels series which needs to be read in order.
This is one of those pivotal books in a series, where there is a major twist that can and could change everything.
All Kate wants is a life with her made family, as normal is for them. But when a friend from the pack goes missing, and as usual Kate’s life gets turned upside down when she and Curran step in to find Eduardo.
As usual, Ilona Andrews does a wonderful job of balancing action, drama, and character growth. Again, one enters Kate’s world, and has a wonderful ride through out. And this installment hooks you and never lets go.
There is one thing I really found as an intriguing with this book. Every author has their own twists when it comes to supernatural and Para-natural creatures. Some stay closer to the original. Some blend the classic with the new, and others just take a creature and bam, create something completely out there. I won’t spoil it, but I would have never come up with the idea in this book, loved the unexpected twist.

Magic Shifts is the 8th book in Ilona Andrews, Kate Daniels series. I haven't read this series before and while reading the start I quickly realised there was quite a bit of back story that I had missed out on. As the story goes on its pretty easy to catch up so even if you haven read the other books in the series you can quite easily read this without being disadvantaged. Truthfully all it does it gives you another 7 books to locate after you finish this one!

I was expecting something a little different when I first started this book, but can happily say that although there was a lot more detective work than im used to it was still a delight to read this book. It was beautifully written, gave a chance for fans to reunite with some older characters while introducing new characters too. We have the bad guys, the good guys and those in between, what else could you possibly ask for in a story?

Kate and Curran are our main characters of the story who left their pack at the end of book 7 to start over on their own away from the politics of being in a pack and all the fighting. They are supposed to run their small business while living in isolation away from the pack to truly decide on whether their decision is the right one. Their story tale life stops as suddenly as it begins when they learn their good friend, Eduardo has gone missing. They have no choice but to help trace down what has happened and in doing so risk invading pack space.

This book has so much going on it and makes it very easy to get addicted to what is going to happen next. Between fighting off gory ghouls, giants and djinns they also have to tread carefully around the pack which all makes for a pretty heavy session of reading. Magic Shifts also reintroduces older characters that help/hinder throughout which leaves the reader wondering who will be in the next story and whether their predictions will run true.

Magic Shifts also allows Kate to grow as a person from what she was like before Curran through to what she is experiencing now. I feel like she has nearly come full circle and its exciting to see what with unfold for her next.

Warning: This review may contain spoilers from the previous books in the series. So if you have not read through Book 7, you may not want to read any further.

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After the big shocker in the last book, Kate and Curran have left the pack to allow Kate's dear old dad, Roland, to say he "punished" them for Kate claiming the city. Now Curran is patrolling the 'burbs in beast form and scaring all the busybody neighbors out of their wits. And they also sit down to dinner with Roland... at Applebee's. So is he a super bad guy, is he a doting dad, or what? I am on the fence about this one... I think I know which way it's gonna go, but I still hold out a little hope for Kate and Roland to develop some kind of fluffy bunny familial tie. (I'm delusional, I know.)

Though Kate and Curran have left the pack, the pack hasn't really left them. They constantly have pack members (or former pack members) coming to them for help, showing up at their breakfast table, and even moving in next door. In just one situation, they discover that Eduardo (the werebison) is missing after taking on gigs at the Mercenary Guild. Their investigation into Eduardo's whereabouts puts them on the path of killer zombies, odd shapeshifters that don't die, and an ancient evil newly awakened. Although the action in this series is always good, this one was not quite as up to par for me as the books with Roland and Hugh d'Ambray and Hera. However, like previous books, the Andrews' writing team continues to weave wonderful aspects of mythology into the story, and we get to experience some Arabic mythology in this latest installment. I really enjoy these aspects of the story.

I love seeing Kate and Curran's domestic life, and I think the community and family they are building outside of the pack is going to have a really special dynamic. Though it does seem weird referring to Jim as the Beast Lord - that will always be Curran for me. We get another great bathtub scene in this book, which harkens me back to the days of Coronas and a hot tub during the Games. I wish I could elaborate on it a little more but I am writing this review almost a month after I listened to the audiobook. (Procrastination, thy name is Jen.)

So now I am anxiously awaiting Book 9 to come out sometime in 2016... and I am so excited to meet the authors at Nola Storycon next year. If you have the opportunity to read or re-read (as is my case) these books, give the audio versions a shot because the narrator, Renee Raudman, is absolutely fantastic.

4 stars / 3 flames.

Eighth in the Kate Daniels urban fantasy series and revolving around Kate and her Beast Lord, er, her former Beast Lord in the partially destroyed (and dystopian) Atlanta, Georgia.

My Take
Oh, lordy, Kate cracked me up right away with that smart remark to Ghastek about their…romantic rendezvous…I think I read and re-read it four or five times, just to thoroughly enjoy it, lol.

It's a transition novel as Andrews sets up Curran and Kate's new life. Gets them settled in their neighborhood, introduces us to their neighbors (a mixed bag, lol), explores the mechanics of separating their lives from that of the Pack, and investigates what Curran will do now.

Seems that while Curran misses the challenge of leading the Pack, he does NOT miss the committee meetings. I hear that! He is having a ball partnering up with Kate on her jobs. I loved the scene with Camo Pants and his partner as Curran keeps asking Kate if he can have fun yet. No! It's illegal becomes a popular refrain, lol.

It is funny when Kate and Curran get together with Jim and Dali. Dali gets how awful being Consort is while Jim would love for Curran to come back, although…then again, he is loving the power to choose the Pack's course. If only he didn't have those committee meetings and people to deal with…

More laughter as Kate explains how Doolittle's talent is for putting patients at ease while Jim's is menace. It's almost funnier when Curran goes about with Kate on jobs, and everyone comments on how nasty that Beast Lord is. Didn't everyone know that Kate is with Curran?

Interesting about Curran's buyout from the Pack and his and Kate's need for money. I do however think that the Five Hundred Acre Wood is well worth it, lol.

Yep, there are days when I, too, am a "special snowflake"… I already adore Eduardo. He's such a romantic. Poor Ghastek really does have to familiarize his people with the Sharrim. He is so conflicted about dealing with his god's daughter. And then there's that first meet with Luther…
"You! The unclean one! Tell me everything."
Don't believe that Magic Shifts is all fun and games, however. When Kate's power word backfires, Andrews writes a chapter that will make you weep in fear. Saiman does an about-face in this one. Never did I think to see the day when he turned away from Kate. Julie discovers a side effect from the blood transfusion in Magic Slays , 5, and Kate is terrified what the future will bring for Julie. Worse is that family dinner…at Applebee's. When's the wedding? Living near the children? Checking on your eating habits… I'm going to steal your child and destroy you…

There's a convoluted bit of reasoning on how ghouls came about, and it does make sense in the end. You just need to read c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y.

Omigod, Robert's happy about that flame-spewing bull. It gives Curran a chance to work off some steam…ROFL…again. It's a battle out where the neighbors can see, and…oops… Oh, boy, then there's the Mahon-George, um, battle on the lawn. George gives her dad what-for when he brings up what she owes him for feeding, raising, and clothing her. And she's darned right! Mahon lets us all know what a hypocrite he is.

Whoa…Kate undergoes an epiphany after that scare. She's decided she has to fight smarter. Who knew Kate could learn such a radical lesson, lol?

The Story
Two months ago, Kate accidentally claimed the city of Atlanta when she went up against Roland. And two months ago, she and Curran stepped down as Consort and Beast Lord of the Pack.

Now Eduardo is missing, and his Alpha, Mahon, is secretly thrilled while the Mercenary Guild is hurtling over a cliff into bankruptcy.

It's the "reception" Kate and Curran get at the Guild headquarters that fuels Curran's decision. It should be a bumpy ride, lol.

The Characters
Kate Daniels (Roland's people call her Sharrim , of the king) and Curran Lennart are on their own at last. Cuddles is Kate's humongous mule. Sarrat is the sword made from the bones of Kate's grandmother ( Magic Breaks , 7). Julie is Kate's daughter who can see magic ( Magic Burns , 2). Dali taught Julie how to drive! Grendel is Kate's giganto poodle who turns into a black hound. Brutus was a black Friesian belonging to Hugh. Seems Brutus really isn't suitable as a horse for Julie to ride. Kalina was Kate's mother before Roland killed her.

Cutting Edge Investigations is…
…Kate and Andrea's detective agency that specializes in magic problems. Ascanio Ferara, a fifteen-year-old bouda intern, and Derek Gaunt, a wolf shifter devoted to Curran, work there.

The Pack is…
…over a thousand shifters-strong. Georgetta "George" is Mahon's one-armed daughter ( Magic Rises , 6) and the Pack's clerk of court. She's also in love with Eduardo Ortego, a.k.a., Eduardo Bassam Amir-Moez, a werebuffalo and a member of Clan Heavy. Max is Eduardo's pug. Rima is his mother, a werebison. Mr. Bahir Amir-Moez is Julie's ancient history and Islamic studies teacher. He's also Eduardo's real father. Amal is the winged black Arabian.

Clan Heavy are the really, really big shapeshifters: bears, buffalo, etc. Mahon, the Pack executioner, is their alpha. Martha is his mate. Patrick is Mahon's nephew and his enforcer. Jim Shrapshire, a werejaguar and the cat alpha, is the former head of Pack security, and now he's the Beast Lord. Dali is his mate, a vegetarian tiger shifter who works spells via calligraphy, and she's the Beast Lady. Rodney is one of her personal guards. Barabas Gilliam is a weremongoose and the Pack lawyer; Jezebel is another lawyer and in a relationship with Louis, a widower with a daughter. Christopher was rescued in Magic Rises …a very worthwhile cause as he's the one with the panacea recipe. Unfortunately, he's not all there after Hugh's, um, attentions. Desandra is the Alpha for Clan Wolf.

Dr. Doolittle, a were-honeybadger, is the Pack medmage who has spent a lot of time patching Kate up. Nasrin is another medmage. Sam is one of the nurses. Ariela is having a baby. Raphael Medrano owns Medrano Reclamations and is the alpha for Clan Bouda. He's mated to the pregnant Andrea Nash, Kate's business partner. Robert Lonesco is one of the alpha Rats and has taken over as chief of security; Thomas is his husband. Artie and Jardin, a wererat, are part of the security team. Trisha will become the new Pack lawyer.

The Mercenary Guild is…
…the largest for-profit magic cleanup agency in town. Kate's been a member for nine years. Their founder, Red, died. The Clerk worked as the dispatcher and recordkeeper for the Guild; now he's working at the Steel Horse, a border bar ( Magic Bleeds , 4). Lori is the Clerk's standby. Lori's parents, Karen and Brenda, run Sweet Cheeks Bakery. Lago Vista is one of the mercs and a glory hound. Too bad he didn't take Kate's advice. Bob Carver, the chief personnel officer and the merc leader, is one of the "Four Horsemen" along with Rigan, Ken (mage), and Ivera (a firebug good with blades). Bob wants to raid his pension fund. Mark Meadows is the operations manager. Christian Heyward is a merc who quit. Alice Golansky has a grudge against Kate. Mac and Leroy are a couple of nasty jerks too interested in helping themselves. Crystal; Charlie used to be a regular; Chug is a drunk; Juke; Alex Simos is mourning his Lexus; Cruz's cowardly actions get him killed; Sonia; Paula reckons she ain't a janitor; and, Rose are all mercenaries.

Pamela Oswald on Chamblee Dunwoody Road is having a tick problem. Sherlock and Watson are their beleaguered cats. Mr. Oswald is most grateful and has some information. Arnie and Justin Thomas Rogers are/were the Oswalds' neighbors; Rogers was the cranky one.

Biohazard Division is…
…actually called The Center for Magical Containment and Disease Prevention. Luther quit working for PAD and now works for Biohazard. Mitchell was one of their scientists until an experiment went too far. Adib is a new djinn. Patrice Lean is the head of Infectious Diseases. Margo.

The Order of Merciful Aid are…
…the knights, and you have to hand all autonomy over to them. Their word becomes law and you can't fight their decisions. Nick Feldman is a knight of the order, promoted from crusader to knight-protector, and a major jerk. He's taken Ted's place as the leader of the Atlanta chapter. Samantha Binek is a knight-archivarius with a sterling reputation, specially trained to deal with dangerous magical artifacts.

The Paranormal Activity Police Division (PAD) is part of the police department, a magical SWAT team, but they're undermanned. The Military Supernatural Defense Units (MSDU) are part of the army.

Volhves are Russian druids, really powerful pagan priests who worship Chernobog. A trio of witches are the ruling witches: Sienna is the Maiden who sees into the future, and she has some concerns. Saiman is a frost giant and a polymorph, part Aesir and part Loki. The grandson of two Viking gods, he specializes in information. Arnav, with his son, Nitish, and his daughter, Neha, have grown Kadam Arms, a smithy, over the years. Prema is his wife. Seven Star Academy is where Julie is supposed to be attending school.

The People are…
…a combination corporation and research facility who combine manipulating the undead and making money with the Casino, their Atlanta headquarters. Ghastek is the new leader of the Atlanta-based People. Rowena is the Casino's PR person and the third strongest Master of the Dead. She's also distantly related to Kate and is bound to help her. The navigators who race after Rowena include Evgenia, Toakase Kakau, and Ryan Kelly.

Kate's father, Roland, a.k.a., Nimrod, the Builder of Towers, is their god with nearly godlike powers. He's currently building up his Midwest empire. Hugh d'Ambray is Roland's Warlord, the Preceptor. Seems he's been exiled for failing. Now Roland can't be held responsible for any mischief Hugh gets up to.

The Immortus pathogen is a disease responsible for creating vampires whose minds are blank. They're controlled by navigators, a necromancer, who directs the vampire like a remote-controlled car. A 128 is an incident in which a vampire consumes too much blood at once.

Heather Savell is one of Kate and Curran's neighbors. Not one of the welcoming ones. She'd love to control everything about their street. Ain't she gonna be surprised when she finds out what Curran's done, ROFL. Voron was Kate's adoptive father and had been Roland's Warlord; he had been enchanted by Kate's mother to take care of her. Anna Feldman is a clairvoyant and Greg's ex-wife.

Ghouls are smart, fast, and vicious with a hunger for people; they're also the fallen djinn, djinn who have lost their magic. An ifrit is a very powerful djinn. Shakush the Hammer was cursed by a holy man to go insane.

Lazarus Builders thought they had invented a sure-fire way to protect buildings against magic waves.

The Cover and Title
The cover is a range of yellow greens with a scratched-up Kate in her black leather jacket and a low-cut black tanktop and jeans, holding her new sword, Sarrat, upright in front of her as she faces us, her gaze intent on the reader. Curran is in his lion form, sporting a wide-mouthed snarl as he faces us.

The title is how the enemy grows stronger, as his Magic Shifts and his magic reservoir fills with each move.

Lucky for me, I discovered Ilona Andrews late in the game, which meant that I was able to do a marathon speed-read through Books 1-7. Then I had to wait a few months for Book 8 to be released.

I’ve read many books and many different series, trilogies, what have you, and the one requirement for a series that I have is: movement/growth. Whether it’s the plot or the characters, I need to see growth, preferably in both categories. Usually, most of the time, an author is able to keep the plot moving. That’s the easy part because he or she already has a plot in mind when he or she decides to write a trilogy or series. It’s character growth that becomes difficult. The writing duo of Ilona Andrews absolutely nails this requirement in both aspects.

First, I love the world that is written. The idea of almost a post-apocalyptic world where magic is what brings down technology. And I love the mix of technology and magic in the Kate Daniels world. You still have cars, but you also have horses and donkeys. You have guns, but you also have to fight with swords and crossbows. Shapeshifters? I’ll admit that they’re not my favorite paranormal alpha male, but I’d take a Kate Daniels shapeshifter over a Kate Daniels vampire any day. And magic? Just makes Kate Daniels’ world totally awesome.

If you’re reading this review, you’re not new to the Kate Daniels world. For that reason, this review will be more focused on technical issues, rather than what happens in the plot.

Ilona Andrews obviously know where they want to go with the Legend of Kate Daniels. Perhaps it was just a vague forest of 3 or 5 trees in the beginning, but they have done a wonderful job of planting and growing more and more trees in their forest. Book 1 did a fabulous job of introducing the characters and the world. With each successive book, we learned more about the characters. More importantly, the characters grew together. While each book picked up from the last book, each book definitely stands alone as a distinct and separate book. There is a new villain to be fought, new problems that the gang must face, and yet, there is still a unifying theme throughout all the books. And I love that the characters are maturing, and learning, and growing. You don’t have Kate making the same mistakes over and over. Kate and Curran got together and they are fighting and working together. A very big pet peeve of mine is when I read a series and each book is just a repeat of the one before—same formula over and over again. As an example, take a look at Jennifer Estep’s Spider Assassin series. Or Jeaniene Frost’s god-awful Night Prince series. Kate, Curran, Derek, and the rest of the crew remain who they are, but they get better with each novel because they actually mature as real people do, as opposed to retaining their one-dimensional characteristics as book characters often do.

For example, Kate has her fears that remain constant throughout Books 1-8: her father. First, it was a fear mixed with a need for revenge that kept her in hiding. Then it grew to making the decision that she couldn’t hide anymore. Kate’s character continued to grow as she realized that she didn’t need to blindly seek “revenge” anymore. With authors who do not allow their characters to grow, we would probably have multiple books where Kate always gets close to confronting her father, but then something interferes at the very last moment. Book after book of this same plot. Not so here. Different villains, different situations, different crises, and throughout it all, the characters change for the better.

****Spoiler free****

They have done it again...another enjoyable read and sad it is over. This is the only series I have stuck with for this long. It is one of my favorite series.

It is hard to write without giving away spoilers so I'm going to keep it brief. The story begins with Kate and Curran stepping down from being Beast Lord/Consort to ordinary folks. They have a grace period they have to fulfill as part of the pact where they cannot enter the Keep or influence any Keep member to join them. Of course, there are adjustments to be made living as a normal every day couple after stepping down from being the most powerful couple in Atlanta. However, don't let their situation bother you as Kate and Curran's life is never, ever normal :). The more Kate craves normal the more s*** comes to her.

There's a new enemy in town who has kidnapped one of their own. Kate, Curran and others are racing against time and fighting everything supernatural to figure out who the bad guy is. Is it Roland? Or someone totally new?? And why kidnap? What's the end game? Well, I cannot tell you :). Needless to say, they do figure it out.

There are as usual witty scenes. It is Kate and Curran we're talking about...Com'on there's always funny dialogues with them. I LOVE their relationship dynamics. They are one of my favorite book couples. Seeing how much their relationship has grown with each book is amazing. Their love/respect for each other and those they love/protect only grows. How they will kill to protect the ones they love and even risk their lives is crazy. Of course, no book is complete without Kate going through almost near death experience. Magic Shifts is no different in that respect. I love the depth of Kate and Curran's feelings for each other and you can see it with every action. Love it.

Kate also finds our more about her new living conditions. The neighbors are douchebags and she loves to rattle them. We have brief appearances from Derrick, Barabus, Jim/Daly, Doolittle (best med-mage ever). She also finds out some more details about her family background etc. I would have liked to see more of these side characters but, I guess, only so much can fit in a book.

There's a funny Applebee's scene in the book towards the latter half. I cannot say much without spoilers. It made me chuckle very much.

Epilogue definitely gave us an idea into what we can expect in the next book. Highly recommend this book. Next book it seems will be epic.

There are times when I am reading a book and I just have to wonder "How do they do it?" How can an author, in the case of Magic shifts two authors in the form of and husband and wife team, come up with a world so complex? So utterly original that I'm in awe of the work.

That is where I have been with this entire series. When most authors were making heroes of vampires, Ilona Andrews turned them into ugly rotting, brainless monsters that are basically the puppet to their avatar.

They took our heroin and gave her serious baggage and made her a killer, a mercenary who can very much live up to that name. From where book one Magic Bites starts to where we are now it has been such an epic ride. I have loved every minute of it!

Needless to say you can not start this story on this book. Go back and Start at book 1 Magic Bites you will not regret it.

In Magic Shifts Kate and Curran are trying life on without the pack. It is interesting for Curran to adjust to say the least. He has been the Beast Lord for so long, for him to give up so much power for Kate leaves her unsure if this is where he really wants to be.

In true Curran fashion he just pushes on and doesn't bend to life, life bends to him!

I loved seeing more of Kate's and Curran's relationship. I honestly think it is one of the best parts of the entire story. Experiencing their love and friendship their playful banter. Kate is so sarcastic with such a sharp wit and curran is her perfect counterpart.

"Besides, if I'd decided to pull Carver's spine out of his body, I would've done it already." "Can you actually do that?" Curran frowned. "I don't know. I mean theoretically if you broke the spine above the pelvis, you could, but then there are ribs... I'll have to try it sometime."
Okay, then. That was not disturbing. Not at all. "What do you suppose normal people talk about on their car rides?"

That passage made me laugh. It was so Curran and Kate!

True to form, life is never simple or relaxing for this couple. Instead of living a quiet life in the suburbs old evils pop up to cause havoc. New alliances are drawn and old friends turn their back at Kate and Curran's time of need. They are pushed to the brink and it was such a wild emotional ride to go on. I absolutely can not wait for the next book!...Sara

Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews is the 8th book in their wonderful urban fantasy Kate Daniels series. I have been a fan of this series from the beginning, and in each book, our heroine Kate Daniels continues to evolve to be stronger, more powerful, and very much in love with our hero, Curran. When we last left off in Magic Breaks, Kate and Curran stepped down as BeastLord and Consort, and left the pack; a new era began, with Kate’s father, Roland now becoming more visual.

In Magic Shifts, Kate, Curran and Julie are living in house in suburbs, getting used to not having the responsibilities of the pack. But any peace Kate envisions, doesn’t last too long. They decide to get involved with the Mercenary Guild, which is falling apart. At this point, one of their pack friends has disappeared, and as a favor, they try to find him, without the help of the pack.

Nothing in this world is easy, as it is filled with magic and creatures, and no one does this better then Andrews. When the magic is up, Kate utilizes her power, which continues to get stronger. She is after all the daughter of the most powerful being in any world, in fact just about invincible. Kate has claimed Atlanta in the last book, as she does not want her father to control and destroy it. The crux of this series at this point is if Kate can find away to stop her father, and whatever plans he really has. She is not fooled by his happiness to have his daughter close by, as she knows he tried to kill her as a baby, and what’s to stop him now.

When trying to find her friend, they come across strange happenings, with creatures trying to kill some cats, then other beings. The protagonist is one of the most dangerous villains, who takes the form of other humans, creatures and a Giant; just about impossible to kill. Kate has to pull in some of her friends to discover what this villain is and try to stop it before he kills all her family and friends.

What I love about this series, besides the fantastic world building, exciting adventures, and great secondary characters, is Kate and Curran. It is so much fun to watch them fight together to destroy their enemies; listen to their fun banter; enjoy how deep their love for each other is, not to mention their hot chemistry. The last half of the book was nonstop pulse pounding action that had us on the edge of our seats to the very end. The duo that makes up the writing team of Ilona Andrews (Ilona & Gordon Andrews) continues to give us sensational stories and keeps us coming back for more, as they leave us with some temptations of the future. The Kate Daniels series is one of the best, and very well written. If you have not started this series, I suggest you do so, by starting with the first book, since you need to see how Kate continues to evolve, as well as her love for Curran.