Review Kate Daniels series by Ilona (and Gordon) Andrews and Giveaway

I liked it very much!

I would say that the volumes of the series are fantastic- detective novels. The starting point is always a mystery, and on the unraveling of that mystery comes to depend upon the fate of many people.

The Series combines very well a lot of superstitions, supernatural forces with the human emotions and flaws and makes us wonder actually how good people are, how more human they are than non-human beings?

The origin of all these supernatural beings is explained, and their appearances are not always what we expected.

The element that unites the volumes is, of course, Kate Daniels. Step by step, you are showing her true lineage (you guess, but you can’t be sure), but that does not reduce any suspense because there are always new elements, situations, ties and riskiness.

No time to get bored; between fight scenes (in which Kate's suffering and only the idea that  she is the main character still let you breathe) and "romantic" scenes (for which actually you’ll crave) you're dealing with a series of events and characters that keep you close to the book. The secondary characters are important and in the process they’ll acquires new valences. They are those that directly influence the decisions of Kate.

Kate? She’s a hero to our taste. She doesn’t accept everything and she’s the living (still) proof that the proverb that says "splinter does not fall far from the tree" does not always apply ... I like the fact that she is not the only kick-ass girl in the story and not the only one who has something to hide.

Curran? (deep sigh) He will surely become your favorite! Which Dimitri, which Bones, which Barrons? Well, we don’t forget about them, but Curran could easily sit in their company and even take the leadership (maybe I’ll accept a duumvirate: Curran and Barrons) It’s something not to like about such man? But there are some good guys who can find easily a place in the pantheon of the urban fantasy gods: Jim, Derek, Saiman, Raphael - keep an eye on them too. Unfortunately, the good characters will suffered also and some of them will not survive - which brings bonus points to the series: not everything is smooth and not everything will be solved as we would like.

The humor is present in the right places and in the right amount. Sarcastic, witty lines are at home and give the “salt and pepper” to the series and to the romantic relationships.

I have plenty to say about it, but if I don’t stop it’s possible to reveal too much. I prefer to wait and talk after you’ll reading too.

Romanian:

Mie mi-a plăcut foarte mult!

Aş putea spune că volumele seriei sunt romane polițiste fantastice. Punctul de plecare este întotdeauna dezlegarea unui mister, dezlegare de care ajunge să depindă soarta multora.

Seria îmbină fericit o mulțime de superstiții, forțe supranaturale cu emoțiile şi viciile omeneşti şi ne face să ne întrebăm cu cât sunt mai buni oamenii, cu cât sunt mai umani decât ființele supra/non-umane?

Originea tuturor acestor ființe supranaturale este explicată, iar aparițiile lor nu sunt întotdeauna cum ne-am fi aşteptat.

Elementul care uneşte volumele este, bineînțeles, Kate Daniels. Uşor, usor, ți se arată adevărata ei genealogie (o bănui, dar nu poți fi sigur), dar asta nu reduce cu nimic suspansul pentru că apar mereu elemente, situații, legături şi primejdii noi.

Nu ai timp să te plictiseşti; între scenele de luptă (în care Kate suferă şi doar ideea că e totuşi personajul principal te mai lasă să respiri) şi scenele "romantice" (după care efectiv tânjeşti) ai de a face cu o serie de întâmplări şi personaje care te țin lipit de carte. Personajele secundare sunt importante şi pe parcurs capătă noi valențe. Ele sunt cele care influenteaza în mod direct deciziile lui Kate.

Kate? O eroină pe gustul nostru. Nu acceptă orice şi e dovada (încă) vie că proverbul "aşchia nu sare departe de trunchi" nu se aplica întodeauna... îmi place şi faptul că ea nu este singura kick-ass girl din poveste şi nici singura care are ceva de ascuns.

Curran (deep sigh)? Cu siguranță va deveni preferatul vostru! Ce Dimitri, ce Bones, ce Barrons?? Mă rog, nu-i uitam nici pe ei, dar Curran poate sta lejer în compania lor şi chiar să ia conducerea grupului (accept un duumvirat: Curran şi Barrons). Cui nu i-ar plăcea asemenea exemplar?? Dar, mai sunt câțiva băieți buni care îşi pot găsi liniştit locul în panteonul modern al zeilor urban fantasy: Jim, Derek, Saiman, Raphael – stați cu ochii şi pe ei. Din păcate, personajele bune au şi ele de suferit, iar unele dintre ele nu supraviețuiesc - ceea ce aduc în plus seriei: nu totul este roz şi nu totul se rezolvă cum am vrea.

Nu lipseşte umorul şi acesta e pus unde şi cum e mai bine. Replicile acide sunt la ele acasă şi dau sarea şi piperul seriei şi a relațiilor romantice.

Aş avea destule de spus, dar dacă mă apuc s-ar putea să vă dezvălui prea multe. Prefer să vă aştept şi să vorbim după ce citiți şi voi. Vă spun doar că în niciun moment nu mi-am zis: partea asta seamănă cu... asta parcă ar fi... Nu! Totul e original!

cateva citate/some quotes:

“The vampire stared at me, his mouth slack as Ghastek assessed his options. I took a couple of forms from my desk, put them into the vamp's mouth, and pulled them up by their edges.
"What are you doing?" Ghastek asked.
"My hole puncher broke."
"You have no respect for the undead.” , Magic Burns

“I don't want it to be attributed to a loss of control on my part. When I throw you out of the window, I want there to be no doubt the act was deliberate.” Magic Burns

“I can't give you the white picket fence, and if I did, you'd set it on fire.” Magic Bleeds

“You don't cause problems. You cause catastrophes.” Magic Burns

“Kate short-circuits my brain. In my head we always have these clear coherent exchanges, but once we meet, what comes out it is, “Kate, do what I say or I’ll kill you.” Her default reply is, “Fuck you!” and we go downhill from there.” Curran POV

“The phone rang. I picked it up.
“Are you sitting down?” Curran's voice asked.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Click.
I listened to the disconnect signal. If he wanted me to sit, then I'd stand. I got up. The chair got up with me and I ended up bent over my desk, with the chair stuck to my butt. I grabbed the edge of the chair and tried to pull it off. It remained stuck.
I would murder him. Slowly. And I'd enjoy every second of it.” Magic Bleeds

“She crouched with her hand out. What the hell was she doing…

"Here, kitty, kitty, kitty."

Oh my God, she was retarded and I was going to kill Jim.” Curran POV

“His Majesty needs a can-I girl anyway. And I'm not it."

"A can-I girl?" Andrea frowned.

I leaned back. "'Can I fetch your food, Your Majesty? Can I tell you how strong and mighty you are, Your Majesty? Can I pick your fleas, Your Majesty? Can I kiss your ass, Your Majesty? Can I..." It dawned on me that Raphael was sitting very still. Frozen, like a statue, his gaze fixed on the point above my head. "He's standing behind me, isn't he?" Andrea nodded slowly.

"Technically it should be 'may I'," Curran said, his voice deeper than I remembered. "Since you're asking for permission." Why me? "To answer your question, yes, you may kiss my ass. Normally I prefer maintain my personal space, but you're a Friend of the Pack and your services have proven useful once or twice. I strive to accommodate the wishes of persons friendly to my people. My only question is, would kissing my ass be obeisance, grooming, or foreplay?" - Curran to Kate”, Magic Strikes

“I gave him a smile. I was aiming for sweet, but he turned a shade paler and scooted a bit farther from me. Note to self: work more on sweet and less on psycho-killer.” Magic Strikes

“I turned to leave and paused before the gap in the ruined wall. "One last thing, Your Majesty. I'd like a name I can put into my report, something shorter than typing out 'The Leader of the Southern Shapechanger Faction.' What should I call you?"

"Lord."

I rolled my eyes.

He shrugged. "It's short.” Magic Bites

“Kate makes good sausage," Jim said.

Six pairs of eyes stared at me. Thank you, Mr. Wonderful. Just what I needed.

"Oh yeah," Andrea snapped her fingers. "The links? The ones we had the beginning of the month? I didn't know you made those. I thought they were bought. They were so good." Her smile was positively cherubic. Of all the times not to be able to shoot laser beams out of my eyes...

"What do you put into your sausage, Kate?" Raphael wanted to know, giving me a perfectly innocent look.

Werejaguars with big mouths with a pinch of werehyena thrown in. "Venison and rabbit."

"That sounds like some fine sausage," Doolittle said. "Will you share the recipe?"

"Sure."

"I had no idea you were a sausage expert," Curran said with a completely straight face.

Die, die, die, die...

Even Derek cracked a smile. Raphael put his head down on the table and jerked a little.

"Is he choking?" Dali asked, wrinkling her forehead.

"No, he just needs a moment," Curran said. "Young bouda males. Easily excitable.” Magic Strikes

“I think you’re confused as to the nature of our relationship. You and I, we don’t get along. You’re a psychopathic control freak. You order me around and I want to kill you. I’m a pigheaded insubordinate ass. I drive you mad and you want to strangle me.” Magic Strikes

Perhaps our international friends have read the series already. For those who didn't read it and for our Romanian friends, we offer the chance to win Magical Bites (Kate Daniels #1).

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