#TravelingtoTerminus Review ~ Magic Rises ~ Ilona Andrews

Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews
Kate Daniels #6
Release Date: July 30, 2013
Genre: Adult, Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased Paperback
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Best Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack's shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there's little available in Atlanta.

Kate can't bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute--and they'll pay him in medicine. With the young people's survival and the Pack's future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer--but they have little doubt that they're heading straight into a trap...

It's been a few years since I read the Andrews - they welcomed me back into the Keep with open arms...and bared teeth.

Magic Rises evoked so many feelings, I thought I'd list them here.

• Sadness and Anger

I felt sadness over what the Pack was dealing with watching their kids go loup - and not being able to do a thing about it. I was sad and angry that the Pack was pulled into a trap with a cure being dangled as bait. And I was sad but mostly mad at Curran over behavior and my lack of understanding it for a large portion of the book.
I was saddened and angered that Kate was made to feel as though she'd never fit in the Pack - that no matter what she did, how loyal she is, how long she'd fight, some would never fully accept her.

• Surprise

I was shocked at who was behind the trap and all that went down after the reveal. I was surprised at some of the horrific things that occurred while the Pack was performing their duties away from the Keep. I was surprised at the many new creatures introduced and the mythology behind them.
I was shocked, horrified, and deeply saddened by certain events that happened at the direction of the one who set the trap as well.

• Satisfaction

The Andrews know how to deliver a well-crafted story. It was engaging and compelling. It was action-packed with incredibly choreographed fighting scenes. They inject just enough humor to keep me from wanting to curl up and cry. Their characters are exquisitely crafted, personalities crystal cut and clear. And their mythology and world building is riveting.

Magic Rises has it all! And I'm chomping at the bit to read the next installment. I can guarantee it won't be years in between.

That's What HE Said #45 ~ Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #24

That's What He Said is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies @Chapter Break. Here's the deal: every Thursday, post a line from your book boyfriend to his heroine. Keep in mind, these are direct quotes from dialog in the books. The quote doesn't have to be romantic - just something our hunky hero said to his lucky lady. Be sure to link up over at Chapter Break as well.

My pick this week for That's What He Said is from:

Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews

***

"I love you and you love me, and we're both too fucked up for anyone else. Who else would have us?"

Why yes, this is what constitutes romance between Kate & Curran. And even though I spent so much of Magic Rises tied up in knots, I loved it!

*~*~*~*~*~*

I grabbed a mug and watched him pour the nearly black liquid out. Back when we both worked for the Mercenary Guild, Jim preferred to take night jobs. The giant vat of coffee was made one, in the morning. By the end of the night, no sane soul would touch it. Jim drank it like water.
Jim filled my mug. I sniffed it. So far, so good, I took a brave sip. The bitter scalding liquid slid a third of the way down my throat and got stuck. "Dear God."
He grinned.
"Jim, if I turn the cup upside down, it will roll out slowly like molasses."
"That's how you know it's good. Drink it, it will put hair on your chest."

I like my coffee strong, but this is a bit too strong. ;)

**Sidekick Showcase ~ #53**

Sidekick Showcase (previously known as Sidekick Saturday) is NOW a monthly bookish meme, hosted by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in this week's type
• Share a picture (if possible) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• Put your link in the Linky thing and comment

**********************************

September's themes are Best Friend, Fun, Ball of Energy, Humorous

Sidekick Showcase is now a monthly meme. I'm coming in just under the wire, huh? :)

My pick this month:
Andrea Nash
from Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels Series

Andrea is Kate's kickass best friend who can, well...kick some ass. Her favorite weapon is a gun, and Andrea never misses her shot. Despite being a beastkin, she works for the Order of Merciful Aid. Andrea has the way about her that makes everyone want to spill their life's story. She beautiful but doesn't think so. And she's funny...oh my goodness is she funny. :)

***

"You're touching me," I chided him. 
He caressed my back, sliding his hand down, hitting every sensitive point I hadn't even known I had.
"No, this is touching you. That was just accidental contact."
"Oh? Good to know. If you touch me again and I break your arm off, you can be sure it will be completely accidental."
-Andrea and Raphael, Gunmetal Magic


I have him my Order smile: sweet grin, hard eyes, reached over to my passenger seat, and pulled out my submachine gun. About twenty-sever inches long, the HK was my favorite toy for close-quarters combat. The rider's eye went wide.
"This is an HK UMP submachine guy. Renowned for its stopping power and reliability. Cyclic rate of fire: eight hundred rounds per minute. That means I can empty this thirty-round clip into you in less than three seconds. At this range, I'll cut you in half." It wasn't strictly true but it sounded good. "You see what it says on the barrel?"
On the barrel, pretty white letters spelled out PARTY STARTER.
-Andrea, Gunmetal Magic


"I was a knight," Andrea said. "I'm not just going to start shooting every dickhead who mouths off to me."
"Just making sure."
"Besides, if I shot him, I'd do it so nobody could trace it back to me. I'd shoot him somewhere remote, his head would explode like a melon, and they would never find his body. He would just vanish."
-Andrea and Kate, Magic Slays

**Sidekick Showcase ~ #42 ~ Caution: May Bite**

Sidekick Showcase (previously known as Sidekick Saturday) is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in this week's type
• Share a picture (if possible) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• Put your link in the Linky thing and comment

**********************************
May's theme ~ In honor of Mother's Day we'll pick moms, grandmas, strong female mentors, etc. 

My pick this week:
Aunt B
from Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels Series  

Oh my! Aunt B is quite a character. As the Alpha of Clan Bouda, this lady is one tough cookie. She's mother to Raphael, but as Alpha, serves as mentor/mother to many. In her warrior form, she's one scary sight. She's smart, cunning, loving in her own way, and doles out excellent great advice! 

"You know," she said, stirring her tea, "the fastest way to get him off your back is to sleep with him. And tell him you love him. Preferably while in bed."
I smirked and the tea almost came out of my nose. "He'd run like he was on fire." - Aunt B and Kate, about Curran, Magic Burns

"Do you have spies in Clan Heavy?"
"I have spies everywhere."
I looked at Andrea, who was hoarding bacon on her plate.
"She had tea with Mahon's wife," Andrea said.
Aunt B looked at her. "You and I need to work on your air of mystery." - Kate, Andrea and Aunt B, Magic Rises

**#COYER & #Jumble Your Genres Review ~ Silver Shark ~ Ilona Andrews**

Yep, I'm killing two birds with one stone. :) BUT not only did a clean off a book that's been on my ereader forever AND read an urban fantasy, I also got to read Ilona Andrews...and it's been far, far too long! :)

***

Silver Shark by Ilona Andrews

Kinsmen #2

Release Date: September 16, 2011

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Science Fiction

Source: Free download EONS AGO! :)

Rating: 4.5 Bookworms

Synopsis
Claire Shannon is a Kinsman, a woman gifted with enhanced mental capabilities. Her skills and her life were taken over by the military to fight in war that has raged on her home planet for decades. But as the war ends, she is forced to hide her abilities in order to make a new life for herself as a civilian. It's a new persona, a new planet and a new job that has her crossing paths with the powerful and alluring Venturo Escana. Is she strong enough to hide her true nature from her perceptive new boss? And as they grow closer, will she even still want to try?

It's been quite awhile since I immersed myself in an incredible world created by the Andrews. It was so satisfying to be back. :)

Silver Shark is the second in the Andrews' Kinsmen series but can be read as standalone. It provides extra background into psychers, which are one branch of the Kinsmen.

In Silver Shark, we get the story of Claire Shannon, a native to the plant Uley. She's been involved in a war between two rival corporations for the past eight years, as a high-ranking psycher. When the war abruptly ends, she finds herself making a new life on the planet Rada. 

Venturo Escana, Claire's new boss, is a psycher almost as powerful as she is. Unfortunately, she must hide her abilities from him. Venturo is from a powerful Rada family and takes a unique interest in Claire.

Although we spend little time on Uley, the differences described between its landscape and that of Rada, as seen through Claire's eyes, are remarkable. The Andrews created a vivid world where I was able to picture all the colors and buildings shaped as flowers. I enjoyed the details on the abilities of psychers as well. The things they can do with their minds are astounding. I also appreciated the character development of Claire and Ven - so well done in so few pages. We get to see that both Claire and Ven are talented, powerful, and extremely loyal people. They also happen to be hot for one another! ;)

The excitement and tension provided through Claire hiding herself, seeing Rada via Claire, and her attempts at repaying a debt to a fellow refugee was all I could have hoped for. The description of the inner - and outer - workings of a psychers mind was fascinating. And, of course, the sexual tension between Claire and Ven was quite fun.

I so enjoyed my return to Ilona Andrews. And I am anxious to finish this series as well as pick back up with their other series as well.