free counter with statistics Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews | Scathing Reviews for Bitchy People

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Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

Cannonball Read / Tyburn Blossom

Book Reviews | July 6, 2009 | Comments (14)

Urban fantasy, particularly any variety can that can be summed up by, “So-and-so is a kick-ass woman who’s totally different from all those other kick-ass women because she’s got this one cool power no one else has called yet has to solve a mystery/murder/other crime and probably fall in love along the way, or at least get laid,” has become a sub-genre that I love to hate. Partially it’s because the market is saturated right now. Partially it’s because so many of them seem like retreads following the paths of Diana Tregarde and Anita Blake. Most of them take place in a world where the normal person doesn’t know anything about magic for an assortment of reasons, and half the time when I see the cover or read the blurb on the back, I kind of quietly gag and slide the book back into place on the shelf.

So why do I keep reading books that fall under that description? Because about half the time, even if it isn’t a great book, it’s still a fun read, and the other half the time, I feel like whoever is in charge of writing those blurbs on the backs of the books needs their ass kicked. And occasionally I pick up a book that rises above the genre conventions to give me something I really, truly enjoy.

I came across the Kate Daniels’ books because I’ve made a habit out of scanning the shelves at the bookstores for new authors. I stumbled across Magic Bites not long after it first came out and picked it up. I’ll give any new author at least two books to really hook me unless the first book is really terrible. Magic Bites left me keeping an eye out for Magic Burns, and that second book left me more than eager for this third one.

I’m actually hesitant to describe much of the plot simply because boiling it down into a few quick sentences cannot do it justice. Anything I can write will probably leave anyone—fan of the genre or hater of the genre—rolling their eyes. The problem is, on reading, this book rises above the stereotypes with excellent characters, a tight, engaging plot, and an enjoyably unique world. Ilona Andrews knows her folklore and mythology. She does her research, and she does an admirable job of weaving it into the fabric of her world and her characters without disrupting them to show off how smart she is.

If you’re looking for an engaging read, I definitely recommend these books. Each stands alone very well, but it’s worth starting from the beginning. If the first book doesn’t impress you overmuch, give it through the second, because I’ve found them to grow in depth, breadth, and craft.

I’m going to look forward to the 4th book in this series, and Ilona Andrews has a new series starting soon. I know I’m going to be snapping that up as soon as it’s out, too.

This review is part of the Cannonball Read series. For more of Tyburn Blossom’s reviews, check out his blog, The Congering Basket.


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Comments

I'm a huge fan of the Rachel Morgan / Hallows series by Kim Harrison. I read all of the Anita Blake series until they became pure porn, likewise her Merry Gentry series ( I don't hate porn, but I've read better).

True Blood is giving me a pretty good idea of what an unreliable narrator Sookie Stackhouse was, and I wonder if Charlaine Harris intended for that to be the case.

So thanks for the recommendation - I'll check this out. I clearly dig my hardboiled magical girls. Your review didn't mention - what IS her power?

Posted by: Meander at July 6, 2009 10:02 AM

Your stereotype perfectly describes the current drivel I am slogging through, so i will gladly cast that aside to read your recommendation.

Note to authors: fantasy + romance novel = stupid. Thanks for playing, now please learn to formulate a plot.

Posted by: Stella at July 6, 2009 10:08 AM

Actually, paranormal romance is one of the fastest growing sectors in publishing, so while it might not be to your taste, it obviously has a following. I'll agree that some of it is stupid, like some of any genre is, but some is quite good.

Posted by: Reba at July 6, 2009 10:29 AM

Meander, it's difficult to explain without turning eye-rolling again. Better to go in blind and enjoy it. And don't read the blurb on the back.

And honestly, Stella, there are some really awesome paranormal romances out there. The Sazi series from CT Adams and Cathy Clamp comes to mind. Romance seems to have a higher crap : quality ratio than usual, but there's plenty of good stuff out there.

Also, hee, this calls me a guy even after I got outed to the whole Pajibaverse as a fat girl.

Posted by: Tyburn Blossom at July 6, 2009 12:15 PM

Color me shocked to see a paranormal romance selection on Pajiba. At least it's a decent one. I actually like this series and I consider myself a pretentious snob about the trash that I read. I find that too often books in this genre can't decide what they want to be. They either take themselves too seriously as fantasy novels, which turns off romance readers, or they sex it up and dumb it down a bit too much, which turns off the sci-fi/fantasy readers (I'm looking at you, Laurell K. Hamilton).

I start 20-25 romances a week as part of my job, but few make it home to be continued. This series is one of the chosen few. I also recommend The Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole, The Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost and if you crave the serious kink, anything by Joey Hill.

Posted by: the librarian at July 6, 2009 12:47 PM

Awesome review. I also love urban fantasy, but hate slogging through the bad stuff. Like Reba said, it's a growing genre, but that comes with the problem of publishers letting a lot of crap through.

For my recommendation, I'd go for C.E. Murphy's books. Her Walker Papers series (notable for a lack of serious romance plot line) is extraordinary, and I really enjoyed the Negotiator series. I'd skip her Inheritors' Cycle, though (not urban, for one, and also just not as interesting in characterization or plot).

Posted by: nutmeag at July 6, 2009 2:24 PM

Oddly enough, Ilona Andrews states on her/their (it's a husband-wife team publishing under the wife's name) that the first book is kind of meh, so she/they wouldn't be too offended if readers started with the second. I still recommend reading the first, just to get some background information on Kate.

On a personal note, I find this series to be the least irritating when it comes to the "were-everything" approach to shapeshifters. It seems like most authors get caught up in the novelty of the variety and don't develop the characters very well.

Posted by: Minty at July 6, 2009 3:02 PM

I really enjoy a lot of the worldbuilding that went into the series, and you're right, Minty, it's a nicely done lycanthrope history/community. I most particularly like (and I don't have the book handy, so I can't look up the actual terminology) the animals that turned human, so to speak, and the beastkin.

Posted by: Tyburn Blossom at July 6, 2009 3:05 PM

Oh, and the very unsexy vampires are pretty cool. Just my opinion.

Posted by: Minty at July 6, 2009 3:10 PM

Seriously, the vampires are one of my favorite parts. I love the hell out of Unicorn Lane, too. And the meat situation.

Posted by: Tyburn Blossom at July 6, 2009 3:39 PM

Tyburn Blossom: "I didn't know you were a sausage expert."

Posted by: Minty at July 6, 2009 5:44 PM

Coming out of lurkdom to thank you for this review and for the recommendations in the other comments. I travel a lot and am always looking for new authors in this genre. I now have some new books to look forward to this month. Thanks!

Posted by: cerwen at July 6, 2009 7:08 PM

The fourth book is actually titled 'Magic Dykes'. Now thats a title I can get behind.

Posted by: Jack Random at July 6, 2009 7:37 PM

I've read the books, and enjoy them. But the first one did leave something out....
And poor poor Harris. I really enjoyed her Southern Vampire Series (until the last two anyways when she pulled a Hamilton), and I suggest it to anyone a fan of the genre.

And check out Briggs too... she writes really good candy novels and so does Carrie Vaughn.

Posted by: Punkinhootus at July 7, 2009 3:35 AM