Reality Bypass

It’s a miserable rainy day in Utah, and all I can think about is how much I’d rather be home curled up in a blanket and reading a book.  Not to say I don’t love my job – Any boss type people reading this note I love my job – but rainy days seem to call for books and blankets and hot chocolate.  I find it ironic that most creatures are smart enough to spend rainy days in their dens.  Human beings pull out the umbrellas and keep chugging along.  Who says we’re the smartest species?

Anyway, complaining aside I’m excited to talk about Magic Strikes today.  I found my copy on release day and devoured it in about 6 hours.  Then I went on vacation and didn’t have much time to write about it.  So, here we go.  I love this series and this book in particular.  For the uninformed Magic Strikes is the third Kate Daniel’s book by Ilona Andrews.

The Magic series takes place in a magic ravaged Atlanta where magic and technology flow back and forth in sudden unpredictable surges.  I love all the options this provides as people try to decide if the tech will be up long enough for them to drive somewhere, or if it’s all about riding a mule.  Weapons can range from guns to swords to paranormal fists, each having greater or lesser strength depending on what’s going on with the magic surge of the moment.

I also like Kate a lot.  Yes, she’s an urban fantasy butt kicking heroine, but what I love is that she’s well rounded and a character who grows from book to book.  She has female friends without the jealousy and vain stupidity which is often seen in UF books.  She has a ward who is a smart kid and, surprisingly, often does what she’s told and for the right reasons.  Kate has a past which she’s protecting, but she’s also trying hard to relate to the people around her, and that’s really what this book is about.  Yeah, there’s a supernatural cage fight aspect, but the heart of the story is about Kate protecting those she cares for and them doing the same in return.  I buy her emotional attachment and I think I’d like to go to lunch with her.

I also much love the Kate/Curran interactions in this book.  They’re this funny mix of playful and aggressive and there are some really nice moments here of sweetness and humor.  He does one of the things which I think all women dream their man will do and that’s to come for her when she’s really in trouble, against all odds and against all conventional wisdom.  So, yeah…le swoon.

Love this book.  Love this author.   And she has a new series coming out in October which I suspect will also have to come visit my shelves.

Jana

Genre:  Urban Fantasy
Age: Adult
Content: Brief sexuality, LOTS of violence and gore, some language
Overall:  Buy