Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #5)

Synopsis
Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.

Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.

So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price . . .

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Ilona and Gordon Andrews are my favorite urban fantasy writers. I've been raving about them for years. There are just so many things about them to love.

First of all, Ilona was born Russian (very close to my hometown) and I'll tell why I mentioned it a bit later. 


Secondly, the writing gets better and better with each book. It's impeccable, explosive and military precise. Plus, Mr & Mrs Andrews have a wicked sense of humour, which is just as good in real life.


Third brownie point is that they've created one of the best couples in urban fantasy - Kate and Curran. The chemistry between them had been slowly building through the first three books until they got together, and their relationship is still fluid. They constantly find new things about each other, and it's incredibly endearing and natural.

"I’d missed him so much, it almost hurt. It started the moment I left the Keep and nagged at me all day. Every day I had to fight with myself to keep from making up bullshit reasons to call the Keep so I could hear his voice. My only saving grace was that Curran wasn’t handling this whole mating thing any better. Yesterday he’d called me at the office claiming that he couldn’t find his socks. We talked for two hours."

Ok, back to why I've mentioned Ilona's heritage. I absolutely adore how the authors implemented Slavic folklore into their books. Their vamps are Eastern European upiri, they have volhvs and baba yaga and Chernobog and Russian words and numerous little phrases relating to the old fairy tales I grew up with. For me it was heavenly.

Ilona and Gordon created a unique world, extremely rich and vivid, where all sorts of magical creatures live, not limited to one country or one part of the world. The research for each of the book must have been huge.

There is no point for me to talk about the plot. If you've never read their books before, grab the first one Magic Bites otherwise I'm not giving you spoilers. As usual, there is a huge battle, Kate finds out more about her powers and her love to Curran, fights like a Valkyrie, and the book's ending is magnificent.

All in all, long live Kate, and I so want to get the new book right now! The waiting is more and more torturous with each book that comes out, which is a testament to the authors skills.

Favorite quotes: (too many)

"Put your badass face on and follow me."

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Я давно уже восторгаюсь четой Эндюсов, и эта книга не является исключением. Они пишут сжато, без слюней, с великолепным юмором, с армейской точностью и великолепно созданным миром.

Сюжет опять пересказывать не буду.
Если вы - фанат Кейт Дэниэлс и Куррана, спойлеров вы не захотите. А если нет, то надо начинать с первой книги.

От славянского фолка у меня душа прямо пела, в книге были и волхвы и баба-яга с избушкой на курьих ножках и Чернобог и даже соловей-разбойник. Прямо вспомнились старые сказки. Фраза не пей, а то козлёночком станешь без последующей ссылки западному читателю была бы не понятна, а я вот улыбалась как идиотка.

Вампиры в книгах Эндрюсов тоже совершенно не гламурные, а называются опять же по восточно-европейски упырями.

Я честно даже не знаю, что сказать. Безумно прекрасно и хочется ещё и захватывает дух. И концовка хоть, слава богу и не клиффхангер, но всё-равно оставляет безумное желание продолжения.

Курран и Кейт проходят сквозь важную стезю в их отношениях, и Кейт для себя наконец-то расставляет все точки над "и", осознаёт ещё больше на что способна, дерётся как валькирия и получает неожиданную помощь.

Цитата: (см. выше)

10/10