Mercenary Kate Daniels knows all too well that magic in post-Shift Atlanta is a dangerous business. But nothing she’s faced could have prepared her for what’s to come in this heart-stopping novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series. Kate and the former Beast Lord Curran Lennart are finally making their relationship official. But there are some steep obstacles standing in the way of … standing in the way of their walk to the altar.
Kate’s father, Roland, has kidnapped the demigod Saiman and is slowly bleeding him dry in a never-ending bid for power. A Witch Oracle has predicted that if Kate marries the man she loves, Atlanta will burn and she will lose him forever. And the only person Kate can ask for help is long dead.
The odds are impossible. The future is grim. But Kate Daniels has never been one to play by the rules…
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I like this pair of authors, they write well, the books have plenty of action and good characters, this book is no exception. They are generally a “just buy it” for me.
Kate and Curran are finally planning their wedding. Unfortunately there are quite a few obstacles standing in their way, most of which center around Roland taking over Atlanta. The first battle against Roland begins and the war has finally started.
Kate and Curran are finally getting married! I loved how Kate thought her wedding would be a small thing with barely anybody. Kate is also struggling to deal with all the new changes that came with claiming Atlanta. It has changed her magic and will change her if she lets it. Her internal struggle to not become like her father was very emotional and really shows just how different those two are.
I can’t believe we are coming close to the end of this series. I am not ready for it. Magic Binds is book nine in this series and it is the start of the war with her father Roland. He makes the first move by kidnapping Saiman and forcing Kate’s hand.
This was just a non-stop emotional adventure with a wedding, a rescue mission, a battle, and a big change for Kate and Curran’s future. Everything is leading up to the final confrontation with her father and I am both anxious and excited to read it.
Kate is beginning to learn what it means to own a city and the magic within it. The threats are only increasing, and it isn’t just her family and friends she has to protect, it is all of Atlanta. As her father builds at her border, he continues to needle at her, trying to spark her anger and push her over the edge. Kate never takes the subtle route; she prefers to smash and talk later. But she will have to tread carefully or else lose the ones she loves the most.
What never fails to surprise me is the weight of responsibility Ilona Andrews puts on Kate whenever she increases in strength. Most series let the main character gain power, and while they suffer temporarily, it isn’t a permanent struggle. Everything Kate does comes with sacrifice and regret. Nothing is easy, there is a trial for everything. And it never fails to entertain.
There never fails to be a sprinkling of humor added to each story, so the reader does not become overloaded by everything happening. This time around the main focus for the humor is Kate and Curran’s wedding. It’s a little hard to pick out dresses and choose what kind of cake you want to eat at your wedding while there is a rampaging warlord about to start a war. But hey, you have to do what you have to do for the wedding. So, Kate might ruin a wedding dress as she runs out the door to do battle, but what can you do?
The Kate Daniels series never has useless filler. It has continued to be set on Kate and developing her character. The world-building has never once let me down or become repetitive despite being now nine books into the series. The secondary characters have all had their moments to shine and gone through their own course of development as well. There is only one book to go, and I don’t want it to end, but I need to know what is going to happen!
Fun story with great characters
Even Urban Fantasy heroines have family problems. Kate and Curran near the date of their wedding. It should be wedding details stressing them out, but instead Roland has camped out just outside the city of Atlanta and harasses the borders of Kate’s city, has kidnapped Saiman, and now has his hooks into Julie. The confrontation that has building for some time has finally arrived.
Only a straight up battle is the easy part. Kate learns from the Oracle witches that her future shows that either Curran or their unborn son will die and Atlanta will burn. A new option hits her and she races to out wit her father. It will take all Kate has to win, but her father is not even her strongest threat. Kate must battle her own nature to avoid turning into her father and this will take relying on Curran and her close circle of friends and family.
What seemed like a series that had already seen its most exciting moments and was now heading toward an easing into lesser adventures, has sure fooled me in all the right ways. Kate and Curran have faced the worst, but then a new book adventure rolls out to show there is more where that came from.
In this one, Kate battles external and internal conflicts. Claiming Atlanta seemed like a good idea at the time, but with that sort of power comes a cost. Kate feels possessive about it and it’s inhabitants and she is enticed by the binding power that can make people turn into her slaves and worship at her feet. Her weakness is wanting to keep people safe and from harm.
Kate is disturbed and angry that Roland is trying to turn Julie into another Hugh and that Julie seems to be fascinated enough to fall for her father’s charming side.
Kate is keeping secrets from Curran and one in particular that may be the one that crosses his line and pushes him away for good. And she might have lost Jim when association with Kate gets Dali injured.
Trouble is boiling over.
But on the flip side of the coin, there is humor and love and friendship. Andrea is going nuts with the final days of her pregnancy. Derek, Ascanio, and Julie are there to keep things lively. Kate and Curran picked Roman, the priest of an evil god as their officiant and Roman adds wedding coordinator to his job description driving everyone nuts. He sends an invitation to Roland. And just when she is near the breaking point, Curran does what this great lion does best. He loves her- all of her and holds her together so she doesn’t turn into a monster like her father.
The ending was amazing in its intensity and scope. Loved that little zinger of a surprise right at the end leaving me gasping for the next installment.
Another fantastic book in the Kate Daniels series. The series is one that must be read in order. It’s one of the best Urban Fantasy series out there and I can’t recommend it enough.
The characters are continually evolving and growing through the story which makes you want to just read it non-stop.
love every single one of her books she is a must buy for me.
I got hooked on Ilona Andrews books and have been devouring them series by series. Not sure what I’m going to do when there aren’t any more. Her characters are very well developed, the details interesting and bizarre, but, in a weird way, believable.
Fantastic episode in the series.
So where to start..
MAGIC BINDS is book 9 in the Kate Daniels series and was flipping fantastic! Kate and Curran are finally getting married. Julie appears to be enthralled with Roland and causes Kate some worry, but then again, when is Julie not causing some concern? Roland actually has some normal parental moments with Kate, but the complexity of their relationship really comes to the forefront here. We get to learn all sorts of family secrets when Kate takes matters into her own hands in an effort to divert a war she believes she has no chance of winning. Curran..well, he’s Curran. Need I say more? Now Christopher…he was the biggest surprise in the book! I’m talking OMG best kind of surprise ever! Who knew he’d been hiding that big of a secret?!
The Andrews’ imagination never ceases to amaze me! I know they once said Kate was never meant to be a series, but I’m so glad they changed their minds! The world building and the characters- this is a world I never tire of entering. While I’m sad there’s only one more book left, I’m happy they’ve managed to keep the series fresh, addictive, and just as tantalizing as book one! I highly recommend starting this series at the beginning..I guarantee you’ll devour the rest in one sitting!
Read anything Ilona Andrews writes but, in particular, read the Kate Daniels series. Great world building, great characters — what can I say — just great. Magic has returned to the world and the world will never be the same.
Amazing series
This author never fails to entertain!
Not only this book but the whole series is great. Definitely in the top ten favorite Sci-fi series.
They just keep getting better and better. This is one of those series that stays with you. I have reread these books so many times, it’s a good thing I have them in my kindle, or they would be falling apart!
I don’t know how Ilona Andrews does it! This series continues to get better and better with each book! I’ve loved Kate Daniels from the very beginning and I love her even more now. There were both lighthearted and heartbreaking moments in this book. It takes you on a real emotional rollercoaster ride. I thought this was going to be the last book and about swallowed my tongue. I’m very glad I was wrong about that. Kate is being torn apart trying to figure out what to do to save herself, Curran and all of Atlanta from her father. She’s doing everything she can to keep everyone safe because she cares so very deeply, even for people she’s never met. That’s one of the things I admire most about her. It doesn’t matter that she’s “claimed” Atlanta. She cared about strangers before that happened. Even though there’s violence in her nature, she’s still one of the most humane characters I’ve ever read. She’s multi-dimensional and so faceted that she shines, especially when things are at their darkest. I recommend this book and this series to anyone and everyone!
Holy heck! This was absolutely wrenching both in the gut and in the heart!
This covered so much ground and yet still left me wondering what was going to happen next. As Kate and Curran are planning their wedding, or should I say, others are planning their wedding, Kate learns of a prophecy that will leave her with absolute heartbreak. She also struggles within herself and it was this plot point that I ached over the most. She’s been so strong but now she’s fighting a battle within and I wasn’t sure how she would eventually handle it or if it would ultimately defeat her as well as all those she loves along with Atlanta.
This one was extremely angst heavy and yet this writing duo know how to toss in some lighthearted moments to alleviate the worst of it before hitting us with the heavy again. I worried over Kate’s relationship with Curran as well as Curran because what she was dealing with could have consequences that would destroy all they built. Gah! I was an emotional mess!
Thank gawd for an ending, while not complete, gave me a reprieve and left me with a smile. I know that there must be worse to come but I have faith in Kate and her friends. For now I am looking forward to Hugh’s story – I have faith these authors will sell me on his redemption. However, I find myself putting off listening to the next book because I’m so close to the end of the series and I hate to see it end.
A favorite series
Ilona Andrews love everything they write.
THEY. FINALLY. GOT. MARRIED. /the end
There really aren’t more words needed. The book was great and ended even better.