Magic Bites

by Ilona Andrews

Book Overview

#1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews invites you to experience the first novel in the "intriguing world" ( Locus ) of Kate Daniels with this special edition of Magic Bites ... Kate... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0441014895
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Ace
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 0.7" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Urban Fantasy, Excited to Read More

This is a delightful urban fantasy book that takes place in an alternate Atlanta. I was recommended this series because of the romance, but have since found out that the romance doesn’t really get started until later in the series. Even without that, I loved the unique take on vampires and the witty protagonist. If you like strong female leads and books full of shifters and other supernatural creatures, this is the book for you. For me, find me on Instagram, Goodreads, and TikTok @bookswithgraceann

Superb urban fantasy....

Kate Daniels lives in a world in which magic fluctuations are an everyday occurrence. In fact, she makes her living off of these disruptions. However, her world is turned upside down when a vampire delivers a message about her guardian. Kate agrees to work for the Order to avenge the death of her guardian and soon finds herself in the midst of an ongoing conflict between the two major supernatural groups, the People and the Pack. Kate is in for some unpleasant surprises as she delves deeply into Atlanta's magical world. MAGIC BITES is what urban fantasy is all about! Ilona Andrews has written a tale that is not for the faint of heart as she is not afraid to take risks. There is little, if any, romance in this tale and the gore level is high. However, it is the phenomenal world building that makes MAGIC BITES such a success. Ilona Andrews takes a darker approach to vampires and shape shifters and the complexity of her world is astounding. Kate Daniels is a great lead female character. She is the ultimate action heroine as she charges right into the thick of things. She is a bit brusque at times but Ilona Andrews does an excellent job at making Kate likeable in spite of her attitude. There is also a bit of a mystery surrounding Kate as tantalizing hints are dropped throughout the novel. MAGIC BITES is a welcome entry to the urban fantasy genre. It is easy to forget that this is a first novel by Ilona Andrews as the tale is so well done. I can't wait for the sequel as MAGIC BITES is easily recommended! COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Yea Baby!

Magic Bites is jam-packed with all the things I love in urban fantasy. The heroine is a strong, mysterious young woman with life-threatening secrets to protect. This is hard to do though, while seeking revenge on whoever, or whatever murdered her mentor leaving her alone in the world. Her mentor left her a strange gift that may help, written in his own blood. Now, she must thread her way through a pack of powerful shapeshifters who may be protecting the suspects, aided by a young wolf she doesn't want anywhere near her and challenged every step of the way by their Alpha, a lion who is more than he seems. If you dig Patricia Briggs, CT Adams and Cathy Clamp, Kelly Armstrong, or the Kitty and the Midnight Hour series.....you'll dig this book!!!!

Scary, good fun

Although Magic Bites follows some of the urban fantasy conventions--a tough-as-nails chick investigating mysteries and fighting monsters--this story comes at it from an original and entertaining angle. Set in an alternate Atlanta, Georgia where waves of magic periodically sweep over the land, rendering all technology invalid, ordinary people try to go about their lives, staying out of the way of magic wielders and the wild and dark places. I love how this city--devastated by magic, in a world devastated by magic--still holds on to the old ways of contemporary America, as much as possible. In this, and this only, it reminds me of Sunshine by Robin McKinley. The voice in Magic Bites is completely different, and the worldbuilding thoroughly it's own, but this post-catastrophe, "ten minutes into the future" aspect is something I love about both books. While investigating the death of her mentor, the independent mercenary, Kate Daniels, has to contend with shapeshifters and some truly inhuman and scary vampires. Although maybe wampyr would be a better word for them, since they remind me of the mindless, predatory vampires from East European myth. I pictured Max Schreck from Nosferatu as I read, but these vampires don't have any mind left, just fearful instinct and necromantic "drivers." The plot is well realized, the characters well drawn, and Magic Bites is a fun, engaging, and very satisfying read.

Excellent debut--well worth the accolades on the cover

This is one of the best-realized fantasy worlds I've encountered in a debut novel. Our heroine, Kate, lives in an alternate Atlanta, where magic and technology come in unpredictable waves. When her guardian is killed, she seeks out the murderer using some hilarious concepts of investigation. If you are a paranormal romance reader, this book may not be for you. Despite its title, "Magic Bites" falls strongly on the fantasy end of the continuum. "Magic Bites" is both a very good fantasy and mystery and you can get easily drawn in--as long as you are not too disappointed there is not a strong romance line in the novel. Another warning, if you are someone who thinks vampires are dead sexy, this book does not ascribe to this point of view. Vampires are nobody's erotic fantasy in this novel and that makes them particularly interesting. World building is critical to the fantasy genre and Ms. Andrews has earned a 5 star rating just for that. The rules for her world are pretty clear and she sticks to them. She's obviously carefully considered the eventualities of phases where magic and technology rule the city and keeps things interesting with the changes she puts her characters through. Kate is a well-realized and interesting character. She's someone you can empathize with and she's got a pretty darn good sense of humor. I see shades of Raymond Chandler in this book in the humor. Also, Andrews resolves her mystery in this book, but leaves you with enough questions to want to read her next novel in this series. I, for one, hope the novel comes soon, but I think she will be well worth the wait.

Great addition to the urban fantasy Genre. Lovers of P Briggs and Harris will want it.

Kate Daniels is a member of the Mercenary Guild. She hires out her sword and her magical talents to suppress those who are misusing their power. This is a world where tech and magic are competing for control. When the tech wave rises, magic subsides and vice versa. The fantasy construct is detailed and original. It's a bit Renaissance society meets futuristic. Each City is assigned a group of knights from the Order of Knights of Magical Aid. In this world, there are also shapeshifters and The People (vampires) and humans. Kate is a reluctant heroine. She is powerful, due to her lineage, but she doesn't work well with others. She choose to be a Mercenary instead of part of the Order as her guardian and knight-diviner, Greg, wanted. But then someone starts killing different members of each group, including Greg. Before a full scale war breaks out between the Pack and the People and to avenge her loss, Kate Daniels must discover who is behind the murders and she must learn to work with others. One of those "others" is the powerful, sexy and merciless Lord of the Beasts, Curran. I am first and foremost a romance reader. It takes a really good book to make me enjoy a story with no romance. While there is a slight tickle there between Kate and Curran, the story focused on the fantasy construct, the plot, and Kate's destiny in this world. The fantasy construct was something very original; very fresh. There are knights, protectors, crusaders, mercenaries, the Lord of the Beasts and vampires as I haven't read in other books. The imagery is vivid; the dialogue smart. **** I glanced around the room. The mood had changed. The game had ended, and their eyes burned like fire. The hair on their heads bristled, and the smell of murder was in the air. "This is Slayer," I said, holding the saber so they could see it clearly. The saber seethed, and luminescent tendrils of smoke clung to its blade. "It has had many names. One of them was Wolfripper. Push me and I will show you how it got that one." -- Curran turned to me. "Take one of mine again and I'll kill you." He said it in a conversational manner, matter-of-fact and flat, but in his eyes I could see a simple certainty. If he had to, he would kill me. He would not lose any sleep over it. He would not give it a second thought. He would do it and move on, untroubled by ending my existence. **** The niggles is that Kate is a smart mouth and at times that gets her into trouble and she doesn't always learn from this. During an encounter with Curran, Kate acts hastily and suffers a bad consequence from it. But in the very next scene, she is smarting off again which could have easily led her into more trouble. There were also some hiccups in the plot and some character motivations that I couldn't explain but overall, this was an excellent start to a brand new series. Any fan of Patricia Briggs and Charlaine Harris would enjoy an afternoon with this book. A-