ARC Review: Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews

MAGIC BREAKS

Kate Daniels Series #7

by Ilona Andrews

Publisher: ACE Hardcover (July 29, 2014)
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Adult
Format: Hardcover ARC (381 pages)
Source: Free book from publisher for honest review
Find It: Goodreads | Amazon
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)

Summary
No matter how much the paranormal politics of Atlanta change, one thing always remains the same: if there’s trouble, Kate Daniels will be in the middle of it…

As the mate of the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than it seems possible to juggle. Not only is she still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, she must now deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel ancient being with god-like powers. Since Kate’s connection to Roland has come out into the open, no one is safe—especially those closest to Kate.

As Roland’s long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend the Conclave, a gathering of the leaders from the various supernatural factions in Atlanta. When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered there, apparently at the hands of a shapeshifter, Kate is given only twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she’ll find herself embroiled in a war which could destroy everything she holds dear…

At A Glance
I just, I just, I don't know what to say about perfection.

The Good
All the feels. All the action. All the love. All the violence. All the EPICNESS!!!! Ilona mentioned that this book reads like the final book of the series (Don't panic, this is not the last book of the series. We at least get two more.), and it did in the way. So much happens and so much changes. Things come to a head, final battles are fought, but there is so much still to do, well, that is, if you are Kate Daniels. But I loved how 'complete' this book felt. The direction of this series is perfect.

Kate, how I want to be you. To me, she is perfect. Her humor, her compassion, her decisiveness, her strength, her technique, and her attitude, all of it is amazeballs. She is someone you can always rely on and who would drop everything to save your ass but never ask for anything in return. She handled herself amazingly well for the crap she went through in Magic Breaks. Curran goes missing for a bit, some of the pack doesn't want to support her, and her evil, d*ckhead father finally comes into the picture. But Kate handles one crises at a time with grace, determination, and sarcasm. Classic Kate.

Curran is the same badass Beat Lord that I want to lick every inch of. He makes decisions in this book that shocked but excited me. His love for Kate is endless. He will and often does move heaven and earth to save/get/find her when she needs him.

The action is non-stop, but not in an annoying way. You will NEVER get bored with this book. The writing and dialogue are flawless. I laughed my ass off half the time while biting my nails in excitement the other half. We see all our favorite characters again. Old rivals come back and long awaited bad guys finally pay Kate a visit. I never realized how screwed Kate is until this book. Roland is one creepy, powerful mofo.

The ending was perfect. I was shocked at first. I didn't know I wanted this certain thing to happen until it did. However, nothing will ever be the same. Which is scary but awesome.

The Bad
NOTHING! Okay, wait, there was one thing. WHERE WAS MY CURRAN? I missed him in this book. He is absent for most of the middle.

The Snuggly
Wow, that sex scene. Ilona did not hold back this time. It's pretty detailed though a little short. But I was pleasantly surprised since Ilona usually glosses over sex most of the time. I don't need sex or even romance in urban fantasy, but when it comes to Kate and Curran, I am greedy for everything. These two are in such a great place it's insane. They have the romance all of us wish we did. That obsession, that need, that undying love. So effing beautiful.

Final Thoughts
If you are not reading this series, then you are crazy. The concept that this series could not work for someone doesn't even register in my brain. Ilona writes perfection, and Magic Breaks is no except. I already want more!. Very, highly recommended.

Excerpt
Can't post quotes for this ARC, but I did find this excerpt on Ilona's website:

“You still haven’t told me what you want for Christmas,” Curran said.

“Time,” I said. “For you and me.”

“Check the glove compartment?” he asked.

I opened it and pulled a piece of paper out. Cordially invited… thank you for your reservation… “Is this…?”

“The Black Bear Lodge,” he said.

Two weeks ago we had to go to Jackson County, North Carolina to remove a loose troll of campus. The Appalachians had a large shapeshifter population and many of their kids went to Western Carolina University. We had stayed in the Black Bear Lodge, a newly built, timber lodge with good food and cozy rooms with huge fireplaces. We’d spent two glorious days there, hunting the troll, drinking wine in the evening, and making love in a giant soft bed. I didn’t want to leave so much, it almost hurt.

He got the reservation for me.

“How long?” I asked.

“Two weeks. We could leave as soon as I get back and stay until Christmas. We’d have to come back for the holidays or they will scream and howl, but with the leyline it’s only a two day drive.”

“What about the petition hearing?”

“I handled it,” he said. “Remember that emergency session that ate up the last Thursday? I cleared everything.”

“The Gardner law suit?”

“Handled it too.” Curran leaned over and looked at me. His grey eyes glowed with tiny golden sparks. He slowly furrowed his blond eyebrows and moved them up and down.

“Is that your smoldering look?”

“Yes. I’m trying to communicate the promise of nights of ecstasy.”

I laughed. “Did you read that pirate book Andrea left for me?”

“I might have leafed through it. So how about it? Will you do me the honor of accompanying me to the Black Bear Lodge, so we can lay in bed all day, get drunk, fat, and not have to think about anything related to Atlanta for the entire time?”

“Will I get nights of ecstasy?”

“And days. Ecstasy all the time.”

Two weeks, just Curran and me. It sounded heavenly.

“Deal, Your Majesty.”