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abinthebooks 's review for:
Magic Bites
by Ilona Andrews
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*3.5
I’ve always been really excited to read Kate Daniels because of how well loved this series and this author-duo is. And I can happily say that I did enjoy a lot of my time reading this first book, Magic Bites.
My main complaints of Magic Bites is the writing and the slow pacing. The writing in this story is quite dry, with a lot of it being “overwritten”. To many descriptions is basically what I’m saying. The pacing was also kind of weird. The beginning of this story felt very slow, and it marginally picked up at the end. I know it’s the first book in a very big series with a (supposedly) big complex world, so I get it, the pacing just bothered me. Speaking of the world; the world was also very interesting, though very “small” so far. However, I’m not really going to fully complain about it because of how many books there are in this series. I just know there will be such good development.
Moving on the from the negatives, my favorite thing about this story was easily our FMC, Kate Daniels, a witty 20-something magical mercenary for-hire. Her one-liners were the absolute best, as was her abilities and attitude. Kate is really the poster-girl type of heroine I love to see in PNR and Urban Fantasy. She’s funny in a smartass way, smart, powerful but not overpowered, and ready to get her shit done. She was so very fun to follow, and I’m so excited to read about her again. I also really liked the developing romance between Kate and Curran! Curran was a very cool character, and I’m really excited to see where his story and his relationship with Kate goes.
Despite Magic Bites having some remarkable flaws, I think this story really does hold up, especially as a first in a very long PNR series. Nothing felt very outdated or to “old”. This wasn’t anything remarkable, but it was really fun with a complex FMC, an entertaining plot, and a cool world. I’m really excited to read book 2 and see where Kate goes after this story. I can only imagine the growth these characters have as this series goes on and I can’t wait to read about it.
* * *
It had its issues, but I really ended up enjoying this. RTC.
I’ve always been really excited to read Kate Daniels because of how well loved this series and this author-duo is. And I can happily say that I did enjoy a lot of my time reading this first book, Magic Bites.
My main complaints of Magic Bites is the writing and the slow pacing. The writing in this story is quite dry, with a lot of it being “overwritten”. To many descriptions is basically what I’m saying. The pacing was also kind of weird. The beginning of this story felt very slow, and it marginally picked up at the end. I know it’s the first book in a very big series with a (supposedly) big complex world, so I get it, the pacing just bothered me. Speaking of the world; the world was also very interesting, though very “small” so far. However, I’m not really going to fully complain about it because of how many books there are in this series. I just know there will be such good development.
Moving on the from the negatives, my favorite thing about this story was easily our FMC, Kate Daniels, a witty 20-something magical mercenary for-hire. Her one-liners were the absolute best, as was her abilities and attitude. Kate is really the poster-girl type of heroine I love to see in PNR and Urban Fantasy. She’s funny in a smartass way, smart, powerful but not overpowered, and ready to get her shit done. She was so very fun to follow, and I’m so excited to read about her again. I also really liked the developing romance between Kate and Curran! Curran was a very cool character, and I’m really excited to see where his story and his relationship with Kate goes.
Despite Magic Bites having some remarkable flaws, I think this story really does hold up, especially as a first in a very long PNR series. Nothing felt very outdated or to “old”. This wasn’t anything remarkable, but it was really fun with a complex FMC, an entertaining plot, and a cool world. I’m really excited to read book 2 and see where Kate goes after this story. I can only imagine the growth these characters have as this series goes on and I can’t wait to read about it.
* * *
It had its issues, but I really ended up enjoying this. RTC.