It's nice to get inside Julie's head and see what she's thinking and how she thinks. When the narrative surrounding her is mostly the stress her behavior puts on our beloved main character, it's easy to just view her as another uncontrollable teenager with authority issues. Seeing Julie's values from her POV makes her more rounded as a character.

At the end of Magic Breaks, Julie makes a comment about wanting to stay at her school once

Kate and Curran step down as the Pack alphas

. This short story pieces together how Julie, disdainful of traditional education, began at Seven Stars Academy and what compelled her to stay. She's definitely adopted a lot of Kate's better traits, caring for others regardless of peer pressure against it and doing what's right rather than what's easy. Not a small thing, for a girl who spent a good chunk of her childhood homeless on the streets.

Merged review:

It's been a hot minute (aka, way back in 2013) since I devoured all of the Kate Daniels books that were available, so I figured I would kill two birds with one stone: continue an enjoyable series and check off another ticky box on my 2018 POPSUGAR challenge.

Luckily for me, this is the exact book they choose to open with a series summary exposition chapter as told in a journal entry by a supporting character, Barabas Gilliam. Perfect!

This book was a goddamn ride. I loved everything about it ... except the sex scene at the end. Not because I don't think after these events, Kate and Curran wouldn't have a life-affirming bang session or four, but it's just so bad. Saying someone "tastes male" is just, wow. Purple prose going the wrong way.