#magic claims

books I’ve read in 2023 📖 no. 074

Magic Claims by Ilona Andrews

Book Haul

This is Ilona Andrews' second novella in a post-series spinoff. Kate Daniels is trying very hard to stay low-profile after she moved states with her husband and kid. Unfortunately, she's also been a magnet for trouble-- and trouble has come for her, in the form of a town asking her for help defeating a mysterious primordial evil that's demanding human sacrifices from them.

The new series has always occupied an interesting genre space. Kate and co. are, metaphorically speaking, leveled up to 500 and slumming it in a level 10 area. The authors* do a pretty good job establishing an interesting and plausible threat, but it's certainly more competence porn than a real nail-biter. They've always written the cream of the crop when it comes to urban fantasy, and this novella isn't an exception. It's obvious they've done significant research, on everything from Pleistocene wildlife to the layout of Atlanta.

I liked this book a lot, but I think this would not be a good point to enter the series, given the (checks notes) eleven books prior to it. They do a decent job making it approachable with the new setting and characters, but I think you'd miss a fair bit of nuance starting here.

Woohooo!!! Another Kate Daniels book this year!! 🥳🥳🥳

Conlan- I think I'm the only person who really really dislikes this kid. He's just a Gary Stu/Special snowflake kid. And yes i know both sides of his parentage are special blah blah blah, and then you have Roland saying that ''He's learning faster than anyone in my memory'', the kid just lacks personality. I'm just over these UF/PNR authors writing special snowflake babies.

Jim - Wow, the authors really hate Jim. I mean, they basically made Jim fail to make Curran look better as Beast Lord and for his eventual return. I feel like I'm being gaslighted into disliking him.

Hugh - Kate calling him ‘cousin’ pretty much confirms that Erra as his mother. I NEED MORE HUGH!