Magic Bites (Kate Daniels) by Ilona Andrews
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Magic Bites (Kate Daniels)

by

Ilona Andrews

(Author)

4.5

-

11,714 ratings


Kate Daniels is about to enter a new world of gritty magic and dangerous mystery!

Future Atlanta is an interesting place to live: one moment magic dominates, and cars stall and guns fail. The next, technology takes over and the defensive spells no longer protect your house from monsters. Here skyscrapers topple under the onslaught of magic; the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, prowl through the ruined streets; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst for knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds.

Kate Daniels likes her sword a little too much, and she has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she's spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. But when Kate's guardian is murdered, she must choose to do nothing, and remain safe, or to risk her life by pursuing his preternatural killer. Hiding is easy, but the right choice is rarely easy ...

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ISBN-10

0575093935

ISBN-13

978-0575093935

Print length

288 pages

Language

English

Publisher

Gollancz

Publication date

September 08, 2010

Dimensions

6.26 x 0.91 x 7.83 inches

Item weight

8.9 ounces


Popular highlights in this book

  • Diplomacy was never my strong suit and my patience had run dry. I crouched and called out, Here, kitty, kitty, kitty.

    Highlighted by 795 Kindle readers

  • The four words of power. Obey, Kill, Protect, and Die. Words so primal, so dangerous, so powerful that they commanded the raw magic itself.

    Highlighted by 567 Kindle readers

  • Magic could not be measured and explained in scientific terms, for magic grew through destroying the very natural principles that made science as people knew it possible.

    Highlighted by 503 Kindle readers

  • Now I had six words. Four given to me by Greg and two others: Mine and Release.

    Highlighted by 439 Kindle readers


Product details

ASIN :

B000SEH16E

File size :

1710 KB

Text-to-speech :

Enabled

Screen reader :

Supported

Enhanced typesetting :

Enabled

X-Ray :

Enabled

Word wise :

Enabled


Editorial reviews

Praise for Ilona Andrews and the #1 New York Times Bestselling Kate Daniels Novels

“Ilona Andrews's books are guaranteed good reads.”—Patricia Briggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Kate is a great kick-ass heroine.”—Locus

“One of the brightest voices in urban fantasy...Ilona Andrews delivers only the best.”—Jeaniene Frost, New York Times bestselling author

“One of the best urban fantasy series ever written!”—RT Book Reviews

“Andrews's edgy series stands apart.”—Library Journal

“Urban fantasy absolutely does not get much better than this.”—SF Signal

“I can’t think of another series so consistent, so well written, so full of wit and action and drama that always manages to give me exactly what I’m needing.”—Fiction Vixen


Sample

CHAPTER 1

I SAT AT A TABLE IN MY SHADOWY KITCHEN, STARING down a bottle of Boone’s Farm Hard Lemonade, when a magic fluctuation hit. My wards shivered and died, leaving my home stripped of its defenses. The TV flared into life, unnaturally loud in the empty house.

I raised my eyebrow at the bottle and bet it that another urgent bulletin was on.

The bottle lost.

“Urgent bulletin!” Margaret Chang announced. “The Attorney General advises all citizens that any attempt at summoning or other activities resulting in the appearance of a supernaturally powerful being can be hazardous to yourself and to other citizens.”

“No shit,” I told the bottle.

“Local police have been authorized to subdue any such activities with all due force.”

Margaret droned on, while I bit into my sandwich. Who were they kidding? No police force could hope to squash every summoning. It took a qualified wizard to detect a summoning in progress. It required only a half-literate idiot with a twitch of power and a dim idea of how to use it to attempt one. Before you knew it, a three-headed Slavonic god was wreaking havoc in downtown Atlanta, the skies were raining winged snakes, and SWAT was screaming for more ammo. These were unsafe times. But then in safer times, I’d be a woman without a job. The safe tech-world had little use for a magic-touting mercenary like me.

When people had trouble of a magic kind, the kind that cops couldn’t or wouldn’t handle, they called the Mercenary Guild. If the job happened to fall into my territory, the Guild then called me. I grimaced and rubbed my hip. It still ached after the last job, but the wound had healed better than I expected. That was the first and last time I would agree to go against the Impala Worm without full body armor. The next time they better furnish me with a level four containment suit.

An icy wave of fear and revulsion hit me. My stomach lurched, sending acid to coat the root of my tongue with a bitter aftertaste. Shivers ran along my spine, and the tiny hairs on my neck stood on end.

Something bad was in my house.

I put down my sandwich and hit the mute button on the remote control. On the screen Margaret Chang was joined by a brick-faced man with a high-and-tight haircut and eyes like slate. A cop. Probably Paranormal Activity Division. I put my hand on the dagger that rested on my lap and sat very still.

Listening. Waiting.

No sound troubled the silence. A drop of water formed on the sweaty surface of the Boone’s Farm bottle and slid down its glistening side.

Something large crawled along the hallway ceiling into the kitchen. I pretended not to see it. It stopped to the left of me and slightly behind, so I didn’t have to pretend very hard.

The intruder hesitated, turned, and anchored itself in the corner, where the ceiling met the wall. It sat there, fastened to the paneling by enormous yellow talons, still and silent like a gargoyle in full sunlight. I took a swig from the bottle and set it so I could see the creature’s reflection. Nude and hairless, it didn’t carry a single ounce of fat on its lean frame. Its skin stretched so tight over the hard cords of muscle, it threatened to snap. Like a thin layer of wax melted over an anatomy model.

Your friendly neighborhood Spiderman.

The vampire raised its left hand. The dagger talons sliced the empty air, back and forth, like curved knitting needles. The vamp turned its head doglike and studied me with eyes luminescent with a particular kind of madness, born of bestial blood thirst and free of any thought or restraint.

In a single motion I whipped around and hurled the dagger. The black blade sliced cleanly into the creature’s throat.

The vampire froze. Its yellow claws stopped moving.

Thick, purplish blood swelled around the blade and slowly slid down the naked flesh of the vampire’s neck, staining its chest and dripping on the floor. The vampire’s features twisted, trying to morph into a different face. It opened its maw, displaying twin fangs, curved like miniature ivory sickles.

“That was extremely inconsiderate, Kate,” Ghastek’s voice said from the vampire’s throat. “Now I have to feed him.”

“It’s a reflex. Hear a bell, get food. See an undead, throw a knife. Same thing, really.”

The vampire’s face jerked as if the Master of the Dead controlling it tried to squint.

“What are you drinking?” Ghastek asked.

“Boone’s Farm.”

“You can afford better.”

“I don’t want better. I like Boone’s Farm. And I prefer to do business by phone, and with you, not at all.”

“I don’t wish to hire you, Kate. This is merely a social call.”

I stared at the vampire, wishing I could put my knife into Ghastek’s throat. It would feel very good cutting into his flesh. Unfortunately he sat in an armored room many miles away.

“You enjoy screwing with me, don’t you, Ghastek?”

“Immensely.”

The million-dollar question was why. “What is it you want? Make it quick, my Boone’s Farm’s getting warm.”

“I was just wondering,” Ghastek said with dry neutrality particular only to him, “when was the last time you saw your guardian?”

The nonchalance in his voice sent tiny shivers down my spine. “Why?”

“No reason. As always, a pleasure.”

In a single powerful leap the vampire detached itself from the wall and flew through the open window, taking my knife with it.

I reached for the phone, swearing under my breath, and dialed the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid. No vampire could breach my wards when the magic was in full swing. Ghastek had no way of knowing when the magic would ebb, so he must have been watching my house for some time, waiting for my defensive spells to fail. I took a swig from the bottle. That meant a vamp had been hiding someplace close when I came home last night, and I didn’t see or feel it. How reassuring. Might just as well write “Alert R Us” on my merc ID.

One ring. Two. Three. Why would he ask me about Greg?

The phone clicked and a stern female voice delivered a practiced blurb, “Atlanta Chapter of the Order, how may I help you?”

“I would like to speak to Greg Feldman.”

“Your name?”

A faint note of anxiety pulsed through her voice.

“I don’t have to give you my name,” I said into the receiver. “I wish to speak to the knight-diviner.”

A pause issued and a male voice said, “Please, identify yourself.”

They were stalling, probably trying to trace the call. What the hell was going on?

“No,” I said firmly. “Page seven of your Charter, third paragraph down: ‘Any citizen has a right to seek counsel of a knight-diviner without fear of retribution or need for identification.’ As a citizen, I insist that you put me in contact with the knight-diviner now or specify the time he can be reached.”

“The knight-diviner is dead,” the voice said.

The world halted. I skidded through its stillness, frightened and off balance. My throat ached. I heard my heart beating in my chest.

“How?” My voice was calm.

“He was killed in the line of duty.”

“Who did it?”

“The matter is still under investigation. Look, if I could just get your name . . .”

I pushed the disconnect button and lowered the receiver in its place. I looked at the empty chair across from me. Two weeks ago Greg had sat in this chair, stirring his coffee. His spoon had made small precise circles, never touching the sides of the mug. For a moment I could actually see him right there, while the memory played in my mind.

Greg was looking at me with dark brown eyes, mournful, like the eyes of an icon. “Please, Kate. Suspend your dislike of me for a few moments and listen to what I have to say. It makes sense.”

“I don’t dislike you. It’s an oversimplification.”

He nodded, wearing that very patient expression that drove women mad. “Of course. I didn’t intend to slight or simplify your feelings. I merely wish us to concentrate on the substance of what I have to say. Could you please listen?”

I leaned back and crossed my arms. “I’m listening.”

He reached inside his leather jacket and produced a rolled-up scroll. He placed the scroll on the table and unrolled it slowly, holding it taut with the tips of his fingers.

“This is the invitation from the Order.”

I threw my hands in the air. “That’s it, I’m done.”

“Allow me to finish,” he said. He didn’t look angry. He didn’t tell me that I was acting like a child, although I knew that I was. It made me madder.

“Very well,” I said.

“In a few weeks you’ll turn twenty-five. While in itself that means very little, in terms of readmission into the Order it carries a certain weight. It’s much harder to gain entrance once you turn twenty-five. Not impossible. Just harder.”

“I know,” I said. “They’ve sent me brochures.”

He let go of the scroll and leaned back, lacing his long fingers. The scroll remained open even though every law of physics dictated that it should snap back into a roll. Greg forgot about physics sometimes.

“In that case, you’re aware of the age penalties.”

It wasn’t a question, but I answered it anyway. “Yes.”

He sighed. It was a small movement, only noticeable to those who knew him well. I could tell by the way he sat, very still, craning his neck slightly, that he had guessed at my decision.

“I wish you would reconsider,” he said.

“I don’t think so.” For a moment I could see the frustration in his eyes. We both knew what was left unsaid: the Order promised protection, and protection to someone of my lineage was paramount.

“Can I ask why?” he said.

“It’s not for me, Greg. I can’t deal with hierarchy.”

For him the Order was a place of refuge and security, a place of power. Its members committed themselves to the values of the Order completely, serving with such dedication that the organization itself no longer seemed a gathering of individuals, but an entity in itself, thinking, rationalizing, and incredibly powerful. Greg embraced it and it nurtured him. I fought it and almost lost.

“Every moment I spent there, I felt as if there was less of me,” I said. “As if I was shrinking. Dwindling away. I had to get out and I won’t go back.”

Greg looked at me, his dark eyes terribly sad. In this dim light, in my small kitchen, his beauty was startling. In some perverse way I was happy that my stubbornness forced him to visit and now he sat in a chair less than a foot away, like an ageless elven prince, elegant and sorrowful. God, how much I hated myself for this little girl fantasy.

“If you’ll excuse me,” I said.

He blinked, startled by my formality and then rose smoothly. “Of course. Thank you for the coffee.”

I saw him to the door. The outside had turned dark, and the bright light of the moon enameled the grass on my lawn with silver. By the porch, white Rose of Sharon flowers glowed against the shrubs like a scattering of stars.

I watched Greg descend down the three concrete steps into the yard.

“Greg?”

“Yes?” He turned. His magic flared about him like a mantle.

“Nothing.” I closed the door.

My last memory of him, poised against the moonlight-drenched lawn and clothed in his magic.

Oh, God.

I cradled myself with my arms, wanting to cry. The tears would not come. My mouth had gone dry. My last link to my family severed. Nobody was left. I had no mother, no father, and now no Greg. I clenched my teeth and went to pack.

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About the authors

Ilona Andrews

Ilona Andrews

“Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.

They have co-authored four NYT and USAT bestselling series, the urban fantasy of Kate Daniels, rustic fantasy of the Edge, paranormal romance of Hidden Legacy, and Innkeeper Chronicles, which they post as a free weekly serial. For complete list of their books, fun extras, and Innkeeper installments, please visit their website at Ilona-andrews.com.

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Reviews

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

11,714 global ratings

Rare Reviewer

Rare Reviewer

5

THIS IS ONE COMPELLING SERIES THAT I AM NOW ADDICTED TO

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2015

Verified Purchase

Kate Daniels Series First of all – I don’t do book reports. Other reviewers and the synopsis do a wonderful job of that - all I do is tell the reasons why or why I really like or dislike a book so that others potential readers can figure out whether this is a series that they might enjoy.

In the 1st novel, I found myself lost at times and confused because of the totally different world this novel takes place in with the various factions and rules. I then became so engrossed that I couldn’t put it down despite at times feeling lost when I did not understand all the rules and characters. After reading the supplement at the end with in-depth information about the world of Kate Daniels – everything made sense. I understand now why the authors went back and included this in the 1st book of the series. The book really needed it because of the world created within and its complexity and rules. If you do decide, (after reading my reasons why I really like this series), to give this series a chance – read the supplement at the end first!

Yes, this is a series that contain a love story within(not a romance as usually portrayed); but, the love is a very slow developing love that takes place over time, trials, mistrust, misunderstandings between species/cultures and fights. This is one thing I really enjoy about this series. While I enjoy an occasional “fluff” novel with the “see mate, take mate and HEA” by the end of the book, I really relish a novel where the couples’ love and commitment is more realistic in that it takes time, development, compromises and work to keep it that way. This series is not really a HEA but more of a HRN (Happy Right Now) because we destroyed the evil monsters for right now, didn’t walk away for good because of a misunderstanding and both ready to fight even friends/associates/allies to stay together – so we can be Happy Right Now without worrying about what tomorrow will bring - type of saga. And, the commitment to each other grows stronger over time.

Yes, this series contains very graphic depictions of violence. I also enjoy Larissa Ione's Demonica Series so the graphic violence does not deter me from enjoying this series. In fact, the violence is a needed part of both series as they both take place in a very unfriendly, fight-for-your-life, vicious world setting where monsters do exist and they will come for you. All the main characters are fighters – fighting for survival, fighting for those that can’t, and fighting for what is right. The actions scenes are therefore graphic in their portrayal of what has to take place in making this world safe for another day – making the fight scenes come alive in blood, gore and guts.

Yes, Kate Daniels is “snarky”, sarcastic and exhibits a type of “dark” humor, which I really appreciate. I’m not into “slap-stick” or juvenile humor. Kate is also a strong female heroine that has no need for a strong, big, male to save her. Not that she’s too stupid to turn down any help that comes along but that she has been trained to rely on herself alone. The development of learning that she can rely on others is a long, frightening and rocky path for her. All the main female characters are strong women in strength and spirit but are not so perfect that it makes you want to gag. They get injured. They get hurt feeling, feelings of loneliness and despair. They are never “door mats.” And, most importantly – there are no TSTL moments. (That kills a book for me!)

All of the male protagonists are Alpha males with different abilities, different personalities, different viewpoints. Curran is the ultimate Alpha with such a developed personality and ability that I would read this series just to keep up with his trials and tribulations. His and Kate’s actions and interactions are enough to keep me coming back for more. Curran if far from perfect – he’s arrogant, demanding, and is capable of being a “pain-in-the-behind” type of male. He’s also loyal, extremely protective of others, and the ultimate predator.

Yes, there are unanswered questions at the end of the first novel. This series is more of a mystery at times that continues on to the next in the series. Each novel reveals a little bit more about Kate – her pass and her possible future. It’s more of an evolution of her and the people and world around her. While some of the novels deal with other main characters – they still need to be read in order to understand the dynamics of the relationships and the past events that has led the characters to their current place. Warning – this series can become extremely addicting.

The icing on the cake is that the authors were able to successfully take our known world – give it a twist and create an alternate world that is so developed - making it so believable that I could easily picture the characters, the actions and world that it happens in. This is no formulaic writing. The twist did not end with just the world building but in the type of characters inhabiting that new world. Just one example is with the vampires not being portrayed as handsome creatures operating under their own steam but as ugly tools operating under the guidance of others. This series is no doubt one of the most creative, imaginative and engrossing series that I have gotten into. There are no plot holes. No misspellings. All of the characters, actions and places are well developed. Another important fact – is that I have not been disappointed in any of the novels in this series so far (up to the 8th in the series now). While I have liked some novels better than others in the same series – when compared to other authors’ novels – this still beats them. (Except for Nalini Singh, Shelly Laurenston, Thea Harrison and a very few others – I have a very short pre-buy list of authors I trust to put out exceptional work.)

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27 people found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Kindle Customer

5

Reread is awesome

Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2024

Verified Purchase

I absolutely love kate Daniel's series. I can read it over and over. The authors are spectacular and know how to capture a audience.

Jennifer @ Bad Bird Reads

Jennifer @ Bad Bird Reads

5

One of my favorite books ever.

Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2011

Verified Purchase

Summary When the magic is up, rogue mages cast spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictable as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.

Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate's guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta's magic circles.

The Master of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings - and the death of Kate's guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she's way out of her league - but she wouldn't have it any other way...

The Good This is the kind of book that grabs you from the beginning. Unlike many authors, Andrews (a wife and husband team who wrote this book) doesn't bog down the book with elaborate explanations of her world. She integrates the basics throughout the whole book as to not bore the reader with pages of explanation.

What was even better was the actual world Andrews created. I have never come across another concept like this before. It made it more exciting to read because I never knew what was next. It was as if the normal rules did not apply, so the limits were endless.

But the best part, the thing that made me almost cry when it was six in the morning and I still hadn't gone to bed because nothing was going to come between me and my book, not even unconsciousness, was the characters.

Kate is the kick-assiest (yup, not a real word, but it has a ring to it) protagonist ever. She is fearless, has mad fighting skills, and does what the hell she wants.

Curran. Oh, Curran. He is the Beast Lord in every sense of the word. He's strong, brutal, and knows how to push Kate's buttons (and vice versa).

The dialogue is down right hilarious. I literally laughed out loud for half of the book. I like those type of characters that don't hold anything back.

The combat scenes where excellent. Very clear, concise, and interesting. Gory at times, but I like that.

The air of mystery around Kate Daniels is by far the most tantalizing part. It's obvious there is more to her history that has yet to be revealed, which only guarantees people will be picking up book #2 Magic Burns.

The Bad I can truly say there was nothing I disliked about this book. I guess some could find it a little too gritty and gory, but I think it made the book interesting and raw.

The Snuggly There was a little sexual tension but there is no sex.

Overall This is one of my favorite books (and series) I have ever read. The characters are the best part and the action is beautifully written. I actually became a writer because of this series. My protagonist is slightly based off of Kate Daniels because I believe she is one of the best characters ever created.

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