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From Leprosy to Lorca — Strange Inspiration

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   The Return

   Victoria Hislop

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Brooke Reviews, August 22, 2009 (view all comments by Brooke Reviews)
Kate Daniels lives in urban Atlanta. Magic is unpredictable here, as it's always fluctuating. This is how Kate, a mercenary, makes her living. Killing or capturing the bad guys who wreak havoc during the magical disruptions. When Kate learns of the death of her guardian she takes it upon herself to find the killer. This sticks her right in the middle of the two power structures in the city. The People and the Pack. Fighting whatever darkness is loose in the city will be tough with everyone breathing down her neck, and staying alive long enough to find the killer will be even tougher.

***

It took me a while to read this book. I've had it on my shelf for a long time. Which is a shame! The world building is rich and dark, and sucks you right into this alternate Atlanta. I love the spin on the different power structures of "the People" and "the Pack". Andrew's vampires are frightening, not the kind you want to run into in a dark alley or in broad daylight, that's for sure. They are disgusting creatures, that are controlled by The Masters of the Dead from afar. The best part though is the Magic. The fluctuations, and not being able to do something as simple as drive a car, people having to ride on horseback, not being able to turn on an electric lamp, and unable to use guns! Magic and technology are battling against each other in Magic Bites, but for people who know how to channel that magic, like Kate, and use it to their advantage, this battle can be a good and bad thing.

Lets get to Kate. Daring, smart, brave, strong, fierce, I could use so many words to describe her and all would be deserving. She's also got a sharp tongue, bad temper, and issues in her romantic life. I'd have to say she's a "well-rounded" character who won't fail to be exciting for readers.

The romance is there in this book, but it doesn't take a front seat. It's mostly hidden in the small moments...a look here, a teasing remark there. I'm interested to see where and what Kate ends up doing in book two, Magic Burns. Maybe she'll even explore the options for romance that surrounded her in this book, in future books.

This one had a slow start for me. Not boring, just not very attention getting. Kate sitting and drinking by herself in her kitchen didn't really grab me. But once I got to know her better, and the world created, I was hooked!

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emmejo, July 9, 2009 (view all comments by emmejo)
In a world where magic and technology are at war, being a human who can control and use magic is rare- and dead useful if you are Kate. A mercenary who will fix your magical problems for the right price, she has few friends and no family. When her guardian, Greg, her father's friend and the closest thing she had to family is mysteriously murdered, Kate is furious. He also had the ability to control magic and way more training in use of weapons then her; he would be a very hard man to kill. The trouble is no one knows even what kind of being could have inflicted the damage done. As Kate starts digging into the case she finds more people missing and what may be a plot to throw the magical population of the city into war.

A fast paced cross between a Whodunnit and fantasy novel. I loved the character of tough talking Kate and the supporting characters were great. The quick, witty banter and snappy one liners reminded me of Joss Whedon's TV shows, and I can see a bit of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer influence here.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9780441014897

Author:

Andrews, Ilona

Publisher:

Ace Books

Author:

Andrews, Iiona

Author:

Andrews, Ilona

Subject:

Georgia

Subject:

Magic

Subject:

Fantasy - General

Subject:

Fantasy - Contemporary

Subject:

Fantasy fiction

Publication Date:

April 2007

Binding:

Mass Market Paperbound

Grade Level:

General/trade

Language:

English

Pages:

260

Dimensions:

6.80x4.22x.76 in. .29 lbs.