Ilona Andrews: Magic Slays

Hi everyone

Magic Slays is the fifth book in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. I read this on my e-reader, though I’d love to own a physical copy of the series; if only I could find all the books in print!

"Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.
So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price ..."

I can’t really put my finger on why this book didn’t grip me as much as the previous ones. I enjoyed my time reading it, but I never felt compelled to keep going.
Magic Slays is just as fun, entertaining, action-packed, and fast-paced as ever; it just felt a bit off.

I thought there was too much going on mythology-wise. The addition of Baba Yaga on top of everything else felt a bit gimmicky to me.
I’m also not sure if I’ll enjoy the relationship between Curran and Kate now that they’re actually in a relationship. If they keep second-guessing each other, setting rock-hard boundaries, and then breaking them, it might get frustrating rather than romantic.

Still, Magic Slays was a solid entry in the series. It didn’t blow me away, but it kept me entertained. Have you read Magic Slays? Did you feel the same way, or did it grip you more than it did me? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena