ARC Review: Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews

Recommended Read!

“…strange mix of happy because the book was fantastic and devastation because it was the last one.”
~ Under the Covers

WARNING! This review contains much rambling from a fan girl who is still reeling from seeing the end of her favourite series. She wants more. She needs more. She found solace in lots of chocolate and buns.

Note: If you haven’t read Iron and Magic yet, then read that before starting this book. It isn’t essential to understanding the plot in Magic Triumphs but, it will certainly give background on some aspects of this book. Plus, it’s Hugh D’Ambray, how can you not want to read more?

I don’t even know where to begin with this review. I normally start with a short blurb about the book I am about to review. However, Magic Triumphs is the final in the series, so if you are coming across this as a brand-new reader than please, don’t read any further. Just go to your library, Amazon or your local book shop and pick up a copy of Magic Bites which is the first in the series and get reading. I promise you won’t regret it. If, like me, you have been following the series, eagerly anticipating each new book that comes out then you’ll know. This is the big finale. Whatever Kate is going to do about Roland, she’s going to be doing it in this book.

It’s been a day or two now since I finished the last ever page in the Kate Daniels series and I still feel a little shell shocked. I can’t believe it’s the end. I have been equally looking forward to it and dreading it. Looking forward to it because I am desperate to see how they handle Roland, they can’t really kill him, but it seems like an impossible job to contain him. The there are all the other smaller, but no less important things I want to read about. Kate and Curran, how are they finding parenthood? Will, the now married, Hugh D’Ambray make an appearance and how will he be received if he does? Jim and Dali, how’s life as the Beast Lord and Lady? Then there’s Erra, Julie, Derek, Andrea, Raphael, Ascanio, Christopher, Barabas, Saiman, Ghastek…and countless other characters. They’ve all made an impact on this series making it the intricate and layered world, that in my opinion, hasn’t been rivalled in any other series I have read.

But, as I said, I’ve been dreading it as well. I don’t want it to end. I want to continue to dip into Kate, Curran and the all the assorted characters lives. They feel like friends at this point; I want to step in, make sure they’re okay, they’re happy, laugh and cry with them and read about all their hijinks. So, as I read the final page, the final word in Magic Triumphs I couldn’t help a small tear escaping. The tear was that strange mix of happy because the book was fantastic and devastation because it was the last one.

However, this is supposed to be a book review. Not me indulging in some written therapy. So, lets get to the book. I loved it. This book is set just over 2 years from the events of the Magic Binds and Kate and Curran now have a son. So, we get a glimpse of Kate-and Curran-the-parents. So many things happen in this book, but what I will always remember is how adorable Conlan Lennart is. He’s old enough that his personality is emerging. And that personality is playful and mischievous. Seeing Kate’s protective instincts in overdrive and Curran bursting with pride over his son makes for some scenes that blend heart melting and funny all in one.

Magic Triumphs also offers the usual action packed, but intelligent story line we have all come to expect from Andrews. What was surprising was that it wasn’t entirely focussed on Roland as I expected. However, don’t fear all was resolved by the end of the book. A bigger enemy was in town, which meant that Kate and Curran had to make some unlikely alliances and appearance of a certain, now married, Preceptor and his wife.

For many readers though, including myself, Kate and Curran are one of the big reason that keep you coming back for more. First because you were desperate for them to get together, their chemistry and tension between them was fantastic. Then, once they were together to see if that level of chemistry could be maintained. And with intimacy and time Kate and Curran have just gotten better. They still have that spark, they still drive each other crazy and their devotion to one another has only gotten stronger. This book just demonstrates that further especially with the addition of Conlan to their family.

This was a fantastic ending to this series and I am genuinely sad that I will no longer be getting any more books from Kate’s POV. I loved riding along in her brain. Ilona Andrews has developed an amazing world and cast of characters with the Kate Daniels series and it has made an indelible mark on my reading life. No other UF has ever quite reached it. But I am hoping that although it may be the last of the Kate Daniels series, there is still more to come in this world. There’s so much potential for more, especially with characters like Julie and Derek and then we have the Iron Dogs with Hugh and Elara. I’m keeping all my fingers and toes crossed!

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[about-author author=”Ilona Andrews”]

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