This was an okay read, and likely very important to the series. Kate and Curan are lured to Europe -- ostensibly to mediate and bodyguard a pregnant shifter whose child will inherit a geographically pivotal mountain pass -- with the promise of panacea (a substance helping to prevent shifter children from loupism). The European packs severely limit availability so a clear incentive.

I was finally starting to like Kate and Curan as a couple in the fifth book. Now, they annoy me again. Nope, don't buy into Curan just making it look a certain way to European packs -- too much of book angst-y because he doesn't tell Kate stuff. The bits with Hugh were not very believable.

Overall, I get it. Panacea important. Hugh still around. Encounter new characters and races in Europe. Blah, blah, blah. Not the greatest flow, almost as if would have worked better as an anthology.

Hopefully the next book in series will be better. Not in any hurry to borrow it from library. Previous book got my hopes up falsely.

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.

This might be my least favorite book in the Kate Daniels series. Of course, I still loved it so that doesn't mean a whole lot. This was a re-read for me. I first read this book shortly after its release and devoured it quickly. I have been slowly working my way back through the series in audio and am enjoying it even more the second time around. I started the re-read of this book when nothing else I started seemed to be working but as soon as I started this book I didn't want to stop listening. I feel very lucky to have found a series of books that I know I will enjoy every time I want to revisit the story.

This book takes Kate, Curran, and many others out of town. I tend not to care for books in a series that move the setting to an unknown location quite as much just because I miss all of the things that I love about the main setting including the characters. I didn't miss the characters all that much since so many of them were along for the trip. I did find the new setting to be unique and rather interesting. I liked that by having the group take a little trip we were able to see a few things that were completely new.

One of the things that I love the most about this series is the relationship between Kate and Curran. It has been fun watching things develop between them over the span of ten books. Since I have already finished the series, I enjoyed this look at their past but this book is not the high point in their relationship. To put it simply - Curran acts like a jerk in this book and I didn't like it. Kate didn't like it either so it causes a few problems. I will say that there are some pretty heartfelt and redeeming moments as well so it all worked out in the end.

This book had all of the action and excitement that I have come to expect from the series. There is a mystery to solve, children to protect, and political moves to be made. This book also brings a healthy dose of Hugh which added a lot to the story. This was a really heartbreaking book because we had to say goodbye to a much-loved character. New characters were also introduced that will play an important role as the series progresses.

Renee Raudman did a fantastic job with this book as she has with the rest of the series. I think that she does a great job of bringing Kate to life and adding to an already exciting story. She handles a large cast of characters really well through the voices that she uses. I have no problems listening to her narration for hours at a time.

I would highly recommend this series to everyone. Honestly, if you haven't read this series yet you really should give it a try. I can't wait to continue my audio re-read!

Initial Thoughts
This was a re-read for me. I do love this book BUT this might be my least favorite installment in the series. I typically don't seem to like books from a series that takes a group of characters away from their normal environment quite as much. In addition to the book being set away from Atlanta, Curran acts like an idiot for much of the book. Plus characters get hurt and killed in this one. I hate having to say goodbye to any of these amazing characters. I still loved the book and thought that some pretty important things happened. I found some of the scenes between Kate and Curran to be quite touching. It was great to see Hugh in all of his glory plus there was a lot of action and suspense to keep me listening. Renee Raudman continues to do a fantastic job with the series. My audiobook also had a copy of An Ill-Advised Rescue. 

Book Source: Audible Purchase

And this library borrow fits tonight's Book Shelf BINGO call of "favorites."

 

I'm still not a huge fan girl of this series.  But, it's had it's moments.  I'm finding Kate and Curan romance less annoying because at least there's more communication and mutual support.

This ebook downloaded, too.

 

I have a distinct tone for the notification where my furbabies hear it and bounce over guard the ereaders until ransomed with treats.  Pavlovian response indeed, eh?

4.25 stars

There were a couple of times when Curran acted so out of character that I wanted Kate to kick him upside his furry head.

full review
I’ve been trying to pace myself because the final Kate Daniels book isn’t due out until May 2018. But screw that! I am enjoying these so much, and when I get in a reading slump (which I believe is partly due to the wonder of Kate Daniels), I keep going back to these. The characters have all earned a special place in my reading heart, and I love catching up with them in every volume.

Kate and Curran get a change of scenery in Magic Rises. They are offered a medicine that helps shapeshifter children survive from going loup. The European packs keep a tight grip on the substance, but after a dispute between three of the packs, Kate and Curran are offered some of the medicine – if they can keep Desandra, the pregnant daughter of vicious Alpha Jarek Kral alive until she gives birth. Knowing that they are walking into a trap, they accept the assignment, putting their lives, and the lives of some of my favorite shifters, at risk. Yeah, I was suffering from anxiety that one of my favorite characters would die. And I was right! One of them did. Sobbing. So. Hard.

With a little help from Saiman, Kate and company arrive in Gagra relatively unharmed. Then they find themselves in a castle with no allies, enemies around every corner, and a new type of shifter to fight. When Hugh puts in an appearance, Kate knows they’ve been had, and wonders if they will make it home in one piece.

There are the usual high intensity battles (I love the battles – they make or break the series for me), and enemies that seem at first too powerful to defeat. Showing what a bad ass she is, Kate leaps into danger to protect her client and her friends and pack mates. She unravels a few secrets about her blood and how to use it, meets some powerful allies, and makes some deadly enemies. My only disappointment with this volume was Curran. He acted so completely out of character that I was hoping for Kate to kick him upside his furry head. Hard. This, however, is a minor quibble, and overall, Magic Rises kept me engaged from beginning to end.