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Utterly entertaining and unforgettable!!
What I liked: I find there are two ways to read/listen to an Ilona Andrews book. One way is to take a breath, dig in and don't come up for air. It's a good way and don't get me wrong, I've done that in the past with this series. Now, I've become a hoarder with these books. I know I'm going to have to wait awhile to get another addition to the series, so I try to make the book last as long as possible. One way I did this with Magic Shifts is, I listened to part of the book and read other parts. See, I read too fast. I wanted to relish Magic Shifts and the only way I knew to slow me down was to listen to part of it.
At the end of the previous book, Magic Breaks, I think every fan was a bit stymied. The whole series up to that point dealt with what was going to happen with Kate and her Dad, Roland. There was sort of a resolution but we didn't know what it meant and oh my gosh, Curran's decision at the end was jaw dropping. (I'm trying desperately not to spoil anything for readers who haven’t caught up with the series). Essentially the ending in Magic Breaks gave fans a new and different storyline. Yep, you got it. I mean the Andrews' are tricky enough and they've upped the ante in Magic Shifts. I was extremely worried I would be disappointed in their new storyline but they don't give you a chance!
The action in Magic Shifts starts right away so you're not left floundering. What I found the most interesting in the beginning were the pack rules Kate and Curran had to obey. I wanted everyone to play nice but the way the rules are set up, they can't. There are agendas that need to be followed and the pack's future to worry about. At first I was a bit flabbergasted with some of the manipulations by the pack but it had to happen the way it did or Magic Shifts would have just been a ho-hum book.
Another thing I liked was Curran's new attitude. He needed a challenge and boy did he ever get one. He's a schemer and needs problems to overcome so he doesn't get bored. So, we see a new side of Curran. Not only Curran but in several of the characters. I was always a champion of Mahon but this book made me look at him in a different light. As a matter of fact, the characters all had to make so many adjustments; I enjoyed learning more about each and every one of them.
What I didn't like: I missed seeing a bit more of Derek but many other characters needed to have their time in the limelight and I understand why some of my favorites, while there, weren't in starring roles.
I don't blindly give Ilona Andrews' books my highest recommendation. I actually sit and think about many different things before I write a review. I TRY to find things I don't like to help the next reader make a decision about this series. When I have to hunt to find a "dislike", it tells me how much I loved the book.
As I said earlier, I was apprehensive about starting Magic Shifts and certainly didn't want it to end, but the Andrews have never disappointed me and now I can only wait to see what they come up with next. To me, each book in The Kate Daniels Series just adds another layer of goodness. The progression of ALL the characters blows me away. The research and imagination in each book astounds me. The storylines change and grow, the intensity of the plots knots my stomach and the characters have found a place in my heart. Yeah, I'm living vicariously through the Andrews' books. It's almost sad that I'm so invested in this series. I give credit where credit is due and the talent of this writing duo is one of the best in the business!
If I assigned stars to my reviews, there wouldn't be enough to tell you how much I savor each and every book!! To fully experience the wonder of this series, you need to start at the very beginning and I highly recommend you buy at least one of the books on audio!
Highest Recommendation!!!!!
