Review: Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels #3) by Ilona Andrews |《Reread》

5 stars for Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels book 3) by Ilona Andrews |《Reread》.

Magic Strikes. My all-time favourite. It feels so good to re-live this story again. Not only that, everything becomes so much clearer. Names and characters that I have glazed over the first time round get my full attention now.

Most books take one year to be written, edited and published. The same goes books in a series. In this sense, the authors did a great job to provide an excellent summary of Kate's world within the first couple of pages in Chapter one. Memory refresh is important because most readers would have lost touch during the year and need some prompting to be reminded of the base story again.

The husband and wife tag-team authors did it really well. They reminded readers about technology and magic, how they typically switch at least once every couple of days, usually more often than that. And then, about the three enforcement agencies that regulated life - the Military Supernatural Defense Unit (MSDU), the Paranormal Activity Division (PAD) and the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid (Kate's illustrious employer). This is followed by the power brokers of Atlanta - the People (the Masters of the Dead who navigate the vampires) and the Pack (the Shapeshifters). Finally, a reminder about the various characters the series cannot do without - Jim, Kate's partner from her days when she worked for the Mercenary Guild, who is also alpha of the cat clan and the Pack's chief of security; Saiman, a shapeshifter of sorts who has an encyclopedic knowledge of magic, a magic expert in short; and Derek, Kate's one-time teenage werewolf sidekick.

It is very easy to like Kate. She is a great kick-ass heroine. She packs a mean punch, fights well and is powerful in her own ways. She is a tough girl with a heart. The heart part did it for me. The author shows readers that no matter how tough Kate is or aspires to be, deep down, she is just a girl, a human girl who is not without fear, just that she masks them well.

By revealing Kate's inner conversations and thought processes, the authors bring Kate closer to readers and show us how she covers up her fears and weakneses through anger and blabbing. To quote "The man made an odd hooting sound that raised the tiny hairs on the back of my neck.." Another quote "This one was old. No sign of it ever walking upright remained. It waited on all fours, like a dog that has somehow sprouted humanoid limbs tipped with stiletto claws. The lasting lingering echoes of its humanity had faded long ago. It had become a thing, so revolting alien and frightening it sent shivers down my spine." As to Kate's witty blabbing to cover up her discomfort especially in the presense of the Beast Lord, it will not do to quote them here. Readers have to read them by themselves in the context of Kate Daniels vs Your Majesty, otherwise, I will be doing injustice to Kate.

This book revolves around Hindu mythology. I wonder if the authors are already well-versed in the different mythologies prior to writing Kate Daniels series. If not, I cannot imagine the amount of research they need to do to spin such a beautiful story.

Next up book four Magic Bleeds.

Review: Magic Burns (Kate Daniels #2) by Ilona Andrews |《Reread》

4 stars for Magic Burns (Kate Daniels book 2) by Ilona Andrews |《Reread》.

I still remember vividly the first time I read Magic Burns. I did not like this book. I struggled with the story so much that I almost wanted to give up. It is hard to like this book. Serious. Looking back, I think it is a wonder that I persevere long enough to reach the end of the book and even more so, waited for book 3 to be published and kept a lookout for its availability. The rest as we know it, is history.

Reading Magic Burns a second time now, the feeling is different yet somewhat same. Different because I no longer find it so difficult to read. I actually enjoyed reading it. Same because I have finished reading the entire Kate Daniels series and I know that of all the books, this is still the one that I like the least; no change there, not now nor any time in the future.

This book involves coven and druids but it revolves mostly around Celtic mythology and its rituals. Reading it slowly helps in understanding. And where required, read the same sentence again and again.

Next up is book three Magic Strikes. My all-time favourite.

Review: Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1) by Ilona Andrews |《Reread》

5 stars for Magic Bites (Kate Daniels book 1) by Ilona Andrews |《Reread》.

Recently, I re-watched a Chinese drama series titled "Go Ahead" |《以家人之名》. It features three families with no blood ties but the children, two boys and one girl, grow up together under the care and guidance of two dads. Fast forward some years; the three children have grown up. One of the boys falls in love with the girl. The reason he gave for wanting to be with her and to form their own family unit subsequently, is that he is exhausted from the family dramatic happenings and has run out of capacity on wanting to know other girls. He is just happy to live with what he is familiar with and be with this girl whom he has been calling sister since young.

This drama series brought to mind, my own reading situation. I think I have run out of capacity, at least for now, on the desire to explore new books. Lately it is getting worse. It is taking me forever to finish reading a new book. But then... give me an Urban Fantasy series that I have read before and loved, specifcially the Kate Daniels series, I will find every chance I have to read the book.

This also brought to my mind "The Price Is Right", a long-running American television show game where contestants guess the prices of products to win cash and prizes, currently hosted by Drew Carey. For me, it is the equivalent of "The Book is Right". Yes, having the right book makes such a big difference in whipping up my reading appetitie.

It is a mysterious thing that perhaps only avid readers can understand and relate. Revisiting an old series does not bore me, no matter how many times I have read it already. This is probably my third or fourth time reading Magic Bites. Yet, it still blows me away. I find it deeply enjoyable as I refresh my memory to live through the story once more through Kate's eyes. It is also a great pleasure to (re)discover the finer details which I may have overlooked in my earlier readings.

As a debut novel, this book is extraordinarily well written. The fact that I have already completed the entire series astounds me even more on the brillancy of the author in building Kate's world and crafting the story for book one.

Authors who differentiate themselves from the mediocre ones are those who plan way ahead and have an ace up their sleeves. In author Ilona Andrews' case, it is definitely many more aces. To date, I have yet to find another author who can match author Ilona in weaving an equally spectacular Urban Fantasy series. Indeed, Kate Daniels is one of a kind.

Next up is book two Magic Burns.

Review: King Solomon's Mines (Allan Quatermain #1) by H. Rider Haggard

4 stars for King Solomon's Mines (Allan Quatermain book 1) by H. Rider Haggard.

I own a copy of this book by chance. Some years back, the owner decided to donate this book and placed it on the free-for-all bookshelf placed outside the library which I always frequent then. Though used, the book looks good as new. One look and I decided to be the new owner and brought it home.

Since then, I have always wanted to read this book, but somehow, did not manage to. Beginning of this year, I tell myself I really need to get down to reading this book so that I can let go of it and re-circulate. I am glad this is finally done - the reading I mean.

If not for the free copy, I would never have seek out this book. It really is not my usual choice of read. The copy I have is the 1994 reissued edition. This book was first published in 1885. Perhaps because it was written so long ago, the way of writing and presentation is rather different from that in books these days. Nevertheless, the story flows well and the landscape was beautifully captured in the author's lyrical writings.

Now that I have finished reading this book, I plan to bring it along with me in my next trip to the library. I hope whoever owns it next will not only enjoy the story as much as I did but also takes great care of the book.