Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
A serial killer trying to provoke two major factions into a clash. A mercenary hiding her past. A mystery she can’t turn away from. Responsibility she didn’t choose.
Fun fact, I first read this book in 2008 and last time I did a reread was in 2011. It was so fun to revisit after 15 years.
Magic Bites is the first in a long running series for Andrews (book one of ten). In it we meet Kate who is a mercenary in a dystopian Atlanta where magic has returned to the world and thrown everything into chaos. Skyscrapers are eaten away by magic waves. Creatures come out of the dark and technology we rely on to be safe only works in fits and starts. In her role as a mercenary, Kate handles baddies that put people at risk but the police are too busy to handle.
He was in charge by the right of might; that is, he had yet to meet anyone who could kick his ass.
Andrews, Ilona. Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1) (p. 53). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
The story line for this book centers around a mysterious death close to Kate that turns out to be part of a string of murders. In working to find the killer, Kate encounters a vibrant cast of characters who force her to reveal more than she wants and to take on more responsibility than she's ready for. There is a false resolution to the story, a surprise bad guy and dynamics we don't yet understand.
“What kind of a woman greets the Beast Lord with ‘here, kitty, kitty’?” he asked. “One of a kind.” I murmured the obvious reply.
Andrews, Ilona. Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1) (p. 56). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Rereading this book was such a great experience - I've previously shared that I'm a big fan of Andrews' writing, so over the years I have devoured this series and literally everything else they've written. Getting to go back to the start and read it again with both knowledge of where it goes and space from the details of the storytelling was really special.
It scared the shit out of me, so I laughed in his face. “You think you can do it by yourself next time, big guy? On second thought, you better bring some of your flunkies to box me in again—you are getting soft.” Behind him someone made a strangled sound. That’s it, I’m dead, flashed through my head.
Andrews, Ilona. Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1) (p. 97). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
At the same time, I found themes in this book that have carried through to other books by Andrews. For instance the usage of a serial killer in the story arc feels very similar to This Kingdom Will Not Kill me, which was released earlier this year. There are also aspects of found family choosing you back and forcing their way in that feel like common tropes with Andrews, though they're light in this first book. It was fun to see those themes happen even in this early work. It also made me appreciate how those tropes and their usage have evolved.
My one critique of the book has to do with the depiction of travel. There is something that feels disjointed about how Kate moves around post apocalyptic Atlanta - sometimes it sounds impossible to get from one place to another and others it seems to take no time. I couldn't decide as I read if this was intentional to add to the general disorientation that we are meant to feel? Or if it was a function of Andrews still working out the mechanics of the world.
I again rated this one 5/5 and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a bad ass female protagonist who is not looking for glory but gets pulled into it.
