With tension already between the groups, things are about to boil over and Kate is in the middle of it all. But things get complex when 2 different factions, the shapechangers and necromancers, each think the other is responsible for various killings within their ranks. Her friend/guardian was killed in a particularly brutal fashion and she has a personal interest in finding out who (or what) did this. Kate is a loner mercenary who doesn't take anyone's crap and there are major hints that she's pretty dang powerful. This book has a lot of things going for it, especially things that are being built up to be paid off in the future. I know the Kate Daniels series is Ilona Andrews' most popular work but to be honest, the blurb of Magic Bites didn't really grip me when I first read it, but after seeing some friends' reviews, I decided to give it a shot. It was a high-octane urban fantasy with an actual like-able, powerful and fun main character, a super intriguing world and a great love interest. There was a lot of BS I had to wade through (I think everyone who reads PNR, Urban Fantasy, or Fantasy romances can relate) until I finally came across Hidden Legacy. I first heard of Ilona Andrews last year when I read the first two books of their Hidden Legacy series when I was going through a craving of urban fantasy with romantic subplot after reading the Fever series. I was really sick and tired of reading one too many books with an annoying heroine who fell in love all too quickly with the male lead, with the plot being a flimsy backdrop for romantic shenanigans. Ilona Andrews is known for their high-octane, imaginative urban fantasy plots, strong female leads who are not dumb, annoying and useless, and compelling love interests.

The Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews (a pseudonym for a husband and wife writing team) has a major cult following. Rating: 3.5/5 enjoyable but not without its flaws Romance: more of a set up for a potential romance later, minimal romantic scenes, no explicit scenes

Magic bites series in order