Magic Bleeds ~ Ilona Andrews

Kate Daniels works for the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, officially as a liaison with the mercenary guild. Unofficially, she cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to handle—especially if they involve Atlanta’s shapeshifting community.

When she’s called in to investigate a fight at the Steel Horse, a bar midway between the territories of the shapeshifters and the necromancers, Kate quickly discovers there’s a new player in town. One who’s been around for thousands of years—and rode to war at the side of Kate’s father.

This foe may be too much even for Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family… [Summary from Ilona Andrews website]

I shouldn’t bother writing a review because so many wonderful bloggers have already said what I would and with far more eloquence. Plus, how vehemently can I say I LOVED IT! without becoming overly repetitious and showing my wild fangirl side? (A sight to behold!) But I’ll try. Just in case: Beware the creeping spoiler, which may well buck the cage of my mind without me being completely aware.

It’s true that my love for Kate Daniels and company is newly found, but it’s a love that is no less strong for its late coming. Magic Bleeds dug the well of affection that much deeper.

Kate continues to grow, to surprise me with her capacity for feeling and delight me with her loyalty. The relationship centric storylines that wove through the plot were infinitely awesome; Kate and Curran stilled my breath, but Andrea and Raphael stirred me almost as much. Even the bond that forms between Kate and her new canine friend was remarkable and satisfying (and further proved what a fantastic character Kate is.) I said from the get-go that, more than anything, the friendships, romantic entanglements and bonds between the characters in this world pulled me in. Ilona Andrews delivered more than I can say by way of all of the tension, camaraderie, and love in this installment. That’s all I’m going to say about that except…You could have stripped out all of the action and I still would have been one very pleased reader.

Which isn’t to say that the action wasn’t wonderful, too. Because it was. I loved that the problem that presented itself in this book required Kate to do some genuine sleuthing (which led to some seriously good ass-kicking.) Part of me really likes the investigative process and so even when Kate was on the phone, tracking down whatever information she needed to put the pieces together, I was happy as the proverbial clam. So, hurrah for Kate using deductive reasoning alongside her sword! (And, in case anyone is going ‘huh? But…but…she sleuths in every book!’ I say, right, you’re right, but I saw it more in this one, if that makes sense.)

I LOVED IT! to little, heart-shaped pieces. I’ve already gone back and reread huge chunks, as I will no doubt continue to do until I can get my hands on the next book. And so I say again, if you have not read this series, get to it!