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Touch the Dark
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £2.01
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 Customer Reviews
got hooked, 20 Oct 2008
oh WOW this book was great just glad what i got it i also got the other 2 as i have 3 to read one after the other i could not put them down and now i am waiting for the next one they are full of action and you get thinking that you are really living as cassie if you get in to your books like me and can get the pictures in you head as you read. you really get in to it a great book and left me wanting more not looking for all her books
Great Start to a Wonderful Series, 12 Oct 2008
Loved it! Wonderful characters, a swift moving plot, a deft sense of humour and a surprising ending--this book had it all. And unlike many series I've read, this one keeps getting better with each book. Claimed by Shadow, the sequel, is also a very strong title, and Embrace the Night, the third book in the series, is simply brilliant. The three work together to tell one complex and fascinating tale. Curse the Dawn, the fourth book, is out in April and I can't wait! If you're looking for something a bit different with a stronger plotline and better characterization than normal for genre fiction, this is it!
I really wanted to say I liked this book, 11 Oct 2008
This is the sort of book that anyone who reads Laurel K. Hamilton or Kim Harrison will probably end up reading.
It's set in an underground of vampires and werewolves that exists in parralel to the human world, and sees a female heroine do battle against the powers that be in that world.
One of my biggest grumbles about Hamilton and Harrison is the fact that there's too much 'love interest' and too little story in their books. That's why I turned to this book. I hoped that I'd get more story. I can't work out quite how wrong I was yet.
Don't get me wrong, the lead protagonist isn't jumping into bed with people, but the story (which sees her try and work out who's killing the Vampire Council in America and how to stop him) feels a little clunky all the same.
I don't know about you, but when I tell a story I try to weave the back story into the main text fairly seamlessly. I don't want people getting confused about what's going on, but I don't want the back story to get in the way of the story's flow either.
That didn't happen here. Every so often she'd stop to lay this whole exposition about the past on you.
This was ok at first, but it got on my nerves after a while. If you can get your head round that irritating tendency the author has, you might enjoy this book. If you can't you should go elsewhere.
I would read the sequel, 02 Sep 2008
Deliciously gory and sexy. I liked the well-established supernatural world that Chance created and her exploration of ideas. The magic involved was unusual (in that I hadn't come across it quite like that in a novel before) and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, though I don't think I would read it again. The story is a series of detailed, lengthy scenes that takes place over a fairly short space of time and I did find the sometimes slow pace of events irritating at times, but I would buy and read the sequel for more.
Fascinating... Enjoyable, 27 Jul 2008
First book I have read by Karen Chance, and found it enjoyable.
I liked Cassie, at times she could be infuriating... but thats normal, charactors can't always do what you want them to do.
I liked the fact that we got loads more magical creatures like demons and mages, and can't wait to read the 2nd in this series.
I definately recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, vampire, werewolf type fiction.
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Magic Burns
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £1.52
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Customer Reviews
got hooked, 20 Oct 2008
oh WOW this book was great just glad what i got it i also got the other 2 as i have 3 to read one after the other i could not put them down and now i am waiting for the next one they are full of action and you get thinking that you are really living as cassie if you get in to your books like me and can get the pictures in you head as you read. you really get in to it a great book and left me wanting more not looking for all her books
Great Start to a Wonderful Series, 12 Oct 2008
Loved it! Wonderful characters, a swift moving plot, a deft sense of humour and a surprising ending--this book had it all. And unlike many series I've read, this one keeps getting better with each book. Claimed by Shadow, the sequel, is also a very strong title, and Embrace the Night, the third book in the series, is simply brilliant. The three work together to tell one complex and fascinating tale. Curse the Dawn, the fourth book, is out in April and I can't wait! If you're looking for something a bit different with a stronger plotline and better characterization than normal for genre fiction, this is it!
I really wanted to say I liked this book, 11 Oct 2008
This is the sort of book that anyone who reads Laurel K. Hamilton or Kim Harrison will probably end up reading.
It's set in an underground of vampires and werewolves that exists in parralel to the human world, and sees a female heroine do battle against the powers that be in that world.
One of my biggest grumbles about Hamilton and Harrison is the fact that there's too much 'love interest' and too little story in their books. That's why I turned to this book. I hoped that I'd get more story. I can't work out quite how wrong I was yet.
Don't get me wrong, the lead protagonist isn't jumping into bed with people, but the story (which sees her try and work out who's killing the Vampire Council in America and how to stop him) feels a little clunky all the same.
I don't know about you, but when I tell a story I try to weave the back story into the main text fairly seamlessly. I don't want people getting confused about what's going on, but I don't want the back story to get in the way of the story's flow either.
That didn't happen here. Every so often she'd stop to lay this whole exposition about the past on you.
This was ok at first, but it got on my nerves after a while. If you can get your head round that irritating tendency the author has, you might enjoy this book. If you can't you should go elsewhere.
I would read the sequel, 02 Sep 2008
Deliciously gory and sexy. I liked the well-established supernatural world that Chance created and her exploration of ideas. The magic involved was unusual (in that I hadn't come across it quite like that in a novel before) and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, though I don't think I would read it again. The story is a series of detailed, lengthy scenes that takes place over a fairly short space of time and I did find the sometimes slow pace of events irritating at times, but I would buy and read the sequel for more.
Fascinating... Enjoyable, 27 Jul 2008
First book I have read by Karen Chance, and found it enjoyable.
I liked Cassie, at times she could be infuriating... but thats normal, charactors can't always do what you want them to do.
I liked the fact that we got loads more magical creatures like demons and mages, and can't wait to read the 2nd in this series.
I definately recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, vampire, werewolf type fiction.
Non-stop action, great storyline, wonderful characters, 28 Aug 2008
After reading "Bites" and getting captivated by both Kate and her magnetic attraction to trouble, I couldn't wait to read Magic Burns. Just to let you know how much fun this book was, I read it in four hours - every word threw itself at me relentlessly and the world just had to wait until I finished.
The action in Magic Burns keeps up the pace throughout the book, but not at the expense of plot development or losing touch with the main character, Kate. Kate is a dynamic, strong female character. (Rare these days, as this author hasn't created yet another fantasy-female type with body perfect who yearns to hand over her power and life to a fantasy-male type.) The story is complex and mysterious culminating to a war-scene ending that is reminiscent of a Lord of the Rings battle.
Note to Author: PLEASE give us a sequel soon!
My only caveat is this book should be read after its predecessor, Magic Bites, to understand the characters and references - but that is not a bad thing as you'll enjoy that one too! Great read - a "must buy."
Magic rules, 12 Jul 2008
I think that both books are fantastic and so readable, Ms Andrews has a great talent and I cannot wait for the next book. The details and descriptions of the surroundings, puts you there. There is also humour and many times have caught myself laughing out loud. The romance between Kate and Curren is bubbling nicely and hopefully will 'happen' in book three. Readable again and again.
I only have one issue with this book..., 02 Jul 2008
...it's so good that when I finished it I felt that I'd lost a part of me, and I can't wait for the next one to come out! In fact I was annoyed to read on the web that the next book (MAGIC STRIKES) is actually written, but we still have to wait until feb 2009 for it to be processed/bound etc. How annoying!
MAGIC BURNS is an amazing sequal to MAGIC BITES, Ilona Andrews has a way with words and with her charcters that makes them seem so real, original, and come alive out of the page. I cried at a few places, and when a book grabs me enough to make me feel the same emotions, pain and grief the characters may be going through, I always put it in my 'To Keep' pile.
Kate is the same independent, cool customer that she is in the first book.
The action scenes are fast and exciting, my only problem is that sometimes I read too fast and so miss things and have to go back a few pages. Well, not a great chore that really with a great book like this....
I agree with other reviews in that the romance does seem to be taking its time to work its way up to anything solid, however there were plenty of scenes filled with sexual tension (and not always with Curren) to keep me happy, and in somes way I think it will be a shame when Kate and Curren move from their sparring selves to something more. I love the lines they both come out with and the constant little moments where they fight for the upper hand over each other, both in power and in words. Needless to say Curren usually has the upper hand, but it's nice to see Kate try to beat him in a fight none the less :)
If you enjoyed Magic Bites then I would definitely recommend this book. The world that Kate lives in is explained in more detail, and even more hints are dropped about her powers and her bloodline. Can't wait for it all to be resolved!
Excellent Sequel to Magic Bites, 11 May 2008
Magic Burns picks up three months after Magic Bites. Atlanta is about to experience a flare - a time (every seven years) when magic runs rampant. So things in Kate's life are even crazier than usual. A simple job for the Pack (Atlanta's paramilitary clan of shapeshifters) to retrieve some maps, puts Kate in the path of two Gods fighting a battle of power. The price for stopping this war is going to be high.
The dialogue (as in the first book) is sparky, witty and compelling. Kate is a spunky, smart-mouthed heroine, who doesn't always think before she opens up her mouth, but is usually able to think fast enough to get herself out of any trouble her mouth gets her into. Though she should really know better than to preface a visit to anyone in Atlanta with the comment "...he's harmless."
Retrieving the maps is not as easy as it sounds. Whenever Kate gets her hands on them, the thief steals them back. Bran is a character you can't help but like. He's such a rascal. :)
'"Hello, dove." He grinned at me. "Look at that: you don't have your pretty knife and I've got your hands. What are you gonna do now?"
I rammed my head into his nose.'
The relationship he has with Kate is both funny and sad, though I think at the end of the book he is her champion.
Probably my favourite section is when Kate has to visit the werehyenas, not only for the stuff we find out, but also because the characters of the hyenas are just so hyena-like. I read that bit and I've got the trio from the Lion King in my head.
In some ways this book is more fantastical, and I wonder how much of that can be attributed to the flare. The number and variety of supernatural creatures on display increases - salamanders, stymphalean birds, giant tortoises - as does the strength of magical activity. It gives you an idea of what Atlanta would be like if it ever tipped completely over into the magical world. (Slightly reminded me of Simon R. Greens Nightside).
We get a lot more hints about Kate's secret. Some whacking big clues. I'm pretty sure I know what it is but it doesn't really annoy me that we still don't know for sure. I like that it's slowly unfolding with events.
The chemistry between Kate and Curran increases. Phew!
Any book that can make you laugh and cry is a keeper. My major gripe is that 2009 is too long to wait for the next in the series.
Well worth the wait, 16 Apr 2008
Ever since reading the first book in Ilona Andrews series, I've been patiently waiting for Magic Burns to come out. It definitely was well worth waiting for. The story was imaginative and well written,I just couldn't put it down. I love the world that Ilona has created and the fact that magic and technology is in constant flux, leaving the world unpredictable. I disagree with some of the reviews about the romance between Kate and Curran, I think the way it's building between them is just perfect.
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Customer Reviews
got hooked, 20 Oct 2008
oh WOW this book was great just glad what i got it i also got the other 2 as i have 3 to read one after the other i could not put them down and now i am waiting for the next one they are full of action and you get thinking that you are really living as cassie if you get in to your books like me and can get the pictures in you head as you read. you really get in to it a great book and left me wanting more not looking for all her books
Great Start to a Wonderful Series, 12 Oct 2008
Loved it! Wonderful characters, a swift moving plot, a deft sense of humour and a surprising ending--this book had it all. And unlike many series I've read, this one keeps getting better with each book. Claimed by Shadow, the sequel, is also a very strong title, and Embrace the Night, the third book in the series, is simply brilliant. The three work together to tell one complex and fascinating tale. Curse the Dawn, the fourth book, is out in April and I can't wait! If you're looking for something a bit different with a stronger plotline and better characterization than normal for genre fiction, this is it!
I really wanted to say I liked this book, 11 Oct 2008
This is the sort of book that anyone who reads Laurel K. Hamilton or Kim Harrison will probably end up reading.
It's set in an underground of vampires and werewolves that exists in parralel to the human world, and sees a female heroine do battle against the powers that be in that world.
One of my biggest grumbles about Hamilton and Harrison is the fact that there's too much 'love interest' and too little story in their books. That's why I turned to this book. I hoped that I'd get more story. I can't work out quite how wrong I was yet.
Don't get me wrong, the lead protagonist isn't jumping into bed with people, but the story (which sees her try and work out who's killing the Vampire Council in America and how to stop him) feels a little clunky all the same.
I don't know about you, but when I tell a story I try to weave the back story into the main text fairly seamlessly. I don't want people getting confused about what's going on, but I don't want the back story to get in the way of the story's flow either.
That didn't happen here. Every so often she'd stop to lay this whole exposition about the past on you.
This was ok at first, but it got on my nerves after a while. If you can get your head round that irritating tendency the author has, you might enjoy this book. If you can't you should go elsewhere.
I would read the sequel, 02 Sep 2008
Deliciously gory and sexy. I liked the well-established supernatural world that Chance created and her exploration of ideas. The magic involved was unusual (in that I hadn't come across it quite like that in a novel before) and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, though I don't think I would read it again. The story is a series of detailed, lengthy scenes that takes place over a fairly short space of time and I did find the sometimes slow pace of events irritating at times, but I would buy and read the sequel for more.
Fascinating... Enjoyable, 27 Jul 2008
First book I have read by Karen Chance, and found it enjoyable.
I liked Cassie, at times she could be infuriating... but thats normal, charactors can't always do what you want them to do.
I liked the fact that we got loads more magical creatures like demons and mages, and can't wait to read the 2nd in this series.
I definately recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, vampire, werewolf type fiction.
Non-stop action, great storyline, wonderful characters, 28 Aug 2008
After reading "Bites" and getting captivated by both Kate and her magnetic attraction to trouble, I couldn't wait to read Magic Burns. Just to let you know how much fun this book was, I read it in four hours - every word threw itself at me relentlessly and the world just had to wait until I finished.
The action in Magic Burns keeps up the pace throughout the book, but not at the expense of plot development or losing touch with the main character, Kate. Kate is a dynamic, strong female character. (Rare these days, as this author hasn't created yet another fantasy-female type with body perfect who yearns to hand over her power and life to a fantasy-male type.) The story is complex and mysterious culminating to a war-scene ending that is reminiscent of a Lord of the Rings battle.
Note to Author: PLEASE give us a sequel soon!
My only caveat is this book should be read after its predecessor, Magic Bites, to understand the characters and references - but that is not a bad thing as you'll enjoy that one too! Great read - a "must buy."
Magic rules, 12 Jul 2008
I think that both books are fantastic and so readable, Ms Andrews has a great talent and I cannot wait for the next book. The details and descriptions of the surroundings, puts you there. There is also humour and many times have caught myself laughing out loud. The romance between Kate and Curren is bubbling nicely and hopefully will 'happen' in book three. Readable again and again.
I only have one issue with this book..., 02 Jul 2008
...it's so good that when I finished it I felt that I'd lost a part of me, and I can't wait for the next one to come out! In fact I was annoyed to read on the web that the next book (MAGIC STRIKES) is actually written, but we still have to wait until feb 2009 for it to be processed/bound etc. How annoying!
MAGIC BURNS is an amazing sequal to MAGIC BITES, Ilona Andrews has a way with words and with her charcters that makes them seem so real, original, and come alive out of the page. I cried at a few places, and when a book grabs me enough to make me feel the same emotions, pain and grief the characters may be going through, I always put it in my 'To Keep' pile.
Kate is the same independent, cool customer that she is in the first book.
The action scenes are fast and exciting, my only problem is that sometimes I read too fast and so miss things and have to go back a few pages. Well, not a great chore that really with a great book like this....
I agree with other reviews in that the romance does seem to be taking its time to work its way up to anything solid, however there were plenty of scenes filled with sexual tension (and not always with Curren) to keep me happy, and in somes way I think it will be a shame when Kate and Curren move from their sparring selves to something more. I love the lines they both come out with and the constant little moments where they fight for the upper hand over each other, both in power and in words. Needless to say Curren usually has the upper hand, but it's nice to see Kate try to beat him in a fight none the less :)
If you enjoyed Magic Bites then I would definitely recommend this book. The world that Kate lives in is explained in more detail, and even more hints are dropped about her powers and her bloodline. Can't wait for it all to be resolved!
Excellent Sequel to Magic Bites, 11 May 2008
Magic Burns picks up three months after Magic Bites. Atlanta is about to experience a flare - a time (every seven years) when magic runs rampant. So things in Kate's life are even crazier than usual. A simple job for the Pack (Atlanta's paramilitary clan of shapeshifters) to retrieve some maps, puts Kate in the path of two Gods fighting a battle of power. The price for stopping this war is going to be high.
The dialogue (as in the first book) is sparky, witty and compelling. Kate is a spunky, smart-mouthed heroine, who doesn't always think before she opens up her mouth, but is usually able to think fast enough to get herself out of any trouble her mouth gets her into. Though she should really know better than to preface a visit to anyone in Atlanta with the comment "...he's harmless."
Retrieving the maps is not as easy as it sounds. Whenever Kate gets her hands on them, the thief steals them back. Bran is a character you can't help but like. He's such a rascal. :)
'"Hello, dove." He grinned at me. "Look at that: you don't have your pretty knife and I've got your hands. What are you gonna do now?"
I rammed my head into his nose.'
The relationship he has with Kate is both funny and sad, though I think at the end of the book he is her champion.
Probably my favourite section is when Kate has to visit the werehyenas, not only for the stuff we find out, but also because the characters of the hyenas are just so hyena-like. I read that bit and I've got the trio from the Lion King in my head.
In some ways this book is more fantastical, and I wonder how much of that can be attributed to the flare. The number and variety of supernatural creatures on display increases - salamanders, stymphalean birds, giant tortoises - as does the strength of magical activity. It gives you an idea of what Atlanta would be like if it ever tipped completely over into the magical world. (Slightly reminded me of Simon R. Greens Nightside).
We get a lot more hints about Kate's secret. Some whacking big clues. I'm pretty sure I know what it is but it doesn't really annoy me that we still don't know for sure. I like that it's slowly unfolding with events.
The chemistry between Kate and Curran increases. Phew!
Any book that can make you laugh and cry is a keeper. My major gripe is that 2009 is too long to wait for the next in the series.
Well worth the wait, 16 Apr 2008
Ever since reading the first book in Ilona Andrews series, I've been patiently waiting for Magic Burns to come out. It definitely was well worth waiting for. The story was imaginative and well written,I just couldn't put it down. I love the world that Ilona has created and the fact that magic and technology is in constant flux, leaving the world unpredictable. I disagree with some of the reviews about the romance between Kate and Curran, I think the way it's building between them is just perfect.
I adore this series, 09 Jan 2009
This time, Kitty's taking on Las Vegas!
Her mind is filled with visions of a romantic weekend with her boyfriend Ben, lounging for hours by the pool with a frufru drink in hand, and maybe even getting hitched. She also plans a live, televised version of her popular radio show.
The plans go awry, however, and she find herself sharing the stage with Balthasar, a mysterious lycanthrope who fronts an animal act of sexy were-felines; a shadowy convention of bounty hunters specializing in supernatural targets; a stage magician whose magic may be the real thing; and Dom, the playboy Master vampire of Las Vegas. When Ben vanishes, Kitty faces a myriad of suspects with ill intent - or Ben himself, getting cold feet.
Things get even hotter when Balthasar sets his romantic sights on her. Kitty discovers that there are forces at work here beyond even Sin City's reputation. Kitty gets help from unexpected quarters. Evan and Brenda, tough-as-nails bounty hunters, and Odysseus Grant, the magician with dark powers, help Kitty discover that Balthasar's sexy stage show is a front for a cult that worships an ancient Babylonian goddess - by sacrificing werewolves.
The next one is due out March. 'Kitty Raises Hell'
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Unnatural Inquirer, the
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £2.69
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Customer Reviews
got hooked, 20 Oct 2008
oh WOW this book was great just glad what i got it i also got the other 2 as i have 3 to read one after the other i could not put them down and now i am waiting for the next one they are full of action and you get thinking that you are really living as cassie if you get in to your books like me and can get the pictures in you head as you read. you really get in to it a great book and left me wanting more not looking for all her books
Great Start to a Wonderful Series, 12 Oct 2008
Loved it! Wonderful characters, a swift moving plot, a deft sense of humour and a surprising ending--this book had it all. And unlike many series I've read, this one keeps getting better with each book. Claimed by Shadow, the sequel, is also a very strong title, and Embrace the Night, the third book in the series, is simply brilliant. The three work together to tell one complex and fascinating tale. Curse the Dawn, the fourth book, is out in April and I can't wait! If you're looking for something a bit different with a stronger plotline and better characterization than normal for genre fiction, this is it!
I really wanted to say I liked this book, 11 Oct 2008
This is the sort of book that anyone who reads Laurel K. Hamilton or Kim Harrison will probably end up reading.
It's set in an underground of vampires and werewolves that exists in parralel to the human world, and sees a female heroine do battle against the powers that be in that world.
One of my biggest grumbles about Hamilton and Harrison is the fact that there's too much 'love interest' and too little story in their books. That's why I turned to this book. I hoped that I'd get more story. I can't work out quite how wrong I was yet.
Don't get me wrong, the lead protagonist isn't jumping into bed with people, but the story (which sees her try and work out who's killing the Vampire Council in America and how to stop him) feels a little clunky all the same.
I don't know about you, but when I tell a story I try to weave the back story into the main text fairly seamlessly. I don't want people getting confused about what's going on, but I don't want the back story to get in the way of the story's flow either.
That didn't happen here. Every so often she'd stop to lay this whole exposition about the past on you.
This was ok at first, but it got on my nerves after a while. If you can get your head round that irritating tendency the author has, you might enjoy this book. If you can't you should go elsewhere.
I would read the sequel, 02 Sep 2008
Deliciously gory and sexy. I liked the well-established supernatural world that Chance created and her exploration of ideas. The magic involved was unusual (in that I hadn't come across it quite like that in a novel before) and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, though I don't think I would read it again. The story is a series of detailed, lengthy scenes that takes place over a fairly short space of time and I did find the sometimes slow pace of events irritating at times, but I would buy and read the sequel for more.
Fascinating... Enjoyable, 27 Jul 2008
First book I have read by Karen Chance, and found it enjoyable.
I liked Cassie, at times she could be infuriating... but thats normal, charactors can't always do what you want them to do.
I liked the fact that we got loads more magical creatures like demons and mages, and can't wait to read the 2nd in this series.
I definately recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, vampire, werewolf type fiction.
Non-stop action, great storyline, wonderful characters, 28 Aug 2008
After reading "Bites" and getting captivated by both Kate and her magnetic attraction to trouble, I couldn't wait to read Magic Burns. Just to let you know how much fun this book was, I read it in four hours - every word threw itself at me relentlessly and the world just had to wait until I finished.
The action in Magic Burns keeps up the pace throughout the book, but not at the expense of plot development or losing touch with the main character, Kate. Kate is a dynamic, strong female character. (Rare these days, as this author hasn't created yet another fantasy-female type with body perfect who yearns to hand over her power and life to a fantasy-male type.) The story is complex and mysterious culminating to a war-scene ending that is reminiscent of a Lord of the Rings battle.
Note to Author: PLEASE give us a sequel soon!
My only caveat is this book should be read after its predecessor, Magic Bites, to understand the characters and references - but that is not a bad thing as you'll enjoy that one too! Great read - a "must buy."
Magic rules, 12 Jul 2008
I think that both books are fantastic and so readable, Ms Andrews has a great talent and I cannot wait for the next book. The details and descriptions of the surroundings, puts you there. There is also humour and many times have caught myself laughing out loud. The romance between Kate and Curren is bubbling nicely and hopefully will 'happen' in book three. Readable again and again.
I only have one issue with this book..., 02 Jul 2008
...it's so good that when I finished it I felt that I'd lost a part of me, and I can't wait for the next one to come out! In fact I was annoyed to read on the web that the next book (MAGIC STRIKES) is actually written, but we still have to wait until feb 2009 for it to be processed/bound etc. How annoying!
MAGIC BURNS is an amazing sequal to MAGIC BITES, Ilona Andrews has a way with words and with her charcters that makes them seem so real, original, and come alive out of the page. I cried at a few places, and when a book grabs me enough to make me feel the same emotions, pain and grief the characters may be going through, I always put it in my 'To Keep' pile.
Kate is the same independent, cool customer that she is in the first book.
The action scenes are fast and exciting, my only problem is that sometimes I read too fast and so miss things and have to go back a few pages. Well, not a great chore that really with a great book like this....
I agree with other reviews in that the romance does seem to be taking its time to work its way up to anything solid, however there were plenty of scenes filled with sexual tension (and not always with Curren) to keep me happy, and in somes way I think it will be a shame when Kate and Curren move from their sparring selves to something more. I love the lines they both come out with and the constant little moments where they fight for the upper hand over each other, both in power and in words. Needless to say Curren usually has the upper hand, but it's nice to see Kate try to beat him in a fight none the less :)
If you enjoyed Magic Bites then I would definitely recommend this book. The world that Kate lives in is explained in more detail, and even more hints are dropped about her powers and her bloodline. Can't wait for it all to be resolved!
Excellent Sequel to Magic Bites, 11 May 2008
Magic Burns picks up three months after Magic Bites. Atlanta is about to experience a flare - a time (every seven years) when magic runs rampant. So things in Kate's life are even crazier than usual. A simple job for the Pack (Atlanta's paramilitary clan of shapeshifters) to retrieve some maps, puts Kate in the path of two Gods fighting a battle of power. The price for stopping this war is going to be high.
The dialogue (as in the first book) is sparky, witty and compelling. Kate is a spunky, smart-mouthed heroine, who doesn't always think before she opens up her mouth, but is usually able to think fast enough to get herself out of any trouble her mouth gets her into. Though she should really know better than to preface a visit to anyone in Atlanta with the comment "...he's harmless."
Retrieving the maps is not as easy as it sounds. Whenever Kate gets her hands on them, the thief steals them back. Bran is a character you can't help but like. He's such a rascal. :)
'"Hello, dove." He grinned at me. "Look at that: you don't have your pretty knife and I've got your hands. What are you gonna do now?"
I rammed my head into his nose.'
The relationship he has with Kate is both funny and sad, though I think at the end of the book he is her champion.
Probably my favourite section is when Kate has to visit the werehyenas, not only for the stuff we find out, but also because the characters of the hyenas are just so hyena-like. I read that bit and I've got the trio from the Lion King in my head.
In some ways this book is more fantastical, and I wonder how much of that can be attributed to the flare. The number and variety of supernatural creatures on display increases - salamanders, stymphalean birds, giant tortoises - as does the strength of magical activity. It gives you an idea of what Atlanta would be like if it ever tipped completely over into the magical world. (Slightly reminded me of Simon R. Greens Nightside).
We get a lot more hints about Kate's secret. Some whacking big clues. I'm pretty sure I know what it is but it doesn't really annoy me that we still don't know for sure. I like that it's slowly unfolding with events.
The chemistry between Kate and Curran increases. Phew!
Any book that can make you laugh and cry is a keeper. My major gripe is that 2009 is too long to wait for the next in the series.
Well worth the wait, 16 Apr 2008
Ever since reading the first book in Ilona Andrews series, I've been patiently waiting for Magic Burns to come out. It definitely was well worth waiting for. The story was imaginative and well written,I just couldn't put it down. I love the world that Ilona has created and the fact that magic and technology is in constant flux, leaving the world unpredictable. I disagree with some of the reviews about the romance between Kate and Curran, I think the way it's building between them is just perfect.
I adore this series, 09 Jan 2009
This time, Kitty's taking on Las Vegas!
Her mind is filled with visions of a romantic weekend with her boyfriend Ben, lounging for hours by the pool with a frufru drink in hand, and maybe even getting hitched. She also plans a live, televised version of her popular radio show.
The plans go awry, however, and she find herself sharing the stage with Balthasar, a mysterious lycanthrope who fronts an animal act of sexy were-felines; a shadowy convention of bounty hunters specializing in supernatural targets; a stage magician whose magic may be the real thing; and Dom, the playboy Master vampire of Las Vegas. When Ben vanishes, Kitty faces a myriad of suspects with ill intent - or Ben himself, getting cold feet.
Things get even hotter when Balthasar sets his romantic sights on her. Kitty discovers that there are forces at work here beyond even Sin City's reputation. Kitty gets help from unexpected quarters. Evan and Brenda, tough-as-nails bounty hunters, and Odysseus Grant, the magician with dark powers, help Kitty discover that Balthasar's sexy stage show is a front for a cult that worships an ancient Babylonian goddess - by sacrificing werewolves.
The next one is due out March. 'Kitty Raises Hell'
Green follows his standardrecipe, 17 Jul 2008
Simon Green has a way with words, and his imagination can create creatures and monsters like few others. And this novel is no exception.
Apart from that this novel is disappointing.
Simon Green follows his standard recipe : John Taylor is paid to find something and naturally succeed. A lot of very powerful beings want to stop him, but whenever John Taylor gets into a tight corner he uses his gift. Why does Simon Green even bother to invent these terrible monsters, if all John Taylor need to do to deal with them is to use his gift for finding things?
Even John Taylors interaction with his companion on the mission is strangely flat and routine. Perhaps because we know from the start that a love affair with someone other than Susie Shooter is so out of character.
I liked "Hell to pay" but that story worked because there was a great plot with a lot of twists and surprises. "The unnatural inquirer" don't have such a plot and Simon Greens talent for witty dialogue is not enough in itself. Perhaps the Nightside series has come to an end.
Nightside noir, 17 Jan 2008
Simon R. Green's Nightside is the REAL dark side of London -- a city full of sleazy supernaturals and dark secrets, perpetually locked in night.
And "The Unnatural Inquirer" is Simon R. Green's eighth fantasy-noir set in the Nightside -- it's full of weird crimes, crazy inhabitants, and strange power grabs. This isn't quite Green's best, but it has his usual solid blend of mystery, horror, fantasy and dark humour.
As the story opens, John Taylor and his new love Suzie Shotgun are dealing with voodoo mayhem at a gruesome adult carnival. But then Cathy sends him a new assignment, working for the sleazy tabloid The Unnatural Inquirer. Apparently a guy named Pen Donovan somehow recorded a vision of the afterlife on a DVD -- nobody knows whether it was heaven or hell -- and then disappeared.
As with anything important, a lot of people in the Nightside want that DVD. And with a perky half-demon paparazzi beside him, Taylor starts prowling all the possible locations. But not only are the people he encounters dangerous, but something is pursuing them and erasing the nastier ones. Is the DVD truly a sight of the afterlife -- and is it worth dying for?
Futuristic ice queens, space generals, Lovecraft homages, an evil King Arthur, corrupt cardinals and the offspring of a succubus and a wayward Rolling Stone -- Green certainly knows how to keep the Nightside series interesting. Though the Nightside is not the sort of place you'd want to visit -- let alone live in -- it makes for a wonderful horror-noir read.
As with many of the other Nightside books, this a straight-line kind of mystery, where the hero investigates A, B, C and D before he finding the right person. And Green fills it with deliciously weird baddies (Kid Cthulhu?), spells (a T-rex in a museum), and he really goes to town with the tabloid titles from the Unnatural Inquirer ("Old Ones Fail To Rise Yet Again").
And he hasn't lost his touch for dialogue -- despite the many dark moments, Green always has some funny lines ("I really do hope it isn't the Devil again." "I could ask Mummy for you. She has contacts with the Old Firm..."). But the final confrontation is a bit anticlimatic, and it goes switching around from villain to villain... very, very fast.
And Green weaves in some interesting relationship threads -- a major subplot through the story is John being tempted by a more "normal" relationship, rather than the one he has with Suzie. Which involves no sex at the moment, due to her past of sexual abuse.
Suzie herself is only here for a spattering of pages, but we see more hints of the wounded teenager on the inside. Bettie is a fun and rather appealing young half-demon, and we see some old favorites here and there -- the Walker, the Collector, and Alex the surly barkeep. Not only does he get very gung-ho soldier in this one, but he reveals a startling secret about his love life.
"The Unnatural Inquirer" suffers from a rather anticlimactic battle, but it's a solid noir mystery in a world that is (thankfully) nothing like ours. Worth a read.
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One Bite with a Stranger
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*Amazon: £2.06
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Customer Reviews
got hooked, 20 Oct 2008
oh WOW this book was great just glad what i got it i also got the other 2 as i have 3 to read one after the other i could not put them down and now i am waiting for the next one they are full of action and you get thinking that you are really living as cassie if you get in to your books like me and can get the pictures in you head as you read. you really get in to it a great book and left me wanting more not looking for all her books
Great Start to a Wonderful Series, 12 Oct 2008
Loved it! Wonderful characters, a swift moving plot, a deft sense of humour and a surprising ending--this book had it all. And unlike many series I've read, this one keeps getting better with each book. Claimed by Shadow, the sequel, is also a very strong title, and Embrace the Night, the third book in the series, is simply brilliant. The three work together to tell one complex and fascinating tale. Curse the Dawn, the fourth book, is out in April and I can't wait! If you're looking for something a bit different with a stronger plotline and better characterization than normal for genre fiction, this is it!
I really wanted to say I liked this book, 11 Oct 2008
This is the sort of book that anyone who reads Laurel K. Hamilton or Kim Harrison will probably end up reading.
It's set in an underground of vampires and werewolves that exists in parralel to the human world, and sees a female heroine do battle against the powers that be in that world.
One of my biggest grumbles about Hamilton and Harrison is the fact that there's too much 'love interest' and too little story in their books. That's why I turned to this book. I hoped that I'd get more story. I can't work out quite how wrong I was yet.
Don't get me wrong, the lead protagonist isn't jumping into bed with people, but the story (which sees her try and work out who's killing the Vampire Council in America and how to stop him) feels a little clunky all the same.
I don't know about you, but when I tell a story I try to weave the back story into the main text fairly seamlessly. I don't want people getting confused about what's going on, but I don't want the back story to get in the way of the story's flow either.
That didn't happen here. Every so often she'd stop to lay this whole exposition about the past on you.
This was ok at first, but it got on my nerves after a while. If you can get your head round that irritating tendency the author has, you might enjoy this book. If you can't you should go elsewhere.
I would read the sequel, 02 Sep 2008
Deliciously gory and sexy. I liked the well-established supernatural world that Chance created and her exploration of ideas. The magic involved was unusual (in that I hadn't come across it quite like that in a novel before) and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, though I don't think I would read it again. The story is a series of detailed, lengthy scenes that takes place over a fairly short space of time and I did find the sometimes slow pace of events irritating at times, but I would buy and read the sequel for more.
Fascinating... Enjoyable, 27 Jul 2008
First book I have read by Karen Chance, and found it enjoyable.
I liked Cassie, at times she could be infuriating... but thats normal, charactors can't always do what you want them to do.
I liked the fact that we got loads more magical creatures like demons and mages, and can't wait to read the 2nd in this series.
I definately recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, vampire, werewolf type fiction.
Non-stop action, great storyline, wonderful characters, 28 Aug 2008
After reading "Bites" and getting captivated by both Kate and her magnetic attraction to trouble, I couldn't wait to read Magic Burns. Just to let you know how much fun this book was, I read it in four hours - every word threw itself at me relentlessly and the world just had to wait until I finished.
The action in Magic Burns keeps up the pace throughout the book, but not at the expense of plot development or losing touch with the main character, Kate. Kate is a dynamic, strong female character. (Rare these days, as this author hasn't created yet another fantasy-female type with body perfect who yearns to hand over her power and life to a fantasy-male type.) The story is complex and mysterious culminating to a war-scene ending that is reminiscent of a Lord of the Rings battle.
Note to Author: PLEASE give us a sequel soon!
My only caveat is this book should be read after its predecessor, Magic Bites, to understand the characters and references - but that is not a bad thing as you'll enjoy that one too! Great read - a "must buy."
Magic rules, 12 Jul 2008
I think that both books are fantastic and so readable, Ms Andrews has a great talent and I cannot wait for the next book. The details and descriptions of the surroundings, puts you there. There is also humour and many times have caught myself laughing out loud. The romance between Kate and Curren is bubbling nicely and hopefully will 'happen' in book three. Readable again and again.
I only have one issue with this book..., 02 Jul 2008
...it's so good that when I finished it I felt that I'd lost a part of me, and I can't wait for the next one to come out! In fact I was annoyed to read on the web that the next book (MAGIC STRIKES) is actually written, but we still have to wait until feb 2009 for it to be processed/bound etc. How annoying!
MAGIC BURNS is an amazing sequal to MAGIC BITES, Ilona Andrews has a way with words and with her charcters that makes them seem so real, original, and come alive out of the page. I cried at a few places, and when a book grabs me enough to make me feel the same emotions, pain and grief the characters may be going through, I always put it in my 'To Keep' pile.
Kate is the same independent, cool customer that she is in the first book.
The action scenes are fast and exciting, my only problem is that sometimes I read too fast and so miss things and have to go back a few pages. Well, not a great chore that really with a great book like this....
I agree with other reviews in that the romance does seem to be taking its time to work its way up to anything solid, however there were plenty of scenes filled with sexual tension (and not always with Curren) to keep me happy, and in somes way I think it will be a shame when Kate and Curren move from their sparring selves to something more. I love the lines they both come out with and the constant little moments where they fight for the upper hand over each other, both in power and in words. Needless to say Curren usually has the upper hand, but it's nice to see Kate try to beat him in a fight none the less :)
If you enjoyed Magic Bites then I would definitely recommend this book. The world that Kate lives in is explained in more detail, and even more hints are dropped about her powers and her bloodline. Can't wait for it all to be resolved!
Excellent Sequel to Magic Bites, 11 May 2008
Magic Burns picks up three months after Magic Bites. Atlanta is about to experience a flare - a time (every seven years) when magic runs rampant. So things in Kate's life are even crazier than usual. A simple job for the Pack (Atlanta's paramilitary clan of shapeshifters) to retrieve some maps, puts Kate in the path of two Gods fighting a battle of power. The price for stopping this war is going to be high.
The dialogue (as in the first book) is sparky, witty and compelling. Kate is a spunky, smart-mouthed heroine, who doesn't always think before she opens up her mouth, but is usually able to think fast enough to get herself out of any trouble her mouth gets her into. Though she should really know better than to preface a visit to anyone in Atlanta with the comment "...he's harmless."
Retrieving the maps is not as easy as it sounds. Whenever Kate gets her hands on them, the thief steals them back. Bran is a character you can't help but like. He's such a rascal. :)
'"Hello, dove." He grinned at me. "Look at that: you don't have your pretty knife and I've got your hands. What are you gonna do now?"
I rammed my head into his nose.'
The relationship he has with Kate is both funny and sad, though I think at the end of the book he is her champion.
Probably my favourite section is when Kate has to visit the werehyenas, not only for the stuff we find out, but also because the characters of the hyenas are just so hyena-like. I read that bit and I've got the trio from the Lion King in my head.
In some ways this book is more fantastical, and I wonder how much of that can be attributed to the flare. The number and variety of supernatural creatures on display increases - salamanders, stymphalean birds, giant tortoises - as does the strength of magical activity. It gives you an idea of what Atlanta would be like if it ever tipped completely over into the magical world. (Slightly reminded me of Simon R. Greens Nightside).
We get a lot more hints about Kate's secret. Some whacking big clues. I'm pretty sure I know what it is but it doesn't really annoy me that we still don't know for sure. I like that it's slowly unfolding with events.
The chemistry between Kate and Curran increases. Phew!
Any book that can make you laugh and cry is a keeper. My major gripe is that 2009 is too long to wait for the next in the series.
Well worth the wait, 16 Apr 2008
Ever since reading the first book in Ilona Andrews series, I've been patiently waiting for Magic Burns to come out. It definitely was well worth waiting for. The story was imaginative and well written,I just couldn't put it down. I love the world that Ilona has created and the fact that magic and technology is in constant flux, leaving the world unpredictable. I disagree with some of the reviews about the romance between Kate and Curran, I think the way it's building between them is just perfect.
I adore this series, 09 Jan 2009
This time, Kitty's taking on Las Vegas!
Her mind is filled with visions of a romantic weekend with her boyfriend Ben, lounging for hours by the pool with a frufru drink in hand, and maybe even getting hitched. She also plans a live, televised version of her popular radio show.
The plans go awry, however, and she find herself sharing the stage with Balthasar, a mysterious lycanthrope who fronts an animal act of sexy were-felines; a shadowy convention of bounty hunters specializing in supernatural targets; a stage magician whose magic may be the real thing; and Dom, the playboy Master vampire of Las Vegas. When Ben vanishes, Kitty faces a myriad of suspects with ill intent - or Ben himself, getting cold feet.
Things get even hotter when Balthasar sets his romantic sights on her. Kitty discovers that there are forces at work here beyond even Sin City's reputation. Kitty gets help from unexpected quarters. Evan and Brenda, tough-as-nails bounty hunters, and Odysseus Grant, the magician with dark powers, help Kitty discover that Balthasar's sexy stage show is a front for a cult that worships an ancient Babylonian goddess - by sacrificing werewolves.
The next one is due out March. 'Kitty Raises Hell'
Green follows his standardrecipe, 17 Jul 2008
Simon Green has a way with words, and his imagination can create creatures and monsters like few others. And this novel is no exception.
Apart from that this novel is disappointing.
Simon Green follows his standard recipe : John Taylor is paid to find something and naturally succeed. A lot of very powerful beings want to stop him, but whenever John Taylor gets into a tight corner he uses his gift. Why does Simon Green even bother to invent these terrible monsters, if all John Taylor need to do to deal with them is to use his gift for finding things?
Even John Taylors interaction with his companion on the mission is strangely flat and routine. Perhaps because we know from the start that a love affair with someone other than Susie Shooter is so out of character.
I liked "Hell to pay" but that story worked because there was a great plot with a lot of twists and surprises. "The unnatural inquirer" don't have such a plot and Simon Greens talent for witty dialogue is not enough in itself. Perhaps the Nightside series has come to an end.
Nightside noir, 17 Jan 2008
Simon R. Green's Nightside is the REAL dark side of London -- a city full of sleazy supernaturals and dark secrets, perpetually locked in night.
And "The Unnatural Inquirer" is Simon R. Green's eighth fantasy-noir set in the Nightside -- it's full of weird crimes, crazy inhabitants, and strange power grabs. This isn't quite Green's best, but it has his usual solid blend of mystery, horror, fantasy and dark humour.
As the story opens, John Taylor and his new love Suzie Shotgun are dealing with voodoo mayhem at a gruesome adult carnival. But then Cathy sends him a new assignment, working for the sleazy tabloid The Unnatural Inquirer. Apparently a guy named Pen Donovan somehow recorded a vision of the afterlife on a DVD -- nobody knows whether it was heaven or hell -- and then disappeared.
As with anything important, a lot of people in the Nightside want that DVD. And with a perky half-demon paparazzi beside him, Taylor starts prowling all the possible locations. But not only are the people he encounters dangerous, but something is pursuing them and erasing the nastier ones. Is the DVD truly a sight of the afterlife -- and is it worth dying for?
Futuristic ice queens, space generals, Lovecraft homages, an evil King Arthur, corrupt cardinals and the offspring of a succubus and a wayward Rolling Stone -- Green certainly knows how to keep the Nightside series interesting. Though the Nightside is not the sort of place you'd want to visit -- let alone live in -- it makes for a wonderful horror-noir read.
As with many of the other Nightside books, this a straight-line kind of mystery, where the hero investigates A, B, C and D before he finding the right person. And Green fills it with deliciously weird baddies (Kid Cthulhu?), spells (a T-rex in a museum), and he really goes to town with the tabloid titles from the Unnatural Inquirer ("Old Ones Fail To Rise Yet Again").
And he hasn't lost his touch for dialogue -- despite the many dark moments, Green always has some funny lines ("I really do hope it isn't the Devil again." "I could ask Mummy for you. She has contacts with the Old Firm..."). But the final confrontation is a bit anticlimatic, and it goes switching around from villain to villain... very, very fast.
And Green weaves in some interesting relationship threads -- a major subplot through the story is John being tempted by a more "normal" relationship, rather than the one he has with Suzie. Which involves no sex at the moment, due to her past of sexual abuse.
Suzie herself is only here for a spattering of pages, but we see more hints of the wounded teenager on the inside. Bettie is a fun and rather appealing young half-demon, and we see some old favorites here and there -- the Walker, the Collector, and Alex the surly barkeep. Not only does he get very gung-ho soldier in this one, but he reveals a startling secret about his love life.
"The Unnatural Inquirer" suffers from a rather anticlimactic battle, but it's a solid noir mystery in a world that is (thankfully) nothing like ours. Worth a read.
Lots of mundane, boring sex, little or no story, plot or humour, 28 Nov 2008
This is by far the worst Christine Warren book I have read. The first sex scene starts about 5 pages in, and ends on page 103 - and its boring. The story is very weak, with a "bad guy" (girl) who is defeated in two pages right at the end, having barely been alluded to during the book. It is set before the rest of the "Others" stories, so the infrequent mention of familiar characters is disorientating rather than interesting. All this and a heroine who describes herself as a strong woman, yet cries at the drop of a hat, and a vampire "hero" who uses mind control to get the heroine into bed within minutes of meeting her - way too close to rape to be remotely appealing. A total waste of both money buying it, and time reading it.
Not a patch on the 'Others'!, 08 Nov 2008
A previous reviewer has said most of what I wanted to say - it reads like soft porn, verges on 'vampire rape' ...
What I wanted to add is that this book really lacks something I have found in all her other books in the 'Others' series. Humour. There is a strong thread of wit and sparkle in her other books that just ... isn't there... in this one. The characters in this book are very one-dimensional and I couldn't really work up any interest in them. At all.
It's quite boring really!
Truly awful addition to this series and the genre. To be avoided., 02 Nov 2008
I have enjoyed all of Christine Warren's 'The Others' series and this book is supposed to be the 6th in the series. However, it reads as a soft-porn trashy novel written years before she had refined her writing abilities. This is perhaps true as the previous reviewer referred to it being an e-book in the past. What plot actually exists is minimal and could be wirtten on a postage stamp. Apart from the disappointment of the book not being anywhere near the standard of the others in the series, the relationship between Regina (Reggie!) and her new vamp lover Dmitri (Russian, arrogant) is very unpleasant. It is way beyond the Alpha male territory, verging on rape as Dmitri physically and mentally overpowers Regina so that she is begging for him and will do anything for him. Dmitri also feeds from Regina, clouding her mind so that she doesn't know what he has done - vampire rape. The first 102 pages cannot be read quickly enough as they complete their first marathon (obviously) sex session. Neither is it enought to say that Regina likes to be submissive in bed. Finally, when Regina does find out Dmitri is a vampire it takes her 5 minutes before she asks to be made one as well.
I would not recommend this book to anyone; for a far better example of the genre, read the Kerrelyn Sparks vampire series, or even the earlier Christine Warren ones. I resent parting with money for what is probably the worst book in the paranomral genre I have read in 2008.
A GOOD READ - BUT..., 20 Oct 2008
This is a great Christine Warren read about the earlier years of the world of 'Others'. Just be warned though, if you buy ebooks, it was previously published as an ebook several years ago under the title of 'Fantasy Fix'.
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Hogfather (Discworld)
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*Amazon: £3.50
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Product Description
What could more genuinely embody the spirit of Christmas (or Hogswatch, on the Discworld) than a Terry Pratchett book about the holiday season? Every secular Christmas tradition is included. But as this is the 21st Discworld novel, there are some unusual twists. This year the Auditors, who want people to stop believing in things that aren't real, have hired an assassin to eliminate the Hogfather. (You know him: red robe, white beard, says, "Ho, ho, ho!") Their evil plot will destroy the Discworld unless someone covers for him. So someone does. Well, at least Death tries. He wears the costume and rides the sleigh drawn by four jolly pigs: Gouger, Tusker, Rooter and Snouter. He even comes down chimneys. But as fans of other Pratchett stories about Death know, he takes things literally. He gives children whatever they wish for and appears in person at Crumley's in The Maul. Fans will welcome back Susan, Death of Rats (the Grim Squeaker), Albert and the wizardly faculty of Unseen University and revel in new personalities like Bilious, the "oh god of Hangovers." But you needn't have read Pratchett before to laugh uproariously and think seriously about the meanings of Christmas. --Nona Vero, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews
got hooked, 20 Oct 2008
oh WOW this book was great just glad what i got it i also got the other 2 as i have 3 to read one after the other i could not put them down and now i am waiting for the next one they are full of action and you get thinking that you are really living as cassie if you get in to your books like me and can get the pictures in you head as you read. you really get in to it a great book and left me wanting more not looking for all her books
Great Start to a Wonderful Series, 12 Oct 2008
Loved it! Wonderful characters, a swift moving plot, a deft sense of humour and a surprising ending--this book had it all. And unlike many series I've read, this one keeps getting better with each book. Claimed by Shadow, the sequel, is also a very strong title, and Embrace the Night, the third book in the series, is simply brilliant. The three work together to tell one complex and fascinating tale. Curse the Dawn, the fourth book, is out in April and I can't wait! If you're looking for something a bit different with a stronger plotline and better characterization than normal for genre fiction, this is it!
I really wanted to say I liked this book, 11 Oct 2008
This is the sort of book that anyone who reads Laurel K. Hamilton or Kim Harrison will probably end up reading.
It's set in an underground of vampires and werewolves that exists in parralel to the human world, and sees a female heroine do battle against the powers that be in that world.
One of my biggest grumbles about Hamilton and Harrison is the fact that there's too much 'love interest' and too little story in their books. That's why I turned to this book. I hoped that I'd get more story. I can't work out quite how wrong I was yet.
Don't get me wrong, the lead protagonist isn't jumping into bed with people, but the story (which sees her try and work out who's killing the Vampire Council in America and how to stop him) feels a little clunky all the same.
I don't know about you, but when I tell a story I try to weave the back story into the main text fairly seamlessly. I don't want people getting confused about what's going on, but I don't want the back story to get in the way of the story's flow either.
That didn't happen here. Every so often she'd stop to lay this whole exposition about the past on you.
This was ok at first, but it got on my nerves after a while. If you can get your head round that irritating tendency the author has, you might enjoy this book. If you can't you should go elsewhere.
I would read the sequel, 02 Sep 2008
Deliciously gory and sexy. I liked the well-established supernatural world that Chance created and her exploration of ideas. The magic involved was unusual (in that I hadn't come across it quite like that in a novel before) and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, though I don't think I would read it again. The story is a series of detailed, lengthy scenes that takes place over a fairly short space of time and I did find the sometimes slow pace of events irritating at times, but I would buy and read the sequel for more.
Fascinating... Enjoyable, 27 Jul 2008
First book I have read by Karen Chance, and found it enjoyable.
I liked Cassie, at times she could be infuriating... but thats normal, charactors can't always do what you want them to do.
I liked the fact that we got loads more magical creatures like demons and mages, and can't wait to read the 2nd in this series.
I definately recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, vampire, werewolf type fiction.
Non-stop action, great storyline, wonderful characters, 28 Aug 2008
After reading "Bites" and getting captivated by both Kate and her magnetic attraction to trouble, I couldn't wait to read Magic Burns. Just to let you know how much fun this book was, I read it in four hours - every word threw itself at me relentlessly and the world just had to wait until I finished.
The action in Magic Burns keeps up the pace throughout the book, but not at the expense of plot development or losing touch with the main character, Kate. Kate is a dynamic, strong female character. (Rare these days, as this author hasn't created yet another fantasy-female type with body perfect who yearns to hand over her power and life to a fantasy-male type.) The story is complex and mysterious culminating to a war-scene ending that is reminiscent of a Lord of the Rings battle.
Note to Author: PLEASE give us a sequel soon!
My only caveat is this book should be read after its predecessor, Magic Bites, to understand the characters and references - but that is not a bad thing as you'll enjoy that one too! Great read - a "must buy."
Magic rules, 12 Jul 2008
I think that both books are fantastic and so readable, Ms Andrews has a great talent and I cannot wait for the next book. The details and descriptions of the surroundings, puts you there. There is also humour and many times have caught myself laughing out loud. The romance between Kate and Curren is bubbling nicely and hopefully will 'happen' in book three. Readable again and again.
I only have one issue with this book..., 02 Jul 2008
...it's so good that when I finished it I felt that I'd lost a part of me, and I can't wait for the next one to come out! In fact I was annoyed to read on the web that the next book (MAGIC STRIKES) is actually written, but we still have to wait until feb 2009 for it to be processed/bound etc. How annoying!
MAGIC BURNS is an amazing sequal to MAGIC BITES, Ilona Andrews has a way with words and with her charcters that makes them seem so real, original, and come alive out of the page. I cried at a few places, and when a book grabs me enough to make me feel the same emotions, pain and grief the characters may be going through, I always put it in my 'To Keep' pile.
Kate is the same independent, cool customer that she is in the first book.
The action scenes are fast and exciting, my only problem is that sometimes I read too fast and so miss things and have to go back a few pages. Well, not a great chore that really with a great book like this....
I agree with other reviews in that the romance does seem to be taking its time to work its way up to anything solid, however there were plenty of scenes filled with sexual tension (and not always with Curren) to keep me happy, and in somes way I think it will be a shame when Kate and Curren move from their sparring selves to something more. I love the lines they both come out with and the constant little moments where they fight for the upper hand over each other, both in power and in words. Needless to say Curren usually has the upper hand, but it's nice to see Kate try to beat him in a fight none the less :)
If you enjoyed Magic Bites then I would definitely recommend this book. The world that Kate lives in is explained in more detail, and even more hints are dropped about her powers and her bloodline. Can't wait for it all to be resolved!
Excellent Sequel to Magic Bites, 11 May 2008
Magic Burns picks up three months after Magic Bites. Atlanta is about to experience a flare - a time (every seven years) when magic runs rampant. So things in Kate's life are even crazier than usual. A simple job for the Pack (Atlanta's paramilitary clan of shapeshifters) to retrieve some maps, puts Kate in the path of two Gods fighting a battle of power. The price for stopping this war is going to be high.
The dialogue (as in the first book) is sparky, witty and compelling. Kate is a spunky, smart-mouthed heroine, who doesn't always think before she opens up her mouth, but is usually able to think fast enough to get herself out of any trouble her mouth gets her into. Though she should really know better than to preface a visit to anyone in Atlanta with the comment "...he's harmless."
Retrieving the maps is not as easy as it sounds. Whenever Kate gets her hands on them, the thief steals them back. Bran is a character you can't help but like. He's such a rascal. :)
'"Hello, dove." He grinned at me. "Look at that: you don't have your pretty knife and I've got your hands. What are you gonna do now?"
I rammed my head into his nose.'
The relationship he has with Kate is both funny and sad, though I think at the end of the book he is her champion.
Probably my favourite section is when Kate has to visit the werehyenas, not only for the stuff we find out, but also because the characters of the hyenas are just so hyena-like. I read that bit and I've got the trio from the Lion King in my head.
In some ways this book is more fantastical, and I wonder how much of that can be attributed to the flare. The number and variety of supernatural creatures on display increases - salamanders, stymphalean birds, giant tortoises - as does the strength of magical activity. It gives you an idea of what Atlanta would be like if it ever tipped completely over into the magical world. (Slightly reminded me of Simon R. Greens Nightside).
We get a lot more hints about Kate's secret. Some whacking big clues. I'm pretty sure I know what it is but it doesn't really annoy me that we still don't know for sure. I like that it's slowly unfolding with events.
The chemistry between Kate and Curran increases. Phew!
Any book that can make you laugh and cry is a keeper. My major gripe is that 2009 is too long to wait for the next in the series.
Well worth the wait, 16 Apr 2008
Ever since reading the first book in Ilona Andrews series, I've been patiently waiting for Magic Burns to come out. It definitely was well worth waiting for. The story was imaginative and well written,I just couldn't put it down. I love the world that Ilona has created and the fact that magic and technology is in constant flux, leaving the world unpredictable. I disagree with some of the reviews about the romance between Kate and Curran, I think the way it's building between them is just perfect.
I adore this series, 09 Jan 2009
This time, Kitty's taking on Las Vegas!
Her mind is filled with visions of a romantic weekend with her boyfriend Ben, lounging for hours by the pool with a frufru drink in hand, and maybe even getting hitched. She also plans a live, televised version of her popular radio show.
The plans go awry, however, and she find herself sharing the stage with Balthasar, a mysterious lycanthrope who fronts an animal act of sexy were-felines; a shadowy convention of bounty hunters specializing in supernatural targets; a stage magician whose magic may be the real thing; and Dom, the playboy Master vampire of Las Vegas. When Ben vanishes, Kitty faces a myriad of suspects with ill intent - or Ben himself, getting cold feet.
Things get even hotter when Balthasar sets his romantic sights on her. Kitty discovers that there are forces at work here beyond even Sin City's reputation. Kitty gets help from unexpected quarters. Evan and Brenda, tough-as-nails bounty hunters, and Odysseus Grant, the magician with dark powers, help Kitty discover that Balthasar's sexy stage show is a front for a cult that worships an ancient Babylonian goddess - by sacrificing werewolves.
The next one is due out March. 'Kitty Raises Hell'
Green follows his standardrecipe, 17 Jul 2008
Simon Green has a way with words, and his imagination can create creatures and monsters like few others. And this novel is no exception.
Apart from that this novel is disappointing.
Simon Green follows his standard recipe : John Taylor is paid to find something and naturally succeed. A lot of very powerful beings want to stop him, but whenever John Taylor gets into a tight corner he uses his gift. Why does Simon Green even bother to invent these terrible monsters, if all John Taylor need to do to deal with them is to use his gift for finding things?
Even John Taylors interaction with his companion on the mission is strangely flat and routine. Perhaps because we know from the start that a love affair with someone other than Susie Shooter is so out of character.
I liked "Hell to pay" but that story worked because there was a great plot with a lot of twists and surprises. "The unnatural inquirer" don't have such a plot and Simon Greens talent for witty dialogue is not enough in itself. Perhaps the Nightside series has come to an end.
Nightside noir, 17 Jan 2008
Simon R. Green's Nightside is the REAL dark side of London -- a city full of sleazy supernaturals and dark secrets, perpetually locked in night.
And "The Unnatural Inquirer" is Simon R. Green's eighth fantasy-noir set in the Nightside -- it's full of weird crimes, crazy inhabitants, and strange power grabs. This isn't quite Green's best, but it has his usual solid blend of mystery, horror, fantasy and dark humour.
As the story opens, John Taylor and his new love Suzie Shotgun are dealing with voodoo mayhem at a gruesome adult carnival. But then Cathy sends him a new assignment, working for the sleazy tabloid The Unnatural Inquirer. Apparently a guy named Pen Donovan somehow recorded a vision of the afterlife on a DVD -- nobody knows whether it was heaven or hell -- and then disappeared.
As with anything important, a lot of people in the Nightside want that DVD. And with a perky half-demon paparazzi beside him, Taylor starts prowling all the possible locations. But not only are the people he encounters dangerous, but something is pursuing them and erasing the nastier ones. Is the DVD truly a sight of the afterlife -- and is it worth dying for?
Futuristic ice queens, space generals, Lovecraft homages, an evil King Arthur, corrupt cardinals and the offspring of a succubus and a wayward Rolling Stone -- Green certainly knows how to keep the Nightside series interesting. Though the Nightside is not the sort of place you'd want to visit -- let alone live in -- it makes for a wonderful horror-noir read.
As with many of the other Nightside books, this a straight-line kind of mystery, where the hero investigates A, B, C and D before he finding the right person. And Green fills it with deliciously weird baddies (Kid Cthulhu?), spells (a T-rex in a museum), and he really goes to town with the tabloid titles from the Unnatural Inquirer ("Old Ones Fail To Rise Yet Again").
And he hasn't lost his touch for dialogue -- despite the many dark moments, Green always has some funny lines ("I really do hope it isn't the Devil again." "I could ask Mummy for you. She has contacts with the Old Firm..."). But the final confrontation is a bit anticlimatic, and it goes switching around from villain to villain... very, very fast.
And Green weaves in some interesting relationship threads -- a major subplot through the story is John being tempted by a more "normal" relationship, rather than the one he has with Suzie. Which involves no sex at the moment, due to her past of sexual abuse.
Suzie herself is only here for a spattering of pages, but we see more hints of the wounded teenager on the inside. Bettie is a fun and rather appealing young half-demon, and we see some old favorites here and there -- the Walker, the Collector, and Alex the surly barkeep. Not only does he get very gung-ho soldier in this one, but he reveals a startling secret about his love life.
"The Unnatural Inquirer" suffers from a rather anticlimactic battle, but it's a solid noir mystery in a world that is (thankfully) nothing like ours. Worth a read.
Lots of mundane, boring sex, little or no story, plot or humour, 28 Nov 2008
This is by far the worst Christine Warren book I have read. The first sex scene starts about 5 pages in, and ends on page 103 - and its boring. The story is very weak, with a "bad guy" (girl) who is defeated in two pages right at the end, having barely been alluded to during the book. It is set before the rest of the "Others" stories, so the infrequent mention of familiar characters is disorientating rather than interesting. All this and a heroine who describes herself as a strong woman, yet cries at the drop of a hat, and a vampire "hero" who uses mind control to get the heroine into bed within minutes of meeting her - way too close to rape to be remotely appealing. A total waste of both money buying it, and time reading it.
Not a patch on the 'Others'!, 08 Nov 2008
A previous reviewer has said most of what I wanted to say - it reads like soft porn, verges on 'vampire rape' ...
What I wanted to add is that this book really lacks something I have found in all her other books in the 'Others' series. Humour. There is a strong thread of wit and sparkle in her other books that just ... isn't there... in this one. The characters in this book are very one-dimensional and I couldn't really work up any interest in them. At all.
It's quite boring really!
Truly awful addition to this series and the genre. To be avoided., 02 Nov 2008
I have enjoyed all of Christine Warren's 'The Others' series and this book is supposed to be the 6th in the series. However, it reads as a soft-porn trashy novel written years before she had refined her writing abilities. This is perhaps true as the previous reviewer referred to it being an e-book in the past. What plot actually exists is minimal and could be wirtten on a postage stamp. Apart from the disappointment of the book not being anywhere near the standard of the others in the series, the relationship between Regina (Reggie!) and her new vamp lover Dmitri (Russian, arrogant) is very unpleasant. It is way beyond the Alpha male territory, verging on rape as Dmitri physically and mentally overpowers Regina so that she is begging for him and will do anything for him. Dmitri also feeds from Regina, clouding her mind so that she doesn't know what he has done - vampire rape. The first 102 pages cannot be read quickly enough as they complete their first marathon (obviously) sex session. Neither is it enought to say that Regina likes to be submissive in bed. Finally, when Regina does find out Dmitri is a vampire it takes her 5 minutes before she asks to be made one as well.
I would not recommend this book to anyone; for a far better example of the genre, read the Kerrelyn Sparks vampire series, or even the earlier Christine Warren ones. I resent parting with money for what is probably the worst book in the paranomral genre I have read in 2008.
A GOOD READ - BUT..., 20 Oct 2008
This is a great Christine Warren read about the earlier years of the world of 'Others'. Just be warned though, if you buy ebooks, it was previously published as an ebook several years ago under the title of 'Fantasy Fix'.
Abridged ... but still a good story, 17 Feb 2008
This was my first Pratchett audio books and, though abridged, was a joy to listen to, especially when travelling.
I love the way Tony Robinson (not one of my favourite actors) voices the characters, it is virtually perfect. I would love to see him narrate the entire book, rather than the abridged version.
ISIS books produce the unabridged version - but a quick word of advice - Nigel Planer is deadpan with little alteration in his voice. At times he appears bored with the story, pausing where there shouldn't be pauses and placing emphasis (when he gets round to it) where it shouldn't be. It appears to be a paycheque for Planer.
Robinson, on the otherhand, appears to be a Pratchett fan, is narration is full of the depth of the true connoisseur.
Overall, abridged or not, I'd sooner have Robinson than Planer.
One final comment about the ISIS audio books - avoid the MP3 versions which have every chapter on one single disc. The chapters don't run properly due to the numbering system that they are using for the individual tracks. Instead of 01, 02 ... 10, 11, etc they have used 1, 2, 3, etc meaning that you start on track 1 then move to track 10, 11, etc. If you are after a straight run without problems, fork out the extra money and buy the multi disc versions, you can play these anywhere on any system.
If you're new to Pratchett, or travelling, or going into hospital, then the abridged version are well worth having.
What kinds of strange and curious creatures do you think exist ?, 30 Dec 2007
Thanks to this book I am now acquainted with all kinds of possible and impossible beings. I have read all the Discworld novels and I can say, that this one is one of the best. I especially liked the idea of tod taking over the job of the missing Hogfather - with Nobby sitting on his bony knees waiting for a present. Hard to put down!! Let me also recommend reading Tino Georgiou's bestseller--The Fates--if you missed it!
BEWARE: ABRIDGED, 16 Oct 2007
Nowhere on the description of this audiobook on Amazon is there any mention of the fact that it is abridged and is not in fact a narration of the book as in, for example, Harry Potter, but essentially only a summary, being only 3 cds long.
I bought this and "Making Money" and the reading by Tony Robinson is superb, but I would recommend anybody who wants the proper full version to buy the unabridged version (Nigel Planer, Harper Audio) for another 10 US dollars.
Basically a great book was ruined by the felling of having been totally ripped off: Amazon - please show clearly when an audiobook is abridged or risk your customers feeling conned!
A pure delight and a histerically funny tale about a different Christmas... and "haute cuisine", 31 Aug 2007
I confess immediately that I am addicted to Pratchett and greatly enjoyed almost all of the Discworld novels - and here is what I consider his second best (number 1 in my book being "Small gods"). And Pratchett's second best is still a great masterpiece. The story is quite simple - on the Discworld there is no Christmas, but instead there is the (almost identical) Hogwatch Night. So the local Santa Claus is of course called the Hogfather. And this year there is a major problem - the Hogfather is missing and there is an urgent need for a remplacement, a back up, an interim, whatever, but the Hogwatch Night must go on! Children are waiting for their toys and a merry "ho, ho, ho".
Now, in order to replace the Hogfather, the candidate must have some important qualities: he must be a supernatural being. He must have the ability to be in many places in the same time. He must be able to travel instantly from one point to another. He must have a long experience in supernatural work necessary to keep the world in order. And the most important - he must have a 100% success in his previous line od duty. So, what do you think, who will get the job? Well, I am certain you have already guessed....
The very idea of replacing the Hogfather (Santa Claus) by... well, the guy who replaces him, was already a great idea. But it gets better. The author actually managed to keep this idea under good control, avoiding all the traps and producing an incredible amount of smart gags, funny jokes and delicious one liners, when in the same time always keeping the good taste and never allowing himself even one vulgarity. Great achievement!
But after all, most of Pratchett books are like that. So, what makes this one a masterpiece? It is the "haute cuisine" moment. Now, Pratchett always claimed that "cuisine" and food are two different things - and in this book he proves his point, describing the best and the most expensive restaurant in Ankh Morpork struggling to serve dinner to customers without any real food! Some knowledge of French will be required to appreciate this fragment of the book (or at least a French English dictionary) but otherwise this is probably the most intelligent and funniest (the most tasty) gag in all Pratchett's works until now.
To conclude, this work is a treasure - go get it! There is no excuse - you have to read it!
One of the best books I've read., 24 Jul 2007
I read this book about 3 years ago but I still reckon it's one of the best Pratchett books I've read so far. I think it's just written very well as well as being very interesting. It seemed to draw me into it's pages more-so than any other Pratchett book.
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Customer Reviews
got hooked, 20 Oct 2008
oh WOW this book was great just glad what i got it i also got the other 2 as i have 3 to read one after the other i could not put them down and now i am waiting for the next one they are full of action and you get thinking that you are really living as cassie if you get in to your books like me and can get the pictures in you head as you read. you really get in to it a great book and left me wanting more not looking for all her books
Great Start to a Wonderful Series, 12 Oct 2008
Loved it! Wonderful characters, a swift moving plot, a deft sense of humour and a surprising ending--this book had it all. And unlike many series I've read, this one keeps getting better with each book. Claimed by Shadow, the sequel, is also a very strong title, and Embrace the Night, the third book in the series, is simply brilliant. The three work together to tell one complex and fascinating tale. Curse the Dawn, the fourth book, is out in April and I can't wait! If you're looking for something a bit different with a stronger plotline and better characterization than normal for genre fiction, this is it!
I really wanted to say I liked this book, 11 Oct 2008
This is the sort of book that anyone who reads Laurel K. Hamilton or Kim Harrison will probably end up reading.
It's set in an underground of vampires and werewolves that exists in parralel to the human world, and sees a female heroine do battle against the powers that be in that world.
One of my biggest grumbles about Hamilton and Harrison is the fact that there's too much 'love interest' and too little story in their books. That's why I turned to this book. I hoped that I'd get more story. I can't work out quite how wrong I was yet.
Don't get me wrong, the lead protagonist isn't jumping into bed with people, but the story (which sees her try and work out who's killing the Vampire Council in America and how to stop him) feels a little clunky all the same.
I don't know about you, but when I tell a story I try to weave the back story into the main text fairly seamlessly. I don't want people getting confused about what's going on, but I don't want the back story to get in the way of the story's flow either.
That didn't happen here. Every so often she'd stop to lay this whole exposition about the past on you.
This was ok at first, but it got on my nerves after a while. If you can get your head round that irritating tendency the author has, you might enjoy this book. If you can't you should go elsewhere.
I would read the sequel, 02 Sep 2008
Deliciously gory and sexy. I liked the well-established supernatural world that Chance created and her exploration of ideas. The magic involved was unusual (in that I hadn't come across it quite like that in a novel before) and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, though I don't think I would read it again. The story is a series of detailed, lengthy scenes that takes place over a fairly short space of time and I did find the sometimes slow pace of events irritating at times, but I would buy and read the sequel for more.
Fascinating... Enjoyable, 27 Jul 2008
First book I have read by Karen Chance, and found it enjoyable.
I liked Cassie, at times she could be infuriating... but thats normal, charactors can't always do what you want them to do.
I liked the fact that we got loads more magical creatures like demons and mages, and can't wait to read the 2n | | |