The gigantic flares of magic that engulf Atlanta do plenty of damage. The downtown skyscrapers are piles of junk - like tinker toys that will never be right again.

For those such as Kate Daniels who have magic in their blood the flares can be invigorating or overpowering, and it's hard to know which will happen until the flare hits. The surge of magic did come in handy when fighting the demons making their way from a dark, forbidding pit onto the earth placing ordinary folks and even those not so ordinary in peril.

In Magic Burns, the second book in he Kate Daniels series Kate willingly risks her life to save that of a child who has a secret sort of magic of her own. Julie is alone in the world. Her mother has disappeared and the only other person in her life is a feckless teenage boy who leaves her in the lurch. Fortunately Kate steps in and promises Julie she will help find the missing mom. Their only clue is that Julie's mother had recently joined a coven of witches. But there is no trace of the coven. Every member has disappeared. Someone used bad magic and demons have been unleashed. It's soon apparent that Julie is their target. They appear unstoppable. Even Kate's strong magic doesn't seem to be enough.

Coming to the rescue, is Curran, pack leader of all shapeshifters, and an Alpha male of the heart-stopping hunk variety. Whenever they are together he and Kate have a continuing repartee guaranteed to irritate each other, but it is sharp, witty, funny, and part of the enjoyment of reading this book. The heat between these two can only get hotter. The story line winds and twist and fascinates every step of the way. Book three, Magic Strikes, will be published in March 2009. I can't wait.

Postscript: There are vampires in the alternate reality, but none would ever make the hero of a romance novel. Here is how Kate describes them to Julia: "Look, you have to remember that vampires are mindless like cockroaches. They are just vehicles for the Masters of the Dead. If you see a bloodsucker and ti's not ripping everyone to shred, there's an actual human being riding that vamp's mind...."

I stayed up and finished this one instead of last minute studying for finals (I do not recommend)! I'm in love with the world Ilona has created, and don't find Kate annoying in the way that I find most female protagonists are.

Can't wait for book 3 to come out!

I really liked this book and will read the others in the series. There is a good mix of action, humor, and plot. Character development could be a bit better and more characters would make this a broader deeper book, but for a short quick read it is excellent.

Great book. A real page turner. Really liked the shifts from magic to tech. Can't wait to read what happens next.

In this second installment, Kate reluctantly agrees to do a favor for the local Pack and investigate the disappearance of some valuable maps. While hunting down the culprit, Kate gets called in on another favor. This time she winds up shackled with a teenage street urchin whose mother recently joined an amateur witch coven and went missing shortly after. Kate promises to find the girl's mother and, in the process, is caught in the crossfire between two ancient deities vying for power. So pretty much an average day for Kate and the city of Atlanta.

The highlights of MAGIC BURNS are definitely the increased personal interactions between Kate and the various people and creatures who've come into her life. The growing attachment between Kate and Julie (the young girl in her care) develops quickly and the protective stance Kate takes throughout the course of the book is quite touching . Equally compelling is the more slowly developing connection between Curran, the Pack alpha, and Kate. Despite their mutual attempts to avoid each other. The reader gains several insights into these two almost painfully private people and the ending promises more good things to come. In fact, these quiet character-driven scenes were so interesting that I wished there were just a few more. The plentiful action and fighting sequences seem to always take center stage and, though we do get a little more information on Kate's background, it is a very little, and I am (of course) anxious for more. A solid second book, I'm looking forward to the third one.

If you liked Magic Bites you'll enjoy reading this. If you didn't read Magic Bites, you won't feel like you've missed anything. Which is good for a new reader; trouble is, I wasn't. So there was a heck of a lot of exposition that was repetitive. It wouldn't have been as distracting if it was repetitive only within itself as a book. However, there were multiple times when I experienced deja vu. "Didn't I already read this? Oh wait, that was the first one."

I don't bookmark if I put a book down; usually, I can find where I left off almost as quickly as if I had marked the page. This one, I needed to pull out an old receipt to mark my page because I couldn't keep track of whether or not it was something I'd already read.

I also couldn't decide if I was being underestimated as an audience or overestimated. The sense of deja vu made me feel underestimated, as if Andrews didn't think I was intelligent enough to remember the realities of Kate's world. But the hints and allusions to Kate's past made me feel like I was supposed to be putting together pieces of her mystery; these tiny clues had the feeling of great significance. Except, I had no clue as to what the significance was. Instead of intrigued, I was annoyed--I kept going back to find out what I had missed that would give this reference meaning. And kept finding nothing.

That said, it's an enjoyable read. Andrews has a really interesting take on magic, mythological creatures and what our world will become. The characters and story are addictive and I won't hesitate to buy the next one. But I'll save it for a beach day or a lazy afternoon when I want to fill the time with something entertaining; not for after a long day at work when I just want to be swept away into someone else's life.

Love Kate, an everywoman with a twist. And Atlanta just gets ever so much more complex! Great characters and I look forward to the next installment.

I enjoyed this book even better than the 1st - Magic Bites. I really enjoy the Kate Daniels books as they seem like they could be more realistic than other were/vamp novels - if that's possible. Not that demons coming out of the ground and the undead who talk to deformed vampires is real, but there's no sugar coating on the vamps just purple heavy duty sunscreen. I love these little bits of dark humor. The characters are not some romantic image of a monster - they are really monsters. This book has it all: Demons, witches, wereanimals, vamps, undead, magic druids, super heroine and everything unimaginable with a hint of romance. Go ahead and take a ride and read this book!

This book is the second in a series (the first is Magic Bites). The heroine - Kate - is a mercenary who deals with magic problems. In this book a flare (a time when magic is strong) occurs. Kate ends up with her hands full. Not only does she have a teenager to take care of, she has some seriously bad things that want her dead. I don't want to give away the story, so that is all I am going to say on the plot.

The books is well written and incredibly fast paced. I would definitely read the first book before this one to help you understand what is going on. It is a book that keeps you entertained and wanting to find out what happens next. The heroine is sarcastic and powerful, and she certainly isn't perfect which makes her even more likable. Curran is involved in this story, and while he is somewhat heavy handed, he is still a likable guy - maybe because he is so loyal to his pack. Anyway, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast paced fantasy book without any gratuitous sex scenes.

When I read the first book, I decided to try the second since the first really got my attention. The second is even better than the first. Has a lot of elements I like in books.

Action. It jumps right in. Gotta love that.

Comedy. Not all over the place, but enough for a chuckle every now and them.

"kick-butt" attitude.
Character development.

My only complaint was that the book was too short.

Ilona Andrews deserves credit for creating an exceptionally detailed world, with a heroine you would actually like to meet. Kate, the heroine, is hardworking, brave, wise-cracking, ethical, and caring. Her job may call for violence, but it is not her first choice for dealing with every situation. The plot led from one scene to the next so seamlessly that this book was hard to put down - so I didn't. I read it all in one sitting, and when I was done I decided that a night's sleep was a small price to pay for such an engrossing story.

Kate Daniels doesn't go looking for trouble, trouble finds her. After the Weres hand over an embarrassing job to her (someone actually accomplished breaking into their keep and stealing their maps)she runs into more problems then she can chew. Nothing new for her. In this alternate Atlanta where magic and technology comes and goes in flashes, Kate battles on the side morally right as much as she battles her inner demons and biologocial secrets.

This is not a romance novel, but more of a urban paranormal mystery with a true kick-but character. I love the fact that she's not the prettiest thing on the block, nor the nicest. She's average, but with extraordinary secrets that even the readers are attempting to read and learn more about. Yet, for those of you die hard romance readers, there is an underlining romance iffy line. Kate and the Curran (the head of the Atlanta Weres; i.e.Mr. Big, Bad, and Scary)seems to constantly be stumbling into each other. He's either rescuing her from near death or her jobs bring her into contact with his people. What I like about these parts are that they lighten the mood for the book and lead to a few chuckles. I especially like the part where he treats her like a mouse toy and "plays" with her by tossing her around the room a few times.

Overall, it's a great, unique book and I'm axiously awaiting the next in this series.

No sophomore slump here! Ilona Andrews follows--and tops--her debut novel with an excellent sequel, _Magic Burns_.

We get some more world-building. Andrews explains, in a way that flows smoothly with the story and doesn't feel like an infodump, the theory as to why the magic and tech have gone wonky in the first place. We also learn about magic flares, which occur roughly every seven years. During these upsurges in magic, powerful and dangerous summonings can be done. As _Magic Burns_ begins, a magic flare has kicked in and Kate finds herself entangled in the mystery of a witch coven who disappeared after getting in over their heads.

Kate is growing as a character as this series progresses. In Magic Burns, she lets a few more people into her heart, and I don't just mean romantically (though the romantic tension between her and Curran is just enough to be lots of fun without dominating the story). We also learn a few more tantalizing hints about Kate's parentage and about the powers she keeps under wraps.

The mystery/supernatural plot is more layered than that of _Magic Bites_, and better executed. Andrews continues to root her plots in a diverse range of mythology and folklore rather than sticking to the current urban fantasy trends. This time, everything's more complicated, because the good guys and bad guys are less clearly delineated, and Kate has to navigate a minefield of other people's competing agendas. The pace is fast, and there are no "Huh?" moments like the one I had in _Magic Bites_.

Andrews has also toned down the gore. There's still plenty of violence, but if you thought there were a few too many explicit descriptions of cannibalism and rape in _Magic Bites_, you'll probably like _Magic Burns_ better.

_Magic Burns_ just earned Andrews a place on my very short "snap up on sight" list. She's one of the most original voices currently writing in the urban fantasy subgenre, and I can't wait to see what she does next.

I'm a Sookie Stackhouse and Rachel Morgan fan who is always looking for other series. I read book one in this series and gave it a 4. I bought book 2, just to kill time and was totally drawn in by it. I am now putting book 3 on my wishlist. I am not a "magic" fan, but enjoyed the interplay between Kate with her magic, and the knight in shining armor who is the alpha of the shapeshifter pack.

Futuristic Atlanta: magic wreaks havoc in the city and citizens, human and supernatural alike, prepare for the dreaded phenomena when magic and technology refuse to co-exist and continually fight for dominance. It is a world where you wake up each day not knowing if you'll be able to start your car due to the magic fluctuation or, for those who possess magical powers, your spells will fail when the technology is up and running. It's all part of the citizens' daily life except every seven years, the magical waves intensify and all the complexities associated with it culminates into a build-up called a flare. As all hell breaks loose in Atlanta, greater forces like gods and goddesses battle it out for supremacy. And death to anyone who stands in their way...

Once again, our Kate Daniels is knee deep in supernatural drama as she finds herself helping the local Pack retrieve some stolen maps. As Kate goes map-hunting, she comes face to face with the impertinent culprit who takes delight in confounding her and the local Alpha, Curran. More obstacles are thrown her way when she unexpectedly becomes a babysitter to a young girl whose missing mother may be the key to unravelling the chaos surrounding her. And with two powerful gods vying for the chance to step into the human realm, Kate may be out of her depth. Tough as this mercenary is, she knows that she needs all the help she can get even if that means going to the very man who gives her the chills... in a good and (mostly) bad way.

MAGIC BURNS is a tautly written action thriller filled with supernatural creatures galore! The author conveys the intricacies of this alternate universe with drama and flair. Magic leaps off every page and characters come to life. I thought Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1) was an excellent read, but this book totally exceeded my expectations. Ilona Andrews' world is utterly bewitching, captivating the reader right from the start. Kate's character is continuously evolving; the same goes for the secondary characters. Every individual has their place in Andrews' magical world. No secondary character is wasted, everybody is given an opportunity to react and interact and prove their purpose. Indeed, the author has given us such intriguing characters leaving you hanging on to see what she has in store for them.

A word of caution though that the violence and mayhem in this book equates to splatter horror. It is graphic and horrific and Andrews doesn't gloss over the details. If you don't mind these, then I guarantee that this is a great reading experience that packs a terrific punch.

This is one of those rare books that you just can't put down after you start reading it. I can't wait for the nezt in the series!

Be warned: Magic Burns is a dark story with graphic monsters and battle scenes mixed in with the humor and shapeshifters. In this second book, the banter is even better and the characters and the setting given additional details. Again, this isn't erotica or a romance, but a urban fantasy book with a few wonderful alpha-male characters to drool over while you cheer for Kate. Highly recommended!

This sequel is excellent. The author lost none of her forward motion when she wrote this one. It is just as good or exceeds the first one. I loved both of them and am waiting for the next installment.

Kate Daniels is still fighting and cleaning up the magical attacks and mistakes of others. She is now working for the Order. She is the liasion between the Guild and the Order. Still trying to find her place and keep out of the notice of others.

Curran is the leader of the shapechangers in Atlanta. He is devoted to his pack. Nevertheless Kate seems to come to his attention quite often. He is a werelion and a savage fighter.

The problem is that every seven years there is a flare of magic. A time when even the Gods come forth. Now it seems Atlanta is the scene of a battle between two of the Gods. A coven of witches in the poorer sections of Atlanta have somehow opened a portal to another dimension. A little girl is caught in the middle. Her mother was one of the witches and now none of them can be found.

Kate calls on her partner Jim from the Guild. He is a member of Curran's Pack. Jim tells her he needs her help first, the Pack's maps of the underground Atlanta have been stolen. Kate is willing to fight the dead but now something like a vampire, in that they are possessed by their owner, yet unlike them also, they die and turn to water and they come back, are determined to get to the little girl. They attack Kate's home and are barely driven off.

The danger is real and the fighting is awesome, between our world and the world of the older God. Kate protects the little girl who can see auras. She doesn't realize how unique she is. She just wants her mother.

I could not put it down. The imagination of this author is unique and different, that is why she will be around for a long time. Do not miss this urban fantasy.

I enjoyed Magic Burns even more the the first book, Magic Bites. The authors continue to build a intriguing new alternate world in modern Atlanta.

The mythology and fantasy characters introduced keep your interest as well as Kate and the other characters that show up in this book as well as in book one. Kate's relationship with Pack leader Curran continues to develop and change, and I enjoy the possible romance developing between them.

I anxiously await book three, hopefully coming out in 2009. I highly recommend this series to fans of Urban Fantasy.
5 stars.

I was hesitant to buy the first book in this series, but after reading it I was flabbergasted! It was an amazing book, and The second in the series did not disappoint. I love the main character for her witticisms and her likeability. She does not feel the need to play tough-as-nails and flaunt masculine qualities over feminine ones just to seem independant. This is an awesome book, full of humor and action and is not dependant on sex scenes to get the story moving (*coughcough*Anita Blake*coughcough*). I would recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy, urban fantasy, or just likes to read! Pick it up, it is worth it.

In Magic Burns, the sequel to Andrews' Magic Bites, the magic in Kate Daniels' world is going crazy. More specifically, it is leading up to a flare, a period of time where the magic overtakes tech and holds steady and strong. During a flare all kinds of things can happen - including the manifestation of deities into the mortal world, bringing all their squabbles and wars with them.

I'm really liking this series, and cannot wait for the next installment! There are still a few issues in this book which I mentioned in my review of the previous book: namely, twists of storytelling which go too fast for me to follow (I could have used a turning signal, or at least a few more paragraphs) and a few editing and proofreading errors. Nonetheless, this is definitely an entertaining world which Ilona Andrews has crafted, and I enjoy reading Kate's viewpoint of her world.

I am glad that more of Kate's background is coming to light in this book. I have my guesses as to some of her secrets, and am sure that in the next book (or two or three) they will be confirmed. I am also loving the subtle, slowly growing romance between Kate and Curran, the Beast Lord.

I definitely recommend Magic Bites and Magic Burns to lovers of urban fantasy - especially dark urban fantasy, as this series is certainly not light, happy-go-lucky fare. It is real and gritty, with death and blood as much a part of Kate's world as (if not more than) love and happy endings.

I had read the twilight series and was looking for other things in the same vein with a little romance thrown in and thought I would try this series. I absolutely adored the first one and I can honestly say I like this one even better than the first one. This book is not boring and there is never a dull moment, which I like because I hate reading a book, getting to a good part and then having to read through a dragging slow section. All the characters she creates are really real characters and the dialogue is just absolutely wonderful. I think this is the best dialogue I've read in a long time. Its very real sounding and that is so important to me to bring the story and characters and be able to invest in it emotionally. The romance is very slow but I like it that way because with any great story its better when the characters stay apart, it makes you want them together that much more. I hope they never get together and that way the tension is maintained. I like just a little tease of a romance and then there is something to build on for the next sequel and then the next etc. I loved this book.

This book had me from page 1 - although this is not surprising, since I loved book 1 of the series! The action here picks up three months after the end of book one, with Kate still super-tough, but realizing that perhaps Boone's Farm isn't the place she wants to visit anymore - nice to see a character that isn't self-destructive, but rather tough-as-nails and wanting to get the job done no matter what.

The action here is still gory, and the mythology keeps on coming, this time from the Irish pantheon. Andrews keeps the storyline moving, as in book 1, and some development takes place regarding Kate's origins (I have a guess) and her relationship with Curran.

According to Andrews' blog, books 3 and 4 have been bought by Ace, so hopefully the next book in the series will be out soon!

So - if you like lots of action, otherworldly gore, and a tough female heroine with flaws (but still eminently likable, IMO), don't miss this series! Also, I don't think book 2 is necessarily stand-alone, so I recommend reading book 1 first.

Atlanta may be a strange and magical place, but it is nothing like it used to be. Now, Kate Daniels anticipates the ebb and flow of the magical energy that shuts down technology like a switch - everywhere. It's her job as a mercenary to clean up the mess after the magic, and now that it appears that a flare is coming - a time when the magic's energy comes more often, stronger, and somewhat unchecked - her work is cut out for her. On what is supposed to be an easy retrieval, she encounters a stray which - knowing Kate - she can't help but take in. This doesn't help her situation because it would seem that a lot of the higher magical powers converging during the flare seem to want something powerful, and Kate is quickly narrowing it down to the stray she is trying to save. Can she save the world and get a decent meal before the next magic wave hits?

As usual, Kate manages to jump into situations with both feet without knowing she's jumping in the first place. In this case, she's agreed to help the shapeshifters find their stolen maps, not realizing that in doing so she's tied their case to the young girl, Julie, whose mother is missing. Julie's mother is a witch who has disappeared into the chaos of the flare. Amidst this is a man with a crossbow who is able to disappear/reappear into the mist at will - a talent no one has ever seen before. Not knowing who he is working for, Kate assumes he is one of the bad guys and keeps going on her merry way until she realizes he is the thief. Picking and choosing her way carefully through the multitude of characters, Kate sifts through the clues and centuries of mythology and fantasy to come up with an incredible race for power and control unthought-of before now.

Awesome is the word that comes to mind when I think of this work. I wish that they would write faster. I love the byplay of the characters, the humor included in the work, and the eclectic historical references. A lot of it is quite far-fetched but within the bounds of human nature. The tortoise is great. I wish I could think of a better word, but nothing quite covers it. And the sexual tension that Kate is emitting has me gritting my teeth - definitely can't wait for the next book.

This book held my interest from page 1. It is a fast paced, interesting and very different Urban Fantasy. There are so many really creative characters and scenes - something is happening constantly. I couldn't put it down.

This book is not worse than the first one. The author stays true to her characters; very interesting read.
A little bit dark for my tastes and not enough romance. Hope, the next book will correct it, as it slowly progresses.
I was surprised to learn that the writer was born in Russia, and English is her second language. Good work

I was very pleased with this second book in the Kate Daniels series. There has been positive character growth and the action was very fast paced and believable. I think the series can only get better. I love the dichotomy of tech Atlanta vs. magic Atlanta.

Bloody Brilliant! Even better than the first one, and the first one was great. In this sequel to Magic Bites, Ilona Andrews ups the ante on world building and adds a layer of mythology. Best of all, Magic Burns has Heart. I don't mean romance - there is sexual tension between Kate and Curran but no romance yet. By Heart I mean that it tackles some of the big questions of the human condition. Ms. Andrews makes a compelling argument that there are somethings worth fighting for. That the life of one little girl is worth a thousand soldiers who might die trying to save her, and if it wasn't then this isn't a world worth living in. Violence has become such a common occurrence in our lives that we hardly bat an eye at it anymore. I appreciate Ms. Andrews taking the discussion to the next level and challenging her readers to think deeply about our blase acceptance of violence.

Mercenary Kate Daniels stumbles across a young starving street kid whose mother has disappeared in a coven spell-gone-horribly-wrong. She takes it upon herself to find the little girl's mother and ends up discovering a plot to unleash monsters from celtic mythology on the world. Kate is also enlisted to find maps of the city that were stolen from the Pack, to provide information for the People who want to control the new breed of undead that have appeared, and to obtain magic blood to save the witch Oracle. In the midst of all this, a Flare is coming; Once every seven years Magic runs rampant unleashing all sorts of monsters and madness. In the face of impossible odds, Kate gets by with a little help from her friends.

The heroine Kate is a tough cookie who, despite an argumentative nature, has a depth of character and understanding that makes her not only sympathetic to the reader, but also makes her someone to look up to; heroic in the true sense of the word. The villains are bent on world domination, and as such they are not multifaceted. More interesting are the secondary characters that help or hinder Kate in her quest. These actors illustrate the inner struggle to do the right thing in the face of horror and apocalyptic violence. Do we chose the easy way - every man for himself? Or do we risk everything against impossible odds for the honorable path? Among these fascinating secondary characters are Red, a young street kid, Curran, the leader of the shapeshifters, Ghastek, the vampire pilot, and Bran, mythic warrior.

In the first book I was a bit concerned about Curran in the role of potential "love-interest," but he's grown on me in this book. He's still a violent bastard, but he shows a bit of his softer side in protecting the little girl and showing a bit of gruff caring toward our intrepid heroine. I especially like his comment (p186):

"You're fun to play with. You make a good mouse....I was always kind of partial to toy mice." He smiled. "Sometimes they're filled with catnip. It's a nice bonus."

"I'm not filled with catnip." [said Kate]

"Let's find out."

The image of this 700 pound lion playing with a catnip toy is adorable. But then, I'm partial to cats.

Magic Burns is also full of Ilona Andrews' trademark lyrical descriptions. It's beautiful to read.

Twisted steel skeletons of once mighty skyscrapers jutted like bleached fossil bones from the debris. Here and there a lone half-eaten survivor struggled to remain upright, all but its last few stories destroyed. Shattered glass from hundreds of windows glittered among chunks of concrete, (p24).

And, of course, the world building is fabulous. I love the idea behind it: What would happen if magic took back the world from technology? From Ms. Andrews' FAQs on her website, but also in the book, I just can't find the page:

"Theory said that magic and tech used to coexist in a balance. Like the pendulum of a grandfather clock that barely moved, if at all. But then came the age of Man, and men are made of progress. They overdeveloped magic, pushing the pendulum further and further to one side until it came crashing down and started swinging back and forth, bringing with it tech waves.

And then in its turn, the technology oversaturated the world, helped once again by pesky Man, and the pendulum swung again, into the side of magic this time. The previous Shift from magic to tech took place somewhere around the start of the Iron age. The current Shift officially dawned almost thirty years ago. It began with a flare, and with each subsequent flare, more of our world succumbed to magic."

I thoroughly, completely, and totally recommend Magic Burns to EVERYONE. Read Magic Bites first. It's good. But this book is even better. I can't wait to read the 3rd book in the series, Magic Strikes, (2009 - noooo!!!!), and every single other book that Ms. Andrews gives us in the years to come.

And the ending is so very, very good. I just reread it and realized that I completely missed the best part. Subtle, I am not. I want you to read this book so that I can gush about it with someone. Pleeeaaaassseeeee. Reeeaaaadddd iiiiittttt. You will love it. I promise.

_Magic Burns_ is the second book in the Kate Daniels series, written by Ilona Andrews.

Kate is a trained warrior whose current job is liaison between the Order and the Mercenary Guild. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the few cities to survive the resurgence of magic in the early 2000s. The story takes place a few decades after magic reappeared. Kate is in her mid-20s when the story takes place.

(It would take too long to explain the world Kate lives in, so all I can say is please read the book. Ms. Andrews has created a really unique world and I loved reading the different ways that magic and tech mixed and interacted.)

Kate starts out the book hunting a pyromaniac, but as she keeps stumbling across some odd events that can't be overlooked -- both because of her own moral code and because the problems are things the Order would want information on anyway -- she becomes further entwined in a big nasty mess caused by some incompetent witches (and others).

Which brings up one of the things I like about Andrews' writing -- while Kate is a bit of a mouthy adolescent superhero herself, most of the other characters have real emotions, real ambitions, real anxieties, and make real mistakes. They are believable.

There is a love interest, but it's more anxiety and avoidance at this stage than anything real. Kate has a REALLY *BIG* secret in her past, which makes her very wary of trusting or becoming intimate with anyone.

In the end, things mostly work out, and there are hints that Kate is getting tired of hiding all the time. I am looking forward to future books in the series, as I think that will lead to some interesting events.

All in all, it was a very light and enjoyable read. I give it four stars.

********************************************


I also have to say I am VERY happy to see Ms. Andrews has changed some things from the first Kate Daniels book. _Magic Bites_ was a very interesting but deeply flawed series opening. I was torn after reading it because I wanted to see where Ms. Andrews took the series and characters, but at the same time I didn't want to wade through that much needless pain (from the overly-described villainous acts of the very sadistic bad guys) and needless stupidity (from Kate's uncontrolled mouth) in future books. Thankfully, Ms. Andrews has kept all the things I liked about the series (the setting, the secondary characters, Kate in her better moments, the mystery of Kate's past) and gotten rid of most of what I didn't like. I eagerly look forward to book 3.

I am on pins and needles waiting for the third book in the installment. I am looking forward to learning more about Kate, and seeing how her powers develop.

awesome series for those looking for life after harry potter and eragon. loved it

This series is refreshingly unique. Ms Andrews does a terrific job creating her alternative Atlanta and imbuing it with well-developed characters. Can't wait to see what happens next...

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.

Magic burns was a great second book and Ilona Andrews is a wonderful find. I read a lot, many different genres and have for more years than I care to note here. This story manages to surprise and creates a world that is believable and different. It seems like there are only so many variations on a theme that can be created within fantasy and generally it is the characters providing the difference in each book. However, Ms. Andrews managed to create a world that is new and keep me reading as much for the interaction between the characters as because I couldn't figure out what was going to happen next or what the "world" would be like next. There was one place where the next step in the action caught me totally by surprise and I laughed out loud and then laughed again. Very clever. I particulary like the main characters and their development. I recommend this highly and look forward to more books by the author. One other note, generally I stay away from "thin" books because they usually aren't capable of creating good depth in the story. The content of this book seemed much bigger than the size would indicate.

I bought this book at a used book store last night finished it in a few hours it was great where is book number three. This time I want some romance between Curran and Kate. Loved the kickass fighting. Hopefully book number three would be just as good

A huge leap in the amount of characterization between this and the first book. I feel like I know Kate Daniels better on an emotional level after finishing 'Magic Burns.' From a mythological standpoint, monsters inside the book are on the creatively unique side, which definitely gives style points. (Stymphalian Birds, Celtic cauldrons in full allegory, and vampires that are actually undead.)

The missing piece of the puzzle is now Kate's past in the larger world. In both book one and two, we've gotten only hints, and I don't think I'll be able to appreciate this universe without knowing about this big conspiracy wrapped up in Kate's origins. I guess that's book three (or later). Based on how the first book concluded, I had hoped for more in book two.

Good pacing, believable plot, and moments of humor. The recurring theme of Kate being in lust with Curran, who she finds infuriating, did get tiresome. Book three needs romantic resolution.

This is an improvement on the last entry.

The first book, was, well, a first book, and pretty rough and ragged in places, as far as the writing goes, I think.

This is considerably more polished. As far as I know, 'Ilona Andrews' is a actually a name for a literal pair of writers, at least if the copyright to Ilona and Andrew on the inside page is anything to go by, let alone the story by them from Andromeda Spaceways Infilght Magazine.

I'd be guessing from this book, let alone the blog, that the female of the species is doing most of the heavy lifting as far as the ideas and writing goes, and perhaps the male half is doing more of the cutting and polishing. Hard to say which part improved, perhaps both.

You also begin to find out that Kate Daniels is a bit more than a competent low-rent fighter with good knowledge and a high resistance to intimidation score. Along with the third rate Stormbringer she carries around (although third-rate is probably ok if you don't fancy slaying hundreds of people and sucking down souls to activate your superpowers) It appears she may have a hidden magical superpower or two, plus a more complicated origin story than just a kid with average parents.

Here she gets involved in a plot with witches and werewolves, and has a kid to protect, and a mother to find.

This leads her to clash with a beast man, vampires, and others, before it gets really weird.

Everything gets all Celtic mythology with cauldrons and crows, whether real, humans named after, or goddesses of. Plus demons.

If you want to see a 'warp spasm' illustrated, you could check out some 2000AD that has Slaine the berserker in it, as well.

I'd read the next one.


3.5 out of 5

This book/series is essentially a fantasy book with urban window dressing, and not an urban fantasy. This is important because it creates the expectation of fantasy trimmings, which do differ from urban/contemporary fantasy works.

In an UF we will generally see how the fantastic side of things fits into the life of the character. In UF we also see some of the urban _life_.

This book barely gives lip service to its urban environment, and tells us nothing about the hows and whys.

That's not the biggest problem.

Kate Daniels is really just a tease of a character. She walks around with an enchanted sword. She's dressed in leather armor quite often. She's also an uber-powerful magic slinger. We never see her practice with the sword. We never see her practice magic. When she does cast a spell its always a world beater. Her sword fights all sound like Anakin carving down the initiates in Episode Three, and the climax of the movie is about as satisfying as the one in the Fantastic Four movie.

In short, the book was an excuse for the main character to pretend she wasn't lusting after someone she publicly claims annoys her greatly. How fourth grade.

it was fasr delivet=y,,,,and it was a good book,,,wonder when the third book w/be ou...lol

Ok so, I really loved this book! It is just as good if not better then Magic Bites. My only complaint...I wish it was longer!

Magic Bites and Magic Burns are just wonderful reads. They are way creepier than a lot of what is out there in this genre. If you liked Sunshine or the Southern Vampire Series, you will love these books. There is a lot of action, big fight scenes, some romance but never anything too XXX. Buy it!!

I'm pretty picky about my fantasty fiction choices since I read so much of it; and I've had to suffer through a lot of badly written books. Books with stupid dialog, formulaic plotlines and characters, and just plain silly worldscapes. SO, I have to say that Ilona can't write her next novel fast enough for me. Her incredibly witty, well-paced, and inventive stories are fantastic!!! They easily rank up in my top 3 list, which includes Kim Harrison, and some other writer I've yet to discover. Hurry up and write, like 4 or 5 more of these, Ilona, or I'll be forced to just re-read the two scrumptious bits of entertainment you've already given us.

My turn to gush, the reason the Andrews are collecting fan-girls (and fan-guys) left and right is that they deliver a tight interesting story packed with plenty of action, well drawn characters, set in a truly great chaotic alternate Atlanta where the natives have learned to survive randomly alternately periods of magic and technology.

The second book in the series, Magic Burns is even better than the first because it gets to take advantage of what has come before. We come in with an understanding of the rules of the world so there is more of a sense of getting to explore it now and the vision just keeps on getting more fascinating as we view how magic has warped the city. The cast builds from last time, so that relationships between magical bounty hunter Kate and her were babysitter Derrick, her partner Jim continue to be developed as well as new nuances being added to her relationship with the oh-so-dangerous were leader Curran. I thought the weapon loving Andrea was a great addition and the archer thief Bran ended up providing humor and pathos both to add depth to the story. Of course we are still getting to know Kate, we get a glimpse of her power in the final confrontation but she is still keeping secrets for us to discover in future books. I am ready for the next one, keep them coming!

I love this book. Kate is back and as sassy as every. All of my favorite characters are back as well. We also meet some new ones on this adventure in Atlanta. The only problem is that we now have to wait until 2009 for the third book to come out.

I could not wait for this book. I loved the first and was happily blown away by the second! This author is a fabulous world builder. Kate is a little more relaxed in this one than the first. She is really developing well as a main character. She is sharp,has more of a sense of humor and becomes more real with every page. The reader can "see" any part of this world, it is so well written. Things are heating up with Curran, too.I cannot say that I was disappointed by any of the characters. The great thing is that this touches on so many levels. It offers adventure, romance, and mystery without being too heavy in any one area. The author even incorporates Celtic mythology without missing a beat. So, definitely buy the first novel if you have not read it and then hurry to this one. It is not to be missed.

hi everybody! i just thought i'd post this review to let everyone know just how amazing ilona's second book is. i ran out to get it the day it came out and finished it that night. i couldnt have put it down had my house caught fire and a very angry pack alpha been demanding my return to bed... (wistful sigh.... but yes, this story was imaginative, fresh and funny, not to mention i shed a tear or two for a reluctant hero and his end. so sad, i loved him and his misting tendencies.
anyway, i hope you all will buy this book because it was amazing.
peace out

There's so many good reviews here I don't feel like expounding overlong, except to add my praise for the count. This is an excellent series with a heroine with strong development. She's got strength, intelligence, and capability, while possessing a morale code and maturity that other heroines sometimes lack. Humility and humor, too.

Note to the publishers: Let her write longer books!!! This is too good a series to restrict.

My top author? Kim Harrison for her Rachel Morgan series (not so much the anthologies). If Ilona Andrews can maintain this series over as many books and be allowed more rein to write longer stories it could be a tie.

The first book Magic Bites (Kate Daniels Series, Book 1) should be read first but this book can stand alone. The first book has a lot of world building and character development that are very well written and is an excellent read.

This book comes up just short of five stars because of some editorial errors and a plot bobble. Kate and her some times merc partner Jim (a were leopard) are given a commission to capture or dispatch a crazy arsonist who has a salamander. They capture him and the salamander when the mystery character kills the arsonist. Here is the weak spot: Jim is paged to a survey team (were maps are the very best) the mystery man follows him and grabs the maps. Now why did he get paged and why shoot the arsonist? There are a few editorial errors (I particularly like the character pi in a word (it shows that others depend too much on their spell checker as I do).

The characters are exceptionally well done as are the magic critters including some deities and demons.

The one bobble aside the plot is exceptionally well done and the world building doesn't get in the way.

Some somewhat weird humor but well done too.

I couldn't resist adding my own 2 cents. This book is simply outstanding. A very likable main character, a wonderful story line and an action-packed ending - as far as urban fantasy goes, you really won't find anything better.

Short Summary (Possible spoilers?):
Kate takes a contract for the Pack to recover their precious maps from a thief who can turn into mist. While investigating a lair she tracked the thief to, she bumps into a small girl (Julie) who has lost her mother and who has a lot of special un-dead boogie women after her. (called 'reeves' in the book. 'undead boogiewomen' can be attributed to reviewer's license). Julie's mother is a witch who went missing in a coven ritual to a un-friendly deity. The un-dead boogiewomen running about, ofcourse interest "the people", who take up an agreement with Kate to accompany her so they can capture one for their 'studies'.

Kate discovers who the incorrigible thief (who was taken an liking to Kate) really is, recovers the Pack's maps from him, (which are stolen again), fights many battles protecting Julie, figures out what the coven ritual actually achieved and teams up with Curran for the end-game.

This 2nd book in the Kate Daniels series was a great follow up. It was an easy read. The action was fast paced and exciting. The development of the characters were nice and kept you wondering what would be next. I cannot wait to see what Kate's character will reveal of itself as the series goes on. I don't want to get into too much detail because that would ruin the book for whoever reads this review but suffice to say some questions about Kate are answered but at the same time more questions arise.

On a side note I cannot believe that we have to wait until 2009 to find out what happens between Kate and Curran. Seeing as how he gave her soup, welcomed her home and made her coffee to boot~!!! Ms. Andrews can you not hurry it up a bit~!! I don't have the patience to wait until 2009~!! Perhaps January of 2009??? Oh pretty pretty please~!!

All in all this new series has been a pleasant discovery that has helped me get over the Anita withdrawal. I would definitely recommend this series to any former Anita fan~!