Magic Rises

By: Ilona Andrews

Narrated by: Renee Raudman

Length: 15 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shape-shifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta. Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shape-shifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute - and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer - but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap.…

©2013 Andrew Gordon and Ilona Gordon (P)2013 Recorded Books

Really good addition to the series :D

4 stars

This was a very good book. I love the series and this was a good addition to the series.

Kate and Curran (along with a number of the pack regulars) get pulled in to a voyage overseas to protect a pregnant woman. They know going in that it's a trap but the payment is a drug that helps were-children survive without going Lupe. Since this drug is unavailable in America, the option to get a hold of the drug is something they can't refuse.

They have some issues on the trip over but it's relatively uneventful but once they hit shore things don't go well. Curran gets entangled with a were-princess that's intent to get him away from Kate. Their host ends up being the Warlord of Kate's father and the whole trap was to get her there. But he doesn't kill her, he has worse things in mind for her. Unusual beasts are attacking people, including the pregnant woman they're protecting. And Kate is the only non-shifter in the group and has trouble with dealing with others (they have a major lack of respect and because of the reason Kate and Co. is there, she can't let out her "forceful nature"). All in all, Kate and the others don't have a fun time on their trip.

I will say that the plot was interesting and the action was pretty constant. There was always something going on that made it hard to stop listening (I listened to the audiobook version). The only main issue I had with it (and the reason I didn't give it 5 stars) is because I didn't like the way things headed between Curran and Kate (their relationship) through a portion of the book. Things work out though and I liked the ending (although there were definite sad parts).

Regardless of my issues, I still really liked the story. It was a great addition to the series and I'm looking forward to the next in the series. I'd recommend it. Thumbs up. :D

*note - The audiobook is actually 15 hours long but I found the last hour is actually a scene that was cut from the book (the scene where Kate saves a kidnapped Simon and earns the favor used for this book). The cut scene was great and I'm glad they included it at the end.

Seemed like you missed a book

The deleted scene at the end explains a lot, but beware the minimal intro, it feels like your missing something!

Action Packed Greatness.

Another awesome book by Ilona Andrews. I laugh, I cried, I was so engrossed the book flew by. I love Kate, she is defiantly a kick assery gal. I was annoyed with Curren in this book, but I got over it pretty quickly. The characters really develop in this book. There is lots of tragedy and violence in this book. I'm so glad I gave this series a second chance because I wasn't in love with the first book, but the series only gets better. I do recommend reading in order, this isn't a stand alone series. Narrator is good and she is now Kate in my mind.

At the end there is a deleted scene of Simone's rescue that is mentioned in the book. 1 hr.

Good story but.....

It really is a good series but it's a bit too easy to predict. Kate seems like one of those intelligent people that lack common sense. I knew who the bad guys were right away and spent the rest of the book wishing she'd wake the hell up and get a clue. The characters are still good though and it's a series I'll keep reading.

Love Kate & Curran.

I REALLY love Kate and Curran and this series. Just LOVE it. And listening to it is fantastic as well. Great series from a fantastic author.

Very emotional

I love how audiobooks add emotion to storylines. You can really feel it when someone dies or when two characters argue.

magic rises

absolutely excellent!!! very well written, perfectly performed and exciting to the max!!! so much happening but so well organized!!!

LOVE, LOVE this series

I wasn't sure if I was going to love this series, but now I am on book 6 and cannot wait to finish the whole series. I listen when I am driving, when I'm at home, taking a shower and right before going to bed. That's how interesting this series is. I love Renee Raudman as a narrator too, love her voice and the different characters, really get's you into the story, like you are there.

Great additon to the series...

I love the book and the performance by Renee.. Ilona and her husband continue to be one of my favorite authors. I am listening to it now for the second time....

Actually, this is one series I have listened to more than one time through....

My favorite series.

Really enjoy these novels. The characters are unique and interesting. A well developed world and the main characters are believable, interesting and have a good sense of humor. Urban Fantasy at its best. As soon as the story ended I was eagerly anticipating the next in the series, what more could an author ask for?