Magic Bleeds - Awake

World of Kate Daniels #4.2

by Ilona Andrews, Gordon Andrews

Published in Small Magics and included in Curran's POV.

Infuriated by Kate’s treatment at the hands of the Pack, the Beast Lord demands an explanation. When words fail, claws and fangs must do the talking.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Shapeshifters, Magic, Short Stories

21 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 12, 2011

About the author

Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.

Reviews

[Alex ☣ Deranged KittyCat ☣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes! I wanted to read this so much! Those nasty alphas deserved a good beating after what they did (or didn't do)!

22 challenges in 11 days?

[Sophia Triad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing fight between
the bear and the lion,
the father and the adoptive son,
the Alpha of the bear clan and the ultimate Alpha who demands respect and acceptance for his mate.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st read - July 2013
2nd read - June 2015
3rd read - June 2016
4th read - January 2018
5th read - July 2018
6th read - June 2019
7th read - October 2020
8th read - January 2021

Aww Curran, Curran, Curran! I will never get enough of him *swoony sigh* Such a brilliant little short. Timeline wise this fits in right at the end of Magic Bleeds when Curran wakes up and finds out exactly what has been happening to Kate while he was out for the count. I absolutely LOVED seeing him rip the council members a new one, he certainly put them in their place and it was a well deserved put down.

It was also great to see him make a stand against Mahon, those two have a father/son bond but Mahon can be such an arsehole and he definitely let Curran down at the end of Magic Bleeds so they needed to work things through.

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

We get a ticked off Curran when he wakes up and finds Kate has been challenged left and right. Reading Curran's thoughts you get to see exactly how much he cares for and loves Kate. Not many would be able to have the strength to protect Kate, she is usually the one kicking ass, but he is the exception. I LOVE how protective he is of Kate and we get to see that firsthand in this novella. Getting inside Curran's head with all these POV's has been a real treat.

I have to say he is one of my all-time favorite male fictional characters!! I highly recommend reading all the Curran POVs if you're a fan of the Kate Daniels series.

[Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awake

The best part about this one is that the book ends this scene after Curran demands that the other alphas explain themselves, but here it keeps going, and you get to hear the attempts at explanations. If you hate Jennifer as much as I do, you will glory in her set down by Curran. There may also be a SHOW DOWN between Curran and a certain resistant-to-change bear . . .

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the end of the graphic audio versions of Magic Bleeds we get three Curran PoVs and this is one of them.

Loved seeing what Curran had to say to the pack and his Come to Jesus moment with the Bear of Atlanta.

[Just Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing is better than cheering Curran on!

After being badly injured, Curran awakes to find out that Kate, his mate, has been challenge over 20 times during his absence and that makes that big cat shifter really bloody mad.
Loved it!


Read: 05/07/2020
1st rating: 5 stars
Genre/tropes: Urban Fantasy/short story
Cover: 4 stars
POV’s: Multiple 1st. person
Will I recommend: ALWAYS

[Lora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Curran's POV Vol 2 shows what happened right after the final chapter of Magic Bleeds. The Beast Clans must explain their homicidal intentions toward Kate while Curran was comatose. In short, the Beast Lord is pissed and fur is about to fly.

I liked this more than the previous Curran POV. Although Curran is just out of bed when this takes place, he still has his usual drive and power and he has every right to be mad for how his people treated his mate while he was lying in a bed dying. When the going gets tough, you see who's truly loyal. Apparently Curran doesn't have as many loyal followers as you'd think.

A lot of the Alphas and Betas are skeptical of Kate's ability to be the female Alpha and they don't believe she's worthy to be the Beast Lord's mate. (As if it's their decision on that!) I think it comes down to jealousy. People are always hungry for power, and second in command is a high place to be.

These looks into Curran's head are fun and fascinating and I hope Gordan writes more in future. I highly recommend both this and Curran's POV Vol 1 to all fans of the Kate Daniels series.

You can read this short story here for free.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

AWAKE (End of Magic Bleeds, Kate Daniels #4): 
"Authority must be exercised at all times or else it is lost. They didn't have to love or even like me, but by God, they would obey me. If they had forgotten why I was feared, I would remind them. If I had to kill a few as an example, then so be it."
*~*~*
"Which one of you idiots wants to explain to me what the hell is going on?" With great effort, I raised my arm and pointed in Mahon's general direction. "Him."

Read as part of the Curran POV Collection, full review here.

Re-read in June 2016.

You can find the collection for free on Ilona Andrews' website. Read in order, after the respective main books of the Kate Daniels series. Don't jump ahead, you will spoil yourself!

[Renegade ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Excerpts from Fathers and Sons (Other Title: Awake)
(Takes place at the end of "Magic Bleeds")

#1


"Barabas, how many members of the Pack have challenged my mate while I slept?"
He paused, clearly attempting to recall, finally he turned to Kate and asked, "Twenty-two?"
She nodded silently.
"How many alphas?"
"Only the Jackals, my Lord. The others were rank and file, not even betas."
"You killed the jackals?"
She nodded.
"Both?"
She nodded.
Barabas cleared his throat. "And she dared the rest of them to come and fight her. The dare wasn't accepted."
Of course. You didn't get to be an alpha by being dumb. After the Jackals had been killed, the others had been content to let their subordinates wear her down. Mahon could have stopped it, but did not. He had never made a secret of his disapproval of Kate, but to stand by and allow her to be injured in my absence... he and I would speak of this later. Perhaps it was time for my adoptive father to retire.
I would deal with the rest of the Council shortly. As we approached the door, I could hear them mumbling and whispering inside. Were they bored? Irritated? I could fix all of that. I took a deep breath, opened the door and roared at my subjects as if I had every intent of ending their lives in the next several seconds.
The sudden silence was deafening. Oh yes, Daddy is home and he ain't happy. Playtime was over.


#2


I lay in the snow, exhausted. My body flowed into the familiar human form. Everything hurt. My body felt too hot, like I was burning from inside out.
"Good fight, boy," Mahon boomed from somewhere to the right. "I'm proud of you."
"Shut up."
The snow was melting around me. The icy liquid felt good on my skin. Well, that's downright pleasant. I could lay here for a while, as long as I didn't have to move.
"Still think she is worth it?" Mahon asked quietly.
"Of course. She is my mate."
Mahon sighed. "So you decided then."
"Do you think we'd be laying here bleeding in the snow if I wasn't sure?"
"Good point."



***

I loved getting Curran's POV here because the end of that last chapter in Magic Bleeds made me cheer for numerous reasons. And I was like, "Kick some ass, Curran!" after what they put Kate through. She held her own and then some (because c'mon, it's Kate!), but damn.

In the same sitch, I would have woken up and been pretty damn pissed too...

So when he walked into that room and let out that tremendous, don't-eff-with-me roar that clearly meant business and not one of them could meet his eye, I was just like, "YEAH!!!" *fist pump*



I'm sad that this is the last of the Curran excerpts available but I'm also grateful that we got them!

And who knows?

Maybe one day we'll see a few more...

Hey, we can always hope, right? ;)

[Heather C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! We get Curran and Kate's POV this time and several sweet moments between them. Also, a kick-ass fight between Lion and Bear.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this short little novella (free!) immediately after book 4 and it worked out perfect because this story acts almost like a deleted scene, just from Curran’s point of view. It’s actually the perfect accompaniment following the completion of book 4. Even though book 4 didn’t leave you with any lingering questions, this novella provided additional scenes that answered questions you didn’t know you had.

[Cheesecake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Curran's POV when he awakens after a healing sleep to find that his weres have been disrespecting his mate. The shit hits the fan.
I really enjoyed it but it doesn't really add much except for at the very start where there's a lovely tender moment.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Curran's POV! See my review for the complete collection here.

[Sakina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't usually like to read novellas or short stories but with this series I can't help it. Plus Curran's POV? How could I say no? :D

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked reading this scene because in Magic bleeds the ending was great actually the whole book was great but the end was amazing. Anyway this is enjoyed reading.

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!! It's so great to have Curran's POV...it adds so much to the story. I wasn't happy about him and Mahon fighting but I understood why. I'm just glad that everything worked out.

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The penultimate of Curran POV stories, told after Curran's 11 day coma when he awakens to find that the Pack has been challenging Kate's authority in his prolonged absence - with duels. His rage, and his love, is awesome. Love this series!

[Zen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a way, I wish some of this ending would have been included at the end of the novel. This short takes us just a bit farther than the novel did and shows how Curran helped cement Kate's place in his world.

[Kylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

End of Magic Bleeds Curran roars at his council for attacking Kate while he was unconscious. This story goes into more details and explains what happens during that meeting and after when he challenges Mahon for not backing his mate.

[hea booktubes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great addition to the end of Magic Bleeds.

[Katyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

While it is definitely nice seeing Curran furious with the Pack for what they did to Kate, I feel like it isn't enough. When Mahon and Jim talk about Kate needing to prove she should be allowed to be mate ... I wanted Curran to gut them both. I don't get why any of them - ANY! - can acknowledge that 22 challenges in 11 days (9, actually, since he was unconscious for 11 but they didn't start challenging her until after the first 48 hours) is way beyond what any of those assholes had to do for their spot.

Fuck the Pack. Magic Bleeds is when I started hating them. And now, by book 9, my hatred for them has been completely reinforced. Fuck them all. Their betrayal of Curran and Kate is unforgivable, and Kate and Curran should get out of dodge with their actual friends, and leave the Pack to Roland.

[Duchess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading Curran's point of view! Some reviews say that they don't get to see as much of Curran in the Kate Daniels series as they would like. Well, here you go! This is only one scene, but I think its a really important one to the series, and would definitely suggest reading it before Magic Slays. Fathers and Sons sheds some light on what happens after Curran wakes to find Kate being challenged continually by pack members. Need a dose of some Curran rage and manliness? This is it!

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would there be anything that I don't like where Curran is involved?? A resounding NOOOOO NEVER!!!

I absolutely loved it!! Loved seeing Curran taking control of the pack at the meeting and seeing everyone literally shiver, cower and shrivel before his majesty. And then of course there was the fighting scene in which he settled his score with Mahon regarding Kate.

Awesome addition from Curran's POV!!

[Katharine Kimbriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Occasionally, one half of "Ilona Andrews" (the male half) writes up a scene or two from the Kate Daniels' books that are from Curran's point of view. This time it's like a short story, giving us what happened after Curran woke up in MAGIC SLAYS.

The council scene shows just how different shapeshifters are, and why Kate always feels like a referee among homicidal children. Insanely strong homicidal children.

[Kay (❦ ᴗ ❦ ✿) BooksandMe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in Curran POV Collection.

See my overall review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The pages were short and must be read after every installment for better enjoyment.

[Shannon C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Kate Daniels urban fantasy series. This is a free Curran POV short that supplements the series.

Thanks to the authors for the freebie. I love the Curran POVs and it's great to get a dose of Kate and Curran while waiting on the next full length book.

[Awilk -never sleeps- · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Curran. Anything to read about him and Kate will be loved by me. I also find that stories from Curran's point of view to be so funny, even when the topic is serious. He really does work on animal instincts half the time. What a great way to spend a few minutes of a break.

[♥ Ashleigh ♥ Contrary to popular belief I'm not actually mad! · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was also really good - not as good as Curran in my opinion but still entertaining and fun
<3 Derek and Barabas.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love when Gordon comes out to play and writes Curran from a man's point of view. This was a good one about Curran's anger with everyone, especially his foster father for allowing Kate to be challenged. I found this snippet - short story to be a delight.