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Kate Daniels [Dramatized Adaptation] #1
Magic Bites [Dramatized Adaptation]
Ilona Andrews invites you to experience the first novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series featuring the intriguing fantasy world of mercenary Kate Daniels…
When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.
Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta’s magic circles.
The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate’s guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she’s way out of her league—but she wouldn’t have it any other way...
When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.
Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta’s magic circles.
The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate’s guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she’s way out of her league—but she wouldn’t have it any other way...
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published April 11, 2023
11 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Ilona Andrews
145 books33.3k followersIlona 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
March 17, 2025
Solution Found!
Ok, for those of you who (like me) had a hard time getting into the first book in the Kate Daniels series?
This is the way to go.
I've had quite a few people comment on my review of that book saying they had exactly the same problems with it that I did, so I feel like this will be a bit more of a PSA than an actual review.
This is my first real graphic audio book. I have listened to BBC Radio productions of Agatha Christie, but those are far shorter than the actual books. And I've been listening to Shakespeare's plays done by a full cast for years and years. <--highly recommend!
But a full book done by a cast of characters with sound effects thrown in? Nope.
Well, now that my cherry has been popped, I can see what I've been missing.
The embarrassing truth is that I thought these were going to be like that descriptive audio setting on my tv that they have for movies.
A lion roars on a logo...
I don't know why I thought that in the first place. The obvious answer is that I'm just a ridiculous person.
And that's a fair assessment.
At any rate, I'm planning on listening to every one of these that I can get my hands on because it made all the difference in the world with Magic Bites.
Highly Recommended.
Ok, for those of you who (like me) had a hard time getting into the first book in the Kate Daniels series?
This is the way to go.
I've had quite a few people comment on my review of that book saying they had exactly the same problems with it that I did, so I feel like this will be a bit more of a PSA than an actual review.
This is my first real graphic audio book. I have listened to BBC Radio productions of Agatha Christie, but those are far shorter than the actual books. And I've been listening to Shakespeare's plays done by a full cast for years and years. <--highly recommend!
But a full book done by a cast of characters with sound effects thrown in? Nope.
Well, now that my cherry has been popped, I can see what I've been missing.
The embarrassing truth is that I thought these were going to be like that descriptive audio setting on my tv that they have for movies.
A lion roars on a logo...
I don't know why I thought that in the first place. The obvious answer is that I'm just a ridiculous person.
And that's a fair assessment.
At any rate, I'm planning on listening to every one of these that I can get my hands on because it made all the difference in the world with Magic Bites.
Highly Recommended.
July 1, 2023
This dramatized audio adaptation is so fun!
Kate Daniels (24) is a mercenary.
Curran ‘The Beast Lord’ Lennart (31), the leader of The Pack in Atlanta. The second largest of the shifter packs in North America.
“Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty...”
This is my favorite urban fantasy. These two authors just get it right. I love how Kate isn’t perfect, scary things frighten her, and her internal dialogue is refreshing and genuine.
Re-read/listening because it’s been ten years and I wanted to start from the beginning.
Kate Daniels (24) is a mercenary.
Curran ‘The Beast Lord’ Lennart (31), the leader of The Pack in Atlanta. The second largest of the shifter packs in North America.
“Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty...”
This is my favorite urban fantasy. These two authors just get it right. I love how Kate isn’t perfect, scary things frighten her, and her internal dialogue is refreshing and genuine.
Re-read/listening because it’s been ten years and I wanted to start from the beginning.
January 8, 2024
This was a good start to what I think will be a really good series. The first book in UF books always have a lot to do. There is a whole world to build and lots of characters to introduce and so rarely are the first book in a series my favorite.
This book centers around Kate Daniels who lives in a futuristic Atlanta. (I'm not sure what Kate is and though there is definitely some clues we end book one without knowing what she is or really even what she is capable of). In this world magic comes in waves and when the magic comes technology doesn't work anymore. This world is filled with monsters, vampires (and not the romantic take on them) and shifters. Kate works for a Mercenary Guild and when she finds out her mentor/guardian has been killed she starts to investigate his murder. This puts her in the same league as the Pack (shapeshifters) and the People. It took me a little while to figure out that the People are Necromancers who control vampires which are really dead bodies that do the bidding of the necromancers.
The world can be a bit confusing and we are introduced to a large amount of characters in a very short time frame. There really is no romance to speak of in book 1 and I really like romance in my books but since I know that is coming I can be patient. This book has a lot of violence and isn't for the faint of heart. I was also really confused when at one point everyone decides that Kate's boyfriend is the bad thing they should be hunting. In fact the beast lord is the one who makes the accusation but when it turns out he isn't everyone blames Kate including Kate. This bugged me, why did she take the blame and why did they blame her.
However, in spite of the many characters, the somewhat confusing world building I really liked this book. I liked Kate a lot. She is tough and independent and yet has a vulnerability. She is very snarky and I laughed reading her inner thoughts. I liked the concept of the Pack and also the different take on vampires. I liked the fascination that the Beast Lord has with Kate and I really enjoyed her trying to have a normal love relationship even though it didn't work out.
Overall, I really enjoyed this first book and look forward to the second one.
This book centers around Kate Daniels who lives in a futuristic Atlanta. (I'm not sure what Kate is and though there is definitely some clues we end book one without knowing what she is or really even what she is capable of). In this world magic comes in waves and when the magic comes technology doesn't work anymore. This world is filled with monsters, vampires (and not the romantic take on them) and shifters. Kate works for a Mercenary Guild and when she finds out her mentor/guardian has been killed she starts to investigate his murder. This puts her in the same league as the Pack (shapeshifters) and the People. It took me a little while to figure out that the People are Necromancers who control vampires which are really dead bodies that do the bidding of the necromancers.
The world can be a bit confusing and we are introduced to a large amount of characters in a very short time frame. There really is no romance to speak of in book 1 and I really like romance in my books but since I know that is coming I can be patient. This book has a lot of violence and isn't for the faint of heart. I was also really confused when at one point everyone decides that Kate's boyfriend is the bad thing they should be hunting. In fact the beast lord is the one who makes the accusation but when it turns out he isn't everyone blames Kate including Kate. This bugged me, why did she take the blame and why did they blame her.
However, in spite of the many characters, the somewhat confusing world building I really liked this book. I liked Kate a lot. She is tough and independent and yet has a vulnerability. She is very snarky and I laughed reading her inner thoughts. I liked the concept of the Pack and also the different take on vampires. I liked the fascination that the Beast Lord has with Kate and I really enjoyed her trying to have a normal love relationship even though it didn't work out.
Overall, I really enjoyed this first book and look forward to the second one.
June 18, 2023
~ 4 Magic Bites Stars ~
This is my Favorite series!
This is a fabulous debut into the Kate Daniels series. Magic Bites takes us into a world ticking back-and-forth between magic and technology.
We get a mystery, action-packed adventure, great world and character building, and a story that sucks you in and does not let go. I had forgotten how great it is to pick up a book, get sucked into the world, and by the end want more.
We are introduced to Kate, a mercenary who will soon be entangled in the happenings of Atlanta. She is a fierce kick-ass heroine, with the knowledge, and abilities to grow and develop. I LOVE Kate as a heroine. We are also introduced to the different creatures and factions in Atlanta. It’s a very intricate world with everyone having their own codes, rules, etc. The shapeshifters and vampires in this world are very different from what we are used to reading about. I really enjoy the change in the status que. I would have given this 5 stars, but I remember the first time I read this I had trouble with the world and plot a little. Their is a lot going on. The author has to develop/explain the world, characters, and the plot. The Andrews team does a fantastic job with this as well as developing the characters that will be featured in the series.
My favorite scene is when Kate meets the Best Lord (Curran)… “Here, Kitty Kitty” ^_^
A fantastic read! If you enjoy Urban Fantasy, then this is a must read. The Andrews team have created a fabulous world that is new and unique.
Update Sept. 2017: I love this series. I decide I wanted to give the audiobook a try and I have to say, WOW! It was an outstanding listen. I enjoyed the narrator and her portrayal of the characters. Going to continue the series in audio.
5 Stars for the Graphic Audio: OMG OMG It's soooo goooood! Am a big FAN. I love how I can re-read or listen to this series and it feels like the first time each and every-time. That is an amazing thing for an author to be able to do that to the readers. It's a movie for the mind and I binged the audio in one day. I loved all the voices for all the characters. I also loved that we get two Curran POV's at the end of this novel and "A Questionable Client" short story. It's is such a treat!!
This is my Favorite series!
This is a fabulous debut into the Kate Daniels series. Magic Bites takes us into a world ticking back-and-forth between magic and technology.
We get a mystery, action-packed adventure, great world and character building, and a story that sucks you in and does not let go. I had forgotten how great it is to pick up a book, get sucked into the world, and by the end want more.
We are introduced to Kate, a mercenary who will soon be entangled in the happenings of Atlanta. She is a fierce kick-ass heroine, with the knowledge, and abilities to grow and develop. I LOVE Kate as a heroine. We are also introduced to the different creatures and factions in Atlanta. It’s a very intricate world with everyone having their own codes, rules, etc. The shapeshifters and vampires in this world are very different from what we are used to reading about. I really enjoy the change in the status que. I would have given this 5 stars, but I remember the first time I read this I had trouble with the world and plot a little. Their is a lot going on. The author has to develop/explain the world, characters, and the plot. The Andrews team does a fantastic job with this as well as developing the characters that will be featured in the series.
My favorite scene is when Kate meets the Best Lord (Curran)… “Here, Kitty Kitty” ^_^
A fantastic read! If you enjoy Urban Fantasy, then this is a must read. The Andrews team have created a fabulous world that is new and unique.
Update Sept. 2017: I love this series. I decide I wanted to give the audiobook a try and I have to say, WOW! It was an outstanding listen. I enjoyed the narrator and her portrayal of the characters. Going to continue the series in audio.
5 Stars for the Graphic Audio: OMG OMG It's soooo goooood! Am a big FAN. I love how I can re-read or listen to this series and it feels like the first time each and every-time. That is an amazing thing for an author to be able to do that to the readers. It's a movie for the mind and I binged the audio in one day. I loved all the voices for all the characters. I also loved that we get two Curran POV's at the end of this novel and "A Questionable Client" short story. It's is such a treat!!
June 20, 2023
My latest relisten was in the Graphic Audio version. Just wow! I enjoyed the cast and sound affects. It really enhanced my listening experience with this story that was already good and made better. This Graphic Audio version also included bonus material with two shorts that were scenes of Magic Bites from Curran's POV and a prequel novella "A Questionable Client".
The basic story isn't so unusual in Urban Fantasies with it being about an underdog, down on her luck heroine out to do the right thing with no idea how she's going to do it, but with a little bit of luck, grittiness and hidden skills that people slowly begin to appreciate, she keeps surviving to accomplish her task. Oh and in this case her task involves trying to solve a murder mystery and catch a murderer that is set on playing two large groups of powerful people off on each other and go for a take over. Naturally, I simplified all that.
First of all, Kate is a powerful, although the bulk of her power she hides, magic user who is a sort of mercenary. She lives in an apocalyptic world where magic is what caused the apocalypse bringing with it all the myths and legends come to life. Magic had changed everything so that technology is there, but unreliable and non-humans are no longer anywhere near the top of the food chain. There are whole new government agencies created to deal with the magical fall-out. Kate used to be a promising trainee for one of the agencies, but she struggles with authority and rules. What sets her off is that her mentor and sort-of father figure is killed in a gruesome way leaving everyone mystified, but pointing fingers because he is only one of many murders or missing persons that mostly come from two main factions. Kate is set on solving it and exacting revenge, but learns quickly that this is no Lone Ranger job. She must accept help and the help really does nothing for her ego. One 'helpful' faction is The People (and this is one of the places I was so impressed by the world building). The People reminded me a bit of a mafia organization. They wield magic, but one of their things is to control vampires. Ah, vampires! In this world, vamps are little better than disgusting zombies controlled by a necromancer. Definitely not the dark brooding creatures of romance. The other faction is the shapeshifters who have their own animal groups, but also answer to a hierarchy of mixed shifters with a king known as The Beast Lord- or Curran as he finally allows Kate to call him. These shifters can take three forms- animal, man, or a powerful hybrid. Kate leans toward trusting the shifters, but must still remain neutral in her investigation. Kate makes a few mistakes along the way and gets into and out of her fair share of dangerous situations, but the surprising revelation of who and what is behind it all might finish her -and her allies- off for good.
As I've been saying in so many words, this was an impressive plot with a most creative bit of worldbuilding. It was an intrigue and murder mystery at its basic core, but it is also an introduction to a series so there was lots of slow build to this plot as the reader is given the opportunity to meet the characters and get used to the Kate Daniel's world. Kate Daniels is a well-written character and I really had an opportunity to get to know her because the story is first person from her perspective. Kate is a hard person and walks down the middle of the dark and dangerous streets of a hard world. She makes plenty of mistakes and gets pushed around, but she just keeps getting back up. I really admired her in many ways. The secondary characters all kept my attention too and I am definitely crossing my fingers that many of them will become recurring characters in the series. Unlike the PNR genre, Urban Fantasy is meant to be a slow building story arc with plenty of room for characters and plot lines to grow. UF is usually darker and grittier and the romance almost background to the action. This is all true of the story here. The immediate situation is solved, but it was obvious that Kate is only at the beginning of a life-changing direction which part of it is a job and part of it is a cease of hostilities and something else with the Beast Lord, Curran.
I tended to do a bit of gushing in this review and I am unapologetic for that. I can highly recommend this series to all the Urban Fantasy buffs out there who prefer a strong, but flawed heroine making her way through a dark and dangerous world.
The basic story isn't so unusual in Urban Fantasies with it being about an underdog, down on her luck heroine out to do the right thing with no idea how she's going to do it, but with a little bit of luck, grittiness and hidden skills that people slowly begin to appreciate, she keeps surviving to accomplish her task. Oh and in this case her task involves trying to solve a murder mystery and catch a murderer that is set on playing two large groups of powerful people off on each other and go for a take over. Naturally, I simplified all that.
First of all, Kate is a powerful, although the bulk of her power she hides, magic user who is a sort of mercenary. She lives in an apocalyptic world where magic is what caused the apocalypse bringing with it all the myths and legends come to life. Magic had changed everything so that technology is there, but unreliable and non-humans are no longer anywhere near the top of the food chain. There are whole new government agencies created to deal with the magical fall-out. Kate used to be a promising trainee for one of the agencies, but she struggles with authority and rules. What sets her off is that her mentor and sort-of father figure is killed in a gruesome way leaving everyone mystified, but pointing fingers because he is only one of many murders or missing persons that mostly come from two main factions. Kate is set on solving it and exacting revenge, but learns quickly that this is no Lone Ranger job. She must accept help and the help really does nothing for her ego. One 'helpful' faction is The People (and this is one of the places I was so impressed by the world building). The People reminded me a bit of a mafia organization. They wield magic, but one of their things is to control vampires. Ah, vampires! In this world, vamps are little better than disgusting zombies controlled by a necromancer. Definitely not the dark brooding creatures of romance. The other faction is the shapeshifters who have their own animal groups, but also answer to a hierarchy of mixed shifters with a king known as The Beast Lord- or Curran as he finally allows Kate to call him. These shifters can take three forms- animal, man, or a powerful hybrid. Kate leans toward trusting the shifters, but must still remain neutral in her investigation. Kate makes a few mistakes along the way and gets into and out of her fair share of dangerous situations, but the surprising revelation of who and what is behind it all might finish her -and her allies- off for good.
As I've been saying in so many words, this was an impressive plot with a most creative bit of worldbuilding. It was an intrigue and murder mystery at its basic core, but it is also an introduction to a series so there was lots of slow build to this plot as the reader is given the opportunity to meet the characters and get used to the Kate Daniel's world. Kate Daniels is a well-written character and I really had an opportunity to get to know her because the story is first person from her perspective. Kate is a hard person and walks down the middle of the dark and dangerous streets of a hard world. She makes plenty of mistakes and gets pushed around, but she just keeps getting back up. I really admired her in many ways. The secondary characters all kept my attention too and I am definitely crossing my fingers that many of them will become recurring characters in the series. Unlike the PNR genre, Urban Fantasy is meant to be a slow building story arc with plenty of room for characters and plot lines to grow. UF is usually darker and grittier and the romance almost background to the action. This is all true of the story here. The immediate situation is solved, but it was obvious that Kate is only at the beginning of a life-changing direction which part of it is a job and part of it is a cease of hostilities and something else with the Beast Lord, Curran.
I tended to do a bit of gushing in this review and I am unapologetic for that. I can highly recommend this series to all the Urban Fantasy buffs out there who prefer a strong, but flawed heroine making her way through a dark and dangerous world.
January 4, 2024
Kate mě nikdy nepřestane bavit.
July 5, 2023
This is probably the 5th time I read this. This time, I read the graphic audiobook. Enjoyed it but I don't feel as drawn to this series as I used to be. Maybe it's because I've been reading a lot more romance and I'm offended but the hero hitting on the heroine when he's out with another woman. Or having multiple girlfriends paraded through the book.
Plus, this storyline was a lot more convoluted than I remember.
Plus, this storyline was a lot more convoluted than I remember.
July 26, 2025
✅ Magic and paranormal creatures
✅ Characters
✅ World-building
✅ Action
✅(🆗) Plot
✅🆗 Pace
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: gore, necromancy, bestiality, murders and mentions of rape (not detailed and not the MC)
3.5 stars
Many people recommended this series to me over the years, and I decided to finally give it a chance.
It started slow, and I struggled with the first half, but the second half sucked me in, and there is a lot of potential here, so I will give the second book a try soon.
The world-building is very interesting. There is a mix of magic and tech, and it was so interesting to see how there are periods when tech is dominant and magic is dormant, and other periods when magic is dominant and tech does not work. Most of the action takes place in contemporary Atlanta, but with a dystopian vibe.
There is also a mix of different mythologies. Kate is faced with a lot of different creatures from different folkloric origins, and it was intriguing to see how all these influences are mixed. It is also nice that there are no info-dumps. Information is given when needed, without too many useless details. On the other hand, that also means that sometimes it got a little confusing in the first few chapters with all the factions, characters, and political subtleties at play in this book.
There are different groups at play in this book. The People are close to “normal humans”. They have necromancers who can control vampires, and are all about getting richer and more powerful. The shifters are divided into small clans, but are all under the protection and law of the Beast Lord Curran. The mercs are regular mercenaries, and Kate often does jobs for them. Finally, the Order does a similar job to the merc, but more often work pro bono, and also have a tendency to uphold the law no matter what. Even if it means sacrificing a few people for the good of the many.
Kate reminded me of Alice Worth from the Alice Worth series, but I like Kate more than I did Alice. Kate is sassy, sarcastic, and badass, but thankfully, she didn’t think of herself as so badass that she pushed everyone away in a try to be a lone wolf forever. Kate takes no shits, and she can take care of herself, but she also admits to herself that she is scared, knows she is not invincible, and craves companionship, which makes her feel more relatable. Kate is intelligent and independent, but she is also aware of her limitations and able to seek help when she is out of her depth, which I appreciate. It annoys me when badass main characters want to do absolutely everything by themselves and are stubborn to the point of stupidity and suicidal decisions.
Despite Kate’s brash behavior most of the time, she is still able to be diplomatic. She knows how to behave with the different factions, and she knows how to play the political game when she needs it. I like that her personality is not only defined by her badass side; she is a tough cookie, but an intelligent one, and she is not “too badass” if that makes sense.
There is little to no romance in this book. That’s okay, though, because while I loved the tension and kind of hate/love relationship between Curran and Kate. I would have been disappointed if things evolved too quickly between them. Curran is an intriguing future love interest, though, and there is a lot of potential here. Again, the dynamic between him and Kate reminds me of the dynamic between Alice Worth and Sean.
I can’t stand Crest. I hope his only purpose in this book was to make us doubt the villain’s identity and show us how Alice craves love and companionship despite her hardass persona. I didn’t like him from the start, and the more he interacted with Kate, the more he annoyed me.
I still have questions. All the cryptic comments about Kate’s blood, her origins, and what she is annoy me a little, to be honest. I am not the biggest fan of the “hidden identity” trope presented this way, especially when it drags on for too long, so I hope we will get more information about it shortly.
Overall, while I enjoyed the second half of the book, I was not impressed with Magic Bites. It was kinda dry, but can definitely see the potential, and everyone tells me that it gets better, so I will give the second book a try, and hope to get sucked in and fall in love with this series like so many other.
0.5 A Questionable Client ⭐⭐⭐
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✅ Characters
✅ World-building
✅ Action
✅(🆗) Plot
✅🆗 Pace
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: gore, necromancy, bestiality, murders and mentions of rape (not detailed and not the MC)
3.5 stars
Many people recommended this series to me over the years, and I decided to finally give it a chance.
It started slow, and I struggled with the first half, but the second half sucked me in, and there is a lot of potential here, so I will give the second book a try soon.
The world-building is very interesting. There is a mix of magic and tech, and it was so interesting to see how there are periods when tech is dominant and magic is dormant, and other periods when magic is dominant and tech does not work. Most of the action takes place in contemporary Atlanta, but with a dystopian vibe.
There is also a mix of different mythologies. Kate is faced with a lot of different creatures from different folkloric origins, and it was intriguing to see how all these influences are mixed. It is also nice that there are no info-dumps. Information is given when needed, without too many useless details. On the other hand, that also means that sometimes it got a little confusing in the first few chapters with all the factions, characters, and political subtleties at play in this book.
There are different groups at play in this book. The People are close to “normal humans”. They have necromancers who can control vampires, and are all about getting richer and more powerful. The shifters are divided into small clans, but are all under the protection and law of the Beast Lord Curran. The mercs are regular mercenaries, and Kate often does jobs for them. Finally, the Order does a similar job to the merc, but more often work pro bono, and also have a tendency to uphold the law no matter what. Even if it means sacrificing a few people for the good of the many.
Kate reminded me of Alice Worth from the Alice Worth series, but I like Kate more than I did Alice. Kate is sassy, sarcastic, and badass, but thankfully, she didn’t think of herself as so badass that she pushed everyone away in a try to be a lone wolf forever. Kate takes no shits, and she can take care of herself, but she also admits to herself that she is scared, knows she is not invincible, and craves companionship, which makes her feel more relatable. Kate is intelligent and independent, but she is also aware of her limitations and able to seek help when she is out of her depth, which I appreciate. It annoys me when badass main characters want to do absolutely everything by themselves and are stubborn to the point of stupidity and suicidal decisions.
Despite Kate’s brash behavior most of the time, she is still able to be diplomatic. She knows how to behave with the different factions, and she knows how to play the political game when she needs it. I like that her personality is not only defined by her badass side; she is a tough cookie, but an intelligent one, and she is not “too badass” if that makes sense.
There is little to no romance in this book. That’s okay, though, because while I loved the tension and kind of hate/love relationship between Curran and Kate. I would have been disappointed if things evolved too quickly between them. Curran is an intriguing future love interest, though, and there is a lot of potential here. Again, the dynamic between him and Kate reminds me of the dynamic between Alice Worth and Sean.
I can’t stand Crest. I hope his only purpose in this book was to make us doubt the villain’s identity and show us how Alice craves love and companionship despite her hardass persona. I didn’t like him from the start, and the more he interacted with Kate, the more he annoyed me.
I still have questions. All the cryptic comments about Kate’s blood, her origins, and what she is annoy me a little, to be honest. I am not the biggest fan of the “hidden identity” trope presented this way, especially when it drags on for too long, so I hope we will get more information about it shortly.
Overall, while I enjoyed the second half of the book, I was not impressed with Magic Bites. It was kinda dry, but can definitely see the potential, and everyone tells me that it gets better, so I will give the second book a try, and hope to get sucked in and fall in love with this series like so many other.
0.5 A Questionable Client ⭐⭐⭐
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June 11, 2025
Sure you could argue that maybe it wasn’t the right time to take on this series considering I’m still behind on ARCs and can barely multitask when doing an audio (even if it’s only a reread) and yet..
Can't believe this is only my third time reading this book. It lives in my b o n e s.
Can't believe this is only my third time reading this book. It lives in my b o n e s.
December 17, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook - it is beautifully done! And the story is also very interesting, though sometimes the narrator added too much groveling into Kate's voice ;)
UPD. It was fun to re-read the beginning after the last book. And I loved to see Kate's point of view after Curran's in "Kitty, kitty" scene LOL
UPD2. Read it in French and really loved it a lot. Not very hard and I even liked it more than English audiobook :D
UPD. It was fun to re-read the beginning after the last book. And I loved to see Kate's point of view after Curran's in "Kitty, kitty" scene LOL
UPD2. Read it in French and really loved it a lot. Not very hard and I even liked it more than English audiobook :D
August 12, 2025
The full-cast narration of Magic Bites was fantastic. I'm quickly becoming a huge fan of the Graphic Audio adaptations; the multiple actors really brought the story to life. The only downside for me, and this is a personal opinion and may not bother anyone else, is the battle sound effects, especially the squishy ones. I really hope they adapt the rest of the series.
June 27, 2025
I love the Innkeeper Graphic Audios so I’m looking forward to trying the Kate ones
June 3, 2025
It is Kate Daniels, so I knew I was going to love it. The first book, is probably my least favorite of the series, which makes my anticipation for the next audiobooks even higher ^_^
April 28, 2023
I own the unabridged version of this audiobook and could tell that some parts were missing. I would recommend the original audiobook to first time readers and this one to people who enjoy visiting the highlights and who enjoy a full cast of performers. I was worried I wouldn’t take a liking to “new Kate”, but the performer did a good job.
I also appreciated that they included Curran’s POV in this book, it has never been recorded before.
Overall satisfied, but I would’ve preferred an unabridged performance
I also appreciated that they included Curran’s POV in this book, it has never been recorded before.
Overall satisfied, but I would’ve preferred an unabridged performance
May 30, 2023
An insane, murderous maniac who wants to breed with Kate as she investigates peculiar deaths…
This was just…. weird. Maybe this was made worse by the dramatised audiobook version? The sound effects definitely did not make things better.
This was just…. weird. Maybe this was made worse by the dramatised audiobook version? The sound effects definitely did not make things better.
Read
August 6, 2023Je préfère Renée Raudman à la narration, même si j'apprécie énormément l'apport du "Graphic Audio".
Question d'habitude et de nostalgie XD
Question d'habitude et de nostalgie XD
April 26, 2023
Started listening to this edition last night and it's great. I've never listened to an audiobook in one day, but the full cast and sound effects have me hooked. I know the story by heart, so this was an easy listen. Kate & Curran are my favorite fantasy characters.
*4.5 Stars*
I loved everything about this book! Kate is the most bad ass heroine that I’ve ever read about. Yeah, there are all sorts of fantastic worlds in the UF genre, but this book makes me want to pack up my things and hit I-85 North to Atlanta. Seriously, it’s only an hour and a half drive; plus I know tons of people that live there, so I wouldn’t be a stranger. I seriously felt like kicking some ass after reading this.
Magic Bites is the book that I’ve been looking for, and I could kick myself for not reading it sooner. The good thing is, I don’t have to wait for the sequel. I’ve already started it and I just know that I will love this world even more as the books go on. I love the complex magical and paranormal aspects of this world more than anything. From the blood thirsty vampires, to the heartless necromancers, to the alpha shapeshifter. And can we talk about Curran? Because, yeah, total swoon. The thing I love most is that this is one heroine that doesn’t go all gaga over the guys. Not saying it shouldn’t happen in future books, but I love that Kate has her priorities, and falling all over hot guys isn’t one of them.
Kate has a smart mouth on her, and it makes her character more real and down to earth. Who doesn’t like a heroine with an attitude? Well, if you are looking for some prim and proper here, you won’t find it. Kate will have you fearing for her life at every turn, because girlfriend can’t keep her mouth shut to save her life. I absolutely loved it!
The different character arcs is what I’m most looking forward to with this series. Everyone has a role to play, and I can’t wait to get going. This is just the start of a beautiful friendship, so I will see you all again with the next book and the next. Stay tuned! I highly recommend this book. And if you don’t like it, something is seriously wrong with you. Okay… I’m kidding. We all know that readers enjoy different things, but I truly think if you love all things magic and paranormal, you will enjoy this. Oh, did I mention the hot alpha beast and bad ass heroine?
*4.5 Stars*
I loved everything about this book! Kate is the most bad ass heroine that I’ve ever read about. Yeah, there are all sorts of fantastic worlds in the UF genre, but this book makes me want to pack up my things and hit I-85 North to Atlanta. Seriously, it’s only an hour and a half drive; plus I know tons of people that live there, so I wouldn’t be a stranger. I seriously felt like kicking some ass after reading this.
Magic Bites is the book that I’ve been looking for, and I could kick myself for not reading it sooner. The good thing is, I don’t have to wait for the sequel. I’ve already started it and I just know that I will love this world even more as the books go on. I love the complex magical and paranormal aspects of this world more than anything. From the blood thirsty vampires, to the heartless necromancers, to the alpha shapeshifter. And can we talk about Curran? Because, yeah, total swoon. The thing I love most is that this is one heroine that doesn’t go all gaga over the guys. Not saying it shouldn’t happen in future books, but I love that Kate has her priorities, and falling all over hot guys isn’t one of them.
Kate has a smart mouth on her, and it makes her character more real and down to earth. Who doesn’t like a heroine with an attitude? Well, if you are looking for some prim and proper here, you won’t find it. Kate will have you fearing for her life at every turn, because girlfriend can’t keep her mouth shut to save her life. I absolutely loved it!
The different character arcs is what I’m most looking forward to with this series. Everyone has a role to play, and I can’t wait to get going. This is just the start of a beautiful friendship, so I will see you all again with the next book and the next. Stay tuned! I highly recommend this book. And if you don’t like it, something is seriously wrong with you. Okay… I’m kidding. We all know that readers enjoy different things, but I truly think if you love all things magic and paranormal, you will enjoy this. Oh, did I mention the hot alpha beast and bad ass heroine?
May 7, 2023
I LOOOOOOOOOVE the Graphic Audio adaptations of the text. IMHO way better than the original audio: the female narrator who plays Kate has a much younger-sounding voice. The original narrator was GOOD (i.e., talented) but this narrator is believable as the character. I love Curran's voice actor too. The sound effects and side character voices were well done. All-in-all, these versions really make the story come alive and are 110% worth the money. I have already preordered book #2 and will happily buy the entire series.
July 11, 2023
I came into this hungover from a different book’s world building so it took me a while to get in the right headspace but this was really fun! Kate is a great FMC and I liked the inclusion of some of the MMC/possible love interest POV at the end. I decidedly don’t like the dramatized version. It may be a control issues or my tinnitus but the underlying music was distracting and I kept thinking my phone was going off or someone was walking by playing music. At certain times, the background made it harder to hear the story as it was almost equal volume.
October 7, 2023
Enième relecture, en audio cette fois-ci, avec une adaptation chorale et bruitage fort bien gérée.
April 16, 2024
Love the Graphic Audio full cast productions.
June 9, 2025
I love everything about written by the author duo Ilona Andrews.
I binged the graphic audiobooks of the Kate Daniels Series #1-#5. Just saw that I kind of skipped the x.5 stories.
I started re-listening the audiobooks because now all 10 books are available in graphic audio.
I binged the graphic audiobooks of the Kate Daniels Series #1-#5. Just saw that I kind of skipped the x.5 stories.
I started re-listening the audiobooks because now all 10 books are available in graphic audio.
May 30, 2023
May 2023 Really enjoying the full-cast versions from Graphic Audio of Andrews' work.
3.5 stars
In some near future, alternate version of Atlanta where magic waves come and go, making technology very unstable, Kate Daniels is a some time mercenary, but she prefers to think of herself as a loner. When her Guardian is killed under mysterious circumstances, the last semblance of family she had is gone, and Kate is determined to figure out who is behind his murder.
Planning on solving the murder mainly by stirring up enough trouble that whomever is responsible feels threatened enough to try to kill her, Kate sets out to question all the powerful factions in Atlanta, starting with the powerful Pack of shape-shifters and the arrogant Beast Lord who controls them with an iron fist. It turns out both the Pack and the organization of necromancers who control vampires have lost significant numbers, and want to get to the bottom of the case too.
This is the first in the Kate Daniels series, and I decided to re-read it as there are far too many details that I'd forgotten, having not read it since 2009. The couple who make up the writing duo that isIlona Andrews have both come out and said that this is their least favourite of all their books, because it was their first published work, and they frequently recommend that new readers skip straight to Magic Burns, the second book in the series.
While I agree with them that this is the weakest book in the series, it establishes a lot of the important characters in the books, and is a quick read. Kate is a bit more dislikable, mean and stand-offish in this one than in later books, and takes far too long to figure out a mystery that's really not that complicated. Still, it's a great introduction to the wonderful world building in the series, and recurring characters like Curran, Derek, Jim, Saiman and Ghastek. So if you haven't read any of these books before - trust me when I say that even if you're not blown away by this one, keep going for at least one more. If you're not completely hooked afterwards, that's fine.
3.5 stars
In some near future, alternate version of Atlanta where magic waves come and go, making technology very unstable, Kate Daniels is a some time mercenary, but she prefers to think of herself as a loner. When her Guardian is killed under mysterious circumstances, the last semblance of family she had is gone, and Kate is determined to figure out who is behind his murder.
Planning on solving the murder mainly by stirring up enough trouble that whomever is responsible feels threatened enough to try to kill her, Kate sets out to question all the powerful factions in Atlanta, starting with the powerful Pack of shape-shifters and the arrogant Beast Lord who controls them with an iron fist. It turns out both the Pack and the organization of necromancers who control vampires have lost significant numbers, and want to get to the bottom of the case too.
This is the first in the Kate Daniels series, and I decided to re-read it as there are far too many details that I'd forgotten, having not read it since 2009. The couple who make up the writing duo that isIlona Andrews have both come out and said that this is their least favourite of all their books, because it was their first published work, and they frequently recommend that new readers skip straight to Magic Burns, the second book in the series.
While I agree with them that this is the weakest book in the series, it establishes a lot of the important characters in the books, and is a quick read. Kate is a bit more dislikable, mean and stand-offish in this one than in later books, and takes far too long to figure out a mystery that's really not that complicated. Still, it's a great introduction to the wonderful world building in the series, and recurring characters like Curran, Derek, Jim, Saiman and Ghastek. So if you haven't read any of these books before - trust me when I say that even if you're not blown away by this one, keep going for at least one more. If you're not completely hooked afterwards, that's fine.
January 8, 2024
Re-read Sept 2023 (Graphic Audio edition)
Originally a 4-star, but I'm bumping this up to a 5 just because I enjoyed the GA production so much.
This was such a fun book to return to! I'm not technically done with the Kate Daniels series yet, but I really needed a familiar and light distraction this week. These early KD books have a charm that I've been missing in some of the later books, and I think it's due to the fact that the plots are more contained. There are brief mentions to the big-picture arc but we don't have to deal with it yet.
Magic Bites has so many iconic Kate Daniels moments and GA did a great job bringing those scenes to life. I liked this story even better the second time now that I'm familiar with the series world building and what's to come.
Graphic Audio (the brand) has been hit or miss for me. I love the idea of full-cast + sound effects productions similar to a radio drama, but GA tends to be overly-theatrical for my tastes. However they did an absolutely phenomenal job with this one! Loved all of the voice actors, the sound design, and even the near-constant-but-subtle background music.
This story flew by. I'm unclear how much they edited / rearranged / abridged in this version, but the story flowed nicely and I didn't have the same issues with pacing and world building descriptions that I did the first time around. I'm also happy that the Small Magics short stories and POVs are included in the GA edition. I very much enjoyed this and will probably end up listening to it again in the future.
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Original Review - Jan 2022
Great start to the series! Yes, I'm an idiot and started with Aurelia Ryder and am now back-tracking to Kate Daniels. I think I actually liked this story a bit better than Blood Heir, but that might just be because the world and magic system are explained better, and because I wasn't missing 10+ books of context.
I really love how dark and gory the world is. The magic/tech shift is a cool magic system and I'm always down for paranormal urban fantasy where tons of different mythologies collide. It did drag a bit at the beginning, but I knew from the first paragraph that I would love Kate and post-shift Atlanta. I think there's room for the series and writing to grow and I'm excited to dive in to the rest.
Originally a 4-star, but I'm bumping this up to a 5 just because I enjoyed the GA production so much.
This was such a fun book to return to! I'm not technically done with the Kate Daniels series yet, but I really needed a familiar and light distraction this week. These early KD books have a charm that I've been missing in some of the later books, and I think it's due to the fact that the plots are more contained. There are brief mentions to the big-picture arc but we don't have to deal with it yet.
Magic Bites has so many iconic Kate Daniels moments and GA did a great job bringing those scenes to life. I liked this story even better the second time now that I'm familiar with the series world building and what's to come.
Graphic Audio (the brand) has been hit or miss for me. I love the idea of full-cast + sound effects productions similar to a radio drama, but GA tends to be overly-theatrical for my tastes. However they did an absolutely phenomenal job with this one! Loved all of the voice actors, the sound design, and even the near-constant-but-subtle background music.
This story flew by. I'm unclear how much they edited / rearranged / abridged in this version, but the story flowed nicely and I didn't have the same issues with pacing and world building descriptions that I did the first time around. I'm also happy that the Small Magics short stories and POVs are included in the GA edition. I very much enjoyed this and will probably end up listening to it again in the future.
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Original Review - Jan 2022
Great start to the series! Yes, I'm an idiot and started with Aurelia Ryder and am now back-tracking to Kate Daniels. I think I actually liked this story a bit better than Blood Heir, but that might just be because the world and magic system are explained better, and because I wasn't missing 10+ books of context.
I really love how dark and gory the world is. The magic/tech shift is a cool magic system and I'm always down for paranormal urban fantasy where tons of different mythologies collide. It did drag a bit at the beginning, but I knew from the first paragraph that I would love Kate and post-shift Atlanta. I think there's room for the series and writing to grow and I'm excited to dive in to the rest.
December 17, 2024
4.5 rounding up because I really enjoyed it
This gave me Veronica Mars meets paranormal fantasy vibes.
Quick Review:
♦︎ Urban fantasy
♦︎ World where magic and technology collide
♦︎ Paranormal - Vampires, beast people (werewolves, werecats, werebears, wererats, etc), shape shifters, telepaths, mercenaries, crusaders, zombies, etc
♦︎ Kate Daniels (MC) a tough, sarcastic mercenary (mysterious background and powers)
♦︎ Curran (love interest?) leader of the shape-shifters
♦︎ Romance although it is not a major factor in the book
♦︎ Murder mystery
♦︎ Serial Killer
♦︎ Action packed!
♦︎ 0/5 Spice
This is my first experience with a graphic audiobook, and I had so much fun! It’s like watching a movie without actually watching—it fully immerses you in the world. There were a few moments, especially during fight scenes, where the sound effects felt a little cheesy, but overall, I had a great time.
After reading other reviews, I noticed that the first book in the series often gets criticized for being slow and "setting up" the world, which is pretty common for first books. I totally agree with that assessment—this one did take its time, but once it hit about 55%, the pace really started to pick up. It slowed down again for a bit, but by around 70%, it gained momentum and kept going.
If people are saying this first book is the weakest in the series, then I’m even more excited for what’s to come! I genuinely enjoyed this book and might have liked it even more than I expected, especially thanks to the graphic audio experience. All in all, I’m really looking forward to continuing the Kate Daniels series!
My review of the second book: Magic Burns.
My review of the third book: Magic Strikes.
This gave me Veronica Mars meets paranormal fantasy vibes.
Quick Review:
♦︎ Urban fantasy
♦︎ World where magic and technology collide
♦︎ Paranormal - Vampires, beast people (werewolves, werecats, werebears, wererats, etc), shape shifters, telepaths, mercenaries, crusaders, zombies, etc
♦︎ Kate Daniels (MC) a tough, sarcastic mercenary (mysterious background and powers)
♦︎ Curran (love interest?) leader of the shape-shifters
♦︎ Romance although it is not a major factor in the book
♦︎ Murder mystery
♦︎ Serial Killer
♦︎ Action packed!
♦︎ 0/5 Spice
This is my first experience with a graphic audiobook, and I had so much fun! It’s like watching a movie without actually watching—it fully immerses you in the world. There were a few moments, especially during fight scenes, where the sound effects felt a little cheesy, but overall, I had a great time.
After reading other reviews, I noticed that the first book in the series often gets criticized for being slow and "setting up" the world, which is pretty common for first books. I totally agree with that assessment—this one did take its time, but once it hit about 55%, the pace really started to pick up. It slowed down again for a bit, but by around 70%, it gained momentum and kept going.
If people are saying this first book is the weakest in the series, then I’m even more excited for what’s to come! I genuinely enjoyed this book and might have liked it even more than I expected, especially thanks to the graphic audio experience. All in all, I’m really looking forward to continuing the Kate Daniels series!
My review of the second book: Magic Burns.
My review of the third book: Magic Strikes.
December 12, 2023
Get ready for all the stars, because the Graphic Audio editions of this series are my new favorite things on the planet. When Graphic Audio says their books are a movie in your mind, they are not kidding in the slightest. I felt like I was INSIDE the world of Kate Daniels, and it is my favorite place to be. Nora Sofyan is a master class narrator and the perfect voice for Kate. The entire cast was a delight to my ears (and for my commute for the beginning of the school year!) I've read the whole series much more than 5 times in so many different ways, and this has very quickly become one of my all time favorites.
November 6, 2024
Ok so this was a throwback! I originally read this during my pre-Goodreads day back in 2009 or 2010 I think? Wow it’s been a long time! I used to be obsessed with the Kate Daniels series and fully in my urban fantasy era at that time.
Listening to the graphic novel was a whole other experience. The full cast and sound effects really took it to the next level. I will say though, Curran’s voice and accent was not at all what I imagined it to be.
I also can’t believe how well this book still holds up to today’s age. Ilona Andrew’s truly were some of our greatest pioneers in the urban fantasy space. I’m excited to relive my 2010 decade days by “rereading” the rest of the series!
Listening to the graphic novel was a whole other experience. The full cast and sound effects really took it to the next level. I will say though, Curran’s voice and accent was not at all what I imagined it to be.
I also can’t believe how well this book still holds up to today’s age. Ilona Andrew’s truly were some of our greatest pioneers in the urban fantasy space. I’m excited to relive my 2010 decade days by “rereading” the rest of the series!
September 1, 2024
REREAD REVIEW:
Rating the graphic audio 6/23/23: well done Graphic audio, some of the music drowns out certain scenes but overall enjoy these more than the original audiobook. House Andrews has said in interviews
In the past couple years if they could go back in time & rewrite the first 3 books of KD they would; having read all their work & owning all their work I absolutely understand.
9/14-9/15/2019 review:
I enjoy these authors immensely & it’s taken me out of a book slump. It’s a little too graphic in violence so I skim those parts.
Rating the graphic audio 6/23/23: well done Graphic audio, some of the music drowns out certain scenes but overall enjoy these more than the original audiobook. House Andrews has said in interviews
In the past couple years if they could go back in time & rewrite the first 3 books of KD they would; having read all their work & owning all their work I absolutely understand.
9/14-9/15/2019 review:
I enjoy these authors immensely & it’s taken me out of a book slump. It’s a little too graphic in violence so I skim those parts.
June 20, 2025
This was my first dramatized audiobook and I really enjoyed it. I’m sure it helped that this is one of my all time favorite series. Kate & Curran are elite!
May 2, 2023
I had a hard time finishing the first audiobook ... I just couldn't get through it. But the Graphic Audio version is way above!!! So much fun.
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