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Kate Daniels [Dramatized Adaptation] #5

Magic Slays [Dramatized Adaptation]

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Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name. Plus, many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.

So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. But it turns out that this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her may pay the ultimate price...

This dramatized audiobook also includes 1 short story: Magic Tests.

11 pages, Audible Audio

Published April 3, 2024

5 people are currently reading
72 people want to read

About the author

Ilona Andrews

149 books33.4k followers
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.

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5 stars
250 (69%)
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89 (24%)
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17 (4%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for book bruin.
1,534 reviews355 followers
September 24, 2025
Another entertaining and action packed read! Magic Slays doesn’t move the overall plot that has been coming together since the beginning much, but we do get a little more insight into Kate’s family tree (surprise about her mom!) and see her flex her magic more. Of course I loved seeing Curran and Kate being a couple and butting heads over how their relationship is going to work. Curran has an absolutely swoony declaration towards the end that pretty much made the entire book for me. *sigh* The Julie plot line resolved kind of anticlimactically after all that emotional upheaval, but I’m definitely happy for her (compared to poor Daniel). Loving this series on graphic audio, but be prepared for quite a bit of crunching and splattering sound effects because of all the fighting. On to book 6!
Profile Image for h o l l i s .
2,741 reviews2,309 followers
June 23, 2025
I'll admit, listening to the rhetoric and the world altering plans of this book's villain was hitting a little too close to home considering the world outside (basically rah rah destroy anything "other") but it just goes to show you that, as terrible as it all is, it doesn't last forever. Evil doesn't prevail. Life is just cyclical and people never learn.

What Kate did learn though (phew, successful segue) in this one about her own history was devastating, though. And it was a very almost mundane realization but just as earth-shattering as if it was about, well. You know who. But listening to that unveiling was.. yeah, it was brutal.

And speaking of you know who, we get a taste of that upcoming confrontation because of what Kate finds herself dabbling in in order to save Julie. So not only do we know consequences of using that magic are a'coming but there are consequences for Julie, too.

There were lots of emotional moments in this one, big and quiet, romantic interludes too (including some fighting!), and between those and the big action scenes, everything just.. flowed. I'll never stop marveling at how this author duo can keep it all balanced so successfully.

This book's bonus was a Julie short (because duh!) and it was just as fun I remember. Poor kid hasn't had much time being a kid and even though this was a little miniature detective adventure.. she does get to be, and be around, kid(s). And that's a delight.
Profile Image for Therése.
142 reviews6 followers
January 31, 2025
My love affair with Ilona Andrews continues
Profile Image for Lori.
468 reviews8 followers
November 9, 2025
The story is great. The narration is great. This audiobook is amazing! This book has fantastic world building, character development, and plot. There is action, romance, and lots of witty dialogue.

This story is a continuation of the Kate Daniels series. So no major spoilers- you should read the whole series! Actually you should read everything written by Ilona Andrews because they have a gift for creating characters I want to know and worlds that I want to live in.
Kate and Curran continue to navigate being a couple, plus all of the challenges they face because of who each is individually. I was happy to see favorite old side characters and meet new ones.

The narration is fantastic! I am somewhat obsessed with the Graphic Audio productions. But the narrators themselves are so talented! The only downside to multicast narration is that have to work harder to figure out the names of the narrators so I can find other audiobooks they have narrated.

Highly recommend!!
Profile Image for Sophia.
Author 5 books402 followers
April 13, 2025
As I re-read the series in audiobook edition, I am really enjoying listening in to the Graphic Audio edition full of sound effects, music, and a talented voice acting cast who bring the stories alive. Magic Slays had a few deeply emotional moments and these were done so well.

I appreciate how the authors blend an action-packed urban fantasy situation with Kate's personal character growth and her growth with Curran as a couple. She stumbled when the witch revealed hard truths about her past and made her question even Curran's honesty about their relationship. She is writhing under the stress of having loved ones to lose or get close enough to hurt her emotionally, but that was exciting to see her grow through it all.

Here's my original review:
This fifth installment of the series was as much an internal battle as the usual big, bad monstery external battles that Kate usually faces.

Kate has come to accept Julie as her child and all a parents fears and hopes with it, she is warily accepting matehood with Curran knowing that with two strong personalities that it is more like armed neutrality and she is vulnerable after giving her heart. There is also the comfort of friends and betrayal of her nearest and dearest to set her back on her butt. This is all just in time for the next adventure to catch up with her.

Kate has opened her new detective agency after walking away from the order and she is without a case. But then a co-worker in the form of a despondent Andrea, unasked for side-kicks in the form of Derek the werewolf and Ascanio the werehyena, and a case land in her lap almost at the same time. And boy is that case a humdinger. Solve it and she establishes herself at the top of her game, but fail and the whole city of Atlanta will pay.

I honestly don't have anything new to say after reviewing four novels and a few short stories in this series. I am eager for each story, I devour it and then I hunt up the next one. The world, the backdrop, the plot and the characters are magnificent.
Profile Image for Daisy Delfin.
1,497 reviews180 followers
June 21, 2025
I binged the graphic audiobooks of the Kate Daniels Series #1-#5. Just saw that I kind of skipped the x.5 stories.

I enjoyed the series and I'm waiting a while to finish the other books, until the graphic audiobooks are released. I think I need to re-listen and then expand the reviews.
Profile Image for Melindeeloo.
3,268 reviews158 followers
April 15, 2024
I really like these graphic audios. I was surprised how little if the story I remembered. Getting Magic Tests bundled in was a nice extra treat.
Profile Image for Kat.
2,410 reviews117 followers
February 6, 2025
Basic plot: A group of anti-magic terrorists have a device capable of killing people with magic, and it's up to Kate and the Pack to find and destroy it before it detonates and kills most of Atlanta.

This installment of the Kate Daniels series was a bit more investigative than the others. As Kate now has to build her new business, she's trying to find clients and employees while still leading her life with the Pack and take care of her ward, Julie. She is also learning to navigate her relationship with Curran and her new place in the Pack. It's a lot to deal with. This volume shows a slightly less snarky Kate who is taking on a lot more responsibility. There's a definite shift in tone and in the style of plot. This isn't a bad thing, just different. Kate continues to learn more about her own powers and develop them more fully.

Onward!
Profile Image for Heather.
2,782 reviews19 followers
April 16, 2025
This time I listened to the audio graphic novel version. I enjoyed it. I think I actually laughed more. Tone of voice can really affect how you take something.
Profile Image for Ada.
2,166 reviews36 followers
June 3, 2024
***Donderdag 30 mei 2024***
✨5 - loved it (even if it has flaws, this was the story for me)
Narrators: Nora Sofyan as Kate Daniels, Michael Glenn as Curran, Emlyn McFarland as Andrea,

This had everything I love about the Kate Daniels series. Lots of Kate and friends, lovely moments with Curran but no him saving her, a mystery that is very light, lots of travelling through the city, some background on Kate's life and explanations of magical theories!

I had fun with this one.
Profile Image for Brandon.
73 reviews
June 14, 2024
Another entry into the world of Atlanta and magic. With this entry of the Kate Daniels story, it's gotten far more interesting. The characters that have been built upon in the previous books, angraphic audios. Are bringing to light more and more interesting things.

Established characters and new characters are coming into fruition. This constantly keeps building the world and its universe. It also continues to expand the main character's past and origins in ways I haven't seen in other fantasy novels without having to go into some long diatribe.

This entry does a fantastic job of building on the previous without becoming annoying. Of course, I listen to this on graphic audio, and I suggest you do the same because the entertainment is worth it.

The books do not whack either.
Profile Image for Tuti.
632 reviews1 follower
November 4, 2024
The most annoying thing about this Graphic Audio is that every time one section completes, it would go back to the beginning of that section.

The second most annoying thing are the coincidences at her new business resulting in something really bad, a very irritating example of plot device.

The rats have a bit more role than before. I think the only significant appearance of the rats was when the alpha rats voted against Kate in the previous book, because they were neophobic.
Profile Image for Laura.
433 reviews3 followers
August 29, 2025
This story is so engaging. Full of tension. The development of Curran and Kate's relationship is so relatable (and yet not based on circumstances), and I love the growth that slowly continues. They face new information that sheds doubts and fears, confronting the past and making plans for their futures. It is a continuation of a beautiful, violent, and complex love story.

The central plot involves saving the city (again), but always in a new and unique way. I like how Kate is slowly forced to use more and more of her magic, pushing her out of her comfort zone of "always hide". There is a lot of personal reflection and growth that she goes through.

As usual, the Graphic Audio is wonderful and adds so much inflection and emotion to the characters.
Profile Image for Courtney.
1,312 reviews196 followers
July 28, 2025
I Give this Book a 4.5-5/5 Star Rating, Listing as 5.

*Audiobook Review at Bottom

Cliffhanger(?): In its own way, yes.
Relationship Type: MF
Heat: 3.5/5
Romance: 4-4.5/5
Pacing: Mid, thankfully there was much more detail in this book and I’m absolutely grateful for it!
Drama: 5/5
Suspense: 4-4.5:5


*Audiobook Review
Overall: 5/5
Story: 4.5-5/5
Performance: 5/5
Narrators: Graphic Audio Cast

This was definitely my favorite books so far and again the Audiobook doesn’t disappoint at all.
Jumping into next book, sorry, I can’t wait! 😆
2,397 reviews
June 25, 2025
This series keeps getting better. The more I read, the more I want to read - sort of like eating potato chips but no weight gain. Kate, Curran and crew go after a nasty sect which has a magic-killing machine. Lots of action, lots more character development and great dialogue. This series has everything I enjoy and the surprises keep coming.

GraphicAudio does a splendid, exciting, tense-filled production.
Profile Image for Lekeisha.
980 reviews121 followers
May 25, 2024
I will never get enough of this series. I think this one is my favorite because we get our favorite couple in their official domestic setting. Not a lot, because they both get caught up in handling some nasty business separately. But I find myself rereading this installment more than the other books. I love all of the sound effects and the whole cast does an amazing job with these characters.
Profile Image for Fred.
594 reviews
November 5, 2025
Well that's definitely a way to apply modern day to the mix of magic.
Massive battles and secrets moving around in this one and heart strings pulled.

Also Grendel and Andrea return. already happy to check the next one out soon
Profile Image for Emma Knights.
191 reviews53 followers
June 23, 2024
I loved the character development in this book and the way this fantasy highlights what happens in real life.
Profile Image for Curly's  Ramblings.
2,036 reviews6 followers
March 9, 2025
Loved this audiobook! The voices were spot on & really made the story come alive.
Profile Image for EveAngelyne.
72 reviews8 followers
October 24, 2025
Still obsessed w this audiobook series. 4 stars because how Kate decided to save Julie was just too risky and seemed out of character, even if she was desperate.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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