Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #7)

 

Synopsis (from BN.com) :

No matter how much the paranormal politics of Atlanta change, one thing always remains the same: if there’s trouble, Kate Daniels will be in the middle of it…

As the mate of the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than it seems possible to juggle. Not only is she still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, she must now deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel ancient being with god-like powers. Since Kate’s connection to Roland has come out into the open, no one is safe—especially those closest to Kate.

As Roland’s long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend the Conclave, a gathering of the leaders from the various supernatural factions in Atlanta. When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered there, apparently at the hands of a shapeshifter, Kate is given only twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she’ll find herself embroiled in a war which could destroy everything she holds dear…

My Thoughts:

This is one of my most favorite urban fantasy series. One thing that I love about this series is that this is book seven in the series, and the story continues to grow and build with each book, and the characters continue to develop. I find with some series with numerous books in them, the story and characters seem to go stagnant and don't move anywhere after a certain point. 

Another thing I love about this series is the world that Ilona Andrews has created. I am always interested to see how authors are going to put a different spin on the paranormal genre, and this series is definitely an original!

This is a series I recommend to anyone who has any interest in this genre!

Rating: A

Inferno by Dan Brown

 

Synopsis (From BN.com)

Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon awakens in an Italian hospital, disoriented and with no recollection of the past thirty-six hours, including the origin of the macabre object hidden in his belongings. With a relentless female assassin trailing them through Florence, he and his resourceful doctor, Sienna Brooks, are forced to flee. Embarking on a harrowing journey, they must unravel a series of codes, which are the work of a brilliant scientist whose obsession with the end of the world is matched only by his passion for one of the most influential masterpieces ever written, Dante Alighieri's The Inferno.

Dan Brown has raised the bar yet again, combining classical Italian art, history, and literature with cutting-edge science in this sumptuously entertaining thriller. 

My Thoughts:

I absolutely loved The Da Vinci Code and Angel & Demons, and then was disappointed in the Lost Symbol, so I was a bit hesitant to read this book. I actually did enjoy this book - much better than the Lost Symbol - so that's always a positive. 

I am always so fascinated by the way the author combines historical facts, art, architecture, and mystery all into one suspenseful story! I was on the edge of my seat for almost the entire story - I felt the ending was a bit anti-climactic, but still enjoyable. 

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has read and enjoyed another Robert Langdon book, or to anyone that likes a good suspense. 

Rating: B

The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld

 

 Synopsis (from Amazon.com):
 

A wondrous and redemptive debut novel, set in a stark world where evil and magic coincide, The Enchanted combines the empathy and lyricism of Alice Sebold with the dark, imaginative power of Stephen King.
"This is an enchanted place. Others don’t see it, but I do." The enchanted place is an ancient stone prison, viewed through the eyes of a death row inmate who finds escape in his books and in re-imagining life around him, weaving a fantastical story of the people he observes and the world he inhabits. Fearful and reclusive, he senses what others cannot. Though bars confine him every minute of every day, he marries visions of golden horses running beneath the prison, heat flowing like molten metal from their backs with the devastating violence of prison life.
Two outsiders venture here: a fallen priest and the Lady, an investigator who searches for buried information from prisoners’ pasts that can save those soon-to-be-executed. Digging into the background of a killer named York, she uncovers wrenching truths that challenge familiar notions of victim and criminal, innocence and guilt, honesty and corruption—ultimately revealing shocking secrets of her own.
Beautiful and transcendent, The Enchanted reminds us of how our humanity connects us all, and how beauty and love exist even amidst the most nightmarish reality.

My Thoughts:

First off, if that description doesn't get you, I don't know what will! The way this story was told was so interesting. I think it was a mixture of the story itself the absolutely beautiful writing!

While the book is set in a prison and tells about the people and the things that happen there, it is unlike anything I've ever read. A good friend of mine (the one who recommended the book) said something to the effect of: "It's a prison story - it's sad and horrendous, but it's also so beautiful."

It's a really short book, about 200 pages or so, and the way that it is written and the way the story flows makes for a really quick read. I loved the story, but the writing alone is worth reading this book!


Currently Reading/Upcoming Reviews:

Written in Red by Anne Bishop
Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews

Black Magic Sanction (Rachel Morgan #8) - Kim Harrison

Overview from BN.com:

Rachel Morgan has fought and hunted vampires, werewolves, banshees, demons, and other supernatural dangers as both witch and bounty hunter—and lived to tell the tale. But she's never faced off against her own kind . . . until now.

Denounced and shunned for dealing with demons and black magic, her best hope is life imprisonment—her worst, a forced lobotomy and genetic slavery. Only her enemies are strong enough to help her win her freedom. But trust comes hard when it hinges on the unscrupulous tycoon Trent Kalamack, the demon Algaliarept, and a lowlife ex-boyfriend-turned-thief.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely love this series and the cast of characters (especially Jenks, the tough, foul-mouthed pixie). The plot continues to build and grow with each book, and the characters continue to develop, especially the main character, Rachel Morgan. The last couple of books have been developing the story behind Rachel's special powers and how they stem from her childhood, as well as bringing in some of the history between witches, elves, and demons. This current book continues to build on that a bit, which in my opinion, is definitely one of the more interesting sub-plots - I'm really excited to read and see where and what that will lead to.

The Rachel Morgan series is definitely in my top 5 favorite series. Rachel is a confident, strong heroine, while also being a little clumsy and insecure. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves strong female characters and urban fantasy.

Rating: A