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    Magic Rises
    Magic Rises
    Magic Rises
    Audiobook15 hours

    Magic Rises

    Written by Ilona Andrews

    Narrated by Renee Raudman

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack' s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there' s little available in Atlanta. Kate can' t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute-- and they' ll pay him in medicine. With the young people' s survival and the Pack' s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer-- but they have little doubt that they' re heading straight into a trap
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJul 30, 2013
    ISBN9781470360955
    Magic Rises
    Author

    Ilona Andrews

    “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.) They have co-authored four New York Times and USA Today bestselling series: the urban fantasy of Kate Daniels, rustic fantasy of the Edge, paranormal romance of Hidden Legacy, and Innkeeper Chronicles. They live in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.

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    Reviews for Magic Rises

    4.5/5

    683 ratings62 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The narrator did a wonderful job of bringing another dimension to this captivating adventure. Great worldbuilding and relatable characters even if they turn into animals or work strong magic.
    • 4/5
      Eurotrip! Curran gets picked to be the bodyguard of a pregnant shapeshifter in Eastern Europe, and he brings along his favorite crew of shapeshifters and Kate. Oh, and Saiman has a boat, so he comes too. Their payment for such a dangerous job is "panacea", a magical potion that helps cure loupism. But Kate is in over her head. Not only are there 3 packs of shapeshifters to deal with, one of them turns into something crazy with wings. Oh, and there's Hugh. He has finally trapped Kate where he can talk to her at leisure. And boy do they talk...and spar, and it almost seems like the two of them are going to ride off into the sunset and take of the world. That would be awesome. Kate meets all sorts of magical creatures who have the old magic of Europe. And she learns some new skills to help her in her fight with her dad. I wish I could read the next book right now! But I should catch up on my other book backlog while I wait for the latest book to come to my library.
    • 3/5
      Enjoyed as always, but either there is some undisclosed divine intervention going on or a lot of this book depends on convenient coincidences. Plus, one of my favourites died!
    • 5/5
      Whew! This book was AMAZING! It took off like a rocket and just kept going! Great action, lots of excitement and danger! It's officially my favorite of the series. The major players take a boat ride to the Black Sea on a mission to procure panacea, the only treatment for loup. Curran and Kate know from the beginning it's a trap, but who and why? You'll have to read it to find out. You won't be disappointed!

      We are introduced to a couple new shape shifters and learn about a few new magical creatures. The camaraderie within the pack as they undertake the mission was fabulous and I loved learning more about Kate's abilities. I'm so impressed by this series. It's creative, intelligent, and continues to amaze me. I highly recommend it!
    • 5/5
      This great series gets better with each new book. Kate is a kick-ass heroine and the plot is surprising, with great characters and settings. In my case it made me to stay awake until midnight to read it. A totally fun read that hooks the reader until the end. I found this one of the best books of this great urban fantasy series.
    • 5/5
      Audiobook: Narrator – Renee Raudman
      This narrator has definitely solidified herself in a favorites place for me. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating, I cannot imagine another performing these books. Ms. Raudman IS the voice of Kate, Curran and their group of friends and adversaries.

      Wow! This one just about killed me and I loved every moment!

      Just when I thought Kate and Curran were at a good place, Curran has to prove to me that he really is a jerk-hole. All the drama resulting from his actions had me almost doubling over with angst. And yet, even as Kate comes to terms with the decisions he made, I did as well. And I had to accept it just as she did. It was quite agonizing.

      Add all of the above to what is already an atmosphere fraught with anxiety over an attack upon their motley group at any moment, and other political intrigues, and you’ve got a situation that is eventually going to blow up in their faces. There is a lot of action here as well as moments that had me by the throat and I didn’t want to have to stop listening when the time came to turn it off. Life can be very frustrating.
    • 5/5
      Ok, admittedly I started reading this series because I used to live in Atlanta, and we did not get along. So the fact that they regularly destroy that city in their books just makes me happy in a fantasy sort of way. Petty, but true.

      The series just keeps getting better, though, and I not only haven't finished reading this book yet, but Kate and Curran are on an away mission to Russia, and Atlanta isn't burning. I am so enjoying the EPIC hissy fit on page 267 that I needed to stop and write about it. love love love. Great adventure, excellent magic, and wonderful, witty, snarky dialogue.

      "You want to get married? I'll marry you right now. Is the gnome a preacher? Because I'll do it." Hah!

      Aaand having finished it, whew, what a ride.
    • 5/5
      I love this series. Can't wait for the next installment, especially with the additions to the pack.
    • 4/5
      In the sixth book in the ever-amazing Kate Daniels series, the setting shifts from the post-apocalyptic Atlanta we've become accustomed to. Instead, Kate and Curran are transported to a European setting, complete with a castle. They make the trip overseas to play mediators and protectors in a tense family feud situation that they'd rather not be a part of. They have no choice, though; the European shape shifters have offered them a supply of medicine that can cure shapeshifters that are going loup. All Curran has to do is protect Desandra, the daughter of a despotic shapeshifter leader, who happens to be pregnant. The problem is that Desandra has been married off two times, in each case to sons of rival shapeshifter clans, and she had recently had revenge sex with her ex-husband, so no one knows who the father is. Considering that these children will inherit Desandra's family territory, which is a prize worth going to war over, apparently, all three family clans are at the castle, awaiting the birth, and trying not to kill each other in the interim. Can things get worse? Always, in a Kate Daniels book. It turns out that the owner of the castle, the one hosting these delicate diplomatic negotiations, is none other than Hugh D'Ambray: Roland's warlord, his second-in-command, and someone very interested in Kate. It's not long after they arrive that Kate realizes Hugh knows exactly who she is, and intentionally arranged the whole affair just to get her trapped in a castle with him. However, he's not planning on killing her. First, because he's trying to convince her to return to Roland and fight with them. Second, because Hugh has the hots for Kate. While this gets under Curran's skin, Kate has her own reasons to be jealous. A young, pretty, and very clingy heiress from another pack just happens to be visiting the castle, for no explained reason. She has her hooks in Curran, hoping to break up his relationship with Kate and establish herself as the Beast Lord's mate. Throw into this volatile mix some new and deadly shapeshifter creatures that are trying to kill Desandra and her unborn babies, and we have a typical day in the life of Kate Daniels.Another book in this series, and I'm still loving every read. This latest installment has the elements that made me fall in love with Kate in the first place: a fabulous main character, a steamy romance with a partner that is her match and not her better, equally well developed side characters whether they are friends or foes, a fast-paced plot line with well-described action, solid tension and suspense, and excellent world building. While I could happily spend the whole series in the Atlanta setting, I also enjoyed the change of scenery. The reason my rating for this book is a little lower than the other novels in the main series is because I felt like the book needed more time to develop the conflict concerning Desandra and her family. The story is a little ambitious, and by combining the Hugh D'Ambry plot with the pregnancy plot, I felt the latter was short-changed. I also wanted Kate to have more opportunities to make those smug, self-righteous shapeshifter snobs realize that she was far more incredible than they initially judged. She has a few moments to rub her awesomeness in their face, but considering how poorly they treated her in the first two-thirds of the book, I wanted her to have more grand of a payback. Also, Curran's deception was a bit contrived. These flaws aside, it was still a thoroughly engrossing read from first page to last, and more enticing than many other fantasy books I've read. I can't get enough of this series, and truly wish there were more than ten books in it.
    • 5/5
      I love all the Kate Daniels stories, but this one always makes me mad because of what Curran does. I understand why he does it, and I even would probably do the same thing in his place, but that doesn't mean that I like it or like him while he's doing it.

      Of course, there are things that are said and happen in this book which start to show up in the next books, so it all needed to happen to move the story forward.

      Ilona Andrews is great at coming up with plots upon plots and layers and layers in the books. There are easter eggs that show up in early books that lead into things that happen 3 books later, and you don't notice them unless you are binge reading them and reading them all back to back. Otherwise they are just hidden, but it makes great rereading pleasure.

      I'm going to be desperately sad when the last book comes out. At least we'll have some other stories in the world to hopefully look forward to.
    • 5/5
      Another good to great entry in the series. To avoid the problem of "same-ol-same-ol", they change the venue. And it works. Very enjoyable, there is a surprise introduction of a character that felt maybe a little too convenient, but really didn't hurt the overall enjoyment of the book. Well worth the read.
    • 5/5
      I really liked this one- it felt fresh and interesting, and the descriptions of the countryside were just gorgeous.
    • 5/5
      Great as usual! I cried, too, but I still liked the book.
    • 5/5
      Panacea, the only medicine able to prevent a shapeshifter from turning into a loup. It also happens to be one of the hardest to find. The amount of magic it takes to create panacea is a closely guarded secret of the European shapeshifters. When two more children of the pack go loup, Kate watches as her ward Julie falls apart knowing her best friend has to be killed. Until Curran announces that the pack has been contacted for a job with the European packs, and panacea is the payment. It's an obvious trap, but as Kate sees the torment in the children's faces, she knows the future rest in attaining the panacea. No more children should have to die.This time readers are taken across the seas where the pack will have to protect a pregnant werewolf by the name of Desandra. Caught in a political struggle, not only does her father want to kill her, but there are two packs near war over her unborn children. Being the only human among shapeshifters, Kate will have to once again prove that she isn't just another weak human. Curran will also have to keep a close lid on his temper, or else start a war between his pack and three others.Ilona Andrews isn't afraid to introduce new elements into the world of Kate Daniels. Because of this, there is never a dull moment in the series. Kate and the pack will have to face off against a new host of enemies and this time the cost is high. There will be no punches pulled and Kate's past is never far behind her. No one she loves is safe anymore.
    • 4/5
      Magic Rises is the sixth in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. Any time I need a fast paced fantasy with tons of action and an interesting take on mythology I always turn to Kate Daniels. As usual, this book delivers.Living as a shapeshifter isn't easy. Unable to control their change, many die before making it to adulthood. Medicine exists that significantly reduces the mortality rate among shapeshifter children. It is in short supply and access is strictly controlled by shapeshifters in Europe. When Kate and Curran are offered a job to body guard a pregnant shapeshifter, with a large amount of the cure as payment if the mother and children live through the birth, they know they have to accept even though they'll be heading into an obvious trap.At this point in the series you basically know what to expect. There is a mystery to solve, plenty of interpersonal conflict, Kate and Curran's relationship continues to be messy, many bloody battles that all lead to one action filled climax. It was great to have the characters travel to Europe, giving the story a fresh setting. I liked the world building here, showing how magic's impact on old world cities is different from how it ruined Atlanta. It's also the first time we're introduced to different Packs and that political dynamic. This time the Andrews dip into Assyrian mythology which was pretty great as I knew very little about it and ended up Googling quite a bit to learn more. I admit, the authors had me going about the relationship troubles and Curran's strange behavior even though I knew logically it would eventually end up OK since there are still four books to go in the series. My absolutely favorite parts were Kate and Hugh's interactions, especially their duel. I had two complaints. There are a couple of very random things thrown in that did not feel like it flowed with the rest of the story and the ending had a rather large deus ex machina to resolve our hero's final trouble. Those issues aside, this was another fun read.
    • 3/5
      I'm only give it 3 stars because this book put me through some serious agony and I hate when books do that! Following this will be the thoughts I typed as I read through the book, I don't do that often but for books like this I needed to do I could finish it. I keep waiting for Kate to get more power, not just from her infamous father but some from her mother too, it would be amazeballs if she was able to train and master more of both sides of her parents magic.

      So I'm only in the beginning of this book and I'm not sure I can handle it. I'll post my thoughts as I go
      -I can't figure out if Curran is working an angle from what he found out on the boat or if he's that much of a jerk and thinks Kate is good enough in America but when he gets around older shapeshifter families then She's not and he wants a little piece of action on the side. Bc we know he's not that clueless about anything. The whole thing is pissing me off and making me sick to my stomach.
      Marriage and in this book's case mating is about not just love but respect and it's a choice not just a ring and a ceremony. Curran is not showing Kate any respect as he talks and interacts with lorilie (sp?). It's really really pissing me off I really hate when authors assign stereotypes to men and women like this. A real man doesn't do that to his wife ESP if he's supposed to be the great caretaker etc.
      - also I hate the bs about Kate loving him so much and he's so attractive that she's distracted from his lies and talking about the crap he's doing. BS I tell you and very out of character. Just in the last book she was talking Andrea you have to fight for what you want, but she's not fighting she sneaking around worrying and suppressing and doing the dirty work for the pack while Curran plays around with a new young thing.
      -so finally then kodiak of Atlanta likes Kate and considers her pack? I really don't know if I trust that.
      -hobbit gnome! Love it
      -so it was an angle but seriously messed up, and I guess I can kinda understand, but seriously? Messed up!
      -love Christopher!
      -I wonder if Kate will come back and be trained by the shepherd. It couldn't hurt.
    • 5/5
      *claps, cheers, weeps and waits impatiently for more*
    • 3/5
      This was an okay read, but also likely very important to the series. Kate and Curan are lured to Europe -- ostensibly to mediate and bodyguard a pregnant shifter whose child will inherit a geographically pivotal mountain pass -- with the promise of panacea (a substance helping to prevent shifter children from loupism). The European packs severely limit availability so a clear incentive.I was finally starting to like Kate and Curan as a couple in the fifth book. Now, they annoy me again. Nope, don't buy into Curan just making it look a certain way to European packs -- too much of book angst-y because he doesn't tell Kate stuff. The bits with Hugh were not very believable.Overall, I get it. Panacea important. Hugh still around. Encounter new characters and races in Europe. Blah, blah, blah. Not the greatest flow, almost as if would have worked better as an anthology.Hopefully the next book in series will be better. Not in any hurry to borrow it from library. Previous book got my hopes up falsely.
    • 5/5
      This might be my least favorite book in the Kate Daniels series. Of course, I still loved it so that doesn't mean a whole lot. This was a re-read for me. I first read this book shortly after its release and devoured it quickly. I have been slowly working my way back through the series in audio and am enjoying it even more the second time around. I started the re-read of this book when nothing else I started seemed to be working but as soon as I started this book I didn't want to stop listening. I feel very lucky to have found a series of books that I know I will enjoy every time I want to revisit the story.This book takes Kate, Curran, and many others out of town. I tend not to care for books in a series that move the setting to an unknown location quite as much just because I miss all of the things that I love about the main setting including the characters. I didn't miss the characters all that much since so many of them were along for the trip. I did find the new setting to be unique and rather interesting. I liked that by having the group take a little trip we were able to see a few things that were completely new.One of the things that I love the most about this series is the relationship between Kate and Curran. It has been fun watching things develop between them over the span of ten books. Since I have already finished the series, I enjoyed this look at their past but this book is not the high point in their relationship. To put it simply - Curran acts like a jerk in this book and I didn't like it. Kate didn't like it either so it causes a few problems. I will say that there are some pretty heartfelt and redeeming moments as well so it all worked out in the end.This book had all of the action and excitement that I have come to expect from the series. There is a mystery to solve, children to protect, and political moves to be made. This book also brings a healthy dose of Hugh which added a lot to the story. This was a really heartbreaking book because we had to say goodbye to a much-loved character. New characters were also introduced that will play an important role as the series progresses.Renee Raudman did a fantastic job with this book as she has with the rest of the series. I think that she does a great job of bringing Kate to life and adding to an already exciting story. She handles a large cast of characters really well through the voices that she uses. I have no problems listening to her narration for hours at a time.I would highly recommend this series to everyone. Honestly, if you haven't read this series yet you really should give it a try. I can't wait to continue my audio re-read!
    • 4/5
      Having Kate, Curran, and a group of shifters travel overseas into what they are sure was a trap shook up this series and made everything feel fresh and exciting. Kate learned a lot more about herself and her background, and she and Curran came to an agreement. I liked the new characters who were introduced and am looking forward to seeing them in future books.
    • 4/5
      I. Adore. This. Series. Another amazing installment. Fascinating, engaging, heartbreaking. New and unique settings and characters, intrigue, (rather gory) battles. Angst and drama (I knew that Curran wouldn't cheat but Kate forgave him for being a complete asshole waaaaay to easily!!!). I am already ready for the next one, please.(4.5 stars)
    • 4/5
      An excellent installment in which Kate Daniels goes to Europe and has to deal with traps set by the European packs, and Hugh her father's current warlord. The characters are interesting and mutlti-layered. The world building continues to be excellent and each book moves the overall plot forward.
    • 5/5
      Magic Rises
      5 Stars

      An intense and emotional ride but worth every minute.

      In general, the book is well-written, the pacing flows smoothly and Andrews' trademark action and humor is there in abundance. Moreover, the incorporation of several new characters within the storyline is seamless and never distracts from the continuation of the existing plot arc.

      Where Magic Rises digresses from previous installments is in the attention paid to the romance angle, which has a slight tendency to overshadow the mystery and investigation subplots. As someone who enjoys romance in her UF, this didn't bother me one iota although readers who prefer more action than drama might be disappointed.

      So lets get down to the nitty gritty: Kate and Curran, who have gone from strength to strength both as individuals and as a team, hit a snag in their relationship and it seems that the Alpha couple still has some trust issues to resolve. Unfortunately, the matter is presented via an annoying and angst ridden plot device that does not necessarily present his Furry Majesty in a good light. Suffice it to say that Curran has several bad kitty moments but he more than makes up for them at the end and is completely redeemed both in Kate's eyes and my own even though his explanation is painfully obvious.

      Another issue that comes to the fore is the consolidation of Kate's position within the pack. It has taken time but Kate has carved her own niche and she has her loyal friends in Andrea, Raphael, Derek and Barabas. Things are not as clear with some of the others, and one character in particular who disappointed me was Doolitte in his reaction to Kate's saving his life This has put a damper on my affection for him and troubles me much more than Curran's behavior. Another shocking development is the death of Aunt B, a staunch ally to Kate and particular favorite of mine, who will be sorely missed.

      As to the mystery plot, one of the most difficult aspects of the book is keeping the different factions and agendas straight in my head. No one is what they seem and treachery lurks around every corner but the pack politics and machinations make for a compelling story and the ultimate showdown is exciting. One or two small nitpicks in this regard include the very convenient Deus ex Machina rescue by Atsamur, Hugh's sudden ability to teleport and the fact that Kate never gets to beat the crap out of Lorelei :0(

      All in all, a gripping addition to my absolute favorite UF series. Ilona and Gordon really know how to shake things up, and Magic Breaks cannot come soon enough.
    • 5/5
      These books are going to kill me. Part of my personal reality is a need to take sleeping pills at night and the ones I take pretty much never fail to knock me out as intended. Unless I'm reading certain books; like a Kate Daniels book. I get so lost in the stories and the action my system completely ignores the power of the meds and I suddenly look up and it's midnight and I'm wide awake. I've had to start keeping a boring soothing book by the bed so I can pick it up and wind down far enough for the drugs to do their thing. I had to do this last night. I started Magic Rises on Saturday with the intention of finishing it well before Sunday night. But MT and I just had a handful of things framed and in the process of deciding where they should be hung, got hit with the spring cleaning bug (Dr. Bronner's FOREVER!) so I didn't get nearly as much reading done as I'd intended and there was no way once I picked up Magic Breaks I was going to put it back down unfinished. I can't believe Hugh survived. I can't believe Aunt B didn't. I was certain it was going to be Eduardo. This was a great book. I have the next one sitting on my desk, but I'm going to try to make it until Friday before starting it - maybe Thursday.
    • 4/5
      Eurotrip! Curran gets picked to be the bodyguard of a pregnant shapeshifter in Eastern Europe, and he brings along his favorite crew of shapeshifters and Kate. Oh, and Saiman has a boat, so he comes too. Their payment for such a dangerous job is "panacea", a magical potion that helps cure loupism. But Kate is in over her head. Not only are there 3 packs of shapeshifters to deal with, one of them turns into something crazy with wings. Oh, and there's Hugh. He has finally trapped Kate where he can talk to her at leisure. And boy do they talk...and spar, and it almost seems like the two of them are going to ride off into the sunset and take of the world. That would be awesome. Kate meets all sorts of magical creatures who have the old magic of Europe. And she learns some new skills to help her in her fight with her dad. I wish I could read the next book right now! But I should catch up on my other book backlog while I wait for the latest book to come to my library.
    • 4/5
      What an emotional thump on the head this book was. Holy Twirl a Whirl I need to sit down.
      I went from loving Curran to wanting to neuter him, to fearing for his life and back to loving him again. Bad Kitty, shouldn't do that to my feeble heart. He was the most irritating, rude, egocentric, lovable, sweet, rotten, adorable, strong, weak man.
      Kate, oh beaten torn and sliced, she did it all. She losses her heart, losses her trust, looses her place and losses a comrade. She is the punching bag that keep inflating itself for more. Well, until she's had enough and there is nothing left to loose. Poor Kate.
      The pack was trying to protect their future. They need to accomplish this goal to save the lives of some of the children. Well, it wasn't as simple as it was made out to be. No surprise there. There was one huge surprise one that will change the future forever. The hiding is over, the war may be beginning.
      We meet several new characters. One I really look forward to learning more about is Christopher. He is a mystery, with no known history and some serious abilities.
      I think he will be a major player in the next book. There are some new nasty ones that are perfectly rotten and so easy to hate. It's always good to have a cache of nasties around for balance.
      Really enjoyed it. I need a re-read on audio to get a better feeling of it.
    • 4/5
      I think this is the best in the series so far.
    • 5/5
      Liked the view outside Atlanta and the complex politics at work. Finally getting a handle on the world outside of Kate's POV, the sheer amount of stuff that Kate has little to no access to, or just misses due to misfocus or ignorance.
    • 5/5
      I loved this one! Checked this ebook out at the library and almost decided not to read it since it had been so long since I'd read the other books in the series, I thought maybe I'd be lost. Not at all. From the very first page I was drawn in and I raced through the book just to see what would happen next. It was so very good. I felt like I was on an emotional ride that I didn't want to get off of. Everything that Kate went through I felt too. The author did an amazing job with this book, seriously the world building is phenomenal, and the characters are so real and fascinating I was enthralled. Exactly what I love in a book, I want to feel so pulled into the world that I don't ever want to leave and that is exactly how I felt with this one! If you've read the other books in this series and enjoyed them, then you'll love this one. If you haven't started this series yet, you've got to give it a try, only start from the beginning it's definitely worth it.
    • 4/5
      I love this series. However it's always sad to read about deaths and characters you like get hurt. I won't spoil it. Good read still though.