This is such a cute paranormal romance! It was a very wholesome read and I'm excited to read more from this author and this series. I also love the coThis is such a cute paranormal romance! It was a very wholesome read and I'm excited to read more from this author and this series. I also love the covers!...more
I'm very impressed by how much better this book was compared to the author's previous work in terms of writing, complexity of characte3.5? 3.75 stars?
I'm very impressed by how much better this book was compared to the author's previous work in terms of writing, complexity of characters etc. I was also pleasantly surprised by the addition of steampunk elements in this story, though I should have guessed, it's a historical novel with the word clockwork in the title. Somehow, I didn't though...
I generally love Victorian London and historical fiction so this book was right up my alley. The only thing I didn't care that much about was the romance. Will was just annoying. I can tell he's nice deep down and hides something but he was just annoying in this one, sorry. I ain't changing my mind until I see those hidden depths!
Jem, now, is nice and everything but I don't feel any sparks or chemistry with the heroine so I still prefer Will, annoying as he might be.
I normally hate love triangles but I've heard this one is not annoying. So far it wasn't even a love triangle because Tessa only seemed to care for Will in a romantic way but we'll see how this plays out in the next books....more
I think I enjoyed the first book in the series a tad more but I'm giving them exactly the same rating because Roman was by far my favourite character.I think I enjoyed the first book in the series a tad more but I'm giving them exactly the same rating because Roman was by far my favourite character. Om my God, he was just too cute for words! He was loyal, and innocent, and sooooo adorable, I can't even!
My only complaint about this book really is that it focused so much on Roman that the romance felt a bit underdeveloped. Again, if this book had been longer it would definitely have been a 5 for me.
Still very much worth a read though for the amazingness Roman is!...more
This was such a quirky and adorable read! Yes, I have to admit I never got over the weirdness of reading about dog-shifters but I found this book adorThis was such a quirky and adorable read! Yes, I have to admit I never got over the weirdness of reading about dog-shifters but I found this book adorable. I devoured it, kept listening to it on audiobook even though I was on holidays abroad at the time every chance I got and I managed to finish it in 2 days. I think it should have been a bit longer but it was still such an adorable read and I think all of Eli Easton's are a bit on the short side but I love them anyway!...more
This book started really strong for me and it was a great book all in all but I'm taking down one star because I think it dragged a bit.
The lore was qThis book started really strong for me and it was a great book all in all but I'm taking down one star because I think it dragged a bit.
The lore was quite complicated to the point I didn't completely understand everything that was going on or how some things worked, the plot was a bit convoluted and as I read this in a space of 1.5 weeks, sometimes I would dive back in the book and I would realise I didn't completely remember everything that had taken place (yes, I do have a short attention span admittedly but there was also so much going in this book it was hard to follow everything sometimes), and there were so many secondary characters I couldn't remember who was who (or what).
However, it was far from a bad book, I really did enjoy most of it and William was a really great character.
I did like the previous book more as I thought it hit a better balance despite being the first book in a series, which means that it is tasked with familiarising the reader with the world - no easy feat when said world is that complex. However, if non-stop action is your thing, you are in for a treat here. If non-stop action is not your thing, the relationship between the MCs was still worth reading the book but you might find it hard to relax, sit back and enjoy the ride with this one.
Strangely enough, I've never before minded the crazy, non-stop action in IA books but I do think this book would be even better if they had toned it down a bit here....more
I don't know how long it's been since I last added a book in my favorites shelf. A year? Even more?
I'm tRe-read in 2021 Still a 5-star read!
Old Review
I don't know how long it's been since I last added a book in my favorites shelf. A year? Even more?
I'm totally putting this one there though. The intensity of the feelings in this book was on a completely different level. I don't think I have words for it.
I will say this for T.J. Klune. Obviously, the man knows how to write, that doesn't need repeating, but the depth of the secondary characters in this book (and a lot of his other books) is phenomenal. The secondary characters are not just there to support the MCs like in so many books, they're so real.
I listened to the 18-hour version of the audio book in one day. How did I do that? I started early on a Saturday morning, only had a break for food and was still listening until late at night when the book finished.
Enough said. This is unputdownable. Make sure to have nothing on your schedule for the next couple of days when you read this, because, seriously, you will not be able to put it down.
Minor complaint: The blurb is amazing and it's what drew me in the story but I thought the events briefly described there would be the first 100 pages or so. However, it reveals 2/3 of the story and I think it's best going into this book not knowing what to expect....more
This series keeps going strong. Give me more Curran and I'll give you more stars. It's a fair trade.This series keeps going strong. Give me more Curran and I'll give you more stars. It's a fair trade....more
This novella took me by surprise. I loved it and I thought it was even better than Andrea's novella, Magic Mourns, when the only reason I read it was This novella took me by surprise. I loved it and I thought it was even better than Andrea's novella, Magic Mourns, when the only reason I read it was my OCD which doesn't allow me to skip a book in a series.
Dali is adorable! I've always loved Jim! And I would definitely read any book about these two. I'm so glad Ilona Andrews promised to give us a full-length novel with Dali and Jim....more
A nice compilation of scenes from the first four books in the series narrated from Curran's POV and a couple more from Magic Bleeds that weren't in thA nice compilation of scenes from the first four books in the series narrated from Curran's POV and a couple more from Magic Bleeds that weren't in the actual novel. I love that the Beast Lord of Atlanta sounds so male....more
This is by far my favorite book in the series. Because when Kate and Curran are together, they're good. And when they fight, they're better.This is by far my favorite book in the series. Because when Kate and Curran are together, they're good. And when they fight, they're better....more
It's been a year since I read the first book in the series. I seriously don't know why I've waited so lonAll the stars in the sky for this book
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It's been a year since I read the first book in the series. I seriously don't know why I've waited so long. When I read A Hunger Like No Other, one of the best paranormals I've ever read, I thought that it was the best this series had to offer. The third book wasn't that good so this only confirmed my belief. How could anyone surpass Lachlain? Well, Bowen was just as good!
Silly me! People had told me about the MacRieves in this series! Why do I never listen? I know people will think that I just loved this because the hero is a Highlander. It's true, I adore the Scots, but that's not it. I mean, yes, those Lykae are seriously hot.
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And the Scotish brogue? Wow, it's such a turn-on for me. And the things Bowen said to Mariketa? OMG, they will have you all hot and bothered. But this book was just so intense!!This is a typical IAD book, with the enemies-to-lovers theme. Bowen hates the witches, he mistrusts Mariketa, but he wants her at the same time. They fight, they bicker, they play dirty. Their relationship?
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And I just adore Mariketa too! This girl is amazing! She's clever, she's funny, she's brave! She won't allow Bowen to push her around. That's my girl!
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There are many funny moments! I was listening to this from my phone while walking and I burst into laughter. I had to pretend I was talking on the phone with somebody or people would think I'm crazy! And I love how modern all the heroines are in this series. Even those who are thousand years old.
“Mari began to suspect that this reflection was going to prove to be like that little computer paperclip assistant -- at first it helps, but after a while you just want the paperclip to die.”
It's really funny. Oh and Nix!
“She, too, is one of Regin’s friends. They’re poker buddies, sisters of the Wii, and Mari is a vaunted member of the karaoke contingent. Regin has long acted as the witches’ designated driver.” “BFF?” Lachlain asked, brows drawn. “Sisters of the what?” Emma supplied, “Best friend forever and a video game.” Lachlain muttered to Emma, “Your relatives are just no’ right.”
One more reason I was reluctant to read this book was that I was somehow left with the impression that Bowen would be fixated on his first mate and stubbornly refuse to love the heroine until the end. Nope! He wanted Mariketa from the beginning and it didn't take him long to realise that she suited him better than his first mate.
This book was perfect and so sweet.
“What’s your favorite place to visit?” He absently answered, “Wherever you are.” “Bowen, five things about you can’t all be about me.” But you’re the only good thing that I’ve got.
I'm really sad to see it end. I don't expect that all the books in the series will be that good, it's not possible, but I'll not make the same mistake again. I'll keep reading and maybe I'll be lucky.
P.S.: The narrator of the audiobook is amazing! He does all the accents perfectly and the females sound natural too! I was drooling over Bowen and I really loved Rydstrom and Cade's accents as well....more
Did I like this book? Yes. Did I like Andrea and Raphael? Yes. Did I like them more than Kate and Curran? No. Would I read other books about thi3.5 stars
Did I like this book? Yes. Did I like Andrea and Raphael? Yes. Did I like them more than Kate and Curran? No. Would I read other books about this couple? Yes. Did Andrea sound like Kate's clone? No. Thank God....more
So this is the Kate Daniels book that shifted the opinion even of those reluctant readers and turned them into hard-core Kate fans. If I want to be hoSo this is the Kate Daniels book that shifted the opinion even of those reluctant readers and turned them into hard-core Kate fans. If I want to be honest here, I don't exactly see the reason. Plotwise, all the books are fantastic and equally interesting. I don't know if I've ever encountered a more complex world-building than the one in the Kate Daniels series. As a person with limited imagination, I am in awe of writers like Ilona Andrews. It beats me how a person (or even two in this case) can create a whole world, one even more complex than the one we're currently living in, from scratch.
Anyway, what I was saying is that all the books are amazing and I don't get what will finally turn someone into a Kate lover in this book if they haven't been sold on it in the previous two. Again what I'm trying to say (and failing) is that I was expecting some kind of shift here. Maybe in the way the plot is constructed or in characterization. But I didn't see any major difference here. Thank God for small favors. That said, this is my favorite book as well. The reason for this is twofold.
1. The last 30% of the book provided with so much excitement and those final chapters are the best in the whole series so far.
2. I L-O-V-E-D the scenes between Kate and Curran. Finally, some progress there, though I have ENJOYED the slow build up after all those hundreds of romances I've read where the H/h jump on each other the moment they meet - and that's one of the reasons I like fantasy novels with romantic elements, but where the focus isn't the romance.
I have a girl-crush on Kate and, yes, Curran is the hottest thing since the sun. I am now consumed by the overwhelming urge to chant Curran's name all day long. Curran. Curran. Curran. Curran. Curran Kind of like a broken record....more
4.5 stars It took me quite a while to get a grasp of what was going on, but once I did this book was nothing but brilliant. I am impressed.
I am new to 4.5 stars It took me quite a while to get a grasp of what was going on, but once I did this book was nothing but brilliant. I am impressed.
I am new to urban fantasy but I like the blend of a futuristic version of the world as we know it with magic and all kinds of magical creatures. In the Kate Daniels universe apart from the usual ones, such as shapeshifters and vampires (not the swoon-worthy kind but the undead, rotten corpse variety), there are tons of other unique creatures I've never heard of before.
Even though the in media res beginning of the book that throws you in the story with little to no explanation had me confused, Magic Bites was far from boring and I just couldn't put it down. It took me more than 50% of the book to fully comprehend what was going on, but I strongly urge you to bear with it and you'll be rewarded. The brilliance and thoroughness of the world described left me with an open mouth and I can't but appreciate a good fantasy story.
But what won me over completely was Kate. I love this heroine. She's not a rebel without a cause or just a kick-ass heroine. There are plenty of those out there. Kate is versatile. She's a woman with a multi-dimensional personality, dry wit, a mouth that's faster than her brain and a big heart. In one word, she's relatable, which is, IMO, the greatest compliment I can pay to a heroine. You see, I have a problem with kick-ass heroines. As much as I admire them, they are so different than most normal women out there that I cannot form a connection. But Kate I adore.
And then there's Curran *stars in my eyes*. Curran is THE alpha male. He's strong, controlling, protective, but cold. That's probaly the reason many readers don't like him. Me? I'd marry him today yesterday. Curran is incredibly hot and the fact that he's the Beast Lord only makes him sexier in my eyes. I know... I'm drooling over Curran like a 5-year-old over chocolate. And to top it all off he's blond. You see how I didn't stand a chance here?
If you like fantasy, do yourselves a favor and read the Kate Daniels series. I wholeheartedly give this book 4.5 stars in anticipation of even greater things from this these writers. Just remember: don't read this for the romance. Personally, it has me riveted, but if that's all you're looking for in a book, I don't think this is the right book for you....more