Magic Bites

This chart-topping writing duo can do no wrong in my eyes. Their Innkeeper Chronicles series ranks amongst my all-time favorites, but when it comes to fierce female protagonists, their Kate Daniels series truly takes the cake.

I find Kate fascinating. She has a complex backstory (no spoilers here!), and she is a masterful fighter, excelling in both physical combat and magical prowess. She consistently stands up for others, often putting herself in peril to protect those around her. 

I love how her wit and humor shine through, striking the perfect balance between light and shade. 

I will always remember the… show more.

I can not recommend this series more. I absolutely love Kate Daniels's post-post-apocalyptic world of Sifters and Vampires. The magic system is so creative and not so blatant like some urban fantasies.

I personally loved the idea that this era of urban fantasies took off with the “The world ended, and now this is what became of society” trope; it became a huge influence on me and my own world-building. 

I love a female badass, and Kate Daniels certainly is one–at least on the outside. A woman who doesn’t just know how to hold a sword but wields it in a way to instill fear in her enemies and wreak havoc if the occasion calls for it.

One interesting thing about the story is that the setting makes it entirely plausible that a woman would be using a sword in a time that’s not medieval but contemporary. The alternative reality that borrows inspiration from legend, the mystic, religions, and history from around the globe combines two things I absolutely adore:… show more.

This book has all the witty dialog and situations that go awry that I love to read about. The characters are quirky, and you can absolutely imagine having a beer or cracking open a bottle of Boones’ Farm wine with any of them.

And if that isn’t enough to keep you reading, the slow-burn romance will.

This urban fantasy is set in a fantastical Atlanta, where magic comes in unpredictable waves that interfere with technology.

Written by a husband-and-wife team, I picked up this first book when it was on sale for 99 cents, then went on to purchase all the books in the series. I love the imagination behind the worlds this writing team creates and the way the characters interact with them.

Worldbuilding is a huge part of fantasy, and for anyone who knows the real Atlanta, Ilona Andrews makes the fictional version in Magic Bites equally realistic, as seen through the eyes of… show more.

This book started my love of urban fantasy. My copy is failing apart at the seams.

I love this series so much. I would like to think I could be friends with Kate. This series is finally complete for those who want something done before they start it.

Atlanta looks very different than the city you and I know. Kate is a mercenary who has to track down the murder of a family member. Yet, losing him kicks off the creation that maybe she doesn’t need to be alone.

It's the start of her creating her own family and not… show more.

The Kate Daniel’s series has everything—great world building, an interesting backstory that grows with each book, and writers (a husband and wife team) who understand the craft of writing enough to draw you in so you forget you’re reading.

Have you ever wondered why magic happened in the bible, but doesn’t happen now? Burning bushes and all that?

This series has an explanation—the magical pendulum swings back and forth, and we’re heading back into a time when magic rules. Unfortunately, technology and magic don’t work well together.

Ilona Andrews sets the bar for post-magic apocalypse books with this first novel in the Kate Daniels series, and it is the book that made me fall in love with Urban Fantasy. While Kate tries to keep her unusual talents hidden, she can’t help but make a splash in post-shift Atlanta, among the ruling elites of the creature world. Here, the normal monsters like shifters and vampires take on all new roles with Ilona Andrews’ unique world building. In the fifteen years since its first publication, there still isn’t anything to compare with Kate Daniels.

The Kate Daniels series features a unique urban fantasy world where magic and tech fight for dominance. This was one of the first series I read in this genre and I instantly fell in love with Kate Daniels. She is tough and snarky but isn’t afraid to ask for help when she needs it. 

Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who is hiding from her enemies. When here gradian is murdered she seeks justice and gets drawn into a power struggle. She is snarky and headstrong, which sometimes get her into trouble. Her dynamic with the Pack is interesting to watch and the world building is fantastic.