TOP BOOK OF THE YEAR
5+ Heart, Recommended Read
SJ, Romance Junkies

MAGIC TRIUMPHS, the tenth and final book in the Kate Daniels series, is a tour de force triumph itself! A perfect ending to one of the best Urban Fantasy series ever written. The characters remain true to themselves; the action is nonstop; the pacing is superb, and the ending is complete without feeling forced. (This story is best read as a conclusion to the series. If new to the Kate Daniels’ world, I suggest starting with MAGIC BITES.)

Many series seem to tie up everything in a bow, wrapping everything up neatly for the reader in the final book. While this book does give a most satisfying conclusion, it’s written so well that nothing feels spelled out, rather it’s a natural progression of events the characters organically reach.

In this book, we see a (mostly) matured Kate with Curran, her husband and the former Beast Lord, and their adorable baby boy. The story has a brief prologue where we see the baby born, then cuts to two years later, which was very well done. Events have settled since the last book, with everyone falling into regular patterns.

Until, of course, a new villain emerges, one even scarier than Roland—Kate’s father. The mystery of who these murderous creatures are and why they’ve come to Atlanta unfold as the multifaceted world of Kate Daniels takes place. Familiar characters we’ve come to know and love throughout the series all play their parts. Julie, Derek, Barabas, Andrea, Roman, Saiman, Luther, Erra, even Nick and Hugh—HUGH—what a terrific part for him to play! And the family scenes, especially with Conlan, the baby, had me laughing out loud. Both heartwarming and funny, Kate’s family and friends are the cornerstone of this series.

The pacing is swift and steady, the build-up a delicious tension as Kate deals with the Witch Oracle’s prophecies of doom and the knowledge that to beat her father, she’ll have to kill him, and thus herself, for her friends and family to survive. There seems to be no way out, yet that doesn’t stop the humor from spilling from the pages, a wonderful mix of danger and laughter that’s organic to Kate and those around her.

Ilona Andrews is one the most gifted writers out there today. The writing duo know how to show emotion through action and dialogue and never dumb down their writing. The fighting scenes make you feel like you’re there, and their breadth of knowledge in both forensics and mythology (and even the made-up terms) is awe-inspiring.

This is my top book of the year, and I’m only sorry to see beloved characters go. But there are still two more Hugh stories for Andrews to write, as well as a teaser that perhaps some characters from the Kate Daniels’ world will continue in spin off series. Here’s hoping!

A TOTALLY RECOMMENDED READ!!!!

(Note: MAGIC TRIUMPHS takes place after IRON AND MAGIC, which is Hugh’s story. While you don’t have to read IRON AND MAGIC to understand this book, it’s most satisfying to have read Hugh’s story first.)

he series right after Magic Bleeds came out. I binged the series up to the point and after reading Magic Bleeds in its entirety, on a Sunday, I went to work the next day with the biggest book hangover ever! Ever since, I have been devoted to the writings of Ilona Andrews. They are one of my favorites, if not my ultimate favorite. They've never let me down in terms of story and characterization so I wasn't worried about what would occur along the way in Magic Triumphs, I was just sad to see the end.

Magic Triumphs is the culmination of Kate's storyline, specifically the storyline involving the twisted relationship between Kate and her father Roland. The tension between these two powerful beings finally comes to a head, but like when Ilona Andrews finally introduced Roland himself in Magic Breaks, the "final showdown" is full of unexpected surprises.

First off, we see Kate becoming a mother. I know there are a few authors who hesitate to introduce children (especially young babies) into a series / storyline. For good reason, I get it. How are our heroes and heroines supposed to continue throwing themselves into dangerous situations while their little one is left at home? I think Ilona Andrews handled Conlan, and all the connotations surrounding his birth really well, and I think they introduced him at a good time in the series as well. Ushering in the fact that Kate is ready to move away from said dangerous situations, and focus on living her life and her family.

Then, there's something that is causing mass groups of people to disappear. This is where I'm noting that I think it's essential to read Iron and Magic before diving into Magic Triumphs, not only is it a wonderful spinoff, but if you have read that book your ears will immediately perk up when Kate encounters a whole community of people that have seemingly disappeared.

Kate figuring out what has taken these people, and the purpose, takes the main focus of the book, surprisingly enough. Of course looming in the background is the ever-complicated Roland.

As the series progressed I grew to appreciate the fact that Roland isn't a cookie-cutter evil villain. The relationship with Kate is complicated and twisted. Sometimes there's affection and sometimes there's a maniacal tendency to take control of everything. Suffice it to say, there have been plenty of unexpected moments, and I think it's safe to say the story arc between Kate and Roland continues in this same vein.

Probably what I loved the most about Magic Triumphs was that, despite being the last book in the series, I still felt like things are moving forward while still recognizing where the series has been. I've found in many finales that I've read (or watched even) the end consists of many a trip down memory lane no matter if these trips are necessary for the final story. Ilona Andrews does this but in a completely subtle way that ties together well with what Kate needs to accomplish. We revisit with characters and settings old and new but it fit together well. They weren't afraid to introduce new possible story threads because when all is said and done, I feel like we're not finished with this world yet. Kate's arc is complete (at least for now), but there are a myriad of characters who have the opportunity to continue to grow and change and have their own adventures, and if nothing else, Magic Triumphs makes it quite clear that these are possibilities that may come to fruition.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Kate and Curran. I love that (past the first few books) their relationship has continued to be strong, even with a few bumps in the road along the way. Their storyline within Magic Triumphs speaks a lot about the idea of Ilona Andrews not being afraid to introduce a little mystery as Kate is working on figuring out what magical being has been taking people, Curran has been off doing....something else. Curran's motivations remain cloaked in mystery for a bit, but by the end it all boils down to what everyone has known since that seemingly random kiss in Magic Bites, Curran loves Kate above all else. They are a unit, a team, and he's not idly sitting by while Kate takes all the risk.

So if you make it through the diatribe that is my review of Magic Triumphs just know this: it's one of the best ends to a series I've read in a long time. While there's a little bit of sadness involved (being the end and all), I don't think there's anything I would change about this book.

Let me start by saying two things:

1)I *hate* last book in a series installments – because I’ve been disappointed in the past and more times than I can count

and

2)Kate Daniels is my all-time favorite series.

So, combining the two? Is nerve racking and exciting and I was both scared to death and curious to read it. Because let’s face it, no matter how much I don’t want it to end… I also need to see both Curran and Kate having their HEA ride to the sunset.

Every single book in the series, every event, every time I've screamed at Curran for not being supportive, or was mad at Jim for being a self-centered egoistic erm…. person.. set the foundation to this book. It doesn't felt rushed, or forced. There were not “where the hell did that came from?” moments here.

It all made sense.

It even made me a bit mad at the authors because how can we complain about a series ending, when the ending is done THAT way?

It is done.

Done.

And it was glorious.

The only question that reminds is: my favorite series just ended… how… how do we move on? How can I continue on living when there is not Kate #11 on the horizon?

There’s a few stages:

You refuse to let it go. You set up a series read in preparation for it and a book of the month discussion. You refuse to let it go. You reread your favorite parts over and over. You cry again when you are supposed to, and laugh when you’re supposed to, and feel the pain and fear over and over again.

You tell yourself it isn't over yet. After all, there are Hugh's books and maybe Julie's

You stalk reach for the beta readers and start talking non-stop about the book, the theories, the correlation to Iron and Magic, mix up the two stories and so on.

You check the author's blog for news and be completely giddy with excitement with them. If you haven't checked their Hey, Don't Be Sad  post, here are the highlights:
-Is not a permanent goodbye
-They want to do a Roman's series
-There will be 2 more Hugh books
-More stuff is coming

So... that's how I go on. How about you?

Oh boy, where to start. As the final book in the Kate Daniels series, Magic Triumphs is everything I hoped it would be. It ties up the main storylines satisfactorily, settles Kate’s daddy issues in a clever way, and leaves an opening for more adventures with supporting characters. I really enjoyed this, and can’t think of a better way to draw the series to an end.

I’m not going to give many plot details, because I don’t want to give any spoilers, and part of the fun of reading Magic Triumphs is being surprised as one road bump after another is exposed by Kate’s investigation into the disappearance of the population of an entire town. As she and Derek doggedly dig around for clues, she discovers that in addition to this threat, Roland is also getting ready to attack Atlanta. With two enormously powerful enemies knocking on her door, things don’t look very promising for the continued existence of her family, friends, or her city.

While Kate is dealing with a lot of dark, heavy issues, there is glorious humor thrown into the narrative. Most of it is courtesy of Kate and Curran’s feisty, incredibly powerful son, Conlan. If Conlan was my kid, I would be tearing my hair out and investing in silver baby cribs so I could put him in the occasional time out. Conlan is as stubborn as Kate, as determined as Curran, and probably more magically gifted than both of them put together. I would love love love to read more about him. Think about it. A novella about him heading off to high school, or the trials and tribulations of trying to fit in with the rest of the populace, when his star shines brighter than the sun. Oh, the troubles he could overcome!

All of the supporting cast that we have come to love return, providing support, grief, or comic relief. After this installment, Erra is probably my favorite, followed by Julie, Derek, and the boudas. Some of supporting cast had hanging plot threads that could easily be solved with a novella, so if the authors are listening, I’d love to read more – though that would cut into their time to give us more Hidden Legacy stories, so it would be counter-productive (for me).

The Kate Daniels series has been a fantastic roller-coaster ride, with each book improving over the last. I remember originally DNFing Magic Bites, and the only thing that got me through it was the wonderful narration of the audio book. I listened to the first two books, in fact, before I switched over to reading them on my Kindle. And guess what? Now that the adrenaline fueled rush to reach the end is over, I think I will listen to all of them, and enjoy the whole series again.

Oh! And I totally forgot to say – Read Iron and Blood, Hugh’s first book, first!

Grade: 4.5 stars

Kate Daniels series overall: 4.5

Holy smokes, what a epic ride! I don't even know what to say. This book was everything, but that ending... it didn't feel like closure, it felt like there could be more. maybe not with Kate and Curran but maybe with all the others. What has annoyed me is that I want to know what will happen to Julie and Derrek! I'm just speechless, I really liked everything in this conclusion to the overall story arc.

This 10th book in the stellar Kate Daniels urban fantasy series brings to an end the story arc of Kate Daniels and Curran, Beast Lord of post-shift Atlanta. For those who may be unfamiliar with the world of the series, post-shift refers to the return of magic to the world after an absence of millennia. For those who survived, the entire landscape changed. Monsters, gods, giants and magic users rose again from legend. People have learned to cope with periodic shifts from "magic" to "tech." When tech is in the ascendant, cars, electric lights, telephones, etc. work. When magic is up, they do not, causing some clever adaptions. Humans have learned to adapt too, as they always do.

When we first met Kate, she was a lowly mercenary, with some serious sword and fighting skills. She keeps a low profile because she is actually the daughter of Roland, the "Tower Builder," who originated in ancient Mesopotamia and woke up when the first shift occurred. Since then he has rebuilt a power base in America, destroyed thousands, and spent his time looking for Kate, who he tried to kill in her mother's womb. Kate was raised by Voron, Roland's renegade Warlord and trained in the expectation of either killing or being killed by Roland. She came to the notice of the Beast Lord of Atlanta, Curran, head of all the shape-shifters in the Southeast. The two have formed an alliance of love and loyalty, but know that the day is coming when Roland will attack. The birth of Conlan, their son, only cements the knowledge. Roland will either kidnap the child or kill him. Conlan burns so bright with magic that it is inevitable.
Roland and Kate have had an uneasy truce, but it's clear that he is testing the boundaries. Just when we are set for a final confrontation, a new enemy from legend appears. This one is so powerful that only an alliance between Kate and her allies and Roland himself can defeat him. Can Kate and Curran trust him though?

I am sad that the Kate Daniels Series has come to an end. I came late to it, but have read and reread the previous books. The characters are vivid and multi-layered, some that I love and others that I love to hate. The fight and battle scenes are extraordinarily well-plotted and easy to follow, and there are plenty of them. This final book wraps up the story very satisfactorily, but I will miss Kate, Curran and their extended family, There are hints of more stories to come with other characters, and a recent spin-off, Iron and Magic, featuring one of the worst of bad guys.

Thanks to Ace and NetGalley for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own. Thanks also go to Ilona and Andrew Gordon, the writing team who have imagined and brought these characters to life.

I think that everyone is looking forward to this novel. Yes, I know it because I waited for it more than anything. And yet, I am just as sad to have it in my hands, to have read it, because I loved this series so much that it is difficult to see it coming to an end. But how to resist it?

You suspect that once again Kate and her friends will have to face new problems. Moreover, if she did not have enough with her father, an old enemy appears, one she is not sure to be able to counter. She will have to play carefully if she wants to succeed in saving everyone!

I do not want to reveal much about the plot. I do not want to spoil anything because I think it would be a shame. But I must say that I was pleased to see Conlan. He is a fascinating and interesting little boy. We quickly get on with him as with any other character and I loved to see him change, and live with his family, to see Kate as a mother, and all her allies which are desperate to help and protect him.

I loved this novel again, it was a perfect conclusion and there are many things to discover, many things I did not expect and the authors managed to make an extraordinary end that does not change the level of the series. I hope, however, that we will have a spin off on Julie soon with such a conclusion.

Many things to discover and I’m sure everyone will be delighted by this ending! I just have to add that I strongly advise you to read the spin off about Hugh and Elara before you get into this one because there are a lot of references. A great conclusion for a series that is just as great!

Magic Triumphs is the long-awaited conclusion to the Kate Daniels series. (OK - so it wasn’t really long awaited - it just felt like it.) This is a series that absolutely must be read in order, because while every book has its own plot, there’s an overarching storyline that spans the series. While I’ve enjoyed every installment, it was interesting to see the bits and pieces of knowledge Kate and co. gained from those books utilized in this one, and once again, I am in absolute awe of Ilona Andrews’ storytelling ability. Fans of this series are going to be satisfied with the way things are wrapped up here; seeing Kate and Curran take on their roles as parents with such adoration is just the icing on the cake - trust me when I say it’s going to make your shipper’s heart burst. Curran feeling such pride and Kate going balls to the wall to protect her kid - yeah. That’s something you want to see! In true Kate Daniels fashion, this book is rife with banter and humor, and just like in Magic Binds, a large portion of that takes place at Kate and Curran’s kitchen table. Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that house. And I’ll just throw this out there - if you’ve been reading the discussion posts Birdie Bookworm and I have been doing to usher in this finale, then you know I’m not the biggest Julie fan. Well, I don’t know if it’s nostalgia or what, but I...more than tolerated her in this one. There were parts of this book where I actually liked Julie, and I’m even looking forward to my next re-read (because really - is there an Ilona Andrews fan on the planet who’s not going to re-read this series over and over again) to see if these nostalgic feelings will carry me through the series and change my feelings towards her. I will say that I thought this book didn’t have as much action as previous books, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I think this book was more reflective than previous installments, and to me, it’s an indication of Kate and Curran being shaped not only by the events of their pasts, but also of their becoming parents. I thought the tone was very on par with where they are right now in their lives.

I want to mention this, because it felt glaring to me given he was the first member of the pack we were introduced to in the series kick off, but where was Jim in this book? He was talked about and maybe even a phone conversation was had with him, but I really liked Jim’s character and would have loved to see him in the series swan song. He was a major player in the Kate Daniels world. And also, my last issue has to do with the series in general, but I fully admit this is a personal preference, so please take it with a grain of salt. I’ve always thought that you should be able to read the main books in the series and be caught up. That the side books were just highlights to the series, but I feel like with this series, that’s just not how it goes. All of a sudden in one of the books, Raphael and Andrea were together after being apart in the previous with a glossed over explanation. Because things were solidified in a 'side' book. But the biggest issue for me was Hugh. I was torn on whether or not I was going to read Hugh’s book, because I loved Hugh as a villain. He made me love to hate him, and I wanted Hugh to always remain a villain to me. In this one, Hugh’s character does an about face that nearly gave me whiplash. And the real kicker is that his book, Iron & Magic - where apparently his redemption begins, isn’t even touted as being part of this series. I wanted to be able to make the choice of whether or not to read this book, but I feel like if I am going to re-read this series, and I already told you I am, then I need to read Hugh’s book so I am not grudge-y when I get to Magic Triumphs again. And if you have not read Magic Triumphs yet, I suggest you read Iron & Magic first. I really think it will enhance your enjoyment of this book.

Having said all that, that is small potatoes as far as the Kate Daniels series goes, and the good, by leaps and bounds, outweighs my picky issues. Magic Triumphs wrapped things up in a way that worked well and stayed true to the series, and while I would be happy with a new Kate and Curran book every year for the rest of my life, kudos to the authors for doing the characters justice in every installment and for keeping this series fresh right up until the very end. Kate Daniels is one of my very favorite series of all time, and I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Ilona Andrews for a truly magical ride!

4.5 Stars

Magic Triumphs! Wow! I closed the book thinking wow, I can’t believe this is the last book! But after being disappointed by the ending of another favorite series (I’m looking at you Iron Druid!) I was soooo happy Magic Triumphs does not disappoint! So much to love here! Conlan! Too cute!!! Hugh, Julie, Derek, and of course, Curran!! That’s not to say that I’m not sad that the series is over, but I do have hopes of spin-offs with Hugh, Julie, Derek and though I thought I’d never say this, Kate’s morally ambiguous Aunt Erra!

As with the previous books Magic Triumphs has its own mystery/conflict, along with the continuing story arc of Roland (Kate’s father) and his mission to kill or subject Kate to his will. Kate must put aside all her other investigations when a whole neighborhood just disappears, 200 residents just gone. What’s left over is sickening and extremely disturbing and you know things will only get worse. As if that wasn’t bad enough word comes in that Roland is gathering his troops, getting ready to invade. Is Kate and her allies ready for this final battle?

Kate is the star of the show, always facing insurmountable odds and coming out on top with crafty thinking, sheer determination, and a shit-ton of power! I love that she always finds humor and snark even in the most desperate situations. Her friends defend and stick with her because she inspires love and loyalty. Curran comes a close second, as Kate’s husband and mate, he’s fierce in his devotion and love for her, and he is one sexy-beast! Curran is a scary power in his own right, not a force to be reckoned with. These two together have taken on sooo much over the course of the series, but in this book everything has come to a head.

If you haven’t read the Kate Daniels series this is seriously the time to pick it up! All the books are out now, and this is one of my all-time favorite series out there! Epic battles, a wealth of amazing secondary characters, snarky, fun humor, and bizarre but cute animals! Start at the beginning and hang on. Each book only gets better!

A copy was kindly provided by Ace via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This review is also posted at The Readers Den.

--"Hi, Dad, it's me. I know you're trying to kill me, my husband and our son, but guess what, all is forgiven, I need your help. Ugh. I'd rather walk on broken glass.--"

The Kate Daniels Series is one of the few series I have enjoyed from start to finish. And MAGIC TRIUMPHS is no exception. I have enjoyed every single book in the series and I am sad it's over. Things happened that I didn't expect, the plot, the characters, the story, it made me want more! So when the end came, I was like, "fuck, now what?"

MAGIC TRIUMPHS opens with Kate giving birth to their son and things are relatively normal for Kate for a while until she is thrown into another big mystery and let me tell you, this one is BIG. On top of that we got a mystery box on her doorstep and she's not really sure of the message inside it and she's busy making sure Roland doesn't get her hands on her son.

Now before starting MAGIC TRIUMPHS I thought this whole book was going to be dedicated to bringing Roland down. I was caught off guard, but the plot twist was so amazing. This BIG mystery involves people dying in a bad way, but it connects to a terrible enemy of Kate's Family, obviously from Roland's side of the Family. And as soon as this is revealed I am totally bummed that this is the last Kate Daniels book because I FREAKING LOVE Kate's family history! Let's just say Kate is a busy bee in the book for all the shit she is occupied with.

Now this big long lost family enemy was done so well. We know how strong Erra and Roland are. I mean Kate and Curran were barely able to defeat Erra, but this enemy was someone Erra and Roland were barely able to defeat, so you know they are strong and I loved that. So Kate thought Roland was their biggest problem, boy was she wrong, this guy's 10X worse. I am insane, but I loved the villian. I swear Ilona Andrews is the only one to get me to love people I'm suppose to hate.

--""Don't you want to wait until after dinner?" I murmured into his ear and licked the corner of his jaw, tasting the rough edge of his stubble. "Fuck dinner."--"

Kate and Curran in this book were amazing as always. Kate obviously will do anything to make sure her son and Curran live, even killing herself. But Kate, you married a stubborn man. Kate has plans in motion to make sure her husband and son survive, but Curran set some things in motion as well. I'll just say he did something BIG. And my mind is thinking how is that possible? Ugh. I can't say more, it's hard to spill and not spill at the same time.

Okay. Conlan Lennert. Gimme! I want one so bad!!! Kate and Curran's son. I FREAKING LOVE HIM!!! I'm sure eveyone will love him. It's always fun when kids are thrown into the mix, and he was definitely fun! Conlan was quite the mystery because of Kate's magic and Curran being a shapeshifter, so what was gonna come out of two very powerful alphas? I'll just say we are STILL finding out stuff about this kid. I will beg you right know, Ilona Andrews, I NEED a Conlan book!

I knew Hugh and Elara just had to be in this book. I mean it's the final book and come on, we need everybody against this huge upcoming battle. Now if you haven't read the Iron and Magic aka Hugh's book, please go back and read it before you read MAGIC TRIUMPHS. Anyways Hugh is here to atone and Kate isn't really sure what to think. And we get to here a little about Hugh's past. Obviously after Hugh's book I love him. Hell! Even before that I loved him. But in MAGIC TRIUMPHS you get a little bit of clarity into Hugh and what a blood bond really means.

--""It may prove foolish." "If it does, I'll deal with it," I told her. "Spoken like a queen." My aunt ran her ghostly fingers through my hair. "I finally made you into one." Too bad I've run out of time. --"

Erra, Kate's Aunt made fantastic character development from when we first met her to the end of the series. I am really glad where Ilona Andrews took her character. She went from unbeatable enemy to mother figure for Kate and I absolutely loved that. And also that despite who Erra was when Kate and her first came face to face to now, Erra is an actual part of Kate's family. Erra is an example of what we wish Roland could be. Let me tell you though Roland is a whole other story.

We see so many moments in the series with Roland and Kate that are perfect father and daughter moments that you wish that he could be more to her. And I will go more in depth with this once this book is out. But I will say I didn't expect this ending for him, but it is genius. Roland disappointed me. Family should be held above all. After everything, Erra got that, Roland didn't.

Now MAGIC TRIUMPHS had such a satisfying ending, but I refuse to believe that is it, because this series has tons of side characters with outstanding stories that NEED to be told. I will say this is the end of Kate's story, but for the rest of them, I don't think so. I was left with so many questions for all of the other characters. Ilona Andrews is something amazing to be able to hold my attention for 10 complete books and making me not want it to end.

As I previously said, the Kate Daniels Series was amazing start to finish and without a doubt will always remain to be one of my all-time favorite series. I know Ilona Andrews will write more series I will gush over and I look forward to all their future projects. All I will say is Good-bye, for now.

I absolutely loved this book! There really is no word that describes how amazing this story is. I have been looking forward to this book since I finished reading the previous book in the series almost two years ago. I have also dreaded reading this book because I knew going in that this was going to be the final book in the Kate Daniels series which part of me never wants to see come to an end. I am so impressed by this story and the way that Kate's story was wrapped up. Reading this book was such a wonderful experience.

As I said, this book is the final book in the Kate Daniels series which really should be read in order. This story starts shortly after the events in the previous book with Kate and Curran becoming parents. I am not always a big fan of kids in books but this kid only added to the story. I loved seeing Kate and Curran with Conlan and had a great time seeing them fall into some of the same behaviors I have seen in other new parents. It was interesting to see how much changed in the way they faced parenthood by the end of the story.

When I pick up a Kate Daniels book, or any book written by Ilona Andrews for that matter, I expect an exciting story with a lot action and that is what I got in this book. All of the battles, fights, bad guys, and chaos that I have come to expect in this series made an appearance and if anything the action may have been turned up a notch. There were times that I found myself holding my breath and turning pages as fast as I could just to see how things would work out.

This book also had all of the humor that I had hoped to find. I was especially excited to find a few lines that mentioned other key moments in the series. I thought that was a wonderful way to remember how far these characters have come. The banter between Kate and Curran was awesome as always and I was happy to find more than a few swoony and touching moments between them. The chemistry between them is as strong as it ever was.

I highly recommend this series to others. I feel like I have been on an amazing adventure with this group of characters and I wouldn't change a single second of the adventure. This is a series that I will read again and again over the course of my lifetime without growing tired of it. I hope to catch a few glimpses of Kate and Curran in future books set in this world just to check in from time to time.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group - Ace via NetGalley.

The last book of the Kate Daniels series is here and I'm very verklempt. It has been one of my absolute favorite series and probably my most favorite urban fantasy series for years. And I waited for each new book with much anticipation each year they've come out since I started reading the series shortly after Magic Bleeds came out in 2010 and every one of them quickly became favorites. As excited as I've been for Magic Triumphs so I can see how it all ends, that excitement has been tainted with a lot of sadness because I really don't want it to be over.

I finished this book a few weeks ago and I still can't put most of my thoughts and feelings into words.

Except....

Damn! THAT is how you write the last book in a series!

I have loved watching Kate evolve from the lone mercenary who couldn't trust anyone to a person with friends and connections to the Kate who has a family of her own. Her whole storyline and character arc has been amazing! Most of the characters' story arcs have been amazing in this series, to be honest. And almost everyone we've met throughout the series has an appearance on the page and contributes to not only the fight against Roland but a new threat to Atlanta. Each cameo was so well done that it only added to the story and didn't detract from it. It was so fun seeing so many familiar faces.

The thing I loved most about it? Thanks to a small time jump we get to see Kate being a mom and that was something I never knew I needed in my life! Thanks to Kate and Curran's special genetics, their child is a complete unknown in the supernatural world and is special because of it. It was a delight to watch Kate do the mom thing in her own Kate-like way which was both fascinating and tad bit scary.

It's a sad day saying goodbye to Kate and Curran and the gang but this book was one hell of a send off to one of my favorite series and it's the ending this series deserved. Magic Triumphs closed out this series perfectly but still left things open for more stories in this world. And let me tell you, I want those stories so badly!

All I can say is....

Bravo, Ilona and Gordon. Bravo! *slow claps*

Magic Triumphs is an emotional read that brings a satisfying end to the Kate Daniels series as we know and love it. It is filled with the typical Kate shenanigans, but it’s so much more. The authors don’t short change long-time fans, nor do they force events or add in characters just to up the ante for the swan song. Yet, they still manage to do just that. Friends, family, and enemies all show up in various parts of the story to help bring about the conclusion to my all-time favorite series.

But let’s not just jump to the end of this epic tale. Magic Triumphs is its own story. Taking place about two years after the conclusion of Magic Binds, the book introduces us to Conlan, Curran and Kate’s mischievous toddler. Although mostly human, he’s an unknown because of his unique and powerful lineage. This makes him a target, and Roland sends his elite forces into Atlanta to hunt down both Conlan and Kate. This provides constant action which brings out the best in Curran and Kate. I love watching the two develop their parenting style based on the constant danger surrounding their lives. Whereas the addition of a baby can tank a series, or the child gets relegated to a background character, Conlan is important in his own rights. He demonstrates the evolution of power, along with the possibilities of the future - both evil and light. His character also helps the continuing development of both Kate and Curran. In their love and what they are willing to go through for their son, we see both Kate and Curran become even more.

The battle with Roland is one of the primary focuses of Magic Triumphs, but it’s a complex issue. The authors bring the long-looming war to a head, but in a less-than-direct route. I actually love how it all goes down, leaving me completely satisfied. As far as open storylines and loose ends, most are closed, but there are a few threads left open for possible future spinoffs. The obvious being Hugh d’Ambray, whose Iron Covenant series still has a couple of stories scheduled. The authors do a fabulous job weaving Hugh and Elana’s storyline into Magic Triumphs. Do you need to read Iron and Magic before this book? No. However the book provides a foundation for one of the bigger storylines within Magic Triumphs. I am left wondering what will be next for Hugh and Elana - whether their next book will fill in gaps between Iron and Magic and Magic Triumphs, or if it will pick up the current timeline.

Per usual, Kate’s book is filled with laughter, tears, and heart-warming moments. These emotions are magnified a hundred times over knowing this is the final book in the series (or maybe just “story arc”?). I did cry a few times, but I laughed even more. One of the best moments for me was about a third of the way in when a deadly threat is uncovered and Kate’s dead Aunt Erra makes an impassioned plea to Kate. Reading it emphasized how much Erra and Kate have changed over the series, showing such growth and maturity in their characters - something that is mirrored in many of the characters.

In the end, Magic Triumphs is nearly the perfect conclusion to the Kate Daniels series. I loved taking this final journey along side Kate. It wasn’t easy, but it was amazing. The duo that is Ilona Andrews has created such an incredibly written, well-researched, amazing world, that it is hard to say good-bye. Every book has been top-notch, with many notable moments. I will continue to read and listen to these books time and time again.

My Rating: A, Loved It
Series Rating: A+ Personal Favorite

Last book in a beloved series… what can I say, but of course I’ve read it and love it. And, hate that its all over… but no, the author’s were kind- there are spin-offs and other series. The last Kate Daniels book was exactly what it needed to be to end the series on a high note.
Review

Magic Triumphs is book ten in the Kate Daniels series. This fabulous and gritty post-apocalyptic urban fantasy series must be read in order.

In Magic Triumphs, all that has been simmering and threatening to boil does indeed boil over. Except, of course, Kate can’t catch a break and a new horror descends on Atlanta right about the time she gets word that her father, Roland, is on the move set to conquer Atlanta, her, her son, and the world. Kate is barely holding on by a thread what with motherhood of a precocious child gifted with both his parents’ strengths, being the In Shinar princess that all look to, pulling together the motley group of Atlanta’s strongest to face what is coming at them, and confronting her fears of loss now that she has so many beloved lives in her heart.

Like a good last book will do, Magic Triumphs pulls in all the old gang for one last hurrah together, sprinkles it with a few amusing moments, lots of kick-butt action, suspense, surprise twists, and a grand finale that couldn’t be topped.

I loved the balance of action, introspection, passion, friendship, and the culmination of plot development. The new threat was a worthy one just as the way Kate and Curran face it together was perfect. I finished this book with feelings of triumph to match the title, satisfaction that it ended the way it should, and a sense of sadness that this was the end. Did I mention that I’m glad for the side series to ameliorate some of the book depression?
Don’t even ask if I’d recommend this book. And, for those who haven’t started yet, do so and enjoy the urban fantasy treat coming your way.

I rec’d this book from Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.

Magic Triumphs is the final installment of one of my very favorite series, Kate Daniels, by Ilona Andrews, a most excellent husband-wife writing duo. This book was so bittersweet for me. We have been working toward this conclusion for years, but the closer we got, the more reluctant I was for the series to end. Kate and Curran are two of my favorite urban fantasy characters, and this is one of the series that I have re-read time and time again. I'm sure I will be re-reading these again in the future, and I think there are rumors of a spinoff series, but I'm still a little sad to say goodbye to this dynamic duo in their current iteration.

So Kate and Curran are now raising their son, Conlan. It was so fun to see them as parents of such a cute and cuddly little boy. Kate, being who she is, flying by the seat of her pants, slaying evil, saving Atlanta, and wrangling all different kinds of personalities... I wasn't sure how she would fit being a parent into all that craziness. But she handles it like everything else, one day at a time. And of course she is an uber-protective parent, to the point of being accused of being a helicopter mom! Curran was the more laid back dad, and I loved all his interactions with Conlan. But even more interesting in this installment were the changes that were happening around Curran - they were quite unexpected and interesting.

We knew that things were coming to a head between our favorite characters and Roman, Kate's dad and our long-standing villain(ish) character. I love the way that the authors made Roman this gray character... we never know what he is going to do. And this installment was no different. Not only is Kate having to figure out a resolution to her daddy issues, but there is another big bad that has made his way to Atlanta, one who may have history with Kate's family. So Kate has to fight a battle on two fronts, which seems par for the course these days.

We got a nice integration of characters in this final story. I liked that the various supernatural entities of Atlanta were featured, and reminded us of parts they have played in this series as it unfolded. These authors have such a great imagination and all of their characters have been interesting, sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, but always adding that extra something special to each story. I won't say that I was absolutely happy with where all the cards fell at the end, but I won't complain about how things ended up.

My only regret for this book was that I didn't get the opportunity to read Hugh's book, Iron and Magic, before starting this one. I have the book lined up in my Audible queue, so I will be listening to it soon. I think if I was privy to what Hugh had been up to in the interim, it would have enriched this story even more (and it was already stellar even without that knowledge).

Overall, this is going down as one of my very favorite series of all time. Now that it's over, I want to go back and re-read the entire series in audio (for maybe the 4th or 5th time). I have a feeling that will be a project for the new year.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley Publishing.

Kate- The reason why I love this heroine so much is because even though she has this incredible power and could do and be pretty much anything she wants, she remains true throughout this series. She wants to have friends, love, and have a home with Curran. A home, not a castle, not as ruler, just as a woman wanting to be with her man. Magic Triumphs stretches Kate further than she’s ever been. As we have seen in the Oracles visions in past novels, Kate knows she will battle her father, Roland, which may cause her son or her husband Curran’s death. She will do absolutely ANYTHING to keep their deaths from happening.

We found out at the end of Magic Binds that Kate is pregnant, so I’m not spoiling anything by saying that this novel starts off with the birth of their son and the majority of the novel takes place while her son is around 1 years old. He is such a fun presence in this novel and added something new and fresh to Kate’s character. MOM. I also loved seeing how proud Curran is of his son, and I think my favorite line in this book is Curran’s “He’s a prodigy.” Conlan, their little boy, is a little more than Kate had expected and his antics provide some much needed humor to what could have been a really darkly emotional novel.

The whole Kate Daniels series has been leading up to her battle with her father, Roland. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone when I say that yes, they battle. However, before that happens they have a couple of heart twanging moments that make you wish things had been different for Kate. It’s a shame she didn’t get the father she needed, but then we wouldn’t have had all of these wonderful stories to read! I feel like Roland paused for a moment reflecting on that same wish. That he’d have had the chance to just love his daughter. However, he is who he is and can’t change his megalomaniac ways…

Curran. I just love him. In Magic Triumphs he proves his worth as mate to Kate. They are now parents and we see them go through another evolution in their relationship, but Curran takes things even beyond where I saw his character going in order to keep his family safe. When I stop to think about it, it’s pretty jaw dropping, but my lips are sealed!

Magic Triumphs ends on a positive note. When I say that, I mean that we are given hope that more novels in this world will be written. We already know that Hugh and Elara have their own series, and they are actually an integral part of this book as well. We get a hint at the end that two more characters may have their own stories written. I can only hope!

I am going to end this review by copying what Ilona Andrews wrote on their blog. Paraphrasing, of course. ‘If this is the first time you have picked up a book in the Kate Daniels series. Put it down. Pick up Magic Bites. It’s our least favorite in the series, but the first and it needs to be read in order. It gets better, we promise.’ Boy does it!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I was given an ARC of this book through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

MAGIC TRIUMPHS is a thrilling ending to a much loved, epic urban fantasy series. This last book has everything we've come to love and treasure from the Kate Daniels series, detailed action sequences, snark on top of snark with an added dose of snark, family/friend drama, nail biting tension, thrilling usage of magic and killing skills. MAGIC TRIUMPHS brings the story to a solid close with a short time jump and the long awaited final confrontation between Kate and her father, Roland. I've thought of so many ways Kate could possibly defeat Roland over the series and to be honest, I was pleasantly surprised that my guesses were wrong. The way this conflict between Kate and her father ends is the right one and a satisfying ending for this horrific villain.

I loved watching Kate evolve throughout this series and seeing her start off as a lone mercenary to become a person with so many connections and a family of her own is wonderful to see. I really enjoyed the time jump as we get to see Kate and Curran's child, Conlan. We get to see Kate be a mom in her own Kate-like way which is both fascinating and kind of scary since Conlan is a special sort of kid.

Since this is the epic conclusion, we get to see every character from past books show up to help defeat Roland in some way. It was great to be able to see these characters we've come to know and love or love to hate one last time. Many of these characters, like Kate, have changed from the first book and it's a sign of awesome writing and world building that you feel an emotional connection with each of them in some way.

The Kate Daniels series has been and will always be on my list of best urban fantasy series and MAGIC TRIUMPHS ends this series on a high note for Kate Daniels leaving room for potential spin-offs for other characters (besides Hugh D'ambray who already has a book out which you should read!).

Well here we are at the end of the road that I started almost 10 years ago with “Magic Bites” a book I was not so impressed with and took 3 times starting it to get me to finish it, I was surprised I grabbed book 2 “Magic burns” but it was getting interesting but book 3 “Magic Strikes” hooked me into this land of Kate Daniels and I loved her and this world more with each book.

I don’t know how many people I have told “Read the first 3 books and you will never stop” but here we are at the epic conclusion of Kate and Curran, I had no idea how they were going to pull off ending this epic tale without leaving me as a puddle of depression but they pulled it off along with some other goodies while taking care of almost every concern I had along the way down to some things I had not even thought of myself.

I am not going to give much away but we have a new enemy at the gates so to speak and he is powerful enough to require everything Kate and Curran can throw at him plus they may have to ask for help from sources they would never have thought about (you might want to read Iron & Magic before this one, gives you a little bit of info and some insight) and this is a wild story indeed.

The thing that made this a really great book is the fact that I was not all depressed when it ended but looking forward to stories in this world since it would appear we are going to see more but not with Kate and Curran as the main characters, you won’t know until the very end of the book what that future direction may be but I find it exciting and can’t wait.

You can’t have an epic battle with godlike creatures amidst mortals without some tragedy and most I accept but maybe one day I will get to ask about 1 of them that I always felt was a unique, wonderful and misunderstood character. They could have left that one alone but sadly did not …..

So, without really telling you anything about the story other than you are probably going to see almost every character that is still alive it was freaking fantastic and they did it without it feeling like an ending but a new beginning, only the best can accomplish something like that. Well done indeed folks, well done indeed.

I don't think I can possibly review Magic Triumphs without telling you a little bit about my journey with the Kate Daniels series as a whole.  You see, Stephanie aka @sac402 for those of you are on twitter, had recommended lots of books to me over the years.  Some I have immediately picked up and devoured while others she had to nag me repeatedly to get me to read.  Hilariously, those books/series that she has to fight me on generally end up being some of my favorites and land on my comfort reread list.

The first book in the Kate Daniels series, Magic Bites, was one of the books that Steph had to badger me about.  She had struggled getting through book one herself but swore the series was amazing after that and insisted that I read it.  I started and stopped Magic Bites five times before I finally finished it because it just wasn't clicking for me.  I just couldn't figure out why Steph and so many others that I knew loved the series.  That was until I started reading book two.  From that point on I couldn't get enough.  I plowed through the rest of the series and couldn't wait for the next installments to come out.   Additionally, I reread the entire series at least twice a year.  I finally understood the love that everyone had for this series.

Leading up to reading Magic Triumphs, I read the entire series again.  I am always blown away by all the plot points that are in each of the books that played a part in this final book.  I don't know how they managed, I just imagine their walls are covered with post-it notes.  And while it is sad to that Magic Triumphs is the last chapter in the series, Kate and Curran enjoy their HEA after everything they have been through!

I loved the different sides of Kate that we got to see in this book.  Kate has always been such a badass and ready to take on whatever crisis comes her way, but seeing Kate as a mother brought a whole new element to her character.  I loved seeing her worried about everyday situations like all first time moms and having members of the pack give her grief about it was a hoot!

I was reminded again why there is no better man for Kate than Curran.  I can't imagine anyone as unflappable as him especially with the chaos that comes with being connected to Kate.  Gods, warlords, dragons, no sweat.  He literally eats all of those challenges for breakfast.

I had pretty big expectations for what Kate and Curran's child would be like but I didn't do him justice.  I loved the fact he was just as innocent as you would expect a toddler to be while still being the perfect combination of Kate and Curran.  Can you imagine the trouble that a toddler who can shift into a lion, hold his warrior form and create blood claws is going to get into?  I have my fingers crossed that we will get to see more of him in adjacent series.  If Curran thought Kate drove him nuts forcing him to count to ten, just imagine what Conlan will do!

One thing that I always had trouble imagining with this series was how the Roland story arc would ever be resolved.  The power dynamic was too unbalanced between Kate and Roland for me to ever see her beating Roland in a battle and given that his life force was tied to hers, it isn't like he could decide to let her win (not that I think he would).  I also couldn't ever see Kate taking that final step to kill Roland even if it wouldn't result in her own death.  Kate has struggled with her feelings for Roland sure, but she also loved him and I think she would have always hesitated to take that final step.  I should have known that Ilona would not disappoint. The way they resolved the Roland situation was absolutely perfect.   It allowed the conflict to be resolved while leaving the door open for story arcs in The Iron Covenant and Grey Wolf series.  I don't want to give anything away so I'll  leave it at that.

So as is only appropriate, thank you Steph for bring this series into my life and beating me over the head with it until I finally read it.

The final book in the Kate Daniels series Is a good ending to this long journey. Things are wrapped up for Kate and Curran and yes there are things to find out in this setting, Kate doesn’t have to be the POV character to do it. A big side note is the events in Iron and Blood come before this book, but you don’t have to read it to know what is going on. It does give an alternative view on a character that shows up here but doesn’t ruin the story or narrative if you haven’t read it. Almost everyone makes an appearance in the book at some point and the ending does leave more room for more stories with other players. An excellent read and now I want to reread them all to watch the growth of Kate all over again.