Ilona Andrews is one of my favorite authors and the Kate Daniels series is my favorite of all the books that the husband/wife duo write. The writing style is fast paced and engaging and the characters are completely believable despite the fantastical elements that surround all the books. These books are a must read for me and I eagerly devour them and count the months until the next one arrives. I love that despite the occult and romance leanings of these books there is still a generous dose of humor. I was a bit worried about how the dynamic would shift once Kate and Curran had a child but if anything the books are actually better than they were before they had a child. I highly recommend the Kate Daniels series. I am reviewing this book based on an ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

The final in the Kate Daniels series (but with plenty of room for spin-offs!), the book skirts the edge of harrowing - series favorites are put in danger, but the named deaths are all off-stage, in the last act. The Big Bad of the series is temporarily demoted to Pretty Big Bad while the Bigger Bad takes the spotlight. Hugh comes back! Kate and Curran's son is grown up enough to have a personality!
All the series favorites make an appearance and the book hits all the strengths of previous books - humor, peril, mystery, action, romance.
I wouldn't say this is the strongest book in the series, but it wraps up a lot of the loose ends nicely and tells a good story.
I'm intrigued by the reintroduction of a certain former-nemesis in a new capacity, within the last couple of chapters - there's a team-up in the epilogue that seems promising.
Looking forward to anything else from this author - it's all great!

In this final installment of the Kate Daniels series, Kate knows a great battle is looming against her megalomaniac father, Roland, as well as the unexpected return of an ancient enemy who almost destroyed her family in the distant past. Kate and Curran desperately need to marshal their many and varied forces while trying to protect their magically gifted son, Conlan, whom they know Roland wants to possess above all others. Kate will have to rely on her loved ones, allies including the Pack, the People, the witches and more plus some former enemies whose own lives have turned in unexpected ways. Kate has tried for so long to do the right thing in resisting her magic’s temptation to use her immense power to rule them all. With her ghostly aunt Erra’s training, Curran’s new powers which may have dire consequences, and all of the support of their followers, Kate must use every skill and ounce of magic she has to overcome the ultimate enemy and stave off her father’s nefarious goals. The fate of Atlanta and possibly the world rests on Kate’s shoulders as well as the lives of people she holds dear. She has to manage all that while being a wife and mother too.

Kate has several issues to deal with concurrently including Curran’s new and disturbing god-eating habit, a toddler son who has some amazing and scary abilities of his own, and the usual pack drama even though Curran allegedly is no longer their leader. Two years have passed in this story since the last book and while things have been relatively peaceful, they all know with Roland in the offing that will come to a vicious end soon. All the old gang plus some new ones come together to help Kate and Curran defend Atlanta and the surrounding areas they protect.

In the impending huge and epic battles with the newly arisen enemy as well as Roland, losses will occur, some of whom are well known. Readers will be most anxious to know who lives and who dies cheering their favorites and booing the villains. MAGIC TRIUMPHS delivers fans a full dose of all the things they have come to expect of this series including heart-stopping action, explosive battles, bizarre, strange magical creatures coupled with a deep and intense relationship between Kate and Curran plus all the crazy assortment of those they call their own. When a series ends, readers have many expectations; the writing team of Ilona Andrews has done a fine job of finishing this series in a way that will leave fans well satisfied and looking forward to spinoffs in the future.

First off, I am so glad that I only started this series a couple of months ago. I am impatient and have a horrible memory so can’t imagine waiting 10 years for the end… I know some fans have been around since the beginning, high five for you seriously. I’m selfishly glad I only had to wait 2 months (and I had Hugh’s book in between too!).

So even though I’m late to the party, I feel like I went through life with these characters – we met Kate when she was on her own in every sense of the word, and now here she is, married with a kid. I love love loved going through this all with them. Ilona Andrews are fantastic at what they do and though I’m sad to say goodbye to Kate and friends, I think it was time and think they did it fabulously. Plus, we still have more Hugh books, right?! Plus Julie and Derek, right right right? I need more you guys. NEED.

Kate is one of my favourite characters ever – she’s strong, badass and funny. She cares about people but isn’t a doormat. I love the way she juggles everything in her life. Curran – gah. Love. And Conlan? Squeeeeee. Totes adorbs. Plus there’s all the friends and family… I just love them all.

This book was funny, a little bit sexy, well-paced and interesting. I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat. Really, it everything that all the previous books have been. I loved all the references in this book to previous books. I tried to savour it. I didn’t exactly succeed because I couldn’t put it down, but that’s a good problem to have.

This was a fantastic conclusion to an amazing series. I already want to re-read the entire series. I will buy anything Ilona Andrews writes, I will pre-order anything and everything. One click for sure. I have never been happier to receive an ARC from netgalley. Thank you so much to the publisher, you’ve made me a happy reader, Ilona Andrews – y’all are amazing.

If you have to break the hearts of fans and release a final chapter, this is the way to do it. Magic Triumphs has mystery, tension, humor, action, enemies and friends working together for the greater good and some backstabbing as well, and let's not forget the most adorable toddler you have ever met.

Ilona Andrews created a fascinating world for us where magic washes over the land like waves at the beach. When technology is up, phone works, cars drive and scary things with claws and teeth go to sleep, but when the magic is up, technology is what goes to sleep and those scary things comes crawling out to get you.

When we first met Kate Daniels she was simply a merc, trying to keep her head down and stay on the move so that her father, Roland, never find out about her. But over the last few years, Kate has made friends and put down some roots. She has fallen in love with the Beast Lord of Atlanta who reigned supreme over the shifters to ruling over Atlanta to protect it from her father. Now the lonely merc has become a friend, wife and mother. The woman who was raised to keep her head down will have to fight to protect the life she has created but the biggest question will be...from who?

Kate and Curran have been gearing up these last few years for a winner-take-all war against Roland. They have forged strong alliances with the witches, the shifters, the People and the Mercs, and some not so stong alliances with the Knights of the Order...okay, the Order hates Kate, but enemy of my enemy and all that.

Yet while Kate is waiting for her father to make a move to steal her son, neighborhoods full of people are disappearing...and the bodies are being dumped en masse. Kate is angry that Roland would attack the people in her territory. Then she begins to remember one important fact... Roland wouldn't commit mass slaughter. Not at these levels. Roland wants humans around to worship him. What good is taking Kate's territory if there is no one left to cheer and worship?

Kate has been so focused on Roland that she didn't realize there is another threat on the field.
And this someone has Kate a present but is it from an admirer who wants to court her, or a declaration of war? She has no idea, but something about it is putting the shifters on edge.

Kate will need more help than her friends can provide but will approaching her father be the deal with the devil that will require a payment too dear?

I am so sad that Ilona and Andrew Gordon, better known as Ilona Andrews, decided to say goodbye to Kate Daniels and friends. I really enjoyed the stories, the creativity of the world building and all of the characters. But if you are going to bring the series like this to an end, they obviously decided it was time to Go Big or Go Home!

I am going to miss Kate and company but Magic Triumphs is in incredible story and if you do have to end a series, this is the way to take a final bow.

Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews

Kate Daniels has come a long way in post shift Atlanta. She’s gone from being a lonely mercenary keeping her head down to a powerful player with friends, allies and family. And now, an ancient enemy appears and Kate has to make dangerous alliances if she hopes to save not only Atlanta but the world.

This is the 10th and final book in the series and completes Kate’s story arc. As such, readers would enjoy this novel best if they begin at the beginning and read the entire series in order.

Magic Triumphs is a must read for fans of Kate Daniels. The novel has all of the authors trademark touches – marvelous mythology, fearsome monsters, epic battles, genuine emotional moments and just the right amount of humor and snark to break the tension. Particularly touching was getting to see Kate as a mother and watching her protect her child. Often times, action and danger don’t work when characters have children but the scenes are masterfully written here.

There were great references to earlier works in the series and very creative storytelling to bring Kate’s story to a believable and satisfying conclusion. It's amazing and surprising to watch as the authors take the narrative and the characters and turn them around in unexpected ways. As I read, it almost seemed to wrap up too quickly and I had a few questions about several characters that leave me hoping for a spin off series.

I must admit to being a long-time fan having been reading the series since the first book was published in 2007 and I thoroughly enjoyed the conclusion. A wonderfully written and highly recommended read. 5 stars.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Magic Triumphs is the final installment in the Kate Daniels series (as far as I know) but after reading it there was more finality to it than in previous books so this saddens my heart because I have had such a blast going through Kate and Curran's journey and finding their own place together and in their world that they have created with all the good and the bad and their beautiful son. I will make this a shorter review, because quite frankly if I go long I will reveal details I probably shouldn't and would ruin the book. This review I just want to share my impressions of the story overall.

In Magic Triumphs, Kate and Curran have given birth to a bouncing baby boy and boy does he have the energy that his parents have plus tenfold. We see Curran and Kate as parents, and trying to juggle everything including finding time for themselves. We see danger is escalating and they are trying to figure out the new threat including a way to bring down Kate's father who is more dangerous than ever. I really adore seeing how the plot escalates and all the SUSPENSE....I almost felt like I was going to have a heart attack because the intensity just about killed me. I loved trying to solve the mystery along side Kate and Curran and all their friends and family and their hyper active powerful boy. Their son is eighteen months and seeing him into a baby lion was so CUTE and he drives his mama a bit crazy.

We see the way Kate juggles everything she has to handle wife, mother, niece, daughter, kick ass fighter and defender of the city of Atlanta and more. We see how the strain that everyone puts on her and what I truly loved is that with everything she has going on....the love her "kitty cat" has for her is what keeps her going strong and stable, she relies on him more than she realizes because he accepts her as she is and loves her fully and wholly. Their isn't a super strong focus on their relationship, but when we get glimpses of it in these small moments, my emotions just break because you see how strong and well balanced they are together on and off the battle field. The story weaves its way through passion, the challenges of parenthood, killings and intrigue, and fighting off near unbeatable enemies to bring a better future for those you love....its kick ass in every way you can imagine and this final installment was a PHENOMENAL journey that I am so grateful to be a part of!!

The publisher has asked for no promotion or spoilers for this final book in the Kate Daniels series and I will honor that request. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to read MAGIC TRIUMPHS, as I've been a fan of the series since the very first mass paperback, MAGIC BITES, was published! I'll just say that all the characters get a chance to shine, and it was wonderful to spend time, again, for the final time, in this amazing world the authors have created!

I can't believe it's over! I think I may cry. Kate Daniels has been my favorite character for years now, and I've lost track of the number of times I've reread her series.

Each book gets better and better and Magic Triumphs is no exception. It's definitely my favorite.

10's across the board!

One thing I like about this series that few books do really well is that we get to see Kate's progression from single mercenary to dating, to mated/married and living in a home with a family and healthy relationships where real work is done to maintain. Watching Kate and Curran and even Erra with Conlan was a joy. It was also hilarious. There were many laugh out loud moments for me with this book and a lot of them stemmed from Conlan's antics, or Kate's where he's concerned.

Once again, the plot had things that I just didn't see coming, though the book ended up tying up the series rather nicely while leaving room to grow in other directions. (Please, PLEASE grow!) Nothing about this ending was lazy and everything I've loved about every single Ilona Andrews book made an appearance in full force! Thoroughly satisfying, though I'm sad it's over.

The aptly named Magic Triumphs is the final book in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. After years of fighting for a safer world, Kate and Curran, along with their son Conlan (so adorable), have tried to settle into a more peaceful life. They have a tenuous stalemate with Kate's megalomaniac father and are back to working regular magical hazmat cases. Until, of course, some massive beast from another realm starts devouring towns. Kate and her allies are once again in the middle of an apocalypse. Told with their signature flair, Magic Triumphs is a satisfying ending to a wonderful series that has shaped the urban fantasy genre. Although readers will be sad to see the end, we can all agreed that Kate and Curran deserve their Happily Ever After.

I cannot recommend this series more highly. It has been a favourite since I read Magic Bites many years ago and I look forward to reading what Ilona Andrews comes up with next.

This series finale was quite well done, and it looks like there may be more tales to come in this world, just not focusing on Kate and Curran. We can only hope! I loved the authors’ original approach to magic in this series and their excellent characterization. This last book in the series should please fans, but I highly recommend people read Iron and Magic beforehand.

While this was not my favorite entry in this series (there were too many side-characters at this point and it didn't feel like all of them received a proper amount of page time), it was still a solid book and one that will certainly please long-time fans.

This conclusion to the Kate Daniels series did not disappoint. Ilona Andrews delivers another strong, action packed installment full of witty dialogue and endearing characters. I'm sad to see the series end and hope some of the characters will live on in future works.

Ilona Andrews has written the conclusion of the Kate Daniels series Magic Triumphs is that book. Kate and Curran are up against Roland, Kate's father but also an unknown enemy. This will decide the fate of Atlanta and the lives of Kate, Curran and all the people they care about. Magic Triumphs is a wonderful and amazing story, full of suspense, magic, surprises and endings for well know characters. Plot lines are answered, but there is room for more stories in the Kate Daniel universe, just without Kate and Curran being the main characters. I would strongly suggest reading the other books in the series before reading this highly recommended book.

Fully satisfying conclusion to Kate and Curran's journey that began in Magic Bites. So sad to say goodbye to these beloved characters.. The team of Ilona Andrews has delivered everything promised. I will be reading this over and over again.

Sooooo let me first state that you cannot appreciate this book unless you have read the other 9 books in the Kate Daniels series. You should also really, truly read Hugh's book Iron and Magic before you read this too, although you can probably get away with not reading it before this IF you've read the rest of the Kate universe (but why wouldn't you want to read his book? For real it's amazing, go.) You could PROBABLY read this and get something out of it, but you won't appreciate it. In previous books, the authors have tried hard to make sure everyone follows who is who and what's what and do their fair share of explanation but for this one, they assume you know the cast and are strapped in. This finale is high octane, and it is fucking beautiful. Profanity is necessary because Ilona Andrews never disappoints me, ever, and they didn't again. Parts of it felt rushed, and I felt that way reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, so it is probably just how you feel when a series you love comes to an end. I'd have like a longer epilogue, personally, but it doesn't leave anything unfinished. I do know from the author's blog that we'll be revisiting the universe so I'm not particularly upset. All in all it's just as magical, action packed, sassy, funny, charming, heartbreaking, heartwarming, and just plain fantastic as the rest of the series and is a wonderful ending to the series - but not the world.

I probably read this book waaay too fast because I was so excited to get an ARC of it! Although, I do feel like there was some mighty quick wrap up at the end, that could have used a little more fleshing out, I was very satisfied with the end of the Kate Daniels... I mean Lennart series. I have loved being part of this world ever since I discovered it. This book does not disappoint. Plus I loved the inclusion/continuation of the Iron Covenant series and I'm excited to hop on that bandwagon next! Thank you so much Ilona Andrews team! You've created a set of characters and a world I will enjoy for years and years to come.

So, that was that. Incredible end to an incredible series. Simply put, I loved it. Cute, funny, terrible, tragic, and intensely powerful. This is a classic end to what must be considered one of the classic urban fantasies of all time. Thank you Gordon and Ilona!

I can't wait to see what you'll do next. (Though naturally I am already invested in everything else you've published as well!)

4.5 stars

I'm not even pretending that this review is easy to write.

From the moment I found out that Magic Triumphs would be the last Kate Daniels novel, I had a hard time accepting it. I couldn't imagine a life without this series. But now, after reading 10+ novels about Kate's battles with gods, monsters and the different power plays in and around Atlanta, I can say with absolute certainty that Kate deserves this ending.

Battle after battle she gave it all. Always for the better of the people of Atlanta, her family and friends and humanity. I felt for her. My heart ached at times!!!

Magic Triumphs was a fantastic and triumphant ending to my most favorite series of all.

I was sitting on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. When it got closer to 80 and 90% this book turned into a nail-biter. I wouldn't be surprised if my heartbeat went up the closer I got the ending. This book had me entirely in its grasps.

In this epic conclusion, Ilona Andrews brought the entire cast together for this final battle. The plot that unraveled throughout the story, and the many answers to questions I didn't know I had, kept my head spinning. The way the authors had this entire story executed was stunning. So many events and decisions in previous books suddenly made even more sense.

I'm utterly astonished by how well everything came together.

The fighting scenes were as always amazingly vibrant and easy to follow. The banter that I love and adore was there, but I had the feeling the overall feel of the book was a touch darker than any of the others. Getting to the end of it all was strenuous for everyone involved and it was noticeable. But all in all, I don't think this story could have ended any other way. It felt RIGHT. You know how Kate always talks about how sometimes things just feel right? This ending gave me just this feeling.

Even though it's very hard for me to say goodbye, especially to Kate, Curran, Julie and Derek, and now baby Conlan, I feel good about it. The relief at the end was palpable and satisfiying. And it seems that the authors are keeping the possibility open of coming back to the world of magic and tech in future books. You never know what kind of adventures are waiting around the next corner.

A worthy end to this long-running series. It wraps up the large arcs while leaving room for promised shorter fiction and dovetailing nicely with the new Iron Covenant series. If you've picked this book up on a whim, please put it down and start at the glorious beginning with Magic Bites. You are in for a treat.