If Magic Tides is an appetizer with hints of nostalgia for loyal Kate Daniels series reader, then Magic Tides is a full main course that established Ilona Andrews as one of my favorite authors and Kate & Curran as one of premiere alpha pairing in urban fantasy genre that continue rule supreme.

At first, I think Magic Claims will be in a light tone like Magic Tides. Just a glimpse into the life of Lennarts family in the Wilmington. But, I'm wrong. IA once said in their blog that they intent for this book to be in novella length but in the end it's almost a full novel! I'm not complain tho, more words to consume for me. The story itself more like the continuation of what happen after Magic Breaks . Especially regarding Curran's decision to left the Pack and how after more than ten years together Kate still feel guilty about that since she thought that Curran left because of Roland's ultimatum. Actually since I had read Curran's PoV in Small Magics but I think not everyone that follow Kate Daniels series read it so IA once again wrote that

Curran left the Pack because it's the right things to do. He know that Kate hate it and Kate become a Consort because of him. So Kate already sacrifice so much. Curran also admit that the Pack is already fractured for a long time. He create the Pack based on Mahon's views, not Curran's. The last straw already happen in Magic Bleeds so to see Curran finally left the Pack is inevitable. I always think the fall of the Pack is kinda like poetic justice. We see Pack in all of their glory in the Magic Bites only to see that its have so many faults with the series progresses. Even Curran admit that he and the Pack become xenophobic and I liked that he willing to change his views and change for the better

I once write about Jim in my review of Magic Tides and finally what happen with Pack under Jim as Beast Lord come to the light. I never see Jim as a villain, there's many hateful characters to be despised from Kate Daniels series and deserve their villain status. But to see how Jim finally become is quite sad. He become

like his father was. His savior complex getting worse and unlike Kate that keep Curran's arrogance in check, I'm afraid that Dali see Jim in a rose colored glass so she just let Jim act as he please. Erra once warn Kate that the Pack will fractured, not in the timeline of Magic Claims but will happen years after

. I read in IA interview that Jim is a character that hard to write so I wonder if they will finally redeem him in the future and maybe Jim will mend his friendship, both to Curran and Kate.

Just like its title, Kate again try to claiming a land like what she did back then in Atlanta. But, unlike her immediate and rush claiming, Kate now have years to practice and Erra also guide her to learn about her heritage. Oh, Kate still reluctant to fully embrace her Shinar magic, but she's now mature and didn't hesitant to use it when necessary. It's satisfying to read Kate's character development from Magic Bites to Magic Claims. Her personality change to the better but her old shelf as a killer still shone through. Kate will never be a Queen although Jushur insist that she's the Sharratum, lol. Not everyone must be a queen with crown. 

The challenge about written a pair that already achieve their HEA is they become mundane and stagnant. That's not the case with Kate and Curran. If possible, their love grew stronger and they have goals now to protect Conlan. I really like when Curran say that he will do everything to see Kate smile again like his stabby Kate and I love the scene when Kate call Curran "His Furriness". Their bantering is a delight to read especially Curran's flirting that really, really smooth. IA show that even the characters already married that didn't mean they will become boring of sort. I like that after decade, Kate and Curran still find things to be laugh together, have deep talks regarding their future, compromise especially about if they got injured and try to not rush to the danger and so on. That's what marriage do, not only based on love but based on companionship.

Roland still an interesting character and to call him a villain now maybe stretching it a bit. He's more like a morally grey character now. I like that Roland written with so many facets. He's a megalomaniac tyrant but also a wise grandfather to Conlan although he love to disparaging Curran. Maybe he still doesn't want Kate to marry Curran, but he didn't refuse it either. Complicated, thy name is Roland. He also still like to manipulate Kate and maybe still not talking with Erra. But, I like that despite so many of his faults, he can see that Kate's doubt about using her magic is because Kate afraid that she will turn into Roland or Erra. So Roland's dialogue about Kate to not hesitant to use her magic maybe show that he try to understand his children. Fascinating character indeed. Erra herself still become a stern aunt and I still can't believe how she become Kate's enemy back then in Magic Bleeds and how she also make Curran go comatose but now Erra and Curran respect each other. People do change, huh.

There's so many interesting characters in Magic Claims like Kellan's Wilminton Pack with his renders and another Roland's people, Jushur and his son Rimush. My favorite renders is Owen and Troy who keep bickering to each other, lel. The enemy itself have pretty unique background and kinda come from nowhere, lol. Still interesting to read. The scene when the Penderton's citizen panicked about Kate's claiming envoke my emotions because at first they seems ungrateful to what Kate and Curran did, but Curran's speech (without too much roar) assure them. Conlan is still totes adorable and the enemy identity get revealed because of him.

I read Magic Claims before Blood Heir aka Julie's book so maybe this book kinda explained what happen in Julie's story because Magic Claim timeline is 1 or 2 years before the event in Blood Heir. IA promise that there will be Wilmington 3 that will released in 2024. Can't wait!!