Scan barcode
A review by jessenreadsromance
Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews
5.0
Copying my 2018 review from my personal goodreads. A time when I actually wrote reviews!
******
I’m too overwhelmed to write anything coherent at the moment, but WOW! I just can’t even process the amazingness of the last few chapters let alone the entire thing.
Will write more soon.
** Update ** Full Review **
The Kate Daniels series is one of my favorite paranormal romances of all time. Intricate world-building and the inclusion of less referenced mythology have made this series so unique and enjoyable, that it's one of my top recommended book series. I've learned so much and fallen so hard for these characters. You may think you have them figured out at first, but they constantly surprise you. I'm sad to bid this particular story farewell.
Magic Triumphs is the tenth and final book of the Kate Daniels series and it was my most anticipated book of 2018. Let me start off by saying this is the most satisfying series finale I’ve ever read. I applaud Andrews for tying things up in such a way that didn’t seem predictable and didn’t leave me feeling cheated out of a true resolution.
We get to see so many of our favorite characters from the series in addition to Kate and Curran. I'm so excited that Ilona Andrews has created something so vast that there are endless stories to be told without overusing Kate and Curran.
And now we move on to the spoilery section of my review.
***SPOILERS***
I loved this book soooo much! I am still fangirling about it days later. I tried to coherently compile a list of my favorite moments from the book because I honestly can't find a fault with it.
Conlan’s warrior form
Baby warrior form wreaking havoc on Kate's helicopter mom parenting! Of course, Kate and Curran's son would be one thousand times more powerful than your average shifter. Not only does he have the blood of the First and Kate's own magical ancestry, but he was also conceived after Curran ate the Saber Tooth god that Roland had imprisoned! Who knows what other crazy abilities Conlan will have in store! Also, he had his own Jack Jack (The Incredibles) moment when Razor tried to abduct him. This is one powerful little dude. I cracked up when Kate cooed at Conlan making a game out of the fact that Curran was ripping apart Razor limb from limb.
Every interaction between Nick and Kate
Especially Kate thrusting Conlan upon him while meeting the Order members from Wolf Trap. More reluctant Uncle Nick, please!
Ghastek/Rowena and Barabas/Christopher
If I had one gripe, it would be that there wasn't enough Barabas and Christopher, but then I remember how many characters IA had to feature and everyone got a little spotlight. I've been waiting for some confirmation that Ghastek and Rowena had a thing for each other and we finally get it. It was a tense moment where Rowena was about to die and Ghastek said he would never leave her *swoon*. Christopher and Barabas are getting married!!! Just saying, they are totally a power couple and I'm glad they are getting an HEA.
Kate and Hugh fighting back to back just like the vision from Magic Rises
I never thought I’d love Hugh or root for Kate to forgive him, but after Iron and Magic, I’m totally on board with his redemption arc. The fact that Hugh thought they would be fighting together for Roland when the vision was originally shown, and the reality was them fighting together against Roland (and Neig, technically) was the ultimate payoff. I was hoping to see this as soon as Kate donned her blood armor and Erra praised it. Kate was fully in her element and how poetic for these two, who once hated each other, to trust each other to guard their backs. Beautiful!!!
Curran’s double contingency plan
Plans, on plans, on plans! IA sure threw me for a loop with Curran's whole god-hood storyline in this book. I was very mad that he knowingly became a god with the full knowledge that eventually he would lose his humanity. Then he and Erra showed me I had nothing to worry about because they know Kate better than anyone and they planned for the worst-case scenario - Kate sacrificing herself to kill Roland and Curran having powers of resurrection due to his god-eating habits -> Curran goes back to normal. What a freaking great plot twist!
“Oops” - Curran
Erra is also resurrected. I didn’t see that one coming and it’s everything I didn’t know I needed. Her reaction when she realizes what happened was just great. IA really has a knack for taking a character who we all initially despise and turning our feelings on their head with a redemption arc. Erra and Kate's relationship was one of the quieter moments of the past two books and I really appreciated how Kate became almost like a daughter to Erra.
Roland’s fate
After reading Iron and Magic and this book's constant mention of the White Warlock, I was sure that Elara was going to be the end game for Roland. I was wrong! And I’ve never been so happy. After Elara and the witches' attempt to put Roland in stasis fails, Kate saves Julie (more on that later) and stabs herself so that when she dies, so would Roland. Roland starts to fade and Kate surreptitiously flashes Neig’s anchor and he takes the bait and gets trapped in Neig’s lair. Erra tries to save Kate by pouring her essence into Kate's dying body, and Curran uses every ounce of his new god powers to resurrect her. Really love that Kate, Hugh, Julie, and eventually, Conlan can all go and visit him.
Tease of future Hugh and Pack interactions
Poor Dali. Even though I sort of dislike Jim because of his treatment of Kate, I totally love Dali and want her to be able to have her babies! I’m so glad that Hugh didn’t fix her in this book. It just means that Dali will show up in Hugh’s next book. Also, Ascanio was missing from this book so I’m wondering if he’ll appear in Hugh’s too or maybe a future Derek and Julie book.
Tease of future Julie (possibly Derek?) books
We already had a glimpse of a Julie and Derek team up/future romance in Magic Stars, but with Julie leaving Kate - after Kate breaks her promise to never use the blood bond to control her -I think that there will be a possible time jump. Or maybe a few books with a 18/19 year old Julie and then age her up a bit before Derek is reintroduced for some romance. Love that she and Erra are traveling together. We know that Erra wants to return her mother’s bones to her homeland. Kate also mentions that Roland fears ancient powers that are awakening there that are much older than his and Kate’s magic. I’d be excited to explore Julie’s natural powers and Erra seemed to know a lot about Julie’s “kind”. I hope we get Julie books after Hugh’s.
******
I’m too overwhelmed to write anything coherent at the moment, but WOW! I just can’t even process the amazingness of the last few chapters let alone the entire thing.
Will write more soon.
** Update ** Full Review **
The Kate Daniels series is one of my favorite paranormal romances of all time. Intricate world-building and the inclusion of less referenced mythology have made this series so unique and enjoyable, that it's one of my top recommended book series. I've learned so much and fallen so hard for these characters. You may think you have them figured out at first, but they constantly surprise you. I'm sad to bid this particular story farewell.
Magic Triumphs is the tenth and final book of the Kate Daniels series and it was my most anticipated book of 2018. Let me start off by saying this is the most satisfying series finale I’ve ever read. I applaud Andrews for tying things up in such a way that didn’t seem predictable and didn’t leave me feeling cheated out of a true resolution.
We get to see so many of our favorite characters from the series
Spoiler
including Hugh d'Ambry *squee*And now we move on to the spoilery section of my review.
***SPOILERS***
Spoiler
I loved this book soooo much! I am still fangirling about it days later. I tried to coherently compile a list of my favorite moments from the book because I honestly can't find a fault with it.
Conlan’s warrior form
Baby warrior form wreaking havoc on Kate's helicopter mom parenting! Of course, Kate and Curran's son would be one thousand times more powerful than your average shifter. Not only does he have the blood of the First and Kate's own magical ancestry, but he was also conceived after Curran ate the Saber Tooth god that Roland had imprisoned! Who knows what other crazy abilities Conlan will have in store! Also, he had his own Jack Jack (The Incredibles) moment when Razor tried to abduct him. This is one powerful little dude. I cracked up when Kate cooed at Conlan making a game out of the fact that Curran was ripping apart Razor limb from limb.
Every interaction between Nick and Kate
Especially Kate thrusting Conlan upon him while meeting the Order members from Wolf Trap. More reluctant Uncle Nick, please!
Ghastek/Rowena and Barabas/Christopher
If I had one gripe, it would be that there wasn't enough Barabas and Christopher, but then I remember how many characters IA had to feature and everyone got a little spotlight. I've been waiting for some confirmation that Ghastek and Rowena had a thing for each other and we finally get it. It was a tense moment where Rowena was about to die and Ghastek said he would never leave her *swoon*. Christopher and Barabas are getting married!!! Just saying, they are totally a power couple and I'm glad they are getting an HEA.
Kate and Hugh fighting back to back just like the vision from Magic Rises
I never thought I’d love Hugh or root for Kate to forgive him, but after Iron and Magic, I’m totally on board with his redemption arc. The fact that Hugh thought they would be fighting together for Roland when the vision was originally shown, and the reality was them fighting together against Roland (and Neig, technically) was the ultimate payoff. I was hoping to see this as soon as Kate donned her blood armor and Erra praised it. Kate was fully in her element and how poetic for these two, who once hated each other, to trust each other to guard their backs. Beautiful!!!
Curran’s double contingency plan
Plans, on plans, on plans! IA sure threw me for a loop with Curran's whole god-hood storyline in this book. I was very mad that he knowingly became a god with the full knowledge that eventually he would lose his humanity. Then he and Erra showed me I had nothing to worry about because they know Kate better than anyone and they planned for the worst-case scenario - Kate sacrificing herself to kill Roland and Curran having powers of resurrection due to his god-eating habits -> Curran goes back to normal. What a freaking great plot twist!
“Oops” - Curran
Erra is also resurrected. I didn’t see that one coming and it’s everything I didn’t know I needed. Her reaction when she realizes what happened was just great. IA really has a knack for taking a character who we all initially despise and turning our feelings on their head with a redemption arc. Erra and Kate's relationship was one of the quieter moments of the past two books and I really appreciated how Kate became almost like a daughter to Erra.
Roland’s fate
After reading Iron and Magic and this book's constant mention of the White Warlock, I was sure that Elara was going to be the end game for Roland. I was wrong! And I’ve never been so happy. After Elara and the witches' attempt to put Roland in stasis fails, Kate saves Julie (more on that later) and stabs herself so that when she dies, so would Roland. Roland starts to fade and Kate surreptitiously flashes Neig’s anchor and he takes the bait and gets trapped in Neig’s lair. Erra tries to save Kate by pouring her essence into Kate's dying body, and Curran uses every ounce of his new god powers to resurrect her. Really love that Kate, Hugh, Julie, and eventually, Conlan can all go and visit him.
Tease of future Hugh and Pack interactions
Poor Dali. Even though I sort of dislike Jim because of his treatment of Kate, I totally love Dali and want her to be able to have her babies! I’m so glad that Hugh didn’t fix her in this book. It just means that Dali will show up in Hugh’s next book. Also, Ascanio was missing from this book so I’m wondering if he’ll appear in Hugh’s too or maybe a future Derek and Julie book.
Tease of future Julie (possibly Derek?) books
We already had a glimpse of a Julie and Derek team up/future romance in Magic Stars, but with Julie leaving Kate - after Kate breaks her promise to never use the blood bond to control her -I think that there will be a possible time jump. Or maybe a few books with a 18/19 year old Julie and then age her up a bit before Derek is reintroduced for some romance. Love that she and Erra are traveling together. We know that Erra wants to return her mother’s bones to her homeland. Kate also mentions that Roland fears ancient powers that are awakening there that are much older than his and Kate’s magic. I’d be excited to explore Julie’s natural powers and Erra seemed to know a lot about Julie’s “kind”. I hope we get Julie books after Hugh’s.