First read: 3 stars
Second read: 4 stars

First read review in Indonesian can be read here: https://renslittlecorner.blogspot.com/2012/08/review-magic-bites-oleh-ilona-andrews.html

Re-read review:

Re-reading Magic Bites roughly 12 years after my first read in 2012 sure make things seems different. I realized that back then in 2012, I'm still on my Paranormal Romance era so any fantasy or urban fantasy with slow burn romance irked me so bad, lol. My 2024-self right now is fine with slow burn and lack of romance. IA said that book 1 and 2 was rough and I amend that. IMHO, book 1 WAS rough but not that bad. My copy is like the 6th or 7th printing and they use term "shape-changer" when they refer to the Pack and I find it weird because when I read Magic Burns (I re-read back to back) they finally used the term "shapeshifter".

My complaint back then in 2012 is IA like to used long name for organization. Now, I realized that the name is quite simple. There's no fancy or unpronounceable names. Pack refer to the shapeshifter under Curran's rule. People is those necromancers that navigate the vampire. Order of the Merciful Aid is self explanatory, a bunch of knight with determination to deliver the merciful aid with a skew views what is right and wrong. Mercenary Guild that Kate was part of also..self explanatory. I keep asking my 2012 self with "why, why, and why". I think maturity also affect your reading taste and ability to understand book you read, heh.

IA have trademark in which most of their books were told in 1st PoV views with the exception of the Edge series, Kinsmen and Alpha: Origin. If you read all their books back to back, chance you will get a hard time to differentiate the voice. However, I kind of can differentiate Kate's voice with say...Nevada's or Catalina's from Hidden Legacy. Kate is full of sarcasm and witty remarks but also can't keep her mouth shut. She's also a lone wolf, contrary to Nevada/Catalina/Dina/etc. Also, mind you, Magic Bites is IA's debut. They still try to find their footing. Book 1 is always rough with some of info dumping that bordering in telling rather than showing.

Some things that bothering me is how quick Kate to accuse her "maybe will be boyfriend" Crest to be the culprit. I think maybe IA already plan to have Kate with Curran, but hey, make it slow burn first with both parties have some significant others. Kate and Crest totally didn't matched, lol, and it's hurt to read their interactions. Some of scenes changing also rough and make me confused as hell. Although IA managed to capture the dark and gritty atmosphere of the book. No maps of Atlanta, but well the following books also don't have maps.

To sum it up, Magic Bites is a diamond on the rough. Its have potential despite the not-so-stellar writing. I can say, please give this book a chance and I know that 10 more books in a series is a haunting task and need so many commitment. But if there's one series that I'm glad I give it a chance, then it's Kate Daniels series.