First read: 5 STARS and TOP READ 2013
Second read: Still 5 STARS and more

How to review Magic Strikes? If I'm being honest, this is the book that turn the tide. Yeah, yeah, book 1 have suffered from 1st-book-in-series syndrome, but in book 2, IA already improved their writing. Like I said in my first read review, third time is a charm. It's like Magic Strikes is the beginning of IA books that I already know and loved. I'm not only reading Magic Strikes for the 2nd times, but also the 3rd times because I really, really enjoy the book.

Where do I start? This is the book that finally reveal Kate's personalities behind her hard-to-crack persona. Reading a scene where she fall apart after Derek got tortured and captured is not easy to read. Kate is angry and sad but she got difficulties to express herself so the part that she can't shed a tears while she really want to is pretty well written. Her witty banter with Curran is adorable as hell, I really crack up when she deny her feeling after kissing Curran with compared it to "like kissing a brother." I also get an impression that while an alpha and almost bordering in alpha-hole, Curran is actually a fair and just man. If I'm being in Curran's shoes, what Jim did even in the name of the Pack's security will pissed me off to no end. I will VERY PISSED and Curran have the right to banish Jim from the Pack. But no, he's being reasonable, he's listen to his Pack's member and deliver a fair punishment for them, Derek included.

Andrea is awesome, Raphael too is awesome (I still compare him to Raphael from Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter because of the same built and physical description although IA's Raphael has a longer hair), Julie got a big crush to Derek but Derek failed to notice. My complaints about Dali actually still the same, since I find her name is weird for an Indonesian. Also her option of magic also weird, because Dali practice shodo magic that originally from Japan. Why not make her Japanese instead, I have no idea. I mean, if you want to be true to her origin, Dali will practice what I called "santet", lol. Santet is also some form of curse. I have a guts that why IA create Dali -and if true that she's come from Bali-, then the Hindu myth about rakshasa make sense because the majority of Balinese practiced Hindu. Although, I will praised IA to make an Indonesian character and make Dali recognizable as some of important character.

Magic Strikes is still one of my favorite Kate Daniels book but let see if any future book will beat it since I stopped reading after Magic Slays and I do a reread from Magic Bites to Magic Slays to refresh my memory before I will continue read Gunmetal Magic and some of Andrea & Dali's novella.

First read review: 
To said that Magic Strikes was amazing, is an understatement. Because this book is made of pure awesomeness. Three seems like a magic number, a charm, that make me finally know why readers are so devoted for Kate Daniels series in particular. Magic Strikes have it all, a perfect mix of fantasy, action, witty banter, dry humor, myth and grotesque details. All of it make me devour this book in one sitting. I read this on the train when I go back to Jakarta from my in laws home. Read it again while waiting for the next train to my home, read again on the second train, then read it until 1 a.m while my hubby snored beside me. That's mean, this book is soooo great, it keep me hooked until the last page.

I'm glad I took a chance with Kate Daniels series. Magic Bites, like the title, just a bite to show you the beginning of the world. A tiny bit, but make you intrigued enough to continue to read. Magic Burns, burn you with the intensity of the story, how you will know more about Kate and her secrets. And of course her witty banter and unusual relationship with the Beast Lord of Atlanta, Curran Lenart. And then, finally in Magic Strikes, it will strike you with no mercy. Left you breathless, because finally, finally you come to love Kate Daniels and her cohorts.

What make Kate Daniels series standing is the characters. Without interesting characters, no matter how amazing the worldbuilding, how wonderful the story, it will make you feel there something amiss in the books. Kate Daniels, finally I can relate to you. I know why reader love you, for I love you for your stubborness, your strength and your loyalty to those you think as friend. I like the scene when Kate so worry about Derek's condition, how she want to said sorry, wallow in her guilt. No tears come, but I can feel her sadness and grieve. Curran, now I know why readers swoon and see that you and Kate make ideal couple. For I think you are alpha, but not fall into alphahole kind. You are still funny, despite your arrogance. Your witty banter with Kate are priceless, and of course the tub scene make me fanning myself (who already read too much erotica!). Can't wait to know more about your naked dinner deal with Kate ;).

Of course, without secondary characters, the story will lost more of it awesomeness. I like the secret behind Saiman's true identity. How Ilona Andrews can mix the myth and make me delighted when know about it. The myth behind Kate's enemy also well done. Then, I get to know and like more to Jim, Derek, Dolittle, Andrea and Raphael. Talk about Raphael, dear Ilona Andrews, do you also read In Death series by JDRobb like Nalini Singh too? Because I swear, Raphael's appearance and his personality kinda match Roarke! But I will not complaint about this. I like Andrea and Raphael, and want to know more about them. The scene when Raphael's protest about paranormal romance (pirate nonetheless) books by Lorna Sterling (Andrea's favorite) is cracked me up. But also show how Ilona Andrews see bodice ripper genre. In this, I'm so agree with them.

Derek, oh poor Derek. I can't even wonder how much pain he feel after his torture. It's so horrible and make me almost weep. I look forward for his and Julie, even I don't how Kate will react if those two younglings decide to date, lol!

What I love the most? OMG, finally I find Indonesian character in book that written by American or aboard writers! It's so rare to find Indonesian character, a true Indonesian. Usually, they just shown from their heritage, or just a meaningless character. But Dali, wow she kick ass. Also she's so cute, a vegetarian tiger nonetheless! Well, we Indonesian not exactly vegetarian, but we are agriculture country, where the farmers still a foundation of the society. So, it kinda make sense about Dali become vegetarian. Just some complaint, tho.

First, why Dali is so petite? Her height is just 5 feet tall. I'm five feet too, but mostly Indonesian women's height is above five feet (my sister is 5'5" feet). 

Second, maybe for Caucasian people, our skin looks dark. I take it, if Dali is from Borneo, her skin is lighter than brown. I'm not sure if almond brown is a lighter brown. Maybe it is (duh!). But, not all of us have dark skin. We come from many different culture, so our skin colors are vary. Some have ivory skin, which close to white, a sign of Chinese heritage. Some have a nearly black skin color, which you can meet them on Papua. 

Third, I read in Magic Dream synopsis that Dali's full name is Dali Harimau. Really, Ilona Andrews? I don't know why they named her Dali in the first place. I told you, it not usual name. I wonder, maybe to make her more exotic. But, as for Indonesian myself, I feel, very very weird. What kind of name of Harimau anyway? In Indonesian, Harimau means tiger. But, we also don't take family name, especially for some tribes. I wonder why. Maybe you can explain to me, why you choose Harimau, please Ilona Andrews? It's bugged me :(

Btw, the complaint is just from me ). I hope there's will be more Dali in the future. And even she just got a novella, I want her to have her own book like Andrea in Gunmetal Magic. 

Last word? If you still hesitate to start Kate Daniels series, don't. Start collect the book (like I do), be patient when you read Magic Bites and Magic Burns (like I do!), and prepare to hold your breath when read Magic Strikes. Because, if you then love Kate Daniels and also Ilona Andrews, well, welcome to Atlanta. When technology failed and magic rules, you can always rely on Kate to kicking some undead or magic creature that roaming in the street.