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Review

FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!

I enjoyed the first two books in the Kate Daniels series, but with this book, it feels like everything has been kicked up a notch, and I could not get enough of it!

I’m now completely comfortable in Kate’s world, and I love the originality of it. It’s dangerous, but the way she handles herself and the bizarre situations she finds herself in is absolutely brilliant. She’s smart, confident, and hilariously sarcastic, she cares deeply for her friends, but she’s a total badass, with a highly entertaining inner monologue. She is very quickly becoming one of my favourite pnr heroines ever!

“I gave him a smile. I was aiming for sweet, but he turned a shade paler and scooted a bit farther from me. Note to self: work more on sweet and less on psycho-killer.”

This book takes us into yet another seedy side of Kate’s post-apocalyptic Atlanta, to the Midnight Games – a exclusive yet viciously brutal fighting tournament. When Kate finds her young shifter friend, Derek, beaten nearly to death, she gets sucked into an investigation which uncovers a secret plot against the Pack and results in she and her friends putting their lives on the line in a series of Gladiator-type battles in order to eliminate the threat.

And holy shit, it is intense! The badassery is off the freaking charts as magic, brute strength and paranormal awesomeness combine to create a violent and gory action-packed story that is full of excitement from start to finish. All of the major players from the series so far are along for the ride, and tied into it is the mystery of Kate herself as the secret of her heritage is finally revealed.

And on top of all of that, we have the absolute awesome that is the battle of wills that is Kate vs Curran. The Beast Lord is starting to stake his claim, and I (along with Kate’s friends) had a fantastic time trying to interpret each of his actions and motivations. He’s so smooth, arrogant and powerful, it’s shiver inducing every time he appears. And every little interaction between them is brimming with sexual tension, and the anticipation builds deliciously as Kate pushes, and Curran pushes back.

“His Majesty needs a can-I girl anyway. And I’m not it.”
“A can-I girl?” Andrea frowned.
I leaned back. “‘Can I fetch your food, Your Majesty? Can I tell you how strong and mighty you are, Your Majesty? Can I pick your fleas, Your Majesty? Can I kiss your ass, Your Majesty? Can I…”
It dawned on me that Raphael was sitting very still. Frozen, like a statue, his gaze fixed on the point above my head.
“He’s standing behind me, isn’t he?”
Andrea nodded slowly.
“Technically it should be ‘may I’,” Curran said, his voice deeper than I remembered. “Since you’re asking for permission.”
He stepped into my view, reached for a chair at a table next to us, and found it bolted to the floor. He gripped the chair and plucked it from the concrete with one hand, leaving four screws sticking out of the floor. He put the chair next to me, back first, and saddled it like a horse, crossing his arms on the top of the back to show off carved biceps.
Why me?
“To answer your question, yes, you may kiss my ass. Normally I prefer to maintain my personal space, but you’re a Friend of the Pack and your services have proven useful once or twice. I strive to accommodate the wishes of persons friendly to my people. My only question is, would kissing my ass be obediance, grooming, or foreplay?”

Things are moving slowly, but they’re definitely moving. I loved the hint of things to come that we got in this book, and I cannot WAIT to watch as it all finally comes together!

“You came for me,” I whispered.
“Always,” he told me. 

Squeeeeee!!!

But enough of my Curran-induced romance fan-girling, because there is so much to love about this series. The paranormal / urban fantasy setting is unique, complex and utterly enthralling. The stories move at a quick pace, and the action is fantastic. And even though there is a lot of intensity, these books are so freaking funny! Kate is funny enough on her own, but add in the rest of the characters, and some of their conversations had me laughing out loud! The dynamics between the different groups are fantastic, and there are some really interesting relationships developing. It all adds up to pure win, and I can’t wait to continue on.

5 stars.

Check out our Kate Daniels series page for more information including reading order, reviews and buy links.