Magic Breaks

June 30, 2014
Picking up some time after the events of Magic Rises, the 11th outing (and first hardcover) for mercenary Kate Daniels has her fighting to prevent her home territory of Atlanta from becoming a supernatural war zone. Kate’s father, the immortal warlord Roland, continues his quest for dominance over the city by sending her old enemy Hugh d’Ambray to stir things up. When one of the vampire-controlling Masters of the Dead is killed by a shape-shifter, it brings the two factions to the brink of war. Kate must hold the Pack together while her mate is out of town, find the killer, and survive feral monsters and political intrigue. Magical mayhem ensues and Kate fights for her life against overwhelming odds, leading to a newfound alliances with her foes. Character profiles, an overview of the story to date, and an additional short story ensure that existing fans will be entertained, while new readers won’t be entirely lost. Agent: Nancy Yost, Nancy Yost Literary Agency.

July 1, 2014

Kate Daniels just wants to grab some quiet time with the shape-shifting love of her life (and leader of Atlanta's Pack) Curran, but her father has other plans. Kate is the only living child of Roland, the many-thousand-year-old builder of towers, creator of vampires, and the most powerful magic wielder in the world. She has long hidden her paternity, but the secret is out now, and no one whom Kate cares about is safe. The Pack has amassed too much power, and Roland sends his general to Atlanta to take care of them--and Kate--once and for all. The action and tension are high as Kate heads for an inevitable confrontation with her father. VERDICT This is one of the best urban fantasy series around, and while there is a strong romantic element (including a weirdly discordant steamy sex scene), the focus is on the battle and the continued development of Kate, who is conflicted about her own power but determined to protect those close to her. The series has just made the jump to hardcover (after 2013's Magic Rises).

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