Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Magic Bites
Ilona Andrews
Ace – The Berkley Publishing Group
April 2007
978-0-441-01489-7

In a world that fluctuates between technology and magic, Kate Daniels is a mercenary who deals in magical problems for the Guild. When her guardian is murdered Kate sets out to track down his killer and finds herself in the middle of an ongoing feud between the necromancers who control the vampires, and the organized shapechangers known as the Pack. Each side blames the other for the mysterious killings that are occurring in the Atlanta area, and Kate is sure that someone knows more than they’re telling.

Curran, as alpha of the Pack, takes the deaths of his shapechangers personally. Joining in an uneasy alliance with Kate, they work to solve the mystery behind the murders. As the body count grows so does the danger involved, but Curran is willing to put himself at risk to save the members of his Pack.

Nick works for the Order, the same organization that employed Kate’s Guardian. With skills that show his own strengths, Nick will join the fight and hope to destroy those responsible for the brutal killing spree.

With some big help from some tentative new friends, Kate follows leads until she finds the truth. Staying alive may prove to be more difficult than she originally thought, and keeping everyone else alive could bring her own life to an end.

Magic Bites is a magical place to visit, where ready or not, life around you can change in the blink of an eye. Ilona Andrews pens a fabulously well detailed world that smoothly slips between magic and technology for the reader. Well imagined with clearly drawn characters, this is a book that fantasy and paranormal lovers are sure to enjoy/

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

The Becoming by Jeanne C. Stein

The Becoming
Jeanne C. Stein
Ace – The Berkley Publishing Group
December 2006
0-441-01456-9

Anna Strong’s life as a bounty hunter requires her to be tough enough to deal with the criminals she brings in. On a job with her partner she’s assaulted by the man she’s been paid to take into custody. For her troubles Anna is bitten and turned against her will. She wakes in a hospital with no recollection of what happened, but as the night in question filters back into her memory Anna is more shocked at her own behavior than that of her assailant. Now with a little help from Avery, Anna pursues the renegade vampire who took her human life.

Avery is a doctor as well as a Night Watcher, a vampire who keeps an eye on their community. When Anna is brought in to the emergency room Avery knows exactly what has happened to her and it’s his duty as a doctor as well as a Night Watcher to keep her under observation. Anna’s boyfriend Max is away for the most part, so seducing her is an easy enough task. Avery will do everything in his power to push Anna into leaving her mortal life behind, but she’s not so easily swayed and it may just turn into a fight to the end.

The Becoming has all of the key elements needed to make it an intriguing and powerful start in this first installment of the Anna Strong Chronicles. Ms. Stein pens a well-built paranormal world for Anna’s introduction into the vampire ranks, and gives readers a taste of the dangers that come along with Anna’s new found immortality. Deliciously sexy and delightfully seductive, it will keep you riveted and craving more.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Kitty Takes A Holiday by Carrie Vaughn

Kitty Takes a Holiday
Carrie Vaughn
Warner Books
April 2007
978-0-446-61874-8

Kitty Norville hosts a radio show and happens to be a werewolf. She’s currently taking a break from her show and from life in general. Agreeing to write a book, Kitty finds a cabin in the mountains to suit her needs for some peace and solitude. When someone begins leaving sacrificed animals on her porch, Kitty figures the locals don’t want her around, but when Cormac shows up at the door with her injured lawyer Ben, things are turning downright ugly. Livestock are dying, someone is trying to curse her and Kitty has two arguing men to deal with, without having to worry about the evil that’s waiting for her out in the dark. When it finally makes its move, Kitty will fight with all she has, but sometimes even her wolf’s strength isn’t enough.

Cormac Bennett is a bounty hunter who spends his time tracking and killing the things that most people don’t believe in. When a particularly difficult case gets Ben injured, he goes to Kitty for help. With part of his case left unsolved, Ben barely alive, and Kitty’s life in danger, Cormac calls in a friend to help make sense of the evil that’s actively stalking them. Discovering what it is wasn’t so difficult, but actually finding a way to stop it will be something entirely different. They’re going to need a whole lot more than luck to survive this one.

Kitty Takes a Holiday is fantastically action filled as Kitty’s adventures continue. With some help from her friends, Kitty manages to find herself up against some of the darkest evil she has ever had to face. Ms. Vaughn has developed another fabulous edition in Kitty’s paranormal world. Running off at the mouth and flying by the seat of her pants, Kitty will catch readers up in the chaos that’s her life and keep them riveted until the end.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews