Review: Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

Title:Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels #3)

Author: Ilona Andrews  

Buy it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble   

Add it: Goodreads  

Meet the author: Goodreads, Official blog 

Rating:
 

Drafted into working for the Order of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems than she knows what to do with these days. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.

But when Kate's werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games—an invitation only, no holds barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament—she and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta's shapeshifting community…

Derek Noooo!!!

This. Book. Has. Me. Flailing. 

If the books before where awesome this one is Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! I was in a cramped up position throughout the whole book. I came up for air around 3 am and realized that I, once again, wasted precious sleeping time for a book.
 Was it worth it? Hell Yes!

I don't even know where to begin.
Saiman, the lovely neighborhood skin changer makes and appearance, and we get to learn more about him and his heritage (kept imagining Tom Hiddleston, it was hilarious)

There are a few new villain's on the block, and an old one.

Kate's past is explained and we learn a little about  little kitty Curran becoming His Furriness.

Kate kicks Jim's butt without violence (I'm still laughing at his expression)
We get to meet even more of the Pack.
 Kate&Curran cat-mouse game continues, this time literary.

I thought I couldn't love Kate anymore than I do now, but damn, I was wrong.
It's the third book already, but it feels like we just dusted off this thing called her character, not even one layer  was peeled off and I marvel at the writing duo. I tip my hat off to you.

Derek is in serious trouble this time and his life hangs on by a thread, but Kate is there to save him at any cost.

The Gang (I'm calling them the gang from now on) find themselves trust in the "Midnight Games" an underground fighting tournament, where fighters fight to death to the joy of the audience.
But there's a catch, all shifters under Curran's order are forbidden to fight. 
Obey or feel his wrath.
Do they listen? NO!

The fight for Derek's life before Curran finds them is on. If they don't complete it Derek will be killed and Kate will cook in underwear.

It's action packed from first word to the last.
I raced through the whole thing to get to the end and it very nearly killed me.
The Kate-Curran relationship is shaping out greatly, there was even a steamy moment.
I love how Curran treats Kate as his equal, respects her strength  and the fact that she stands up to him.

The last part of the book was the best. Kate risked everything to save her Friends. 
And Her Friends returned the favor. Derek is... different, but I still love him. 
 The ending is swoon worthy and I can't wait to get my hands on the fourth installment!