Review: Magic Burns (Kate Daniels #2) by Ilona Andrews ★★★★★

Down in Atlanta, tempers – and temperatures – are about to flare…

As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate’s going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger scale: a divine one.

When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta’s paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realizes much more at stake. During a flare, gods and goddesses can manifest – and battle for power. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug-of-war between two gods hoping for rebirth. And if Kate can’t stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive…Review

This is book two of the series. You should start with book one: Magic Bites

This second instalment in the Kate Daniels series was even better than the first (and I fricking loved book one!). Always the first in a series has that "setting up" feel to it to some extent, some worse than others. Magic Bites wasn't actually too bad but even so, it's nice to get to book two and move past it. Now, we know the characters, we know exactly who we want Kate to get together with (Hello, Curran), even if she doesn't yet know herself. And so we wait, patiently, for the penny to drop.

Aside from Kate and Curran slow-burn deliciousness, there is a lot going on in this one. There is a magical flare brewing in Atlanta. The waves from magic to tech have started going haywire and because of this, we meet some interesting creatures and characters that can only make an appearance during such times.

She also picks up a new sidekick in the form of a street kid named Julie. I've come to the conclusion that Kate, no matter how tough, mouthy and prickly she can seem, really can't say no to someone asking for help. It's just not possible for her to walk away from someone who needs her.

The ending of this book was particularly great and climatic and I find I am inhaling these books at breakneck speed and am already concerned about the withdrawal symptoms I will face when I run out!

Moving straight onto book 3...