Friday, September 16, 2016

Audiobook Review: Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews


Series: Kate Daniels #6
Narrator: Reneé Raudman
Unabridged
15 hrs. 6 min.
Publisher: Recorded Books
Published: July 30, 13
Source: Library
Atlanta is a city plagued by magical problems. Kate Daniels will fight to solve them—no matter the cost. 
Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta. 
Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap…
My thoughts:

THANK YOU LIBRARY! They got this one in on CD and I immediately started listening to it. I guess bugging them forever pays off. LOL I swear I'm addicted to this series. This was no exception and Reneé Raudman's narration is spot on as ever. I swear as long as she is narrating I will want to listen to this series. She made 15 hrs fly by in no time at all!

I love that in this one it is all about pack and who belongs in it. Not everyone is shifter nor are they the same kind of shifter to belong to Kate and Curran's pack. I think that is why I love this series so much. There is diversity even though there is a lean toward the same even in this world. This one gave me all the feels and I even wanted to smack Curran for his part in hurting Kate. Oh Kate did hurt, but luckily it was mostly physical... although the emotional ones were pretty hard to take. I did forgive Curran (appropriate groveling on his part LOL) but there was one emotional scene that just about killed me. It was a NOOooooOOOOO! moment and I'm still upset about it. It is an appropriate and intentioned upset... but I want to go back and change that one thing. No, I'm not telling and you will have to experience that part for yourself. 

The only niggle I would have in this story was Hugh D’Ambray. I did like having his character in this one and how he is the closest mirror to Kate's skill. However, not everything here worked for me. I wasn't sure how to take a couple of things and I hesitate to state them because it would be spoilery in nature. However, I will say they are minor niggles and do not detract from the story as a whole for me. 

I give this audiobook 4 1/2 stars. Again, it is masterfully narrated and I highly recommend this series (read it in order!) to anyone who enjoys UF. In fact, this series should be a must read for those that enjoy UF. :D

Alternative PB cover which I think is so much better. :D

27 comments:

  1. Oh yes this series is just so awesome! I love it so much!

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  2. This is my least favorite because of all the relationship issues that kind of seemed forced, but it's still awesome and I love this series. I'm glad you're enjoying them, too. The audiobooks are awesome.

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    1. I don't think I want to read them, just listen. That doesn't happen too often. :)

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  3. I adore this series, I really need to get caught up before the next book comes out!

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    1. I'm slowly getting there. I want to catch up and I don't... if you know what I mean. :D

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  4. I so love this series too. I only listen to it. After I listened to my first one, I never went back to reading (even revisited the earlier books on audio). I also agree that the paperback covers are way better than the audio covers. I don't understand why they sometimes change (I know that it probably has little to do with the authors and more with the publishers making this decision). Why not just pay the original designer just a little bit more to modify the original art than to pay to completely redesign a new cover? I just don't get it.

    Melanie @ Hot Listens & Rabid Reads

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    1. Since I really like the redesign, I cannot complain. :) I have only listened to this series as well! Reneé does such a great job in this series!

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  5. I love this series, and I love the audiobooks. I got a ebook ARC of the latest but I just can't read it, I need the narration by Renee. Glad to see you are loving this as much as I did.

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    1. I have a feeling I would be the same. I need that audio. Don't know what I would do if Reneé didn't narrate it though.

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  6. I liked this one so much! I can't wait for the next book to come out. Also, totally want to be Kate when I grow up. :p

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  7. I really need to get reacquainted with this series. I'm like, so behind now. :(

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  8. Woohoo for the library coming through! I need to bug mine more often I think. And yay for this series. So good!

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  9. Oh yeah, that emotional moment was hard on me too. Happy you loved it.

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    1. Didn't love that part tho. :'( Hated that part, but it also makes sense that something like that would happen.

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  10. The Curran part didn't bother me at all. I never believed it for 1 second and I'm surprised Kate did - even though I know she has insecurities.

    Karen @For What It's Worth

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    1. I think it is because it bothered Kate, it bothered me. I loved the way he apologized. :)

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  11. OMG... wait until the next book!!!! I think books 6-8 are the strongest of the series, with each even better than the previous. The opening of this one KILLED me, as did the highly emotional part closer to the end you are probably talking about. The emotional content of the series just goes off the charts in the next two books. And with Renee reading them... utter perfection.

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    1. Now I'm scairt.... ramping up the emotionality off the charts?! *hugs all the characters closer* Oh man, you have me wanting to read them all at once!

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  12. This series is so addictive! I love Kate and Curran... I really need to get to it and read Magic Shifts, because Magic Binds is out!

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