Magic Burns

Magic Burns, by Ilona Andrews. Ace, 2008.

The sequel to Magic Bites drops us in the middle of an alternate Atlanta, where waves of magic and 'tech' rise and fall, crashing against each other, and of course Kate Daniels--formerly a mercenary, now working for the Order--is right in the middle of things again. This time, a magical flare is wreaking havoc on the city, and Kate has to protect Julie, a 12-year-old girl who may be at the center of a war between Celtic deities. Kate is torn between loyalty to the Order (whose precepts she doesn't entirely agree with) and allegiance to the shapeshifting Pack, along with their 'Beast Lord,' the leonine Curran. Really, she just wants a break.

I was instantly jealous after finishing Magic Burns. Why? Because Ilona is funnier than me. The whole book has an effortless current of dark humor to it, and just when a scene is about to get crazy, Kate will make some wry remark that makes me think she might be a boyish RPG nerd in a female mercenary's body. Andrews deals with all the usual UF folks--vampires, werewolves, crazy things with tentacles--in her own unique style, and she takes them seriously, but also treats them with just the right amount of irony. I especially love her necromancers who can control vampires like puppet-masters, working from air-conditioned, secure rooms, like evil corporate CEOs.

The plot is sharp, and momentum practically flings the reader from one scene to the next. With all that flinging, one can forget how imaginative and well-crafted Andrews' world really is. But then Kate walks into a giant tortoise--yes, into the tortoise, through its mouth--and suddenly it clicks. This author knows how to dream. She knows exactly what she's doing. And many of these scenes made me think: damn, why didn't I think of real metal harpies, or ghouls with prehensile hair, or women living inside a giant tortoise?

Cons are few. At times, Kate is such a badass, so clearly the Queen of Badassery, that it becomes hard to see her as a vulnerable character. She's got a magic sword, blood that repels viruses, words of power...and yes, she does get hurt badly in a few scenes, but I'd still like to see her at more of a disadvantage sometimes. I was always happy when she mouthed off to...well, just about everyone in the book. I don't agree with folks who think that UF heroines have become 'too sassy.' Oh, hai, the 1950s called: they want their ideology back. It's called feminism, folks. Let's rejoice and be happy for these characters who kick serious paranormal ass. Of course, I was also told by one editor that my protagonist was too sassy, and then immediately afterwards told by a different editor that she wasn't sassy enough. So sass remains tricky.

I heartily recommend Magic Burns to anyone looking for a paranormal romp with an impressive protagonist, an engaging cast of characters, and a story full of wit and heart.

Buy Magic Burns from Amazon