Absolutely obsessed with Ilona Andrews and their amazing storytelling skills. The journey readers have taken with Kate and Curran isn’t over and that feels me with SO MUCH hope and happiness. The world building is beyond any other supernatural series. Magic Tides dips our toes into Kate and Curran’s “new reality” but will it last? I, for one, can’ wait to find out.

*4.5 stars*

Wow, this novella hit ALL the right notes. It's been 7 years since I've last read a Kate Daniels books, and I was sucked right back in!

To be honest, I was worried before starting Magic Tides. I'm not caught up with my Kate Daniels books, and I was very concerned that I wouldn't be follow along. However, it was surprisingly easy to get back into the groove with this story.

I would highly recommend that you at least read a few Kate Daniels books or else I think you will be totally lost. There is a lot of information there, but Ilona Andrews does a great job at introducing the information in a digestible way.

My favorite thing about this book was that it was just pure FUN. It was exciting and energizing, and I couldn't get enough. Kate went on one long, exhilarating adventure, and I literally couldn't put the book down. It's a shorter story, but I think it's a great length to hook readers into the new series.

Ilona Andrews can do no wrong, and this book was back to Ilona Andrews basics. Amen.

I was surprised by this short story in the Kate Daniels universe. And what could be better than having a new story? I was thrilled to see Kate, Curran and Conlan again.

Our three protagonists find themselves in a new town. They hope to keep a low profile, but it’s not that easy. It’s even more difficult when Conlan tells his mother that a child has been kidnapped and asks her to find him. In no time at all, Kate sets out to find the boy and visits the city’s great supernatural entities to rescue him. No more anonymity.

I had a great time with this little story. I was thrilled to find the characters I love and enjoyed following this adventure. I recommend it!

One of the best aspects of an Ilona Andrews story is the deep connection the reader feels to the characters and their lives. Kate and Curran rode off into their HEA several years ago and series fans couldn’t be happier. But they have been missed them. Magic Tides is a wonderful, long novella that returns readers to Kate’s post-magical shift world. The story picks up several years after the end of Magic Triumphs as Kate and Curran move to Wilmington to live a “normal” life and find the right educational opportunity for Conlan, their incredibly gifted son. Curran, of course must build a fortified base and Kate attempts to keep a low profile while renovating. Our heroes must be heroes and keeping a low profile is just not in the cards. This is a fun fast-paced magical romp. The dialogue is snappy, the battle scenes are fierce, and the monsters are truly monstrous. There is the opportunity to meet new friends and reconnect with some old ones. As always, the writing and storytelling are first rate. A joy from beginning to end. Highly recommended. Five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and NYLA for an advanced readers copy of this novella.

This was perfection! I can’t even explain how joyful I was to learn that we were getting a new Kate Daniels story. I was so sad when the series ended but understood why it needed to end. The fact that the writing team of Ilona Andrews decided to bless us with a novella/short novel featuring these well-loved characters is nothing short of a dream come true. Of course, I dived into this just as soon as it made its way into my greedy hands and I can honestly tell you that it is even better than you think it will be.

Kate, Curran, and Conlan have moved to Wilmington and hope to live a quiet life. Obviously, this is never going to happen because Kate is Kate and Curran is Curran. When Kate finds out that a child is in danger, of course, she has to help. So much for staying under the radar. Kate leaves with the boy’s father on a rescue mission while Curran and Conlan get their home ready for the fallout. This story wasn’t long but it was a very full story with all of the awesomeness that I have come to expect from this fantastic series.

This book had all of the action and excitement that I had hoped it would. We get to see Kate, Curran, and even Conlan use just about all of their skills. It was great to see Kate and Curran as parents sharing life lessons with their son all while making their world a safer place. The secondary characters were very well-done and often added a bit of humor to the story. This book was everything that I dared to hope for. I am thrilled that we got this opportunity to see Kate, Curran, and even Conlan kick some ass. I hope that we don’t have to wait too long to see these characters again.

I received a digital review copy of this book from NYLA.

We need MORE!

It's been more than a year since I requested or accepted to review an ARC, even for books I was excited about. I've just had so much on my plate and on my mind and I've been unable to write more than a few lines for the books I've read since.
But when 2 of my favorite authors released a surprise book in one of my all-time favorite series and I was sent an early copy, scraping together the few neurons I had available to write a review was a price I was willing to pay to read this book asap!

I'm not sure I can explain how much I love this series and how much of a comforting and cozy place it has become in the last few years. Kate is probably the most badass, sassy, funny, smart female characters I've ever encountered in fiction. One of the most unapologetically caring and kind too. So it didn't come as a surprise that when her contractor's nephew has been kidnapped, she didn't think twice before blowing her chance at a (most deserved) quiet, anonymous life with her family in their new <s>fortress</s> home in order to rescue him.

I had so much fun catching up with Kate and Curran and seeing that they didn't change at all since the events of their last book. Their love was just as strong, their interactions were just as hilarious and their fierce loyalty and devotion to those who were under their protection just as unshakable. Even though I love and miss Kate's team in Atlanta, the new characters she and Curran met in Wilmington were quite intriguing and I'm pretty sure we will see more of them and of the People, the Order and the Pack in future books.

I can't wait for more books in this new series and really from any other spin-off series the authors would be willing to write!

Book Summary:

It's been twelve years since the eventful battle we all remember. Since then, Kate and Curran have focused on raising their son, Conlan. They very recently left Atlanta, hoping to offer him some semblance of a normal life. Because that's going to be so easy, right?

Naturally, their home isn't even finished before Kate finds herself on the job. A child has been kidnapped, and she's not turning away from this one. Not even when it drags her all over the city, pitting her against surprising odds.

My Review:

Holy cats. Magic Tides is the Kate Daniels novella I never knew I needed. Having read it, I honestly don't know how I survived all the years without it. Reading this made me realize how much I miss this world. Clearly (another) read-through of the series is in order.

With a heavy dose of nostalgia, Magic Tides brings lots of action, worldbuilding, danger, and of course – our favorite characters. Readers have been pretty curious to see how Conlan's childhood would go (especially after that glimpse in Blood Heir). Well, now it's just a bit easier to imagine.

The sass, snark, and magic are still very much alive in this series. It is going to live up to any expectations you may have and then some. It'll make you giggle, cheer, and sometimes groan. And it'll leave you begging for more.

Long story short - Magic Tides is everything I could have hoped for, and I'm afraid my heart wants more.

Highlights:
Kate Daniel's World
Worldbuilding
Shapeshifters/Vampires/Gods
Kick Ass Heroine

Trigger Warnings:
Kidnapping
Child death (mentioned/implied)

Included as a top pick in bimonthly January New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

I will eventually be coherent when I stop vibrating, but damn it felt so good to have Kate back. Legit started tearing up the first time Kate went “why me?” in her inner monologue.

Some people probably won’t ever relax, even if they think they want to…

Author duo Ilona Andrews have written a follow-on novella featuring Kate Daniels, set about eight years after Magic Triumphs, which is the last formal book in Kate’s series. The new story, Magic Tides, takes place in Wilmington, NC, where Kate has moved with her husband, Curran, the former Beast Lord; and her son, Conlan, who if not a future Beast Lord, is definitely a future something-or-other! But although Kate and Curran hope for a somewhat normal life, and have agreed that they will maintain a low profile in their new hometown, trouble has other ideas.

Shortly after Magic Tides opens, Kate learns that Conlan has become friends with the nephew of their general contractor, Jason, and it seems that Jason’s brother, Darin, has been kidnapped by a local gang. Kate is happy to have an excuse to get some “exercise”, and sets off to follow the trail of the missing Darin around Wilmington, with stops at various local attractions, including the Cape Fear River (temporary home of a baby kraken), the local chapter of the Order, the nearby training center for the People, and a long-since wrecked cruise ship, the Emerald Wave. And it soon becomes clear that (1) Kate is still in fine form, (2) it’s not that easy to escape your past when it keeps coming to find you, and (3) “low profile” is never going to happen.

As with most Ilona Andrews/Kate Daniels tales, there’s a bad-ass main story line with plenty for the peanut gallery to cheer about. But there are also some somber moments to ponder – such as when Curran helps Conlan think through his visits with his grandfather, or when Kate encounters an old retainer of her father’s who is feeling a bit adrift. A few old regulars make appearances for die-hard Kate fans, and some new characters (Keelan!) seem to be begging for more story time – and I hope they get it. All-in-all, Magic Tides works on several levels, and is a sheer pleasure to read. And although the authors aren’t pre-announcing their plans these days, hopefully there’s another story or two still to come in Kate, Curran and Conlan’s new hometown.

Finally, my thanks to the authors and to NetGalley for the advance review copy!

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley, Purchased. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Ilona Andrews is an auto buy author for me, my absolute favorite. When I was offered Magic Tides for review I was thrilled. The book is a half book, longer than a novella. It comes after the Kate Daniels series, but is about Kate, Curran and Conlan and their life in Wilmington NC. They are trying to lay low and just provide a normal childhood for Conlan.

As always, I found the world-building, the character development and the humor to be amazing. There is no feeling as awesome as sitting down to read an Ilona Andrews book. I was excited to see how things had been going since they moved to Wilmington. They are building their own compound.

When Kate finds out a boy has gone missing, she tells the boy's father she will get him back. The father says the kidnappers are really bad guys and maybe it isn't safe for her to go talk to them.
"Paul's nephew has been kidnapped by a local gang. About 50 people. I'm going to get him back."

Curran grinned at me. "Will you be home in time for dinner?"

The father and uncle continue to express their concerns to Curran while Kate changes clothes. At this point, I am laughing my head off. They have no idea. Everyone Kate meets from the gang, to the local order people, to the local head of The People have absolutely NO CLUE. And it's delicious.

I love how Kate knows all the rules, the details, the mythology of the many creatures who might fight her. To keep herself incognito, she gives the impression she used to be an Iron Dog. She calls to get Hugh to cover her and that exchange is also priceless.

I would not read this as a stand-alone. I would read it in order after the Kate Daniels series. I say this not only because there are many characters and development to understand, and facets of this world, but because it is my favorite series ever and it is worth reading. I am so happy to have more in this world with these beloved characters.

Ilona Andrews' Magic Tides is set in the same world as the Kate Daniels series. But instead of the Atlanta area, the story takes place in Wilmington where Kate and Curran chose to move to give their son Conlan a normal life. A normal life includes going to school and having friends. Curran and Kate have agreed to maintain a low profile and are trying to make Fort Kure, a hybrid of a medieval castle and a modern citadel, their home. They know that Kate's father Roland is a wound that won't heal and she wants no part of being his heir, or having her own kingdom.

So, when Conlan's friend Jason Barnhill reveals that his brother Darin was kidnapped, things change. According to his father, his son was taken by a local gang called The Red Horn Nation who not only deals in drugs, but they steal kids too. Kate takes matters into her own hands. In typical Kate fashion, she kicks over a hornet's nest in order to save children who have been kidnapped and ends up going on a search and destroy mission.

As with the original Kate Daniels series, there's the Order of Merciful Aid Knights who have no idea who Kate is except some sort of mercenary, The People who some know who Kate is, and ends up with their loyalty. There are some shifters who have managed to follow Kate, and Curran to the area and help Curran at Fort Kure. Then there's the alleged God who has taken a former cruise ship after an event called Night of the Shining Seas.

Meanwhile, Curran and Conlan take a stand at Fort Kure to protect Jason's family with some interesting characters (shifters) who have been antagonizing the local People's operation. I actually liked that Conlan is a mini-badass just like his Dad and I liked that he isn't punished for allowing his inner beast to escape and protect the innocents inside the Fort.

There are some really interesting Easter eggs in this story, including the brief appearance of Hugh who has promised to come to Kate's aid whenever she needs it. Kind of sad actually since Hugh had one novel, and then his series was put on hold by the authors. Hugh has his hands full, so yes, I truly wish the authors would catch up on Hugh and his wife Elara, and his family sometime soon.

While this story is being released as a novella, I think that this story is packed with action and Kate returning to her ways of kicking butt and taking names from powerful beings. So much for keeping a low profile and not letting anyone know who you are! This story comes closest in a very long time to being a 5 Gizmo's read. Here's a little 411 about the book. This story takes place about a year before Blood Heir which was Julie's book. You can learn more about the book here which leads to the authors home page.

Kate and Curran are deep into renovating their new home on the Carolina coast, a fresh start for all of them after leaving Atlanta and all its claims behind them. But nothing is never that simple, Kate, Curran and Conlan might be in a new city but they can’t leave themselves behind. They will always help those who need helping and keep those close to them safe…even if it means taking on powerful new foes.

It was just a delight to reconnect with Kate and family. We’ve seen them at fringes of other stories since Kate’s story officially ended…new people have taken their places, others grown into new powers and responsibilities but they are not diminished. They have gone to new places and are taking other roles, in this case safeguarding Conlon’s childhood but when a person is in need, they step up.

The Andrews are a consistent auto-but for me, but I don’t keep up on their weekly blog posts or serialized stories so that I can enjoy them in big delicious gulps. When I got the unsolicited ARC in my inbox just as I finished reading Sweep of the Heart at the end of the year I knew it was going to be great and it didn’t let me down.

Release date Jan 17

CWs: child abductions, violence, gore, murder

An amazing novella to continue Kate Daniels series. Kate and Curran are funny and supportive and badass as always. Conlon is 8 years old and starting to understand his power and responsibility. This was so fun and I can’t wait for more!

*FYI this takes place 7ish years after Magic Triumphs and 2 years before Blood Heir.

Magic Tides was the biggest surprise announcement of 2022, and it delivered in every way imaginable. The novella gave me a glimpse of how a day in the new life of Kate and Curran looks like. And I love all the new characters. But most of all I adore Kate and Curran, they are just the way I love them.

The first book in this new series is full of my kind of banter, with lots of smart and witty comebacks. Lol- moments and typical Kate shenanigans. And I love the new location, it has so much potential for future stories to be told.

The novella is a fantastic bridge between what I loved about Atlanta and all the new possibilities of Wilmington. I can't wait for the new team to be built. All the new characters that will eventually find their way towards my favorite couple/family. I can't wait to read more. I'm giddy just knowing we are actually getting more Kate and Curran books. Honestly, I'm still floating on cloud 9. Blissed out!

Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Kate Daniels: Wilmington Years series, which takes place after the main Kate Daniels series. I got an eGalley of this book through NetGalley to review.

Thoughts: This was a fantastic addition to the Kate Daniels series overall and a great new start to the Kate Daniels: Wilmington Years spin-off. I absolutely adored getting to spend more time with Kate, Curran and their son Conlan. I would recommend reading the full Kate Daniels series before reading this book since there are a lot of references back to that series and it's an awesome urban fantasy series.

Kate, Curran and Conlan are trying to make a life for themselves away from Atlanta and live a quiet suburban life. This has many consisted of trying to renovate the sprawling house they bought. Then one of their contractors finds out a relative's child has been kidnapped and Kate gets involved in disbanding a kidnapping ring.

This was short but was also a lot of fun. Kate is as badass as ever and so is Curran. There is a lot of humor here and I really enjoyed getting to meet their son Conlan. There is a lot of action here, an excellent story, some awesome magic and the whole thing was just a huge amount of fun.

I truly hope that this is the start of a new series that the Andrews team plans to continue. I feel like they have had a lot of starts lately and not a lot of completions. For example, I loved the start to Julie's spin-off series "Blood Heir" but that seems to have stopped since that was published a couple of years ago at this point. I also really enjoyed the start to the Iron Covenant series "Iron and Magic" but that also seems to have stalled since it came out in 2018. The Andrews team is still actively working on their Hidden Legacy and Innkeeper Chronicles series. Maybe they just have too many projects going on at once.

My Summary (5/5): Overall this was an incredibly fun read and I really loved it. The Andrews writing duo writes fantastic urban fantasy and their books are always wonderful reads for me. I hope that this series continues and doesn't stall like so many other of their Kate Daniel's World projects have. I would recommend reading the Kate Daniels series before starting this spin-off series.

Kate and family have left Atlanta to give their son Conlan a chance at a quieter, more normal childhood. (It doesn’t appear that anyone from their separate pack came with them.) Rebuilding a castle for their home, they are trying to fit in and keep a low profile. However, when Conlan comes to Kate with the story of a kidnapped boy, she knows she must take action. Her adventure introduces readers to parts of her new community, including the local Order chapter, the Farm (home of the Wilmington People), and the local Pack. The story sets the scene for future tales by laying out the land, along with potential allies and threats.

Overall, Magic Tides is a wonderful Kate and Curran adventure. I loved jumping back into the world of one of my favorite series. The story is authentic Kate with some updates, including multiple first person POVs, although most are from Kate’s POV. Even though the book is shorter than a full-length novel, the storyline rich in detail and the plot is well-developed, giving readers a satisfying experience.

Kate is still Kate, and what I love is that Curran acknowledges this a few times throughout the story. It’s like… “Who are we kidding, we can’t expect our lives to be different just because we moved.” Their relationship is solid, and I continue to love their ability to understand and respect one another so well that they work together seamlessly. Their banter is better than ever, and the story is infused with the authors’ trademark humor:

“Red Horn kills people,” Thomas said behind my back. “Your wife…”

“Will enjoy the exercise,” my husband said. “You know what they say. Happy wife, happy life.”

The biggest difference between this story and the original series is the addition of Curran’s and even Conlan’s POVs. The Curran POVs are familiar in that I know him so well after ten books and a handful of shorts. Even though his POV is also first person, I had no trouble shifting storytellers as the POVs changed. I am still a bit unsure how I feel about the Conlan POVs. He’s eight with the personality and mental abilities of someone much older. I understand he’s special, but it’s hard to reconcile his thought process and age after being privy to his POV.

In the end, I adored Magic Tides and my return to all things Kate Daniels. While one could read this as a standalone, it’s going to be appreciated most by fans of the series. And as a huge fan, I loved it and hope for more stories soon.

My Rating: A, Loved It

Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews is the first book (long novella) in her Kate Daniels: Wilmington Years (World of Kate Daniels 12.5) series. I was thrilled to find out about the return of our favorite heroine, Kate Daniels, and with more to come.

Kate and Curran, and their son, Conlan are now living in Wilmington, having left Atlanta to keep a low profile and privacy. Conlan is now 8 years old, but he is big for his age, and becoming very strong, as will be like his father. When his friend tells him about his brother being kidnapped, Conlan tells his mom; who will then with the boy’s father, plan to rescue the boy. Though Kate and Curran have kept things quiet in this new town, but when Kate knows a child is being used for trafficking, nothing will keep her from saving them.

When Kate leaves with the father, Curran learns where she went from Conlan, and knows they now need to set up protection, around their land, and also bring the kidnapped boy’s family to their home, to be safe. Especially, since once Kate stops the criminal activity, the bad guys will come for revenge attack.

Kate is always up to the challenge, as she manages to defeat the group kidnapping children. It was so wonderful to see Kate at her magnificent self, defeating anyone who stands in her way. Once she gets past the first stop, Kate will continue on to find out where the boy is, which will include meeting with the vampires, and then to the more difficult and intense final stop. She must defeat a so-called sea god entity, who does terrible horrors to the children. Kate has to use all her magic, in order to survive and save the children.

Magic Tides was a fantastic, exciting, intense story, with lots of action and magic. I have continued to hope we would get more Kate and Curran, as well as see more of young Conlan; and my wishes have come true. I can’t wait for more, and also get a glimpse at Hugh’s eventual return. Magic Tides was so very well written by Ilona Andrews. I have read every single series by Andrews, and have absolutely loved them all. If you have not read this illustrious duo (Ilona and Gordon Andrews), you need to start reading them now.

2023 is already starting off with a bang with this surprise release from Ilona Andrews. Readers will be excited to revisit Kate and Curran in their new home, as they try and fail to remain low-key, getting involved in a local kidnapping and taking on new bad guys.

Kate and Curran have relocated to Wilmington after finding a good school for Conlan. They are living in a half-finished fort, which they are refurbishing, and trying to keep a low profile. After being informed by Conlan that his new friend’s brother has been kidnapped, Kate doesn’t think twice, immediately jumping into hero mode and riding out to rescue him from a local gang that specializes in human trafficking.

Along the way she does what she always does… kick ass and take down the bad guys. She meets up with the local chapter of the Guild, visits the People, and journeys down into the magic center of the city where a want to be god is creating slaves of people with abilities that enable them to survive underwater. Curran is left to keep watch over their new home and protect the most vulnerable. With help from a few friends.

This is told in both Kate and Curran’s POVs, with a few of Conlan thrown in for perspective. It’s a quick read at novella length, but what a wonderful New Year’s gift. I always enjoy time spent with my favorite urban fantasy couple. I didn’t realize how much I missed them, now I’m keeping my fingers crossed we see more of them in future adventures in their new home.

Final grade- A

Kate, Curran and Conlan are back in Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews! Kate and Curran have moved to Wilmington, NC, bought a castle and have registered Conlan for school. They are trying to stay low key in the area, most people don't know who they are and who Conlan is. This is a chance for Conlan to have as much of a normal childhood as possible. And then a child is kidnapped and sold, Kate goes to rescue the child and finds much more, perhaps a god? How much longer will Kate, Curran and Conlan go on unrecognized? There is humor, wonderful dialogue and suspense in this fantastic novel. When is book 2 coming out? Highly recommended. I received a e-arc from NetGalley..