Gunmetal Magic: A Novel in the World of Kate Daniels [Kindle Edition]

Ilona Andrews (Author)

Book Description

Includes a free bonus: a Kate Daniels novella, "Magic Gifts"

The New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels novels have been hailed as “top-notch urban fantasy” (Monsters and Critics). Now, Ilona Andrews delves deeper into Kate’s world, and reveals its untold stories…
After being kicked out of the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea’s whole existence is in shambles. She tries to put herself back together by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend. When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano—the male alpha of the Clan Bouda, and Andrea’s former lover—die unexpectedly at a dig site, Andrea is assigned to investigate. Now she must work with Raphael as her search for the killer leads into the secret underbelly of supernatural Atlanta. And dealing with her feelings for him might have to take a back seat to saving the world…

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Renée Raudman's narration finely balances the humor and drama of the story. . . . Her delivery always seems just right. Secondary characters also have unique voices that are memorable and well defined. Raudman's arch naïveté will suit listeners who enjoy heroines full of moxie." ---AudioFile

About the Author

Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona Gordon is a native-born Russian, and Andrew Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. They met in college, in English Composition 101. Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Georgia with their two children and two dogs, and are currently working on Kate Daniels's next adventure. Renee Raudman is a multi-award-winning audiobook narrator. A multiple Audie Award nominee, she has earned a number of AudioFile Earphones Awards, including for The Last Secret by Mary McGarry Morris and Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien, as well as a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award for Joe Schreiber's Chasing the Dead. She has also performed on film, TV, radio, and stage, including the recurring roles of Jordon on ABC's One Life To Live, Phyllis on NBC's Passions, and guest-starring roles on prime-time TV. She has been heard in cartoons (The Simpsons, Billy & Mandy), videogames, and on the E! channel. Her narration of Homer's Odyssey by Gwen Cooper was selected by Library Journal as one of the best audiobooks of 2009, and her reading of Marthe Jocelyn's Would You was selected by the ALA as one of the best young adult audiobooks of 2009.

Product Details

• File Size: 617 KB
• Print Length: 448 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0425256138
• Publisher: Ace (July 31, 2012)
• Sold by: Penguin Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0072NWKP6
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,884 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #77 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Magic & Wizards

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 64 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent One off book with a FREE novella July 30, 2012

By M. Wanchoo VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Gunmetal Magic is an odd book of sorts; its set in the Kate Daniels universe however is not entirely part of the main Kate Daniels books. It is in line with the series continuity but features Andrea Nash as the main narrator. This change in scheduling was mentioned by the authors on their blog, and also the authors announced a novella that was to run concurrently with the events of this book. Thus the book and novella were to come out together with its release so as to give the readers a stronger, action packed story and with Kate as a narrator though in the smaller format.

Let's begin with Gunmetal Magic, it's an Andrea Nash novel and Andrea has been an important character in Kate's journey so far. She began as a minor character whose role was exponentially increased; she was also the first side character to get a short story of her own (Magic Mourns) which coincidentally was also the first short story written by Ilona Andrews for this series. In book 4 (Magic Bleeds) though a crucial event occurred that changed Andrea's dynamics and also lead to a partial absence in book 5 (Magic Slays). These events were very well explained in book 5 (Magic Slays) but in this book we get to see exactly why and what spurred Andrea on to do things the way she did. The book begins with Andrea reliving a particular nightmare and it reveals things about her past that readers have not been privy to so far. Soon however she gets hired to undertake an investigation for a private company that makes it doubly difficult for her as it involves Raphael her ex-boyfriend.

Forced to be professional and sensible at the same time, things she has been separately but never together, leads Andrea to a new phase wherein she has to be both and to add to her troubles, take Ascanio under her wing as well. A herculean task if there was one, and to top it all Raphael still hasn't forgiven or forgotten their past. Things soon go southward as they often do and Andrea will have to solve this case on her own as Kate & Curran seem to be embroiled in a mire that is equally troubling.

This one-off book is a very curious thing, very few writers write with a complete and thorough series plan in mind and often successful writers are pushed by their publishers to write sequel/prequel/sidequel series featuring other characters. I don't think such is the case with Gunmetal Magic, having a crucial character facing down certain things in her past to make a future book plot work, makes sense and is the explanation offered by the authors. The other thing is the change of voice, namely Andrea as the narrator, is a bit similar to Kate to offer succor to the returning readers however has some uniqueness of her own, thereby not to be confused as a complete Kate clone. The authors must have been very concerned about this as they make every effort to keep Andrea's voice and identity distinct from Kate, even though she's probably as accomplished a warrior as Kate is, and similarly headstrong though not to the same degree.

The story plot is similar to the first magic book with a strong mystery at its heart but since the previous years the authors have polished their craft and streamlined the story to run parallel to the events of the Kate & Curran novella and thereby keeping the reader on their toes. The author also utilize a new mythology as well as a new villain in their myriad world and for this I have to applaud them thoroughly, their world is now very similar to ours with the all the mythologies and history running parallel to each other. Readers will get to see newer sights in Atlanta and so the authors further expand their worldbuilding repertoire. The readers will surely appreciate this new turn of events and keener minds will of course be trying to discern what this specific tale will mean for the overall saga and for the forthcoming fight between daughter and father.

With series books, it can be either hit or miss with the expectation factor and it's to the credit of the brains behind this enterprise that they strive to include new twists and stories to keep the readers engaged. Readers familiar with the short story "Magic Mourns" will be glad to know that there's a complete plot and thematic resolution at the end of this book. Andrea's transformation as a character was a treat to read and will be worth watching how it comes into play in the future books. This was a huge plus point for me in terms of the book as this means when Kate 6 comes out, we'll be seeing the real issues come forward and perhaps it will be the penultimate book to usher in the end fight that we(all fans) have been clamoring to read about.

CONCLUSION: Ilona Andrews have heard these words thousands of times before from many thousands of reader, fans & critics alike, but I have to reiterate "they are terrific storytellers". They imbue the story with interesting characters, striking dialogue and above all amazing action sequences. This troika of plot features along with the author traits never fails to amaze me and keep me entertained through out. Gunmetal Magic is both a successful one-off and great continuation in the Kate Daniels series. I heartily recommend jumping on this book for all veteran and newbie readers as it gives a terrific look into the narrative style of the authors as well as provide thorough entertainment, now that's something you can't say for every book.

MAGIC GIFTS OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Magic Gifts is the Kate and Curran novella that runs in tandem with the events of Gunmetal Magic. It can be read either as a companion story as well as a solo one, the choice is upon the reader. The novella was distributed free by the authors and is now combined in the paperback version of Gunmetal Magic . The novella is about 110-odd pages and features Kate as its sole narrator.

The story opens with Kate and Curran arriving in the Cutting Edge office wherein Curran decides to take her out on a date. The restaurant they go to is a classy one and as they are enjoying their food. A neighboring table of two navigators has a fatal accident wherein vampires get involved. Things soon bloody and leave a boy with a very curious but fatal problem hanging around his neck. Kate and Curran being the people that they are intervene and then are involved into a situation of a different sort.

The novella is an excellent addition to this book, namely that returning readers get to see Kate do what she does best but this time Curran gets an increased role and more page time. This story while having its share of action has a more mysterious feel attached to it. The main duo has to deal with events but they are hampered by a clock of sorts and this just raises the stakes in this novella. There are some introspective elements to this story namely the fact that Kate's body has been suffering damage all this while and now some of the after-effects have started showing. This underlines a crucial mortality to the superwoman that is Kate and while Curran does have his moments he also gets to show a more sensible side to him as well.

In this small novella the authors's ingenious use of mythology as well their interpretation of Vikings, will have readers a bit bemused as well chuckling from time to time whenever the Vikings come on the fore of the story. Short and action packed, this novella is a microcosm of the normal Kate Daniels novels and a great continuation of the overall plot-line so far. Very much recommended for regular readers, however for new readers this might not be a good place to start the story as there are background effects that affect the twists of the plot. Best to start with Magic Bites and discover Kate Daniels as the authors intended.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars This Book is Almost Perfect- What a Relief- Ilona Andrews did NOT jump the shark!!!! August 2, 2012

By Lola Jane

Format:Mass Market Paperback

If you are hedging on buying this book- stop, buy it now, and read it in one sitting. If you are an addicted fan of Ilona Andrews, this is just the wonderful fix you've been looking for. If you have never read Ilona Andrews, this actually isn't a terrible place to start. The book is a solid stand-alone story with a lot of trademark IA fabulousness- action, mythology, monsters, and bad-ass fighting women. You may be happier starting with Kate Daniels' books (it is her world and we all just want to live in it, after all.)

Okay, my opening review paragraph is out of the way, so I'll go a little off-topic. I was TERRIFIED of this book. My must-read authors have been dropping like flies. There is a national epidemic of literary phoning it in (I blame this "publish 4 books a year" nonsense.) Some of my favorite authors have been taking the story that made them great and are spinning it off- concentrating on expanding the story by doing spin-offs with secondary characters within the beloved universe but which are not part of the overall story arc. And most of the time, they totally jump the shark. The series suffers for the decision. I don't have a huge critique as to why I find this to be so, however, I think the lack of the well-considered story arc and the novel, thoughtful building of a world just make these books less than their brothers and sisters. These books are usually stand-alones that are shoved in a dark corner of the overall story-line so they will not impact the original series. Okay, rant ended.

Ilona Andrews, on the other hand, actually made the stand-alone spin-off work. It wasn't perfect- but then my idea of perfect probably involves Kathy Bates hobbling the Andrews writing team and forcing them to finish the series NOW! So, take my less than perfect rating with the proverbial grain of salt. In fact, my less than perfect is probably a matter of personal preference.

The Perfect parts: I love Andrea. She only improved upon closer inspection. She is a perfect fit for Kate. I love that they complement each other so well and it makes her inclusion into Kate Daniels' world sensible as well as justifying her own book. Her bad-assedness never felt false. So many authors will tell you about a character but they do not have the actual chops to write a character that acts and talks and interacts in a way that actually illustrates the character trait and, then, effectively integrate that trait into the story-line in a meaningful and effective manner. IA has the chops. They are so good. Further, her emotional damage felt true, as well. Another IA talent- they have a way with the emotionally damaged character that is not angsty or resorts to psycho-babble. They are masters of under-statement yet they never lose the emotional resonation.

The story was a solid Kate Daniels story: a lot of action, some of our favorite secondary characters made appearances, and a solid use of arcane mythology to create the bad guy. The story rolled right on without lagging. The pacing was tight and well-thought. Aside from the action storyline, there were two particular sub-plots that were handled nicely and provided the necessary break from the monster-killing. One, Andrea and Raphael had to navigate their relationship. Next, Andrea had to navigate her relationship with Aunt B and the Pack. Both were pretty well-done.

A warning here- like a Kate Daniels book, the romance is a definite sub-plot. How many books did it take before Kate and Curran got together in any meaningful way? So, the book is pretty much all in Andrea's head and Raphael isn't as big a character as Andrea. This is her book. And the romance is just in particular scenes.

As for my less than perfect personal preference, I'm not sure I like the extended-view of Raphael. Sorry, but he was spoiled and callous and cruel. He seemed to expect Andrea to magically get over her grudge simply because he finally got over his- after, of course, stomping on Andrea made him feel a bit better. We got all of Andrea's side of the story of their relationship breakdown- Team Andrea! She was in the hospital for 3 days- then they took her- and TRIED her- and took away her career and identity! Who would not be on her side? She wins! Raphael's side just looks like he is whiny and refuses to compromise an inch on his untested principles and his standing in her life. In the Kate Daniels world, if Curran can let Kate out the door with a sword, then Raphael should be capable of recognizing the value and worth of Andrea's career and identity. So, there is the unequal dynamic of a bad-ass woman who is appreciating her own worth who is committing to a guy who hasn't demonstrated he has a solid grasp of her worth.

One more small critique, where does this fit into the timeline? Yes, it is post-Erra. But, then, we have a Jim appearance and comments about his single state? So, where does the Jim/Dali short story fit? See, I'm a fan but not rabid enough to spend too much time on their web-site. So, the answer to this may be out there but I feel it should have been in the book.

Finally, and again, not the most important point but I loved, loved, loved the American cover art. It was exceedingly well-done.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good...but not as good as Kate August 5, 2012

By BookY

Format:Kindle Edition

First of all, it should be said that I am a huge, HUGE Kate Daniels fan. It is my all-time favorite series. There is no better female lead character than Kate. The relationship between Curran and Kate also can't be beat (pre- AND post hook-up, which is hard to do). And for me, the showdown between Kate and Roland is one of the most highly anticipated story events to date. I am completely invested in this series, and have found zero fault with books 1 - 5.

That being said, I was a bit hesitant to read Gunmetal Magic, which tells Andrea's story. I like her character in the Kate books (as I like all the supporting characters, good guy or bad guy, I like them all!), however, I didn't know if she could carry a whole book as the lead.

My verdict - the book is good. Not something I would re-read though (I have re-read all the Kate books several times, and I enjoy it each time). The 3 stars comes from my personal bias - I think I just favor Kate's point of view way too much, so I couldn't really get into Andrea's narration. There really are no big faults with this book - the story is engaging, the tension and outcome of the Raphael/Andrea relationship was well done, and I like that we get to know a side character more (Roman). But yeah, I'm just biased towards my girl Kate and her narration, which I guess is one of the drawbacks of a spinoff book - readers can't help but do the comparison thing.

Magic Gifts novella -
haha, 5 stars for this of course! A short story that complemented Gunmetal Magic - Kate and Curran had their hands full with "something" during parts of Andrea's story, and here we see what it was. Ghastek, one of my favorite supporting characters, is also featured here, as well as Jim. Nice complete story line, and it does add some new things to the goings-on of Kate.

More About the Author

New York Times Bestselling author Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Portland with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.

You can read more about their work on their website: http://www.ilona-andrews.com

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#27 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

#34 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy

#43 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

#27 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

#34 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy

#43 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy