Magic Dreams: A Penguin Special from Ace [Kindle Edition]

Ilona Andrews (Author)

Book Description

From New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews comes a tale of darkness, desire, and werecats.

Alpha Pack leader Jim Shrapshire has always been the strong, silent type. But something has come over him--a magic force currently residing in one of the Pack's headquarters. Were-tigress Dali Harimau has always wished she could get Jim's attention--but now he needs her help.

Stricken with a magic-sickness, Jim needs Dali's flair for magic. And to save him, she must challenge a powerful, dark being to a battle of wits.

Includes an excerpt of Ilona Andrews's upcoming novel in the world of Kate Daniels, Gunmetal Magic

Magic Dreams originally appeared in the anthology Hexed.

Product Details

• File Size: 349 KB
• Print Length: 86 pages
• Publisher: Ace (June 26, 2012)
• Sold by: Penguin Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007HU7NXS
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,982 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Dreams of blood June 26, 2012

By E. A Solinas HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition

WARNING: This story was originally published in the short-story collection "Hexed." Do not buy if you own that book.

Most urban fantasy stories have female lead characters, and usually they're tough, allegedly butt-kicking twentysomethings who swoon in front of alpha males. So it's nice to see a more realistic heroine at the heart of "Magic Dreams," a beautifully suspenseful, clever story set in Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels universe.

Awkward, nerdy weretiger Dali Harimau is shocked when she comes home to find the werecat alpha Jim semiconscious in her bedroom. He's dazed and suffering from missing time, which seems to be connected to four missing shapeshifters -- and a mysterious woman that he saw. So Dali knows that it must be magic.

Fortunately, Dali has some knowledge of magic, meaning that she may be the only one who can find out what is slowly killing Jim. But this is no ordinary killer -- and as she tries to save the man she loves, Dali must confront a secret horror that she cannot possibly defeat except with her brains.

"Magic Dreams" is set in the same world -- even the same city -- as Ilona Andrews' glorious Kate Daniels' series, but the focus is on a character we haven't seen before. And Dali is a refreshingly realistic heroine: despite being a rare white weretiger, she's nerdy, puny and not very intimidating. And unlike most UF heroines, she uses her brains rather than brawn.

And despite being only a short story, Andrews' writing. is absolutely brilliant, weaving together urban fantasy settings with Asian folklore (including yokai and Indonesian fairy tales). But at heart, it's the story of an "ugly duckling" whose brains must be used to save the man she loves.... It's funny, wrenching, and its ending reminds me of JRR Tolkien's "The Hobbit."

"Magic Dreams" is a solid addition to the "Magic" series' canon -- but the best part is the thoroughly atypical weretiger heroine. And for new readers, it's not a half bad place to jump on. Read more ›

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent short story August 5, 2012

By M. Wanchoo VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition

In 2011 the readers got the release of a new novella from Ilona Andrews called "Magic Dreams", which was featured in the Hexed anthology and includes contributions from Yasmine Galenorn, Allyson James and Jeanne C. Stein. "Magic Dreams" focuses on Jim and Dali, who are both from the Cat clan. Jim is the alpha and the head of security for the Pack, while Dali is a white were-tigress who was last seen in Magic Strikes. "Magic Dreams" is sixty-eight pages long and is narrated entirely by Dali Harimau.

The novella is set a few weeks after the climax of Magic Bleeds and does not contain any spoilers for Magic Slays. The story begins with Jim visiting Dali--who is an expert of all things magical as was revealed in Magic Strikes--because he cannot remember what happened when he was investigating a certain mishap at a northwestern office. Figuring out what is happening at this office, and how Dali helps Jim, is the crux of the story.

Ilona Andrews has a rather crucial sense of what works and what doesn't, and choosing to focus on Dali--a minor, but fascinating character from Magic Strikes who shines because of her quirkiness and vulnerability--was a great decision. Throw in intriguing Indonesian and Japanese mythologies, a rather funny side to a mother-daughter bond, and top-notch writing, and it's no wonder that "Magic Dreams" is my favorite Kate Daniels-related short story so far.

All in all, "Magic Dreams" is another worthy addition to the Kate Daniels universe, and I hope the authors consider writing more stories about Dali as I for one would love to read more about the white were-tigress in a central role...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Angieville: MAGIC DREAMS July 5, 2012

By Angela Thompson VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition

Though I read and very much enjoyed the Ilona Andrews' Andrea & Raphael novella in Must Love Hellhounds, I somehow never got around to reading the Hexed anthology. This was tragic on several levels, mainly because the Andrews novella included in that volume was the Jim and Dali story. I have been salivating over those two for what feels like forever now, anxiously crossing my fingers they would get their own book. And yet its inclusion in that antho somehow escaped my knowledge. This is why I got all giddy when MAGIC DREAMS was re-released last week, this time as an e-special. My nook and I clasped our hands in joy and then set about curling up together with one seriously gruff werejaguar and one smartypants weretiger. I've been extremely curious as to Jim's actual feelings on the small-package-good-things-come-in Dali, so it was with absolute relish that I devoured this 86-page treat.

The alpha of Clan Cat and leader of the Beast Lord's security force is a force to be reckoned with, albeit a strong silent one. That's why Dali tends to opt in favor of flying under his radar whenever she possibly can. The hydra-sized crush she's been nursing doesn't even come into it. Even if she wasn't almost legally blind, Dali can see from his actions Jim has little interest in her professionally and even less romantically. Why would he? She doesn't eat meat. She can't see properly. She's scrawny, ugly, and disobedient. And so like any self-respecting weretiger, she drowns her sorrows in fast cars and dusty magic. Until one day Jim comes in search of help. From Dali.... Fast falling under what appears to be a grave curse, Jim is in need of some serious magical aid. The kind Dali is uniquely equipped to provide. The two set out to find what or who is behind the force sapping Jim's formidable strength. Dali knows how smart she is, but she has no illusions as to her strength. And if Jim is out of commission, she may be crushed like a tiny bug before she has a chance to outwit the villain.

Okay, first things first, who knew Jim had a last name? Shrapshire?! I love it. I love all the last names in this series. They are always at once surprising and perfectly fitting. I mean, Jim Shrapshire and Dali Harimau? Genius. What's even more genius are the paces Ilona Andrews puts these two myopically challenged characters through. Having spent time five books' worth of time with Jim, it would be an understatement to say that I was eager to peel back a few of the layers surrounding him. Ever since his merc days with Kate, Jim's taken himself so seriously he can hardly unclench long enough to appreciate a good sandwich let alone a girl like Dali. But he's been through a lot, has Jim. He doesn't allow himself breaks. There's little of peace or beauty in his life. As for Dali, it was impossible not to like her from her first appearance in the series. She burst onto the scene all erratic and intelligent. Her cursework saved the Pack's bacon in the Midnight Games. And she's refreshingly different from both Kate and Andrea. I love her for how unapologetically smart she is and for how willing she is to walk into fire for those she cares about. The notion that the buttoned up, lethal chief of security and the booksmart, loveblind white tigergirl might find some common ground tickled me down to my toes. A favorite passage early on showing exactly how awesome Dali is:

***

"Didn't Jim forbid you to race?"

Jim was my alpha. The shapeshifter Pack was segregated into seven clans, by the family of the animal, and Jim headed Felidae with a big Jaguar paw hiding awesome claws. He was smart, and strong, and incredibly hot--and the only time Jim noticed my existence was when I made myself into a pain in the ass or when he needed an expert on the ancient Far East. Otherwise, I might just as well have been invisible.

I raised my head to let Kasen know I meant business. "Jim isn't the boss of me."

"Actually yes, yes he is."

It's good that I wasn't a wereporcupine, or his mouth would be full of quills. "Are you going to snitch on me?"

"That depends. When you die, can I have your car?"

"No."

Kasen sighed. "I'm trying to make a point here. I've been watching this race for six years now and I've never seen anyone crash as much as you. You're my number-one customer. You can barely see, Dali, and you take stupid chances. No offense."

No offense, right. "No offense" stood for "I'm going to insult you, but you can't be mad at me." I bared my teeth at him. When it came down to it, he was a rat and I was a tiger.

***

Their first official story was everything I hoped it would be. MAGIC DREAMS really brought to my attention how fond of Jim and Dali I had become just following them as side characters in someone else's story. And that, I believe, is the mark of a superior storyteller--that ability to nurture your readers' affections for not only the larger-than-life protagonists, but for the supporting cast as well, from integral cog to maverick nut or bolt. My affections were engaged, my attention riveted. MAGIC DREAMS satisfies on every level. More, please. Read more ›

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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#31 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

#35 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy

#51 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

#31 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

#35 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy

#51 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy