Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews

Title: Magic Binds
Author: Ilona Andrews
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Kate Daniels # 9

Mass Market Paperback, 342 Pages
Publication: May 2, 2017 by Ace

Source: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

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Mercenary Kate Daniels knows all too well that magic in post-Shift Atlanta is a dangerous business. But nothing she’s faced could have prepared her for this...

Kate and the former Beast Lord Curran Lennart are finally making their relationship official. But there are some steep obstacles standing in the way of their walk to the altar.

Kate’s father, Roland, has kidnapped the demigod Saiman and is slowly bleeding him dry in a never-ending bid for power. A Witch Oracle has predicted that if Kate marries the man she loves, Atlanta will burn and she will lose him forever. And the only person Kate can ask for help is long dead.

The odds are impossible. The future is grim. But Kate Daniels has never been one to play by the rules…

Magic Binds takes us into the home stretch for the end of the Kate Daniel series. With mere weeks away from Kate and Curran’s wedding everything is chaotic as Kate reluctantly plans the wedding and a deadly prophecy hangs over her; stating that marrying or not marrying Curran can doom all of Atlanta.

I can’t believe that the Kate Daniel series is going to wrap up this year. It doesn’t seem real, yes, I’m still in denial. But at the same time I know the authors know exactly what they’re doing and appreciate that they’re not stretching the series out longer than necessary for a buck. With that said, Magic Binds packs a punch. There was so much going on…where to begin? The book started out on a high note with the wedding plans and it’s hilarious. One word: Roman.

In my last review, I suspected, as everyone else, that Roland was going to play a big part in the next book and boy, does he. Roland is an interesting character and his interaction and relationship with Kate is both touching and convoluted. It’s odd, on one hand he’s trying to make sure that she has the wedding of her dreams, everything a dad can give his daughter and on the other hand he still wants to destroy her and everyone she loves. Yup. Like I said it’s pretty screwed up and that’s putting it lightly. In a disturbing way he loves, adores and is proud of Kate but wouldn’t feel much remorse at ending her life…I mean, he has been hunting her a very long time.

On top of dealing with Roland encroaching on Kate’s territory (she claimed Atlanta in the last book) and life, the Circle gives Kate a devastating, life changing prophecy that Kate does everything in her power to change and the length she goes to do it is mind-boggling…but this is Kate, and you know she’ll do absolutely anything for the people she loves even if it means her death. While everything seems bleak, the novel isn’t without it’s usual humor to balance it out. A little relief is seen from wonderboy Derek and angelic face Ascanio…oh man, their scenes were pure joy. I also loved all the scenes that had to deal with the wedding. One scene in particular that stood out from memory was Kate finding out that Curran actually did a cake tasting for their wedding and narrowing It down to 8-16 cakes was priceless. There were a lot of great scenes though.

I am anxiously waiting for Magic Triumph. On one hand I can’t wait to see how the story will end for Kate and Curran, they are long overdue for a happily ever after. But at the same time bummed because it means goodbye to everyone. In anticipation of Magic Triumph, I’m planning on rereading or doing an audio-book of the series again. I heard reading anything over a second time is always better…you catch things you didn’t before. Magic Binds was another great addition to the series. Andrews’ work keeps getting better and better. This is an amazing series that I highly recommend. If you haven’t read this series yet…you need to get on it A.S.A.P!