How?! Just… how?! How can a series keep being so damn interesting, so intriguing, so… perfect?
I mean, obviously, there are other series that are awesome and brilliant from the beginning to the very end, but Kate Daniels sure is one of the few that does not manage to leave a single drop of bitter taste after every book – except, perhaps, that it’s over, and that I need to get started on the next one, STAT!
In the 4th book, the story picks up a little while after the ending of the previous one. We all remember the bet between Kate and Curran from the games, right? So, Curran never showed up – for reasons I won’t tell, cause, spoilers – and Kate of course holds it against him. In the midst of a new threat that may possibly be connected to Kate’s paternal family, the two must also try to mend things between them – all the while trying to stay alive, save Atlanta (and possibly the world, AGAIN), and balance Pack politics. Piece of cake, right?
In a perfect world, Joshua’s vertically gifted murderer would’ve had himself a monologue before rampaging, during which he loudly and clearly would’ve announced his full name, occupation, religious preference, preferably with his god’s country and time period of origin, his goals, dreams, and aspirations, and the location of his lair. But nobody had ever accused post-Shift Atlanta of being perfect.
Honestly, this book was even better than everything I’ve read so far in the series, and that’s already hard enough to top! First of all, Kate never stops being herself. Even in her most vulnerable moments, and those scenes where she admits she’s head over heels with the Beast Lord, she’s still sarcastic, and her attitude is still this: punch first, ask questions later, and keep pissing powerful people off. Gotta love the woman!
“Do men often tell you you’re enchanting?”
“No. Men often tell me I hit very hard.” Hint, hint.
Curran was a bundle of adorable frustration in this one, by the way. He’s not used to chasing after a woman, and Kate keeps him on his toes and they keep butting heads. But you gotta respect an Alpha control-freak like him when he knows the woman he wants to mate is someone he can’t tame – unless she’s incapacitated after fighting otherwordly evils – and still going after her in that weird, tunnel-vision way that is uniquely his.
I gave him my hard stare. “You’re a control freak and I fight all authority. And you want us to mate?”
A wicked spark lit his eyes. “Many, many times.”
Speaking of going after Kate… Good God the prank war!!! I couldn’t stop laughing and cooing! They had me in hysterics, both of them! Can I just say, this was the best way of flirting I’ve ever seen – fictional or otherwise – and, judging by what I know so far about this whole “mate courting” thing, I’d say I was impressed! (and want a shapeshifter to do those things for me, too – preferably Derek, can we get me a Derek?!)
The villain of the book was a rather elusive one for the most part, and it was really frustrating trying to guess who was the mastermind behind everything – and then find them. But, as always, when the truth was revealed, the going around was worth it! And now things are serious. Kate has been leaving hints of who she is left and right, more people are starting to catch on, and staying hidden from her father will not be that simple as the story goes on. Not with the Beast Lord of Atlanta as her mate, and after all the stunts she’s been pulling lately.
Finally, let’s not forget a rather important part of this installment – the love scene. Hot damn, it was in-character. It was hot as hell. It was emotional and beautiful and everything I’ve ever wanted from this pairing for their first get-together, and I couldn’t be happier! I’m glad we waited for so long to see them like this, the slow burn was delicious when it reached the boiling point!
I’m moving forward – can’t wait to see what’s next for Kate and her group of friends. Screw Ted Moynohan, it was his loss – just hope Andrea wakes up soon about this whole thing, too.
P.S.: Can we also get a hallelujah for Barabas? He’s like a male Aunt B – who we all love and fear – and I didn’t know we needed someone like him until now! I hope he’s here to stay!
P.P.S.: I want a cookie for managing to cut back on my Derek fangirling in this review. I’m like a Julie incarnate, people, I see Derek on the page and I just scream like a schoolgirl. But! I made it to only one comment about him in this entire review, and I consider that progress. So… cookie?
RATING: