RogerBW's Blog

2008 modern fantasy novel, second in the Kate Daniels series. Magic is building up to a once-in-seven-years flare, someone has stolen maps from the local werewolf pack, and gods are going to come into play.

As always in these things where belief feeds into actual deity-like effects, the Christian God is off the board (there's a reason given, but it's not entirely convincing). Instead we're dealing mostly with Irish myth, as well as introducing the reader to the community of witches.

In terms of character, Kate doesn't get laid (to be fair, she's very busy), realises she's entirely over an ex (which no reader would have doubted anyway), fences (literally) with two potential suitors… and starts to build a family, not particularly through choice. The potential story arc here is very obvious, but I trust the Andrews team to do something interesting with it rather than simply following the predictable path; ditto, Kate revealing some of her Awesome Magic Powers to people who aren't going to forget about them.

Of course, everyone's interpretation of the Morrigan is different; but this one is intriguing, managing to be more alien than anything else. She is and does what she is and does, and if that doesn't work for you, you now have a problem.

The world-building isn't as obvious in this second volume (though it was reasonably well-handled before); and this time Kate does think of using a horse as a means of travel that still works in both magic-dominant and tech-dominant times.

Perhaps nothing amazing, but good fun, and better written than one might expect given the setting and premise. Followed by Magic Strikes.