Gunmetal Magic

ilona-andrews.com

I love, love, love the Kate Daniels series written by the husband-wife duo known as Ilona Andrews. Gunmetal Magic is set in the Kate Daniel universe. Instead of following Kate we are seeing the world the Andrea Nash's eyes. Andrea has been Kate's bff for most of the series and she is pretty badass. Where Kate wields a sword, Andrea can take out a target either up close and personal or far away all sniper style.

Andrea has issues. She had an abusive past, mistreated by her clan (they set her on fire as a kid, I don't know how much more effed up of a childhood you could manage). She is beastkin and not a regular shifter, so she's often shunned. She was playing at being human and got outed during the last book. She is also on the outs with her mate. There is plenty there to make this book work. To make it interesting.

I read on the author's page that many people felt it was too short. At first I thought the same thing, but she's right it's just as long if not longer than many of her other books. It just goes at such a good pace, that it doesn't feel that long.

I enjoyed this book. I loved the resolution, I loved the continuation of the story line, I loved finding out more about Andrea and I loved seeing a character have actual growth. Many times during a series, it takes forever for a character to just "grow up". Not here. She gets it, she has to make changes, she has to take responsibility for her actions. It was refreshing after reading countless books this summer where the characters seem to never learn from their past, never change their game.

I don't want to forget to mention, but this book is also funny. There's plenty of "heh" moments. It is smartly written and rather enjoyable all around. I would suggest you read the entire series from the beginning or you won't fully appreciate everything that is going on during the course of the story. Seriously, you'll wonder who is this "volhv".

I give this book a solid A.