Magic Mourns

Table of Contents

 

 

“At times I felt like I needed to take a break from the book due to [its] just being too engrossing, too brilliant for my little heart, like when you gorge yourself on Belgian chocolate.
Magic Bleeds
is the best yet of this series!”

 

“Ilona Andrews is one of the few authors whose books just keep getting better . . . It's books like
Magic Bleeds
that make television and movies seem like an inferior form of entertainment.”

—
Romance Reviews Today

 

“I have read and reread this book, and it's perfect. The action, the romance, the plot and suspense . . . I cannot wait for the fifth in the series.”

 

“Having an already-exceptional series exceed your expectations is a rare and wonderful thing, but Andrews unquestionably pulls it off with this astonishing read . . . Balancing petrifying danger with biting humor is an Andrews specialty, leaving readers both grinning and gasping. Put this on your auto-buy list immediately!”

 

“These books are here to stay. They only get better. I don't ever want them to end.”

 

—
Lurv a la Mode

“The world-building is, in a word, fantastic . . . The story is a fast-paced and exciting read.”

—
Mrs Giggles

 

“Delivers on the promise of ‘One hell of a good read.' You will not be disappointed!”

—ParaNormal Romance.org

 

 

MAGIC STRIKES

“Andrews's crisp dialogue and layered characterization make the gut-wrenching action of this first-person thrill ride all the more intense . . . mesmerizing.”

—
Romantic Times
(4½ stars)

 

“Andrews blends action-packed fantasy with myth and legend, keeping readers enthralled.
Magic Strikes
introduces fascinating characters, provides a plethora of paranormal skirmishes, and teases fans with romantic chemistry.”

 

“Ilona Andrews's best novel to date, cranking up the action, danger, and magic . . . Gritty, sword-clashing action and flawless characterizations will bewitch fans, old and new alike.”

—
Sacramento Book Review

 

“Doses of humor serve to lighten the suspense and taut action of this vividly drawn, kick-butt series.”

—
Monsters and Critics

 

“From the first page to the last,
Magic Strikes
was a riveting, heart-pounding ride. Story lines advance, truths are admitted, intriguing characters are introduced, and the romance between Kate and Curran develops a sweetness that is simply delightful.”

—
Dear Author

 

“An engrossing, superbly written urban fantasy series.”

—
Lurv a la Mode

 

“Write faster . . . I absolutely love the relationship between Curran and Kate—I laugh out loud with the witty sarcasm and one-liners, and the sexual tension building between the couples drives me to my knees, knowing I'll have to wait for another book.”

—
SFRevu

 

 

MAGIC BURNS

“Fans of Carrie Vaughn and Patricia Briggs will appreciate this fast-paced, action-packed urban fantasy full of magic, vampires, werebeasties, and things that go bump in the night.”

—
Monsters and Critics

 

“With all her problems, secrets, and prowess both martial and magical, Kate is a great kick-ass heroine, a tough girl with a heart, and her adventures . . . are definitely worth checking out.”

—
Locus

 

“[
Magic Burns
] hooked me completely. With a fascinating, compelling plot, a witty, intelligent heroine, a demonic villain, and clever, wry humor throughout, this story has it all.”

—
Fresh Fiction

 

“A new take on the urban fantasy genre, the world Kate inhabits is a blend of gritty magic and dangerous mystery.”

—
The Parkersburg News and Sentinel

 

“The sexual tension Kate emits has me gritting my teeth.”

—
SFRevu

 

“If you enjoy Laurell K. Hamilton's early Anita Blake or the works of Patricia Briggs and Kim Harrison, you need to add Ilona Andrews to your reading list.”

—
LoveVampires

 

“Andrews . . . demonstrates her mastery at balancing dark humor, clever mystery, and supernatural jeopardy. Andrews is the total package!”

—
Romantic Times

 

 

MAGIC BITES

“Treat yourself to a splendid new urban fantasy . . . I am looking forward to the next book in the series or anything else Ilona Andrews writes.”

—Patricia Briggs, #1
New York Times
bestselling author of
River Marked

 

“Andrews shows a great deal of promise. Readers fond of Laurell K. Hamilton and Patricia Briggs may find her work a new source of reading pleasure.”

—
SFRevu

 

“Andrews's edgy series stands apart from similar fantasies . . . owing to its complex world-building and skilled characterizations.”

—
Library Journal

 

“Fans of urban fantasy will delight in Ilona Andrews's alternate-universe Atlanta.”

—
Fresh Fiction

 

“A perfectly paced supernatural mystery with bits of dark humor and—if you'll forgive the pun—a fair amount of bite.”

—Rambles.net

 

“The strong story line coupled with a complex alternative history . . . will have readers hoping for more.”

—
Monsters and Critics

 

 

 

MAGIC BITES
MAGIC BURNS
MAGIC STRIKES
MAGIC BLEEDS
MAGIC SLAYS

 

 

ON THE EDGE
BAYOU MOON

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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

 

Previously published in the anthology
Must Love Hellhounds
, published by Berkley Books.

 

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

 

MAGIC MOURNS

 

A Berkley eSpecial / published by arrangement with the author

 

PRINTING HISTORY

Berkley eSpecial edition / May 2011

Copyright © 2009 by Andrew Gordon and Ilona Gordon.

Excerpt from
Magic Slays
by Ilona Andrews copyright © by Andrew Gordon and Ilona Gordon.

 

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

 

ISBN : 978-1-101-53185-3

 

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The “B” design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

I sat in a small, drab office, one of many in the Atlanta chapter of the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, and pretended to be Kate Daniels. Kate's phone didn't ring very often, so I didn't have to pretend very hard.

Unfortunately, when it did ring, like right now, the person on the other end was rarely interested in a facsimile. They wanted the real thing.

“Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea Nash speaking.”

A female voice on the other end murmured hesitantly. “You're not Kate.”

“No, I'm not. She's on medical leave. But I'm filling in for her.”

“I'll just wait until she comes back.”

I said good-bye to the disconnect signal, hung up, and petted my SIG-Sauer P226s lying on Kate's desk. At least my guns still liked me.

The real Kate Daniels, my best friend and partner in butt-kicking, was on medical leave. And I intended to do my best to let her stay on medical leave, at least until her wounds stopped bleeding.

The magic wave fell. The mysterious orange and yellow glyphs on the floor of Kate's office faded. On the wall, the charged air inside twisted glass tubes of a feylantern turned dark, while the ugly warts of electric lights in the hallway ceiling ignited with soft light. Inside my skin, the secret me stretched, yawned, and curled up for a nap, with her claws securely tucked away.