Review & Giveaway: Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

Mass Market Paperback, 448 pages

Expected publication: July 31st, 2012 by Ace

Source: Publisher

The New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels novels have been hailed as “top-notch urban fantasy” (Monsters and Critics). Now, Ilona Andrews delves deeper into Kate’s world, and reveals its untold stories…
After being kicked out of the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea’s whole existence is in shambles. She tries to put herself back together by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend. When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano—the male alpha of the Clan Bouda, and Andrea’s former lover—die unexpectedly at a dig site, Andrea is assigned to investigate. Now she must work with Raphael as her search for the killer leads into the secret underbelly of supernatural Atlanta. And dealing with her feelings for him might have to take a back seat to saving the world…

Kick ass characters, fabulous world building, and witty dialogue, Gunmetal Magic ended up being a heart racing story that completely won me over. 

This is a spin-off from the Kate Daniels books and can be read without having read any previous books.  As a matter of fact, I am embarrassed to say that I have not read the Kate Daniels books.  I started the first one but that was years ago and I got distracted.  I have met the husband wife writing team that makes up 'Ilona Andrews' and they are fabulous people!  And now I have officially read a book by them!

So I was immediately in love with this world.  It's sort of been an apocalypse of sorts caused by magic (years past).  And there are loads of magical creatures and things.  And apparently lots of shifters of all sorts.  I think I would like to know more background about the world and so I need to go back and read the Kate Daniels series, but this book had enough info I wasn't ever confused.

I really enjoyed the characters.  Andrea is pretty kick ass and straight away we see that she's 'finding' herself, discovering who/what she really is.  And coming to terms with it.  Her relationship is also in upheaval and straight away I got all emotional about it because I was so FURIOUS with Raphael and what he did.  In the end he redeemed himself though.  I can't say that I was blown away with the romance, but I liked it well enough and enjoyed the 'fighting' and banter between the two.

There was one side character that I desperately want a story about.  Roman is a dark priest.  You know, someone who deals in evil and all that jazz.  He should be all dark and scary, but he has this personality that is just, I don't know, AWESOME.  He says things that just had me in giggles and he just seems to bring out the funny in people (except mated male shifters...).  For a dark priest he was basically the opposite personality wise, though power wise he wasn't.  I am putting out a plea here though- I want Roman to have his own story!

This is a larger size book but I never had a hard time keeping with it.  I enjoyed every crazy moment in this world and with these fabulous characters.  I can see that the authors definitely have a talent with world building AND characterization and I can't wait to devour more of their work.

I labeled this as adult, and not adult 18+ because while there's quite a lot of violence and cursing, of course, there's not any heavy sexual activity or description.  It's definitely an adult urban fantasy, but more mature YA readers shouldn't have much problem with the content.

Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Giveaway:

Thanks to the folks at Ace/Penguin I have one copy of Gunmetal Magic to giveaway to one of you. *shipped by Ace/Penguin*

This is open to US only

Must be 16 or older to enter.

Ends 8/8/12

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