4 Wine Glass #Review of Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews

Title: Magic Triumphs
Series: Kate Daniels #10
Author: Ilona Andrews
Format: eBook, 327 pages
Published: August 28th 2018 by Ace
ISBN: 0425270718
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Source: NetGalley
Reviewer: Crystal
Rating: 4 out of 5 Wine Glasses

Mercenary Kate Daniels must risk all to protect everything she holds dear in this epic, can't-miss entry in the thrilling #1 New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series.

Kate has come a long way from her origins as a loner taking care of paranormal problems in post-Shift Atlanta. She's made friends and enemies. She's found love and started a family with Curran Lennart, the former Beast Lord. But her magic is too strong for the power players of the world to let her be.

Kate and her father, Roland, currently have an uneasy truce, but when he starts testing her defenses again, she knows that sooner or later, a confrontation is inevitable. The Witch Oracle has begun seeing visions of blood, fire, and human bones. And when a mysterious box is delivered to Kate's doorstep, a threat of war from the ancient enemy who nearly destroyed her family, she knows their time is up.

Kate Daniels sees no other choice but to combine forces with the unlikeliest of allies. She knows betrayal is inevitable. She knows she may not survive the coming battle. But she has to try.

For her child.

For Atlanta.

For the world. 

Crystal's Thoughts:
Kate Lennart (Daniels) and crew are back, for one last epic battle, and the stakes are higher then ever. Will Atlanta make it through, or will Kate's long-time fears of loosing everything that she holds dear finally come to pass?

As many of you know, Magic Triumphs is the bittersweet end to the phenomenal Kate Daniels series. Author duo Ilona Andrews closes the series out with class and their characteristic flair of humor, action, and passion giving fans everything that they could hope for.

The book opens with Kate and Curran's son finally coming into the world with a burst of suspense and magic. Fast-forward a year and little Conlan Lennart is not only the apple of Kate and Curran's eye, but also coveted by those seeking to use his power for their own gain. Just when Kate thinks that the conflict with her father has finally reached a head, and she must make the heavy decision of taking him out for good, along the consequences that may come with it, a new enemy arises from ether. More powerful then anything Kate and the city of Atlanta has faced before, Kate must rally her allies and shore up every bit of magic that she possesses to protect those she loves most. Long time readers of the series will be gratified to see each diverse character from all aspects of the series come together for this last, gripping crusade.

As the story unravels, the authors manage to keep the plot fresh and intriguing. Adding depth to the already well-established series arc while holding on to everything we love most about the series already. Kate, former mercenary and loner, is being bombarded on all sides. But she is one tough cookie, and knows how to roll with the punches. One thing that I appreciate about this series, is even though Kate has grown by leaps and bounds within these ten books, she is still the same ole' Kate at her core. Tough-talking, self-sacrificing, get-it-done, bad-ass. Being a wife and mother has only expanded her facets. With these new threats though, she begins to question everything and in a moment of weakness we're taken back to that solitary beginning. While Kate strives for a solution, Curran is off ensuring that he will be strong enough to protect his family, no matter the ramifications. Will they be too much for Kate to handle though? The layers of emotion weaved into the story gripped my heart tight. While there are several threads to the story moving along, every one wove together seamlessly making for a solid cohesive story-line and a fast-paced, enticing plot. As I got closer to the end, I questioned how everything was going to be wrapped up. There has to be a happy ending, right?! My fears were unfounded of course. Ilona Andrews delivered.

As a side note; I have not read Iron and Magic, Hugh's book, and while I think that I may have been better informed with some aspects to the story (namely the battle scenes) if I had, I never felt like I was missing anything from not reading it first. Though I do plan to go back to read that, as well as Magic Stars (Julie & Derek), at a later date.

Without the sometimes grandiosity found in series ends, the send off still feels like the beginning. With magic, action, suspense, sacrifice, love, loss, sorrow, and that essential well-timed comedy, Magic Triumphs was a satisfying end to an unequaled era. I have a feeling though that it will not be the last we see of these characters, just the ending of that chapter.

Suggested Reading order:
Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1) 
Magic Burns (Kate Daniels Book 2)
Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels Book 3) 
Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels Book 4)
Magic Slays (Kate Daniels Book 5)
Magic Rises ( Kate Daniels Book 6)
Magic Breaks (Kate Daniels Book 7)
Magic Shifts (Kate Daniels Book 8)
Magic Binds (Kate Daniels Book 9) 
Magic Triumphs (Kate Daniels Book 10)