Review: Small Magics by Ilona Andrews

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Small Magics by Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels
Published by NYLA on September 17, 2015
Genres: Anthologies, Paranormal Romance, Short Stories, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 279
Format: Audiobook, eBook, Hardcover
Source: Bought

Purchase Links: Amazon*Libro*Kobo*Chirp
Goodreads

***The stories in this anthology have been previously published***

Now collected for the first time, an irresistible compilation of five previously published stories by the bestselling author of the Kate Daniels series; including Kate’s very first meeting with Saiman, some related adventures, and two unforgettable ‘outside’ excursions.

A QUESTIONABLE CLIENT –
In this ‘intro’ to the Kate Daniels world, we meet the extremely ‘shifty’ Saiman for the very first time, when Kate takes on the task of serving as his bodyguard to protect him from some very determined—and dangerous—Russian wizards.

RETRIBUTION CLAUSE –
Saiman’s cousin, Adam—a frost giant and also an insurance adjuster—and his enigmatic partner, Siroun, set out on an impossible mission to enforce a client’s Retribution Clause; that is, to kill the person who killed her. But is their target even guilty? Magic and mayhem and a little personal chemistry will reveal the truth!

OF SWINE AND ROSES –
A young adult story about a girl, a pig, some magic, and the worst date ever.

Chad Thurman is a thug, who carries brass knuckles in both pockets and lays magic traps for intruders into "his" neighborhood. The last thing Alena Kornov wants to do is to go on the date with him. But when her family pressures her, she can't say no. Now the ice-cream is absent, the pig is running for its life, and we won't even mention the dead guy...

GRACE OF SMALL MAGICS –
Grace has always known she wasn’t like everyone else and that her family has magic abilities. After flying to meet the head of Clan Dreoch in order to fulfill her families’ “duties” as servants, Grace finds herself in the middle of a mage clan war…

MAGIC TESTS –
A short story in the Kate Daniels universe. Kate recruits her teenage ward, Julie, to search out a missing student whose location spell has her hidden somewhere on campus…

CURRAN POV COLLECTION -
a collection of nine scenes told from Curran’s point of view, from Magic Strikes through Magic Bleeds.

JIM POV COLLECTION –
a collection of scenes told from Jim’s point of view.

Also in this series: An Apple for the Creature, Magic Breaks, Night Shift, Magic Bites, Magic Burns, Magic Strikes

This is a wonderful collection of short stories from the Andrews team. I’ve only read A Questionable Client and Magic Tests before, so Retribution Clause, Of Swine and Roses, and Grace of Small Magics where all new to me. I loved this collection of stories!

A Questionable Client – 5 Stars

This one was previously published in the anthology Dark and Stormy Knights. A Questionable Client is #0.1 in the Kate Daniels series. We get to see Kate the Mercenary and meet Saiman for the first time. Saiman shows his true nature at their first meeting and Kate is the kick-ass heroine I have come to love in the series. As always the author does a superb job of describing the world, giving us lots of action and great banter between our characters. 
I loved reading A Questionable Client all over again.

Retribution Clause – 4 Stars

This one was previously published in the anthology Hex Appeal. Retribution Clause is #5.6 in the Kate Daniels series. Here we get to meet Adam who it turns out is related to Saiman. It takes place in post-shift Philadelphia instead of Atlanta, but we still get two great characters, some action, and adventure. Both Adam and Saiman work for the POM Insurance Adjusters. They have been tasked to enforce a client’s Retribution Clause. 
Retribution Clause was a new to me story and I enjoyed it. 

Of Swine and Roses – 4 Stars

This one was originally published as a digital short story. Alena is a young adult. She was a sweet young women who does the right thing for her family and an animal who needs her help. Something magical happens at the end. Of Swine and Roses gives you a quick peek into the world and the magical families that make-up the latest endeavor of the Andrews team, which is their Hidden Legacy series (It’s got similar aspects). 
Of Swine and Roses was a new to me story and I enjoyed it.

Grace of Small Magics – 5 Stars

This one was originally published in The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance. It also, just like Of Swine and Roses, takes place in the Hidden Legacy world (It’s got similar aspects). Nassar has called on Grace’s family. Grace’s family are magic users, but they only have a very small amount of magic and have been forced into servitude; because of something that happened over 100 years ago. Grace is a strong women who vows to end this servitude. We are treated to a family at war, interesting mythology, a little attraction, some action, and a unique set-up to the world and characters. I would love to see more of Grace and Nassar. 
Grace of Small Magics was a new to me story and I loved it. 

Magic Test – 5 Stars

This one was previously published in An Apple for the Creature. Magic Test is #5.3 in the Kate Daniels series. We get a peek into Julie’s mind and life with the author telling us the story in her POV. As always the author does a superb job explaining the world, how it works, and the characters. We have a mystery to solve and Julie is on the case. 
I loved reading Magic Test all over again. 

Fans of the Andrews team will not want to miss picking up this collection of shorts to read or re-read.

 

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Challenge: #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks (2016)

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