It kept thinking for some time after finishing 5 Kate's books - why does everybody from the main big team of goodies stay alive for so long. I love all the goodies, but still it annoys me when everything in the series is too smooth and has a so called routine imprint: the main heroine struggles to overcome her/her friends troubles, she and her crew have hardships, meet some mythological creeps, get new friends/comrades, the evil dies/is conquered, everybody from the most important crew is alive and happy. That banishes the joy of surprise. I almost prayed for this book not to be like that and it wasn't. Phew. This book was a perfect mix of romance, action, magic, wit and drama. Not forgetting the amazing ending which just blew my mind. Though one of my beloved characters died a heroic death, but it was nice to see that I. Andrews are not becoming too comfortable with this series. 
 "Magic Rises" beginning is gripping and it definitely gives the best of Kate's easy, witty and unique POV. 
 If there is Kate, then there will be mess, chaos, catastrophes and impossible just becomes possible, because Kate can handle everything and everybody. There were twists and turns which left me both laughing and worrying. There were so many different sides of the characters through the entire story. I just loved that I. Andrews took a bunch of main characters and put them in a different plot, but the authors left them the possibility to stay true to themselves. Also it was awesome to visit other places and get to know other shapeshifters and their packs. 
 I really enjoyed reading about Kate's and Curran's further relationship and how it showed their strengths and weaknesses, ups and downs. I also liked how the differences between them have made them stronger as a team and as beloved ones and showed how far their characters changed. 
 The colossal lion jumped and landed a foot away from me, the dark mane streaming. The impact of his leap sent sparks flying from the fire. His eyes burned with molten gold. The powerful feline maw gaped open, showing terrifying fangs as big as my hand. Curran snarled. 
 I swatted him on the nose. "Stop it! You're scaring the people who rescued me." 
 The gray lion snapped into a human form. Curran jerked his hands up as if crushing an invisible boulder. "Aaaaaa!" 
 It was awesome to meet the new characters. For me this book is definitely the grittiest, darkest, most action-packed, twisty and has a major change for the further life and well being of all the main characters from Kate's books I read. 
 I enjoyed Kate's back story, appearing bit by bit from the first book and it was great to find Kate's prime rival (Hugh) in parent's love and fighting experience. Hugh is just a perfect reflection of Kate. Oh, how skillfully I. Andrews show twisty interaction between them, while they circle each other to find weaknesses, because despite their alikeness they are enemies. I could clearly feel the tension between Hugh and Kate. Hugh is charming and there were time when I wanted him and Kate to be together. Maybe it was because Mr. Furriness is not my type and Hugh is (sorry, I'm not fainting in front of Mr. Super Kitty). 
 I should've been furious, but for some reason I wasn't. Maybe because I knew he was telling the truth. Maybe because Voron left me just like that, without the much-needed explanations. Maybe because things I had learned about him since his death had made me doubt everything he'd ever said to me. Whatever the case, I felt only a hollow, crushing sadness. How touching. I understood my adoptive father's killer. Maybe after this was over, Hugh's head and I could sing "Kumbaya" together by the fire. 
 Anyway, I caught every word in this book and I wasn't prepared for it to end. I love Kate as a character and every new book makes me both excited and sad, because everything good usually ends too quickly. It would be awesome for Kate Daniels' series to consist of no less than 30 books. 
 I even found some familiar stuff from my daily life :D 
 It's me at work: 
 I'd signed six things and my stack wasn't getting any smaller. It was like the paperwork was breeding while I worked. 
 It's me and shopping: 
 If it weren't for supplies, I'd never go back down to town. But a man has to do what a man has to do. Hard to live like a king without toilet paper.