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Magic Tides (Kate Daniels: Wilmington Years, #1; Kate Daniels, #10.5)

Ilona Andrews

Start date: February 1, 2023

Finish date: February 28, 2023

Discussion: Book of the Month

Why we're reading this: Voted as our “Most popular books Published in January 2023” February BOM
[close] Voted as our “Most popular books Published in January 2023” February BOM

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Book of the Month

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* BOM: Group Read History [2025]
By Steph , Serious series addict · 9 posts · 22 views

last updated Aug 30, 2025 12:41AM

* BOM: Comments & Suggestions
By Steph , Serious series addict · 38 posts · 229 views

last updated Mar 15, 2012 06:15PM

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What Members Thought

Jan 19, 2023 Katyana rated it really liked it

Shelves: ass-kicking-women, favorites, short, uf, shapeshifters

I was so excited to hear a new novella was dropping in the Kate Daniels series, one of my long-time favorites.

I wasn't sure what I expected it to be. The author said it was a slice of life look at their HEA, and so I was thinking a kind of extended epilogue, sort of what Hailey Edwards did with TBGTN (which I also loved).

This was kind of like that, but also not. They're in a new home, away from everyone we spent 10 books getting to know. I missed some of them (but not others, fuck the Pack and J I was so excited to hear a new novella was dropping in the Kate Daniels series, one of my long-time favorites.

I wasn't sure what I expected it to be. The author said it was a slice of life look at their HEA, and so I was thinking a kind of extended epilogue, sort of what Hailey Edwards did with TBGTN (which I also loved).

This was kind of like that, but also not. They're in a new home, away from everyone we spent 10 books getting to know. I missed some of them (but not others, fuck the Pack and Jim especially), and was kind of sad that at the end of it all, Kate and Curran gave up everything and everyone they know.

But also not sad. It didn't feel like an ending, but rather a new beginning. They were no longer being chased by problems and responsibilities, so this was about choosing their life together. Getting away from burdens they couldn't entirely shake (looking at you again, Jim, you shithead). Figuring out what they want from life when they actually are free to choose. I loved that.

It was also an interesting read because in some ways, it felt like those #0.5 books that some authors do to tease / set up a new series. They put the past behind them, in a way that felt pretty firm. But with who they are - with their drive to help and protect - the low profile plan was just never going to last, haha. And to that end, they picked up new threads that were very interesting. Veeeeeeeerrrry interesting. I'm excited to see what happens next.

Lastly, I want to engage in some speculation about the Pack. I've re-read the series more than a few times, and had concluded that the Pack would likely not survive long term. I don't mean die, I mean fracture. In early books, we're told that a large Pack that crosses species is supremely unusual, and likely was only possible because of Curran. Aunt B puts it to his personality - he's an incredible, inspirational, charismatic leader - but others (who know what it means) think it's because he's a First.

Jim doesn't have that. He doesn't have the charisma, he doesn't inspire the loyalty, and at the end of the day he doesn't have the plain brute force Curran does. The different alphas are very back-bitey, and Jim/Dali make some spectacularly shitty decisions (but don't take ownership of ANY disasters that result)... I just don't see it holding together. Maybe changing into something more like a shapeshifter council made up of the alphas of each clan, rather than a Beast Lord that rules them all, but that's optimistic on my part. In reality, without Curran, I don't expect them to continue to consent to be ruled.

This book only made me more sure of that. Jim is still making dumb decisions, and still seems to be led by his ego (Curran's POV about Jim wanting him to go made me hurt for Curran...after everything he's done, to be treated like a pariah is gross and Jim deserves the shitshow that seems to inevitably be coming their way). What I never understood, in the last few books of the original KD series, is how some Pack alphas (including Jim) acted like Curran and Kate capriciously abandoned them when they stepped down. That is just willful stupidity, frankly - they didn't leave because they were like "oh tra-la-la, this isn't fun anymore, let's abandon ship!" ... they left because Roland said "step down or I'll wipe them all out" and Kate was in no position to face him yet. They had no choice, and stepping down was an act of sacrifice TO PROTECT THE PACK. Not that they deserved protecting, after the marathon of challenges they threw at Kate, but even then Kate and Curran bent over backwards for those ungrateful assholes. The way they were then treated as, like, deadbeat parents by Jim, Mahon, etc., was goddamn infuriating. Even Andrea and Raphael were HUGELY disappointing to me. My mantra for like the back half of the KD series was Fuck the Pack ... and it still is.

Anyway, now that Kate and Curran's location has been discovered, I expect some folks (i.e., the non-idiots, which basically means non-leadership) are going to defect. The question is whether Curran will make it official, or just treat it like a community. We'll see! ...more

23 likes · Like · see review

Jan 26, 2023 Dichotomy Girl rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites-previous-years, 4-and-a-half-to-5-stars, own-kindle-read, authors-i-love, 2023

Love, love love!

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 19, 2023 Steph rated it it was amazing

Shelves: author-유, author-웃, series-ongoing, series-i-love, series-spinoff-or-same-world, series-book1, author-favorite, year-read-2023, favorites-2023

LOVED returning to this series! And, Conlan is a-dor-a-ble and fierce. I was thrilled he got his own POV 😁 More, please and thank you!

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 18, 2023 Susan Jackson rated it it was amazing

Give more, more, more!!

I loved catching up with Kate, Curran and Conlan in Wilmington! I missed them so much and this was a great intro to their life there. I look forward to hopefully more of these tales.

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Mar 16, 2023 Chompa rated it liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, apocalyptic, 2023

Nice revisit to Kate Daniels world.

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Apr 29, 2024 ☘KathyD☘ rated it really liked it

Shelves: genre-romance, genre-romance-series, genre-paranormal, audio-audible, character-vamps, pages-100-199, genre-funny-funny, genre-fantasy, character-shifters, genre-mystery

I have so missed Kate and Curran! It was great catching up with this couple, with the added bonus of having more than Kate’s point of view. I wish there was more of Kate and Curran together, but I’m hoping this is the start of more great stories with these two! I also enjoyed getting to see Conlan in action…such a sneaky, sweet boy!

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