Challenge Corner discussion

Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for the magic…

When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.

Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta’s magic circles.

The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate’s guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she’s way out of her league—but she wouldn’t have it any other way…

Thanks!

Very excited!

***** STARTING SERIES FROM BOOK 8 ON NOVEMBER 29TH 2018 *****

Ch 4 (19%) - (view spoiler)[ Some random thoughts - if it wasn't such a bad business deal, I would think Kate and Curran taking over the Guild would be a good thing and logical. Also, her dad did say that she would be challenged by "people" now that she claimed the city - someone is behind the ghouls and obviously whatever it is that is after this lady's cats too. And finally - what do you mean Derek hasn't declared that he is going to go with them? How are he and Julie going to end up together (when she is older)? (hide spoiler)]

Ch 12 (53%) - (view spoiler)[ What would they do without Doolittle? Ok so, I was actually a little worried - Kate being ready to just roll over a die was bad. I knew she wouldn't (because the series goes on), but it was so out of character for her that I thought Curran or her other friends might freak out and not recover. Let's hope there aren't any side effects from Doolittle's treatment. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 17 (78%) - (view spoiler)[ I love how the HOA lady is just watching all this unfold in her front yard! (hide spoiler)]
Finished - (view spoiler)[ I'm conflicted. Even though Kate has been anti-Dad this whole time, a part of me has been hoping that she is wrong. He does seem to do some nice things and genuinely wants to get to know her better. This new vision about him taking her baby puts all those hopes on hold. I'm sure it will probably come to pass, but I'm still hoping for another explanation other than he is evil. (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING FEBRUARY 9TH, 2023

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Read book 1 today.



Chapters 1-3
(view spoiler)[
I really love Kate so far. I like how sarcastic she is (her first meeting with Curran was amazing). I'm really curious what type of creature killed Greg?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 4-6
(view spoiler)[
The way the Pack operates is pretty neat. Kate's use of a power word to control Derek was crazy. The People weird me out and the vampires in this are just so creepy. The confrontation with Olathe was intense. The way Kate took her out was badass.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 7-9
(view spoiler)[
Wow so Curran saved Kate at the cost of third degree burns. That had to hurt. I don't see why everyone is blaming Kate, she's the one who keeps saying the bad guy is still out there and she's not wrong. Nick is an interesting addition, I'm curious to learn more about him.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10 - Epilogue
(view spoiler)[
The final fight with Bono was well done, none of them seemed like they were making it out of that. Interested to see was Kate will do now that she's a liaison between the Guild and the Order.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3
(view spoiler)[I'm a little bit bored to be honest. World is interesting but it's a start of new series so there is a lot of information and I just have to get through this. But I like Kate and her "Here, kitty, kitty, kitty." was fantastic. (hide spoiler)]

Started book 2 tonight.



Chapters 1-6
(view spoiler)[
Kate is just a fantastic MC to follow. I love her sarcasm and that she can handle herself. Julie is an interesting addition. It's nice to see Kate having to deal with a young girl that's so much like her. I wonder what happened to Julie's mom? And who is this Bran guy and what is he after?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5
(view spoiler)[I like this world, it's really interesting and it has unique vampires. Usually they are "people like us" just dead and they want blood. Yes, they can be violent and cruel but these vampires are different level! And I'm here for it! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[I don't know why they are blaming Kate either. She warned them. I want to know who is her father because her blood came up a few times and it's powerfull. We already know the man who raised her isn't her biological father. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[I think this book was okay and it was a good start of the series. I'm looking forward for next book. (hide spoiler)]

I'm not sure when I'll get to second book.

Finished book 2 tonight.



Chapters 7-12
(view spoiler)[
Ok the reeves are super creepy and so is the guy controlling them. What do they want with Julie? Speaking of Julie, I adore her scenes with Kate. Those two are just great together. And we got some great interactions between Kate and Curran, I love how she teases him.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 13-18
(view spoiler)[
The tortoise thing was really neat. The Witch Oracle is a cool concept and I like that the three witches represent different things. Again, the creepy hood guy. What does he want with Julie? Is it about her magic? And damn, Andrea is in rough shape. I hope Aunt B can help her.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 19-25
(view spoiler)[
Damn, Kate's power during that final battle was off the charts. I'm so interested to learn more about her past, she's great at keeping things close to the vest. Bran dying was a bit sad as he'd finally saw the light thanks to Kate. I like that Kate kept custody of Julie and that she's going to try and give her a normal life.
(hide spoiler)]

Read book 3 tonight.



Chapters 1-8
(view spoiler)[
The Midnight Games are such an interesting concept and seemingly the perfect setup for a great plot. I'm curious about the Reapers and why Saiman wants to know more about them. And why didn't Jim tell Curran about the dead shapeshifter?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 9-16
(view spoiler)[
Jim's betrayal makes a lot more sense now, he doesn't want Curran to have to kill Derek if it comes to that. Saiman being the grandson of two Norse Gods was unexpected and makes a lot more about him make sense. I'm interested to see how this fight goes.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 17-24
(view spoiler)[
Damn, the Rakshasa are a creepy bunch with the whole pulling off the skin thing. They're definitely a unique enemy and I'm interested to see how this fight in the arena goes. Curran was not happy with Kate when he found her, she's in trouble when he gets out of that cage.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 25-29
(view spoiler)[
Curran joining them for the Games was great and I liked that he gave himself the same sentence as the others for participating. Jim scolding Kate, Curran, and Dali for doing too well in the first fight was fantastic. The fights themselves were excellent. What Kate did with the sword was crazy and I'm interested to see what lasting affects there will be from having more of Roland's blood in her.
(hide spoiler)]

Read the novella after book 3 tonight. I'll get to book 4 in a couple of days.



Thru 25%
(view spoiler)[
I'm liking this so far, I love the back and forth between Andrea and Raphael. I wonder, how did Cerberus get into a ravine in Atlanta? And what's in that house it's circling?
(hide spoiler)]

Thru 50%
(view spoiler)[
That's terrible that Aunt B's mate's spirit is locked in that house. I wonder what's going on in there since Andrea and Raphael can't get in. I'm so glad these two have worked out the issues stopping them from being together.
(hide spoiler)]

Thru 75%
(view spoiler)[
I love that Kate immediately knew what happened between Andrea and Raphael. So it is the People that are involved but not directly as it's a Master of the Dead that's left them. With her being sick, I could see her trying to push the bounds of what can be done to save herself. I feel bad for Aunt B's late husband though.
(hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[
Damn, Andrea is powerful in her beast form even though she hates it. I love that little bit with Kate at the end that she can eat the apples and suffer no ill effects. And the fact the Curran can (I'm guessing she put them in the pie he ate the last piece of in the last book), is interesting.
(hide spoiler)]

Started book 4 tonight.



Prologue - Chapter 7
(view spoiler)[
Well that was a crazy opening. What in the world could do that to the guy killed at the bar? I love that Kate has a dog now even though she claims she's not going to keep him. I don't like that her and Curran are fighting. Those two need to work things out.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 8-14
(view spoiler)[
Damn, this Mary is incredibly powerful and I wonder how Kate will manage to stop them. I'm glad her and Curran are on their way to fixing their relationship. They're good together so I don't like when they're on the outs. Kate with the dog is cute, I love how he's grown on her.
(hide spoiler)]

Finished book 4 tonight.



Chapters 15-21
(view spoiler)[
Kate and Curran are both so rigid, one of them is going to have to give for a relationship between them to work. I'm sad that Erra killed Marigold, she was a great horse. Kate and Erra chatting over tea before their fight was a fantastic scene and I like how much backstory we got about Roland in this section. But who was the shapeshifter that grabbed Kate before her or Erra could kill each other?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22 - Epilogue
(view spoiler)[
Damn, Erra really packed a punch there. That final showdown with her and her last 3 knights was crazy. I love the ending of this with Kate defending her place with Curran while he was unconscious. I also really like that he got her a building to work out of since she walked out of the Order.
(hide spoiler)]

Read the next novella tonight.



Thru 25%
(view spoiler)[
I love Dali's character so I'm super happy to get a novella following her. I wonder what's in the office? Did it kill the shapeshifters there? If not, where did they go? And what kind of magic is affecting Jim?
(hide spoiler)]

Thru 50%
(view spoiler)[
Dali's mom is great. I love how she put both Dali and Jim in their places. Going to the Underground sounds like a very bad idea for Dali.
(hide spoiler)]

Thru 75%
(view spoiler)[
Damn, I knew going there would be bad for Dali. They immediately wanted to chop her to pieces, I'm glad Jim got there in time. Wow, part dragon. It didn't occur to me that there could be people who are part dragon.
(hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[
Dali is so clever, she definitely gets underestimated because of how she looks. I'm so glad her and Jim finally talked about their feelings.
(hide spoiler)]

Started book 5 tonight.



Prologue - Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[
I loved the opening with Kate and Curran. They're so good together, I love how much he understands her. As to the vampire, I wonder what caused the masters of the dead to lose control of its' mind? Ghastek is pretty powerful so it would have to be something strong. The job Kate and Andrea are on seems interesting. Where did the guy disappear to and what was he working on?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 7-12
(view spoiler)[
More background on Kate's family, this is interesting. Her mother being part of one of the most powerful witch clans is interesting. It's very depressing though to learn about Voron and what he did. Also, the duck-rabbit-cat is adorable and I want one.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 13-18
(view spoiler)[
Damn, a device that kills magic. That is not good for Kate or any of the characters we've come to know in this series. Poor Julie, I hope she makes it through what's happening to her.
(hide spoiler)]

Finished book 5.



Chapter 19 - Epilogue
(view spoiler)[
The Conclave meeting was interesting with all the different groups of magic users. It's neat getting to see them all in one place.

Wow, they definitely cut it close there with stopping the device.

And the magic Kate did at the end to save Julie was intense. That took a lot of power and I'm interested to see the consequences due to the fact Julie now has to obey Kate even though she doesn't know it.
(hide spoiler)]

Read the next novella tonight.



Chapters 1-3
(view spoiler)[
Kate and Curran just can't have a normal night, can they? A magic necklace that somehow kills people does not seem like a fun way to die.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 4-6
(view spoiler)[
Kate just has no good choices with the Guild thing. She's right that whoever she picks, the other side isn't going to agree with it. I love how Kate was right about Dagfinn and that he showed up wanting to fight Curran.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 7-9
(view spoiler)[
Damn, that thing is super scary and almost got Kate and Curran. I love that Ghastek though was sure he could take it.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10 - Epilogue
(view spoiler)[
I'm glad they managed to find Ivar in time to save the kid. And I liked how his mother got what was coming to her for putting the necklace on the kid.
(hide spoiler)]

Started the next book.



Chapters 1-4
(view spoiler)[
It's interesting following Andrea instead of Kate as they're quite different in how they approach situations. The investigation is intriguing so far and I'm curious what was in the vault that was stolen? Whoever stole it had to know the Pack wouldn't just let the murders go so it has to be something really valuable.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 5-8
(view spoiler)[
I'm really liking this new version of Andrea, she's a lot more playful while still being a total badass. So that escape from the party and that monster thing was intense. I wonder what it was? Was it the thin that killed the shapeshifters? I'm glad Andrea and Raphael finally worked out some of their issues but they definitely haven't resolved everything.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 9-12
(view spoiler)[
That confrontation of the bridge was crazy, way to save the day Andrea with bouda rage. I loved the plan Andrea came up with for revenge on Raphael. That purple carpet sounds like a nightmare, it's great. I'm glad those two worked out their differences. And now we have an Egyptian god to deal with, should be interesting.
(hide spoiler)]

Finished this one.



Chapter 13 - Epilogue
(view spoiler)[
Damn that fight with the draugr was tough, it almost ate Kate! The fight to stop the god from rising was neat and I liked how they managed to beat Anubis. Overall I really enjoyed this one and it was fun to follow Andrea instead of Kate.
(hide spoiler)]

I'll be picking up the next book tomorrow.

I continued on with the next book last night but couldn't update with the site being down. I'll post my comments after work today.

Realized I never came back to post my comments on this one as I was picking up the next book.



31%
(view spoiler)[
How exactly did you get yourself kidnapped Saiman? And by the Red Guard?
(hide spoiler)]

41%
(view spoiler)[
I love that Trash is one of the only commands Kate has managed to teach Grendel.
(hide spoiler)]

59%
(view spoiler)[
Kate's presence being enough to get 2 of the kidnappers to leave is great. Her reputation definitely proceeds her.
(hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[
I'm interested to see what Kate calls in as her favor from Saiman.
(hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING DECEMBER 20TH, 2023

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