Small Magics
by
Ilona Andrews
It is part of the Kate Daniels World series and is a alternative history, arcanepunk fantasy in a Kindle edition that was published by Nancy Yost Literary Agency (NYLA) on July 1, 2020 and has 333 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Must Love Hellhounds, Dark and Stormy Knights, Angels of Darkness, Hexed, Fate's Edge, Hex Appeal, An Apple for the Creature, "Magic Gifts", Gunmetal Magic, Innkeeper Chronicles, Steel's Edge, Magic Bites, Magic Burns, Magic Strikes, Magic Bleeds, Magic Slays, Magic Rises, Magic Bleeds, Burn For Me, Night Shift, Magic Shifts, Magic Binds, White Hot, Wildfire, Iron and Magic, Magic Triumphs, "Gerard Demille and Helen Meet", "Diamond Fire", "Sweep with Me", Clean Sweep, Sweep in Peace, "A Mere Formality", Blood Heir, "The King of Fire", Sapphire Flames, "A Misunderstanding", Emerald Blaze, "The Cool Aunt", One Fell Sweep, Sweep of the Blade, "Silent Blade", Fated Blades, On the Edge, Bayou Moon, "George and Jack in School", Sweep of the Heart , Magic Tides, "The Wilson Building", "Conlan’s Birthday Text", "Dabwaha", "Don't Fight with Fate", “A Bit More of Roman”, “Getting Distracted”, "Sgt Munoz Had to Go", Ruby Fever, "Regina", Magic Tides, "The King of Fire", Magic Claims, "Sandra", "No Heroes", "Purpose", "A Mere Formality", "I Will Explain Everything"
A collection of seventeen previously published short stories in the Kate Daniels World of this arcanepunk fantasy series set in an alternative earth and revolving around an apocalyptic world.
The Series
Kate Daniels (KD) and Kate Daniels Universe (U)
The Kate Daniels series information is chronological.
| Kate Daniels | Kate Daniels World |
|---|---|
| “A Questionable Client” (KD, 0.5) “Curran’s Point-of-View” (KD, 1.1) “Fernando’s” (KD, 1.2) “Soup” (KD, 2.1) “Midnight Games” (KD, 3.1) “Hot Tub” (KD, 3.2) “Kate’s Origin”, a.k.a. “Kate’s Daddy” (KD, 3.3) “Naked Dinner”, a.k.a. “On the Day of the Panty Dinner” (KD, 3.4) “Conclave” (KD, 4.1) “Awake”, a.k.a. “Fathers and Sons” (KD, 4.2) “Magic Tests” (KD, 5.4) “Prequel” (KD, 7.1) “Jim’s Point-of-View” (KD, 7.2) “Grocery Lists” (KD, 7.4) |
“Retribution Clause” (U) “Of Swine and Roses” (U) “Grace of Small Magics” (U) |
The Stories
The stories are organized as they crop up in Small Magics.
“Magic Tests”
Kate inveigles Julie into investigating a disappearance, and it’s a sneaky way of getting Julie interested in attending the school. Using first person protagonist point-of-view from Julie’s perspective is where Julie explores her frustrations. There is a touch of perspective from Kate in which she makes her usual snarky remarks.
The story recounts the characters this apocalyptic world released. It can also be found in An Apple for the Creature.
The Characters
Julie Lennart-Daniels-Olsen is an orphan “adopted” by Kate from Magic Burns, 2.
Kate Daniels is the Beast Lord’s mate, the Consort, and she and Curran are in charge of the Pack. Kate runs Cutting Edge Investigations along with Andrea. Slayer is Kate’s saber. Dr Doolittle is the Pack’s medmage. Dali is a vegetarian tigershifter.
The Seven Star Academy is yet another school Kate in which tries to enroll Julie. Gendun Dargye is the headmaster. Julie determines he’s some sort of priest. Ashlyn is a very shy student who went missing. Brook is the girl who is Julie’s student guide. Barka is another student who likes to play magical pranks. Lisa the Dud has self-esteem issues and claims to have talked to her spirit. Sheila was a student Ashlyn hung out with sometimes. Yu Fong is a bigshot on campus. He’s a dragonshifter and has a small group of boys, including Hui, who guard him and prevent anyone from approaching.
Leshii is a forest spirit, a wolf, who has possessed a student.
“A Questionable Client”
Andrews provides a quick look at this post-Shift world when we’re introduced to Saiman who has ticked off the volkhvi. Serves him right too, as he plotted to steal from the volkhvi.
It is funny, but it’s best part is why Saiman becomes so obsessed with Kate.
Also in Magic Graves.
The Characters
Kate Daniels is a loner and a member of the Mercenary Guild in Atlanta. Betsi is her old dented Subaru that only works when the tech is up. Voron is Kate’s father.
Saiman, a sociopathic frost giant who can turn into anything that’s human, makes an excellent living collecting information and has an in-depth knowledge of magic.
Jim is Kate’s part-time partner for gigs and part of the Pack, which is his #1 top priority.
The besuited Mark is middle management in the Guild of working-class thugs, which includes the huge Mac, Rodriguez and Gina Castor who canceled out of a gig, and Peters, who had the morning shift. The clerk (who has no name) handles gigs and the money. Old Peggy is the Guild’s spare mount.
The volkhvi are Russian priests who serve pagan Slavic gods. Badzula is a mind-changing monster. Pavel Semyonov is the premier volkhv in the Russian community. Grigorii is Pavel’s son who married Yulya. Siren and Alyssa were hookers.
“Retribution Clause”
It’s a fascinating start when those thugs tried to mug Adam. He did seem like a good mark. It’s a bit of a jumble in that Adam and Siroun like each other quite a lot, and yet they’re quick enough to be disparaging. Adam also has some descriptive words about Saiman.
There’s a circuitous tale about the curse around Siroun. And yes, there is a description of this post-Shift world that describes the swings between magic and technology and how humans explained and empowered gods.
There’s a nasty twist to the ending.
The Characters
Adam Talford, a frost giant, works for the POM Insurance Adjusters, which is based in the POM Mansion. The cursed Siroun is Adam’s partner. May is the secretary. Chang is the POM coordinator.
Saiman is Adam’s cousin. Allie had been Siroun’s sister.
The hated, infamous, sociopathic John Sobanto is an attorney with Dorowitz and Sobanto, who’s marked for death through a retribution clause. Linda Sobanto, a witch, is/was his wife with a will. Dean Morowitz is a thief.
Firefern Road is the Philadelphian equivalent of Atlanta’s Unicorn Lane. New Found Hope is a bigoted church. Red Guard is a premier security firm — Adam and Siroun aren’t allowed to kill more than three of them.
“Of Swine and Roses”
It’s a business arrangement. Alena must go on a date with Chad, so the Koronovs can get a loan to make them appear strong and financially secure. It’s that or financial ruin. And Chad has no clue how to behave on a date.
The Characters
Alena Koronov is single with a simple brutal power. Liz, married to Vik, is Alena’s older sister. Mother is insistent. Father, Alexander Koronov, is not amused, although he was Grandfather’s advisor. Aunt Ksenia was a widow; Rufus had been groomed to be Grandfather’s successor. Cousin Boris is their son who can’t think on his own.
Chad Thurman, a shrewd, brutal thug, is from a prominent magic family. Marky is Chad’s chief flunky with Pol close behind. His family, the Thurmans, control SunShine Bank. But they shouldn’t let Chad out of the house.
Dennis Mallot had been a friend of Alena’s; the Mallots earn a living through medical magic. Jeremy is Dennis’ friend who turned out to be more important than Alena. Sveta had also been a friend of Alena’s. Duncan, a Class-II pyro, is a patrician who belongs to a magical heavy-weight family.
“Grace of Small Magics”
Grace has a rude awakening. It’s creepy although it does have a happy ending. I certainly can’t blame Grace for her anger after she learns the truth of her family’s past actions. She does make a good threat, though.
The Characters
Grace Mailliard works as a headhunter. Her family has power, but a horrible past. Janet, Grace’s mother, a fabric buyer, is almost fifty and overweight. Uncle Gerald, a mechanic who likes weapons, is a terrified man. Her father runs a shift in a tire repair plant. The Barrier is a Mailliard natural magic.
Clan Dreoch “owns” Grace’s family who have to respond whenever Dreoch needs them. Nassar is a revenant who is responsible for the clan. Alasdair is a cousin. Elizavetta “Lisa” is Nassar’s sister. Their aunt married the abusive, cruel wart Arthur Roar; their children, include Polina. John had been Nassar’s brother. Nikita performs escort duty. Lilian is a chauffeur.
There are eleven other clans, including Clan Roar, Clan Madrid, Clan Garvey, and Clan Mailliard. Milligan City is where the battle will take place. Marrow worms have to be called from another realm. Conn and Sylvester Roar are very powerful. Akora are nasty insects.
Back in the late 1800s, Jonathan Mailliard, Grace’s great-grandfather’s brother, married Thea Dreoch. Thomas was Grace’s great-grandfather.
“Curran’s Point-of-View”
It’s Curran’s first meeting with Kate, and he is all about himself! He’s also prejudiced against mercenaries. Only, he’s never met the snarky Kate: “Here, kitty, kitty”.
The Characters
Curran is the Beast Lord, in charge of the Pack in Atlanta. Jim is his chief of security — and a part-time partner of Kate’s.
Kate Daniels is a skilled mercenary with the Mercenary Guild. Greg Feldman, Kate’s guardian, had been a Knight Diviner with the Order of Merciful Aid, a third branch of law enforcement.
Unicorn Lane is a wasteland where no one goes unless you need neutral territory.
“Fernando’s”
It’s first person protagonist point-of-view from Curran’s thoughts when he sees Kate with Dr Max Crest at the fancy restaurant, Fernando’s. It’s a “fun” encounter, lol. It takes place during Magic Bites, 1.
The Characters
Kate Daniels is with the Mercenary Guild — she’s not much on following orders or hierarchy. Dr Maximillian Crest is a plastic surgeon, enamored of Kate.
Curran is the Beast Lord, a lionshifter, who leads the Pack. The gorgeous Myong, a minkwere, is Curran’s current girlfriend and incredibly submissive.
Fernando’s is a fancy restaurant where people come to be seen.
“Soup”
Again, it’s from a first person protagonist point-of-view from Curran’s perspective, taking place during Magic Burns when Curran rescues Kate. And Curran is ticked off that so many of the Pack are engaged in illegal doings and avoiding his commands.
It’s danged funny as Curran vacillates between disgust and intrigue about Kate. She defies him, challenges him, and he can’t stop thinking about her.
The Characters
Curran is the Beast Lord, master of all the shapeshifters in and around Atlanta. The Keep is the Pack‘s main headquarters. The Southeast Office is a branch. Dr Doolittle is the Pack medmage. Derek Gaunt is a wolfshifter. Dali is a half-blind, vegetarian tiger who loves to drive fast.
Julie Olsen is quite possibly an orphan whom Kate Daniels, a mercenary with the Mercenary Guild and new employee with the Order of Merciful Aid, rescued.
“Midnight Games”
Again, it’s first person protagonist point-of-view from Curran’s perspective, as he fumes at his rogue shifters participating in the Midnight Games, taking place during Magic Strikes, 3.
Oh, oh, Julie lets slip things Kate has said about Curran! Julie also has a good insight into Kate, lol.
The Characters
Curran, the Beast Lord, leads the Pack. Jim is Curran’s chief of security and Alpha of Clan Cat, Dr Doolittle is the head of medicine, Derek is a young wolf with a horrible past, and Raphael is the alpha male and son of Bea, Clan Bouda’s leader — Andrea, Kate’s best friend, is Raphael’s mate.
Kate Daniels is a mercenary with the Mercenary Guild and an employee of the Order of Merciful Aid, a not so merciful organization with a prejudice against shapeshifters. Julie Olsen, a former street kid, is Kate’s “kitten”.
The Wolf Diamond is the prize. Rakshasas make up the Reapers, who are the team to beat. The Red Guard are security employed for the Games.
“Hot Tub”
Another tale that takes place during taking place during Magic Strikes from Curran’s perspective in first person protagonist point-of-view.
The battle is a crack-up with its contrast of elegance and violence. Curran’s jealousy appears again as he muses on Kate’s attraction to Bran. He does give a concise definition of being a leader as well as an assessment of Jim’s behavior in Magic Burns.
The Characters
Curran is the Beast Lord and leader of the Pack of shapeshifters in Atlanta. Dali is a half-blind, vegetarian tigershifter whose talent is cursing. Raphael is the son of Aunt Bea, who is the leader of the Boudas. He’s mated to Andrea, a werehyena. Dr Doolittle is the Pack’s medmage. Jim is Curran’s best friend and chief of security.
The Red Stalker case took place in Magic Bites. Bran, the Morrigan’s Hound appeared in Magic Burns.
“Kate’s Origin”, a.k.a. “Kate’s Daddy”
Another first person protagonist point-of-view, from Curran’s perspective and takes place between Magic Strikes and Magic Bleeds, 4. We also get a bit of Curran’s past. As well as some shocking news Jim has dug up on Kate’s past.
The Characters
Curran, the Beast Lord, runs the Pack of 1,500 some shapeshifters. Jim is Curran’s best friend and his chief of security as well as the Alpha of Clan Cat. Jim likes Dali, a half-blind, vegetarian tiger who is a great researcher. Mahon is a Kodiak bear and the Pack’s Executioner. George is Mahon’s daughter.
Kate Daniels, a mercenary as well as working for the Order of Merciful Aid, was badly hurt in Magic Strikes. Greg Feldman, a Knight Diviner with the Order of Merciful Aid and an ally of the Pack, had been Kate’s guardian (Magic Bites). Voron had been Kate’s father, a gifted commander prone to berserker rages who worked for Roland.
Saiman is a cowardly frost giant, who loves to wave Kate in front of Curran. Roland is the Builder of Towers, Lord of the People, who had created the first vampire. Roland’s children included Gilgamesh and Abraham — and Kate. Ghastek is a necromancer who can control vampires, and he works for the People in Atlanta.
“Naked Dinner”, a.k.a. “On the Day of the Panty Dinner”
Kate has to pay off that bet she made with Curran and make him dinner. In another first person protagonist point-of-view, from Curran’s perspective, which takes place between Magic Strikes and Magic Bleeds. It explains why Curran didn’t show up for that dinner Kate has to make him. Hoo, boy.
There’s also a useful info dump on how beastkin are treated as well as more detail on Derek’s past with his family. As for Joan’s husband, he doesn’t have much good to say about Boris.
The Characters
Curran is the Beast Lord, the leader of the shapeshifters in and around Atlanta. Jim is Curran’s chief of security, second-in-command, and his best friend. Derek is Curran’s werewolf bodyguard. Bea, a werehyena, is the Alpha of Clan Bouda. Raphael is Bea’s son and the male Alpha. Andrea Nash, beastkin, is a knight in the Order of Merciful Aid, who’s been passing as human. Daniel and Jennifer are the wolf Alphas. Eduardo, a werebuffalo, is part of Clan Heavy.
Boris, a boarshifter, had been a friend of Mahon‘s, a.k.a. Old Bear, the Pack’s Executioner and the Alpha of Clan Heavy. Joan, a razorback, is Boris’ devastated daughter who works for lawyers; she’s married to the backstabbing Paul Parker, who works as a liaison between insurance companies and contractors. Neither of them are fighters. I gotta wonder if Paul is a sociopath. David and Daniel are their sons, beloved of their grandfather. Paul’s father, a panther shifter and a high-functioning alcoholic, was a stone mason in Florida. The Corkscrew is a swamp preserve, south of Fort Myers.
Mick and John Irvine are brothers who work as contractors. Are they sociopaths too? Dom is an employee.
Dillard House appears to be a restaurant.
“Conclave”
Takes place during Magic Bleeds with another comment from Curran about being a leader. Yep, it’s Curran’s perspective (in first person protagonist point-of-view), as he finds Kate with Saiman at Bernard’s. Oh, boy. He does have excellent control, and he’s very fair in giving Kate space.
The Characters
Curran is the Beast Lord, the leader of the Pack of shapeshifters. Jim is Curran’s chief of security. Nataraja is the leader of the People, necromancers who pilot vampires.
Saiman, a frost giant, wants to get Kate into bed and loves tweaking Curran’s nose. Bernard’s is a fancy restaurant for power players in Atlanta.
“Awake”, a.k.a. “Fathers and Sons”
This takes place at the end of Magic Bleeds, and Curran is so pissed. Angry enough that he’ll battle Mahon.
These shifters are truly one-sighted, as they allow twenty-two shifters to challenge a wounded Kate, and Curran is so angry that they would try to murder his mate while he’s dying.
The Characters
Curran is the badly injured Beast Lord. Kate Daniels is his mate. Derek is Curran’s werewolf bodyguard. Jaime Alicia, a werewolf who is one of Clan Wolf’s best fighters, thought he would challenge Kate. Barabas, a weremongoose in Clan Bouda, is one of the Pack lawyers and now one of Kate’s advisors. Mahon, a Kodiak bear and the Pack Executioner, has stood as a father to Curran, and he disapproves of Kate. Martha is Mahon’s mate. Jim, Curran’s chief of security, was a jerk. Aunt Bea is the Alpha of Clan Bouda. Daniel and Jennifer are the Alphas of Clan Wolf, who don’t have much control. Thomas and Robert Lonesco are the Alphas of Clan Rat. Tracy is one of the pair who replaced the jackal Alphas, whom Kate had killed. Clan Nimble is ruled by an elderly Asian couple.
“Prequel”
It’s another first person protagonist point-of-view from Curran’s perspective and takes place during Magic Breaks when Kate, Curran, and Julie are moving into their new house after having quit the Pack. We certainly learn how Curran feels about horses, lol.
I had wondered why this story was named “Prequel”, but now I think it’s because of Curran telling Julie the story of his childhood. *More laughter*, as Curran decides Julie is getting as snarky as Kate — I don’t know why he isn’t lumping himself in with his own snarky influence.
It’s both the early start of Curran in the Pack and the end.
The Characters
Curran, a First lion, is no longer the Beast Lord. Kate still has Cutting Edge, her investigative business. Julie is still going to school.
Curran’s parents had been in the military but once the Shift came, they resigned. They had tried joining a Pack, but Dad was too alpha. Alice had been Curran’s younger sister. Living in the Appalachians, the kids were homeschooled. Curran was twelve when they came.
Jim is now the Beast Lord.
Back in the day, Mahon, a Kodiak bear, was sort of in charge of the Bears. Martha is his mate.There was no Pack. Mike Shelton, a bobcat, is a park ranger. The cowardly Francois Ambler was the Alpha of the wolves. Dolph was one of the wolves. Aldorf went berserk.
Firsts are rare with old and powerful magic who are meant to rule other shifters.
“Jim’s Point-of-View”
Well, from the title, I guess you can reckon it’s first person protagonist point-of-view from Jim’s perspective. It takes place during Magic Breaks when he learns Curran has abdicated. And he and Dali reflect on what it means for them.
The Characters
Jim Shraphshire is Curran’s second-in-command and chief of security. Dali, a half-blind vegetarian tiger, is Jim’s mate. Curran is the Beast Lord of the Pack. Kate thwarted Roland’s claiming of Atlanta, after the Pack rescued her. Logan is one of Jim’s people. Barabas, a weremongoose who chose Clan Bouda, is the Pack lawyer. Curran reckons the Rats would be good in security. Desandra is the Alpha of the Wolves (Magic Rises, 6). Raphael and Andrea are the Alphas of Clan Bouda. Mahon is still Alpha of Clan Heavy and the Pack Executioner.
“Grocery Lists”
It’s Kate’s perspective in this first person protagonist point-of-view. A simple musing over the quantities she’ll need for a dinner party.
The Cover and Title
The cover is mostly grays with a crouching Kate, her long dark hair braided and hanging down her left front. Wearing a black leather jacket and a black tank top, she’s wearing blue jeans and holding Slayer upright with an intent expression. At the very top is the title in white with a black outline. On the bottom right is the author’s name.
The title is all about the Small Magics that exist in this post-Shift world.
