Word Nerd Review: The Kate Daniels Series – Ilona Andrews
by Trisha Quezada

I’ve really developed a love for Urban Fantasy lately. As a kid, I read all the fantasy I could get my hands on, but always day dreamed about what it would be like if there was magic and adventure NOW. This genre fits the bill – mix a bit of fantasy, a dash of romance, a touch of technology, and combine modern and magical problems, and you have the basis for some really great stories. The Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews is a fantastic mix of all of it, plus a large dose of humor.

Kate is member of the Mercenary Guild, on somewhat friendly terms with the local Shifter pack and the People (the organization that manages the vampires and runs the local casino), and sometimes a liaison of the Order for Merciful Aide. Basically, when the magic spits out ugly, Kate gets roped into cleaning it up.

In this version of our world, the balance between magic and technology is broken. The world shifts between waves of magic and tech. During magic all the monsters come out to play, and during tech guns and cars work as they have for the last hundred years. Phones (land lines, of course) are hit and miss – people basically always thought they were magic after all. Society has had to adjust. Cities are in ruins as the magic attacks all tall buildings, particularly skyscrapers. Atlanta has had to find new ways of functioning. She may just be trying to make a living, but Kate ends up fighting to save herself, and all of Atlanta, from her father – Roland, the man that built the Tower of Babel.

There are ten books in this series (so far) and a secondary series based around one of the major characters. They’re filled with action, a host of great characters with enough common sense to make them likeable, and a fantastic magic concept. All in all, they’re just a lot of fun.