ILONA ANDREWS

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author

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  1. As I was finishing the book today, we’re in the final battle, and everything is terrible and awful and people have already died and it seems like the worst has happened…

    And then Curran becomes Aslan and I laughed out loud.

    I don’t know that that’s how they *meant* it, but it broke the tension for me by both humor and sheer awesomeness, and I love the AL. 🙂

  2. Loved it . Every damn page of it.

    The complete under stated thing between Julie & Derek? What….

    And how she tied in so many fringe but interesting characters? Yu, Nick (and managed to make him likeable ) Hugh pulling out all the stops? So. Damn. Good.

    Erra being lose in the world again? What a perfect set up. Ahhhhhhhh.

    • I know right?

      I can’t want for the next Hugh book now.

      I am dying to know how Julie and Hugh met and how that went down. I am sure there was lots of screaming and dramatic declarations. Maybe hugs and punches too.

  3. I was worried about Dali for nothing. I read the spoilers and thought she betrayed Kate in some way or something. Spoiler Alert: She didn’t. She took the box but didn’t do anything about it until she was sure. Plus she was still good friends with Kate… I honestly don’t see her as being a future problem for Kate and her family. Nor Jim, despite how I think he’s been such a bad friend to Kate and think that all the suspicion was warranted.

    Dali’s attitude over Yu Fong is reciprocated? They’re two of the Four Symbols, and that counts for a lot. He stared at her in a way that made Jim possessive. Others just can’t understand that bond, I assumed.

    I’m more disappointed in Julie, really. Ascanio I understood, after he explained himself in I&M. But I never saw anything about Julie not liking Hugh for everything he did to Kate? Like, I understand that she felt kinship with him because of their similar circumstances, but I never read anything about her disapproving of any of his actions? He kidnapped Kate and starved her nearly to death, he’s fought Curran with intent to kill a few times, Mauro, etc… Like she never made one comment about those things? In Magic Shifts she namedrop’s Hugh to be allowed to go to Applebee’s, in Magic Stars she’s sympathetic about his purging and it’s like she didn’t even carry a single grudge for a single second about what he did to Kate?

    I still LOVE Julie, that’s why I’m disappointed at her just leaving a letter and taking off. Kate would take it hard either way, but she could’ve softened the blow with just talking it out maybe. Sigh.

    My favorite parts were Kate’s scenes with the Holy Trinity. I REAAAAAAAAALLY enjoyed it when she finally let her shields go and slaughtered the Sahanu with the Order watching. I kept re-reading that part.

    All the Conlan scenes were such a delight to read.

    Another favorite were Luthor’s scenes.

    And Roland’s Rush Hour moment. I read “DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORDS I UTTER?” in Chris Rock’s voice.

    I really loved Ghastek’s protectiveness and bodyguarding for Kate and The Heir, too. I enjoyed every single scene with the People.

    Oh! And Sunshine Realty was hilarious as well.

    I really want to read about Erra and Julie’s adventures. I’d love to find out how they get Semiramis out of Mishmar and bury her in a better place. And like, maybe Kate could eventually read that entire library.

    The ending was very satisfying despite all the loose ends. The loose ends made me hunger for more from the Kateverse though.

    Anyway, my thoughts are so disjointed and I wanna end this here so I can re-read it again. lol.

      • I think it was a short story in the Hexed anthology. It was when Dali saved Jim from the spider lady. Jim did not like the way Yu kept looking at Dali.

  4. I just finished the book, and God, I LOVED IT!!! there is just one thing: when Dali first met Hugh and Elara, Hugh talked about a deal about eating a chicken. Does anyone know what that’s about?

    • Isn’t it about that thing where he jaw unlatched and her moth gets larger when she’s eating souls? Maybe she can do it on command and refused to let Hugh see, and he’s being annoying and made her promise?

      • That’s what I thought at first too, but then he said that she can eat it slowly throughout the day and now I’m not so sure. Maybe she’s just vegetarian, like M said. But then why a chicken, specifically, and not meat in general? This is driving me crazy, lol!

        • I think she doesn’t feed the predator inside of her. She starves it, afraid of it. I think thw chicken eating is Hugh’s way of taking care of her,

          • Or it could have been something that happens in their next 2 books and it’s an ongoing joke between them. I love Elara and Hugh so i am super excited for their next books!

        • Does it say some where in their book that she doesn’t eat enough so I think it might be him looking after her

    • I think Julie leaving is how Derek and Julie will happen. She’ll come back years later and he’ll be hurt and pissed she left and they’ll need to re-build thier relationship and it’ll be more than they were.

    • +1
      I can totally see a spin off couple of books on Julie and her adventures with Erra and Derek isn’t gonna just let her disappearing act ride right??

      • I know right! Having Julie leave with Erra has to jump start Derek to do somthing. I keep thinking about the proposal between B&C… I don’t expect that Julie leaving will make Derek ask for marriage like the other similar proposal in the fight but at least a reaction to her being gone. I mean it seems like Derek knows he likes her but just doesn’t act on it. A spin off Julie and what happens to her would be great! It can have Erra teach her more magic learn more of Julie ‘s people have a fun time seeing some love interest come up like Yu, Ascanio, and Derek(team Derek all the way!!) * A novella about B&C would also be welcome. ??

  6. Wow, just wow… I’ve read it as soon as I got my hands on it.. Literally just stayed up until 3am to read this. I bloody love it!!!!

    I was extremely disappointed with Julie and her decision to leave. Completely agree with Kit in regards to Julie, I feel she was a bit immature with her attitude, but then she is a teenage girl so it makes sense in a way.

    Also, I have to say, I was really annoyed that no-one had told Kate about Hugh, not one person.. And then Kate shrugged it off so easily. too easily in my opinion. I would have felt extremely betrayed, and I’m not sure I would have been so quick to forgive.

    This book is a roller coaster of emotions, and One minute your laughing at Conlan’s antics and the next your tense because a huge fight is happening. Then there’s the banter, which I absolutely love. It’s brilliant how the story flows and completely conveys how Kate is feeling overwhelmed at the moment.

    I can’t even begin to describe how amazing this is… And how perfect the whole series has been. I am definitely intrigued for more.

    • Kate talks about Hugh when visiting her father in Magic Binds, and explains Hugh’s relationship with Roland in Magic Shifts which did make I&M easier to believe. I think she is quick to forgive unlike her father or Erra because of her upbringing.

    • Hmmm…. part of the final battle scene triggered a memory for me. Yup: having checked, p.300 of Magic Rises where Suliko shows ‘a’ future for Kate fighting with Hugh, and, p.312 of the Kindle version of Magic Triumphs.

      Just one of the many lose ends that the authorlords deftly wrapped up in this book.

  8. Absolutely LOVED it. I just couldn’t wait the extra hours for the US version so I switched my kindle address to the UK temporarily to get it when it hit 12AM in the UK. WORTH IT.

    Had a hunch Hugh would be part of the Blood since the blood wards of I&M, and look, we’re right 🙂

    Honestly, I can see how Kate/Curran, etc would have a hard time forgiving Hugh… but Christopher’s explanation did resonate with me…. Christopher chose to be that person and they all forgave him. Hugh committed the same crimes while being brainwashed as a child, how is that any worse? Just because he committed the crimes towards Kate et. al, its hypocritical imo to be okay with Christopher and not Hugh.

    I’m a little bit confused honestly with the whole resurrection/loss of Curran’s godhood (since when is loss of godhood a thing here lol) and everything tied up in such a big nice red bow…. but it’s also the last book and I just want everyone to be happy, and so in a sense I could care less. And to be fair, things are always whacked up in the KD Universe.

    And I am also definitely waiting to see what happens with the whole Julie/Derek thing…. and I would totally read a Julie bildungsroman with Erra…. that sounds right up my alley and I honestly am sooo hoping that it will become a thing. I would settle for even novellas!

    And again Julie/Derek….I’m waiting for my ship to sail, please Authorlords 🙂

    • LOL. ? That’s brilliant! I did not think to change my kindle address to the UK. Will have to remember that for next time. ?.

      The book was amazing! ? I’m looking forward to future Erra and Julie stories and can’t wait for Hugh’s books.

      As for the losing his godhood, for me that made sense. Curran had taken in the essence of various Gods, but the ‘godhood’ hadn’t anchored in him yet as he wasn’t being actively worshiped. So when he resurrected Kate and Erra, it made sense to me that the godhood essence was discharged because it had not yet anchored in his body.

      What’s puzzling me is the acronym GBI. For the life of me I can’t remember what it stands for. ? Could someone enlighten me?

    • I personally think Julie and Luther would be great together. (Please forgive the heresy!)

      Also, it is strongly implied that Derek is happier since he left the pack. That makes me glad. The Mom in me still wants to send him to college part time 🙂

      • Char, I see what you see. If Luther was younger I think they would make a really interesting and fun couple, but he’s just too old.

  9. WHY DONT I HAVE A COPY YET????? I’m going nuts here. Why didn’t I move to the UK last week? AAARRRGGGHHHB!!!!!

    • I’m in the UK and my kindle edition was delivered on the 27th. I’ve no idea how people got it early unless it was physical copies?

  10. So I’m in Japan and I have to wait until the 28th in the states. It’s 0200 US time and kindly won’t give me my book!!

  11. Loved it! Great ending to Kate’s story!

    Just one thing…who was Julie talking about in the last sentences of the epilogue?

    I thought she was talking about Conlan meeting his grandmother but then Erra said his wife would get mad. Did I miss something while reading so fast?

        • Hugh is like Kate’s brother because not only did they get raised by Voron they have the same blood too thanks to Roland. Also in part of Kate’s life she was raised by Greg who is Nicks dad so they are also some what brother and sister. So Hugh is her half brother and Nick is her… Step brother??? I wonder if Conlan would call them uncle when he grows up a bit more??? The world my never now…??

          • I’m starting to think (after rereading magic triumphs and then rereading iron and magic… Again) that we’re going to find out in one of Hugh’s books that they’re blood relatives. Hugh can still use blood magic even after his Purge. Roland was shocked but elara showed up before he said anything about it.

            • In one of the Kate books (not sure which I read them all over the last few days) Roland mentions that Hugh would keep his blood powers even though purged because the only way to remove them is to kill Hugh.

          • Tania, there has to be a marriage for there to be “step” family members. There is no parent connection between Greg and Kate. He was her guardian after Voron died.

  15. Most of the book was absolutely delightful. That said, the end included a bit too much power creep. Kate becomes a near-god who can murder an entire building full of elite assassins without blinking, Curran becomes an actual god, and so on. I preferred the “merc with a big mouth” kate to the “heir to roland’s power” kate.
    Also, everything got tied off a bit too cleanly. Kate kills herself, but she gets better and dying gets rid of all of the land claiming stuff. Curran becomes a god, but he blows all of his power to save kate and becomes a “normal” person again. All of the lingering issues? Yeah, no, they’re fine, everyone’s going to get their happily ever after.

    Don’t get me wrong — I enjoyed the book, and I’m certainly looking forward to more hugh books (and more erra/julie/derek? books if or when they come out). However, I think magic triumphs is probably my least favorite of the series. That’s still very good, obviously, but …

    • I think Kate would agree with your preference >.< But I think the fact Erra had been teaching Kate how to use her bloodline powers was the key to the sahanu fight. These were all things she'd done before: blood ward, power words, blood armor, Kate's increased strength/skill when she's really pissed off; this was just a polished/practiced Kate. Erra did say that Kate is one of Roland's most powerful children. In the earlier books, Kate had purposefully ignored her magic, in part because she was hiding, part in denial. In Triumphs, she had nothing to hide.

      I think the Curran God thing could go either way–in part, I think the authors had to finish the story and get to the HEA. I read the resolution as Curran losing his godhood because it was already tenuous, and he depleted his divinity in one big miracle. But books and the reading experience are purely subjective, so I don't wish to invalidate your feelings! Please don't take my viewpoint as argumentative, I think I'm dealing with the book-high/series-drop dichotomy by cruising through this thread 🙂

      • Also, they are after her KID. There’s something to be said for taking a level of Mama Bear (combined with all the power-ups you already mentioned).

        • Alana that is exactly what I was going to say! Kate went apeshit because the Shanu threatened her child! Nothing stops a mother from protecting her child!!

    • I agree with you! I am not disappointed per se, but it is definitely not the best book in the series. It started slow and clipped at the onset, then picked up pace to the what was too close to a “Deus e Machina” ending.

      I am glad they ended the series and all heroes came safely back to harbor. It is what they do so well and makes reading their books so satisfying. I am thrilled that they left enough open at the end so we can continue to read stories from the “Kateverse” one could say this is the end of and era and the beginning of Erra.

    • Same not my favorite. I thought the book was a bit too much all over the place and trying to cram in too many cameos by all the characters in the series. Saiman dies “offscreen” which I thought was disappointing (though I’ve seen comments theorizing he might be resurrected). I haven’t read Hugh’s book yet (I’ll get around to it but I’m also not dying to read it) but the fact that everyone just seems A-OK with his sudden reappearance when he almost killed Kate just a few books ago doesn’t ring true to me despite his broken blood bond with Roland. A lot of the characters just seemed inconsistent from their usual portrayal. I always thought that Roland and Kate’s love/hate relationship was a bit weak–it’s hard for me to describe, I know ambiguous is hard to write, it’s hard for me to pinpoint.

      I also never really cared for Julie as a character–I know people might throw tomatoes at me but I always just found her annoying. I’m more interested in what Erra does now that she’s back and how she’ll mentor Julie than I am invested in Julie’s personal story. Also Kate and Curran keeping secrets from each other–it’s been done before and I was weary from seeing it return.

      Overall it was okay. I will have to go back and reread the series as some of my favorite books are earlier on. One of the book’s strong points for me was Kate as a new mom and Curran as a father and Conlan’s presence which I enjoyed. Also Kate dealing with her kid being this new magical creature, a meld of her and Curran and her son’s emerging powers and wanting to protect him at all costs. Kind of reminded me of Charmed when Piper got pregnant with Wyatt, her first kid. I also thought the villain this time around was very interesting and I thought the way they resolved Roland being a menace in Kate’s life a satisfying conclusion. Kate was always going to try to sacrifice herself to get her dad away from the people she loved. Curran as a god storyline–not sure what to make of that to be honest. Happy Kate and Curran got their HEA.

      So the book wasn’t exactly a triumph for me like the title implied but I think this was always going to be a tough book to write. I’ll keep reading anything IO writes. 🙂

    • I see your point about the power creep, but I have to say I’ve been waiting for a scene like the one with the 14 Sahanu for a long time! It’s always irritated me that Kate didn’t seem interested in exercising and practicing her powers. She’s always had a ton of power, but she just avoided it. Even Julie had an easier time using a power word than Kate (Magic Stars). I was going to be so mad if she hadn’t taken the opportunity to learn as much as possible from Erra.

  17. Authorlords have long said they believe in the HEA [Happy Ever After]: I didn’t know how they’d manage it, but I trusted… booyah! I was sad about those who were lost, but blown away by all the wonderful. I’m so glad there will be more Hugh books. I’m far too curious about the chicken… and I would be much more sad about this series ending otherwise!

    My favorite bits:
    ~the quiet scene between Derek & Kate, where he says he’ll always have her back, so lovely.
    ~Luther marveling at Conlan, and “Not in my house!”
    ~Rowena & Conlan playing “uh-oh” while Ghastek chews out a subordinate.
    ~Hugh dramatically busting in on a Conclave meeting, Take 2.
    ~Barabas & Christopher, any/all. I’m so happy for the pointy-sharp mongoose!
    ~Daddy killed him dead, all dead!

    I have to stop here or I’ll end up just listing out the scenes:)

  18. I just hugged my kindle and am now basking in the bittersweet afterglow of finishing this amazing series. The resolution was pretty much perfect: seeing all the different factions came together to fight with Kate to save Atlanta; her embracing her powers and her responsibilities; outwitting her father…and being allowed her HEA. I was really worried with the introduction of Curran-as-a-God storyline that the book would end on a bittersweet note – her always waiting for him to vanish during the tech, and lose his humanity. But it all worked out and they’re free with all the time in the world to make a whole bunch more amazing, powerful adorable babies.

    I love Julie, and her relationship with Kate, and while I’m glad she doesn’t appear to harbour any resentment towards her, I wish she was able to say that in person to Kate, rather than leaving a note. I would love to see more of Erra and Julie (and get some answers about Julie and Derek….), and of course follow up on Hugh. I don’t know how they do it, but Ilona Andrews manages to make you care and love EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER. (even the ones who used to be evil bastards)

    I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH!!!

    • Julie is a pretty typical 18-19 year old. To young to understand Kate could never allow ANY of her kids to die if she could stop it, no matter the consequences. And wise enough to understand her Mom’s suffering, be uncomfortable with the mom-guilt/suffering and still use it.

      She will grow into a great adult with caring and compassion. These events will form that.

      Love the book. Gosh I hope the Author Lords get many many professional accolades- – – and that they laugh all the way to the bank:)

  21. Had to stop reading and write. They are such parents. You can not always get a sitter but they don’t let it stop them. Conlan is so cute. Love the book so far.

  23. I’m wondering: now that Kate is no longer In-Shinar, will she still be able to grant Ghastek immortality? That was the deal, right? That seems like the only loose thread from Kate’s story that doesn’t get resolved.

    • I am also still puzzling over that part, and also about how Conlan and Hugh seem to be able to manipulate the blood without adding vampire blood…

      • Kate can manipulate small amounts of her blood without vampire blood, too–she made her blood into spikes when the sahanu in Mishmar tried to lick her blood in Magic Binds. I think it’s just the larger things (blood armor requires more blood than you’d want to bleed out, right?) that need the undead blood in the mix.

    • I think so. Remember she held on to Ghastek in Mismar and Derek when they were dying. He might no longer be her legtas tho.

    • I think most of Kate’s powers are tied to her blood, but the Shiner came with the claiming. When she died to save the land, it broke the Shinar bond, but didn’t take anything away from her blood. What I wonder is if Conlan will be tempted to bond with or claim anything. He does seem to have a fascination for shiny things, kind of like his grandfather. Hmm.

    • Yep, it was answered some where by the author lords that people Kate truly cares about are harder to kill & (possibly) are immortal. This was before she claimed any land too.

    • Kate is no longer Sharratum, but I don’t think that’s the same thing as In-Shinar. My impression (Erra explains the term to Kate in Magic Binds) is that In-Shinar is about Kate’s bloodlines, her birthright. Her magical connection to Atlanta was broken but she is still inherently magical, still a daughter of the Shinar.

    • Yes, Kate will still be able to prolong the lives of those she cares about. She spoke of being able to do it even before she claimed Atlanta. It’s in her bloodline. In Magic Breaks, she told Ghastek that she was already doing this for him, proven by the fact that she had kept him alive in the water tank in Mishmar.

  24. Ummmm, was anyone else surprised after the battle when they found out that big, blue, and craven decided to fight?

    • I was, at first, but then realized that his absolute fear that Roland could win would have terrified him enough to help. Self-presevation was always his #1 priority.

      • I was surprised and saddened by his death. I always liked him, he never lied about his intentions or being amoral and he an interesting character.

    • Frankly, I’m suspicious of that. He decided to fight for no reason, dies bravely? Left special instructions in case of death? Sure…

      • Saiman asked to be buried in the Unicorn because the magic is always present there. Maybe he’ll resurrect as well.

  25. And it’s done 🙁
    I can’t give it rating though. Not yet. On the re-read perhaps. Something that happens to me a lot when I finally get to read a long anticipated book, especially end of series. I rush through the book at top speed and I’m so focused on what will happen on the next page that I can’t really enjoy it. Even when I try to slow down, it doesn’t work.
    If someone knows a cure for that, please share.

    Conlan was adorable and his first shift was epic.

    Kate Lennart, the Dove, muhahahahaha.

    Erra loose on the world again, oh yes, but not alone this time which feels crucial.

    Of all the dramatic and passionate moments with Kate and Curran, what stuck in my head at the end was their visit at Sunshine Realty, probably because I’m jealous I can’t do a similar thing myself.

    We finally saw a dragon, although the best moment of the final battle for me was the fulfilled vision of Kate and Hugh from Magic Rises. And I wanted to see a bit more of Roland in action!

    And epic as the final battle was, the impact wasn’t as strong as I felt it when Kate fought the sahanu. Maybe because it was so sudden, rushed explosion of violence from Kate who was so careful with her magic before that.

    And I’m ending my chaotic, half-formed, post-reading impressions with: I’ll miss Saiman! Adora too, but Saiman was unique.

    • I don’t think so. At the signing in Dallas Ilona said anyone not explicitly named as dead (like Uncle Stupidhead) probably lived for further adventures. Besides, as a dragon, could fire really kill Yu?

  27. On first read, I found myself disappointed by the finale. I know it’s an unpopular opinion here, but I’ve always wanted Roland redeemed, mostly because for her ending, I so badly wanted Kate’s childhood scars healed.

    Then I re-read Erra’s explanation how she came to understand Kate desperately longed/needed a loving mother-figure, and boy did she step up to the plate. Erra didn’t just train Kate in magic. Erra nurtured Kate, plotted for 2 years to protect her and her son and helped heal Kate’s childhood wounds. In the end Erra did what Roland would never do, sacrificed herself willingly for Kate. Just like Kate’s own real-life mom did. Luckily, unlike Aunt B’s sacrifice, Erra survived her own but it doesn’t make it any less a powerful proof of her love for Kate. In earlier books, Kate sees herself in Erra and in the end that proved very true, both mothers willing to risk and sacrifice everything for love of a child.

    On second read, the real magic triumphing is the power of a mother’s love. Kate’s fierce and unselfish love for Conlan is her greatest magic. She’s at her most powerful AND appealing when protecting her cub.

    As for Kate/Julie’s mother/daughter relationship, I found it very in character for Julie to keep her Hugh information secret from Kate. This is the same Julie who hid from Kate her own relationship with Roland and knowing the ramifications of the blood bond. Julie didn’t leave angry but staying meant she’d be put in the awkward position of assuaging Kate’s guilt for removing her free will, while still chafing at that. Also, I take comfort Julie was in on Curran’s plotting to save Kate from sacrificing her life for them… Julie still loves Kate very much, she just needs to step out of Kate and Curran’s shadow now. While Julie/Erra’s future adventures sounds like a fun read, I felt bad for Derek. He deserves so much more.

    As for Hugh/Elara, I definitely felt like we missed a whole evolution in their relationship. Looking forward to their next book to explain some pretty big holes there.

    Finally, to the poster who spoiled Curran channeling Aslan…. OMG, you were spot on! Next to Kate’s powerful love for Conlan, Curran’s true love for Kate was my fave part.

      • I wonder if the authorlords read Narnia? lol

        It’s one of my favorite books since I took a class on special readings and religious symbolism in fantasy literature.

    • You aren’t the only one who hoped Roland would get it together. I really wanted redemption for him as well. He would be a great father/grandfather if he wasn’t a megalomaniac! UGH!

      • I kind of think that the ending as is has greater potential for Roland’s redemption than if he weren’t locked away. Time to think without the ability to conquer has possibilities.

    • I have this grand fantasy that the Authorlords are letting Julie do a bit of growing up and seeing the world before deciding that home is Derek.

      Derek, being the stoic boy wonder, would see a life with Julie as something that is out of his reach. I can envision him trying to do what he thinks is right when it comes to her so maybe he’ll let her go and spend his evenings pining away for her.

      • I agree on the Derek / Julie thing. Julie going away and doing some growing up will ultimately bring them together… And of course this would mean a Julie led spin off. *Crosses fingers and prays*

    • I agree with your take on Julie. This was the right thing for her to do under the circumstances. I only wish I would have had an Aunt Erra to go traveling with when I was Julie’s age.

      • Well, Andrea did say something about loving the Kate and Erra show and that they should take it on the road. It’ll just be Julie and Erra instead of Kate and Erra.

  28. Exellent! A fitting end to the Kate and Curran Arc with enough room
    for Novels to follow.

    Conlan is indeed a littlke miracle i love him to pieces 🙂
    I just ended the book and have not enough words just now
    to praise it – but it was wonderful.

    I loved it!! Thank you Authorlords )

    • +1
      First, let me say I loved it.
      But I felt like I was missing some characters specifically Ascanio and Jim.

  31. Wow, what an ending. Bummed by those who didn’t make it. Need to re-read because I seemed to have missed what happened with Yu. Lot’s of strings to possibly explore moving forward so glad to know that the Kate Daniel world will still have more to come.

  32. omg. I had the same thought about Erra and Roman. I hope they grt together. I totataly ship them. I can see that happening.

    • As soon as I read that part I was thinking the same thing. I’ll bet Roman likes older women!

  33. ? LOL. I hadn’t considered Erra and Roman, but now that you put the thought in my head I can’t get it out! I’d love to see them together. ?
    And the call with Evdokia, priceless!

  34. Fascinating conclusion to the Kate Daniel’s series with many possibilities for new and continuing storylines.
    I need to read it again to try and fully resolve so many “get out of jail free cards” for mass murderers but hey, it’s fantasy right?

  35. I ADORE Huge’s entrance!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️???????

      • Yes! And “I’m eating”, lol! If you’ve read Iron and Magic you know that that’s a Hugh thing, brushing people off. Like, he’s in his room, his lover knocks, he says, “not now”. She comes in anyway. Elara knocks a minute later. He still says, “not now”. Love Hugh. It would be wrong if he wasn’t still an asshole.

  36. Love it so much!!! I’m on s high right now and not very coherent but I’ll probanly re-read the book again soon.
    Love seeing “here kitty, kitty” make an appearance again ?

  38. I was at the Dallas signing, and since I’d read the book when they were signing my book I asked if Julie had talked to Derek before leaving, and was told yes.

    I wonder if we’ll get that scene.

    During the panel they mentioned the Kate editor is @AnneSowards on twitter.

    I think we should tweet her asking for more books in the world of Kate. I in particular have a soft spot for Roman. I love any man confident in his eeyore pj’s, I’ll be asking for some more
    #HolyRomanVolhv please. 🙂 I wonder if the BDH can make that trend?

    • “I asked if Julie had talked to Derek before leaving, and was told yes”

      THANK YOU, YOU WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING <3 It's silly but seeing that makes me feel so much more positive about their relationship

      • Erra & Julie would be like a female adventuring odd couple I think. Could be fun.

        I’m ok with the story evolution leading to Julie wanting to find her own way… sepaeate from Kate, but she and Derek have been at the very least good friends for a while, and while you may not tell the parental units everything up front, usually your close friends know what’s going on.

        And I see I’m not the only D+J shipper!

        • 🙂

          I’m okay with Julie running off with Erra, so long as Derek doesn’t wake up one morning and discover her gone without a word. I spent last night worrying about that after I finished the book!

          I definitely would love it if they found a life together eventually but they’re both relatively young and they should have a chance to grow into their own identities first.

          I really love how Derek and Julie were written in this book – whatever relationship they have right now, it’s understated and it just seems right that they were like partners and there were no overt declarations of adoration – the latter would’ve been way too convenient.

    • Yip, they hinted at it a couple of times in other books too. I think Kate asked him why they had never hooked up before ?

      • Rowena says to Ghastek “let me go”.. There was only one response of course. “Never” ?? So sweet?

    • In Magic Breaks at a Conclave meeting, the question of a relationship between them comes up. I believe Ghastek says that to him marriage means family, and it’s not a good time to have kids (paraphrasing). That’s when Desandra asks him, “Shooting blanks?”, lol. Love her. I would love to find out that Ghastek & Rowena are moving their relationship forward.

  40. Wow that was brilliant. Loved every single word. Every joke and all the banter. The side jokes! The real estate agents calling was hilarious. This was the perfect finish. Thank you both so much for all the blood sweat and tears you’ve put into this series.

  41. I think most of us came to this book expecting the big Roland/Kate showdown.

    Once it was clear the boiling people foes wasnt Roland I had a strong feeling for where the story would go. I was expecting him to die on the field of battle, instead of sequestered into a pocket dimension.

    To me the climax felt too abrupt, with the summary wrap upand then there was virtually no falling action. Saiman had been so a part of this series for so long, to be told he died in the battle was a bit vexing. And the epilogue was also frustrating: it wasn’t a Kate epilogue, rather it was a Julie prologue. I felt a bit cheated. I needed a bit more time to say goodbye. I needed some fuzzies after that battle.

    Conlan was totes adorbs. Roman was great, the taste the undead rainbow comment was wonderful. I liked seeing this evolution of the People. I want more Yu.

    So my question is what effect if any did Curran eating the apples of immortality have with all the god meat he consumed?

    • KC, you’re right in that I was expecting more Roland v. Kate walking into this book–that was part of how I wrote my review for Den of Geek! But I liked that the story surprised me, and the resolution surprised me–I think it ends up working better than the story I expected.

      I also expected Roland to possibly make some grand, flawed gesture of dying in battle to save Kate–but the fact that Erra did that instead felt right to me.

      • I was surprised, too, that it wasn’t a Roland/Kate showdown from the very beginning, but if it had been, I think the conflict would have been so on-the-nose, there wouldn’t have been emotional room for Kate to express how she feels about him, and to commiserate with Hugh.

        Also, Roland had just been handed a defeat against the Pack, and he’d fought it without Hugh’s strategy, and I think he had started realizing he couldn’t just (a) overwhelm Kate with Magic (re: Conlan’s birth as one example, because even at her most exhausted, she held him off), and he wasn’t going to be able to just strategically defeat them (re: his fight agains the Pack), but he definitely could betray them, and for him, Nieg was a golden opportunity to let an outsider whittle down Kate’s forces and strength, “teach” her that she needs him and should surrender to him, and he can win-win.

        For all Hugh and Kate’s mocking of Roland’s battle strategy, they were also aware that he could and would be duplicitous.

        I think the one scene I had such a difficult time with was when they were sitting around the kitchen table almost like family and Kate and Hugh are trying to get Roland to understand their strategy (having to resort to drawing stick figures), and as soon as I saw that, I knew Roland was playing them, planning his own maneuvers). But the… family-like… for lack of a better word… affability (?) there, when Kate *knew* already that he’d let the assassins loose on her and her son… stretched it for me. [His assumption that she would kill them before they hurt Conlan and that that was his plan on how to get rid of them was typical Roland, but also, how do you sit down at a table after that and not seethe with rage? I get that they HAD to get him there to (a) work with him and (b) plan his capture, but I felt like Kate sidestepped that anger way more than I would have expected her to.]

        All that said, it’s a brilliant book to have wrapped up so many threads. Obviously, there’s always going to be characters we want more of, which may lead to some spin-off books (fingers crossed).

        What I *did* love was Roland stuck in that dimension. It’s such a fitting punishment to make him live and *not* be able to leave the dimension to meddle and rule and ruin lives. He’s alone… for thousands of years, he’s been able to rule and manipulate and now, he’s all alone. I think that’s all kinds of perfect. Maybe he’ll have time to reflect. Maybe he’ll see his grandkids grow up and realize he doesn’t need to be in power. Or maybe he’ll just suffer, and I suspect, plot… but whatever he does, he’s alone.

        [I did wish that epilogue had been from Kate, though I enjoyed Erra/Julie’s banter.]

        • I agree, Roland is right where he should be. Maybe after a few hundred thousand years he will figure a few things out.

  42. Thank you! Loved it all. A good ending that didn’t disappoint.

    Hmm… was just contemplating the fact that Saiman had very specific requests about his burial in Unicorn Lane…

    His ‘ending’ did feel a bit abrupt so maybe we haven’t seen the last of him? Or maybe just my paranoid nature coming through.

    • I agree. The only reason I can think of for Saiman to be killed is the authors needed to knock off a few people. I mean, even if he’s never in another book, his dying in battle is weird and unnecessary. It’s not a big deal to me, but it’s odd.

  44. What is the significance of Roland calling Kate just plain Kate? She was always Daughter, Blossom, or Sharrim before. Why the change? Is it because he was furious? Is it because he’s showing his true colors that he doesn’t care for her after all?

    Is their bond broken? Will the other still die if one of them does? Are the writings still on Kate’s skin?

    Kate still has powers, but why was Ghastek feeling lost? Kate’s blood is still potent and able to grant immortality, right? Is he not Legatus anymore? Did they run out of vampires? But the Casino is still standing and they’d be able to make some more, right?

    • Don’t know about the first two, but I think Ghastek was feeling lost because when Kate lost her claim on Atlanta, she lost the In-Sharim abilities and was no longer Godlike. The power is still there, yes, and I’m sure she could probably reclaim it (though she wouldn’t) but that euphoric feeling and glowing presence died when Kate did. So to me it makes sense that Ghastek would feel a bit lost. I’m sure he will recover and like Kate said, they are still friends and he will always see her as the In-Sharim and probably be protective of her, but it will take some time.

      • Ghastek has always served, now he’s the boss of Atlanta’s People. No more god or goddess like center of his universe to tell him what his purpose is. For someone that is satisfied as a lesser power that is a little scary. He’ll grow into it, but lost now felt right to me. Just wait until Nez shows up to claim them- I expect he’ll change fast.

      • Kate is still In-Shinar, probably (maybe? There’s Erra now, again…) but definitely she’s a princess of Shinar with the bloodline and whatnot. The book says she kept her power, just not the land claims.

        The Goddess routine was all Kate, not the land. It was an affect of a) during tech, burning her own magic, not the land’s; and b) during magic, dropping her cloak and letting her magic out. When she does either, her skin glows and she emanates the “please the goddess/happy-happy/the sun just came out” aura.

        When she lost the land claims, she lost the ability to take control of the land’s magic (e.g., raising shields as she did to stop Roland and Neig’s attacks), the preternatural awareness of very magical people entering her territory, and the ability to sink into the land magic to track people (as she did with Conlan and Rowena). She’s no longer Sharratum, queen of her land.

        So I agree that Ghastek’s reaction was likely a response to having served powerful people for so long, he’s not sure how to deal with freedom. I hope Rowena can help him with that. 🙂

        • +1 This is exactly what I was thinking with everyone wondering about Kate’s powers. The immortality she granted Ghastek happened when they were in Mishmar and she had’s claimed anything at that point. He can still be Legatus because that’s a position granted based on Kate’s blood, not on her land claim.

    • Kit, Wow, it didn’t even register with me that he called her Kate. Good catch. I believe this is the first time Roland has made a deadly serious grab for her and her territory. He’s treating her as an adult and not using patronizing nicknames.

  45. I was so disappointed we didn’t her pregnant Kate, but it makes since to start where they did. Novella maybe?
    I left feeling that the story wrapped up too prettily. Maybe if Kate had to give up Atlanta I would feel differently. The only thing Kate “lost” was Julie and she wasn’t really lost. But if she was still In-Shinar she would eventually turn into what she hated. Idk sigh.
    I just knew the box from Magic Binds would be significant. The proposal box was a good fake out.
    Little Conlan was so cute. Loved all his scenes.
    I like how they explained Hugh’s redemption but I think we needed more time to really buy it.
    More Erra and Julie. I agree about Erra and Roman (he is already use to a crazy family).
    I’m not ready to leave this world! The Andrew’s are really the best at ending that are closed but that keep the reader wanting the new storylines threads.

    • I’m so excited!!! I got the book Sunday, read it – read 13-month-old Conlan, was disappointed I didn’t get a collectible edition and saw IA in Dallas last night. I’m re-reading now, and right there on page 28 Kate snarls, “There is an eighteen-month-old running around in the woods in half-form.”

      Life is good, and the book is great!

  46. Audiobook comment: Did Renee change how she voiced Erra? Did anyone else notice a difference?

  47. Thank you,

    for actually finishing

    AND

    For the finish that was
    I have no words
    Wow
    Oft to New adventures, the only other modern author i know who managed that nalini Singh
    I bow before thee oh authorlords

  48. So, during that last big romantic scene, when Kate and Curran get everyone else out of the house, they mentioned that Julie was sleeping at Derek’s.

    Anyone making bets about whether she was sleeping AT Derek’s or WITH Derek? 😉

    • I’m betting Derek was a perfect gent that night. I see him trying hard to be the older brother because he thinks a life with Julie is beyond his reach. In Magic Stars, he thought about how whenever he wanted something and reached for it, life would break him.

      In the last few books, Kate mentioned that glimpses of the old Derek could be seen – I reckon his time with Julie may have started healing him but he’s still wary.

      My theory is Julie will be back after her adventures with Granny and she’ll be older, wiser and more determined to claim her wolf.

  49. Where please does Erra ever say Hugh is the grandson of SummuRamat (or whatever correct spelling is). I can’t find it anywhere in this book by that name? Also I was under the impression he isn’t of their bloodline, but instead magically very strong but NOT in anyway related to Kate’s family, except because of the circumstances of his being raised by Roland and Voron, like Kate – so he’s called her brother because in everything *except* blood he could be a brother. Did I get this wrong?

    • This is in the epilogue. I believe it’s a reference to the blood binding between Hugh and Roland and that Roland raised him and screwed with his head.

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