Quickie Review: Magic Dreams

Posted July 22, 2011 by Una in 4.5 stars, Rating A, Urban Fantasy Tags: , , , , ,

“Magic Dreams”
from the Anthology HEXED
Author: Ilona Andrews 
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Kate Daniels #4.5
ISBN: #978-0425241769
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (336 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds

About the book:

     Old legends and frightening nightmares came to life in Magic Dreams.  The shapeshifting Tigress Dali Harimau finds herself in deep water when she must challenge a dark being to a battle of wits, or risk losing the man she secretly longs for.
     This novel features Jim, the alpha of the Clan Cat, and Dali, the mystic vegetarian weretiger.

What Una is talking about:

     As stated above, Magic Dreams is a novella and is the first story in the anthology Hexed.  You need not have read the series nor does it impact whether you read it before or after book 5, however, the true impact of the story will not be as significant if you haven’t invested in the characters.  I would recommend reading the series first, but I think this is one of the best series out there so…  I’m a little biased.
     Magic Dreams was a very quick read for me.  Not only because it is a novella and therefore short, but the story was gripping and I was held to the pages by the humor and the action/drama of the storyline.  Dali has been a character that I have wondered about for a while.  She is everything you wouldn’t expect from a shapeshifter and being able to have the story from her perspective is priceless.  We also get a glimpse of how she views Kate (who is the heroine of the series and our narrator).
     Another wonderful aspect is seeing more of Jim, the elusive black jaguar.  He is mysterious and foreboding.  In this story we see past his armor that he keeps up around Kate and yet another perspective of him from Dali.  The interactions between him and Dali are humorous and fun.
     If you are a Kate Daniels fan, this is a must read.  If you aren’t, it’s worth taking a look and reading this short story to get a feel of the world.  Ilona Andrews is talented at mixing drama, action/adventure and humor.

Unas Rating:

Loved it – enthusiastically recommend (A)

3 responses to “Quickie Review: Magic Dreams

  1. I love Dali and Jim together. They are hilarious and wonderful when they appear together. I wondered when they were going to be upfront with their feelings. Can’t wait to read this short story!