Customer Reviews
Non-stop action, great storyline, wonderful characters - By: F. Hanna, 28 Aug 2008 
After reading "Bites" & getting captivated by both Kate & her magnetic attraction to trouble, I couldn't wait to read Magic Burns. Just to let you know how much fun this book was, I read itin four hours - every word threw itself at me relentlessly & the world just had to wait until I finished.
The actionin Magic Burns keeps up the pace throughout the book, but not at the expense of plot development or losing touch with the main character, Kate. Kate is a dynamic, strong female character. (Rare these days, as this author hasn't created yet another fantasy-female type with body perfect who yearns to hand over her power & life to a fantasy-male type.) The story is complex & mysterious culminating to a war-scene ending that is reminiscent of a Lord of the Rings battle.
Note to Author: PLEASE give us a sequel soon!
My only caveat is this book should be read after its predecessor, Magic Bites, to understand the characters & references - but that is not a bad thing as you'll enjoy that one too! Great read - a "must buy."
Magic rules - By: H. Clatworthy, 12 Jul 2008 I think that both books are fantastic & so readable, Ms Andrews has a great talent & I cannot wait for the next book. The details & descriptions of the surroundings, puts you there. There is also humour & many times have caught myself laughing out loud. The romance between Kate & Curren is bubbling nicely & hopefully will 'happen'in book three. Readable again & again.
I only have one issue with this book... - By: Elizabeth, 02 Jul 2008 ...it's so good that when I finished it I felt that I'd lost a part of me, & I can't wait for the next one to come out! In fact I was annoyed to read on the web that the next book (MAGIC STRIKES) is actually written, but we still have to wait until feb 2009 for it to be processed/bound etc. How annoying!
MAGIC BURNS is an amazing sequal to MAGIC BITES, Ilona Andrews has a way with words & with her charcters that makes them seem so real, original, & come alive out of the page. I cried at a few places, & when a book grabs me enough to make me feel the same emotions, pain & grief the characters may be going through, I always put itin my 'To Keep' pile.
Kate is the same independent, cool customer that she isin the first book.
The action scenes are fast & exciting, my only problem is that sometimes I read too fast & so miss things & have to go back a few pages. Well, not a great chore that really with a great book like this....
I agree with other reviewsin that the romance does seem to be taking its time to work its way up to anything solid, however there were plenty of scenes filled with sexual tension (and not always with Curren) to keep me happy, &in somes way I think it will be a shame when Kate & Curren move from their sparring selves to something more. I love the lines they both come out with & the constant little moments where they fight for the upper hand over each other, bothin power &in words. Needless to say Curren usually has the upper hand, but it's nice to see Kate try to beat himin a fight none the less :)
If you enjoyed Magic Bites then I would definitely recommend this book. The world that Kate livesin is explainedin more detail, & even more hints are dropped about her powers & her bloodline. Can't wait for it all to be resolved!
Excellent Sequel to Magic Bites - By: Lesley70, 11 May 2008 Magic Burns picks up three months after Magic Bites. Atlanta is about to experience a flare - a time (every seven years) when magic runs rampant. So thingsin Kate's life are even crazier than usual. A simple job for the Pack (Atlanta's paramilitary clan of shapeshifters) to retrieve some maps, puts Katein the path of two Gods fighting a battle of power. The price for stopping this war is going to be high.
The dialogue (asin the first book) is sparky, witty & compelling. Kate is a spunky, smart-mouthed heroine, who doesn't always think before she opens up her mouth, but is usually able to think fast enough to get herself out of any trouble her mouth gets her into. Though she should really know better than to preface a visit to anyonein Atlanta with the comment "...he's harmless."
Retrieving the maps is not as easy as it sounds. Whenever Kate gets her hands on them, the thief steals them back. Bran is a character you can't help but like. He's such a rascal. :)
'"Hello, dove." He grinned at me. "Look at that: you don't have your pretty knife & I've got your hands. What are you gonna do now?"
I rammed my head into his nose.'
The relationship he has with Kate is both funny & sad, though I think at the end of the book he is her champion.
Probably my favourite section is when Kate has to visit the werehyenas, not only for the stuff we find out, but also because the characters of the hyenas are just so hyena-like. I read that bit & I've got the trio from the Lion Kingin my head.
In some ways this book is more fantastical, & I wonder how much of that can be attributed to the flare. The number & variety of supernatural creatures on display increases - salamanders, stymphalean birds, giant tortoises - as does the strength of magical activity. It gives you an idea of what Atlanta would be like if it ever tipped completely over into the magical world. (Slightly reminded me of Simon R. Greens Nightside).
We get a lot more hints about Kate's secret. Some whacking big clues. I'm pretty sure I know what it is but it doesn't really annoy me that we still don't know for sure. I like that it's slowly unfolding with events.
The chemistry between Kate & Curran increases. Phew!
Any book that can make you laugh & cry is a keeper. My major gripe is that 2009 is too long to wait for the nextin the series.
Well worth the wait - By: M. J. Mcnicholas, 16 Apr 2008 Ever since reading the first bookin Ilona Andrews series, I've been patiently waiting for Magic Burns to come out. It definitely was well worth waiting for. The story was imaginative & well written,I just couldn't put it down. I love the world that Ilona has created & the fact that magic & technology isin constant flux, leaving the world unpredictable. I disagree with some of the reviews about the romance between Kate & Curran, I think the way it's building between them is just perfect.
