Magic Stars by Ilona Andrews (Grey Wolf Book 1)
Series: Kate Daniels, #8.5
Urban Fantasy
December 2015
Self Published

Early ARC Review by Tori

Favorite Quote: “Shut up. If I decide to ask for your opinion, I’ll say, ‘Hey dickhead,’ so you don’t get confused.”

Derek Gaunt has no family and few friends. Scarred, solitary, he is the lone wolf who separated from his pack. When those close to him are murdered, he’ll stop at nothing to hunt their killer through magic-drenched Atlanta.

Soon Julie Olsen joins him and what begins as revenge turns into the race to save the city. Their search puts them against powers they never imagined and magic so old, it predates history. It may cost Derek his life, but there are things for which even he would risk everything. (Goodreads)

Fans of Ilona Andrews have begged and pleaded for Derek to get his own story since he was first introduced in Magic Bites. Originally ordered to shadow and protect Kate Daniels due to her impetuous actions upon meeting the Beast Lord; Kate gained her very own teenage werewolf sidekick and a very good friend in Derek Gaunt. From that moment on he has made us laugh, swoon, and even shed a few tears as we have watched him change from an attractive outgoing teenager to a hardened loner who has seen and done things that left him damaged on the inside and out.

Novellas are fabulous ways to divulge deeper into a particular story line or character. And it’s always a bonus when a series revolving around one couple offers readers a chance to see the world through the eyes of another character. Especially one as complex as Derek. His unique voice, heard only in the distance before, comes through crystal clear with a fatalistic tone. We can hear how rough the past year has been; completely changing him not only physically but mentally and emotionally. He is conflicted, stressed, and it shows.

While Kate is the main voice of the series, hearing from Derek gifts us with insight into things Kate doesn’t know about. And ho boy are there things going on that she knows nothing about. Things about Julie. Things about Derek. Things that are coming for them and Atlanta.

Adventure, danger, and violence all blend together to create a fast-paced action powered story that advances the arc, further builds on this incredible world, but most importantly gives us hints as to what’s to come. One deadly artifact, magic that predates time, and a man who is teetering on the edge. A man who becomes noticeably sharper and more possessive when a certain young lady comes into play. A young lady whose own secrets are more than enough scare even the hardest of warriors.

Magic Stars is an exhilarating AND informative read that only further fuels my need for the next book in the series-Magic Binds-set to release in 2016.

GRADE: A

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