Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

Gunmetal Magic

(Kate Daniels #5.5)

Ilona Andrews

Release: July 31, 2012

Goodreads     Amazon

Some people have everything figured out — Andrea Nash is not one of those people. After being kicked out of the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea's whole existence is in shambles. All she can do is try to put herself back together, something made easier by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend, Kate Daniels.

When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano — the male alpha of Clan Bouda and Andrea's former lover — die unexpectedly at a dig site, Andrea is assigned to investigate ... and must work with Raphael. As her search for the killer leads her into the secret underbelly of supernatural Atlanta, Andrea knows that dealing with her feelings for Raphael might have to take a backseat to saving the world ...

Review:

"This is an HK UMP submachine gun. Renowned for its stopping power and reliability. Cyclic rate of fire: eight hundred rounds per minute. This means I can empty this thirty round clip into you in less than three seconds. At this range, I'll cut you in half." It wasn't strictly true, but it sounded good.

"You see what it says on the barrel?"

On the barrel, pretty white letters spelled out PARTY STARTER.

"You open your mouth again, and I'll get the party started."

Ilona Andrews knocks it out of the park. . . way WAY out of the park. . . with the smartly written and action-packed Gunmetal Magic. Those who worry about missing Kate in the driver's seat have no fear, Andrea is a similar narrator, as quick with her wit as she is on her feet. I mean, she is Kate's BFF after all. Do you think their friendship would work out if Andrea was sniveling and stupid? Surely not. Andrea is a terrific leading lady - tough as nails, badass with a gun, and with just the right amount of snark - and I hope we get more books from her point of view.

Andrea's man is Raphael, partial Alpha of the boulda clan and handsome as can be. When the story begins, Andrea and Raphael are broken up and Andrea is hurting. Throughout the book, it often seems like nothing is keeping these two apart except for stubbornness and pride. Sound familiar? Andrea and Raphael's story mimics Kate and Curran's, right down to the hilarious mating rituals of the Pack, but with enough individuality to stand on its own. 

I pushed him against the door and kissed him again, sliding my body against his, nibbling, licking, purring in his arms. He went for it, hook, line, and sinker. I let him start stripping his jacket off, then broke away.

"I think the bars on the window have silver in them, don't you?"
He stopped, his tuxedo halfway off his shoulders.

"It's good that I brought gloves."

"Andrea!"

Andrea and Raphael must work together to solve the murders of four Pack members that were working for Raphael at the time of their murder. This takes them through many ups and downs together and we get to experience a wonderful combination of their quips back and forth, their longing for each other, and just how damn good they are together in a fight. The action is plentiful in Gunmetal Magic and Andrews doesn't hold back when its come to the shots, stabs, and gore. The action scenes are written just as well as everything else in this book and I was hooked from the first shotgun slug blast. 

We learn more about Andrea is this book, which can be expected. I really loved digging into Andrea a little more, especially since we know she is a unique type of shapeshifter and she has issues with what she is. We get to learn a little more about her past and what has caused her to be the shifter she is today. She is a damaged character yearning to belong but refusing to let herself. I enjoyed riding along as her story came full circle.

Fans of the Kate Daniels series will not be disappointed by this installment in the series, especially since there are some very familiar faces lurking around. Kate and Curran make several appearances, with Kate even playing a fairly large role in the story toward its end. Asconio, the teenage boulda who just recently joined the series, is an important character seen throughout the book. Roman, dark wizard with a thing for Andrea, plays a big role here as well. Other, loved, side characters make appearances, including: Jim, Barabas, Derek, Julie, Aunt B, and Dr. Doolittle. 

Kate smirked.

"What?"

"Your horse looks pink."

"So?"

"If you paste some stars on her butt, you'll be riding My Little Pony."

"Bugger off." I patted the mare's neck. "Don't listen to her, Sugar. You are the cutest horsey ever. The correct name for her color is strawberry roan, by the way."

"Strawberry Shortcake, more like it. Does Strawberry Shortcake know you stole her horse? She will be berry, berry angry with you."

I looked at her from under half-lowered eyelids. "I can shoot you right here, on this road, and nobody will ever find your body."

Terrific plot that moves quickly, smart and complicated characters that you will love, fantastic writing that gets its hooks in the reader, and top-notch world building. The Kate Daniels series is a must for urban fantasy fans and the sensational  Gunmetal Magic continues the trend.

Recommended for fans of: urban fantasy, guns, damaged characters, witty comebacks, weres and shapeshifters, and the Kate Daniels series.