Magic Stars (Grey Wolf Book 1)

before I get into my actual review of this story I need to explain some things :) I actually already finished the whole series and I may have binge read them, so all of the installments may or may not got blurred together in my mind… ;) but hey, I will do my best to separate them at least a little bit :) it happened, because I read this series during a two month long period of time when I struggled with a lot of changes in my personal and professional life, so I read a lot, cause I needed something to relax, but at the same time I was in no mood to write any reviews… so here we are today, when I am doing my best to catch up on those :) Before we get into my thoughts and feelings about this particular installment, here are a few things that are true about all of them and that you can read without any fear of spoilers :) #1 this series is absolutely phenomenal and you all need to read it if you haven’t yet :) I blew through all of the stories in it in record time, cause I was unable to put them down and read something else :) #2 the whole series follow Kate, the main character, and tells one big story… so even though each installment revolves around a smaller event / issue, I highly encourage you to read them all in order, including the novellas and side books that happen along the way, because they all bring something extra to your overall experience :) the reading order of all those stories can be easily found on Goodreads if you look for the series Kate Daniels :) I read them all in that order, as it was recommended to me by my good friend who already finished it, and I am very happy I did that :) of course I can’t force you to listen to me, I’m no #BookPolice ;) it’s just a friendly suggestion ;) #3 a few more words about the series in general :) it’s a paranormal / urban fantasy story, set in an alternate version of our world… in it, there are magic waves that crash over the world, making basically all technology useless for some time… because it’s impossible to predict when exactly they will come and go, it alters the way people live… of course, with magic came all sort of gifts and talents… not to mention magical creatures :) we definitely have vampires and necromancers of some sort who control them, shapeshifters who can change into all sorts of animals, not to mention the fact that we get to see magical influences and practitioners from very different belief systems… it’s a lot to explain and we don’t have that much time to get into all the details right now :) just know it’s phenomenal :) each book is action packed, fast paced and full of surprising twists and turns… I can’t even begin to count the number of times when I gasped in shock because the plot went in a completely different way than I anticipated :) once you get to know this world and these characters, you will be completely hooked… and speaking of characters… ;) #4 diverse and interesting characters are one of the main reasons why I love this series so much :) not only the main one, Kate, goes through a pretty spectacular character development arch throughout the whole series, but along the way we keep meeting new ones… and before you know what happened, you have a whole bunch of people you love and with each book you are quietly chanting “don’t kill any of them, don’t kill any of them” as if that might change some outcomes :) obviously I won’t name anyone right here, because a lot of them might come as a surprise to you… what I will say is that it will be a pleasure to re-read those books again soon, knowing how certain characters end up… that’s all I’m gonna say ;) #5 DO NOT READ THE REST OF THIS REVIEW if you are not caught up on the previous stories… I will be mentioning people and events from previous books next, because I cannot possibly write more about my feelings without them, and you will be spoiled about some major surprising turns… I won’t spoil anything when it comes to the book I am currently reviewing, but everything that happened before is fair game :) you’ve been warned ;) This little novella revolves around Julie and Derek… not in a sense you might think, because she’s still pretty young, but you can definitely see glimpses of something more from both of them and I certainly hope that we will revisit this duo in some future books :)

*** This review was originally published on book blog Will Read for Feels. I’m a big Ilona Andrews fan. Which is why, when I learned that a new novella set in the world of Kate Daniels was out, I knew I just had to buy it. Upon reading the description for Magic Stars, the first in a new spinoff I was even more delighted to find that this book featured two of my favorite supporting characters in the series: Curran’s right-hand and lone wolf Derek Gaunt and Kate Daniels’ adopted daughter Julie Lennart-Olsen. Both have such rich, textured, and pain-filled histories and yet there’s an obvious connection between them (even discounting Julie’s initial hero worship) that I’ve totally shipped this pairing, as they say, ever since it became a glimmer of a possibility. But if you’re a fan, before you get too hyped up by the idea of a Jurek romance, I should say that this book brings them closer together and hints at dimensions of their relationship we have yet to see, but they don’t actually have a big romantic moment yet. I love that the authors are taking their time with this couple. The slow burn of Kate and Curran made them well worth the wait, and I’m anticipating the same for when Derek and Julie eventually let themselves be with each other. I could wax eloquent about why this couple should be together, but I won’t, not just yet, as it’s only the first book in the series (and I hope to see more soon!). When I started reading this, I loved how the authors just jumped right into the action, setting the pace for the entire novella. In the first two chapters of Magic Stars, we see just as many fight scenes. Yet apart from pacing and just general awesomeness, these scenes contribute a lot toward characterization, something you might need if you aren’t too familiar with either Derek or Julie. In the first chapter, it’s all about Derek, and while you get the condensed version of his tragic history as a kind of exposition, the action-packed scene establishes him as hero material: he’s an awesome fighter and quick thinker, but he’s also principled. That his principles may not exactly be that of most people, as far as killing other people is concerned, by no means negates the fact that he has a set of rules and abides by them. Then as we’re just beginning to learn about the mystery that will be the main plot of this story, Julie comes in, and we learn things about her that Kate isn’t aware of, like the fact that she knows the big secret Kate is keeping from her thanks to her sessions with Kate’s scarily powerful dad. Better yet, we see how much Kate’s efforts to allow Julie a childhood are not quite working; Julie is all grown up and has an impressive maturity for 17. This doesn’t negate the solid foundation of care and compassion Kate and Curran have built for her, but she has been through too much to remain a child, and it’s good to see her come into her own as she does here. The feel of this novella is somewhat lighter than the usual Kate Daniels fare, and not just because the characters are 17 and 20. It’s also because the problems they face, while filled with intrigue, action, and danger, nevertheless are not quite as potentially apocalyptic as the ones Kate has to deal with. This was something I quite enjoyed because it allowed me to sink my feet into the world the authors have built, which is a truly fascinating and multilayered universe, as well as to see it from a perspective other than Kate’s first-person POV. And while I’m not entirely sure Magic Stars would be quite as enjoyable for someone who has had no grounding in the world of Kate Daniels, I’m sure the legions of Ilona Andrews fans (and I count myself among their number) will get a kick out of it.

This story is very well written and it pushes you inside Kate's world immediately. It will be nice to find out what the future will give to Derek. I am sure we won't be disappointed. When I finished reading, I just wanted to read more about him, the perfect evidence that I was reading a good story.

Nach Andrea, Jim, Dali und den gelegentlichen Häppchen an Curran-POV wurde es schön langsam Zeit endlich mal etwas aus der Perspektive von Derek erzählt zu bekommen, hat dieser Charakter doch über die Bände hinweg die – meiner Ansicht nach – größte Wandlung hinter sich. Wer hier heiße Szenen und großartiges Gemetzel erwartet, wie man es aus den übrigen Büchern kennt, sollte seine Erwartungen, ein zwei Stufen runterschrauben – immerhin sind Julie und Derek erst 16 bzw 20. Trotzdem ein gewohnt unterhaltsames, magisch-komisches Spektakel und ein wahres Lesevergnügen. Die Informationen, die man in diesem Buch über Julie erhält, aber auch die Einblicke in Derek's Innenleben, sind nette kleine Krümmelchen, die Kate (aller Wahrscheinlichkeit nach) nicht mehr all zu lange wird ignorieren können. Vor allem bei Julie's Erklärung, sie sei Kate's "herald", bin ich niedergebrochen vor lauter Lachen und gleichzeitig innerlich zusammengezuckt. Man hat das Gefühl, Derek und Julie fingen gerade an ihre ersten Schritte in den Fußstapfen von Kate und Curran zu wandeln.

As always, Ilona and Gordon deliver! Spoilers: I've been shipping Deeek and Julie since... well, since it became obvious in the books Julie is in love with him. But I was concious of their age difference and the fact Julie had been just a kid and didn't hold my breath to see them together any time soon. But I got my wish here anyway!!! While this is by no means a hot, electricity-is-in-the-air, book about them as lovers (and it would be weird if it was), the reader sees a deep connection between them... And for the first time we start to suspect that Julie is not the only one longing for Derek but that the feeling is mutual. The story is also interesting, as Ilona's stories always are, with thick plot and a mystery that is solved satisfactorily, and it's a pleasure to get a glimpse in Derek's head, as well as witness Julie's badassery as she grows into a strong, confident woman. Really looking forward to Derek's second book, and here's to hoping it will be a full-length one.

Esta novela corta de Ilona Andrews se centra en Derek y Julie, alguien ha matado a una familia entera y entre los dos buscan quién y por qué. La verdad es que sabe a poco, te quedas con ganas de más y se va a hacer larga la espera hasta el siguiente libro de esta saga.

I love Friends to Great Loves stories. Something about knowing a person, inside and out, but still being able to maintain the admiration and attraction necessary to be a couple. Julie and Derek complete each other, have each other's backs and have each survived terrible childhoods, emerging as dauntless fighters. They walk the path of true heroes and know that as long as they have each other, they have someone to rely on, absolutely. It's beautiful, really. Now, I have to go read Blood Heir for the 3rd time, obviously.