Author: Ilona Andrews
Publication: Ace (July 31, 2012)
Description: The New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels novels have been hailed as “top-notch urban fantasy” (Monsters and Critics). Now, Ilona Andrews delves deeper into Kate’s world, and reveals its untold stories…
After being kicked out of the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea’s whole existence is in shambles. She tries to put herself back together by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend. When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano—the male alpha of the Clan Bouda, and Andrea’s former lover—die unexpectedly at a dig site, Andrea is assigned to investigate. Now she must work with Raphael as her search for the killer leads into the secret underbelly of supernatural Atlanta. And dealing with her feelings for him might have to take a back seat to saving the world…
My Thoughts: This is another powerful entry into Andrews' Kate Daniels' World. Andrea has been a side character for a while. She is Kate's best friend. After being kicked out of the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid after being outed as a shapeshifter, Andrea is at loose ends. She isworking with Kate at Cutting Edge and trying to figure out what she wants from life.
Andrea was raised in a bouda group - werehyenas - but she is beastkin - her father was a hyena turned human. Beastkin are despised by most shifters who were human first and then animal. Her bouda group systematically abused her and her mother until her mother finally found the courage to run away. Andrea has spent years denying her werehyena side. Now she has to come to terms with it.
She is also on the outs with her werehyena boyfriend Raphael who can't understand why Andrea would be reluctant to swear allegiance to his mother and join another bouda pack. He hurts her very badly when he seems to have taken up with a beautiful but brainless human and flaunts her in front of Andrea.
Besides this personal turmoil, Andrea has a case to investigate which involves huge venomous snake shifters and ancient Egytian gods. There is a lot of adventure and excitement as she and Raphael need to work together to prevent the world from falling into chaos.
Andrea is as strong and as kickass as Kate Daniels. She makes a great lead character. Her bad childhood and determination to make her own decisions and choose her own path make her a character we can really care about. Cameos from favorite characters from the Kate Daniel's series add to the richness of this story.
Fans of urban fantasy with really kickass heroines will not want to miss this story.
Favorite Quote:
I mean, what the hell was I supposed to do with this MINE thing? One moment he was shoving another woman under my nose, the next he's decided that we were back on and couldn't understand why I wasn't getting with the program. An old song surfaced in my memories. Love is all you need. Maybe, but in real life love was rarely all you got. Raphael and I also had pride, and guilt, and anger, jealousy and hurt feelings, and all of it was mixed into this giant Gordian knot. Untangling it seemed impossible.I bought this one as I do every book by Ilona Andrews. You can buy your copy here.
I've already got this on the TBR pile. Now I just have to get down to it.
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