SECTION 1: URBAN FANTASY BOOKS SIMILAR TO MAGIC BITES As I read Ilona Andrews' Magic Bites, the first of the Kate Daniels series, it reminded me of Anne Bishop's style. Since Andrews' book came out six years prior to Bishop's, I think we could safely suggest that Andrews is probably one of Bishop's UF inspirations. SECTION 2: MOST POWERFUL THEMES REPRESENTED IN MAGIC BITES In Ilona Andrews' Magic Bites, the author pushes the theme of crossing boundaries, including social, economic, and species. There is clearly a caste-like system in play, separating people by their abilities and who they serve. Crossing boundaries is a two-sided coin, with the darker side being represented by the novel's antagonist, a magical abomination that should not exist. You can also support your local library and rent this and other Urban Fantasy stories through the Libby app SECTION 3: WHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT MAGIC BITES For a book with such a kicka$$ female protagonist, I disliked how few other female characters were included in Ilona Andrews' Magic Bites. Besides a psychic secretary, an insane witch, and some mostly nameless female shifters, the main character walked through a world of mostly males. Making it worse was the fact that the antagonist's motive was to lure, rape, and mutilate female bodies. Again, I'm noticing this underlying female torture porn theme across multiple UF titles. Besides shock value, why do we keep accepting this by saying nothing about it? SECTION 4: WHO WILL LOVE AND HATE MAGIC BITES If you love well-developed contemporary settings that highlight the dissonance between magic and tech, you will be intrigued by Ilona Andrews' Magic Bites. If you're looking for more romance and less plot, you will not like this book as much. I mean, to be fair, there are pseudo love triangles and other shapes going on, but they don't dominate the story. Andrews keeps you in the action, and I commend them on that. Section 5: L. Rigdon’s star rating of Magic Bites I give Ilona Andrews' Magic Bites 4/5 stars. She created an amazing first book in a now 10-book series. Her world instantly captures your interest, not only in the magic/tech clash, but also with the memorable characters. I would like to have seen more female characters who weren't just plot devices, but other than that, I highly recommend this book.
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SECTION 1: URBAN FANTASY BOOKS SIMILAR TO NIGHT SHIFT I chose to review Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow because it’s a book included on multiple UF must-read lists. Saintcrow's style reminded me of Jaye Well's Sabina Kane series, especially since the side characters in both books are far more interesting and likable than the main characters. [Spoiler – I'm not a fan of either book.] SECTION 2: MOST POWERFUL THEMES REPRESENTED IN NIGHT SHIFTIn Night Shift, by Lilith Saintcrow, otherness is a critical theme. Not only the differences between mundane and supernatural entities, but also how those who deal with the supernatural world instantly become outsiders to the regular world. Unsurprisingly, Saintcrow pairs up the most unlikely of group representatives to emphasize their otherness and push the overused trope of forbidden fruit. You can also support your local library and rent this and other Urban Fantasy stories through the Libby app SECTION 3: WHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT NIGHT SHIFT TBH, I didn't like most of Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow. The author stole lines from Joss Whedon's Serenity. She then created a main character who is a monster hunter who drives an Impala named Baby – stealing from the Winchesters in Supernatural. Saintcrow had some interesting original ideas, but she pushed them to the back burner. I have no idea if this was her choice, her agent's, or her publisher's — doesn't matter. Blatant stealing from other successful UF universes is wrong! SECTION 4: WHO WILL LOVE AND HATE NIGHT SHIFT I hated Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow because it stole from other urban fantasy universes I adore. I also despised how the book was a torture porn with the premise of how far can we push the main character. That said, I recognize that my tastes are different. This book is on practically every UF to-read-list, so it must entertain certain readers in the fandom. People who might enjoy this book probably prefer supernatural romance and enjoy watching a character going through hell and back. Book Review of Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow: Star Rating Review I give Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow two stars, and that's being generous! The author had some fascinating ideas about cultural dynamics with shape changers, politics in a supernatural world, sanctuary concepts, etc., but she didn't explore these ideas. She used them as filler or plot devices, and I think she did a disservice to herself. Still, it's a complete story, she offers an oh-too-cutesy ending, and there is the promise of more books with this character. All of these merits could satisfy a reader. It didn't satisfy me, but that's ok.
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