Ilona Andrews – Gunmetal Magic

A book in the Kate Daniels series, published July 31, 2012.
Genre: Urban Fantasy



The New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels novels have been hailed as "top-notch urban fantasy." Now, Ilona Andrews delves deeper into Kate's world, and reveals its untold stories...
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 ...
(Includes Magic Gifts, a Kate Daniels novella).


Unlike the previous books in the series, this one focuses more on Andrea Nash, a hyena shapeshifter, then on Kate Daniels. But fear not, there is enough Kate in the book. It takes place at the same time as Magic Slays.

Raphael’s company is a reclamation company, which focuses on salvaging metal and other precious items from the collapsed buildings. It is often dangerous work, but the metal is worth a lot of money, and Raphael uses it to support his clan. He recently bought a building with a large basement, and in that basement was a hidden vault. Some of his team members were guarding the site, and found murdered the next day. The vault is opened, and it is still filled with very valuable antiques, but something is bound to be missing. This was not a random robbery!
Jim, the head of security of The Pack, hires Andrea to find who did it. Andrea leaps at the chance, even though she will have to work together with Raphael, her ex-boyfriend. But when Raphael shows up the next day, with his new girlfriend in tow, Andrea decides she has had enough. No more mrs nice, she will release her inner bouda, and embrace life. The Knights kicked her out, and now she will have to officially join the Pack, but she will do so only on her own terms.

Andrea’s search leads her to some other Reclamation Companies, one is abandoned, and the other seems to be only a front for something else. And why does the CEO not want to talk to her? There is only thing to do, go to the man’s birthday party on Raphael’s arm as his armcandy, dressed to kill, and search his house. But they might find more than what they are looking for!


I am so impressed by this book, the story kept twisting and turning, adding ancient gods and their creatures, snake people and monsters living in glass ruins. Andrea kicks some serious butt in here, and I love her. When Raphael thinks an apology is all it takes to get her to be his mate again, he sure is wrong, and when he just moves in with her, the revenge she executes is awesome! I loved it!

Then there is Roman, the Russian mage/priest of an evil god, who also likes Andrea, a lot. And Roman sure can’t handle that. We learn a lot about Andrea’s background, her childhood abuse by bouda’s and why she doesn’t really want to join Aunt B’s clan and acknowledge her as alpha. Andrea is right; Raphael is just a spoiled big boy, whose mother dotes on his every word and wish. His good looks make it way too easy to get every woman he looks at. I liked that Andrea made him work for her, even though she misses him and knows he is her mate. The bouda’s are matriarchal, and she will not just fall at his feet.
And then there is Ascanio, a young werehyena Kate and Andrea have taken on as their intern, trying to keep him out of trouble, as he likes the ladies too much. He has a big secondary role, and he certainly learns a lot in this book.

I am already looking forward to the next book in this awesome series.

10 stars.

© 2012 Reviews by Aurian