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 as well as 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...
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How does anyone expect me to have a real non-fangirl reaction to this book? Really - how? Cause at this point I've read it all the way through twice, in addition to all the specific parts I had to go back and read again by themselves. I'm keeping it in my purse just in case I want to pull it out later to re-read again!
To try and maybe sum up what makes this book great I'd have to put my finger on two things - characters and world building. The world of Kate Daniels is intricate and almost never ending, as whenever Andrews shows us another part of it it's interesting and unique. Beings and environments that popped up after the magical catastrophe never feel tacked on. Instead each one is fully realized and adds to the whole. It's as if they're drawing a map with each book, and every paragraph is like Google Street view. Love it.
The characters though, oh that's where they've really got me. Andrea and Raphael have been through a lot, each of them working to overcome their upbringings to find a way forward with them together. When Kate compares them to a Hispanic soap opera she's not exaggerating; their emotions and arguments are large and dramatic - each of them determined not to get hurt again (even though they love the hell out of each other). They've made a lot of mistakes, punished each other, but are trying to make it work. It's painful and hilarious all at the same time, because Boudas never do anything the easy way (but why would you when there are so many ways to playfully torture the other person?).
I love this book and this series, can't wait for the next one, and highly recommend Gunmetal Magic to everyone.
Overall Feeling - A+
Series - 1) Magic Bites 2) Magic Burns 3) Magic Strikes 4) Magic Bleeds 5) Magic Slays....6?) Gunmetal Magic
