Review: Andrea and Raphael's story with Magic Bleeds answers
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 21, 2011
This is a fantastic, must read companion for any lover of the Kate Daniels series. It's Andrea and Raphael's story from the Must Love Hellhounds compilation, so if you've already read it there, this is the same story.  If you haven't, it fills the gap between how they actually got together and to my surprise, it also provides some heavy insight into Curran and explains some of Kate's antics in Magic Bleeds... think apple pie and welding weight benches.  If you've never read the Kate Daniels series, this would be an entertaining teaser, but you would definitely miss alot since it literally falls into a consistent timeline between Magic Strikes and Magic Bleeds.While Kate is recovering after the events from Magic Strikes, best pal, Andrea Nash, closet beastkin hyena shapeshifter and Order Knight of Merciful Aid, is bored out of her mind covering for her, when she finally receives a call from a man named Teddy Jo who seems to be a friend of Kate's.  He tells Andrea he saw a shapeshifter who's tail is on fire being chased by a giant dog as big as a house.  Andrea springs into action bringing out the big guns, literally, to investigate, only to find that the shapeshifter in distress is Raphael, the werehyena who's been courting her, and the giant dog is actually a twenty foot tall, three headed mythological creature of Hades, Cerberus.  Together, Andrea and Raphael get caught up in a mystery with vampires, missing bodies, an Angel of Death and magical apples.This short story, like all of Ilona Andrews work, is simply incredible.  Andrea is a bada$$ in her own right and you finally get to see her mettle here.  The dialogue is as funny and witty as ever but the story goes deeper than mere physical attraction between Andrea and Raphael.  As they spend time together and learn about one another, you really do see a cosmic relationship building. That, and the chemistry between them is explosive.  Magic Mourns has everything you would hope and expect as part of the Kate Daniels series including tons of action and plenty of snark.  Even with the absence of Curran and only a cameo appearance by Kate, this story is perfect in its own right.  The ending is absolutely riveting and although it answers several questions, it raises even more to leave you panting for the next installment.