Ami's Hoard

** FULL OF SPOILERS **

Loved it. Can't find any flaws and heck, I don't even want to. It's an excellent read, easily one of my favorites this year. In fact, this is only the second time (after book #3) that I thought it deserved a perfect rating from me.

With Kate and Curran out of the Pack surrounding, as the aftermath of Kate claiming Atlanta and Curran stepping down as Beast Lord, the story feels more focused. To that result it also feels so much better than the previous two books. No Pack politics for them to deal with...

I really loved the idea for them coming "home" instead of coming to The Keep. Magic Shifts was essentially Kate and Curran in the center and I loved every minute of it. I might miss some of the Pack members, but clearly they're not actually stay out of Kate and Curran's life either -- especially with some of them separating from the Pack to work for Curran (I absolutely loved that Barabas and Christopher chose to separate. Derek was shoe-in, and I thought Andrea and Raphael would definitely were too. But I wasn't absolutely certain of Barabas until he did).

I thought the idea for Curran and Kate (well, especially Curran) to take over the Guild made sense and brought up a great possibility for it to strive again. Curran was good at managing people, and I would like to think that the Mercs would be less manipulative than the Pack.

This book might not be as high-octane action like book #7 but it didn't mean that it lacked worthy enemy. While the story started with George (Mahon's daughter, practically Curran's step sister) asking for Kate's help to find her missing lover, Eduardo, the story soon evolved into something bigger: we have ghouls and giants ... with djinn as the mastermind behind it all. I loved the Islamic myth infused in this -- the authors always treat the story myths (whatever they are) with respect. I did expect the final fight to last longer, but it was intense nonetheless.

As always, the authors still inserted their humors, and I found myself chuckling along. Especially when Kate goading Ghastek, who had risen into one of my favorite secondary characters. Oh, and the sexy time? Yep, I decided that bathtub would always be a perfect place for Kate and Curran *LOL*.

The Epilogue just clinched the perfection :)

One thought ... is it wrong for me to want Roland to survive this series, despite Kate wanting to kill him? He amuses the hell out of me. Imagine him acting all 'father-in-law' with Curran or doting grandfather to Kate and Curran's future kids. It'll be a blast

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