MAGIC BITES' heroine, Kate Daniels, is a magic-wielding mercenary who navigates the dangerous underworld of an Atlanta which experiences waves of magic and tech. She inserts herself into the investigation of her high-ranking friend's death, in the manner of all PI's. The job takes her into some of the nastiest areas of the city, places ruined by by magic attack and by the evildoers who dwell in them. Along the way she gathers allies, including her friend Jim, a werepanther, and the Beast Lord, the leader of all the shapeshifters in the city. The plot is predictable, and we're not surprised when she experiences enormous physical damage, but rescues the city.
This book is interesting to me mainly because of the vampires, whose description and roles are far different from anything I've seen before. Far from being sexually exotic and dangerous, they're a ruined humanoid species with little brainpower, and less free will. In an insectile manner they cling to ceilings and crawl down walls. They can't even move by themselves, but are "piloted" by others who use them as remotes for observation and attack. But dang, wouldn't you know it, there are some free, unpiloted vampires after all, and when they attack, I'm very much reminded of the hordes of orcs in LORD OF THE RINGS.
It's about time someone took the undead to task, reducing them back to the monsters they were before dozens of books glamorized them.
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