Sapphire Flames - Book Review

 

Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy #4)

by Ilona Andrews

What is it about:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews comes an enthralling new trilogy set in the Hidden Legacy world, where magic means power, and family bloodlines are the new currency of society…

In a world where magic is the key to power and wealth, Catalina Baylor is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, and the Head of her House. Catalina has always been afraid to use her unique powers, but when her friend’s mother and sister are murdered, Catalina risks her reputation and safety to unravel the mystery.

But behind the scenes powerful forces are at work, and one of them is Alessandro Sagredo, the Italian Prime who was once Catalina’s teenage crush. Dangerous and unpredictable, Alessandro’s true motives are unclear, but he’s drawn to Catalina like a moth to a flame.

To help her friend, Catalina must test the limits of her extraordinary powers, but doing so may cost her both her House–and her heart.

What did I think of it:

When a good friend gifted me a copy of Emerald Blaze (book 5 in this series) I discovered I totally missed the release of Sapphire Flames. Luckily that same friend was willing to lend me her copy of Sapphire Flames so I could catch up.

And this is yet another cool addition to this series. 

I will confess I had difficulties warming up to the love interest, who is one of those cocky jerks who think they're charming and witty and who seem to dominate the world of romance these days. If he'd just been acting witty while not being so full of himself, I might have liked him better.

That being said: the action and the story are super cool. I was hooked from the start and rooting for Catalina to figure out what was going on. And there is a lot going on I can tell you!

The main storyline gets a satisfying conclusion in this book, but other things happen that will mean Catalina has lots of things she needs to deal with in the next book. You bet I'll pick up Emerald Blaze soon.

All in all a cool read, I'll need to get my own copy of this book.

Why should you read it:

It's a cool Paranormal Romance

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Diamond Fire - Book Review

Diamond Fire (Hidden Legacy #3.5)
by Ilona Andrews

What is it about:
Nevada Frida Baylor and Connor Ander Rogan cordially invite you to join their wedding celebration. Summoning, weather manipulation, and other magical activities strictly forbidden.

Catalina Baylor is looking forward to wearing her maid of honor dress and watching her older sister walk down the aisle. Then the wedding planner gets escorted off the premises, the bride’s priceless tiara disappears, and Rogan's extensive family overruns his mother’s home. Someone is cheating, someone is lying, and someone is plotting murder.

To make this wedding happen, Catalina will have to do the thing she fears most: use her magic. But she’s a Baylor and there’s nothing she wouldn't do for her sister's happiness. Nevada will have her fairy tale wedding, even if Catalina has to tear the mansion apart brick by brick to get it done.

What did I think of it:
I loved the first three books in the Hidden Legacy series, so was eager to give this novella a try.

And while it has nothing of the suspense and danger the other books have, this is a fun and entertaining read.

I liked Catalina, she is capable and level headed. I can understand why people put her in charge of things. Why people also let her younger sister help is a mystery however. She has annoyed me since the start of the series.

Events in this book were predictable in my opinion, but I didn't mind. Even with the predictability it was an entertaining story. There was information that Catalina discovered during the story held back for the big reveal at the end, but that was a minor annoyance.

All in all a quick and fun read. I will most probably read the next book as well once released.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable UF Mystery read


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Wildfire - Ranty Book Review

Wildfire (Hidden Legacy #3)
by Ilona Andrews

What is it about:
Just when Nevada Baylor has finally come to accept the depths of her magical powers, she also realizes she’s fallen in love. Connor “Mad” Rogan is in many ways her equal when it comes to magic, but she’s completely out of her elements when it comes to her feelings for him. To make matters more complicated, an old flame comes back into Rogan’s life…

Rogan knows there’s nothing between him and his ex-fiance, Rynda Sherwood. But as Nevada begins to learn more about her past, her power, and her potential future, he knows she will be faced with choices she never dreamed of and the promise of a life spent without him.

As Nevada and Rogan race to discover the whereabouts of Rynda’s kidnapped husband and are forced to confront Nevada’s grandmother, who may or may not have evil motives, these two people must decide if they can trust in each other or allow everything to go up in smoke.

What did I think of it:
If this had been the first book in a series by a new to me author, I don't know if I'd finished it.

Don't get me wrong: the worldbuilding is excellent, the main storyline really cool, and most of the characters are fun as well.

It was the other woman trope that really annoyed me. Why do so many authors think they can only keep a relationship interesting by introducing another (wo)man so the hero(ine) gets all insecure and jealous? I'm so tired of this trope. I want to see more secure female friendships where they support each other and encourage each other. Not this bullshit where every woman who's not family is a potential rival.

That rant over with: apart from the catfighty atmosphere whenever Rogan's ex-fiancee was present I enjoyed the story. There was cool action, some very intriguing revelations, and a solid plot. The ending tied some things up very nicely, but left enough open for there to be more books. I'll be keeping an eye out for news on this series.

Why should you read it:
This is a cool PNR read with excellent worldbuilding


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White Hot - Book Review

White Hot (Hidden Legacy #2)
by Ilona Andrews

What is it about:
Nevada Baylor has a unique and secret skill—she knows when people are lying—and she's used that magic (along with plain, hard work) to keep her colorful and close-knit family's detective agency afloat. But her new case pits her against the shadowy forces that almost destroyed the city of Houston once before, bringing Nevada back into contact with Connor "Mad" Rogan.

Rogan is a billionaire Prime—the highest rank of magic user—and as unreadable as ever, despite Nevada’s “talent.” But there’s no hiding the sparks between them. Now that the stakes are even higher, both professionally and personally, and their foes are unimaginably powerful, Rogan and Nevada will find that nothing burns like ice...

What did I think of it:
It's been a long wait, but it was worth it!

I loved Burn For Me, so I pre-ordered both this book and the third - Wildfire - so I would get my trotters on them as soon as possible.

White Hot trusts Nevada in the middle of action and danger right from the start. Soon she is forced to work together with Rogan and together they have to try to stay alive.

Both the action and the romance are great to read. Rogan is still an arrogant jerk at times, but Nevada is standing up for herself. I liked the chemistry between the two. Luckily it changes from slow burn to full steam, although they still have lots of things to work out between the two of them.

The action story line is thrilling and suspenseful and just as important as the romance, which isn't always the case with Paranormal Romance. There are some very intriguing developments that made me curious how things will go in the last book.

The ending is quite the cliffhanger, but in a good way.
Bring on the third book!

Why should you read it:
It's an action-packed PNR read


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Burn For Me - Book Review

Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy #1)
by Ilona Andrews

What is it about:
Nevada Baylor is faced with the most challenging case of her detective career—a suicide mission to bring in a suspect in a volatile case. Nevada isn’t sure she has the chops. Her quarry is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, who can set anyone and anything on fire.

Then she’s kidnapped by Connor “Mad” Rogan—a darkly tempting billionaire with equally devastating powers. Torn between wanting to run or surrender to their overwhelming attraction, Nevada must join forces with Rogan to stay alive.

Rogan’s after the same target, so he needs Nevada. But she’s getting under his skin, making him care about someone other than himself for a change. And, as Rogan has learned, love can be as perilous as death, especially in the magic world.

What did I think of it:
Although I wasn't impressed by the first Kate Daniels book, I really liked the Edge series by Andrews. I've been told to try the second book in the Kate Daniels series, as it does seem to get better after the first book, but I've not been that brave just yet. Still I was curious when I heard about this new series, so I was very happy when I got Burn For Me as a present from Melliane.

And this is a really cool read.

I very much enjoyed the setting. It's an alternate world setting: very much like our world, but at some point magic was introduced. And this magic shaped society. The Andrews duo sure thought about how magic would change the world and what influence it would have on those who have magic, and those who have little to no magic. The world that was created felt real and logical.

I also really loved Nevada and her family. They were fun and it was clear they cared about each other. I especially liked Nevada's grandmother, who sounds like someone who deserves her own story to be honest.

Rogan is a really cool character. I liked how his magic shaped his personality and his morals. He's almost not human anymore, and that made it interesting to see how he would react to things.

The romantic tension between Rogan and Nevada was slow and a bit frustrating at times for me. I'm glad this series will most probably be a trilogy, because if the romantic tension and its conclusion is spread out even further than that I might not be able to cope.

The story overall is really cool and suspenseful. There are some things that seemed pretty obvious to me, but others left me wondering and guessing. The ending gave enough closure for now that I'm not frustrated, but you can bet I'm going to get my trotters on the next book, because I want more.

Why should you read it:
It's a really cool Paranormal Romance.

Magic Bites - Book Review

Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1)
by Ilona Andrews

What is it about:
When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.

Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate's guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta's magic circles.

The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate's guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she's way out of her league—but she wouldn't have it any other way…

What did I think of it:
This is a nice read.

I must say I didn't really connect with Kate, there wasn't enough told about her and her past to understand who and what she is. And I'm not even talking about how inconsistent she was with her own rules. The story and the world building however were intriguing enough to deal with a heroine who felt a bit one dimensional to me.

There were some really cool other characters who felt a bit more real to me. I really liked Curran, the Lord of the Beasts and Jim, another shapechanger.

The story is cool and action packed. There were some minor annoyances like people throwing out whole theories just because one small part of it didn't seem to fit, but overall it was an entertaining read.

I'm not completely sold on this series I'll confess, but I might give other books in this series a chance if I come across them. To be honest I like Ilona Andrews' Edge series more than this series so far.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice Urban Fantasy with an intriguing setting.

Of Swine and Roses - Book Review

Of Swine and Roses
by Ilona Andrews
ebook, short story

What is it about:
A young adult short story about a girl, a pig, some magic, and the worst date ever.

Chad Thurman is a thug, who carries brass knuckles in both pockets and lays magic traps for intruders into “his” neighborhood. The last thing Alena Kornov wants to do is to go on the date with him. But when her family pressures her, she can’t say no. Now the ice-cream is absent, the pig is running for its life, and we won’t even mention the dead guy…

What did I think of it:
I couldn't resist picking up this story when I saw the title.

And it's a cute and fun read.

Just as in all other books I've read by Andrews the writing is good and the world building is done very well considering the length of this story.

The story itself is a bit predictable, but that didn't reduce my enjoyment. There's action, a bit of romance and most importantly: a pig!

I wouldn't mind if the Andrews duo decided to write more stories in this setting, even if those stories wouldn't include pigs. I will most certainly continue to read stories written by them: next up is Magic Bites.

Why should you read it:
It's got a pig!! ;-)


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Fate's Edge - Book Review

Fate's Edge (The Edge #3)
by Ilona Andrews

What is it about:
Audrey Callahan left behind her life in the Edge, and she's determined to stay on the straight and narrow. But when her brother gets into hot water, the former thief takes on one last heist and finds herself matching wits with a jack of all trades...

Kaldar Mar-a gambler, lawyer, thief, and spy-expects his latest assignment tracking down a stolen item to be a piece of cake, until Audrey shows up. But when the item falls into the hands of a lethal criminal, Kaldar realizes that in order to finish the job, he's going to need Audrey's help...

What did I think of it:
This book won't end up as my favorite in the series, but it's an enjoyable read.

I had trouble with liking Kaldar I will confess. He's too much the smooth-talker used to get his way to make me feel sympathy for him. And as I really liked Audrey and wanted her to escape from the things that made her life difficult I didn't want to see the two end up with each other, so this made the romance frustrating and unsatisfying.

Luckily the story was really cool and two of the characters from On the Edge returned: Jack and George. I really like these two characters and I hope the Andrews duo decides to give them their own books further on in this series.

I'm looking forward to the next book in this series and while waiting I might give the Kate Daniels series by Andrews a chance.

Why should you read it:
It's a well written, action-packed UF.

Bayou Moon - Book Review

Bayou Moon (The Edge #2)
by Ilona Andrews

What is it about:
Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swathe of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan’s long-time rivals are suspect number one.

But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over into the Edge—and Cerise’s life . William, a changeling soldier who left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation’s spymaster.

When William’s and Cerise’s missions lead them to cross paths, sparks fly—but they’ll have to work together if they want to succeed…and survive.

What did I think of it:
I didn't much like or trust William in On The Edge, the first book in this series, but because I really enjoyed On The Edge and because Bayou Moon sounded like an even cooler story than the first I decided to give it a try.

And I'm glad I did.

This story is indeed even cooler than On The Edge!

The world building is really intriguing and awesome. I love the weird, grim world that's created in this book and the mood this world sets for the story. There's lots of weird creatures and monsters and the magic that's used is very original and cool.

I still found William a difficult character, but he was more likeable than in the first book and his difficult character even added to the story. Cerise is one tough cookie, but at least she wasn't as quick to jump to conclusions as the heroine in On The Edge, so I liked her from the start. There were the occasional moments where I wanted to knock their heads together, but all in all I enjoyed the romance between William and Cerise.

All in all I liked this book even more than the first and I'm definitely going to read book three in this series once it's released.

Why should you read it:
It's a very enjoyable PNR in a really cool setting.

On the Edge - Book Review

On the Edge (The Edge #1)
by Ilona Andrews

What is it about:
Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either.

Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn’t turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off the books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power).

But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them—or they’ll devour the Edge and everyone in it.

What did I think of it:
I really liked this book.
The world building is really intriguing, the writing is good and the story is very compelling. The idea of a kind of shadow world excisting in between this world and another is really cool and the Andrews duo made this world very believable. What I missed is a bit more information about the Weird though, but maybe that will be fleshed out in a future book. I also did have some trouble in getting to like Rose. She's one touch cookie with the bad habit of jumping to conclusions, but as I got to know more about her I grew to like her. The other characters vary from interesting to loathsome. I loved Rose's brothers I'll confess and hope they will get their own books in this series when they're older. All things taken into account I really enjoyed this book and I most certainly will get the second book in this series.

Why should you read it:
It's an action-packed UF in a very intriguing setting.