Emerald Blaze audiobook

consistently impressed with this series!i really loved mad rogan & nevada's story so i really didn't expect to love catalina & alessandro. but ilona andrews has done a fantastic job crafting a romance and a plot that feels familiar while being distinctly unique. i especially love how different catalina is from nevada. she makes a lot of choices that nevada wouldn't have, and it's interesting to see how that plays out in a world with magic.also, something that i didn't fully appreciate in the first 3 books that has really shone in the most recent 2: how bad ass the women are. i mean i've come to expect levels of this in paranormal/urban fantasies, but i think these books take it to the next level. especially when it comes to age. i literally can't think of a single fantasy style book i've come across that values women in their 40s+ beyond mothering. both the mom & grandmothers in this book were KICK ASS and incredibly valuable players and i really fcking appreciate that.i think that honestly just speaks to the level of detail and thought that is clearly going into this series. as a native houstonian, these books feel like home and i'm HYPED for the 6th installment.

Another amazing addition to the Hidden Legacy series with non-stop action, romance (!), magic, and powerful women. I couldn't put it down, and you won't be able to either.I'm the biggest fan of Ilona Andrews, and their Hidden Legacy series never disappoints. Emerald Blaze was just as wonderful as I was anticipating. Do you like your heroes and heroines trapped in deadly confrontations where they need to use every scrap of wit and power to figure their way out, and even then, when they are out of immediate danger, they are still caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse with enemies and allies alike? Do you like female leads so smart and so powerful that they can untangle themselves from sticky situations without breaking a sweat, but show their fragile vulnerability and humanity just pages later? If you like to be excited and challenged but with a side of swoon-worthy romance, then you will love Emerald Blaze.Once again, I found Catalina Baylor to be an electrifying main character. Though the book is a romance with intense chemistry between Catalina and Alessandro, Catalina truly stands on her own and caries the book with her forethought and talent. I adored all that Catalina brought to the table, and the truly memorizing Baylor family was just icing on top of the cake. Every single one of them, including both grandmas, could have their own off-shoot story, that's how complex and interesting they all are. Excellent character development, as expected. I would highly recommend that people read this series in order as it would be pretty confusing to jump in at this point in the series. So much builds on the previous books, especially on Sapphire Flames. However, if you are a little rusty on the plot-points of the previous books, never fear as Ilona Andrews does a seamless job at recapping and refreshing your memory, as always. The plot is too complex to even begin to explain, but if you've read the previous books, you know what you are in for. In summary: Everyone will die and the world will collapse if this strong, female MC doesn't save the day! . But never fear, you know that everything will come together at the end, and the reunion with Alessandro will make it that much sweeter. Another excellent book, which just let me wanting more. When does book 6 come out again??*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog

4.5 stars. Loads of fun! Final review, first posted on FantasyLiterature.com:The violence between Houston’s powerful magical families breaks out again when Felix Morton is mysteriously murdered. Felix was involved in a private contract project involving an alliance between five magical Houses who are attempting to reclaim the Jersey Village suburb of Houston, which has become a pit for wild arcane magical creatures. If the reclamation succeeds, the land is worth a fortune, but Felix’s murder at the site puts a definite damper on the project.Catalina Baylor — still recuperating from her broken heart when Alessandro Sagredo abruptly left her at the end of Sapphire Flames, six months ago — is told by her boss Linus Duncan to take over the investigation into Felix Morton’s death. The primary suspects are the four Prime magic users who were Felix’s business partners in the reclamation project. Difficult enough for Catalina, but she’s stunned to find out that Felix’s father has hired Alessandro to take Felix’s place on the project … and, though the other Primes don’t know it, Alessandro has also been hired to take down and kill whoever murdered Felix.Catalina wants to keep her heart walled off from Alessandro so he can’t hurt her again. Alessandro is determined to protect Catalina from a Russian assassin called Arkan who, Alessandro says, is targeting Catalina in order to disrupt Linus’s ongoing investigation into the theft of several vials of the Osiris serum, which can confer strong magical powers on — or kill — the person who takes it. As Catalina and others in her family are attacked in various ways, it’s not clear who’s behind it: Arkan, Felix’s unknown murderer, or someone (or something) else?Emerald Blaze is lots of fun, a fast-paced urban fantasy with a compelling romantic subplot, guaranteed to please Ilona Andrews fans. The Baylor clan, from Grandma Frida down to Catalina’s younger sister Arabella (who is clearly waiting for her chance to take the spotlight in a later book), is as wild and lovable as ever. As usual with Andrews novels, there’s plenty of witty dialogue and humor along with the danger, magic and romance.The mystery is an intriguing one. Alessandro has his own reasons for wanting to get involved in the case, and it’s not just an excuse to get close to Catalina again. Catalina has become a stronger woman, and she’s not willing to immediately trust Alessandro. But Alessandro’s been through some rough experiences in the past six months that have changed him as well, and led him to adjust his priorities. It need hardly be said that the romantic tension gets ratcheted way up here.The other big selling point for me in Emerald Blaze is the disclosure of several facts that shed a whole new light on some key events in past books. Among them: why did Catalina’s sister Nevada abruptly resign as head of Baylor House a few years earlier, leaving the rest of the family in the lurch? It seemed out of character at the time. Catalina’s relationship with their other grandmother, Victoria Tremaine, and Victoria’s role in the Baylors’ lives, also are revealed to be more complex than readers may have guessed. Either the Andrews team was plotting some things out far in advance or the authors are engaging in a little retconning, but in either case it’s adding depth and believability to the series, so I’m completely on board with it. On the other hand, Linus Duncan’s role in the series has taken a sharp turn from where it appeared to be headed at the end of the third book, Wildfire. I’m confused about his underlying motives at this point, but I trust the final answer will be good.Emerald Blaze is a strong entry in the HIDDEN LEGACY series. It’s got a somewhat different vibe than the KATE DANIELS series, but overall I’ve enjoyed this one just as much.Initial post: I've been grumping around this whole month because my review request for this one got ignored.

Re-read 27/8/2114/9/20 And as promised the link for The Cool Aunt, a short bonus story that occurs at the end of this book. DO NOT READ unless you have finished this book!https://ilona-andrews.com/the-cool-au...4.5 stars Review now posted 27/8/20Contains some spoilers from book 4!Ilona Andrews does not disappoint! Everything I wanted was wrapped in a pretty, magic bow and delivered to me. I read this one as fast as my poor eyes let me and now that I finished it, I want to go back and read it again. I had some inklings at the end of the previous book and I was happy that almost all came true. We saw Catalina mature and leave behind her naivete but still dealing with the enormity and changes of becoming Head of her House entails. She now bears enormous responsibilities and feels each of them deeply while also trying to outwit their evil grandmother and assist Linus as well as her work as P.I. When she is assigned to find the murderer of a Prime involved in the clearing of the Pit, Alessandro blows back into her life, after leaving her at the end of the previous book. Linus throws the both of them together to solve the case. Catalina still has feelings for him even though he left and she fights them. But Alessandro isn't the same guy anymore. Something has happened to him and Catalina can't help but worry for him. Getting attacked at multiple fronts, fighting off dangerous, old and new foes, finally being honest with each other, brings them closer than ever. Will they manage to survive and stay together? Read and find out for yourselves. I wont spoil it for you, you should go in it blind and discover the magic that only IA can write. The only thing I will say is that I was left satisfied with everything that happened and that the ending of this book packs a punch. Cannot wait for the next one! And if we get novellas or entire books for the rest of the family I will read them with the same greediness I read this one. Here's a link where you can discuss the book, after you read it, with all the spoilers: https://ilona-andrews.com/2020/emeral... . The authors also plan to release a short bonus story, that occurs at the end of this book, in a few days and I will link that also after they do. 26/4/20Snippet!!https://ilona-andrews.com/aha-i-am-aw...8/4/20Hidden Legacy: Quarantine Editionhttps://ilona-andrews.com/hidden-lega...Tiny Snippet! 4/2/20https://ilona-andrews.com/tiny-snippe...Snippet! 28/1/20I thought I had added this one on my list and posted a snippet too.. So either I dreamed that or did it meticulously in my head and forgot to actually do it. Who knows?Anyways, here's a missing snippet from the authors site:https://ilona-andrews.com/missing-sni...P.S. Apparently pickles with honey and smetana(sour cream) are an actual thing. Who knew???

“Be careful, Catalina. The night is dark, and the wolves have vicious teeth. Guard yourself.” All I can say right now is O... M... G I am stunned, awed, breathless and speechless.For those of you who haven't read it yet:This was a wild rollercoaster ride ...and the end(ing) ....Some tidbits & highlights:- I absolutely love the character-arc of Alessandro and the changes he went through ever since he first appeared in Wildfire. His backstory almost broke my heart as much as Catalina's- Catalina is my favourite non-kickass kickass heroine, who is more at home with math, charts and excel sheets. :)- the scene between Cornelius and Tatiana Pierce- the Baylors: my adopted literary family, love them all- BUUUUUUUUG!

Kate will always be the gold standard but these Baylors are slowly winning me over.And I'm definitely digging Catalina and Alejandro a lot more than Nevada & Rogan - though I did love the cameo appearance they made!

There was a lot of action in this one, but the best part was to have Nevada and Conner make an appearance. I hope we get a lot more of them in the next book, and if we judge by the ending of this.... we might. I could see an awesome double date with Cataline & Alessandro and Nevada & Conner kicking some magical ass.Almost as magical as this double date must have been.In this one we have a guy who was killed by someone as the main mystery, but it also involves a bunch of monster-type things that are biomechanicalish. I know that's not a word, autocorrect. Gah, it's like you don't even know me! We finally get you to understand that I never actually mean "duck" and yet you still insist on correcting my creative grammar?So these monster things are basically made of material that was thrown into a swamp.... so, yeah, trash monsters. I know, swamp monster seems more appropriate, but have you ever seen how much crap people throw into swampy areas? There is definitely more trash than swamp there.Anyway, the trash monsters seemed a little obsessed with Catalina. Now, I'm not making accusations or anything, but I'm just thinking that maybe she is a huge litterbug and they are just like Lassie trying to get home or something. Just a theory.Littering is no laughing matter, Karen.There is a bunch of relationship angst between her and Alessandro, and again, not really feeling it, but whatever. The only critique I have for the book is that it had a habit of cutting away from action to give overly long descriptions of places. Like, they would storm into an office to confront someone and I was on the edge of my seat, but then there is a five page long description of the person's office. Look, I want the conversation that will take place, not the color schemes, flooring, window placement, each individual knick-knack, and the make and model of each piece of furniture. I'm not reading this for home office decor ideas. I'm reading it for the trash monster!Sometimes less is more.Still, I loved the book. I love the series. I can't wait for the next one.

4.5 stars!!! I LOVE CATALINA AND ALESSANDRO SO MUCH. Their second book was probably my most anticipated read of 2020 (especially after that ending from Sapphire Flames) and I’m so happy it didn’t disappoint. I could read about these two forever. Emerald Blaze was epic, as usual from Ilona Andrews, and I already can’t wait for the next book!Full review to come.

3.8 NULL-SPACE SWORDSUpdated review posted Sept 1st 2020THE CASE FOR ALBERT, OR WHY I THINK ALESSANDRO SHOULD DIE. Don’t get me wrong, I loved this book. The story is great and it’s well-written as usual. But Alessandro is a colossal douche and he needs to tragically perish ASAP for the many reasons listed below. *Warning: Spoilers for book #4 Sapphire Flames. Spoilers for Emerald Blaze are hidden.This is the supercharged 5th full-length instalment of the Hidden Legacy series and once again, it’s a classic detective with a magic twist. When Felix Morton is found gruesomely murdered and his 4 business-partners are the prime suspects, Catalina is ordered by the Warden of Texas to figure out whodunnit. Before the investigation is even underway, ex-fling Alessandro forces himself back into Catalina’s life and claims that she is in danger. It’s a promising start to a novel that, as a romance from Avon, ultimately disappoints.This book is hard to rate. Why? Because the main weakness is the romance and that’s pretty freaking extraordinary in the world of romance novels. Usually, if the main couple feels off, the writing is also shaky and the plot feels thin as the air on top of Mount Everest. That’s not the case here. Emerald Blaze is exceptionally written, the plot is intricate and solid, most characters are fully developed and there are a few masterful twists. Had this novel been Urban Fantasy with romantic elements, the problem that is Alessandro could have been overlooked. But in its current format where the story leans quite heavily on the romance plotline, it’s a somewhat mediocre NA romance wrapped in a shell of brilliant UF.Action: ★★★★★Characters: ★★★★★Heroine-development: ★★★★★Universe: ★★★★★Cliffhanger: ★★★★★'The Cool Aunt' chapter: ★★★★★★★★★★★★Romance: ★★THE GOODIt’s great to be back in the world of Hidden Legacy and bask in the sunny Baylor family dynamic. Nevada was missing in Catalina’s first full novel ‘Sapphire Flames’ but now she’s back and fully recognizable. I loved Leon in this book and I laughed almost every time he said something. When he had some rough growing up to do because he got targeted, I felt every second of his anguish. Runa, Bug, Arabella and Bern are also on point. And then there’s Rogan. He appears in a few scenes and it’s so good that even if nothing else about the book worked, his sightings would easily make the book worth buying. At $4.55 for the Kindle version, it’s a freaking steal.I loved to watch Catalina improve her magic and I expect her to be even more powerful in the next book (view spoiler)[I'd bet everything that the gothic 'angel of death' wings have a purpose and I can't wait to figure out what she can do with them (hide spoiler)]. It's interesting to get a feel for Catalina's development as Head of House. This episode progresses the bigger storyline about the theft of the Osiris serum to a clear finale in which she's going to fight the ultimate and most dangerous of human monsters.THE BADAlessandro. What you really want for a girl with zero romantic experience who was painfully abandoned by some celebrity douchebag 6 months before is something normal. Something nice. Something like a handsome guy noticing her in the corner at a party and walking over to talk to her. Someone who doesn’t care about his family's approval. Someone who’d jump at the chance to go on a date with her, any time she liked. Someone like Albert Ravenscroft. Maybe it doesn’t have to be precisely Albert. But does it have to be the douchebag who left her like she meant nothing? I mean, let's rewind to Sapphire Flames. The romance with Alessandro wasn’t exactly stellar.Halfway though Sapphire Flames, Abraham Bug is comforting a crying Catalina and I don’t care one bit about Alessandro. (I was wondering how old Bug was and if they could maybe rescue another dog and live happily ever after.) The first time I’m finally rooting for Alessandro is in the final moments of chapter 10, where he saves Lina’s life and holds her to him, trying to soothe the magic-induced panic away. But he mostly made me cringe. Him parking on her property, him stalking her, him lounging on her bed Edward Cullen style and being so arrogant as to insinuate that there’s a picture of him on her nightstand to help her masturbate. The second time he situates himself on her bed, she’s actually in the shower. I don’t know what’s creepier; watching Bella sleep or waiting on Lina’s bed for her to walk out of the shower, completely unsuspecting and naked. All the while, he’s such an overt flirt. He’s full-on seducing her, like the player he only 'pretends' to be. By the time they go to the opera, Catalina mostly seems to like ‘her prince’ because he’s so handsome. Then seemingly out of the blue, she starts ranting to him about his redeemable qualities (or rather the ‘you’re SO not an assassin, I don’t GET you’-speech) so he kisses her and starts devouring her... breastage. Three minutes later, she’s selling her soul to Victoria Tremaine for a chance to save Alessandro, claiming she loves him. When she does save him, he kisses her again. And then he abandons her, plunging her into depression.The ending to SF was brutal. While I understood Lina’s infatuation, as a reader, I wasn’t really ‘with’ her until her heart got broken. That posed a new problem. I never liked Alessandro much, and by the end of Sapphire Flames I actively despised him. This guy is what, 26? He knows all the while what his life consists of and that he will probably leave her. So why did he aggressively pursue this 21-year-old virgin head of a fledgling house who’s inexperienced in the worst way because of her magic? He knew she liked him. From his picture on her nightstand to the way her phone chimed when there was a new picture of Alessandro on Instagram; he had all the power. There was nothing she could do. And when he leaves, he crushes her harder than he needs to.Emerald Blaze takes place 6 months after the ending of SF (during which time Catalina and Alessandro had no contact). I’d hoped that Catalina would have shaken her teenage infatuation and when Alessandro deigned to return to Houston, she’d finally be immune to him. I wanted him to have to work to win her back, him to behave in a way that shows an awareness that he hurt her. I felt a genuine pang of disappointment reading Emerald Blaze and it had everything to do with respect, self-esteem and healthy relationships. I’m going to hide my thoughts on the relationship-revival behind a spoiler-button, but suffice it to say, I didn’t think it was healthy.Alessandro is first introduced when Catalina and Leon are driving into the city and a silver Alfa Romeo Spider speeds by. Leon tells her that it wasn’t Alessandro in the car. (view spoiler)[If it had been, Leon would have killed him, because Captain Vapid broke Catalina’s heart. Catalina claims she broke her own heart, but Leon contradicts her. ”I was there. He took advantage of your feelings, used you to help him and then he split. You were depressed for months. You know that saying ’I’ll make him wish he was never born’? If he shows his face here again, I’ll actually do that.” (I love Leon.)Actually, all the Baylors plus Runa are ready to kill Alessandro but Catalina valiantly defends him, telling Nevada that “he didn’t promise me anything. He didn't say he loved me. I fell head over heels. I didn’t even know him that well and I paid for it.” This made me want to go “Oh honey” because the aristocratic playboy knew exactly what he was doing. This is such a red flag.When it comes to Alessandro, a lot of stuff happens against Catalina’s will. In 1 evening, he walks back into her life unexpectedly, forces himself into the investigation she’s conducting, he makes Linus order Catalina to work with him, he incapacitates her driver forcing her into a car with him and then he starts a conversation Catalina doesn’t want to have, with apologies Catalina doesn’t want to hear and he forces a sympathy from her she doesn’t want to feel. Only then, he asks her: “please let me protect you.” Dude, maybe ask her before you force her hand?Literally the next morning Catalina needs to be medically patched up and he is ‘crushed’ when she doesn’t touch or kiss him after. She then feels guilty about not touching him.THIS IS A HUGE RED FLAG. When Albert facetimes her, Alessandro wants to know everything; if they had sex, if she stripped for him, what his magic is, where he lives, and he tells Lina he’ll visit this guy. Catalina protests that it’s none of his business, but he tells her “You’re wrong. Your relationships are my business.”RED F*CKING FLAG PARADE.He's effectively a controlling ex. He continues the lunacy by visiting Victoria and threatening her after Catalina has an unpleasant conversation with Vic over tea. Lina in no way wanted Alessandro to do this. Their first Emerald Blaze kiss is much the same. She’s fighting a monster, but has everything under control and is conducting an experiment. Alessandro barges in, ruins everything and kisses her, even though she doesn’t want that. She hadn't given him any indication that a kiss would be welcome by that point. Because he was afraid for her life, he tells her “you can’t blame me.” She absolutely should though. The concept of consent is not that hard to grasp.All the while he’s flirting with her. Even when he’s confronted with people yelling at him about how he hurt Liina, he isn’t deterred and asks her if she’d like to crawl around in his car with him. I felt at times he was being manipulative, looking all pained and saying stuff like “I fucked that up too" (like their relationship) or “I don’t think my charm ever worked on you”. Ugh.In just 24 hours Catalina goes from searing rage and hurt when she sees him again, to stepping into bed wishing Alessandro was there too. It's Stockholm Syndrome on steroids.Catalina is constantly wondering whether she is more important to Alessandro than his revenge. She doesn’t think he would save her life if it meant losing a chance to kill a particular guy. She also doesn’t know why he abandoned her without explanation. And yet, she’s DTF anyway. That’s disturbing. He constantly violates her boundaries and she lets him. I felt a big disconnect between what Catalina was experiencing and what I was thinking. That made it hard to enjoy this particular romance. (hide spoiler)]I'd much prefer someone for Catalina who respects her, and seeing as how she can't shake the prison sentence that is Alessandro, I really wouldn't mind his untimely demise.4 FIXED ISSUES FROM BOOK 41.) The money problem is solved, YUS.2.) House Baylor is no longer trying to act like a House without ties. In Book 4, Catalina was going for the ‘Rogan who?’ approach, so House Baylor wouldn’t appear like a vassal house and inherit Rogan’s friends and enemies (as if Mad Rogan wouldn’t drop a house on top of anyone hurting his in-laws anyway). She’s adjusted this notion for intelligent reasons.3.) The question of Nevada and why she seemingly left House Baylor in a huff receives a beautiful answer.4.) The ‘threat’ Victoria issued for Catalina to always remain Head of House Baylor is obviously necessary to keep House Baylor alive. Leon and Bern can’t take over the House, so if all 3 girls marry into other houses, the other Baylors lose protection. In this book, (view spoiler)[Catalina sees the wisdom of this and chooses for herself to always remain Head, no matter what. (hide spoiler)]BITS & PIECES- We would be treated to Prime Sagredo today. He wore expensive Italian loafers. Yuk. Is there anything more douchey than men wearing loafers? It’s like a neon sign blinking: ‘I have a yacht and socks are for plebeians.’- On the book cover, the dress is the same one as on Sapphire Flames, it’s just been photoshopped.- He raised his hand. His magic flashed. His fingers were holding (view spoiler)[the small foil packet of a condom (hide spoiler)]. I have so many questions. Like who owns the original and could this magical copy dissolve if Alessandro weren’t paying attention?- BABY ROGAN! A big reason to read the Catalina books is the question about Connor & Nevada’s offspring and whether or not they’ll be duds. The answer is mostly in this book. We still don’t know (view spoiler)[his name though! Catalina visits the hospital after the birth and nobody tells her his name? It might be in short story ‘Cool Aunt’ from Arabella’s perspective (hide spoiler)].- Catalina has (view spoiler)[moodwings. Her wings can change color depending on how she feels. Cue all the memes with a girl with black wings- #MOOD. Hopefully, they're not just decorative. (hide spoiler)] Her family thinks it's hilarious.- No news on the grandfather mystery except a repeat in something Alessandro says: “Oh this sword? It was a gift from your... supervisor.”- Nothing on Caesar or New Rome yet.- Still no clue why the weird Greek siren clan aborts female offspring. Nothing about Catalina’s current expression of power makes me think; yup, must abort that. But a lot is still unclear about Catalina’s magic and this might be a good nugget for the final book. - Wouldn’t sound carry on a roof?- Why is Linus afraid that Catalina one day won’t stop singing? A new mystery. - The Baylors don’t seem to have their intercom system anymore because people are running around in the compound to find others in a crisis.- Catalina’s promise to Victoria has become completely mystifying. (view spoiler)[Victoria knows that genetic jewel Alessandro is houseless and that Catalina can both honor her promise and strengthen House Baylor's future by marrying him. Finding another mental prime willing to renounce his House would be near-impossible. So why would Victoria be against the match? Why did she taunt Catalina with it? Is this a hint that Victoria never cared about the success of House Baylor at all? Or is she torturing Catalina to get her to express a darker type of magic? This whole thing where Catalina needs someone houseless and Alessandro thinks he has nothing to offer feels a bit tired. Come on children, talk, use that brain. (hide spoiler)] - The one-man angst brigade came way out of left field for me. (view spoiler)[ 'Hello, I’m here to break you kids up so here goes: He’s broke, she’s a golddigger; discuss.’ Like, what? (hide spoiler)]- That cliffhanger though. Can’t wait for the ultimate warfare in book 6!QUOTES“Catalina, step away from the dickhead!”“I don’t think dr. Daniella can do anything for my kind of fever.” “You’re crazy and I’m stupid. Take your shirt off.”Thanks for reading["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>

Solid 5-stars - I loved this book! Complex plot, amazing characters, tons of action… one of the best they’ve done so far. And that’s sayin’ something!If you’ve been following my reviews for any length of time, you’ll no doubt have noticed I’m a Ilona Andrews fangirl. Snatching the top spot as my favorite urban fantasy writers, these two continue to dazzle me at every turn. And they’re only getting stronger.The concept for the magic system in this world is rad. It has origins in basic superhero development, where there are those among us born with special abilities, but its presentation is highly original. And a lot of that can be attributed to the structure of the society and the many house politics included in the world building. I love that after five books in the series there are still things I’m learning about the different magical abilities. The concept is so expansive that they can afford to spread it out over multiple books, creating a lot of interesting moments within each one.My favorite thing about Emerald Blaze specifically was all the moving parts. Far from a lazy plot, there’s a murder mystery to solve and magical shenanigans afoot. Between all of that, Catalina also had to deal with a certain handsome Italian who keeps insisting on complicating her life. The book really immersed in house politics. It also provided a strong sense of which conflicts are going to make up the finale of the series, and I can’t wait. There were so many specific scenes within this book that struck me to my core, I briefly considered doing a spoiler review just so I could geek out about all of them. Suffice to say, there were plenty of moments that will surely make all my fellow IA fans swoon as much as I did for this fantastic story.Speaking of swooning – the marketing and covers would have you believe that the romance is the main draw to this series, but that is so not the case. I really enjoy the romantic component – the authors are amazing at providing slow-burn love story that grows organically through the series (truly, the only type I like reading about). But as good as they are at that, all of the other elements are so strong (especially in Emerald Blaze) that romance is almost secondary. It would be a totally kickass series without the romance, but its inclusion definitely gives the books better character motivations and a more rounded feel (i.e. it’s the total package).I love Catalina. She’s vulnerable and compassionate and sincere, but she also has this fierce, almost frightening desire to keep those she loves safe. Much more so than her sister Nevada, this girl is willing to do whatever it takes and she has the cold, calculated ability to see it through. She’s patient and shrewd, yet the reader still gets to see how charmingly human she is by contrast. Uncertain of herself most of the time, she’s somehow able to put all of that aside to get the job done. Most of the heroines I read about (especially in this genre) also have many of these attributes. The difference with Catalina is that the authors makes you feel alongside her and really come to a visceral understanding of what she’s going through. I’m always one or two levels more deeply connected to Catalina, and that’s something I don’t experience often.Recommendations: highly recommended! Don’t let the covers fool you – Hidden Legacy is one of the most robust, entertaining urban fantasy series I’ve ever read. Kate Daniels starts out a little slow then gains momentum. Hidden Legacy sweeps you up for a wild ride right from the start and only gets better from there. There’s a reason these authors are at the top of my UF list. I can’t recommend them enough!I want to thank Harpercollins Publishers, Ilona Andrews, and Netgalley for the chance to read and review an early copy of Emerald Blaze – you made my year! :DVia The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.comOther books you might like:

Ahhh, Catalina and Alessandro. After a few rocky starts, a slow-burning romance, and a major reversal in the previous book, we finally get... more reversals.There are some really cool magical bits, a nice and nasty antagonist, and enough familial angst and reveals to throw a kitchen sink at, but in the end, this novel IS pretty much a HEA romance through and through.We THOUGHT we'd get that HEA in the previous one before the rug was pulled out from under us and the rocky start in this one seemed destined to keep that HEA out of our grasp with all the "I'm spurned so, therefore, I'll spurn" standard trope, but this is just a trick.The novel delivers. In beautiful paranormal romance style.What? You miss Nevada and Connor? ***psssst. They're here***

Reread so I can start my ARC of Ruby Fever - I might have liked it even more the second time around.4.5 I Finished This in a Day But Couldn't Think of What To Put in a Review for a Month Stars.I’m a huge fan of Ilona Andrews and I have loved almost everything they have released so I was not worried at all when Nevada and Rogan’s story ended and we took up a new set of adventures with Catalina as the focus of the story. Some are not going to love it since it isn’t Nevada, but if you take it for what it IS I think that it is a new and fantastic chapter in the Andrew’s catalogue of stories.In Sapphire Flames Catalina was a little young and naïve about life, love and people. She is becoming stronger all of the time and after a few setbacks she has really grown up a lot coming into this book. Catalina has accepted what happened between her and Alessandro from the prior book, she owns it and even thought her family might hate Alessandro she doesn’t. “Why would you want to shoot him?” “He broke your heart. You were miserable for weeks.” “I broke my own heart, Leon. He was just the hammer I hit it with. So we have a heartbroken but recovering Catalina, sent by Linus Duncan in her Deputy capacity to take a case away from Augustine. Catalina is a professional, she is posed and ready to take the case on, she is not ready for the man she was going to give her heart to walk through the door as part of the case. “Any words of wisdom?” I asked. Augustine enjoyed a mentor role.“Life is full of surprises,” he said. “Try to cope with grace.” Then we are off on our adventure trying to figure out what is growing in the Pit and how it might be tied to the Osiris serum that was stolen. There are crazy weird creatures, confounding new magic and danger around every corner. Catalina will have to tap into all of her resources in order to come out the other side of this in one piece.The Andrews always tell a great story. I loved how they were able to expand on all the details as to why Nevada eventually stepped down as head of house and Catalina took over. Cornelius’s childhood made me cry. Catalina also showed her backbone in Emerald Blaze, she has been hanging out with Grandma dearest and has still come out almost unscathed from it. I enjoyed the plot and the love story, I don’t care what any of you haters out there think Alessandro is a good match for her and I appreciate how much he has grown up since the previous book. “There are men in this world who would stop at nothing to be with you. You’re beautiful, you’re brilliant, and if they knew how dangerous you were, you would get buried in proposals. There isn’t a House out there that wouldn’t want to add you to their arsenal. And when the wings come out, it’s all over. I’m the best antistasi on record, anywhere, and when I saw you, I stared like an idiot. I could’ve stood there, listening to you talk for a year.” The Baylor Family is always a big draw for me. I love all the siblings. Grandma Frida is the best and even Penelope has some moments she really shines in this. Darkhorse Leon will be a force to be reckoned with and Bern, oh Bern I’m totally shipping him and Runa together.This had everything I wanted in it. Action, Magical Plot, Cool Creatures and build up for something else down the road. Let’s just say that I hope all of Catalina’s plans against Victoria go well, especially after learning how Victoria was going to hurt Nevada and Conner. Another Winner in this readers opinion.

Update 2: We have a title Emerald Blaze and a release date 25th August 2020 AND it's now available to preorder on Amazon (so yes I have preordered both the paperback and kindle editions LOL)