Sapphire Flames audiobook

2020 quick reread before diving into Emerald Blaze! Review first posted on Fantasy Literature: Sapphire Flames is the fourth novel in Ilona Andrews‘ HIDDEN LEGACY urban fantasy/romance series, in which powerful magical families control most of society. (Note: You really do have to start at the beginning of this series, with Burn for Me; each book builds on what came before.) Having wrapped up the romance of Nevada Baylor and Connor Rogan in the first three books in this series, Sapphire Flames and the interim novella that precedes it, Diamond Fire, shift the focus of the series to a new main character, Nevada’s younger sister Catalina Baylor, a so-called “siren” with powerful persuasive magic. (By the way, the reasons given for Nevada and Rogan being out of the picture ― out of the country, in fact ― and unavailable to help with the latest life-and-death crisis, are a stretch, but a necessary one for the sake of this novel and the series).Catalina’s ability to convince others to adore her and cooperate with her every request has always been a heavy burden for her: it’s a brainwashing type of power, and people affected by it love her beyond all reason after a few minutes in her presence, even to the point of wanting to crush her to pieces in an effort to get closer to her. As a result, Catalina was a terribly shy teen who avoided everyone outside of her family, the only ones who are unaffected by her power … aside from, inexplicably, the family doctor.At the end of Diamond Fire Catalina came to the conclusion that she needed to step out of the shadows, and Nevada’s mother-in-law was happy to help. Sapphire Flames picks up three years later. Catalina is now 21 and the head of House Baylor and their private investigation business. A murder case drops into Catalina’s lap, involving the family of Runa Etterson, the delightful poison mage from Diamond Fire. Runa’s mother and sister have been mysteriously murdered, and Catalina wants to take the case … even though a couple of major players CLEARLY warn her not to get involved (“Sometimes when you search the night, you’ll find monsters in the dark. You’re not ready”). Those warnings, of course, not only fail to deter Catalina, but only make her more determined.One of those who tries to warn Catalina off is her former teenage crush Alessandro Sagredo, an Italian young man with “Prime” magic: he can nullify others’ magical powers, and also has some particularly interesting if apparently unrelated powers involving weapons. Alessandro has his own interest in the Etterson murder case, and he and Catalina reluctantly (haha) team up when it becomes clear that neither is going to go away. Their investigation leads them to things like assassin firms and crazed people with warped magic. Good times!It’s fun to see Catalina step up her game … not just a notch or two, but some major leaps forward for our shy young woman. And, holy cow, Alessandro’s character is NOT what I expected given the brief glimpses we had of him in previous depths. Hidden depths, y’all. While their new aspects of their personalities did make the plot much more exciting, both Catalina and Alessandro are now much more standard urban fantasy characters, and less distinguishable from Nevada and Rogan. It’s different magical powers but the same basic formula. Hard to knock what works, though.On the other hand, Runa Etterson, the poison mage whose family was murdered, has almost the opposite problem: Her ebullient personality was a scene-stealer in Diamond Fire, but in Sapphire Flames she’s a shadow of her former self, ruled by her anger and distress.Runa’s emotions had clubbed her rational thinking over the head, dumped its body on the side of the road, and took my friend for a joy ride. Just what we needed.It’s understandable in the circumstances, but I hope we’ll meet up with her again when she’s feeling more herself.Sapphire Flames is a solid entry in the HIDDEN LEGACY series, with the Andrews’ typically witty banter, imaginative magic, action-driven plot and (let’s not forget) hot romance. I got sucked into it the minute it hit my Kindle and finished it off in one day. It’ll be fun to see what happens next.ETA: Two fun snippets of deleted scenes from this book, from the Andrews’ blog:http://www.ilona-andrews.com/a-misund... (Arabella POV story)http://www.ilona-andrews.com/wcb-day-2/ (Sgt. Munoz scene)

Sale Alert: Kindle limited time deal 14Oct20 $3.99Re-read Time Before Emerald Blaze Comes Out.Gah...it didn't last long enough. I just breezed through this so quickly again. Loved it!!!❤ ❤ ❤ I LOVED THIS!!! ❤ ❤ ❤Nevada and Rogan have their new beginning and this book is all Catalina.I think you need to know that going in. Sure, you get cameo situations from the Dragon and his new wife but they are so far removed from the main focus of this book you shouldn’t read it for that or you will be disappointed. What you do get:• 21-year-old Catalina who has grown into her siren powers since we first met her. • The rest of the Baylor family including crazy grandma Frida, semi-scary Arabella and super funny Leon along with sniper mom and Bern• BUG! He is hilarious and a bored Bug is a nosey bug.• Alessandro, he is not who you think he is.• Linus Duncan and all his power, um WOW.• Augustine *swoony sigh*• Crazy crew of deadly assassins• And much, much moreWith all of that there should be something for you and hopefully you won’t miss the Dragon and his new wife that much.The end of the three-year grace period is coming to an end and House Baylor has had some time to make some contacts and get a little established, but it is a trying time as their immunity is about to expire. On top of that there is a case that falls into Catalina’s lap that everyone tells her not to take, so of course that is the case she is going to take. This is a wild ride full of surprises. Catalina has been under the tutelage of none other than Mrs. Rogan and she has learned a lot. She might still be the shy girl at heart but she is coming out of her shell and this new case is going to push her to her limits.The biggest surprise for me is Alessandro. I expected the charming pretty boy and not much more, but the boy has secrets, talents and a vendetta. Add all that in with some very cool powers and I loved what happened when he and Catalina teamed up to take down the bad guys in this.Linus Duncan, man of mystery has a soft spot for the Baylors. If you’ve read the rest of the series you’ve probably guessed why. I was really surprised to see him play a role in this book and even more surprised by what that role was. Alessandro isn’t afraid to go up against some powerful men in his not courtship of Catalina, even when they act like a grandfather to her.This is classic Ilona Andrews with humor and danger and that slow burn romance happening. I devoured this book and can’t wait to listen to the audio when it comes out. While I was sad not to see more of Rogan and Nevada I think Catalina and crew carried this book well and I loved the set up for some future books in the series with Catalina at the helm.Initial ARC ReviewI'm not going to say what I had to do to get a copy of this early. It might have involved the sacrifice of a Barbie involving four toenail clippings, herbs, a secret, a promise and copious amounts of bourbon...don't ask. But, I got it and the Author Lords who shall be named IA have done it again and written something absolutely wonderful that I will read again and again and again.

Absolutely, positively, you will not be able to put this one down. Clear your calendars for release day, folks, because Ilona Andrews nails another book in the Hidden Legacy series, and it is just as addictive as the rest! I'm a superfan of Ilona Andrews, and I've loved each and every book in this series. I was beside myself when I found out that I got an ARC of Sapphire Flames, especially since I was in love with Diamond Fire. Just totally gagged. I tried to wait until closer to release day to read Sapphire Flames, but after a few meh books in a row, I knew I had to crack this one open. And I didn't go to bed until the very last word, just before 3 am.The plot? Exhilarating. The danger? Cranked up to an 11! The romance? Just getting STARTED.I loved getting to know Catalina, who is a bad-ass in her own right, and seeing more of the extraordinary Baylor family. I loved getting to know Alessandro, who is SO much more than meets the eye. I loved the pacing, the energy, and the non-stop action. It is a must-read for those who have loved the other books in the series.The book isn't technically a romance, but those of you who are familiar with Ilona Andrews know how they operate. I know there will be more Hidden Legacy books coming with how this one left off, and I'm WAITING ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT FOR MORE. Ilona Andrews can't write fast enough to suit me. *Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog

Sapphire Flames was the ULTIMATE READING EXPERIENCE for a book-lover like me.I wanted to read it in one go, but kept on putting it aside, because I dreaded the moment it would all end.Well, eventually it ended, but with WHAT A BANG! A MILLION EXPLODING PERFECT STARS!I loved it from the first page to the last.In my review of Book 3, Wildfire, I adopted the Baylors as my literary family and I also mentioned how much further potential there is in the Hidden Legacy Universe. Ilona and Gordon kept expanding that universe in Books 1-3, adding more layers, depth and intrigue, BUT with Sapphire Flames they upped their game even further. Influential families (called Houses) with powerful magic rule this alternate world and also control territories in Houston, where our story takes place. There are several kinds of magical abilities (telepaths, telekinetics, empaths, pyro/aquakinetics, truthseekers, etc) and several levels: minor, average, notable, significant & prime. Primes are usually the leaders of their families/houses and also "breed" to have offsprings with even more magic as it means social and economical power: the more you have the more influential you are. Newly established or "emerging" houses have a 3-year-long grace period when they are protected from the intrigue/attacks of already existing ones. But once the period is over, the gloves are off and the beasts gather for blood. This period is just coming to an end for the Baylors with 21-year-old Catalina (younger sister to Nevada) at the head.We see the world of the magical Elite through her eyes: it's seductive, it's glamorous, it's glittering and it's cruel and dangerous as hell. Catalina's (not-so-secret) crush, Alessandro Sagredo, is the perfect embodiment of this world and they get involved in untangling a conspiracy that is beyond their wildest fears. So, Ilona & Gordon just went and did it again. They pulled me under to this world and I don't want to re-emerge, ever.There were moments when I went cold (all the atrocities some people are committing) and then hot (OMG, Alessandro & his characterisation is perfect. I love what a dark horse and how morally ambiguous he is!), when I laughed out loud (the always adorable Baylor Family and their antics) and when I was sitting on the edge of my chair with excitement and anticipation. The Baylor Family dynamics is heart-warming and perfectly imperfect and the sexual chemistry between Catalina and Alessandro is delicious & sizzling. I loved their every scene.And until the next book comes out ... well.. I'll just start re-reading the whole series again.A BIG THANK YOU to Ilona & Gordon for writing another breath-taking installment to the Hidden Legacy Series + to Edelweiss/Avon for letting me read it before publication. And let's not forget my GR Friend Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ for recommending me the series despite the covers!ARC provided by the Publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

28/7/22Deleted scene!!!https://www.ilona-andrews.com/2022/th...4.5 starsRe-read 17/8/21, 7/9/19This was a delightful addition to the Baylor universe but it wasn't as perfect for me as the first three instalments.I think the problem here is the transitioning from Nevada to Catalina. Nevada was badass and exceptionally strong in the first three books whereas Catalina avoided all confrontations because of her power. She is a definite badass in the making though. I just felt she was way too caught up on how Alessandro looked at certain points. Too many mentions of how handsome he is. And Alessandro was a bit of an asshole in my opinion. The plot was really intriguing as were all of Linus appearances. Overall I think this book set a good foundation for the next ones.I have some other minor issues, like the way Nevada quit being Head of the House. I feel like she wouldn't do that to her family but what do I know? She doesn't live in my head, she lives in the authors heads and they know her better that me.. I feel kinda disrespectful saying it but it's the way I feel. Other than that, I cannot wait to read the next one and see where the authors take Catalina and Linus. (view spoiler)[After her deal with Victoria, I feel like I know what's going to happen with Alessandro. (hide spoiler)] I would love a novel/novella with Bern and Runa, and Arabella and Leo and even Grandma Frida. Proper review to come as soon as I can.Just want to say I loved the magic and the powers and Catalina. Alessandro is no Mad Rogan but I liked him too. And man do I want Linus to marry Grandma Frida!!!! 23/8/19Deleted scene!https://ilona-andrews.com/deleted-sce...7/7/19 Deleted scene turned into short story!http://www.ilona-andrews.com/a-misund...14/2/19 Snippet and Cover!http://www.ilona-andrews.com/sapphire...19/12/18 Short snippet!http://www.ilona-andrews.com/just-you...12/12/18Short snippets!http://www.ilona-andrews.com/snippet-...http://www.ilona-andrews.com/when-eng...20/11/18Short snippet!!http://www.ilona-andrews.com/little-s...21/10/18 Deleted Scene from Hidden Legacy 4!!!!!http://www.ilona-andrews.com/deleted-... 8/7/18Catalina and Alessandro!!!!!!!! ["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"]>

rereading so i can read the final book in catalina's trilogy.i enjoyed this but i think i missed some of the slightly less fast paced moments of nevada's trilogy. i'm also just... confused by alessandro. i don't dislike him or catalina but it's hard to totally love him when the introduction of his character is so bizarre. he shows up with no context, and i get that's part of the plot but it makes it a little confusing when we're expected to trust him for virtually no reason.if you get easily bored by fantasy romance or think they're too slow paced/the plots are typically shitty you will NOT be disappointed by this series tho.

1st & 2nd read - April 20193rd read - August 20194th read - May 20205th read - August 20206th read - April 20217th read - July 2021 If you go into this book looking for more Nevada and Rogan you're going to be disappointed because this is very much the start of Catalina's trilogy and the focus is on her and the rest of the Baylor family. And that's not me trying to be negative or put anyone off reading because I absolutely loved Sapphire Flames and think fans will too, I really love how much Catalina has changed and grown in the three years that have passed since events in Diamond Fire. She's a force to be reckoned with and so is Alessandro, they're definitely going to be a power couple and I'm sure I'll come to love them both as much as I do Nevada and Rogan.Anyone who knows me should know I'm obsessed with Nevada and particularly Rogan, I'm totally addicted to their books (I've read them all well over 10 times each now!) and yes, I would have been happy to read many, many more books from Nevada's point of view. Having said that I'm still glad that they've been given their HEA and I'm happy that we'll get to see glimpses of it in Catalina's story. I think Ilona Andrews deliberately kept them pretty absent from this book to allow readers to get used to the change in narrators and I think that was the right thing to do. There is a reason for their absence and we do still get small hints of what is going on with them now but this is Catalina's time to shine and she does it brilliantly.I've already mentioned that it's been almost three years since Nevada's wedding and the formation of House Baylor. Catalina is now head of the house and they're just about to run out of the 3 year grace period where no other houses were allowed to attack them. Their enemies are circling and Catalina has been doing her best to form allies and build their reputation as a house that shouldn't be messed with. It's not easy though and in a lot of ways they're still a little known entity that other more established houses don't really take too seriously. Catalina has spent years training with her magic thanks to help from Rogan's mother and she's grown a lot in confidence in that time too. She's still quite shy and would rather avoid confrontation but at the same time she is very protective of her family and will do whatever it takes to keep them safe, even if it pushes her completely out of her comfort zone.I don't want to give away too much of the plot of this story but there is plenty of action, hints of more than one future romance and all the humour you'd expect from this series. The Baylor family is as crazy as ever but they're also just as close knit. Nevada was so much older than her sisters and cousins that she had a very different relationship with them than Catalina does so I really enjoyed seeing how Catalina works alongside Arabella, Bern and Leon. All four of them are more grown up now and they're all coming into their own both magically and in a sense of finding their purpose. We may not see much of Nevada and Rogan but other familiar faces are still in full play from Cornelius and Matilda through to Augustine, Bug and Linus Duncan.Alessandro obviously has a lot of secrets but I'm enjoying the banter between him and Catalina. I love how dorky she can be sometimes and that he finds it so endearing and I really enjoyed learning more about his magic. He has some impressive skills and I think we're only beginning to touch the surface of what both he and Catalina are capable of. Theirs is the kind of slow burn romance that Ilona and Gordon excel at and I can't wait to watch it grow into something explosive. It won't be easy to knock Nevada and Rogan off of my top couple spot but I have a feeling that Catalina and Alessandro may be able to do it!The only thing even slightly disappointing about this book is that I can't have the rest of the trilogy immediately but even that isn't something I can really complain about as I'll have so much fun rereading the previous books while I wait for the next ones to release. My Hidden Legacy obsession hasn't dialled back even slightly with the change of narrators, in fact if anything it's grown even stronger.April 2019:I HAVE AN ARC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I'm about to spontaneously combust from the excitement! _________________In case you missed it there is all kinds of extra info about the new Hidden Legacy series in this Entertainment Weekly interview with Ilona and Gordon. I am so bloody excited about this spin off!

I've had this book forever, but forced myself to wait until the next one came out because I heard it ended in that way that makes you insanely craving the next book for a year. I'm tired of pining after next-books! If I love a book, you must give me 30 books to read immediately!! And, there was no way I wasn't going to love this. It's Ilona Andrews!This book is about Catalina, a siren, who has a family of mostly magic-users that does investigative work for their profession. She takes a case to find out who killed her friend's mother and sister, but it ends up being something so huge that she is way in over her head.A little backup?? Please!Enter the hero!! Alessandro is a guy that we met in the last book of the series. He's supposedly a rich playboy, but we learn he is much more than that. He ends up working with Catalina and sparks are flying everywhere. Not all of these sparks are romantic, though, because there is magical bees and flying scorpion-like monsters also flying around. I hate when that happens.Alessandro is a good match for Catalina, but I didn't feel it. He won't make my book-boyfriend list like Mad Rogan did. He just feels young. Maybe I am finally allowing my mental age catch up with my physical age because I kinda liked Linus better and he is hella old (meaning, my age). But, he's so blood-thirsty! How could I resist? “Follow me,” Linus ordered. “And cheer up. We’re about to embark on a killing spree accompanied by massive property damage. Try to have fun.” Plus, he makes fajitas. That is a sure-fire way to a Texas girl's heart.So now that my waiting has paid off, I will immediately get to read the next book... Then I'll wait for the next one.*sigh* yeah. My plan isn't perfect.

A solid start to the second trilogy! I love cocky, smartass Alessandro and how he is more than meets the eye - and ultimately not that different from Rogan (whom I still terribly missed.) Both his and Catalina‘s magic are fun to watch and present intriguing new challenges. (I will say I would have appreciated a glossary listing all known magic talents.)I think it’s safe to say I am an Ilona Andrews addict. 🙈

I know the next one isn't out until next year, but I just couldn't help myself! 😂Full of action, battles, magic, secrets, murder, family, teenaged crushes and friendship!I really enjoyed Catalina's first book in the trilogy, and she sure had big boots to fill after her sister Nevada's trilogy! It was thrilling and I read it very quickly!The only thing that bothered me was the way the author's dealt with the hand over from Nevada to Catalina. It felt a bit like a character assassination, and it didn't sit right with me! I felt it was all out of character for Nevada, and like they were disrespectful of her after all she had achieved in her own trilogy. I know they had to write a way for Catalina to become Head of the house, but the way they did it stuck in my throat a little.Anyway not to end on a bitter note, because I still enjoyed this engaging story a hell of a lot! I'm interested to see where this storyline goes, and am intrigued by Alessandro, although he is far to young for me to view as a love interest ha ha! I loved the Baylor family as usual, with their pranks and banter, and I liked Runa a lot. The secondary characters are a real credit to this series. And I now I wait.... 2020.... 🙄😭

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.There is something special about a new Ilona Andrews book. When I get one in my hands, I feel like a kid a Christmas. That kid has no idea what is under the tree but they know that it is going to be good. And it was good. So very good. This series is one that I treasure so my expectations were really high when I sat down to read this newest installment and every single one of those expectations were met. This story is a gift and I am very glad that the writing pair of Ilona Andrews were able to share it with their fans.This is the fourth full-length book in the Hidden Legacy series which follows the Baylor family. The first three books were told from Nevada's point of view. Catalina took center stage in the novella, Diamond Fire, and kept the lead in this book. I loved Nevada but I am finding that I really like Catalina as well. Catalina is definitely her own person and often approaches things differently than Nevada might. I really enjoyed seeing this wonderful family from a different perspective.I loved the characters in this book. I already loved the members of the Baylor family from the earlier books in the series but I always enjoy getting to know them just a little better. I really liked getting to know Catalina in detail. It was fun to see her use her powers and I have a feeling that we are going to get to see them develop quite a bit in future books. Alessandro was a bit of a mystery. I liked the fact that it was really hard to tell whose side he is on but he always seemed to show up exactly when he was needed. The chemistry between Catalina and Alessandro was pretty much off the charts so I am looking forward to seeing how things progress between the pair in future books.This story was exciting and the mystery was very well done. There is no shortage of action in this story as I have come to expect from the series. The mystery was fairly complex and Catalina was forced to juggle many things while she worked to get to the bottom of things. I really liked that there were a few larger plot points that were left open and I look forward to seeing where things go in future books. I would highly recommend this book to others. This book was everything that I had hoped that it would be and even just a little bit more. I can't wait to read this one again and again!I received a digital review copy of this book from Avon Books via NetGalley / Edelweiss.Initial ThoughtsAmazing! This was the kind of book that you lose sleep over. The kind of book that you really hate to put down. The kind of book that as soon as you finish you want to start reading all over again. I guess you could say that I liked it :) A lot of things have happened in Baylor family and I really enjoyed seeing Catalina take the lead. She is different than her sister, Nevada, but just as easy to like. There was a lot of action in this one and a few developments that I didn't expect. I can't wait for more!

4 stars! There’s something so comforting about opening up a new Ilona Andrews novel. It’s like seeing an old friend and falling back into things as if no time has passed by. I will fully admit I was skeptical about Catalina’s book, especially when I didn’t love the prequel novella with her in it. But the Andrews’s duo totally pulled it off and now I am DYING for the next book. This book is everything we loved about all the previous books in the series. Fans will not be disappointed.If you haven’t read this series, honestly I recommend reading the first 3 books or you may get lost. I don’t consider this a standalone novel I won my ARC in an Instagram giveaway from Kelly and the Book Boar Thank you Kelly!! Follow me on ♥ Facebook ♥ Blog ♥ Instagram ♥ Twitter ♥

[4.5/5 stars] I’ll take a hundred more Hidden Legacy books, thank you very much. Sapphire Flames was a ton of fun and easily one of my favorite reads of the year.My favorite thing about it was the main character, Catalina. I really like her. Unlike most of Andrews’ leading ladies, Catalina isn’t inherently a kickass face-everything-head-on type of person. Stepping up to things takes a lot of courage, and watching her face down those fears and be a total badass anyway was inspiring. Not to mention relatable. Then you add in a sweet schoolgirl infatuation with a handsome boy, and I was sold. Awkward heroines always speak to me more, especially when it’s a subtle awkwardness of behavior and thoughts. I can’t wait to see how she develops in future books.Don’t be swayed by the overly cheesy book covers for this series. It’s a robust story filled with great character dynamics, good world building, and plots with substance. That’s not to say it takes itself too seriously. It has some elements that risk eye-rolls if they were executed any less flawlessly. But these authors always know how to make it work. No matter how silly a plot element seems, I never cringe, I just enjoy the story. They also never cheapen the story and recognize that a slow burn can be really effective, and that’s one of my favorite things about them.Overall, I’m at the point where a new Ilona Andrews book gets top priority in my TBR. I always know I’m in for a great read, and recently I’ve even given out a few sacred 5 stars to some of them. If their storytelling formula works for you, you’re in for a boatload of fun.Recommendations: don’t let the covers scare you – these are high-functioning urban fantasies that manage to create depth while still maintaining the fun factor. If you’re a fan of the series and haven’t picked up the 3.5 prequel (Diamond Fire), you’ll totally want to do that before diving into this one. For any who haven’t read these authors yet, they’re my favorite urban fantasy writers and I can’t fangirl enough. The only book I haven’t loved from them is the very first Kate Daniels. Keep reading. It’s worth it!Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.comOther books you might like: