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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
I really enjoy this series. Ilona Andrews is a fun read, and I can't wait to read more in this world. The power dynamics of this couple are way more realistic (well as realistic as they can be with magic). They don't feel as toxic as the first three. Toxic is a strong word, but it gets my meaning.
Looking forward to #5!
Looking forward to #5!
3.5. The POV swap and time jump threw me off. I see I need to read the 3.5 novella to catch up. Otherwise, storyline/character development felt a bit rushed
A fun addition to the series by following Catalina’s story. She’s come into her own in a big way!
I love the writing team of Ilona Andrews, but I wasn’t sure this series would live up to Nevada’s part of the Hidden Legacy series. Boy, was I totally wrong. Catalina is a very controlled protagonist. She’s afraid of how her magic will destroy people by making them love her. Fear makes her calm, cool, and collected. However, when Alessandro bursts back into her world, he works hard at tearing down her walls. And, when he succeeds, whoa! Add to that a fascinating plot about monsters, assassins, and murder, this book adds up to a great time. Totally engrossing from start to finish, I did not want to put this book down. The ending was just the piece de resistance: I have to have it now. Unfortunately, I have to wait with my heart broken and torn to pieces. Why, you ask? Read this to find out. I highly recommend this book! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.
So, this was another weird one. We switch to Catalina, Nevada's younger sister, and she's now the Head of the House. Nevada was basically booted out of her role as Head of the House because they thought she was exhausting herself. WHAT? Can you imagine the authors making that choice if Nevada had been a man? GTFO. Also, Nevada worked her ass off for years to save the family and no one batted an eye then. So why this switch? I'm not the biggest Nevada fan in the world, but this was stupid. Just say that Nevada had to step away from House Baylor because everyone viewed them as Rogan's vassals. Then you could have some tension between Nevada and Catalina over how things should be going, but OH WAIT. Nevada isn't even in this book so we don't get any of the fallout from this shake up. Rogan is gone too (but I didn't miss him, so I didn't care).
The biggest issue with this book is that three years have passed but House Baylor seems just as financially fragile and friendless as they did when they became a House. There was all that build up that they had to use those first three years to establish themselves or they'd be destroyed, but they didn't seem to do jack all since we last saw them. They're still in the warehouse, they're still broke (although Catalina is wearing designer clothes, so which is it really?) and they haven't made any alliances aside from Rogan. So why are they still around? Why haven't they fallen the way other Houses usually do?
But silly me, getting caught up in the plot which is not the focus for IA on this series, I'm guessing, since the plot has been a mess from book one. Nevada and Rogan weren't my favorites, to be honest, so I was kind of excited to move onto a new pairing even though Catalina is practically a child. Unfortunately, it seems the authors can only write one kind of romance in this world and they just give us the same beats we've already read. Catalina and Alessandro turn into the same characters as Nevada and Rogan and their relationship follows the exact same script. It was like rereading the first book in the series.
Now I will say, even with them being so young and it being completely repetitive, I kind of liked these characters better. Their powers are more interesting, Catalina isn't as confident as Nevada and the danger seems more real for her, and Alessandro isn't as big of a maniac as Rogan. But once again I didn't buy into the love story- they just seem like they want to have sex. Towards the end, Catalina says she's in love but why? And how? The authors are so detailed (overly detailed, imo) in setting up the House warfare and describing the battles and guns and all that stuff, but they don't go into the detail of relationship development. Catalina and Alessandro met in a previous book and that meeting was fun- but here they fall into the Nevada/Rogan playbook and the spark gets drained out. I think they had one conversation that wasn't about the bad guys they were trying to stop. The ending is supposed to be emotional and shocking I guess, but I was like, yeah this seems about right.
I don't know why they didn't lean into the idea that Alessandro might not be immune to Catalina's powers- think of the angst and drama of that! And also wasn't it just her family that was immune? And like her doctor (still waiting on an explanation for that one)? What if they were both fighting the attraction because it might not be real? What if Alessandro had some actual fear of her the way she does of him? I'd have much rather read that instead of another overly cocky guy pushing a relationship onto a woman who is on the fence about getting involved with a dangerous person. What a lost opportunity.
This had a promising start, but I'm not optimistic that this series will ever get better. That being said, I'd love to read about about the youngest sister Arabella- good luck with any guy posturing that he's the only thing that can save her. She'd squash him like a bug.
The biggest issue with this book is that three years have passed but House Baylor seems just as financially fragile and friendless as they did when they became a House. There was all that build up that they had to use those first three years to establish themselves or they'd be destroyed, but they didn't seem to do jack all since we last saw them. They're still in the warehouse, they're still broke (although Catalina is wearing designer clothes, so which is it really?) and they haven't made any alliances aside from Rogan. So why are they still around? Why haven't they fallen the way other Houses usually do?
But silly me, getting caught up in the plot which is not the focus for IA on this series, I'm guessing, since the plot has been a mess from book one. Nevada and Rogan weren't my favorites, to be honest, so I was kind of excited to move onto a new pairing even though Catalina is practically a child. Unfortunately, it seems the authors can only write one kind of romance in this world and they just give us the same beats we've already read. Catalina and Alessandro turn into the same characters as Nevada and Rogan and their relationship follows the exact same script. It was like rereading the first book in the series.
Now I will say, even with them being so young and it being completely repetitive, I kind of liked these characters better. Their powers are more interesting, Catalina isn't as confident as Nevada and the danger seems more real for her, and Alessandro isn't as big of a maniac as Rogan. But once again I didn't buy into the love story- they just seem like they want to have sex. Towards the end, Catalina says she's in love but why? And how? The authors are so detailed (overly detailed, imo) in setting up the House warfare and describing the battles and guns and all that stuff, but they don't go into the detail of relationship development. Catalina and Alessandro met in a previous book and that meeting was fun- but here they fall into the Nevada/Rogan playbook and the spark gets drained out. I think they had one conversation that wasn't about the bad guys they were trying to stop. The ending is supposed to be emotional and shocking I guess, but I was like, yeah this seems about right.
I don't know why they didn't lean into the idea that Alessandro might not be immune to Catalina's powers- think of the angst and drama of that! And also wasn't it just her family that was immune? And like her doctor (still waiting on an explanation for that one)? What if they were both fighting the attraction because it might not be real? What if Alessandro had some actual fear of her the way she does of him? I'd have much rather read that instead of another overly cocky guy pushing a relationship onto a woman who is on the fence about getting involved with a dangerous person. What a lost opportunity.
This had a promising start, but I'm not optimistic that this series will ever get better. That being said, I'd love to read about about the youngest sister Arabella- good luck with any guy posturing that he's the only thing that can save her. She'd squash him like a bug.
Loved it
Wow, it was everything and nothing like I expected. Linus... of Linus... what have you done... I need to know, I need to know what Alessandro saw when he looked at them... did her grandmother lie to Nevada.. so many things going through my head!!
Wow, it was everything and nothing like I expected. Linus... of Linus... what have you done... I need to know, I need to know what Alessandro saw when he looked at them... did her grandmother lie to Nevada.. so many things going through my head!!
Loved.
Review originally posted at https://smexybooks.com/2019/08/angelas-tuesday-arc-reviews-the-blacksmith-queen-by-ga-aiken-and-sapphire-flames-by-ilona-andrews.html
Sapphire Flames is the fourth book in the Hidden Legacy series, yet the first full length book featuring Catalina Baylor as the main POV. Long time fans of this series are familiar with Catalina and have been waiting patiently for her to grow up and become head of the Baylor family now that Nevada and Rogan are starting their own family.
Catalina did not disappoint and right from the opening scene I knew that this series would only get better as we get to know her and follow along as she navigates the dangerous, powerful world of House politics and Baylor Investigations.
As with any book in this series, Sapphire Flames has a mystery and the Baylor family members are drawn in to help. This time they are aiding Runa Etterson, who we have met before in Diamond Fire, in discovering who murdered her family. Which means danger, villains with every sort of power, and the assistance of Alessandro Sagredo, one-time teenage crush of Catalina. And oh boy, the tension and chemistry between these two was blazing hot. I can not WAIT for them to be back together again on page.
Sapphire Flames was probably my most anticipated book this year and it did not disappoint. I missed this family so much and was so happy to be back in alternate Houston, Texas in the middle of sophisticated, yet deadly House politics.
Final Grade- A
Review originally posted at https://smexybooks.com/2019/08/angelas-tuesday-arc-reviews-the-blacksmith-queen-by-ga-aiken-and-sapphire-flames-by-ilona-andrews.html
Sapphire Flames is the fourth book in the Hidden Legacy series, yet the first full length book featuring Catalina Baylor as the main POV. Long time fans of this series are familiar with Catalina and have been waiting patiently for her to grow up and become head of the Baylor family now that Nevada and Rogan are starting their own family.
Catalina did not disappoint and right from the opening scene I knew that this series would only get better as we get to know her and follow along as she navigates the dangerous, powerful world of House politics and Baylor Investigations.
As with any book in this series, Sapphire Flames has a mystery and the Baylor family members are drawn in to help. This time they are aiding Runa Etterson, who we have met before in Diamond Fire, in discovering who murdered her family. Which means danger, villains with every sort of power, and the assistance of Alessandro Sagredo, one-time teenage crush of Catalina. And oh boy, the tension and chemistry between these two was blazing hot. I can not WAIT for them to be back together again on page.
Sapphire Flames was probably my most anticipated book this year and it did not disappoint. I missed this family so much and was so happy to be back in alternate Houston, Texas in the middle of sophisticated, yet deadly House politics.
Final Grade- A
I love this series with Nevada & Rogan so I was hoping this offshoot wouldn't be a disappointment. Thankfully it's not! Another great 4 stars. Can't wait to get the next book in the series!
I would probably read a grocery list if I knew Ilona Andrews wrote it. This book is far from a grocery list though, and has all the Andrews hallmarks of great characters, amazingly choreographed fight scenes, and poignant moments between the characters. Catalina is NOT Nevada - she doubts herself, she worries, and she loves openly. If I have any critique of Rogan is that he was practically invincible. Alessandro is no god. He is fallible (thank heaven); his powers have limitations and he wears his insecurities more openly. These two will have their own very unique road to happiness, and I'll be first in line to get the next in this series.