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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
Like most Ilona Andrews books, I just didn't want this one to end. I loved every bit of it. Catalina was so different than Nevada but so, so lovable.
Alessandro seemed to come in a little late to the story, which I guess was fine. He drove me crazy with his behavior. Like, why can't Alessandro and Catalina just sit down and have a normal conversation and spend some normal time together? I guess because they'd just be automatically in love and then there would be no reason for the novel and the following two books. It did just drive me mad that Alessandro wouldn't tell Catalina anything about himself, when he knew so much about her.
The scene at the opera between the two of them really slayed me!!!!! When Catalina says how she really feels! Gah. Then I was a little surprised when she just tells her Grandma that she loves Alessandro. Hmm. That was fast! But, I guess she's been in love with the idea of him for years.
And the ending... ARGH!! So stupid! I mean, I know there has to be something to keep them apart... But still! He could have at least given her a little something. Some kind of explanation. It was horrible of him to flirt with her so much and then just leave her like that.
Anyway, I still loved the ride. All the characters are so awesome in their own ways.
One more complaint... WHY was this novel called Sapphire Flames? Did I miss that? The titles of the novels really should have something to do with the content.
Alessandro seemed to come in a little late to the story, which I guess was fine. He drove me crazy with his behavior. Like, why can't Alessandro and Catalina just sit down and have a normal conversation and spend some normal time together? I guess because they'd just be automatically in love and then there would be no reason for the novel and the following two books. It did just drive me mad that Alessandro wouldn't tell Catalina anything about himself, when he knew so much about her.
The scene at the opera between the two of them really slayed me!!!!! When Catalina says how she really feels! Gah. Then I was a little surprised when she just tells her Grandma that she loves Alessandro. Hmm. That was fast! But, I guess she's been in love with the idea of him for years.
And the ending... ARGH!! So stupid! I mean, I know there has to be something to keep them apart... But still! He could have at least given her a little something. Some kind of explanation. It was horrible of him to flirt with her so much and then just leave her like that.
Anyway, I still loved the ride. All the characters are so awesome in their own ways.
One more complaint... WHY was this novel called Sapphire Flames? Did I miss that? The titles of the novels really should have something to do with the content.
4.5 stars. Really loved this. I kind of forgot how much I enjoy this world and the magic system and houses and just all the plot-level stuff. I'm not sure how I'd compare this to the 2nd and 3rd books of Nevada's trilogy, which I remember loving a lot — I probably enjoyed this roughly the same amount? But it's been awhile since I read those. I definitely enjoyed it more than Burn for Me, which did grow for me upon reread, but my first impression was that it was a bit underwhelming. And one reason for that was that I just wasn't super into Connor/Nevada in the first book (they grew on me in the 2nd and 3rd books), in part because I wasn't into the whole alpha romance kind of thing. But Alessandro/Catalina was much more my speed. I mean, I probably would've preferred a slower burn (at least in terms of attraction/romantic interest — to be fair, it takes like ). But the whole set-up of Alessandro seeming to be this charming playboy and constantly flirting but it mostly being a front is just more my kind of character/romantic interest than Connor, so in general the romance here appealed more to me.
I also found the main plot engaging and liked Catalina's friendship with Runa. The secondary characters continue to be great (Bug in particular was a stand-out here), and the family dynamic is always so much fun. Really hope Arabella gets her own trilogy at some point. Leon and Bern, too, for that matter!
I just had a lot of fun reading this and definitely stayed up later than I should have to finish it. I'm not sure why I waited so long to read this – I actually had requested it from the library closer to when it came out, but by the time I got to the top of the list and was able to borrow it, I had too much other stuff going on, and never even got around to starting it before my loan ended. In retrospect I'm actually kind of glad for that, if only because I didn't have to wait a year or however long for Emerald Blaze to be released. Anyways, this was great, and I have no real complaints — the only reason it's getting 4.5 stars instead of 5 is that I reserve 5 stars for books that hit me more emotionally than this one did, but I still loved it a lot. This is easily one of my favorite ongoing series, which I wouldn't have expected based on how I originally felt about Burn for Me.
Spoiler
75-80% of the book for them to even kiss for the first time, and it's only that one scene, and they don't end the book together, so you could probably classify it as a slow burn. But they start the book already interested in and attracted to one another, and it just doesn't have the feel of the kind of slow burn romances I gravitate towardsI also found the main plot engaging and liked Catalina's friendship with Runa. The secondary characters continue to be great (Bug in particular was a stand-out here), and the family dynamic is always so much fun. Really hope Arabella gets her own trilogy at some point. Leon and Bern, too, for that matter!
I just had a lot of fun reading this and definitely stayed up later than I should have to finish it. I'm not sure why I waited so long to read this – I actually had requested it from the library closer to when it came out, but by the time I got to the top of the list and was able to borrow it, I had too much other stuff going on, and never even got around to starting it before my loan ended. In retrospect I'm actually kind of glad for that, if only because I didn't have to wait a year or however long for Emerald Blaze to be released. Anyways, this was great, and I have no real complaints — the only reason it's getting 4.5 stars instead of 5 is that I reserve 5 stars for books that hit me more emotionally than this one did, but I still loved it a lot. This is easily one of my favorite ongoing series, which I wouldn't have expected based on how I originally felt about Burn for Me.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was ok, but I liked Nevada’s story better.
I think it’s because Alessandro doesn’t feel genuine to me, like when Catalina first goes over to his place to show him the video and she gets ready to leave he seems like a puppy trying to convince her to stay. If I were her I would have wondered what his ulterior motive was for wanting to keep her there so desperately instead of thinking he was only pretending or thinking he was actually infatuated. Basically, I wish he was written differently, not besotted with her from the very beginning. Good news is Catalina’s infatuation is believable and I liked her character. But, all the “I can’t even”.. it was too much. Once was funny 3-5 times was overkill.
I think it’s because Alessandro doesn’t feel genuine to me, like when Catalina first goes over to his place to show him the video and she gets ready to leave he seems like a puppy trying to convince her to stay. If I were her I would have wondered what his ulterior motive was for wanting to keep her there so desperately instead of thinking he was only pretending or thinking he was actually infatuated. Basically, I wish he was written differently, not besotted with her from the very beginning. Good news is Catalina’s infatuation is believable and I liked her character. But, all the “I can’t even”.. it was too much. Once was funny 3-5 times was overkill.
As always, I’m not disappointed in an Ilona Andrews book. I love the world that they have built on this series and can’t wait to see how much further they go. Catalina is learning to be the head of her house while continuing her investigative work. Characters from previous books are present and while we don’t see enough of them that is probably due to needing to set up Catalina who had previously been a minor character.
I'm glad this series is keeping on. I suppose I understand that the Nevada/Mad Rogan storyline is getting stale (and let's not forget they got married and are therefore irrelevant). The switch to Catalina felt, well, meh, to me. She's basically in the role of Nevada since her fighting relationship with Arabella is alluded to but mainly forgotten. Nevada is shoved out of the picture because she's "overstressed" and again, irrelevant now that she's married into another house. I had asked myself this question quite a bit in the previous books--well, what happens if she does get married? It's a little bit of a disappointing "end" to Nevada because the message is that you disappear into your husband (if you don't make your husband disappear into you). I suppose we are dealing with magical houses and a bit of a feudal system though.
Alessandro is amusing but very much felt like when we were introduced to Mad Rogan. I realize most romance novels are the same but dressed slightly differently. Catalina had a few differences from her sister (which were called out), but honestly--if I wasn't hit over the head with it, I would have assumed Catalina was Nevada, just tweaked a little for a new storyline. It helped that they advanced the storyline 3 years so Catalina is at least 21. It didn't help that 21 still felt a little young. Maybe the next book will be another couple of years and I'll like it more.
I still love the setting and the world that this is in, so I'll keep reading.
Alessandro is amusing but very much felt like when we were introduced to Mad Rogan. I realize most romance novels are the same but dressed slightly differently. Catalina had a few differences from her sister (which were called out), but honestly--if I wasn't hit over the head with it, I would have assumed Catalina was Nevada, just tweaked a little for a new storyline. It helped that they advanced the storyline 3 years so Catalina is at least 21. It didn't help that 21 still felt a little young. Maybe the next book will be another couple of years and I'll like it more.
I still love the setting and the world that this is in, so I'll keep reading.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Catalina has come into her own, learning to harness the power that she's hidden most of her life. She's still fairly tentative about using it, but I like that she got tutoring from Rogan's mom about how to fake it 'til you make it! Lots more straight up action in this book, I thought.
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No