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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
3.5 stars rounded down, bc I realized I automatically rate Ilona Andrews books as a 5 star, LOL.
Amazing
I have been waiting for nine months for this book and it definitely did not disappoint! I can’t wait to see what is next for the Baylor family and Alessandro!!
I have been waiting for nine months for this book and it definitely did not disappoint! I can’t wait to see what is next for the Baylor family and Alessandro!!
I'm still loving this series. First book in which Catalina is the protagonist, and it didn't disappoint. I look forward to the next instsallment.
I loved jumping back into the Hidden Legacy world. This magic system is so interesting. I felt like there were several similarities between this book and book one. The family is having money troubles again, Montgomery is trying to con them into a vassal type contract, the romance is really slow burn, etc. None of that is bad just in the way that Force Awakens was still a great Star Wars movie. My favorite part was Catalina's use of her power. The language Andrews uses is so beautiful. I just saw the new Godzilla movie this week and my first thought was that Catalina is like Mothra (but in a good way as new Mothra is so pretty.)
The plot was interesting. The mystery wasn't so mysterious that you felt lost. All of the steps Catalina took in her investigation were very deliberate and made sense. The same for the villains; once you had some information about them, the motivations were very straight forward.
All in All, a really great addition to the series and I can't wait for the next book!
The plot was interesting. The mystery wasn't so mysterious that you felt lost. All of the steps Catalina took in her investigation were very deliberate and made sense. The same for the villains; once you had some information about them, the motivations were very straight forward.
All in All, a really great addition to the series and I can't wait for the next book!
I wasn't sure if I was going to like Catalina Baylor as a main character but I really did. I'll say the chemistry between her and Alessandro is not as good. But the action, plot, and voice was just as good as the first three.
Where Rogan makes me need a fan to cool myself off, Alessandro is *swoon*. I definitely need a picture of smoochie-poo for my nightstand, too.
I LOVED it - one star missing because I actually disliked Nevada and I really didn't want to as she was awesome throughout the first trilogy.
Catalina makes a great main character and I'm looking forward to reading more - I started the next book as soon as I turned the last page.
Catalina makes a great main character and I'm looking forward to reading more - I started the next book as soon as I turned the last page.
Thanks to Netgalley and to the publisher for sending me an e-galley of this book!
Sapphire Flames is a wonderful re-introduction to the "Hidden Legacies" series by Ilona Andrews. It's full of witty banter and a fantastical magic system that draws you in and keeps you in it's thrall until the very last page.
I'm fairly ashamed to say this is my first Ilona Andrews book and I really didn't know what to expect. Seeing as it was an Avon Books release, I wasn't really thinking I'd find so much plot since most of the romance genre, even paranormal romance, in my short experience didn't seem too plot-heavy, but I was pleasantly surprised to the point where I'm going to do a deep dive into her back catalog and catch up on the series.
Catalina Baylor was awesome and I related to her probably way too much. The series is set in Texas, Houston specifically, and I'm down in San Antonio. I liked the overall feel and it felt like home in a fantastical, but still very real way. The magic system was easy to follow even though I haven't read the series or gotten the run down. The book make a point to give the reader a refresher which probably wasn't necessary for the veterans but it did help as a new reader. I was concerned after I found out it was part of a larger series, but it's being sold as a new trilogy and it is somewhere that you can start.
Alessandro Sagredo was introduced as Catalina's teenage crush and an instagram bad boy, basically unattainable and out of the question. That is until he shows up during her case and kills a man without batting an eye and leads her out of danger. I really enjoyed the push and pull of their relationship and the unique twist that her powers of a siren gave to the pairing.
I pretty much devoured the book as soon as I started, I didn't want to put it down, but life has a silly way of trying to get your attention and I did end up with a tabby cat asleep on my lap a couple times while I gripped my ipad in the dark turning the pages to follow the action. Seriously, parts of this read like an action movie and I LOVED it. It had the right balance of tongue in cheek, where the genre sometimes doesn't take itself seriously at all, this at least held it's ground without making it feel like a parody. There were fantastical elements to the world which just worked, no one is going to bat an eye at a large arcane tiger-like creature named Zeus.
Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed this, it felt like a breath of fresh air.
Sapphire Flames is a wonderful re-introduction to the "Hidden Legacies" series by Ilona Andrews. It's full of witty banter and a fantastical magic system that draws you in and keeps you in it's thrall until the very last page.
I'm fairly ashamed to say this is my first Ilona Andrews book and I really didn't know what to expect. Seeing as it was an Avon Books release, I wasn't really thinking I'd find so much plot since most of the romance genre, even paranormal romance, in my short experience didn't seem too plot-heavy, but I was pleasantly surprised to the point where I'm going to do a deep dive into her back catalog and catch up on the series.
Catalina Baylor was awesome and I related to her probably way too much. The series is set in Texas, Houston specifically, and I'm down in San Antonio. I liked the overall feel and it felt like home in a fantastical, but still very real way. The magic system was easy to follow even though I haven't read the series or gotten the run down. The book make a point to give the reader a refresher which probably wasn't necessary for the veterans but it did help as a new reader. I was concerned after I found out it was part of a larger series, but it's being sold as a new trilogy and it is somewhere that you can start.
Alessandro Sagredo was introduced as Catalina's teenage crush and an instagram bad boy, basically unattainable and out of the question. That is until he shows up during her case and kills a man without batting an eye and leads her out of danger. I really enjoyed the push and pull of their relationship and the unique twist that her powers of a siren gave to the pairing.
I pretty much devoured the book as soon as I started, I didn't want to put it down, but life has a silly way of trying to get your attention and I did end up with a tabby cat asleep on my lap a couple times while I gripped my ipad in the dark turning the pages to follow the action. Seriously, parts of this read like an action movie and I LOVED it. It had the right balance of tongue in cheek, where the genre sometimes doesn't take itself seriously at all, this at least held it's ground without making it feel like a parody. There were fantastical elements to the world which just worked, no one is going to bat an eye at a large arcane tiger-like creature named Zeus.
Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed this, it felt like a breath of fresh air.
French & English reviews
J'ai TELLEMENT attendu ce livre que c'était devenu une torture (surtout les derniers jours ><)
Et il a largement dépassé mes attentes =D Je l'ai dévoré en 24h ><
Ce que j'ai particulièrement aimé :
- l'univers des Maisons que j'avais déjà adoré mais là on va encore plus loin (notamment concernant le Sérum Osiris !!)
- les intrigues autour de la mort de la famille de Runa mais aussi la raison de la présence d'Alessandro dans cette affaire et puis le rôle de Linus et la question du !! Tellement de questions et de ramifications possibles ><
- les personnages principaux que j'ai ADORE !! J'avais déjà beaucoup aimé Nevada et Rogan mais j'ai également adoré Catalina (qui a beaucoup grandi et qu'on a vu évolué depuis les premiers livres et surtout depuis le mariage de Nevada >< Un mélange de badassness et de manque de confiance en soi qui l'a rend d'autant plus humaine et attachante !!) et Alessandro (un vrai mystère et j'avoue que je ne m'attendais pas à un tel personnage d'après les quelques scènes qu'on avait eu avec lui !! Est-ce que c'est vraiment un ?? Ou est-ce qu'il y a autre chose ?? J'avoue je suis intriguée ><) !!
- les personnages secondaires qui sont tout aussi géniaux !! Augustine que j'adorais voir dans un livre le concernant, la mère de Catalina avec (!!! J'ai besoin d'une nouvelle avec eux !!) et bien sûr, j'adore la famille Baylor (Leon m'a tellement fait rire xD) Ils sont tous tellement attachants <3
- Les méchants (le psychopathe à la tête de la Maison ... Absolument délicieux <3)
- La romance était PARFAITE (la scène lors de la soirée ... <3 <3 J'ai tellement hâte de voir les conséquences)
- mention spéciale pour Linus Duncan dont on a une toute autre image ici !! Je dois avouer que j'étais PERSUADÉE qu'il était le mystérieux Cesar de l'intrigue avec Nevada et Rogan mais maintenant ... On le voit d'un autre œil ici : avec Nevada c'était un peu le gentil Prime qui a pris sa retraite de la politique et des intrigues alors que là il est beaucoup plus badass et angoissant ... Et puis la scène avec Alessandro m'a beaucoup fait rire ()
- cette fin !!!! J'avais tellement le cœur brisé pour Catalina et j'aurais pu tuer Alessandro !!
- cet épilogue !! Tellement de questions en attente !!
Bref, maintenant je suis encore plus en manque pour la suite >< (je sais que les auteurs angoissent à chaque sortie mais qu'ils se rassurent pour moi ça a été encore une réussite !!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I waited so much for this book that it became a torture (especially the last days ><)
And he far exceeded my expectations =D I devoured it in 24h ><
What I particularly liked :
- the universe of the Houses that I had already loved but here we go even further (especially concerning the Serum Osiris !!)
- the plots about the death of the family of Runa but also the reason for the presence of Alessandro in this case and then the role of Linus and the question of the !! So many questions and possible ramifications ><
- the main characters I LOVED SO MUCH !! I already loved Nevada and Rogan but I also loved Catalina (who grew up a lot and evolved since the first books and especially since the wedding of Nevada >< A mixture of badassness and lack of confidence in herself that made her all the more human and endearing !!) and Alessandro (a real mystery and I must admit that I didn't expect such a character from the few scenes we had with him !! Is he really a? Or is there something else ?? I am really intrigued ><) !!
- the secondary characters who are just as awesome !! Augustine I loved to read a book about him, the mother of Catalina with (!!! I need a short-story with them !!) and of course, I love the Baylor family (Leon made me laugh so much xD) They are all so endearing <3
- The villains (the psychopath at the head of the House ... Absolutely delicious <3)
- The romance was PERFECT (the scene during the reception ... <3 <3 I can't wait to see the consequences)
- special mention for Linus Duncan ... we have a totally different image of him here !! I must confess that I was PERSUADED that he was the mysterious Cesar of the plot with Nevada and Rogan but now ... We see him from another point of view here : with Nevada he was the nice Prime that has retired from politics and intrigues while there he is much more badass and scary ... And then the scene with Alessandro made me laugh so much ()
- this end !!!! I was so heartbroken for Catalina and I could have killed Alessandro !!
- this epilogue !! So many questions !!
In short, now it's harder and harder to wait for the next book >< (I know the authors are anxious at each release but they could be reassured, for me at least it was another success !!)
J'ai TELLEMENT attendu ce livre que c'était devenu une torture (surtout les derniers jours ><)
Et il a largement dépassé mes attentes =D Je l'ai dévoré en 24h ><
Ce que j'ai particulièrement aimé :
- l'univers des Maisons que j'avais déjà adoré mais là on va encore plus loin (notamment concernant le Sérum Osiris !!)
- les intrigues autour de la mort de la famille de Runa mais aussi la raison de la présence d'Alessandro dans cette affaire et puis le rôle de Linus et la question du
Spoiler
sérum modifié- les personnages principaux que j'ai ADORE !! J'avais déjà beaucoup aimé Nevada et Rogan mais j'ai également adoré Catalina (qui a beaucoup grandi et qu'on a vu évolué depuis les premiers livres et surtout depuis le mariage de Nevada >< Un mélange de badassness et de manque de confiance en soi qui l'a rend d'autant plus humaine et attachante !!) et Alessandro (un vrai mystère et j'avoue que je ne m'attendais pas à un tel personnage d'après les quelques scènes qu'on avait eu avec lui !! Est-ce que c'est vraiment un
Spoiler
tueur- les personnages secondaires qui sont tout aussi géniaux !! Augustine que j'adorais voir dans un livre le concernant, la mère de Catalina avec
Spoiler
Heart- Les méchants (le psychopathe à la tête de la Maison
Spoiler
des Assassins- La romance était PARFAITE (la scène lors de la soirée ... <3 <3 J'ai tellement hâte de voir les conséquences
Spoiler
du pacte qu'a fait Catalina avec sa grand-mère !!- mention spéciale pour Linus Duncan dont on a une toute autre image ici !! Je dois avouer que j'étais PERSUADÉE qu'il était le mystérieux Cesar de l'intrigue avec Nevada et Rogan mais maintenant ... On le voit d'un autre œil ici : avec Nevada c'était un peu le gentil Prime qui a pris sa retraite de la politique et des intrigues alors que là il est beaucoup plus badass et angoissant ... Et puis la scène avec Alessandro m'a beaucoup fait rire (
Spoiler
et m'a fait m'interroger ... est-ce qu'il n'aurait pas été avec Victoria ??? Est-ce qu'il ne serait pas le grand-père des Baylor ???- cette fin !!!! J'avais tellement le cœur brisé pour Catalina et j'aurais pu tuer Alessandro !!
- cet épilogue !! Tellement de questions en attente !!
Spoiler
Qu'est-ce que cache Alessandro et sa famille ?? Que voulait dire son ex à la soirée ?? Et sa sœur par téléphone ?? Et toutes les questions autour des nouvelles responsabilités de Catalina pour Linus ?? Qui il est vraiment ??Bref, maintenant je suis encore plus en manque pour la suite >< (je sais que les auteurs angoissent à chaque sortie mais qu'ils se rassurent pour moi ça a été encore une réussite !!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I waited so much for this book that it became a torture (especially the last days ><)
And he far exceeded my expectations =D I devoured it in 24h ><
What I particularly liked :
- the universe of the Houses that I had already loved but here we go even further (especially concerning the Serum Osiris !!)
- the plots about the death of the family of Runa but also the reason for the presence of Alessandro in this case and then the role of Linus and the question of the
Spoiler
modified serum- the main characters I LOVED SO MUCH !! I already loved Nevada and Rogan but I also loved Catalina (who grew up a lot and evolved since the first books and especially since the wedding of Nevada >< A mixture of badassness and lack of confidence in herself that made her all the more human and endearing !!) and Alessandro (a real mystery and I must admit that I didn't expect such a character from the few scenes we had with him !! Is he really a
Spoiler
killer- the secondary characters who are just as awesome !! Augustine I loved to read a book about him, the mother of Catalina with
Spoiler
Heart- The villains (the psychopath at the head of the House
Spoiler
of hired killers- The romance was PERFECT (the scene during the reception ... <3 <3 I can't wait to see the consequences
Spoiler
of the pact between Catalina and her grandmother !!- special mention for Linus Duncan ... we have a totally different image of him here !! I must confess that I was PERSUADED that he was the mysterious Cesar of the plot with Nevada and Rogan but now ... We see him from another point of view here : with Nevada he was the nice Prime that has retired from politics and intrigues while there he is much more badass and scary ... And then the scene with Alessandro made me laugh so much (
Spoiler
And it makes me wonder if he ever had been with Victoria ... Maybe he is the grandfather of the Baylor ???!!- this end !!!! I was so heartbroken for Catalina and I could have killed Alessandro !!
- this epilogue !! So many questions !!
Spoiler
What is Alessandro and his family ? What did his ex mean at the reception ? And his sister on the phone ?? And all the questions around the new responsibilities of Catalina for Linus ?? Who is he really?In short, now it's harder and harder to wait for the next book >< (I know the authors are anxious at each release but they could be reassured, for me at least it was another success !!)
This is such a pale imitation of Nevada and Rogan's relationship. Also, Catalina literally interacts with Alessandro a few times and loves him?
Plot:
- Alessandro tested Catalina at her trials and she's been obsessed with him ever since. However, besides this one time after the trial when he asked her to go on a drive, they haven't talked for three years.
- Runa, a friend she met at Nevada's wedding, asks for her help to track down who killed her mother and sister, leaving her the Head of her House.
- Somehow, Alessandro is involved, and the two work together to figure it out. Catalina gets chased, and she leads them to a mall where she can isolate them. Using her powers, she gets a group to want to protect her and kill the other guards. However, Alessandro steps in and kills the rest. They realize their goals are aligned and they work together.
- Runa's mom apparently worked as an assassin for a while.
- Her sister might not be dead as the burned remains don't belong to her.
- Linus reveals he's the warden of the serum and initiates her as his deputy so she can legally know that it got stolen. Alessandro becomes her bodyguard.
- There is some plot where people are trying to mutate the Osiris serum and create mutated people with powers.
- She's also the Head of the House now, since after Nevada and Rogan stopped the conspiracy, the other houses couldn't attack Nevada, so they took it out on Rogan's House, and didn't hire them. Nevada got way too exhausted dealing with everything and trying to earn money and terrified everyone when she fainted. So, they changed the business so that she couldn't bring in income to the business. This really hurt her and she said that she couldn't be the Head of the House anymore.
- They attend a gala to get closer to the lead scientist on the project. Catalina and Alessandro make out there until Catalina becomes aware her wings are out. Terrified that he's under her spell, she pushes him away. She gets the girl to confess the experiments they have been doing.
- Catalina gets attacked in her room, and she ends up destroying their warehouse.
- Alessandro gets captured, and the only person who can help her is Augustine. So, she goes to her grandmother to barter for information that will get Augustine to help her. Her grandmother reveals the information of someone who murdered Augustine's family in exchange for Catalina remaining the Head of her House and not marrying out. Considering Alessandro is a count and from a traditional Italian family, she resigns herself to a future without him. However, she loves him and would sacrifice that to save him.
- She rescues Alessandro and Runa's sister.
- She goes to Alessandro's to tell him that she loves him but can't ever join him in Italy. She would also help him break free of whatever he was forced to do. However, she feels foolish when he sees that he's already packed and about to leave.
- His POV reveals that the thought of leaving her breaks him. However, he must kill this person.
Plot:
- Alessandro tested Catalina at her trials and she's been obsessed with him ever since. However, besides this one time after the trial when he asked her to go on a drive, they haven't talked for three years.
- Runa, a friend she met at Nevada's wedding, asks for her help to track down who killed her mother and sister, leaving her the Head of her House.
- Somehow, Alessandro is involved, and the two work together to figure it out. Catalina gets chased, and she leads them to a mall where she can isolate them. Using her powers, she gets a group to want to protect her and kill the other guards. However, Alessandro steps in and kills the rest. They realize their goals are aligned and they work together.
- Runa's mom apparently worked as an assassin for a while.
- Her sister might not be dead as the burned remains don't belong to her.
- Linus reveals he's the warden of the serum and initiates her as his deputy so she can legally know that it got stolen. Alessandro becomes her bodyguard.
- There is some plot where people are trying to mutate the Osiris serum and create mutated people with powers.
- She's also the Head of the House now, since after Nevada and Rogan stopped the conspiracy, the other houses couldn't attack Nevada, so they took it out on Rogan's House, and didn't hire them. Nevada got way too exhausted dealing with everything and trying to earn money and terrified everyone when she fainted. So, they changed the business so that she couldn't bring in income to the business. This really hurt her and she said that she couldn't be the Head of the House anymore.
- They attend a gala to get closer to the lead scientist on the project. Catalina and Alessandro make out there until Catalina becomes aware her wings are out. Terrified that he's under her spell, she pushes him away. She gets the girl to confess the experiments they have been doing.
- Catalina gets attacked in her room, and she ends up destroying their warehouse.
- Alessandro gets captured, and the only person who can help her is Augustine. So, she goes to her grandmother to barter for information that will get Augustine to help her. Her grandmother reveals the information of someone who murdered Augustine's family in exchange for Catalina remaining the Head of her House and not marrying out. Considering Alessandro is a count and from a traditional Italian family, she resigns herself to a future without him. However, she loves him and would sacrifice that to save him.
- She rescues Alessandro and Runa's sister.
- She goes to Alessandro's to tell him that she loves him but can't ever join him in Italy. She would also help him break free of whatever he was forced to do. However, she feels foolish when he sees that he's already packed and about to leave.
- His POV reveals that the thought of leaving her breaks him. However, he must kill this person.