Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fun read. I like for once that the girl is obsessed with the guy. Excited to see where the romance goes
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mein Rezensionsexemplar habe ich vom Verlag via Netgalley erhalten.
Ich liebe diese Reihe prinzipiell - die Welt ist richtig cool und faszinierend und die Baylor-Familie liebe ich über alles.
Leider konnte mich dieses Buch nicht so packen wie seine Vorgänger. Das Problem liegt daran, dass ich mich mit Catalina noch nicht so wirklich anfreunden konnte. Hoffentlich legt sich das dann im nächsten Buch und wir bekommen einen tieferen Einblick in ihre Persönlichkeit.
Außerdem kann ich Alessandro irgendwie nicht ab, der Typ ist mir kaum sympathisch und ich spüre zwischen Catalina und ihm einfach überhaupt keine Chemie.
Ich liebe diese Reihe prinzipiell - die Welt ist richtig cool und faszinierend und die Baylor-Familie liebe ich über alles.
Leider konnte mich dieses Buch nicht so packen wie seine Vorgänger. Das Problem liegt daran, dass ich mich mit Catalina noch nicht so wirklich anfreunden konnte. Hoffentlich legt sich das dann im nächsten Buch und wir bekommen einen tieferen Einblick in ihre Persönlichkeit.
Außerdem kann ich Alessandro irgendwie nicht ab, der Typ ist mir kaum sympathisch und ich spüre zwischen Catalina und ihm einfach überhaupt keine Chemie.
Let's get the obvious over with; I love, love, love [a:Ilona Andrews|21748|Ilona Andrews|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588103544p2/21748.jpg]. And so it's absolutely no surprise, at all, that I enjoyed [b:Sapphire Flames|41088576|Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy, #4)|Ilona Andrews|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550080843l/41088576._SY75_.jpg|61763670].
In this new installment in the Hidden Legacy series, we switch from the eldest sister Nevadas perspective to Catalina, the shy middlechild who now founds herself head of the Baylor House. Catalina would rather just hide in the house cooking with her family, but she suddenly finds herself in the spotlight when a friends sister and mother are murdered, and the mysterious Alessandro Sagredo, an italian prime and internet celebrity, is involved in the affair. Catalina is now not only risking the safety of her family, but also her heart.
[b:Sapphire Flames|41088576|Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy, #4)|Ilona Andrews|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550080843l/41088576._SY75_.jpg|61763670] follows the formula of many [a:Ilona Andrews|21748|Ilona Andrews|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588103544p2/21748.jpg] books - we are immediately thrown into a crime/mystery, new and familiar characters are added into the mix, we have a plot-twist, humour, bloody fight scenes and then a satisfying end. It should get old, but it just doesn't - it's that well done.
As for Catalina, I was not sure how I would like her as the main character. On one hand, she was super shy and reserved in the earlier books which might've gotten frustrating in the long run, but on the other, it would have been refreshing reading such a character from [a:Ilona Andrews|21748|Ilona Andrews|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588103544p2/21748.jpg] as well as seeing her growth. However, she had already been forced out of her shell, and even if she was often uncomfortable with the situation, it didn't hinder her. I was surprised by how much I liked her as a main character, and I can't wait to see how she will grow as a person in the next books.
”The diamonds were lab made. Arrosa had insisted on the real thing, but I refused. Nobody had died digging my earrings out of the ground, and that mattered to me more than what Houston’s elite would think.”
Yep. Catalina is definitely my type of girl.
When it comes to the romance, I am conflicted. Alessandro was charming, but not only do I hate the rich-and-hot-guy trope, I just couldn't find myself buying that these people were so obsessed with each other so fast after not knowing each other at all. In [b: The Kate Daniels series|38619|Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1)|Ilona Andrews|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1331612872l/38619._SY75_.jpg|38381], Kate and Currans relationship develops over multiple books, which is how I like it. Here, even if I liked Catalina and Alessandro together, them loving each other in such a short amount of time just didn't feel believable.
All in all, however, [b:Sapphire Flames|41088576|Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy, #4)|Ilona Andrews|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550080843l/41088576._SY75_.jpg|61763670] was a really enjoyable read that I flew through. I am excited to see where [a:Ilona Andrews|21748|Ilona Andrews|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588103544p2/21748.jpg] will take this series, and as I've said before, I really, really hope we'll get some books with Arabella as the main character. It's only what we deserve.
In this new installment in the Hidden Legacy series, we switch from the eldest sister Nevadas perspective to Catalina, the shy middlechild who now founds herself head of the Baylor House. Catalina would rather just hide in the house cooking with her family, but she suddenly finds herself in the spotlight when a friends sister and mother are murdered, and the mysterious Alessandro Sagredo, an italian prime and internet celebrity, is involved in the affair. Catalina is now not only risking the safety of her family, but also her heart.
[b:Sapphire Flames|41088576|Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy, #4)|Ilona Andrews|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550080843l/41088576._SY75_.jpg|61763670] follows the formula of many [a:Ilona Andrews|21748|Ilona Andrews|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588103544p2/21748.jpg] books - we are immediately thrown into a crime/mystery, new and familiar characters are added into the mix, we have a plot-twist, humour, bloody fight scenes and then a satisfying end. It should get old, but it just doesn't - it's that well done.
As for Catalina, I was not sure how I would like her as the main character. On one hand, she was super shy and reserved in the earlier books which might've gotten frustrating in the long run, but on the other, it would have been refreshing reading such a character from [a:Ilona Andrews|21748|Ilona Andrews|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588103544p2/21748.jpg] as well as seeing her growth. However, she had already been forced out of her shell, and even if she was often uncomfortable with the situation, it didn't hinder her. I was surprised by how much I liked her as a main character, and I can't wait to see how she will grow as a person in the next books.
”The diamonds were lab made. Arrosa had insisted on the real thing, but I refused. Nobody had died digging my earrings out of the ground, and that mattered to me more than what Houston’s elite would think.”
Yep. Catalina is definitely my type of girl.
When it comes to the romance, I am conflicted. Alessandro was charming, but not only do I hate the rich-and-hot-guy trope, I just couldn't find myself buying that these people were so obsessed with each other so fast after not knowing each other at all. In [b: The Kate Daniels series|38619|Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1)|Ilona Andrews|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1331612872l/38619._SY75_.jpg|38381], Kate and Currans relationship develops over multiple books, which is how I like it. Here, even if I liked Catalina and Alessandro together, them loving each other in such a short amount of time just didn't feel believable.
All in all, however, [b:Sapphire Flames|41088576|Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy, #4)|Ilona Andrews|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550080843l/41088576._SY75_.jpg|61763670] was a really enjoyable read that I flew through. I am excited to see where [a:Ilona Andrews|21748|Ilona Andrews|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588103544p2/21748.jpg] will take this series, and as I've said before, I really, really hope we'll get some books with Arabella as the main character. It's only what we deserve.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'll be looking forward to reading more of this series. I like this book but I expected more badass things to happen tbh.
Similar to the first trilogy within this series, I'll also condense this into a single review for books 4-6.
To start, as I mentioned in my review of the novella, I had a hard time adjusting to Catalina's voice and reading things from her perspective. It was a struggle, but after the first chapters I became used to her and I was able to push Nevada and Connor's arc to the side, and focus on this story.
I'd like to mention that I really enjoyed Catalina's story. However, there are some aspects that didn't really leave me satisfied as a reader, so this review will contain spoilers. Do not read more, if you don't want spoilers.
The world building and the overall conspiracy are still great and getting bigger - I love how Ilona connected the dots at the end of this. I don't even know what will happen in Arabella's books in the future. I have my theories, mainly in connection to the Russian "friends/allies" introduced in Ruby Fever.
Regardless, I still felt like there was something missing from this "Second" trilogy. Saphire Flames was still high stakes, also I was into the whole romance arc with Alessandro, and I was genuinely invested. Then, the second book, Emerald Blaze, came. This book clearly suffered from the second book syndrome. It was slow, it was underdeveloped. I wanted so badly to follow Alessandro's perspective after he left Catalina, at the end 0f Saphire Flames, his confrontation with Arkan. I just needed a chapter of him going after Arkan and dealing with the fallout.
My point with this is that these events changed Alessandro and he wasn't the same "person" he was in Saphire. We didn't get to see this, as a reader it's very frustrating not getting a first-row seat to read about this crucial character development. It made his intentions and actions toward Catalina later feel strange and nonsensical. It all felt convenient so that they could progress in their relationship.
Even her point of view was missing during the six-month gap between Saphire and Emerald. She also changed and matured, following the end of Saphire. When Alessandro walked out on her she lost the last piece of her innocence - and yes, I used this term to emphasize my point and be dramatic. Catalina isn't naive anymore, she grew up.
To sum up, the second book kind of ruined this whole second trilogy. It killed the vibe and slowed the pace of the action.
Ruby saved this series though, there wasn't much romance, but there wasn't time. The stakes were too high, the action was progressing as everything was coming to a climax so there wasn't a lot of time. To be honest, I don't regret this and I thank the author for the respite. You see Catalina and Alessandro's smut scenes are way too cringy and corny.
Oh, how I miss Rogan and Nevada.
By the way, there was some behind-the-scenes stuff going on and basically, Nevada left House Baylor to join House Rogan... I was cut off from my favorite characters. Sad, man! Just sad./>
I'd like to finish by saying that I liked this second series, and I am looking forward to reading Arabella's story one day. However, there were just too many things that I, personally, didn't really enjoy in this second part of the Hidden Legacy series. Let's hope I like Arabella's story a little bit more.
Rating (overall second trilogy): 4 stars - mainly because of the 4th and 6th books.
To start, as I mentioned in my review of the novella, I had a hard time adjusting to Catalina's voice and reading things from her perspective. It was a struggle, but after the first chapters I became used to her and I was able to push Nevada and Connor's arc to the side, and focus on this story.
I'd like to mention that I really enjoyed Catalina's story. However, there are some aspects that didn't really leave me satisfied as a reader, so this review will contain spoilers. Do not read more, if you don't want spoilers.
The world building and the overall conspiracy are still great and getting bigger - I love how Ilona connected the dots at the end of this. I don't even know what will happen in Arabella's books in the future. I have my theories, mainly in connection to the Russian "friends/allies" introduced in Ruby Fever.
Regardless, I still felt like there was something missing from this "Second" trilogy. Saphire Flames was still high stakes, also I was into the whole romance arc with Alessandro, and I was genuinely invested. Then, the second book, Emerald Blaze, came. This book clearly suffered from the second book syndrome. It was slow, it was underdeveloped. I wanted so badly to follow Alessandro's perspective after he left Catalina, at the end 0f Saphire Flames, his confrontation with Arkan. I just needed a chapter of him going after Arkan and dealing with the fallout.
My point with this is that these events changed Alessandro and he wasn't the same "person" he was in Saphire. We didn't get to see this, as a reader it's very frustrating not getting a first-row seat to read about this crucial character development. It made his intentions and actions toward Catalina later feel strange and nonsensical. It all felt convenient so that they could progress in their relationship.
Even her point of view was missing during the six-month gap between Saphire and Emerald. She also changed and matured, following the end of Saphire. When Alessandro walked out on her she lost the last piece of her innocence - and yes, I used this term to emphasize my point and be dramatic. Catalina isn't naive anymore, she grew up.
To sum up, the second book kind of ruined this whole second trilogy. It killed the vibe and slowed the pace of the action.
Ruby saved this series though, there wasn't much romance, but there wasn't time. The stakes were too high, the action was progressing as everything was coming to a climax so there wasn't a lot of time. To be honest, I don't regret this and I thank the author for the respite. You see Catalina and Alessandro's smut scenes are way too cringy and corny.
Oh, how I miss Rogan and Nevada.
By the way, there was some behind-the-scenes stuff going on and basically, Nevada left House Baylor to join House Rogan... I was cut off from my favorite characters. Sad, man! Just sad./>
I'd like to finish by saying that I liked this second series, and I am looking forward to reading Arabella's story one day. However, there were just too many things that I, personally, didn't really enjoy in this second part of the Hidden Legacy series. Let's hope I like Arabella's story a little bit more.
Rating (overall second trilogy): 4 stars - mainly because of the 4th and 6th books.
I started by listening to this in audiobook form, and then I finished it by reading it in print. I liked the narrator for the audiobook, but I think the haughty tone of Alessandro Segrado made me dislike him. I liked him more when I started reading the book in print form. Catalina Baylor is the Head of her House, and she is forced to make difficult decisions that impact her entire family. Catalina takes a case and helps Runa find out who killed her mother and sister. I wish there were more scenes featuring Connor and Nevada. It was interesting to see how things work in the Baylor family from Catalina's perspective. I thought the middle of the book kind of dragged. I don't understand what is going on with the whole Linus angle, but I am interested to see if anything else happens between Alessandro and Catalina in a future book.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
First I did not finish this book I was listening to this on audio and would forget that I was listening to it. It's not a bad story just a slow one that can't keep my attention. In fact when I remembered that I needed to finish it (Library Checkout) it was not longer available on my check out and I would have to now place it on hold. So no I will not be placing it on hold and no I don't really care what happens to the characters.