Burn for Me: A Hidden Legacy Novel by Ilona Andrews

5 Stars

If you know anything about me, you know I LOVE Ilona Andrews.  I am obsessed with anything they right.  I love Kate Daniels (If you haven’t for some forsaken reason read the Kate Daniels series, get on it!),  I love The Edge series (although it appears that there were those who did not, I see nothing not to love about those four books and I was pretty heartbroken when they stopped writing them),  I love all their short stories and the online serials (The Innkeeper Chronicles which can be read online, on their website for free).   I have been awaiting this new series and ripped through the book in just a few days (that is saying something since I have a full time job, a husband and an 11 month old who all think they should have access to my reading time).  There has been a lot of talk about the terrible cover, but I actually put off reading the first Kate book for years because I wasn’t sure about the cover, but I have since decided I will read any and all things they write no matter the genre.    

Nevada Baylor runs a private investigative firm with her family although she is the primary person for everything, except research.  She lives in a warehouse type building that has been converted into office, living quarters, and work space for grandma who is a mechanic.  Her family consists of her mother and grandmother, two younger cousins and two younger sisters.  

The story takes place in Houston with an alternate history that results in people having magic.  It runs in family genetics, with the most powerful, rich and influential being the ones who have the magic, over the years it gets diluted and some people are duds.  Nevada’s PI firm is sold to a big family powerhouse to pay for some bills.  This hasn’t been an issue until now, when the Montgomery’s (the family that bought the PI firm) decides that Nevada has to go on a suicide mission to find and retain a wanted criminal (who belongs to another powerful family) before the police.  The wanted criminal is a prime (highest level of magical user) and very dangerous PLUS there is someone else who is trying to get to the criminal who is equally dangerous.  This puts Nevada in the path of two very dangerous, very powerful men who are used to getting their own way. 

Loved every second of it.  Loved the first bit of the second book that is at the end.  I want to know more! 

Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #7)

5 (plus 5 more) Stars

 

I love, love, love anything these two put out!  They are my number one favorite authors!  (I also love Patricia Briggs, Jeaniene Frost, Karen Marie Moning, Darynda Jones, but Ilona Andrews is the best!).  I seriously love anything and everything they do.  This is number 7 in the series and I think there are at least 3 more. 

So much happened in this book!  We pick up a couple months after the last book where Kate and Curran traveled to the Black Sea with the promise of Panacea.  What they really encounter is Hugh (Kate’s father’s warlord) who has set up a test/trap for Kate and the shifters.  He wants Kate.  He wants the shifters (and most specifically Curran) out of the way.  After that whole debacle, Kate and Curran are in an uneasy state of watchful waiting back in Atlanta.  They hope that Roland (Kate’s father) doesn’t know she is in Atlanta, but they don’t know anything for sure. 

Curran goes to North Carolina to meet with some shifters about something or other.  How convenient.  Kate is in charge and has a meeting with The People.  Do you think this goes smoothly?  No way Jose!  She has got big problems on her hands and Curran is MIA.  Kate is of course racing against time, fatigue, pain, and a multitude of terrible things.  Hugh makes another appearance.  He is very unlikeable but at the same time I think I secretly like him (not as much as Curran obviously).  It isn’t a villain-you-love-to-hate scenario.  I enjoy his involvement in the storyline and his interactions with Kate.  I love that although the shifters and The People crap on Kate he finds this offensive.  Don’t worry, I am still all for Curran. 

So much happens in this book.  It is like the whole series culminated to this moment.  But there are still 3 more books so we have 3 more wonderful moments in the climax of this storyline.  I think I might have to re-read all these books in preparation for the next release. 

Magic Mourns by Ilona Andrews

5 Stars as usual for Ilona Andrews

Magic Mourns is a novella featuring Kate Daniel’s best friend, Andrea.  It takes place between Magic Strikes (#3) and Magic Bleeds (#4).   This is the story of how Andrea and Raphael first get together.  When we start the story Andrea is still avoiding Raphael.  He has decided that he wants her and has called her work twice a day for months.  He has “courted” her in typical bouda fashion.  This varies slightly from the shapeshifter customs of courting which is basically breaking and entering and leaving evidenced of said B & E.  For bouda’s this aforementioned B & E also includes a practical joke of some sort.  I am not going to say what because part of the fun was reading what Raphael had been up to. 

At the beginning Andrea gets a call out to a situation with a dog the size of a house.  With Andrea’s luck this situation also includes the very bouda of her dreams she has been avoiding.  They have to work together to figure out what is going on. 

There is even a tiny excerpt at the end that includes some more information about Kate and Curran and a certain apple pie!  Awesome! 

Favorite quote:  (the “he” in this is Raphael)

He glanced into the side mirror and stared, slack-jawed.  His lips were solid black.  A thick black line of guy liner outlined his deep-set eyes and a little black tear dripped down his left cheekbone.  He touched his cheek, stretching the skin to better examine the tear, his face a flat mask, glanced at me, and exploded with laughter. 

Magic Dreams by Ilona Andrews

Magic Dreams

This is a novella about Jim and Dali.  Jim has always been just ok for me so I didn’t rush to read his novella.  I have always liked him as a secondary character, but as a hero for Dali?  I wasn’t sure.  As usual, I should just trust that whatever comes out of these author’s minds will be golden. 

This story follows Dali who is a “mystical white tiger” with bad eyes and some magic of her own.  Jim comes to her for help.  There is a shapeshifter outpost run by four pack members, but they haven’t checked in.  Jim went to check on them, but now is falling asleep and can’t remember things (so not Jim).  Dali has the hots for Jim, and is willing to do whatever to help him.  She takes him to her mother because something is wrong and they come up with a plan to save him.  Dali ends up saving his behind which is just what that werejaguar needs. 

I absolutely loved this little novella.  I didn’t want it to end.  I loved the interactions between Jim and Dali and Dali and her mother and Jim and Dali’s mother. 

Favorite Quote:  Jim as going to the Underground…

“I don’t care if he’s part dragon.  If he looks at you like that again, Ill cut his face off.”

Update for Magic Gifts at the end of Gunmetal Magic. Awesome!

Update:

When I wrote my review for Gunmetal Magic I hadn’t read “Magic Gifts” (or was it “Magic Gift”) which is the novella at the end of Gunmetal Magic.  From what I can see, this is the only place that you can read “Magic Gifts” so it is like a pretty surprise.  I would pay for both Gunmetal Magic and Magic Gifts so it is a win/win for me. 

Magic Gifts is basically what Kate and Curran are doing during Gunmetal Magic.  I am glad that the authors wrote this, because they were conspicuously absent when the world was almost destroyed by an ancient Egyptian god.  It starts out with Kate and Curran on a date.  They go to a restaurant that has two vampires outside which means there are two journeymen inside eating.  A lot of drama goes down immediately at the restaurant and results in Kate and Curran racing the magic/tech shifts to save a little boys life.  It also explains how Hakon in Gunmetal Magic knows Kate already. 

Every second is worth it!  The reader even gets a little bit of Kate and Curran alone time (which doesn’t happen very often).  If I was dragging my feet about Gunmetal Magic I would buy it just for this novella at the end.  Of course, Gunmetal Magic is awesome in its own right. 

Favorite Quote: Between Kate and Curran:

He grinned.  “You’re jealous.”

I considered it.  “No.  But when you stared at that woman like she was made of diamonds, it didn’t feel very good.”

“I stared at her because she smelled strange.”

“Strange how?”

“She smelled like rock dust.  Very strong dry smell.”  Curran put his arms around me.  “I love it when you get all fussy and possessive.”

“I never get fussy and possessive.”

Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

5 Stars (Can I give it 6 stars?  It’s my blog and I say yes! So….) 6 Stars

Why, oh why do I do this to myself?  I have had this book since very soon after it came out, but when I read about Andrea Nash through the Kate Daniels series, she never inspired me to want to read an entire book about her.  So I put it off and put it off and read some really good, some ok and some bad books in the meantime.  However, I should know better.  Who is my favorite author?  Yes, you remember correctly, it is Ilona Andrews.  I have read everything Ilona and Gordon Andrews have written and loved it all.  I read “Of Swine and Roses” and I am O-B-S-E-S-S-E-D with theirnew Innkeeper Chronicles, which is a free online serial publication. 

So to recap Andrea had been burned badly fighting Kate’s crazy Aunt Erra.  Then the Order of Merciful Aid came for her and they found out their top knight was a shapeshifter and they kicked her out of the order.  Raphael was her honey lumpkins, but after that debacle in which time Andrea pulled away from him for three weeks after a giant fight it seems this was over and done.  Andrea gets called into a shapeshifter murder scene by Jim (the pack’s head of security).  And where do you think this murder took place?  That is right, on one of Raphael’s worksites!  Ugh, that is the worst and there is nothing I love better than some good old fashioned heartache!  I loved it.  I felt Andrea’s anguish with seeing and speaking with Raphael again.  Raphael behaves like a big fat jerk and I just want to hold Andrea while she cries.  So Andrea focuses on work and tries to find justice for the families of those killed.  This was a character that I had no interest in previously, but I was won over.  Andrea is an awesome fighter (not as good as Kate I think) and a person I would want to know.    

This author always knows how to make a great plot.  You think you know where it is going, but it twists so many times before it is over.  It is always steeped in so much history, legend, myth, ancient culture and religion it is amazing to read! 

Favorite quote (there are so many, this is just one):

“You will not pass!” Roman thundered. 

Great.  Now he had decided he was Gandalf.  

Steel's Edge by Ilona Andrews (The Edge Series #4)

Although I have made numerous attempts to become a beta reader for these two I keep getting thwarted at every turn so while I wish I could start out this review by saying, “I was provided with an ARC copy for an honest review,” alas I can’t say that.  But I can say that I bought this book the day it came out and I have been waiting anxiously (note I did not say patiently) for eons and eons (does 364 days count as “eons and eons”?) 

This is the last book in this series although I strongly advise against this.  I need to know Sophie and George’s story.  I need to know that Jack finds himself his own little love bunny.  Someone else said that they felt like the part with Spider was rushed, I have to disagree.  I thought that was a perfect culmination for Charlotte.  The slavers wouldn’t have presented a worthy adversary for her skills that would require her to initiate a feedback loop, but The Hand?  Yes, The Hand is a perfect opponent.  What I found to be too fast of a wrap up was everything else!  Which goes back to me wanting to know about Sophie and George and Jack.  I want to see them get a HEA.  Maybe a short story or novella? Huh? Huh? 

Richard was perfect for Charlotte.  I have loved every book in this series as I have loved every book Ilona Andrews has put out.  I even love the free story they are posting on their website.  If you haven’t read it, you should.  Google “Ilona Andrews” and look for a tab that says “free fiction” and “Clean Sweep” is the title of this new story.  They have 7 chapters written so far. 

Back to Richard and Charlotte.  Richard could pass for a perfectly behaved blueblood.  Charlotte has been raised and adopted by one of the First Ten (like the name implies they are the first ten families of bluebloods).  They are perfect for each other and I love the witty bantering that goes back and forth.   

***Spoiler-ish***

I loved George’s speech to his father.  He said it all perfectly.  Usually in those situations I think to myself, “oh he should have said _______”.  That did not happen with this speech.  It was strong and appropriately condescending and arrogant.  PERFECT

I also loved when Richard snuck into Charlotte’s room at the ball.  She thought he was gone, but he overheard her talking and their entire interaction made me utterly happy.

Oh, I also loved the scene with Charlotte and Jason where she gave him what for! She said everything perfectly as well! 

This is the most catawampus review ever, but I can’t help it, I JUST LOVE IT!

Favorite Quote (it was soooo hard to pick, I highlighted so many parts including George’s speech and Richard sneaking into Charlotte’s room). Any Princess Bride reference is awesome by me.  This is Richard to Jason:

“The Five Gangs are frothing at the mouth trying to put you on the bottom of the ocean, Rook has placed a bounty on your head, and now the Mirror’s agents are watching your house.  Your definition of ‘well’ is troubling at best.”

 He suddenly smiled and affected a slight accent. “‘I do not think that word means what you think it means.’”

 

Ilona Andrews Serial FREE Online Story

I know I posted before about this, but it is getting really good and I can't even wait for the next installment to come out every week.  You all should go read it right now!  Catch up!  Clean Sweep is the name of the novel. 

Favorite line from today's installment:
"At no point did the words ‘Help me, Sean Evans’ come out of my mouth.”

http://demo.ilona-andrews.com/

Free Online Serial Book from Ilona Andrews

So I will admit that I am a bit of an Ilona Andrews junkie and anything they write, I simply must get my grubby little hands on.  They will be releasing Steel's Edge (The Edge Series #4) on November 27, 2012, but to hold us addicts over until it is released you can check out their experiment here:

http://demo.ilona-andrews.com/category/clean-sweep/

They are posting a free book online, bit by bit as they write it, and as usual, it sucks you right in.