Sapphire Flames: A Hidden Legacy Novel

Ilona Andrews

Aug 2019 · Hidden Legacy Book 4 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews comes an enthralling new trilogy set in the Hidden Legacy world, where magic means power, and family bloodlines are the new currency of society…

In a world where magic is the key to power and wealth, Catalina Baylor is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, and the Head of her House. Catalina has always been afraid to use her unique powers, but when her friend’s mother and sister are murdered, Catalina risks her reputation and safety to unravel the mystery.

But behind the scenes powerful forces are at work, and one of them is Alessandro Sagredo, the Italian Prime who was once Catalina’s teenage crush. Dangerous and unpredictable, Alessandro’s true motives are unclear, but he’s drawn to Catalina like a moth to a flame.

To help her friend, Catalina must test the limits of her extraordinary powers, but doing so may cost her both her House–and her heart.

 

Ratings and reviews

Warning! Review lacks objectivity. Four and a half stars. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Catalina is now head of House Baylor, she gets brought in to bring a suicidal Prime down using her siren powers and gets drawn into investigating the death of his mother and sister. From the get go things don't seem to be on the up-and-up, then Catalina's teen crush Alessandro Sagredo turns up being less Eurotrash billionaire heartthrob and more deadly assassin (albeit a very sexy Italian one). Soon House Baylor is embroiled in yet another mystery, all of our favourite family members have a part to play but the star of the show is Alessandro, I just love the way he keeps appearing on Catalina's bed, lolling like one of Shelly Laurenston's vain lion shifters, especially when he finds the heart-shaped glitter picture frame that Catalina's sisters filled with a picture of him from his instagram feed LOL. I know I'm biased because I think I've read everything Ilona Andrews has published but I thought this was just great, I loved the plot and the romance and the mystery and I can't wait to see where the series goes next. (view spoiler) Overall, it was worth the wait, I read it in less than a day and I love Ilona Andrews just as much as ever.

I’ve loved and worried about Catalina from the very beginning of this series so I was all-in when her story became available. Catalina has a magic talent that tends to keep her from developing relationships outside of her family. Since Nevada married Rogan and is no longer running the family business, she finds herself picking up the reins as lead investigator and head of House Baylor. She never wanted either position, but when a midnight visit results in her helping out a boy intent on suicide she is thrust into a case that has far reaching issues for not only those in her circle, but the world. This is as action packed as things can get in an Ilona Andrews novel and I loved every moment. With new magic, new creatures and amazing new characters, I was invested one hundred percent. Once I started I couldn’t stop. Add in the deliciousness that is Alessandro and the battle Catalina wages to keep him at a distance and my romantic fantasy loving heart was full to bursting. There is definitely more than meets the eye when it comes to Alessandro and we are given just enough to tease us. Thank goodness Catalina is intuitive enough to see the same. Their relationship is slow moving, taking a back burner to the mystery they are working on. However, there is never a doubt this couple has some serious chemistry. As in serious! ’”Does your brain ever take a break” he asked. It did every time he said my name, or he touched me. Or propositioned me in my bedroom while I was wearing a towel, but he didn’t need to know that.’ The mystery is multi-layered keeping me intrigued throughout the entirety of the story. So many surprises, twists and new revelations. The Baylor family is just as fun and endearing as ever, and the addition of their client amped my enjoyment even more. I hope we get to see Runa and her brother again in future books. It is her presence that brings Benedict out of the Hut of Evil a bit more than usual. While this is a series and usually I’d recommend it be read in order, this book would be a great place to jump in. There is plenty of information regarding these characters’ backstory making it possible to begin here if you’d rather not begin with book one. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Baylor House Prime, Catalina Baylor has been afraid to use her unique powers, but she will risk her reputation and safety to help her friend unravel the mystery when her friend’s mother and sister are murdered. Powerful forces are at work behind the scenes including Alessandro, her teenage crush and his motives are unclear, but he’s drawn to Catalina like a moth to flame. She will have to test the limits of her extraordinary powers, but doing so may cost her both her house and her heart. The Hidden Legacies continue in House Baylor as Catalina steps up to the plate and becomes the Head of the House and in this astonishingly powerful book, she shows readers that she is more than capable of being as ruthless as she needs to be. Readers loved Nevada and her die hard protection of her family and everything they had and they can’t help but smile in eager anticipation to discover if Catalina has what it takes. Well, the story starts off with excitement and continues to be a non-stop buffet of action, suspense, gripping emotions and snarky wit. And to spice things up even more, Catalina and Alessandro have a push- pull relationship full of sizzling chemistry and readers just know that they would be great together but this relationship has quite a few obstacles standing in its path, not the least of is just where Alessandro stands on the whole good or bad issue. This fast paced plots keeps readers hanging on to every word with lots of thrilling suspense, adrenaline pumping action and extraordinary magical battles that has readers’ eyes flaring wide open and gasps escaping in amazement as Catalina asks one question to many and finds herself caught up in a whirlwind of danger and deadly assassins. There’s no way to put this powerful, heart-pounding read full life altering twists down once they have begun.

About the author

“Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian, and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.) They have co-authored four New York Times and USA Today bestselling series: the urban fantasy of Kate Daniels, rustic fantasy of the Edge, paranormal romance of Hidden Legacy, and Innkeeper Chronicles. They live in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.