Wednesday, August 21, 2019

#Review - Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews #Paranormal #Romance

Series: Hidden Legacy # 4
Format: E-Galley, 400 pages
Release Date: August 27, 2019
Publisher: Avon
Source: Publisher
Genre: Romance / Paranormal

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrew 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.





Sapphire Flames is the Fourth installment in author Ilona Andrews Hidden Legacy series. Sapphire Flames is the first installment in Catalina Baylor's trilogy. Diamond Fire bridged the gap between Nevada series and Catalina's. (Not a must read, but I would definitely recommend reading that one first.) The authors have created a magical world set largely in an alternate-world Houston metropolitan area, where powerful families are represented as Houses. 3 years have passed since House Baylor was granted its status and a 3 years grace period which is coming to an end. 

21- year old Catalina Baylor is a Prime and Head of House Baylor replacing Nevada. Unfortunately for Catalina and House Baylor, other Houses are itching to test and push Catalina to the limits of her abilities. Right at the top of that list is Augustine Montgomery who offers Catalina a strategic alliance with protection, income, contracts, data, & information. But, Catalina, like Nevada, believes in staying loyal to the client and being able to look yourself in the mirror when all is said and done and not have any regrets or a change of heart. 

Because of her "Siren" abilities, Augustine asks Catalina to talk a 15-year old from committing suicide. The boy just happens to be the brother of Runa Etterson, the young Prime Venenata who saved the day at Nevada's wedding by purging poison from the food served at her reception. Runa has even more issues to deal with. Runa’s mother and sister are dead and the circumstances around it don’t add up. In the early stages of the investigation Alessandro Sagredo, an Italian Prime who is also her teen swoon, shows up and quickly becomes involved in the case much to her chagrin.

Don't feel as though you have to compare Nevada and Catalina. They are absolutely nothing alike, nor is their powers in any way familiar. Catalina is not a clone of Nevada. She has to learn how to be confident, how to be decisive, even when things are hard. Catalina's ability is extremely rare and dangerous and is finally coming into accepting that she must do what she must do in order to protect her house, and her family from other more powerful Houses including Augustine. Catalina also makes several curious deals which Nevada would have walked away from and never looked back.

While trying to establish House Baylor as one to be reckoned with and solving the murder of a friend and ally's family, she also has to contend with Alessandro Sagredo who is more than just the handsome playboy who was Catalina's test during the trials to become a House. Alessandra is much, much more than he appears to be. He also seems to have his own agenda which includes pushing Catalina not unlike Rogan did to Nevada thus the always relevant comparison. It's always nice to see the Baylor family still full engaged in what happens. Grandma Frida who is the mechanic of the family; Penelope, who is the military sharpshooter. Arabella, who is able to shift into a rather impressive beast, along with their cousins Bern and Leon. There is also the mystery Bug who is brilliant, as well as the villain who made my skin crawl with his desires for Catalina and her powers.



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42365101-sapphire-flames#other_reviews



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