For those of you who haven’t ordered, here are the links one more time for your convenience.
A Note to Readers
Ruby Fever was an unexpectedly difficult book to write. The pandemic affected us all. Some authors experienced increased productivity. Others authors, like us, felt smothered by it. But the book is finally here. It concludes Catalina’s trilogy and ties up a lot of the plot threads. A six book journey is at an end, and we are so grateful that you waited for us to finish.
Is this a goodbye to Baylors? We don’t know. Probably not, but we’re not going to promise anything or put a date on anything. Being pleasantly surprised is better than being disappointed.
We hope you enjoy your time with House Baylor and Hidden Legacy world. Thank you for reading our work.
This is your official Ruby Fever discussion thread.
Attention!
There are spoilers in the comments below.
Read at your own risk.
Happy b & c Day!
Thank you for Ruby Fever
There was SO much going on and so many threads to wrap up. The whole book felt jam packed and I’m glad Catalina (and the Baylor family in general) got their HEA. Looking forward to (possibly, someday) exploring the Russian Empire 🙂
Same @.@ i was so excited and dizzy after reading. So happy with the book, but in BDH fashion I immediacy started dreaming up a new adventure in the Russian Empire
I loved the book and the revealed secrets. I like how it comes to an end. This series is the one that made me discover house andrews. I selfishly hope we can read some Arabella books at some point because I really love this world
Seriously am very intrigued by the Imperial Russian characters & hope that if HA chooses to do more HL, they show up.
I think we mmustn’t forget Mickael and his shadows too…
I’m reading as fast as I can. Excitement.
Thanks for the book. I really enjoy the characters. The loving and supportive relationships between Catalina and Alessandro and Nevada and Rogan add enjoyment. It’s almost feels like they are real people. For a moment I thought I’m glad they found each other and then I remembered they aren’t real.
OK done. I really resisted skipping to the end.
Definitely many surprises in the second half of the book. It was not the direction I thought it would go. Tomorrow I will definitely reread the reveals. Really? Really?
My sister will be surprised. I almost stayed up until after midnight to read it. Needed to sleep.
Wow, a hell-of-a book! No wonder you needed extra time!
Thank you so much! Such a great book!
I’m almost done but had to put it down for a minute, both to tie everything together in my head, but also to repeat “omg, OMG, HOLY SHIT” in my head over and over again.
This is amazing. Thank you. It’s so, so good.
Many threads are neatly tied up here but what exactly did the Keeper get in compensation for tips on how Alessandro could take out Arian?????
Arkan!
I think the green light between Micheal n Arabella. I think Linus was blocking it.
Yup! Love triangle potential with the bear shifter!
That was my bet too! I’m so excited to see the love triangles! Or at least dreaming up my own!
I think so to, because Linus asked Catalina about Arabella’s judgement when it came to relationships.
I wonder if, when asked to leave the room, there was a moment.
I don’t have the right superlatives to describe RF. So fast paced, so much going on. I wanted the story to go on and on, and on.
Wonderful to see the younger characters coming into their own. Watch out world! Matilda is coming.
Love how HA writes relationships, the romantic ones always come across as so authentic too.
Arabella: I feels she deserves more than M2. She can handle it but the pushing was surprising.
L and V were hilarious! Some of it I had guessed but there were juicy surprises.
Love Nevada and Connor and Catalina and Alessandro. So glad C and A got their moment to shine.
I would love for HA to revisit with Arabella when it works for you.
I’m saying love a lot but I love the extended family too. Corneilus and Augustine need their moments to shine but that’s a big ask to HA.
Need to start my reread! So much to love…!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, HA. It means everything that you persevered for us in such difficult circumstances. I wish you the greatest success with sales and new fans.
I listened to the audio version and Emily Rankin’s portrayal of V during “The Tremaine Tantrum” was hilarious. I had to replay that portion twice because I was laughing so loud.
I was also cackling during the entire exchange and I am not one to often laugh during reading. It made both those characters seem so much more human. I loved it.
That was great on the audio. It was such a show, I wanted popcorn. And I also laughed out loud.
But did they ever catch the spider?!?!
It’s Arabella’s next focus ????
+1
Ok, I have read all the books, but may have missed an online snippet. But where has Arabella had any other interaction with Micheal beside at her trials? Why is everyone on team Arabell and Micheal? How did that start?
Oh, the ways of shipping are dark and mysterious ????.
He’s Grumpy and Silent ™ and she’s Sunny and Bubbly; he’s a single male of the right age, and she like pretty boys like her Grandma Frida. She’s the Beast and he’s the Scary Power Guy.
The matchmaking instinct of the Horde is tingling.
Such a great book. Thank you House Andrews.
I’m thinking that the compensation was something to do with Michael and Arabella – Linus’ question about could she be trusted to make the right decision about her relationships, and Michael’s reaction when he saw her at Scroll . . . . maybe there’s a possibility of something there.
Maybe maybe. I was thinking Prince 3 was a romantic interest but it could also be a new (gigantic) friend who’d understand wanting to sit on people so they’d finally be quiet.
Thanks you for book! It was a very satisfying read.
I think bear prince is a potential love interest along with Records Keeper Michael although maybe Arabella could become friends with bear prince as they have a lot in common. I honestly hadn’t thought of that, I thought after her brilliant exit he’d either be desperate to date her or to get revenge. Incidentally do you think she told him to roll left to avoid the ant’s nest or to roll onto it? ????
She probably told him the correct direction to roll to avoid the ants, but probably thought he wouldn’t trust her and roll the other direction allowing her to have maximum amusement with some ‘I told you’ added in.
+1
I got that feeling too! Especially with Victoria saying she arranjed Alessandro for Catalina ???? A lot of matchmaking going around
Well, House Andrews said that Arabella is going to have more possible love interests. Both Michaels are probably in, but let’s not forget about Stephen Jiang from Emerald Blaze.
^^^ I loved the nods to the BDH chaos shipping! It was very cute!
And let’s also not forget that Stephen has a hot little brother.
Wait, I’m blanking, who is Stephen again?
Never mind, the water mage dude from Emerald Blaze…. I remember now.
Stephen Jiang is the water mage from Emerald Blaze, who was at one point a Chinese drama actor ????.
I don’t know about Stephen- he’s so bound to tradition that he may not want to stray (so to speak) from a marriage arranged by his family.
Not convinced long term but they could date! I mean he did the film thing on the sly, it could end because he wasn’t willing to face up to his parents to make it serious.
I find the idea of a reverse harem story with Stephen / Records Michael / Bear Guy hilarious.
(I mean, partly because I have confidence that it wouldn’t happen? But I’m imagining the three of them becoming best friends, bound together and supporting each other because it really takes the three of them to keep up with Arabella.)
OMG, I was just thinking of something similar but along the lines of why have a love triangle when you can have a poly romance 😉
What do you think Mod R, do you think House Andrews would be up for a faux love triangle?
Nevermind, I just saw you comment further down, oh well, a girl can ship
House Andrews have nothing against polyamory, but they will not write it because it’s not a familiar experience and it would not be represented correctly. No reverse harems.
That’s good to hear! I hate love triangles – it’s an automatic pass for me if I see a story that has that. One of the best things about House Andrews books is that the couple’s are firmly convinced about each other and no irritating relationship drama
Exactly! I kept thinking don’t forget Stephen! I’m still on that ship but bear prince is interesting too ????????
Between Russian bear prince, Keeper Michael and (maybe) Stephen Jiang OR his rebellious brother, Arabella would have a lot of interesting choices.
What book was that with Michael’s reaction at scroll, I’m trying to remember but can’t for some reason.
I was thinking maybe something allowing something between Micheal and arabella, because she would definitely be an asset to that organization. But then Mikheal the russian prince stepped on the scene, and now I think someone is matchmaking for the giants. I imagine it’s hard for primes to find a matching partner when you’re a giant. oooohhhhh either way I wish to know more!!!
I loved this book!!!!
The fact that Michael’s age has been retconned adds significantly to my belief in this theory. (he is 25 when first introduced and is 25 now)
He was not 25, Nevada said “he looks in his mid-twenties”. A lot of things impact how a person “looks”, such as clothing style and demeanour and general facial expression, and they have very little to do with a person’s confirmed age.
I’m surprised you haven’t learned this yet 🙂
he looks 25 five years apart. He could be ageless.
So now we’re either shipping Micheabella or Mikheabella?
I love that!
???????? yes!;!????
I think we could save on supplies if we name the ship “M’Bella,” that way we can capture revenue… ahem, I mean, unite two fandoms! It’s really expensive to christen two ships… all that champagne, finding the appropriate woman to whack the boat…
All about this! M Bella, that’s brilliant! And I’m all about saving the champagne to drink it!
I personally think it would be wonderful if Arabella ended up in a throuple with both men. I mean it would reflect modern society and there’s nothing wrong with people being in love with more than one partner, especially if those partners fall in love with each other.
House Andrews don’t have anything against polyamory , but it isn’t something they will write.
I love M’Bella! I vote for this as well!
This!!!
Not that this will make a difference, but imagine a baby Monster if Prince Michael and Arabella got together.
I think the record keeper wants Arabella for Miachael since she’s not afraid of him. I got the impression that his gift is affected by fear and several characters have mentioned Arabella’s lack of fear several times. A possible romance with the Russian prince also sounds interesting, but it sounds like they’re very similar and both really impulsive. With what we know so far, it seems like they wouldn’t balance each other so much as egg each other on… which would be fun to read about. I’m definitely crossing my fingers that there will more from the Hidden Legacy universe!
I totally agree with you!
Wondering though — Mikhail lives in Russia and is devoted to the royals. While I can maybe see the Imperials wanting Arabella for her magic (Konstantin hints that the family has had bear metamorphosis mages in the past), I’m not sure that Arabella would be happy so far from the rest of the Baylors (I think in RF, it is eluded that they have moved close enough to Nevada & Connor that they can hear when the PAC army attacks).
So maybe neither is willing to give the other up for their family — or at least it appears so on the surface (of course that was pretty much Catalina & Alessandro’s will they-won’t they, not sure I’ve seen HA do the same thing twice, but am open to correction).
Given the paused look between Michael and Arabella, also Linus’s question about Arabella’s taste in men…. I think Linus withdrew his objection to them being together
Or at least Arabella being presented with the possibility…
Lol I also loved how House Andrews nearly sank the AugBella ship that was trying to set sail in a segment of the BDH.
I know they said this book was hard to write but honestly it was one of the most tightly plotted and edited books of theirs! So so good.
Sitting on the underground at the mo trying to not fall asleep as I read till 2 last night to finish the book
*neatly sank.
What about Augustine and Cornelius’ sister. Or brother? C did sit with them at the wedding.
definitely there have been hints on this before … genetically matched weddings are going out of fashion soon …. reading the epilogue also asks the question Bern now House Runa or is the alliance so close it doesn’t matter?
Ooooooo!!!! I know I’m going to immediately reread the book because so much happened and I will have to see if there are any more hints!
When did he ever object to them together?
🙂 We don’t see every single moment of what happens, especially when it comes to manipulating old men.
Duncan withdrew his objection to Michael courting Arabella.
Michael gets to ask Arabella on a date.
Also,
Why did Lander Morton help Alesandro’s family and how did he know to? Is he going to help with expenses to repair the compound? Maybe build for himself on the deer-fence enclosed property? Was he the best friend Marco died to save or was that friend murdered, too?
Can’t we see other weddings?
Is Evil Grandmother staying at the compound after her sentence is over? If so, will Nevada never visit? Will Arabella become head of the family with Nevada’s help?
Can we peek into the Russian’s return visit home when Mihail has to explain to his Uncle that he was beaten by a little blond girl?
Surely, Leon and Arabella deserve HEAs.
We need one more Novella, at least.
Nevertheless, this book was, as usual, awesome, and I am thoroughly enjoying the latest Innkeeper serials.
1. See Emerald Blaze. He was not the best friend Marcello Sagredo died for, no.
2. No, Victoria will move out and establish a base of her own.
3.Why would Arabella become Head of House with Nevada’s help? Where is Catalina going? She is their leader. Hail Hydra.
I’ve got the book but I’m reluctant to start because at the end of 5 hours, I’ll have to say goodbye to the all of them ????
Just read it again!
+1 I’ve gone through it once and intend on reading it several times this week. I read it so fast, I’m sure I missed a ton. I want to slow down and read it again and again.
+1
And rereading the whole series.
There’s so much in it that it pretty much requires a re-read. Go for it!
I understand your pain. I feel the same and was so happy with the book and so sad that it ended! I kinda hate the new policy about telling us what HA is working on (I get it, I just hate it, don’t be mad) because I have nothing to look forward too. WHAT IF NOTHING IS BEING WRITTEN!! That’s my nightmare! So happy to have Innkeeper chapters to calm the anxiety. 😉
Umh…???? Innkeeper needs writing too!
Yep. Also, other possibilities needs to be written. 🙂
And we’ve been teased by the (very real) potential of a Arabella winter winter serial…..
Why do you think I am haunting this thread and the one on Facebook? I can’t believe it’s over ???? and I want to share all my joy at the book and excitement at the possibilities with the BDH to prolong the joy of thinking about it. Going to reread at some point soon and there’s still FrInnday…
Think positively and hope as hard as you can. It’s what I’m going to do. The Baylor’s are too wonderful to let go.
I’m enjoying the book so far but have not quite finished. Happy book release day!
God the book was so good! I got to read it 8 days ago and i’ve been bursting with it! When the threads all came together I was through the roof and had to stop reading to freak out
I had a moment when Victoria threw Linus under the bus. ???? It was beautiful
I did too, especially when Linus said “Vicky”. I had to re-read that title twice since everyone says “Victoria”.
Not just “Vicki”, “Baby” too haha. And when “Vicki” got so angry she lost her composure and resorted to calling him common insults, delicious!
Loved that fight so much. Yes she was evil, but so was he. So glad she called him out on the Cesar stuff. She was so mad and hurt.
+1 That showed how enraged she was more than anything else!
I think the most important bit in the book for Arabella’s story was the Office of the Records exchange between the Keeper of the Records and Linus. For this reason alone, I think that Arabella is going to end up with Michael, not with Prince Misha
I am not a shipper either way – I am sure whoever they pair or throuple her with, HA has it well in hand.
As for my theory: if the plot in Arabella’s books is meant to revolve around the Office of the Records favour, and if the authors don’t want to become repetitive with the male leaving his house to join the Baylors (moving Arabella’s story to the Empire is much more unlikely I think) – then Michael is the most interesting option.
You are aware that Misha is short name for Michael… so being team Misha does not decide anything…
It’s a Russian diminutive, though, so I feel like it does hint which way it’s going ????. The “Prince” is also a clue 😉
I also prefer Michael from Records, much more ways to explore/grow.
The prince can be a friend that really “understand” the Rage! Give me stories with Arabella solving something with both of them, low romance, slow burn and a lot of family dynamics and I’ll read them all…
I think HA have said that Arabella will have multiple romantic interests — it won’t be clear which one will “win”, if any — and that’s why it wasn’t a good fit for Avon.
One will definitely win 🙂 . House Andrews have confirmed they will not write a poliamorous relationship for Arabella.
So…. that means they Are going to write a romance that Isn’t polyamorous for Arabella, right?
Maybe ????, see above in the post- nothing is being promised.
“ Is this a goodbye to Baylors? We don’t know. Probably not, but we’re not going to promise anything or put a date on anything. Being pleasantly surprised is better than being disappointed.”
Please, pretty, pretty, pretty please? It would be so fun to right, surely?
+1000
+1 I am so in agreement with you Nat!
Yes, I think so too. Michael made *Victoria* sweat in Wildfire. He’s been established as extremely dangerous. I can see Linus and Victoria being wary of Michael and his possible interest in Arabella because of that.
I can’t imagine Arabella moving to Russia and being a Russian princess. And we’ve already gotten to know about the Imperium quite a bit in Ruby Fever. Michael is so mysterious, I think any plot involving him in the future would be super compelling and expand on the HL universe a lot more. We also have Stephen Jiang as well. Fun times ahead!
I can totally imagine Arabella doing the princess thing, but I’m not impressed with Mikhail. Entitled, much? He’d be a huge (see what I did there?) project; not that she couldn’t school him, but Arabella deserves better.
My bets are that the prince will try the “genetic compatibility” approach.
Too bad no one is likely to clue him in on how well that tends to go with Baylor women…
I see what you did there!
Alessandro had an attitude when we first met him too! I am already all for the prince! She can totally rock being a princess and he is the third son… so not as important to stay in Russia all the time.
I reallllly want Arabella with Stephen’s younger brother, the actor (because I think Stephen is too old for her). They could have cool K-drama plots. It would be amazing.
Besides, Misha’s mother is a serious liability!
But everyone is leaving their Houses to join House Baylor — even if not officially. Runa and her 2 sibs (House Etterson) now live in the compound, Cornelius and Matilda, Alessandro’s mother and sisters will probably end up there, Grandmother Victoria Tremaine…
And Grandfather Linus Duncan and Augustine Montgomery are closely allied, though still maintaining independence. 😉
Incidentally, with Grandpops Sagredo dead and Alessandro, his mother, and his sisters gone, does House Sagredo have enough primes to continue as a House? That’s separate from inheritance of the title, which I assume would go to the closest male relative on the male line in a collateral line/cadet branch if Alessandro really was excised. If he wasn’t, that could get suddenly very interesting for the rest of the family back in the Olde Countrie…
And how nice to inherit &17million in debt…..Although they should be extremely grateful it wasn’t more.
The “only $17M in debt” bit made me laugh.
But do they have $17m in debt? I suck at names, but the notfiance woman said the transfer was made and it was a done deal. Alessandro said that wasn’t his problem.
The payment was in anticipation of a wedding. But the purchaser will not get a wedding, placing House Sagredo — or what’s left of it — in breach of contract. Surely the Portuguese House wasn’t stupid enough to neglect a breach-of-contract clause in the marriage contract — Europe’s aristocrats have been doing formal marriage contracts since the Romans rules that part of the world.
This is my duda. What will happen between runa and bern? Is house etterson a vasal?
Hm. I wonder if it would make sense for Bern to become a member of House Etterson (Runa is head of house, men take women’s names in some cases) and for there to be a strong alliance between the houses. It’s been mentioned that the societal pattern is that many smaller / emerging houses get brought into others, either through vassalage or marriage, but considering the family dynamics, I suspect Runa and Bern would talk about what would be best for everyone – and then with the Etterson children, and then everyone else.
Ooooh… a plot revolving around the Office of Records! That could be SO interesting!
+1 I think the Hidden Legacy universe has been primed for this. (wink, wink)
Thank you for an AMAZING read – I didn’t manage to find a soft release copy so had to wait for the e-book this morning, and it was great – I know it was a difficult write, but it was nothing but a pleasurable read. I particularly loved I guess ‘world building’ is the best term – you never broke the thread of the story but you dripped in the background information that we couldn’t find out on google masterfully. Amniotes comes to mind as one example – just dropped in conversation (literally), but able to be googled by those who didn’t know it’s meaning already, whilst identifying the different classes and types of mage with just a sentence – masterful!
I do hope you manage to get some time to yourselves to celebrate what I’m sure is going to be a cracking release – if the early reviews Mod R shared are anything to go by, this one must do well!
Loved the mini Epilogue before the Short Story? Titled Epilogue? The HEA at the end anyway! Both were icing on the cake.
I know I’ll have questions when I reread for a second time, but for now, thank you, THANK YOU and WELL DONE for a blisteringly good read, and an excellently crafted yarn!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Ruby Fever is wonderful. Thank you and everyone who helped it to being available. Thank you.
I was up at 12;30 and just checked the kindle to see if the book had dropped. Mistake. Didn’t get much sleep after, but it was a lovely way to go.
Perhaps someday House Andrews will consider publishing an anthology of the outtakes that we have been occasionally been treated to.
I’m now starting to listen to the audible version.
I second that!
“Ruby Fever” and Patricia Briggs new book both dropped today — which to read, which to read … “Ruby Fever” won …
Now if only pesky work-day and the need to earn a paycheck did not interfere with non-stop reading …
Thank you.
Read Ruby Fever first… all the way through… no breaks, no interruptions. Slept til noon. Read Patricia Briggs book. Many interruptions. Family wanted dinner, of all things!
Loved Ruby Fever. Very much hope to see Arabella trilogy later but there’s Innkeeper, Julie and Derek, Hugh… so much going on! As long as HA keeps writing, I’ll be thrilled.
Family members are so selfish on book release days. Can’t they see we are BUSY?!?! I’m sure that anyone over 6 months old can figure out a way to feed themselves or wash some clothes
Which would I rather read – Hugh/Elara, Julie/Derek or Arabella? Ermm any of them? ????????♀️ Although obviously the ending had me hankering for some Arabella…
Definitely all of them, and whatever the secret project is. I’ll devour it all and relish it. Then repeat.
Did the first read through on my Kindle last night and looking forward to a more leisurely enjoyment today. Loved it, and having read the snippets eg Regina, added to the pleasure. Waiting for my hard cover copy now via book depository. I couldn’t risk late delivery to rural NZ. Thank you IA x
Snippet for Regina ??? I missed that one – where might it be found?
Here you go ???? https://ilona-andrews.com/2022/regina/
i kept waiting for something that replaced this and then wondered if i had dreamed about the post … i guess the “she is still with her cousin” half sentence … was all that was left of this amazing piece of revelations.
I kept thinking:
Oh no you didn’t. You didn’t just attack them. A House which is comprised entirely of people who can kill you in many many ways. In fact, you need to hope you aren’t successful in getting their attention. You will not like them when they are angry. No one lives through that…
I saw the book pop up at 11:00 pm. The rational part of my brain said wait, it is too late to start. The other part of my brain whispered, “you can read for an hour and you don’t have to get up until 7”. Over three hours later my battery died and snapped me out of my Fever cocoon.
So far, excellent.
Same here, but managed to read on til the end! So good, and I’m going to have to read it again. Last night was just a quick skim. Loved it!! ????
The “other side” of my brain always has a club ready to subdue the “rational side,” so this is my life, too.
Ha, I just plugged the cord in and continued. Low battery no problem.
Thank you for this amazing and wonderful book. Words can’t express how much I love it! I stayed up and finished it, then read the most interesting parts again, had breakfast, slept and here I’m re-reading it.
I still can’t get over Linus calling Victoria Tremaine “Vicki” and “Baby”!!! More so than anything else, that was the most jaw dropping, grinning like an idiot moment for me.
That was the moment that short-circuited me as well 😀
And then the whole Beta reader team simultaneously lost it too!
Absolutely!
It was one of my favorite reveals! For the first read through at least. That entire scene was absolutely wonderful!
I did too. I had to re-read that section twice to make sure I read that right.
Lol… I had to reread those lines… I was like “WAIT! WHAT?”
I am so frikkin tired, but I don’t regret staying up late to read Ruby Fever. It was soooooo good! There are so many things to touch on, I don’t know where to start.
Re: Linus – I KNEW he was both grandpa and Caesar… but I like the Caesar explanation, so he’s not just some evil dushegub. ????
Michael’s gaze… “stopped on Arabella. She stared back at him, unperturbed. A moment passed.” Oh my, I would love to know what he was thinking! And what Mihail thought at the end after brawling with Arabella!
Bern and Runa! Awwww! Penjiro’s retirement, awww! ????
I’m glad that Arkan finally got his, as well as Sasha’s grandpa, what a dick. I’m glad Sasha’s mother and sisters are safe now. (Can you tell I like Alessandro’s unwanted nickname? Tee hee.)
And I loved Cornelius’s “your family is my family” chat.
Catalina is a harpy? Ha!
I loved the 20 Catalina faces with Augustine and his crew… Christina was such an arrogant idiot, smh.
I wonder what will happen with Kaylee and did they ever find Jadwiga? And will Victoria actually stay with the Baylors? Will she and Linus stay together? Hmm…
Can you tell I loved the book? No? Well, I did… thank y’all so much! Now off to read comments, and then get on Tapas for my Innkeeper fix. ????
OMG! I’m so glad people are posting the cool things. I had an arc and I’ve re-read it three times now and I completely missed the “stopped on Arabella. She stared back at him, unperturbed. ” moment with Michael!!
Gus Bunnyson.
GUS BUNNYSON!!!
I’m only thru chapter 5.
I laughed at that too
That was Leon at his best lol
This was too funny ???? ????
I laughed so hard forgot was reading at nite around 12.30 gave my husband a scare.
People focused on Gus Bunnyson, me focused on Misha Medved.
Not finished yet but I want to thank you for this book. I know it wasn’t easy to write but it feels so good and brings me a lot of joy to be back in this world with The Baylors. Hopefully one day inspiration will strike and you can return to this magical world you created, whether through Arabella or someone else.
+ 1
This book made me incandescently happy. Thank you!
+1 This book felt like the finale of a fireworks show. I loved it and am planning to reread it right away to savor it. Thank you for this whole world and these characters—they’ve brought me joy and provided respite in difficult times.
I was so excited when I read the other blog post about the print book already being out in some stores. I immediately got on the Books a million website and ordered it next day shipping for which I paid $40 extra!! This is the first new print book I have bought in probably a decade! I was so excited to get it and read it. HA did not disappoint!!
I loved it!!!!!!!!
Michale and Mihail and Stephen Jiang (and henry Jiang!) can now fight for Arabella’s hand! I really hope you write more in this world, after a well deserved rest.
I loved all the Cornelius bits, made me cry! I think I need a second read but I don’t understand why Linus’s sword wouldn’t go through Arkan’s defense field?
Mod R- I was surprised you’re not in the Acknowledgements!
Stay tuned for answers during tomorrow and Saturday’s Q&A! Here to register https://ilona-andrews.com/appearances/
I am actually in the Acknowledgements, under my real name hehe. But I’m the blog mod, so I don’t automatically make the individual book lists 😀 . I do manage to mind my business every once in a while lol.
reading the tie-ups of all the relationships explains why writing it gave you guys headaches AND took such effort.. amazingly done !!! and sadly done cause we, your reading slaves wanted more pages ..and that’s your fault for being such FANtastic writers
and
while not saying there would be more you still managed to leave us with fingers crossed and plots of our own to dream on..
like
what if the records micheal isn’t the one the record keeper wanted to help
what if Nevada has a girl who’s a siren
what if Arabella goes thru a bunch of ‘pretty’ males before finding the right guy
what if Leon finds someone and it’s all in our heads..sigh
what if * what if * what if ??????
we have so many plot lines in our heads but no ability to make the story real
sooooooooooooooooooooo thank you for the escape (for now and whenever i want it)
please know you are tremendously appreciated and enjoy whatever you are doing
and that we will wait and hope for more HL but read everything you share
ok tomorrow going to go start at the beginning and slowly re-live it all one book after the other. EN*TOTAL*JOY
huge hugs..huge smiles..and huge SALES
Loved the book. I was so sad when it ended because I wanted to stay with the Baylor family and read more about their happily ever afters. I have been reading my favorite scenes where the whole family sits talking together since finishing the book. Thank you for such a wonderful book!
That last chapter – didn’t Mod R (or someone) likened it to Avengers End Game final fight scene – and it does read like it! The taking down on the evil grandfather… so satisfying.
I’m now squealing over 2 potential Arabella love interests. Please can we haz more? *inserts cute cat pic*
That was the Kirkus starred review! They said it was “Avengers Assemble” and it totally was hehe
So very satisfying- bravo & thank you!!! Going back for a second read…
Questions-
Leon is making the most money?? He seems more mature/settled, but would love to learn how he has turned a corner from “I can’t ever compete” to his quirky, mature self. Also- his father mystery- hints in Nevada’s book 2? 🙂
Arabella- would love to see some Stephanie Plum type mysteries where she solves humorous/dangerous cases ala the small monkey at the start of Emerald Blazes. And the Micheals!!
More Arthur? More Bug? Augustine?
just love all you do. You are the literary Mozarts & I’m in awe.
THANK YOU
You mean three. I still like Stephen jiang.
I’m on that Stephen Jiang / Arabella ship! I just think it would be so amazing if he can get over the “image” of the Jiang House and fall head over heels with Arabella.
So excited — currently #24 on Amazon!!
Also it’s number 1 in the Amazon categories “Romantic Fantasy”, “Paranormal Vampire Romance” and “Vampire Romance” Not entirely sure where they get vampires but a number 1 is a number 1. HA!
Just finished.. omg.. I wish I could read it all over again like new!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
Thank you, once again, for a wonderfull book.
Off for the second read…
Happy book birthday to House Andrews!
I loved it, loved it so much. I stayed up all night reading. I’m a zombie at work, and I have no regrets. I absolutely love Catalina and Alessandro, but I’m sorry for them that the real MVP of Ruby Fever is Victoria F*cking Tremaine. I will tako no questions on this.
That was a very inspiring Ted Talk, thank you Johana 😀
Vicky (Baby) RULES!
PS: I’m so glad I get to call her that in public, I’ve been thinking of La Tremaine under that name for months 😀
I hope we see more of all the grandparents in Arabella’s books (what’s that, still unconfirmed???)
There are just too many things to love in this book, I can’t even handle all these emotions!! Very rude of House Andrews to write such a masterpiece.
Like, I could *feel* her anger at Linus, and to be totally honest, she made some incredibly valid points. It was the only part of the book I felt compelled to read out loud and startle my cats with at 4:00am. My cats were not a fan of this impromptu performance and subsequent cheering at Baby’s speech. It was honestly mindboggling. I will never ever get over this scene.
Yes!!! I read stuff out loud too when it’s too badass to even ????
Nobody puts Baby in an arcane circle!
😀
Groan! Now, will the song “I’ve Had the Time of my Life” be played while Victoria goes after Linus? 🙂
omg… that’s too good!
I had to read it. Then re-read the scene. Then re-read the story and when I got back to that scene I was, like, “GO VICKY!”
Vicky-Baby’s obscenity-laden tirade was unbelievably amazing in the audio version. I mentioned it before, but if you’re BDH (and I know you are) you owe it to yourself to give this a listen.
NO ONE puts Baby in the corner, not even Linus!
Ooh, it was so good! Thank you!
Had many great quotes but one stuck with me: “Significant, my foot.” Hehe.
Oh, and poor Adam, just important enough to mention, but not important enough to take up more than one page…
I’d like Michael for Arabella, not the bear prince. Michael is more mysterious! 🙂
That’s the one that stuck with me as well, along with Linus’ realization that his great grandson is a telekinetic hephaestus prime prodigy (not compatible my foot!).
Thank you. This book was everything I hoped it would be. Like others I hope this is not the last time we read about House Baylor, but if it is you produced a book that satisfies deeply.
The book was pure joy. Thank you HA. I am confused about something, though: I don’t get the situation surrounding Linus no longer interfering in a wedding. Why was that a favor to the Keeper? And was it the Bern-Runa wedding he was blocking? Or another wedding? And why was he blocking it?
In a wedding? Could you please point me to the page/chapter where this is? Thank you!
DO you mean this on page 340? It’s not mentioned to be about a wedding…
““What do you want?” Linus asked, his tone blunt.
“You know my price.” The Keeper’s tone matched
Linus’.
“Done. I withdraw my objection. I will not hinder but
I will not facilitate either. It is up to them. This is my
best offer.”
“Perfectly satisfactory.” The Keeper smiled and for a
moment his teeth looked too sharp. “Wait here.”
Ok, maybe it’s not a wedding. Page 340. What had he been objecting to?
Well, if you read around it you may get a hint…he’s asking Catalina about Arabella’s judgement when it comes to relationships 😉 . I don’t think we’re meant to know the details yet, but we can do what the BDH does best and speculate hehe.
What the BDH does best is wait patiently, right? Um, maybe not. 🙂
However, speculating is not what the BDH does best. What the BDH does BEST is, obviously, devour books. We only get around to speculating after the books are devoured.
I think the Russian Prince situation(Misha) was semi-blocked beforehand.
He must have been waiting around and just popped up 😀 or maybe another love interest for Arabella
That makes sense! Maybe the prince was supposed to be present for Arabella’s trial/testing but that was blocked by Linus.
All of the speculating! I speculate that Linus is getting out of the way of records keeper Michael courting Arabella!
About this, I think Linus was blocking Micheal et Arabella’s ship or at least he had not given Micheal the go ahead to pursue or given the record keeper the go ahead to matchmake them. I think the record keeper sees Micheal as his son and so thinks Mirabella might be an awesome ship. My thoughts though.
Did we ever determine what happened to the spider?
Heh. Arabella’s next focus. I will ask tomorrow at the Q&A 🙂
That’s what I asked above! WHERE IS THE GIANT SPIDER!!!!!????!!
Jadwiga will be caught. Jadwiga’s babies, however…are maybe another story.
YIKES!!!!!! and *shiver* baby giant spiders running in the ducts…. GAH!!!
So, I woke up at 12:25am, and decided to be good, and NOT starting reading instead of sleeping. Woke up again at 7:00am and did not try to resist. Finished in between work and chores. HA really has a wonderful way of showing how many hurtful/evil actions originate in someone’s pain. It doesn’t lessen the evil deed, but perhaps illuminates a way forward to not compound it.
I especially enjoy how the mages in these stories use their powers in more than just an obvious way.
I had guessed one of the biggest secrets (Linus & Victoria), and I noticed that Grandma Frida did not get much ink (maybe for Arabella’s arc?). But my very favorite part (in this first of many reads and rereads) is about Cornelius! Once he was able to bond to an otherworldly creature, he had to be Prime….
I agree we should focus grandma frieda on Arabela books
To be fair, Grandma Frida was pretty present in Nevada’s books.
I am totally there for Frida Baylor, international woman of mystery.
I love how HA manages to redeem a character that I had labeled “horrible and frankly just evil” – Victoria. That scene with Linus and her was hilarious. It just shows not to judge people too quickly.
This was a wonderful book. Thank you so much
The fact that her feelings were (apparently? maybe?) hurt by the sisters calling her “Evil Grandma” was just so sweet …
I agree. What really gave me pause was when she said that Nevada hated her (and let’s be fair there are good reasons), but she has forgiven Linus for all the bad things that he has done.
House Andrews is particularly good at flipping around reader impressions. Hugh was a masterful case in point. And the Oomboles… team jazz fins took a bit jump in the polls after the first test, when we actually got to see the candidate up close and personal.
I’m not betting on any particular candidate for Arabella at this point. Whatever my (skeletal) impressions of the possible candidates are, I know that HA can change my opinion on a dime. But it’s fun to imagine.
Enjoying everything as it comes out. This year has been rich in offerings, from the Graphic Audio releases, to the books, to the tapas comic. I know we are the BDH, but we have been quite spoiled this year!
Thanks to the authors, and to wonderful Mod R who helps us keep all the details straight, and drops some fun breadcrumbs here and there.
+1,000,000
I show my book as still in pre-order status from Barnes and Noble. I can’t download or read it. Does anyone have suggestions? I tried BN but no response yet.
Costumer Service is your best bet, but in the meantime re-syncing your content or restarting the device might help?
Thanks…I already tried both. Hopefully customer service will get back to me.
Had same issue. Archive then unarchive, fiddle with it eventually it shows up. Infuriating.
Sometimes turning off the Nook and turning it back on before trying the archive switch helps with the download. That also depends on the type of Nook you have.
Wow! What a book! I was both eager to devour the book quickly, and sad because I didn’t want it to end!
Reading book, not comments at this time – happy book day! It’s release date is a wonderful almost-birthday present and I am enjoying it hugely. 🙂
Thank you, HA, for the entire HL series. There were a couple of blink and you missed it things that I noticed.
1) when Bern took down Arkan’s network, he woke Runa up. She came over and pressed the Enter key. He let her avenge her mother’s murder. Remember, Arkan was the power behind Diatheke.
2) Cornelius’s six-legged beastie from the arcane realm went back to the arcane realm, whereas Zeus stayed in our reality.
3) I think the final battle was the only place in all six books when Cornelius and Adam were in the same place at the same time. But they didn’t interact.
Love the details throughout.
This. I noticed all of this. So subtle but so satisfying. Thank you I&G – hard labor but a beautiful baby.
Well, to be fair on#2, where would they keep a Dino-rhino once the battle was over? Compared to that Zeus is much more manageable. And the Dino-rhino didn‘t automatically go back, the mage opened another portal that he charged into.
My bad. As my sister pointed out, Bern was the one who pushed the Enter key. But he did share the moment with Runa.
Ahhhh!!! So good, but now I want to know for Léon, Augustin, Konstandion, ofc Arabella…
And sure let’s visit the Imperium. And while we’re at it, what’s the east Asia political situation? (Jiang family to lead us there?)
Moar Baylor world!
“arabella abroad in…” the latest hot travel guide for your inner beast, coming to the travel department of your nearest bookstore…
I’d read those in a shot!
Oooh that’s good. I’d read it.
Thank you House Andrews for such a marvelous book ❤️ I got it at 11pm, but had been up for over 24 hrs at that point.
Soooo, made coffee, blasted techno music in my ears, and took dance breaks. I managed to stay awake long enough to finish… It was just amazing ???? Now I will reread it having already forgotten half the details and enjoy it all over again!! Thank you again, so very much!
I’m too tired to think straight but wanted to say thank you. Thank you for persevering during a really challenging time to give us this fabulous conclusion. I’m sorry it was hard for you but it was fantastic for us! I really hope you can have a stress free vacation.
A few thoughts/questions for the Q & A but I really need to re-read when my brain is fully functional.
1. Augustine and Melvin Ryder? Does he avenge his father’s and sister’s death?
2. The absence of Stephen Jiang. . . Not sure what to make of that.
3. What happened to Trevor after he knocks out Grandma? Does he stay at the compound? Does he stay enthralled without it escalating?
4. Why did the Russians want Alessandro (other than he is talented)? Are they just going to drop that bc Arabella is a match for their bear? Does K also transform? Is he just going to get over his obsession with Catalina?
5. Why was the National Assembly so little help? I thought it said they were dealing with the death of their speaker was that in addition to the Texas Assembly’s speaker’s death?
6. Do we know the conclusion of the PAC and Berry attack of House Rogan? I may have accidentally skipped that part. I wonder how Connor feels about Heart’s retirement.
The National Assembly appoints a Warden to each state to deal with these kind of issues. They made Catalina Acting Warden and from then on, godspeed. I thought it was brilliant actually, having been in a few “godspeed” situations in my career (not under House Andrews’ employment!). One’s bosses very rarely care *how* you get results, as long as you get them and they’re not bothered about it.
Konstantin is an Illusion mage, so he does transform his looks, yet. If you’re asking whether he is also a Metamorph mage like Mihail, then no, Metamprphosis doesn’t allow a dual magic.
Alessandro isn’t just “talented”- he is the best Antistasi on record, and Antistasis are *exceedingly* rare. Plus…he’s family!
Makes sense! Thank you for answering. I have one more question for the Q & A. I probably read through Linus’ backstory too fast but in Wildfire he tells Nevada:
““Rogan is very conscious of the fact that you’ll soon be the Head of an emerging House…. He sees all of it, so he’s fighting a powerful urge to shove you into full body armor, lock you in a windowless room, and stand guard by it until the trials are over.
I sympathize. I once had to go through a similar thing.”
True.
“It was a uniquely frustrating experience. It gave me grey hair. See?” He pointed to his temple.”
That wasn’t Vicky Baby, right? so who was that and was that before or after and how did that turn out?
It could still be Vicky baby. She is a house of 1 and has powerful enemies. I think he really wants to protect her and shove her in an armour and could be likely a reason they split.
Victoria Tremaine was born into a long-established house, so it must have been someone else. But the impression I get is that emerging Houses spring up as regularly as new restaurants, and die out as frequently.
House Andrews books have such depth that there are hooks for another dozen books in each one published — and the BDH wants to buy all of them 😉
I kind of thought it was James. He said something similar, not the same.
Okay, still not finished because I have been at work, but here’s the question I have had for a while now: Since when is Arabella good in math? Why would they let her handle the finances? This drives me crazy since previous book.
Handling finances has very little to do with math. Like astonishingly little. Basic arithmetic can be done by a calculator.
Being very observant and quick thinking, knowing a lot of insider info, being able to track patterns and memorise facts, dealing with people etc are a lot more important, ask anyone in the financial business who deals in stocks. Arabella is all of the above.
I thought about this too, but then again, based on how the Arabella character is built – it might as well be that the felt stung by the Trial and witness reaction and put a lot of focus into getting really good with numbers after that.
Yes! This! My son is studying accounting and finance & I have been told several times that it has nothing to do with math!
She may use a calculator?
Calculators, accounting programs, financial spreadsheets…I don’t know why hating arithmetic at 15 immediately made people start believing that Arabella is stupid heh. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Also there’s a world of difference between doing maths in public with a lot riding on it and balancing accounts in private!
Not stupid, but it was her weakness and now, of all the family members, it is her who is in charge of numbers. And trusting programs completely seems like a dangerous move. It just feels like we are missing on a part of the story, where she changed and worked on her math. 🙂
I agree with Mod R that finances don’t involve a lot of math. Tracking money etc. is usually done via computer programs who add it all up for you!! Only basic arithmetic needed.
Agreed, but it seems like not everyone recognizes the difference between arithmetic and other math. Arithmetic is basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. No algebra, no geometry, no trig or calculus.
It’s true that Arabella flubbed a pretty simple division problem in her test, but any calculator would take care of that. Lots of bookkeeping problems that I’m perfectly capable of doing on paper, I now use the calculator for. It’s way faster than I am.
As an actual accountant, I hate it when people say that I must be good in math. TBH, i am. But math rarely factors in. Accounting abd financials is actually reading and analyzing numbers, reading patterns, etc. Actual computing/ conventional mathing is something I rarely do.
I worked in the City in London in a previous life. It was such an easy way to trigger the finance bros ???? asking them how good at math they were. It’s a preconception that lasts very little once you actually delve in that world.
True, totally hate the stereotype.
I had an economist as one of my health policy professors when I was getting my doctorate. He ask us the first day of class which department all us were in. He froze when 3 of us said biostatistics, one was in health policy, and one in community health.
He had a sour look after that. ????
Economics: just another branch of philosophy. 😉
As is accounting, if one pushes a bit. Accountants define how the universe is organized… and if necessary, reorganize until it works right.
Wow, how apt. My heart totally sang with ur description.
????????????
Thank you, House Andrews! I rushed to Amazon at midnight and spent the night reading Ruby Fever -totally worth it. I have been rereading some parts today and it’s been fun picking up some details I didn’t notice the first time around.
The name Ilona actually means ‘as joy’ in Finnish and I feel it’s very appropriate in your case as I have experienced so much joy through the years while reading and rereading your books. Also, ironically your name was actually part of the reason why I started reading your books as it appeared on some recommended author lists online, and it stuck in my mind as Ilona is a name that’s used in my family but not one i had previously come across outside of Finland. (Just goes to show that although the process of attracting new readers can be a super random, the way to get them hooked and keep coming back to buy your books is somewhat simpler – the quality of writing!)
On the Edge was the first book of yours that I read, followed by couple of the early Kate Daniels books and although I liked them, Burn for Me was the HA book that I really fell in love with and made me a huge fan. Hidden Legacy is one of my all-time favourite book series with such an interesting system of magic and combination of fantasy and politics, not to mention an incredible ensemble of supporting characters. I totally get why you two might need a prolonged break from the series after Ruby Fever but hopefully you and Gordon will want to visit the series again at some point in the future and give us Arabella’s story. She is such an amazingly fun character and quite refreshing in the romance sphere with her combination of supreme self-confidence and practicality with an element of chaos thrown in. I feel like she really embodies that Yoda quote of there being no try just do. 🙂
Before reading RF, I was hoping that some future novella or book would explore the HL world outside of Houston as well. After RF I totally want to read Aunty Arabella’s adventures around the world with a stop in St. Petersburg and revisiting a certain arrogant Russian bear who still needs to be knocked down a few pegs me thinks…
I am grateful that RF tied together the major loose ends from the previous books and we got answers to those fan speculations about the Baylor parentage and who the Caesar is. In case you never end up writing Arabella’s story, I’m glad that we at least got some potential love interests we can imagine Arabella to have her HEA with. As rather obvious from the comment above, my vote goes to the Russian M since I feel that Michael and Arabella would be too much of a powerful combination of physical and magical power (which is probably why Grandma Tremaine seems to be interested in such a match) and it would be fun for Arabella to have someone to physically spar with and a partner with an equal level of power. Additionally, as Victoria’s planned pairing already came fruition with Catalina and Alessandro, she probably shouldn’t be rewarded with everything she wants. Besides, Arabella was obviously born to be a princess. 🙂
I loved the book. Lol, also stayed up until the ungodly hour of 2 am reading it. I have no regrets…
I have to admit for future hidden legacy books my top choice for next book would be Cornelius. He has become more than just a side character, I would love to see how HA would handle a more mature romance in the HL series. Also, Matilda needs more page time. That girl is a serious power.
I love that both Nevada and Catalina underestimate Arabella so much; she’s known about Linus since Arthur was born and neither had a clue she knew.
That made me laugh SO hard. “Ohhh, should I tell Arabella? Will Arabella handle it?” Meanwhile Arabella all but interpretive dances the info for them both 😀
I totally get it, if I had a sister nobody could lie to, and another one who knew everything because of her galaxy brain, I would keep stuff only I knew to myself and savoured it 😀
I was reading through the comments hoping to find exactly this! Arabella has had Grandpa Linus all to herself since Arthur’s birth in The Cool Aunt. Scent doesn’t lie. I bet some of his favoritism resulted from them bonding over the shared secret. I’d also bet she held that secret over him to get favors.
It seems Nevada and Cornelius kept him at a distance once they knew. It seems likely that would bond Arabella and Linus even more when they pushed him away.
Can we also talk about Arthur being an empath as well as dual? He’s a triple prime?
Many thanks ModR you rock!
Arthur is not a triple Prime, there is no such thing ????. We know he is a Dual mage, whether he is a Dual Prime remains to be seen.
Arabella figures out who Linus is because she is smart and puts things together in context, she doesn’t “smell him”.
I’m confused. Didn’t Arabella say “hello grandfather” in cool aunt. I thought she knew
She did 🙂 . But she didn’t tell the others hehe. Although she hints very heavy handedly and Catalina just breezes over it. When Linus is hurt Arabella says “Nobody touches my family” and Catalina’s mind process is “Oh, yeah, I suppose we do all think of Linus as family, don’t we” 😀 LOL
Of course not they all keep secrets from her. She probably liked being the first (or second) to know
Also thank you for sticking around to today and hanging out on the blog
Can you blame her? 😀 How often would you get to keep a secret growing up with Nevada?
Hi Mod R!
For me the question is “how did she knew??”
Was it some kind of arcane sens, like the explanation we got for Alessandro that could identify the siren magic of Linus ?We don’t know so much about how her magic works…
Or some mundane identification like Nevada ? Or did she just deduce it when seeing Linus with Victoria in the cool aunt snippet ?
I hope you will be able to ask during the zoom meeting saturday! And if the info has to wait for an Arabella book, well it’s ok also 😉
I have wondered if Arabella has a secondary talent similar to Bern? She seems very good at detecting patterns in faces. She knew Linus was grandfather when Arthur was born and recognized Stephen Jiang as the actor immediately upon seeing his photo. She’s always on social media which is rich in selfies and faces. I was surprised that Catalina and others in the family didn’t know. How did Arabella not brag about figuring it out and keep it to herself?
Linus and Victoria’s backstory is great. It answered the question of how Linus ended up as House Baylor’s witness when Nevada registered for the trials.
Thank you Ilona & Gordon for this wonderful conclusion.
Arabella does not have a dual power, because Metamorphosis doesn’t allow a second talent. She keeps the secret because it’s fun to tease oblivious people, especially when one is a Truthseeker who knows when people are lying and another one is a genius who knows everything.
My guess after reading The Cool Aunt and other Arabella shorts is that Arabella used her sense of smell to determine that Linus is their grandfather. I suspect he smells very similar to her father. I also suspect Arabella’s sense of smell is as good as or better than many animals, and that she can tell who is related in a similar way as shapeshifters in KD can tell things like that.
She used her “blue monster” to scent out people at the beginning of The Cool Aunt and again to count/identify people before entering the room where the nurse took Arthur and scented Linus.
Arabella already knows Linus’ scent because he’s been coming over to dinner and inviting the Baylor’s over to his place ever since Catalina became the Deputy Warden. Then she discovers him with Grandma Victoria glowing with pride over the baby…A-HA!
Thank you, House Andrews, for another wonderful book! I like that your books are, to the core, about values like family, love, friendship, resilience and integrity.
I was returning some e-books at about 10:00 last night and noticed that Ruby Fever was in my content.
I finished it at 2:45. I’m in the middle of the first re-read at this point.
I did notice that Leon never does quite admit to authorizing the spider hunt.
So happy with the book!
If looked thru the lens of the Favorite Aunt short story, it’s no surprise that Arabella has a stronger connection with Linus than the other girls do, as she was the first to actually find out.
Kinda leaning towards wanting a Russian princess story myself, but I look forward to whatever and however HA [eventually] does with Arabella’s trilogy.
I’m also kinda sad that we didn’t see more of Pancakes in this book. Maybe he will end up with one of Alessandro’s sisters?
Also, just ‘caught’ up with the Tapas comic and that was excellently done as well! Now on to other things that dropped last night before starting a reread tomorrow. 😀
Both of Alessandro’s sisters are much, much younger than Augustine 🙂
I’m still shipping Leon with one of them, fyi.
+1000
Especially if they got any of heir mother’s shooting skills!
Can you imagine a Leon/Bianca Or Lia baby who had both Leon’s magic & the ability to materialize weapons? They would be walking death.
+1 Good point!
But wouldn’t Arabella’s successful defense against the fiancé murdering mother in law to be be the cause of so many problems?
Not quite finished yet, but just got to The Mummy reference!
The glimpses into what goes on in the background in the life of the Russian Imperial Family and in Russian government and upper levels of society and Russian military are chilling. All too believable, too.
But, really! Telling Augustine’s secrets to Konstantin?
Assuming Catalina would forget all about her promise to remain with House Baylor if Alessandro died?
Or was that a case of slipping useful information into a flow other stuff?
And how will they get Imperial Russia out of their lives?
And Arabella would never stand being owned/managed the way the imperial family does with everyone in the Russian Empire. She is too much of an independent woman.
My favorite parts of RF were Victoria and Linus. Such a twisted knot they are, and the more that comes out into the open the more I wonder how much is still hidden. And yes, I’ll never forget “Vicky Baby”.
Catalina using Trevor was something I had to read twice to make sure I got it the first time. 🙂
My favorite bit of action was the Crusher freezing in mid-air. I read that, and “Ba-DUN!” (reading too much Tapas) went off in my head. Here comes Conner …
I was going to ask during a Q&A how Arabella somehow forgot that Linus was their grandfather after “The Cool Aunt”, because it seemed like she genuinely didn’t know as opposed to her keeping it to herself. By the end … heh. All three of those sisters keep their own secrets so well. I should not be surprised that Arabella is just as good as the other two.
I read it straight through after the Kindle drop at 9pm (yay Pacific time) and I have no regrets for the late night. 🙂
Hehehe, she hasn’t forgotten, she even teases Catalina “All grandparents love me” bwhahahaha.
That tickled me so much, because Catalina really anguishes about how Arabella will react. It really is a long game the youngest Baylor is playing. Everyone, even the BDH I think, underestimates her. Which makes me so excited for future potentials 😀
I wondered if V’s meltdown brought L awake? And L diverting V from Houston because their son asked it of him was…
CHAPTER 15. I have been wanting to scream this since last week! I caught a stitch laughing so hard! My goodness!
Enjoying it right now
I take it House Rogan prevailed over the PAC?
Also: I love the baby Hephaestus mage. “Congratulations. You got one.” —Vicki. Baby.
Finaly I cant understand how BDM are ignoring the babe possible being a duo prime teleknetic/hefaistus. He gonna be so op when he grow up.
It’s really going to be spectacular! But also going to be such a problem as a growing kid! Excited to see Connor and Nevada tackle that one.
I’m guessing that having Sergeant Hart appear at the south gate implies that House Rogan prevailed, because isn’t Hart part of Rogan’s team?
I did wish for something more explicit about how that came out. I wonder if HA is saving that outcome for use in another story?
finished this morning. had to sort through feelings. it was incredibly jam packed, and it was really good, but…parts felt a little Deus ex machina. for example, Conner&Nevada were taking care of PAC (never heard a resolution) and suddenly they were there to finish Xavier and then PAC again for the last fight.
still loved the book, on my second reread. my favorite scenes were
1) where Alessandro’s mom described what happens when you give a 14 year old a bunch of cash to hide (haha the image in my head is of her hiding money in a box of sanitary products and eventually too much money comes in and she is desperately trying to find a tampon and all she can find is money)
2) where victoria is PISSED and ranting (love that she notes how women are held to a different standard. as also mentioned in Emerald blaze, for the same actions/crimes, a man may shrug it off, but a woman would be demonized) love how Catalina notices how Linus was defecting the responsibility off himself. This is the main reason I adore House Andrews. Nuggets of real life lessons. Pointing out that its not ok, that what Linus did AND was doing is not acceptable or easily forgiven. I love that this is written in a “romance”. Modern times require modern romances and what was once labeled as acceptable or even desirable (but is actually abusive or weaponized incompetence or deflection of responsibility) is called out for what it is in their books. Adore it!
Deus ex machina: “when a problem is suddenly and abruptly resolved by an unexpected and unlikely occurrence.”- …after everything we know about Connor and Nevada fighting together and the general state of House Rogan military power, is them defeating the PAC diversion *actually* unexpected and unlikely? They’re a bother, for sure, so much that they keep them away for large chunk of the ongoing Baylor crisis. But do we really not expect paranoid Mad Rogan, EL Huracan, The Butcher of Merida, to squash enemy forces and then rush to his family’s help?
He didn’t even need an arcane circle to squish Xavier! The man is a force of nature.
i think its because it was laid out early that C&N were busy with PAC and couldn’t help…and then they suddenly swoop in (like a turkey vulture =) to take care of Xavier. So it did feel a bit sudden and unexpected. Also Connor needed an arcane circle to move a grinder before…and now he doesn’t need one to not only move a grinder but take a grinder away from another mage? Don’t get me wrong, I love the book, but this did stand out as a bit…inconsistent
It’s different levels of the spell which Rogan takes over from Xavier 🙂 . Xavier doesn’t have the House Rogan spell, he will never do, because he isn’t House Rogan or on their level. As usual, Xavier tries and misses.
It shows how much more powerful Rogan is compared to Xavier, despite all the stupid stuff Xavier has done to make up for the chip on his shoulder. He killed and committed atrocities and obtained Primehood through a criminal second administration of the Osiris serum. He’s trying so hard to compensate, but there is more to being a Prime. As Rogan demonstrates with a simple amplification circle. Xavier would never have matched up.
Remember the animators, to animate an large object requires a prime animator, but to keep it going, an average animator could manage just fine.
Once the Grinder is in action, which is to say to get all the gears moving, it takes the Rogan quite a lot of concentration and the help of an arcane circle. But once this, more simplified grinder is moving, it’s merely a battle of strength, and Rogan beats Xavier + circle.
Connor already put Bug on Xavier’s trail. Once Bug knows where he is, Connor just showed up to deal with him. The grinder is a House Rogan spell, Xavier’s version is inferior. Plus Connor used 3 grinders in Wildfire, Xavier only used 1.
+1
Yes! I felt the same reaction with Victoria being demonized while Linus got adored. I saw that with my own parents with the mom always getting the rap of “bed cop”. Oomph. That hit hard and I was absolutely mad at Linus. Made me think much less of him in terms of his personal integrity. Certainly a weakness Victoria would know how to exploit.
“bad cop” not “bed cop” lol. Darn autocorrect
Plenty of moms have to be the bed cops too. Don’t ask me how I know this.
My mother was also a bed cop. I had a flashlight and books and wasn’t afraid to use either when I should have been sleeping.
But Victoria is also self centered. Everything circles back to her in her narrative.
I love Arabella. I think I am having trouble seeing her romantically paired in a HEA. She’s so independent, confident, and such a literal force that I see her being happier single and playing the field. She doesn’t need a romantic partner to complete her, try to save her, etc. If anyone could pull it off we know House Andrews can. But I am actually anti-shipping anyone for Arabella. It’s like that epilogue chapter (trying not to spoil anything) where she just dusts off her naked ass and walks away triumphant.
Arabella’s books, if they happen, will be several years in the future. And she won’t have a HEA partner immediately, it will feature her with several “potentials” before she choses The One.
I’d be happy with Jinglebella or Arahail….or whatever yummy HA introduces! I’m not sure that you can maintain a relationship and do your work in the Record Keeper’s office….
Omg Jinglebella ????
“if they happen”
I really hope not too too far off. This is a fantastic storyline. ❤️
Gus Bunnyson. I am dying. What a great name for a dog!
I love Leon, that is the best name.
If the brain dead count dies, does that make Alessandro the actual count now?
Just chiming in here. Not looking at the comments below ‘cause of spoilers. This is soooo good! Reading slowly ‘cause I want to savor the House Andrew’s awesomeness. Ok, gotta get back to the story.
::Dancing with JOY! JOY! JOY!:: What an awesome, amazing, incredible ride. I read (surreptitiously) through zoom meetings all day. An intricate, intricately-woven story with some unexpected twists (did you expect Franco to show up? No, no you didn’t). And all the feels – excitement, sadness, rage, satisfaction, hope – my heart is about to burst.
House Andrews demonstrated once again why they are the best in the business.
And the Innkeeper on Tapas is marvelous as well.
I’m curious. What kind of magic has the oldest Russian prince? Or was it in book, but I missed it?
Book was wonderful, but the best part is that about Vicky and Linus, don’t try to change my mind.
I love how Konstantin was all, “I’m the best illusion mage in the world.” And the Baylor girls are all, “As if, you can’t even turn invisible.” And he didn’t even know that was possible and practiced until he could do it. LOL.
+1
I have read it and you have a winner on your hands. I will read again but that thing with Linus and Records was interesting. Is Michael smitten with a certain someone?
Wonderful book.Epic.
The ending was beautiful.
Yes.. better to be pleasantly surprised than be disappointed.
Maybe , someday we will get Arabella’s books too….
Thank you for the great reads.
The dedication was the first thing I saw when I opened the book. You guys are amazing. What a truly generous and meaningful thing for you to do.
I salute you.
Awww, I’m sad that Arabella won’t get her own story.
That’s not what’s being said here. Just that it won’t be announced either way for now. There’s still hope!
I love your avatar btw freaking ace. And perfect way of keeping the board in check.
Ruby fever is currently number 15 on the kindle store best seller list, the overall list!
Did Arabella tell the third prince about the fire ants in a way that he would roll into the fire ants or away from the fire ants when he moved? Thought she kept him out of them at first, then….
I think she is telling the truth. She bested him already and she is impresssd with the built, it would be a shame if ants will ruin it. ????????????????
I wondered about this too! Either way he will be aware of them and not roll onto them but she’s either saying “btw I hope you roll in fire ants” or “I feel bad you’re so beat up, don’t finish it off by rolling in fire ants” whichever way, that exit, perfect, just perfect.
I just finished reading Ruby fever, and it was perfect! Fingers crossed that we get a Arabella book! ????
Great book and series! Thank you so much! Enjoyed every minute of this series.
I knew! I knew it, I knew it, I knew it but not all of it and I’ve had to reread several times (and several scenes).
If my foot wasn’t fractured, I’d be jumping, but my doctor says “Absolutely NOT.” And I’m going to follow those orders.
And even beyond all of the hinted/ (hunted) secrets, this is my favorite book in the series. I adore all of the Baylors but Catalina is my favorite, and Matilda is climbing higher.
Thank you thank you thank you. I can se why it was hard to write because it is BRILLIANT so much good ness thank you. All the bits I loved off to read again.
Everytime a new Illona Andrews book comes out I always swear to myself that i will pretend it doesn’t exist so I can trick myself into pulling it out when I really need it. Yet again I failed. Ruby Fever did a great job of wrapping things up and also a great job of leaving readers engaged for more – there’s a reason so much of the discussion here is around Arabellas potential story and that reason isn’t that Ruby Fevers actual story was lacking – its like a really good piece of your favourite food, heaven that leaves you insatiable ????.
Like great food I definitely consumed Ruby Fever way too fast, I look forward to leaving it a while and rediscovering at a slower pace.
Fantastic job as ever, many thanks to yous for pulling the book together despite trials and tribulations ????
Great book, have read it twice already but Bears!! (I read Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling books and them bears are good),
Oh, my. I hadn’t thought of them in terms of those bears? But that’s wonderful.
(One of my proteges / adopted daughter/sister/something spent a bunch of time doing bear research, which involved a lot of living in a tent, and squabbling over who had to crawl into the den to count the bear cubs and such… so I always think of her first. But also! If you want some ridiculous bear fun while waiting for more fiction, there’s a one page TTRPG called Honey Heist which is pretty great. While playing it, I ended up texting aforementioned protege about the game, who now is determined to play it as well.)
Thank you for the book. I just finished reading it and I absolutely loved it.
Amazing! HA, congratulations and thank you for another wonderful journey! I try to do a series re-read before a new book in that series is released and didn’t quite make it this time. But wow… I’m always amazed at how HA builds their series (HL, KD, Inkeeper) and really thinks long term about a story line or character arc. Seeds planted may blossom much later but it’s so worth it (but not blossom like a nightbloom of course! :).
Long-term planning but also amazing detail! I love how Leon whistles western tunes during potentially tense moments. HA really knows how to balance out the intensity of a scene. In one of those scenes, I realized I must have missed somewhere that illusion primes can see through other illusions; totally makes sense.
Can’t wait to re-read and highlight my favorite moments and zingers! Such as “I quite liked my future mother-in-law…. She has excellent aim.” One of many great bits. ????
Love how the spider story thread is also this reminder that they are still an investigative agency and they still have clients that *aren’t* dealing with house warfare. Arabella’s epilogue is a nice reminder at the end that they still have work to do: “Money didn’t grow on trees, but it did crawl somewhere in our office…” Brilliant.
Gushing complete (for now ❤️). Looking forward to the Q&As!
I think it is power scaling. It’s like – if I can see through your illusions I’m more powerful than you. The fact that they can see through each other’s illusions means they are more or less comparable power but the fact that Augustine can turn invisible means that he is more disciplined/controlled.
But Konstantin learned it too in the end. He still got checked and a bit of his nose cut off ????
????????????????
Phenomenal book! Like many of the BDH, I stayed up way too late reading last night. Totally worth it!
Holding out hope for an Arabella series in the future to explore the Michael and Russian Prince/Giant Bear story lines…
Thank you for this book and the entire Hidden Legacy universe! I didn’t think anything could match your Kate Daniels series but HL is just as wonderful!
You know something is epic when the snippets that hyped you up for the book didn’t even make it in the final form. Lol.
Mischa the bear. Is this a nod to a popular Russian cartoon? Its funny if it is
Misha is a short name for Mihail. However, little kids call bears also misha or mishka.
Whenever HA writes a book, (I’ll) we will be the waiting impatiently (with some whining and gnashing of teeth)for it to be released , but take some time to revel in the release of your hard work and enjoy the time for your family and rest
Was I the only laughing throughout at Alessandro and Konstantin’s Imperial Yo Mama exchanges ?????
How’s your mother? Killed any more fiancées lately?
At least my mother defends her family.
Boys, boys ????. Also, if we’re shipping Mihail, what a MIL awaits Arabella!!
Well, at least we know the MIL couldn’t strangle Arabella… probably. Put an asterisk there, lol
Yeah, and then we get the revelation about what Lillian did to protect her kids, with much less resources and protection.
Yeah, it won’t work, I’d love to see a bit more of Russia but if Arabella goes over there, the future MIL will try to top her when she realises that Arabella won’t be controlled and then there’ll be an “incident” although given how astute she’s become and how much more she’s using the beast in human form and being subtle about it, maybe she could extricate herself without too many ramifications? A sort of ‘you don’t want me here, you know what, I have decided I don’t want to be here, you shouldn’t have tried to kill me and I have made you regret it in a clever subtle ways now you should let me go before I have to kill everyone you live and by the way stay the hell away from me and my family’ kind of thing
…is that how his named is spelled? I listened to the audiobook, and I’ve seen at least four spellings here, but you seem reliable.
I don’t know which “he” that is, but I reliably spelled all 3 names as per Ruby Fever.
Oh, yes, that wasn’t anything like clear… (I’d like to blame it on caffeine not having hit, but I’m only marginally more focused now…)
…and demonstrated. Ahem. Mihail. Seriously, I called him Bear Guy somewhere above because I’d seen so many different spellings.
Gahhhh, this book was so so good, like truly amazing. I know how difficult it was to write, so one thing I would really love to learn about would be the big breakthrough moment Gordon and Ilona had while writing it. Its always so interesting when they talk about their writing process, and a long time ago they described really hitting a wall with this book until they realized they had a particular character acting in a way that was completely contrary to their characterization, and fixing that helped to get the book back on to the track they wanted (apologies if I’m remembering this wrong). Any chance they could talk more about that at some point?
Yes, I am curious about this too. Which character was obstreporous?
Fantastic book. Loved it of course. Now I have to wonder what calamity will befall Arabella while Catelina is busy honeymooning? And how Michael will be the solution? Or an obstacle?!!! Oh and can’t forget the possibility of a Russian suiter to mix things up. ???? I can’t wait!
I didn’t sleep last night, because I *had* to finish the book.
Worth the wait.
Catalina has grown into herself.
Arabella is great.
All of the side characters with their stories and personalities just rounded everything out.
And the backstories to some favorites were fully fleshed out and, well, wow.
11/10 for sure.
Only one word for this book and that is “awesome”. It was sooo satisfying. Loved Catalina’s character and Alessandro supporting her all the way. As much as it was Catalina’s book it was Victoria’s too. I loved her character arc and felt that she deserves time with her family. Also can’t get over Vicki Baby…it was so hilarious…Linus really gets away with too much. Loved Arabella and really hope we get her story in future. All the characters are soo good that they deserve their own spin-offs. Also have a question that how Leon earns most for their firm?
They are now known as a combat/investigative firm. So they probably get highly dangerous/questionable cases like high level fraud, inter house conpiracies. This kind of cases command high dollar. Leon probably get the lion’s share (lol) of these cases. Hence, top earner.
But on paper he still claims that he has no magic. So that’s why I really wanted to know this. But ur answer makes sense too.
My guess is that although he claims no magic, the clients come to House Baylor for help on the types of issues that will use Leon’s talents, and Catalina assigns those jobs to him. It’s not that clients come to Leon, he’s just the one who gets used.
Totally worth taking the day off work. No wonder HA was frustrated writing the book, making all the characters shine must have been exhausting. I loved every minute. I am terrible at figuring out mysteries but SPOILER: I always thought Linus was Caesar because of the “beyond reproach” comment made in an earlier book. However, him being undercover was one of dozens of funs surprises. Thank you.
Simply. Thank you for the joy.
Please write a trilogy for Arabella – she deserves one
Loved the book so much and had that bittersweet feeling when it ended. This is one of the three books I’ve been most excited for in 2022 and it didn’t disappoint.
If inspiration strikes in a year or two I would absolutely queue up to buy an Arabella story, but also know creatively you may be ready for something new!
So so so exquisite. Now I need way more future HL books. Just a warning.
Jadiwga??
Matilda??
Arabella (of course)
Michael
Leon
Arthur
these, just off the top of my head.
Your ability to transport into another world is…world-class. Prime authors.
+1
Just finished it. Very action packed. PLEASE Give us an Arabella story. She definitely deserves her own trilogy.
I hope she put eggs somewere on their propertie lol
House Andrews: ye have laboured mightily, and brought forth a wonder for us! I see many re-reads in my future, each as satisfying as the first — so I’m very glad y’all persevered despite a challenging start.
+++++++++++++
Amazon Kindle rankings as of 9:10 p.m ET:
Best Sellers Rank: #12 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
#1 in Paranormal Vampire Romance
#1 in Romantic Fantasy (Kindle Store)
#1 in Fantasy & Futuristic Romance
Customer Reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars 59 ratings
Also:
#27 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1 in Fantasy Romance (Audible Books & Originals)
#2 in Fantasy Romance (Books)
#2 in Paranormal Romance (Audible Books & Originals)
Best Sellers Rank: #47,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#1,003 in Vampire Romances
#1,952 in Romantic Fantasy (Books)
#2,001 in Fantasy Romance (Books)
Well purchased, Book Devouring Herd!
Just finished Ruby Fever, and loved everything about it. I certainly hope we have not seen the end of the Baylors, as Arabella and Leon were actually my two favorite characters. That said, it is your brilliant world, and I’m just grateful to be able to visit it.
I’m not done yet, but is it bad that I giggled at the scene where Cornelius is describing how he would kill Linus? And Catalina asked how she could make him feel more valued as an employee. ???? I’m sorry this book was so hard, but you guys have such a gift.
Loved loved loved it! Thank you so much!
From what we’ve heard of the Russian prince, he would not be a good match for Arabella, or, for that matter, anyone, until he grows up some. From what we’ve seen of Michael, well, we haven’t really seen Michael. We know that he is scary, but what do we know about his character? I don’t remember seeing anything that would tell us, one way or another.
When I read about the fire ants, I could not help but think of “The Lady, or the Tiger.” Which side of the prince were the fire ants?
I actually went out and got a physical copy ’cause the soft release meant I could read it just a few precious days earlier… then I closed the book and (after I started it again and re-read, as usual) I whimpered because there was no one to spoiler with! There is too much; I will sum up:
1) Linus & Victoria!!! Vicky-baby, calm and calculated Victoria-Effing-Tremaine, calling Linus a d#ckhead… I had to actually put the book down because I was laughing too hard…
2) Catalina’s Harpy is my new spirit animal… +1, screeching at people who would hurt my loved ones…
3) Arabella’s ships! Let them sail, fierce and free! (PS: “You didn’t win!”)
4) Rogan showing up like “on your left” and squishing a certain cretinous evildoer…
5) I wasn’t really scared of the Keeper of Records before, but now? Oh dear. Baylor House owes a favor to HIM!? Just goes to show: fear the librarians, for they are mighty, and you taste good with ketchup!
6) Alessandro & Catalina, aww. heart-eyes.
3) I’m sensing a future love triangle for Arabella. She’s my favorite character.
Librarians are not to be trifled with!
“fear the librarians, for they are mighty”
This.
Congratulations! #1 Best Seller in Paranormal Vampire Romance
And #12 in Amazon Best Sellers.
Finished round 1. I have the audio as well as Kindle so I’m going to be listening again now that I’m finished reading. Thank you.
Where the hell are they getting vampires from??
I read the WHOLE book instead of working. It was so good. Arabella had me dying laughing at some points. She’s getting her own trilogy right?!???
Thank you for such a satisfying book House Andrews. I read it as soon as it was released and now i am re-reading, because i read it too hastily the first time. So many moments with the characters that we have grown with :
[SPOILER]
Hope catalina and alessandro have a nice vacation, they have been through so much. I laugh when linus said they know who the harpy’s favorite is. Ah alessandro. I feel bad for him too when he contemplates how he makes the women in his life think they need to protect him. World treasure the artisan Count Sagredo.
I adore runa and bern so much, aaaa when she said he should not expect the marriage to be roses. Such a cute couple. Want their novella…
And the grandparents, the manipulative in-their-own-twisted-way-well-meaning meddling grandparents. They so hate to be bored. Victoria is such a great narrator. She and leon will be such a great fight commentator. “Significant ,my foot” had me laughing so much.
So many things that i want to cherish, matilda and cornelius existence, baby prime magic that is still developing, all the bad guys going down. Arabella traveling the world will be a journey i want to take *wink wink*
So many emotions but not enough eloquence
Thank you, all the love for hidden legacy, Ilona and Gordon
and of course Mod R is amazing too.
Also, since Nevada trilogy is tied up to discovery of Victoria, Catalina trilogy is discovering Linus. So Arabella’s will be about Misha Marcotte?
and of course we still dont know Bern’s father and Leon’s father.
Exactly! I still think that Leon’s father is Baranovsky and his is also a precog that works with his Magus Sagittarius magic. Need more Leon.
Hmmm. Interesting. I was wondering if Baranovsky was Michael’s father based on the descriptions of their eyes (whisky, scotch) but I can’t see how their magic could align. Not sure how Leon’s would work either – maybe Berns though….
I can see baranovsky having some “hidden legacy” tho i have not think that leon be one of them. Interesting theory.
I am just now reading White Hot, and… look, I just can’t see Baranovsky taking up with Gisella. Even if he were slumming. (Look, I am not supporting his snobbery here. But Gisella is a hot mess, and that would seem unlikely for him.)
Someone like Adam Pierce maybe (though the timeline wouldn’t work for it to be Adam, I’m fairly sure.)
This dude gets so much credit and I genuinely don’t understand it lol.
He’s just so lame. “It’s so rare for a woman to not talk a lot”. Give me strength. “I have no time for banalities, I collect women, because they are like roses with thorns”. He would totally fall for someone because he thinks she’s dangerous! Women aren’t objects to be collected. A Baylor, even the worst of them, would have no problem.
Look at what the other Primes immediately know about how to get to him “Oh, get a woman in a nice dress and put her in the company of powerful men, preferably throw in some bruises” and the idiot will come buzzing.
Observe Baranovsky approaching Nevada vs Michael Latimer approaching Nevada in the same context. How he continues to get any credit is baffling to me.
I read him as more of a snob? (Which isn’t giving credit, because, especially in his case, it’s built on superficial judgements, but judgements I was guessing Gisella would fail.) I mean, maybe if someone put Gisella in a nice dress, and then she showed off her motorcycle, maybe?
Though I suppose it has been said that she’s manipulative, and entirely capable of passing herself off as a functional adult, so my image of her as emanating hot mess is inaccurate.
Wow! Just WOW!!! What a satisfying book. Loved Ruby Fever
That was insanely good. Just devoured Ruby Fever. Yay! Thank you thank you thank you! And the BDH wants Arabella next….. and more Iron Dogs and more Julie…. and still reading weekly Innkeeper…. Just downloaded Tapas. Wheee!!!!! Sorry- no pressure really, but wow- so much goodness from reading all of y’all’s work in these crazy times. Take care of yourselves- y’all must be exhausted. Thanks again!
My work took a big hit today because of the book duh. I devoured it way too quickly. I loves it and look forward to reading it slowly. Did the keeper of records told them about arcane glyphs or the null sword? And why the sword able to get through the field?
Hi Anna, do you mean why *was* the sword able to get through the field? Just making sure I have the correct question 🙂
Yep why was the null sword able to chop arkan in half? I can see why bludgening hits such as kicks and punches make sense but why a null sword was able. Another question i thought off the Baylors still owe the office of records a favor? Since linus traded his approval for the glyphs right?
On behalf of House Baylor I am grateful that the giant Dinosaur arcane beast got sucked back into its realm instead of becoming another one of
Cornelius’s pets. The food bill would be horrendous!
Also re the Imperium, considering the Emperor decided to not honor the contract that he had authorized, that family would really not be a good one for Arabella to get involved with.
Such a good book.
So on my te-reading, I have now come to the following conclusion (wild idea):
Michael is the Keeper’s son or grandson or some other close family member.
He wants Michael to be happy.
Michael is interested in Arabella.
The Keeper is shipping them.
Linus said no way.
Linus gave up his objection to get Alessandro a way to fight Arkan.
He won’t hinder but he also won’t help.
That explains Victoria’s question about Arabella having any sense re: men and relationships.
Michael is scary but considering his talent, he must also be pretty lonely. Arabella is too, sort of.
And that’s my spoiler take.
(P.s. I am still not happy that theKeeper was not the Bad Guy. But that just shows my bias — nice grandfather wouldn’t do dumb th8ngs against his grandchildren, right? Wrong. Warden first.)
I wrote this first but I will now go back to read E1s other ideas..
What about the bear? She really liked him too what a good book idea. The difficultys. Stay at home or go away.
I was just commenting on what The Keeper wants.
However, I am on Team Mike-abella. I like poor Michael more than the Bear Prince.
I like Michael too — all that scary power: “worst of all, Michael’s indescribable darkness that still clung to me…”
This. My thoughts also.
Just checked… #10 Amazon ebook best seller!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS! Well deserved!
What a wonderful story!
Now I need to spend a week re reading the whole series ????
Thank you for the wonderful end to Catalina’s story. I loved it and had a great deal of fun reading it.
Finished it and all I can say is EEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!! Love love loved it and literally every book House Andrews has published and cannot wait for the next. I’m excited for the exploration into new genres.
Now I am off to go re-read Catalina’s story again for the third time ????✌????
Happy Book Birthday House Andrews!! Already loving the book and Audio book.
May this be day full of all the sales. 🙂
How does administering Osiris serum to mages work? Is the outcome always random? In Xavier and Adam it increased the strength of their existing talents, but for Kaylee, who apparently had no magic, it selected a different strain of her magical heritage than the halcyon one. I know the Keeper speculated about the serum being more effective on a no/low magic person but how does that translate to Adam Pierce who already had off the chats power?
I will ask House Andrews tomorrow and they will give you a more in depth answer, but yes, the outcome is random. That’s why the process of taking the Osiris Serum involved casting the Fata Magum die.
Throughout Catalina’s trilogy we’ve been following the trajectory of the stolen Osiris samples, which were modified by Arkan and his investors to give more and more efficient results. Remember back to Sapphire Flames and how many warped monstrosities they created. I believe Adam is the the illustration of how far they have gotten.
Thanks Mod R!
Could we please have the Konstantin / Nevada snippet and the briefcase snippet? I don’t think those made it into the novels and they are good. Thank you!
Ooh, do you remember what the Konstantin / Nevada snippet was about? I’m not sure if I’ve read it. Thanks!
Catalina asked Nevada to come over to interview Konstantin, and they warn him to be truthful. He replies something like “Truth is my middle name!” and Nevada says “False”…
Sounds like maybe it was taken down since it didn’t actually happen and they don’t want to confuse canon. (ModR said that is why the briefcase snippet was taken down too…so sad…)
Aw, too bad. That does sound like a fun snippet. Thanks for the summary!
Amazing! Worth the wait. Hoping there is more to the series in the future.
Yes answers so many questions. Whos bad whos good. Yes Linus did it…. But.
I loved how everyone was included… Arabella knew from The cool aunt how granddad was. Seemed onlt Catalina didn’t, and she was the most affected but it.
Wow, just wow!!! That was amazing!!! And I’m loving the tapas innkeeper!!! Thank you so much for all the hard work!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. You guys never disappoint. This was a wonderful, wacky rollicking ride. I loved every moment of it.
The Dawson Dawson-Watson bluebonnets painting is lovely 🙂
Is the story of the “little affair involving two foreign Primes and a mysterious briefcase” still available for us to read?
Thanks for sharing this awesome world you have created.
No, it has been edited out of the manuscript and removed from the blog so as to not create confusion with the book canon.
Dear Mor R, can you lobby for a snippet collection – maybe as a self published book? With some bonus scences if HA is so inclined.
Just so the BDH has some deep lore to geek out over? All these goodies need to be preserved for posterity.
I know we are spoiled, but we cannot help it. The drug of choice here, provided by House Andrews is just too good.
+1
I know is stupid but I will Love the idea of Arabella and Augustine together ! Anyone with me?
This will never happen, as was confirmed several times by House Andrews. No one who was an adult who met Arabella when she was 15. https://ilona-andrews.com/2021/busy-busy/
“A word about fictional marriages in our work. The general rule of thumb is, if there is more than a ten year difference and when the two characters first met, one of them was a child, it’s a no. Grooming is an ugly thing.
So no, Arabella – Cornelius/Lenora/Augustine will never happen. We consider that creepy. Derek and Julie had only 6 years and we are making them jump through all sorts of hoops just to have their first kiss. If that happens. #CasuallyEvilWriter, #HowToMessWith Fandom.”
Not stupid, but maybe for some people a bit weird…
Just finished listening to Ruby Fever!! Emily did an amazing job as always and House Andrews knocked it out of the park. Though this story has made me seriously hungry for an Arabella trilogy. I know that won’t be for a while, but i still want it!!!! Love how you guys tied everything from Navada’s story into this one. Victoria’s rant made me both laugh and cry…manly tears of course. I have to say reading a Ilona Andres book makes it really hard to go back to the standard romantic fantasy. See people you can make a female lead who isn’t just a damsel needing a man to save them from their life of mediocrity and the “Alpha male” can be a person, without all the sociopathic tendencies.!!!
+1
Thank you so much. This was wonderful! ❤
Pooh, I was so shipping Arabella and Augustine’s younger brother. Also, I knew Linus was Caesar, but I didn’t expect him to be undercover. Here’s a Curran pic in thanks
Aw the pic is adorable
HA-Thank you so much for Ruby Fever! I forgot it would be released on EST and that was a very pleasant surprise. Reminded me of the midnight book release parties of the past. Stayed up way to late. Thank you for an amazing read! I started reading your books during the pandemic and they have kept me sane. Off to reread!
Samn this was a good read. I could not put it down, believe me I tried….on the other hand: what is sleep good for anyway? I just pull a Baylor and don’t go to bed.
Well deserved happy end and an amazing journey.
I habe to say, I am a bit angry about the Russian Princes being thrown around. Never knew that was story line that would captive my imagination so much 😀 I thought it will be a short and not as productive workday as it would ne otherwise…. dreaming about and Arabella book @.@
Damn the lack of sleep can be observed in my limited ability to correct my auto-correct. Well, you get the gist.
Thanks for this amazing book
OMG that was so fantastic. I tried hard not to read it all at once to savour it but it was impossible! It was totally satisfying, can’t wait to read it again.
Really hope Arabella does get her book but equally I need more Ryder and would love a follow up to Iron Covenant ???? HA Andrews writes the best books!
Loved it!????????????
But I have a really important question????:
Do you have a dog (or knew of a dog) that will try to put its toys in your mouth when you’re upset?????
Yes! I wondered that too!
I also have been wondering about that?
Thank you so much for all the hard work. The book is awesome. I could go on and on about the awesomeness but really – it is just perfect.
Took the day off work yesterday to have time to read it through without feeling bad for missing work/family obligations etc. It was the best day – just sit outside in the sun and read the best book ever.
Laughed so much and cried a bit too. Love Catalina so much, her transformation through the books are such a Hero’s Journey. Love how she makes the magic her own, when she had to suppress it for so much of her life and be afraid of it leaking out. And love how it is not only the bright beaty of golden wings but also the darkness and possesiveness of the harpy. Mine, mine , mine. The scene in the pool is epic.
And of course, I loved Vicky’s rant about Linus – wow, that was just hilarious, and wow did he deserve it!
Thank you so much, best book ever. So many golden moments, can’t wait for this workday to end so I can get another re-read.
I have to admit, I didn’t think there could be a “happy end” for the Ceasar story, but HA prevailed and delivered. So happy the family carnage/imprisonments was limited. Makes my little heart melt
Btw. New random theory most upper level illusion primes get injured in training maybe on purpose – Konstantin and Augustine both have a facial scar, I shall do a comprehensive series reread and try to find more – that scar is one they always need to mask as part of their “training” growing up. Some weird and harmful tradition to perfect illusions.
Who is with me?
Well they are trained for close combat, injuries are common. I dont think anyone would want to mar themselves intentionally. I still maintain that illusion mages can see through illusions of lower mages but not of higher scales. Comments on scars are flexing for them – like i am stronger than you are, i can see your scars. But since they can see each other scars must mean that they have comparable strength. A fight between them would rest on skills outside of their powers.
I can only say thank you, thank you, thank you, the book was my favorite of the Catalina’s book. I almost cried at the end, like i really wanted to cry because it was over. It was perfect, just perfect.
Awesome ???????? Loved the book. Thank you for all your hard work. All the beloved characters made an appearance including Sgt Teddy ???? The story was action packed with comedic moments and romance. The threads were all wrapped up and the Happy Goodbye left everyone in a good place Thanks for a wonderful book
Okay, finally finished. It was amazing as always. I will cherish the book in the following months, as I will be re-reading it again and again and again. Like usually.
I am almost asleep at work. Is anyone else asleep at work?
Anyway…. is it too soon to start talking about the genetic mess and the possible talent outcomes? I mean – Granny Vicky CHOSE Alessandro, so they are compatible with Catalina, but compatible how? My brain gets short circuited, when I try to think about next generation talents.
I think mixed talents may be stronger than the typical House “matching” approach, but less predictable. Nevada and Rohan weren’t supposedly comparable and they have Arthur, who has at least two and possibly four or five talents. Victoria knew that James’ talents wouldn’t manifest because they were too mixed, so there is that risk too, but House Baylor shows that there is more strength in variety than the conventional wisdom acknowledges.
I agree. Honestly, every time someone in the books brings out how a relationship could be doomed because two people’s magics are not matching genetically, I cackle and point at the Baylor House where way too many people have dual magics. The Baylors have so many different types of magic that Arthur got his grandfather’s and that’s not even talking about Arabella who technically didn’t even get her magic from her parents or grandparents.
I think that primes are very specialized and their business follow suits, hence why they are careful to aim for children who have the right kind of magic.
(I also think that you get more interesting magic if you don’t try to control the outcome.)
I just had an interesting thought.
“I think that in all three cases the Osiris serum does exactly what it was designed to do. It searches for latent abilities and makes them manifest. It’s not that those who die aren’t capable of magic, it’s that it is too powerful or too destructive, and their bodies cannot handle it.”
… does that mean that if a magic user finds some dud with a latent magic that fits his talent, it might actually end up in their kids being even stronger?
They are talking about administration of the Osiris serum, not genetic matching of the descendants of those who took it ????
So… there is no chance that the latent magic would boost that theoretical kid’s magic? Oh, okay.
I just thought that if that theory is right, then most of the people have magic (even those that did not get the serum), so the tricky part would be
1) measuring magic in those whose magic did not awaken and
2) making sure that the kid’s magic will awaken (probably matching the perfect amount of strengh).
Well, it was very exciting theory, but I am totally fine with being terribly wrong. 😀
Here for more on Prime genetics ???? https://ilona-andrews.com/2021/on-primes-and-prime-genetics/
I feel exactly the same way! And none of them seem to know what genes may be hiding out either from way back there. And if you have a kid that doesn’t express their magic, so what. Look at the Baylors again – all those different primes from a so called “dud”. The genes are still there waiting for another generation.
And it’s pretty apparent that there’s plenty of hanky panky hiding in the Russian imperial family, too. The bear of Kamchatka?? To think they would kill off their “dud” rather than see what her kids would provide them. And then she expresses venenata with the osiris serum? Really, talk about stupidly short sighted.
Remember that kid in the first trilogy? Dad was a plant mage, mom was an empath and the kid was a Magus Exemplaria.
Though that was partly from Rynda’s (sp?) particular genetics. (Though I’ve wondered if there’s something analogous going with the Baylors, who seem to be borging up any talent who gets close, collectively, anyway…)
My favourite parts of the book were ‘cousin brother ‘ ( do Russians say that too?), The ‘I’ve got this mug’, Arabella’s brawl and every single scene with Leon. I’m not going to ask, just going to say, I will wait patiently for any other stories House Andrews chooses to grace us with. Also, my sympathies for how hard the pandemic made writing. Also, it’s magic how you guys redeem villains.
This book was sublime. I absolutely loved it but of course I need more! There’s at least 20 more books in this universe and I would inhale every single one of them!!
Thank you. Thank you! Thank you!!
Thank you House Andrews! Epic read! Loved the book! Such a gem.
So happy that evil grandmother has some happiness and love at the end of the day. Vicki Baby says it all….And am still reeling from Linus pulling a hulk smash stunt in what I imagine to be an iron man type suit. The Baylors have the most incredible grandparents.
Tough work day trying to stay awake post my feverish reading of Ruby Fever all night….
Haha OMG yes, I was a complete mess at work today, for the exact same reason… *shame on me*
A Harpy. HA have brilliant awesome creative minds
OMG. I take back my comment from the previous post that Arabella is not yet ready for her book. BECAUSE I AM SO READY FOR HERS!
I am still on my Book hangover (Yes I read it in one sitting that is why I am s a robot at work now)..and will comment again once I’ve re-read at least once.
BUT. Arabella and —-acckkkk! How can that short epilogue affect me soooo much. LOL
yeah, that epilogue was prime stuff. I laughed out loud.
Excellent! Stayed up too late last night to finish. I’ll join the chorus hoping Arabella gets an arc, or at least her own book, exploring Michael and a possible Russian connection. Maybe we could give Leon at least a hint of a HEA as well? Anyway, looking for ward to whatever comes next.
Thank you for making this month’s August more amazing to me♡ because Ruby Fever rocks!!!
And I’m so looking forward to Arabella’s story! In the bear ship for now to show off her awesomeness hehehe
Fling only. hehe Remember Liudmilla! I can just see Arabella destroying the whole family to make her escape from Konstantin’s mom. I realize K loves his mom, but really, what kind of person kills the fiancee’ to prevent a marriage she doesn’t approve of? shudder
This series helped keep me sane. (At least for a little while during lockdown.) I started reading Ruby Fever around midnight and finished at 7 this morning. I laughed, I cried, and I shouted for joy and anger. Love these books and hope we have many more to come. Hint: I want to see Arabella’s and Leon’s stories!
Thank you so much for the book! I had already guessed many revelations, for example those concerning Linus, but I loved the twist you made where you didn’t make neither him nor Victoria all bad. I would root for both of them to be fully accepted into the family.
I was surprised at the epilogue though, you tricked us there! I was so sure it would be about Catalina and Alessandro getting married, and then it wasn’t? Haha, I didn’t expect that.
Wanted this book to be longer though, double the length please. I’m not ready to leave them! Can we get more deleated scenes? *wink*
I don’t get why everyone thinks Linus and The Keeper are referring to Michael? The only reason the Keeper would care is if he and Michael were related (as someone else suggested), and I don’t see why Linus would object or why Michael (who lives in Houston and could talk to Arabella at any time) needs permission.
However, The Keeper of magical lineages would definitely have a reason to want the only 2 Metamorphosis primes to hook up. And Mihael turns up shortly afterwards having orders to ‘break’ Konstantins agreement. Linus definitely doesn’t want his grandchild involved with the Russians.
I hope that Arabella gets to have more than 1 relationship before settling down (if in fact she does). Hopefully to someone who is not super powerful, super rich, super well connected and super handsome all at the same time.
It would be nice to get out of Houston/USA for the next book.
Freaking loved it. That was so satisfying to read. Thank you!
I have question about Runa. Before she was studying, what does she do now? Does she live off Bern? Also her younger sister and brother what will they do? It seems the whole family was just absorbed in the bigger Baylor family but they are venettas primes, are they just gonna work as investigators for the Baylor’s? Sometimes it looks like Rina isn’t even head of her family cause her family is now Baylor and Catalina makes the final decisions, that has been bothering me for a while cause in the 1st book Runa was very adamant that the Emerson’s would not be vassals but have a partnership… Also Runa is a badass on her own right I would live for once a little snippet in her pov and how her family is handling everything.
Sorry about the typos** English is not my first language (Love from Portugal) ????
Runa is the Head of her House, she is in a relationship with Bern, but she doesn’t “live off him”. They are close to House Baylor for multiple reasons, but being Head of House, managing its finances and politics and raising two siblings is enough to do 🙂
Hello, thank you for your response! ???? But I still have the same question, sorry but I didn’t get the response… Being head of a House doesn’t actually make money unless the House has a firm/company/agency right?
How does she earn money then…? She was studying before and was quite smart if I recall correctly but doesn’t seem to be working on her field now but like you said is full time Head of the House and raising her siblings… I remember their mom left them some money but I assumed she used part to help in buying the compound (the whole family lives there after all) … Thank you
As an offshoot to this question, will Bern be joining House Etterson, or remain with House Baylor officially? I assume that he will continue to work with the Baylors on investigations, but with other families, there always seems to be one spouse that joins the other’s family and takes their name, so just curious to see what happens in this case….
In Sapphire Flames the House Emerson analysis revealed that the House had an estimated worth of $8 million. Even with the $2 million given to Alessandro, that still leaves $6 million. I’m sure that with those finances, Runa is well able to support herself and her siblings.
It wasn’t clear in the epilogue…
Did Bern join House Etterson?
Did Runa and her siblings join House Baylor?
Or is Runa still head of her house and Bern is still with Baylor and they’re a split house couple? Is that even possible?
It was just answered in the Q&A, Runa will remain Head of House Etterson until Ragnar comes of age. Both of the Etterson ladies are more interested in academic pursuits than House politics. No changes as of yet, but it’s a temporary status ????
Don’t forget that Runa and her siblings’ talents are no doubt in high demand in magical Houston. I mean, she was the Prime Venenata Rogan called in for the poisoned cake in Diamond Fire, and we know how choosy Rogan is about his people.
Ah ok working as venetta specialist makes more sense yah.
I thoroughly enjoyed Ruby Fever. The wait was necessary and the end product did not disappoint, I loved it. Thank you for continuing to stab at it until you felt happy with it. A truly satisfying ending to Catalina’s trilogy. Any future Baylor offerings would be gratefully received whenever. I did like Michael’s meeting with Arabella.
Yes! evocative, rofl.
As an author, I totally understand the drought – it’s been hard on a lot of us, and thank you SO MUCH for pressing on through to the other side.
Looking forward to Arabella’s story, and maybe a look into the Russian side of the world!
Again, thank you for pushing through – and for sharing this wonderful story!
Anyone else give a Yes, Michael! cheer when Penny went to the Hall of Records?
Unfortunately, I’m not Caledenia, and I had to work and sleep yesterday, so I’m just over half way through. Can’t wait for the rest!
So here is what I want to understand: If the scroll sequences the entire DNA, how come Linus connection didn’t show up then? I mean, ‘establishing’ a house is one thing to confirm familial relationships, but sequencing an entire house has to reveal all, right?
What makes you think it didn’t show up? ???? Scroll doesn’t reveal information without consent.
Oh the secrets Scroll knows. I’m convinced Ancestry knows things that families have no clue about. All my husband’s people are from Michigan or Maryland but they keep suggesting some couple from Louisiana as his great-great-great grandparents per DNA and I can’t find where anyone from either side was near there.
Sooooo goood! I can’t wait for the next book.
Finished my first read of Ruby Fever at 2 AM. Work will be hard today.
I have to say that near the end I had a flashback to Nalini Singh’s “Silver Silence”.
Q: “How did this mayhem happen?”
A: “Because bears.”
lolololol I had exact same reaction!
Sigh. That was so good. I cannot tell you guys how grateful I am for the journey you went thru to create this story. I was going to say blood, sweat and tears….but really it’s magic expended, regenerated, expended, regenerated, expended. You regenerate so quickly I know that there is more coming.
BTW, the bit with Calendia reading RF was absolute brilliance. That is why you guys are the most amazing writers I follow. Thank you again!!
Wait, what? When? How? Caldenia reading RF?!?
Here you go 🙂 , a fun promo post: Caldenia reads RF and Arabella identifies with the werewolves in the Innkeeper https://ilona-andrews.com/2022/happy-birthday-to-ruby-fever-and-tapas-innkeeper-chronicles/
Received it yesterday via prepurchase and finished it last night. Very well done. I was hoping for 3 Arabella books but both the length and the way you tied up all the loose ends made for a very satisfying read.
Congrats on a very well written series. Looking forward to the next installment in the Inn Keeper series.
Had pre-ordered audiobook as soon as it became available, in part because Emily Rankin has done such a good job with these and also because I tend to devour print books to quickly and I wanted to savor this one. Then someone very dear to me came home on hospice on the book’s release day (yesterday), and died early this morning. Listening to this story, with all the ups and downs and betrayal and forgiveness and tears and laughter and happy possibilities (not happy “endings”) was so cathartic for me, has helped my tears flow. You guys have given us a lot more than just stories, and I’m grateful.
I’m so sorry for your loss
Well Done!! Very Well Done.. I, like allof BDH-dom, sat and read it all in one sitting. Now I have to go back and re-read to unpack many of the smaller things I saw but didn’t fully absorb. What a great read and series ending novel.
I love Micheal from records always have and he needs someone not scared of him
and Arabella nots someone that not scared of her either, ,the records guy loves Micheal and he will be putting his 2 cents in. I love leon he needs a wife lol too someone grounded that doesn’t overreact but dangerous
OK, stupid technical question here. Ruby Fever is listed on the review from the other day as 384 pages, paperback. My BN e-book version is 291 pages. Wow. A difference of nearly 100 pages! Is that mostly a matter of different back matter from Avon, or does the formatting of paper vs Epub make that much difference? Would an e-book in another format (like Kindle) also have a different number of pages? What about Hardback? (Because Enquiring minds want to know!)
Thanks.
Your formatting choices (alignment, font size, row space) influence the apparent length in the e-formats. If you have 18 Chapters, an Epilogue and a Happy Goodbye, you should be ok ????
You can check the number of pages for different formats on most retailer websites. I just did on Amazon U.K. for you, the hardback comes at 320 pages compared to the 384 of the mass market paperback ????
Finished the audiobook on the way to work this morning and will be listening again shortly. Sooo Goood! Emily Rankin does great voices. Thanks! and I highly recommend it!
Wonderful!!! I loved it! Thank you House Andrew’s!
So, good.
I remember reading Nevada’s trilogy and thinking Linus was Caesar; then changing my mind when Catalina’s first book came out with the warden revelation. I had third thoughts in her second book with the bitterness about the deal with the psionic who cause that riot. I was very happy with the way it played out, it felt very realistic.
Also, loved his reaction to Arthur’s baby machine gun.
Arabella should have 3 books as well. That’s all I have to say.
Well, I should also add I thought Ruby Fever was pretty epic and fantastic.
But Arabella should have 3 books.
And Leon should probably have 3 books too.
+100000
Agreed, because I think Leon’s father might be Baronofsky and he’s the secret heir to billions. Plus I’d love a romance from the male point of view. Leon is such a witty smart ass, his head would be fun to rummage around in for a few years.
I also want to see Nevada’s children grow up, same way I want to see Kate’s children grow up. I miss Kate and Curran so much.
The blog from 07-28-2022 has links to deleted scenes. I’ve been saving that email for after reading Ruby Fever. Thank you for them. They are adding flavor and context.
One question that I do have about the Cool Aunt link to Emerald Blaze. Victoria is at the hospital checking out Arthur with Trevor and Grandpa. I’m assuming that was Linus. Did you change your minds about Arabella knowing about Linus?
Arabella does know about Linus 🙂 . She is dropping several hints for her sister in Ruby Fever and Catalina spectacularly misses every one hehe. Look at it this way, if one of your sisters was a Truthseeker and the other one knew everything there was to know because she’s a boffin, wouldn’t you relish knowing something they don’t 😀
Was it confirmed to be Linus in the hospital?
Not in The Cool Aunt, but yes after Ruby Fever. Linus is grandfather.
Husband: What are you reading, some silly romance?
Me: No, it’s really serious – they are discussing medieval Polish monarchy.
Husband: No way! Show me!…… That’s so cool! I’ll start naming random spiders found in our house with kings’ names, it’s going to be fun! Oh, BTW, are you taking the book to work? (looking innocent and asking for absolutely no reason)
Has anyone else addressed the question of why neither Penelope or Frida recognized Linus Duncan’s resemblance to James?
I got the impression from what Nevada said (that she didn’t know until she saw a picture of younger Linus) that since Linus is much older than James ever was the resemblance isn’t that stark. Plus, Linus had facial hair, which obscures quite a few features. That’s just my thought on it though.
Not a bad thought but then Alessandro sees the resemblance between Linus and Catalina right away. It just seems that if he could see it, Catalina’s mother could see it, as well or better.
I’ve not seen that discussion, but James was a lot younger than Linus is now when he(James) died, so I think it’s quite possible they wouldn’t realise. I got a huge shock when I was in my forties and one of my reletives remarked on how much I looked like my (deceased) mother. When I really looked at myself in the mirror I could see what she meant, but it never crossed my mind before that.
I think they knew. James knew Linus was his father and I believe he would have told them, also. It’s why G. Frida was always so informal with speaking with Linus, IMO.
+1
Your comment just reminded me of Grandma Frieda asking Nevada in an earlier book if Linus “still has that hot, dark-eyed Scottish thing going on”. She’d seen him when they both served in the military together, and Nevada says that she saw a picture of when Linus was in the service and that he looked EXACTLY like James.
Grandma Frida’s objection to Penelope and James’ marriage now makes WAY more sense, given that bit in the latest book. Everyone talks about which Baylor girl is like which grandparent, and I think sneaky, cunning, and earthy Arabella gets a LOT from Grandma F!
Just finished the book. Loved it. I hope there will be more. Thanks for such consistently great reads!
In one of the first 3 books
Linus says he hates Being bored.
When Victoria gets locked up
Shes walking in the garden path with someone . He says à similar phrase
About how they both hâte to be bored. Also who else but the Warden wouldbe allowed to be inside her facility with her.
Get her out and into the hospital.
Also i think arabella knew Linus was her grandPa. She said so when she took the baby away from victoria in the hospital in the special editions.
My favorite in the newest book was Arthur. I think nevada is going to have her hands full.
Can not wait for Pov.s. they are fun to read
“What do you want?” Linus asked, his tone blunt.
“You know my price.” the Keeper’s tone matched Linus’.
(unsaid except in my head) “Eat the whole chicken.”
What an absolute joy to read! Thank you so much for tying up so many ends so neatly and beautifully! I’ve read through it once already and know I need to go through it again to get all the parts I missed! There are so many parts that made me giggle, try to explain to my spouse and gasp about!
I’m looking forward to whatever writing you all pursue next! Also hope that you all get a breather and rest on the laurels of wonderful work you have done during a really really really hard creative time.
I understand why this was a tough book to write. Two chapters in was enough to feel the weight of duty and emotional pressure on Catalina. It resonates strongly with the fear and uncertainty that we are all experiencing in recent times.
Things I love about this book and House Andrew’s writing style:
Hints at Arabella’s predatory nature. The Michella ship tease is hilarious. That all members of House Baylor have a specific niche and are expressing their value. Prime genetics having a nuanced heritage, complex intertwining of traits, and not simply dominating out lesser genes. The fact that no one’s power makes them evil, and that it is the choices which define these characters. The grandparents airing dirty laundry. The honesty and vulnerability between Catalina and Alessandro, because it reminds me of how I feel about my husband, and how much he loves me. The Russian cultural references. Runa, because she looks like me and I rarely see “people who glow in the dark” among the redheads described in books. She is the right kind of spicy, and makes me want to be a venenata mage, too.
This book is excellent. Congratulations on persevering and completing the trilogy. If you do decide to continue with Arabella’s story, then I eagerly await her perspective and problem solving style.
+1 Well said!
I just bought Ruby Fever! Since this is the final book and it’s been awhile since I’ve read Emerald Blaze I’m starting the series over. I’m looking forward to readings things I may have missed. Thank you for writing all these stories and worlds I’ve so enjoyed!
QUESTION FOR TONIGHT (I am registered, whoo hoo!): They’ve gotten the five samples, I believe but Arkan was refining and selling updates. Are those updates still around and available, even if Arkan is stomped out of existence?
I love this series and hope you will write more books from any of the characters point of view.
I loved the insight into adult Arabella. In the first three books she was a teenager and all the thought processes was Nevada and Penelope worried she’d blow up and get them all in trouble, at least until Wildfire when she stepped up and took out the summoned monster, and still hated maths. (Everyone hates long division). Now? She’s the practical one who makes sure all the bills are paid and manages the finances of an entire House.
And the spoilers!
I really enjoyed Victoria yelling at Linus and getting everything off her chest. It seemed like she kept that reserve locked down for two generations.
And then there’s the thing I loved we didn’t see. Alessandro’s mother chatting with Penelope and Frida. That would’ve been interesting.
And no one caught the spider! (yet) I was half expecting the spider to kill Arken.
Thanks for the novel and the series, HA. You really made this one feel like the topper on the wedding cake before it got blown up by the evil grandfather in law.
That would have been hilarious, badass Arkan brought down by a 15,000 spider. 😀
I KNEW IT!!!!
Ahem. That is all.
I’m sad I missed this discussion live. Vicky Baby completely losing it is the best thing I’ve read all year. I loved every second of that rant. I’m not a huge fan of humanizing or redeeming villains but given the amazing turnaround Hugh got, I have faith in HA. I will however join team Nevada for now and keep her at arm’s length.
It was great to get confirmation that Linus is/was Ceasar/grandfather but what I need to know is when Arabella found out. She’s known for a while given what we read in Cool Aunt but when and how? I know if we ever get Arabella’s book she will have multiple potential love interests but I’m honestly not mad at any of the options because they each bring something unique to the table. Which means I won’t be stressed by whoever she ends up with. Love that for me.
Is it disturbing that I want to see more of baby Arthur making weapons out of random things?
I’m off from work tomorrow so I’ll be rereading the book to see what I missed.
Arabella is extremely observant. She immediately placed Stephen Jiang in the soap opera they once watched, based on a supporting character appearance.
She is also very quick and intelligent. People underestimate her, at their own peril, because for some reason funny and direct translates to “stupid”. Big mistake. She sees a context, she draws the conclusion. The man is lovingly cuddling the baby. The man looks like dad. The man is with my grandma and they’re both cooing in the same way. He’s watching over our family, and he dotes on me.
Maths may not be her favourite, but she can manage 2+2 ????
Not just funny and direct. There is also petite, cute and curvy. Plus … blond.But it is so useful to be underestimated.
Killer fashion sense, too
+1,000
I’m glad I’m not the only who noticed it.
I also thought in the Cool Aunt she pulled one of the colours (Beast powers – she said she has a rainbow and can pull which ever one she likes/needs) and she followed it down the hall (it was like seeing someones magic or relation or like a werewolf following a scent) so she already knew it was her grandparents in there with baby Arthur and as soon as she opened the door she saw who those grandparents were, V&L.
She also used it to know how many people where around but hidden when Nevada was having the baby, and she used a different colour when she wanted to be strong and opened the panic room door with the cat inside that the embezzeler lady was holding hostage.
I remember one blog post after the writing of Ruby Fever started to be fun again about a scene where one of the most self-controlled characters totally loses it and there is much swearing, and the two of you were typing and swearing and laughing and having a great time.
I must admit that Victoria Tremaine being the one never crossed my mind – you do have several others who were possibles. Marvelous scene – wonderful rant. LOVED it!
I absolutely loved this book ❤️
Honestly, this ranks up with Burn for Me as one of my all time favorites in the series. It was a spectacular ending to Catalina’s trilogy, and I really loved seeing Catalina and Alessandro tackle responsibilities as partners and heads of the family. We never really got to see Nevada and Connor as co-heads of their House, so I think this was one of my favorite aspects of the book (next to Vicki, Baby & the the battle royal with the prince, of course ????)
Thank you, House Andrews.
Now, I’m off to go listen to the audio book so I can re-experience it ????
(But I will also never stop hoping for Arabella and Leon books)
I have a completely insane thought for Arabella shippers. What if it’s Bug?He went into the armed forces at 18 and then left, he could be mid to late 20s, right? So it’d be B Bella shippers. *evil grin*
They’d drive each other nuts. I think I love it !
No one who has met Arabella as a child whilst they were an adult.
The ice cube dialogue was my favourite scene.
Loved: Bunnyson. It’s the littlest details that get me some time. <3
Did I miss the capture of the spider in my barreling through to the end?
And do we now have conspiracy theories with shipping Arabella and Mihail?
(and as an aside, what a great week, 2 new books this one and the latest Mercy Thompson series, and I learned I won some state fair of Texas ribbons in photography. This is a good week.)
The spider has not been captured by the end of the first epilogue.
Oh and Linus as the Caesar, I knew it from the get go. 🙂
And I need more Matilda. So much more Matilda. And aw, Cornelius calls the Baylors family. *sniffs*
This was a great conclusion to the Catalina trilogy. I hope we get to enjoy more adventure with her and Alessandro in a future novella or two.
And Woohoo, I guessed a long time ago that Linus was also Cesar based on something he said to Victoria when he visited her in prison. It’s nice to know that I caught the clue and came to the right conclusion!
I want an Innkeeper novella where Conlan, Arthur, and Helen hang out together and wreak havoc.
YES!!!
+1000 Maybe a throw away snippet like the ones with Arabella and Caldonia each enjoying the other’s world. 🙂
( Curtsying low, bowing head) Magnificent as ALWAYS!
Thank you
OMG My spell check is awful! Curtsy! Forgive me I have Covid
No worries, fixed! Hope you feel better soon!
Augustine and… Diana Harrison? Countess Sagredo
Aargh! I have too many ships in my harbor. Don’t want more possibilities in my port. I can’t handle it…
Aahhh! Too late. Now I am remembering that Diana called Augustine to retrieve Matilda in Sapphire Flames.
Augustine x Cornelius?!?????
Yes!
I’m all kinds of sad because I am waaay down here in Australia waiting for my paper copy to arrive. I need a real book because I have to have tangible words to hold and stroke (and at which to mutter “my precious”)! That postman better not stop for lunch.
Thank you for Ruby Fever. Thank you for Runa and Berns wedding. I have loved their romance. It seemed like Bern knew he loved her almost immediately. I wanted to cry when he said he was going home.
Loved it and glad so many threads were wrapped up – but my irrational fear of spiders meant that I spent the whole book reassuring myself that the spider was a minor plot point that would soon be contained, and as I was reading I just kept wondering “but how are they all so comfortable just hanging out in a house where they know a large spider is on the loose?”. Megalomanic assassins? Morally questionable grandparents? Surprise relatives? Meh. Large totally natural spiders? Flee the area, surround self with a fire moat. And then the spider being pretty much the one unresolved thing introduced in this book … painful.
Ruby Fever was excellent and a good semi-conclusion to the series (hopefully not a permanent one but a nice pause), and I will definitely re-read. Just know that in my head they found the spider off-page before the end scene with Bern & Runa and nobody tell me otherwise.
Those of you took the day off to read it had the right idea. (I am retired. Everyday is the day off) I read it through in the morning, bits and pieces around noon, and again in the afternoon. Broke a dinner date with my sister. But i had after dinner time with her when finished.
Soooo happy for Arabella. She found someone to play with!
School started Monday or I would have taken sday off. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ruby Fever.
Mod R,
I keep seeing mentions of the BDH having manifest powers for new books. I just finished RF and desperately need Arabella’s love story. How can I be apart of this “manifestation”?????
House Andrews, thank you so much for all the hard work you put into this series!!! It’s my all time favorite and Ruby Fever did not disappoint!
I know i’m not the first to mention but this is hilarious: “#1 in Paranormal Vampire Romance”
The book is so good it’s #1 in a category that doesn’t even apply!
That made me laugh out loud and I agree with that thought.
Jadwiga does have fangs and drinks bodily juices. And Cornelius summoned bats.
IT WAS SOOOO GOOD!!!! Thank you!
No pressure, but I cannot WAIT for Arabella’s story. The thought fills me with so much squeee!
Ya’ll are dangerous. Bought it. Downloaded it. Couldn’t stop reading it. Now I want more again. Truly food for the BDH.
Having read all of your books (each series is a favorite) multiple times, I want you to know that your characters and their stories are my go-to feel free good whenever I need something familiar and deeply engrossing.
This last book, and the other five – each was worth the wait. They are simply wonderful. I have the the new Ruby Fever, both book and on audible, having read and listened to both since released on Tuesday. I love the Baylors and thank you so much for your dedication to the best stories.
I love that baby Arthur was Arabella’s date to the wedding.
That. Was. Absolutely. Awesome!
Thank you.
Now, rest 🙂
I just need to stop in and say Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
That was so beyond magnificent. I couldn’t be happier. I’m going to hate myself later bc I haven’t graded anything and I have grades due this weekend but it was so worth it.
Y’all are magic and I love you. Thank you for sharing your gift yet again. I’m so glad I’m still alive and got to read the end of the story.
LOVED Ruby Fever! Thank you so much for all the care and time you put into your writing. I understand why you don’t want to put any dates out or tell us what you are working on— because we NAG! LOL! I’m just as guilty of the rest of the BDH. I hope we get an Arabella trilogy, but whatever you write and whenever it comes out, I’m buying it!
Am on my 2nd re-read. How can Leon out-earn Alessandro? “Only Leon earned more” threw me.
Leon grew up in the PI business. He has contacts in Houston. He is un-encumbered by House politics because as far as everyone knows, he is a dud.
Alessandro is taking it all from the beginning and he makes a splash.
Hope this helped ????
ah yes that makes sense. Sleep addled brains don’t process too well.
Thanks Mod R!
Just wondering — am I the only one that thinks that Konstantin is also a potential match for Arabella? It does seem like Michael and Mihail are stronger possibilities (and I’m still rooting for Stephen Jiang), but I kind of liked the idea of it given his misplaced feelings for Catalina and Arabella having zero respect for Konstantin and his family.
Separately, I loved how they dealt with the whole Caesar storyline. I had been wondering how they were going to redeem Linus on that front, but it was so clean and quick. Yay!
I was thinking this at the beginning of the book or those very same reasons….BUT I think Konstantin isn’t a good match for her based on his powers and lifestyle e.g. deep cover ops. Plus it feels skeevy if he was interested in Catalina then suddenly liked Arabella.
Left field theory – Konstantin propositioned Catalina as a tactic to get he to make Alessandro promise to live. Konstantin ships Alessandro/Catalina md wants to help them get their HEA ????
Konstantin is a manipulator, every action calculated. He had to have known he stood no chance against Alessandro for Catalina’s love. He calculated every interaction while with the Baylors. I also got the impression that he has or immunity to her siren powers because he was reasonably unaffected by her wings.
There are only 2 ways to not be affected by Catalina’s wings: 1. You already actually love her, with real love, not the magic induced artificial obsession and 2. You put your beliefs above what a mental mage can do, so you’re not influenced- see Lenora Jordan’s utter devotion to the law or the Baylor’s paediatrician caring about her patience’s lives and health above all.
Guess which category Konstantin is in? ????
I got the impression Catalina had figured out how to show off her wings without pushing her magic out. And it took her over 20 years to figure it out.
But I could be wrong, and the Russian Prince is so in love with his mother than nothing else matters but manipulation for the Empire.
The text establishes very clearly that Konstantin is inlove with Catalina ????
WOW! RF just blew me away! I read it so fast, I know I missed some bits but am listening to the audiobook so that will slow me down. ????
Thank you HA for another fantastic book!
The Q&A session (with spoilers) was wonderful – thanks for the clarifications and more insight into Augustine.
Can’t wait for whatever project you decide to do next – it’ll be a hit no matter what and the BDH will never be disappointed. ????
I just finished reading Ruby Fever. School started this week or I would have been done earlier yesterday. I will be rereading thisDue to the fact there are so many the story lines have been wrapped up that I want to reread the whole series again so that I can make sure I didn’t miss anything. Thank you for another wonderful Thank you for another wonderful Book. I realized I wanted to revenge saying Fox is off topic but I want you to know that you reach young. One of my students I have this year her mother buys your books and she’s reading it I don’t know which series she’s in but we did have a discussion and that it makes my day that 9ne of my students is reading about series or author that I’m reading.
It was amazing, thank you so, so much. I loved the smackdown on Arabella + Cornelius relationship notions, “what would they do, put me in prison?”, and the satisfying wrap up of all the threads.
My first thought when I finished this was wow, SO TIGHTLY edited. Previous books I felt like HA could relax a bit with the dinner scenes, sprawl a bit as it were. This one it felt like “nope nope places to be, things to do, threads to wrap up!” I applaud the skill necessary to pull off the herculean task of wrapping everything up in such a satisfying way.
Totally worth being tired at work today! Looking forward to the re-reads.
that was my feeling too – this book could easily been slower and have more fill in, but I think Avon does a max word count which is a real shame.
Very curious. Why is the female eldest scion of House Dolgorukov Inna Dolgorukov, not Dolgorukovna? Is there a detail I’m missing about Russian names?
Thank you to House Andrews, I know this book was hard to write but it was pure joy to read.Like most of the BDH I stayed up late & read all the way through via ebook. Then immediately downloaded the audiobook & started listening to it. I am deliriously tired from the past 2 days & well worth it.
RF/Hidden Legacy World Thoughts:
Augustine trilogy is one my greatest hopes & wishes
I had been neutral about Arabella until this book & I seen how ModR mentioned if the Arabella book(s) get written it would be several years in the future. However I am rooting for Michael from Office of records his magic is so unique, he’s mysterious & has intrigued me since Nevada’s books. I do not ship the Russian prince M as he was immediately & unnecessarily violent & abusive with Arabella. Yes she could handle her own but he didn’t know that when he went bear hulk. Not to mention disrespectful & entitled. His own brother showed signs of not respecting him.
I mean, Mad Rogan was immediately and unnecessarily violent in Burn For Me, wasn’t he?
So it is an option. I don’t see Arabella leaving House Baylor, so the Russian prince is probably a non-starter. But I’m sure it would be fun to explore.
It’s difficult to do a fun romantic adventure in Eastern Europe story with the current event news right now, but it would be nice to get out of Houston for a bit. There’s literally a whole well-built world of options for an Arabella trilogy.
The world building is so well done in Hidden Legacy. If I had one question for HA, it would be: Did you have the concept of the Warden of Texas rolling around in their minds during Burn For Me? There’s no appearance, and we don’t meet Linus Duncan until White Hot, and Burn For Me makes it feel like there is no law that applies to the Primes except Lenora Jordan. We learn that’s not true in the Catalina trilogy.
Thank you this was wonderful! I’m looking forward to my husband reading it out loud next. But I want to know what happened to the spider…
I have a question about House Etterson. We learnt from Nevada’s story that you cannot be a part of 2 houses. So what does Bern & Runa getting married mean for both of their houses? I don’t see Bern leaving House Baylor…
It was answered tonight during the Q&A: Runa is staying Head of House Etterson until Ragnar will come of age, a similar arrangement to Nevada’s (without the emergency exit). Neither Runa nor Halle have interest in House politics, they are more academically minded. But the Ettersons will remain a House and when Ragnar takes over he will probably establish it separately from House Baylor, whilst still being allies. For now, in this temporary status until he comes of age, they will remain in the House Baylor compound ????
Thank you. Makes sense 🙂
Just curious — was there ever a draft of a scene where Nevada and Catalina find out that Arabella knew about Grandpa Linus since Arthur’s birth?
Loved it. I desperately hope we get Arabellas’story at some stage . Am about re-read slowly. You guys rock
Loved this. So many threads wrapped up, some in quite unexpected ways. One thread I was expecting to find had to do with Patricia’ wife and her troubles. I was so sure that would be part of the plot and that Michael Lattimer would be the cousin. Love seeing Matilda grow up. And as always, I’m crazy about Leon.
Hi Kelly,
you are right, Michael Latimer is the cousin- for the story of Patricia’s wife, you want this previously released deleted scene from RF https://ilona-andrews.com/2022/regina/ ????
Wow! Thanks, Mod R. I have been studiously avoiding all snippets and deleted scenes so that I wouldn’t spoil the book. I guess I can go back and read them now.
I just finished it…???????????????????????????????? it’s suuuuperb.
I loved it ..and on three separate occasions I burst out laughing so hard I spilled my food and coffee..lol
It was really really great cooking dear House Andrews ..and thankyou for this great feast:*
God bless your brains and your pens.. thank you so very much ????????????
Happy book birthday!????????
Amazing work HA. I just finished reading through and all that is going through my mind is Wow! Wow! Wow!
I know you had difficulties finishing the book but it was exceptionally well written, a masterpiece.
Thank you for this. Let me go and start my reread. Coming back with questions..????????????????♀️
I just LOVE the scenes where Leon comes in, because I know it’s about to get sarcastic here. I’d love to read his story. His mind is just so fascinating. I still can’t help but laugh whenever I remember his commentary regarding the mercenaries dying in Nevada’s series.
House Andrews you are amazing. I love everything you write but first discovered your work with Burn For Me so I have a particular soft spot for the Baylor family. Ruby Fever was a joy from start to finish Thanks!
Um… absolutely fricking amazing. I know it was hard to write but it was one of the best. Thank you guys so much.
I need more Arrabella… whenever you guys can get it to us of course (if you want… if we’re really really really good???).
Seriously, I have a 9mth old and I was flipping between reading the book I bought and listening to the book I rented from Libby. Hubby was laying by me, nudging me with his head and gently growling trying to get attention and I was like, I ONLY HAVE 36 MINUTES LEFT IN THE BOOK.
Bravo, House Andrews. You two are phenomenal. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for this story. I know there were times when you absolutely despised it, but it was well worth the wait.
I have SO much to say, but I’m still processing. What I can acknowledge is I’m so relieved not to be suffering from Post Book Depression like I thought I would. I was already looking for ways to stave it off. However, the ending was so well done, it left me feeling relieved and…well…happy.
Now I can go and daydream about the future of the characters in the Hidden Legacy verse with a sense of completion.
Whether we do or do not get an Arabella book, I feel like all the questions have been answered.
Absolutely wonderful.
I thought Linus was Caesar and Grandpa but couldn’t figure out how he could be the figure head behind a group that killed so many people and be an absentee father/or as mentioned a sperm donor dad that had been excised from his house when he was a Duncan from a respected family.
Forgot to take into account his Warden Duties and that he was young and not the respectable older gentleman that his is now when their dad was born.
Nicely wrapped up and love Victoria losing her s#!t at him. So great. And yeah your just as bad as I was but no one blames you. You Go Girl.
i also must thank you for the reprieve, half way through the book, were everyone made it home safe and it was like, ok take a breath, breathe, and then i looked at the clock, realised it was 11.30pm and i had to go to sleep so i could go to work in the morning.
My husband told me to set the alarm for 10.30pm so i’d go to sleep then (he was away) and he came home today and asked, well how long did you read too, oh you’ve still got half to go, well you want be making dinner tonight then will you (it was my turn).
Just finished Ruby Fever! LOVED it! Thank you for finishing it and I hope we are “pleasantly surprised” in the future with more adventures from this amazing world you created! Thank you again!
OMG this book killed me ><)
Am I the only one who need an alternate ending where Alessandro die and Catalina follows Konstantin to Russia ??
Like so many others, I stayed up way past my bed time to read it on the day it came out. (And that’s after I had intended to leave it for next week when I’m on holiday…) And yesterday, I started to reread it again a bit more leisurely.
Loved it. So glad to finally have the conclusion to both the Catalina trilogy and a lot of the unanswered questions from the Nevada trilogy.
And so glad that they got their Happily ever after.
The epilogue of the Nevada trilogy drops a very strong hint that Linus is Caesar, something which absolutely didn’t fit with everything we learn about him in the Catalina books. I’m so glad to finally have that issue cleared up.
Matilda is soooo cool.
Would love to have a Matilda trilogy. And an Arabella trilogy. And…
So many funny dialogues. You have a true gift!
I love finally learning a bit more about Victoria’s point of view. The Evil Grandmother finally isn’t quite as evil as she was portrayed. Wow. There’s just one thing I’m still having an issue with: she was the one who peeked under the hex so Adam Pierce could play with the Eye of Shiva. How does that work with her just becoming a criminal for Linus and Linus only manipulating behind the scenes? Wouldn’t they have tried to stop this before it got so far? Even with them expecting Connor to stop Pierce, Connor was known for not being able to stop once he started.
And the other thing that kind of surprises me: Arabella is known to be bad at maths. How does she end up as the financial manager of the family? (I understand about her being the one to go out to “remind” clients about their payments.)
Managing finances in the modern world does not involve pen and paper long division ????.
Especially if they keep teaching long division in a way that doesn’t make it easy to calculate on the spot. Which one of the trial conductors commented on, iirc.
Ha! Knew Alessandro’s mother would have to show up at some point! Good for her! Although I wish we had more Grandma Frida, and am somewhat disappointed at the reasoning behind the Caesar reveal. I do hope we might get at least one Leon or Arabella book at some point (when the authors are ready to come back to this world).
Spoiler!
When nevada showed up in the office, and Connor showed up to kick Xavier’s butt???? Had to put the book down and internally scream. I LOVE ARABELLA. But I always get attached the most to the first characters I encounter. And I loveeeee Nevada.
Thanks for the great read <3
I stayed up all night last night to read in one go and I feel that quick read doesn’t do this awesome book justice. I LOVED it. I know it wasn’t a joy to write and so there is extra appreciation for author’s creativity and work that went into this. I love the Hidden Legacy world and whether there are more books or not, I’ll always be happy to re-devoure them.
PS: “Vicki baby…” lol
I am confused by one point (at least for now). When Penelope Baylor is attacked at the Record Keepers Catalina is concerned because her mother’s top speed is 5 mph (miles per hour). That is fast, that is a 12 minute mile. I wish I could go so fast.
So the question is, is that correct because for many of us folks that is a very good speed and I certainly wish I could walk/joggle/jog/skip/run 5 miles in a one hour?
Maria, top speed refers to a sprint. Average human athlete sprint at 15 mph. If Penelope has to run as fast as she can, her top speed is only 5 mph.
And I think the difference here is also that many of us are not under threat of magical attack by psychopaths and our families don’t have to worry about us escaping quickly enough.
Although I admit I would super like to be able to do a 5 minute mile and it would probably take someone lobbing arcane infused projectiles at me to achieve that ????
I am working on 3 mph and will be very happy to reach that goal.
There was a point where I could sustain a 9 minute mile for a few miles, and I was *so* gleeful about it. (Keep in mind, I’m 5’11”, and have long legs even for that height. But for other reasons, running is never going to come easily.) Right now? Ahaha, no. And I don’t think even arcane infused projectiles would be enough to keep me going at a 5/min/mile pace for more than a couple of blocks, if that!
Oh, Thank you for the book. I have the audiobook and really need to listen to it several more times as it really “reads” as if it is two to three books all in one. Which is a good thing. The characters must have totally been exhausted at the end and are so glad the authors are moving on to another project, they need the vacation. A nice beach, or spa somewhere in Fiji perhaps.
When I saw the Amazon package at my door it made my day!
While I’ve enjoyed all of your books I admit Hidden Legacy series is my absolute favorite so I will cross my fingers for this series to continue. I liked how the pieces all fit together at the end but with just a hint of more to come…so we will see. In any case, thank you for bringing this wonderful story to life! I loved it!
House Andrews, thank you so much for Ruby Fever. It’s got everything, and the surprises gave me many OMG moments. About to start my second read, and find the stuff I missed the first time.
I highlighted this, because it made me laugh out loud: “I was hissing in your face. How it that pouting?” “Your hissing was endearing”
Forget the Russian empire – I cannot wait for Michael and Arabella.
I waited until 00:01 on the 23rd to get the book for Kindle, then I read it through the night until the end. Yesterday, I read it for the second time. Now I am listening to the audio version. I really loved the way the narrator performed Alessandro’s voice.
Thank you so much for the book and for Catalina’s whole story. It was awesome.
What I loved the most was the interaction between the families and houses inside the Baylor’s compound, how Runa and her siblings were kind of adopted into the family, how Matilda interacts with all of them, how comfortable Augustine feels to just come inside, sit and eat with them. House Baylor is forming strong alliances/friendships and that is awesome.
I hope you will come back and write Arabella’s story in the future.
I would love to know Leon’s magic rank. He deserves not be called a dud.
I was hoping for Arabella/Augustine love story. Age difference should not be a problem.
Age difference *is* an issue, so is adults having romantic relationships with those they met and had power over as children. There will be no Arabella/Augustine, Cornelius, Lenora etc in the books as confirmed by House Andrews multiple times https://ilona-andrews.com/2021/busy-busy/
There will also not be shipping of children and sexualising children, especially with adult characters, in the comment section.
I googled “young Italian prime” and got pictures of a prime minister. ????
I don’t think Google has quite caught up with Hidden Legacy or the BDH yet ????
So glad that the Morgan grandchildren are going to be protected. I did worry a bit about them at the end of Emerald Blaze.
And as the Keeper of Records seems to be bothered that Cornelius has not gotten retested, it must really bug him that Leon has not been tested at all.
The Keeper reminds me of the sinister Terry Pratchett character who is in charge of coats of arms in Ankh Morepark.
At least the spider did not show up during the wedding. Would have made a great cake topper!
My bet is that Arabella and Matilda caught Jadwiga right after Arabella put on clothes and ate breakfast after the fight with Mihail.
Something needed to pay for the wall repair.
This is how I picture Victoria.
Once upon a time the Beast of Cologne met the Bear of Kamchatka. They fought to a draw. If they got together would there be cubs it little beasties?
So its official. 2/3 a large bag of potato chips for Ruby Fever, only 1/2 a bag for Patricia Briggs latest (I reined myself in). Back to back reads and very short on sleep. Ruby Fever was read first 🙂 Best parts of Ruby Fever are: YES! Vicky, Baby… that was the best scheming G’ma gone crazy with frustration at being headed at the pass and shifty Grand Daddy ‘oopsie, sorry about that’moment ever! … Also Bear meets Beast. Bear gets a huge shock and a set down Royale, LOL. Not sure he learned anything though, LOL…Many other lovely moments, including Jungle Book with Miranda. And Arthur’s toy hee hee. Concerning Michael the Record Keepers’ power, I think it is Arcane maybe? But I’m not really sure. Also, did the Keeper want Cornelius to re-test? Because he definitely is not a Significant, he’s a bit higher than that I think. And Leon has said he is not going to test because he wants to be a Dark Horse. Does he still feel that way?
Unpopular take but Catalina is kinder than me because i would NEVER get over someone threatening to hurt my nephew or my sister while she was pregnant with my nephew. Idc if they were joking or overstating. Not ever. And if it was my child? The family would not be having pleasant weddings- it would be on sight for life. Threaten my baby and I’m magic? and they’d find pieces of you for the next 200 years. That’s the line For me- that was worse than anything the book said Linus did.
It was so wonderful! I loved all the family interactions. I couldn’t wait when I heard about the soft release so I went and and bought the first paper book I’ve read in years. Now I’m happily in the middle of my 3rd reread on my kindle.
I always think whatever series I’m reading (or rereading) of yours is my favorite but HL is really up there in the most rereads category.
I will eagerly read whatever you choose to write. While still hoping you find excitement in a future Arabella or Leon getting their HEAs.
Thank you for pushing through and delivering such an exciting and joyous book.
love, love, loved this book. I cannot believe that the House Andrews said in the past that they did not like it. I for one, loved it, and am fixin’ to re-read at leisure over Labor Day Holiday. I hope that we see more of the Baylors and their friends in the future.(Not so far in the future as I am 74!). Now eagerly awaiting Innkeeper tomorrow.
Loved it!!!
Three questions though
1. It was mentioned a few times in Emerald and now in RF that Arabella takes care of the family’s finances. Why? She was the one that had such trouble with math as shown at her magic trials?
2. As Catalina, Linus, & Arabella were on the way to the record keeper’s Arabella says”he (Linus) thought he was wrong once, but he was mistaken”. Is this something/sometime specific that we know about???
3. Not really a question, but…Woooo! Arabella & Michael(record keeper’s assistant) or Michel (bear of Kachatka) sitting in a tree, KISSING……????
1. Managing an investment portfolio and finances has very little to do with pen and paper arithmetic. A calculator can sort that out. Accounting programs exist in this world too.
2. I will ask ????, we may not be meant to know just yet.
3. Wooohooo!
Arabella says”he (Linus) thought he was wrong once, but he was mistaken”.
This is an old logic joke.
Linus thinks he is never wrong, but then he thinks he has made a mistake, and then realizes his original answer was correct. It was in thinking his original answer was wrong that he makes a mistake – ie, he’s fallible.
Sorry, didn’t read the back question thread before posting my questions. So, I get the finances thing now. Accepted that being good at math is not required.
Also, to those wondering about Linus removing his objections, but not facilitating… I caught it on the second read through…”as darkness crept out of the alcove” (forgive this not really being a direct quote, but my tablet is old enought that I can’t actually flip back and forth). I took this as Michael’s version of a “squee” in the background that he could now pursue Arabella.
I was sad that Regina was shuffled off out of harm’s way. I wanted to see her army, and the family reveal on why Regina left in the snippets was very good. I was sorry it was not put in, but I understand that there was a lot to process, and I assume HA had to cut some bits.
Please do not speculate on romantic relationships involving children, especially with adult characters. Do not sexualise underage characters.
Your comments will be removed.
Here on House Andrews’ stance, which has been clarified many times: https://ilona-andrews.com/2021/busy-busy/
Y’all, can you verify this for me? For those who have read the book, was Catalina and Alessandro‘s engagement ever mentioned again in the book? And I don’t mean the scene at the end where he kind of asked her to marry him again. In the prologue, there was a proposal and an engagement ring, but I don’t recall any mention of it later in the book. Is this right? Or am I forgetting something?
They are engaged ????. They reiterate the commitment after they go through the Final Fight.
““I’m not saying this in my capacity as your devoted fiancé but as an antistasi Prime. You hold yourself on a very tight leash. It is atypical for a mental Prime to be that controlled constantly. The threat level has escalated, and so did your response to it. I don’t think you can effectively suppress it, but you do need to recalibrate.” – page 166
“Alessandro grabbed the middle of the folder and ripped it in half. The prince and my fiancé frantically scribbled on their chunks.”– page 179
etc
I’m not sure if there’s a certain quota on mentions involved in your question, but it is firmly established in the text: they are engaged.
“Austin is famous or infamous for 6th Street with its bars and shootings.”
Is it? I live here, and it’s actually the live music capital of the world. Other cities have strips where clubs and such are prolific, but that doesn’t mean that’s what they are known for.
Monica, I can guarantee to you that you do not live in Hidden Legacy Austin. Houston is not periodically destroyed by Primes, Belize and Mexico didn’t just finish a huge war for magically potent minerals and the territories of the Dakotas, Wyoming, and Montana are not independent from the USA under the United Native Tribes leadership.
This is an alternate, fictional reality.
Monica, I lived in Willco, and now I live in Hays. My kid went to school Downtown, had to walk past that area every morning from the train. My oldest daughter’s friend was there when the mass shooting happened. My oldest was supposed to go but had a migraine. 1 person died and 14 injured. And that was just the latest in a long line of incidents. Here is one that happened this month: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/one-dead-one-critically-injured-in-shooting-in-downtown-austin-overnight. If you want more, google.
6th street is a row of bars where drunk tourists, who arrived to the “live music capital” to get really drunk and belligerent, stagger from one bar to another, as the drug dealers, who stockpile drugs specifically for the festivals, weave in and out of the crowd like sharks, and inebriated people get pissed off and shoot each other. If you are a violent alcoholic, it’s paradise. Having raised two kids past the drinking age, here is what locals say about 6th street: You go once when you’re 21, and then you count your blessings and never go again.
There are things to be proud of about Austin. 6th street ain’t it. 🙂
Growing up, we used to go to Dirty 6th when we were around 19 or 20 and then as soon as we turned 21 and could get into better bars, avoided the area like the plague. My friends and I used to say that if you’re old enough to legally drink, then you’re old enough to know better.
Also live, and grew up, in Austin. I basically just had this conversation with another friend of mine from Houston, who’s now lived here over 10 years. Whenever we have cousins or other family members come in from out of town- especially from East Texas, they all want to see 6th street. We are famous for it, and it is also known for the violent incidents that occur there. It wasn’t the first thing I thought of us being famous for either, so I was initially shocked the first time I heard THAT’s what came to mind for people outside of Austin. It made me giggle when I heard it in the book.
I’ve just finished the book.
Thank you both so much for writing it and persevering when it got hard. It’s a fantastic HEA end to Catalinas story.
Loved loved loved it.
I loved it so much. It was so satisfying to read. I really hope that Arabella gets more of her perspective shown. Her aftermath of the fight was so fun. She’s really grown into a force.
Hi!! Thank u for the Book and im sorry if a spell something wrong im from México.
1) Will we ever get to read the love history between bern and runa?
2) what Will happen with house etterson. Will runa be a vasal of house baylor? I Just cant see bern renunciando a ser un baylor.
3) i think that Michael is the best partner. Its like arabella has so many colors and Michael is all black, we Will love that kind of rainbow. And he is always so quiet and colect and arabella its like the oppositte. The one from Rusia is a Child who doesnt care of hurting civilians soo no. And stephen was to many obligations, he Will never leave the family.
4) did all the primes with arkan died? There were 4 no? And i remember only 3 dying.
5) what were the familias involucradas in the thief of the serum. The were 5 and i can only think of Luciana, Olivia, the one from the 2 Book of catalina (with the creatures and the numbers) and thats it. Can you help me?
I love your point about Arabella having so many colors and that Michael is (apparently) all black. I’m definitely team Michaelbella (??)!!!
4) Catalina lists five Primes: Malchenko, Sanders, Krause, Buller and Xavier
Buller, crystal knight, compound attack with nightbloom after Konstantin shows up as Smirnov
Sanders and sons, metamorph, Cabera distraction where Julian requests saving Cabrera grandparents from Kaylee
Xavier, Rogan’s not-a-cousin, end of Cabera distraction, Rogan defeats
Krause, summoner, final battle
Bonus: Alessandro’s grandfather and Adam Pierce
Malchenko — not seen (at least not under that name)
5) Ruby Fever says Nevada and Connor took out two when they defeated the conspiracy, although they didn’t realize it at the time. Probably Olivia and one of the other major families. Catalina removes Diatheke’s in Book 1 and Cheryl Castellano in Book 2. So Luciana Cabera was the only one left.
Hello Mod R,
I was wondering if you had a picture reference for Mischa or even Henry and Stephen? I remember you posting a long time ago a picture for Record Keeper Michael, and good god, it was gorgeous ????
So are we shipping Arabella and the Russian Bear now? Or are we still holing on to Michael from the Record Keeper’s office? He DID give her a significant *look*…
It’s funny with some of the reveals because I had been going back and re-listening to the previous audiobooks and I actually suspected all the big reveals related to Linus and Victoria after the repeated exposure to the previous books’ storyline and small throwaway comments. Nice job Ilona and Andrew. Your books are some of my favorite to hear over and over again.
Also, I loved every mention of Matilda and the her animal friends so much. I hope I get to see more of her in future books if there are any.
I noticed that Arabella is not afraid of Michael. Michael noticed too.
To be honest it was hard for me to have read Nevada’s series and then start Catalina’s. She was not as strong a character; at least not compared to Nevada. But her series continued to see her character grow and develop. “Fake it till you make it” was her rope to climb but she finally reached her place and power. I cried. In line with being honest, I usually read the end of the story to see if it is worth reading. I did not do that this time because it was the last book and I wanted all the ‘feels’. Good job House Andrews!
Still thinking about Ruby Fever and have already re-read parts of it.
– I loved the part where Matilda was threatening the prince. She was so serious, I totally believed her, and if the prince is smart, hoped he took her seriously too!
-And a question regarding Recordkeeper Michael’s powers- does he have to activate it for it to work? What if someone takes him by surprise, does he have passive field protection?
Konstantin’s journey to modesty is a joy to experience every reread ????.
He makes himself so pretty and 10 year old girls react with “I’m going to come for you and I’ll bring friends”.
He tries all his charm defensives and the Baylors advise him to talk less.
He thinks he’s the best Prime there is and Augustine doesn’t even need anyone to hold his beer to prove it wrong.
Illusion mages are never my favourite for some reason, I delight in his fall from grace ????
Yes!! I loved his journey too! ????
A snippet that didn’t make it into the book perfectly explained why I don’t like illusion mages – the appearance of the thing naturally comes first for them before the actuality. I think you’re completely justified.
Plus, they’re sneaky in a highly dangerous way.
Having said all that, I’m glad there was a mention that Augustine and Rogan got to a better place as far as how they regard each other.
In re-read, I got stuck on Alesandro’s phone call where he says “Love and kisses to Maya. Ciao.”
Who is Maya? The only Maya that I recall is the young girl with the monkey that House Baylor recovered in Emerald Blaze. I thought it might be his sister, but that doesn’t seem to fit. Just a small point but it has me wondering …
Alessandro is calling his contacts for information on Konstantin and the Russian Imperium interests. He is using his charming Italian persona. Maya is someone linked to this particular contact, which he mentions as small talk. We don’t need a backstory ????
Thanks … I was coming up w this weird scenario where he was talking to the helper-monkey and asking Rosebud to give hugs and kisses to Maya. … ????
Hello to the Andrews. I was so excited to start listening to the story that I skipped the first little introduction. Today when I started listening again I let it play from the “This is Audible” moment. I heard mention of your generous donation to refugees from the Ukraine. This week I started a wonderful new job and got your book; I feel so blessed I joined you all in making a donation to the refugees from ????????. You make a lot of lives better and this seems like a way to pay it forward.
Thank you for this amazing book! It really made my recovery from surgery easier and enjoyable. I’m so curious to see Konstantin again in the series and what happens with him. He definitely got the piece of humble pie he deserved, both in talent and love, but what next?? He’s very capable of learning from his mistakes and I’d love to see how he changes to find happiness somewhere. Please HA, could we him in future books? Maybe a little snippet? ????
I couldn’t register for the Zoom Event, so I’ll be waiting for the recording (if there is one!)
Thanks again for the best read ever.
After reading, I went back to try to find the story where FBI Agent Wahl owes Catalina a favor, but I couldn’t find it. Any ideas? TIA
I think you maybe mean the two primes and a briefcase scene, but I’m not sure. Could I please have a bit more detail? If it’s that, it has been edited out of the manuscript and not available on the blog.
That is what I meant! Thank you for explaining. I felt like I imagined it or my search abilities were inadequate.
I loved this book so much!! And loved seeing all the plot threads come together. I’m also curious if the plan was always to have Linus’ arc go this way?
Of course, I’m also now here thinking: Arabella. Arabella vs Michael (they made eye contact! Also he feels like a match for her, power wise, in a different way). And also Arabella vs Mihail (because the ending, obviously).
Fingers crossed that we see more of the Baylors some day!
I would like to thank you dearly for giving me these hours of peace and delight. I really needed it 🙂
All the best – and thanks again!
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Dear House Andrews,
thank you sooo, sooo much for this book.
It was amazing, and it was so good to read – and I needed this bit of happiness in my life very badly right now.
Thank you.
You really make the world a better place for me. Literally. :))))))
Very late to the party, because I needed to create the right conditions first, to be able to savor and cherish Ruby Fever.
And I finally did it last night, from Gus Bunnyson to Vicky Baby.
What a night, House Andrews, thank you!
@Mod R: So Arabella goes on a date with Jadwiga! How do we want to call this ship? Arawiga? Jabella? And if Jadwiga managed to lay eggs, I can see this being a fruitful partnership…
Whew! So good to finally have Ruby Fever out — what a ride!! Many thanks to HA for all their writing — love ALL the series/novellas/blog posts, everything!! — and for taking the time to do the Zooms this week. So much fun!
But I do have one question from this intricately plotted book: I did not understand the computer hacking of the Baylor compound. Who did it? Konstantin was creating the illusion that he was Arkan’s hacker-best-friend, but Konstantin himself is not a hacker, from what I understand. And even if he has some skills, they should be relatively low-level compared to Bern’s, so how did he get past Bern’s no-doubt formidable firewall? But also, why would he do so? Konstantin is there to push the Baylors *more* into the fight against Arkan — so why would he handicap them by hacking their computers and phones? (And if he wanted Arkan to believe that his hacker-best-friend had defected to the Baylors, then the Baylors again shouldn’t have been hacked, because theoretically the hacker-best-friend is on the Baylors’ side now…)
What did I miss? (I admit I was reading fast and haven’t been back for a re-read) (yet)
Why do you think that Arkan only had one hacker on his payroll? 🙂 The man Konstantin impersonated wasn’t as much a hacker as he was Arkan’s IT. However, Arkan had a rather large organization and just as he employed more than one assassin, he had employed more than one computer specialist.
Okay, right, thanks! So they could’ve been hacked at any time, duh. I think I got led astray by the fact that the Baylor’s phones and computers were compromised immediately after Catalina figured out that Konstantin had illusioned himself as Trofim Smirnov (“Arkan’s Bernard”) while entering the Baylor compound. So the two things got related in my mind, and I kind of got stuck there (also I have such respect and awe for Bern’s computer skills that I couldn’t imagine any firewall of his being so quickly hacked, lol).
Now heading back for a re-read, your books are truly the gifts that keep on giving — so much deliciousness in the details, to be savored over and over again!
I’d love to see Linus teaching Austin. And repair his relationship with House Baylor and Victoria finds acceptance with her family.
For some reason I expected Konstantin to off Sandro so he could steal the girl. . . Especially when he insisted his cousin was going to die.
I had to laugh at fixing up their home and then it’s needing fixing up all over again. Too bad there’s not construction mages out there. Excellent book as always!
Sorry, double checked since his name is only mentioned like twice! Not Austin. It’s Arthur.
I have now read the book twice, and really loved it. I do have a couple of questions, though.
1. When to Alessandro and Catalina actually get married? I was surprised that Bern and Runa got married first.
2. Question about the Magus Sagitarius powers. How are they scored when ranking magic status? Leon’s abilities are off the charts, but as far as I know, only with guns/projectile weapons. Catalina’s powers are with swords and bladed weapons. To be a prime, do you need to have skills with both, meaning Leon, powerful as he is, would just be a significant?
3. Cornelius was able to stop a charging animal from the arcane realm just by saying “stop”. I know that he has bonded with creatures from the arcane realm before (Zeus), but it seemed to take longer to “make friends” before. Was that just because he was fighting the summoner for control, or has he gotten better at managing arcane creatures due to practice somehow?
4. Lastly, everyone (Nevada, Alessandro, Arabella) seems to have found out that Linus was their grandfather before Catalina. Seems odd that no one told her, especially given their relationship as Warden and Deputy Warden. I would have expected at least Alessandro to say something.
Lots of questions — hoping for answers some day. Also hoping to come back to this world, since the Baylors are like family to me now! Thanks so much for creating this wonderful world.
1. To be fair, Runa and Bern have actually been in a relationship for that has seemed more stable for longer – there was no prolonged separation or any excess drama around them being together. It does also say at the beginning or RF that they are already moving towards marriage, so that likely means they may have gotten engaged before C & A did. So, while it was surprising that they ended the book with that particular wedding, it also does kinda make sense to me.
2. I’ve been wondering about that as well. I do remember Penelope saying that he’s at least higher level significant based on all his shots landing in the T-Box when that’s where he was aiming for. So if the Magus Sagittarius powers break down the way the animal mage powers do, then your assessment would make sense. But we don’t know that they do. Based on the conclusion Penelope made, percentage of accuracy might be a more accurate assessment of strength rather than the ability to use a larger range of weapons. To me, it sort of seems like average can either handle projectile weapons with perfect or near-perfect accuracy under duress OR handle bladed weapons, rather than projectiles, without the need for duress. Since we know that neither Nevada nor Catalina’s Magus Sagittarius magic is strong, I am using these as the base-lines for Average. It appears that Penelope is likely a significant since she doesn’t require her life being in danger to access her magic. So if the show of greater magic is percentage of accuracy and ease of access, he could be Prime level. Conversely, both Nevada and Catalina can only use one broad weapon type – in the broadest sense of the word since we are breaking down all guns as one type and all blades as another type, where it seems like some Magus Sagittarius mages can turn just about anything around them into a weapon. And in that case you would probably need all 3 conditions to be met to be a Prime or at least an upper level Prime. They do show that there is a decent amount of wiggle room even within the known power levels in several cases. For example, we have all unofficially accepted that Cornelius is a Prime, but, for all of his power, he still doesn’t have the juice to feel and bond with insects and arachnids. So variation still might not be necessary to disqualify you from Prime status, and even if it did, we don’t have confirmation that guns are the only weapons Leon can use. After all, the boy’s magic did just fine with predicting where to aim a camera, showing that he doesn’t NEED a gun in his hand to access it. He simply might have a preference for guns. There are just too many ways to interpret the possible qualifications and we haven’t gotten to witness a Magus Sagittarius Prime to have a more concrete idea. I wish there was a cheat sheet or something with this stuff written out, but I do love a good opportunity to over think and interpret, lol.
3. Maybe it just took longer with Zeus bc it was his first time connecting with an arcane creature that didn’t have an insect-like brain? So it was easier the second time around? Also, it seemed like he had to create a full on bond with Zeus. Maybe he didn’t have to go that far with this rhino like creature? Maybe? I wonder if the quickness he accomplished that whole sene was also part of why Grandma Frida made the “Significant my foot” comment, rather than just the fact that he can bond with arcane creatures in a way that was previously never witnessed.
4. Only Alessandro really found out. I totally get where you’re coming from with expecting him to say something, but I also get why he didn’t. Definitely wouldn’t have wanted to be in his position. Nevada suspected, but didn’t have anything concrete – and honestly sounded like she didn’t want to know. Arabella didn’t have any idea, according to Catalina’s interpretation at least, she just adapts quickly and came to grips with the issue rather than stewing and holding a grudge.
Just finished! I did an entire reread (or re-listen technically since I went the Audi book rout) of the series in perpetration and then finished it off with the newest book, and I loved it! I definitely feel like my name should be Ariel right now, because “I want mooOOOOoooore,” but I’m really trying to force myself not to go into an automatic reread. Will be stoked if we are lucky enough to get an Arabella story line. Guess I’ll just have to settle for starting my reread for the latest Patricia Briggs so I don’t get too depressed about the end of an era for HL.
LOVE LOVE LOVED how Catalonia’s magic evolved! I knew she was gonna be able to do something with those black wings but I didn’t know it’d be THAT!
Also, I love how they wrapped up the whole Caesar thing. I suspected from book 2, and then was positive by book 3, and was just dreading how that was going to affect the whole family – nobody wants a character they legit like to be capable of all that. Though not even a little surprised that his hands aren’t exactly squeaky clean. I also LOVE what HA did with Evil Grandma’s character! While her methods for obtaining her goals are usually really really wrong and distorted and horribly manipulative and yes, can definitely be categorized as evil, her intentions often appear…. Well, saying pure or good doesn’t seem quite right with all the f’ed up things the woman has done, but … her overall goals do center around getting the people she cares about to a place of happiness and safety. She’s just so damaged by her past that she allowed it to pervert her methods. The woman makes a damn interesting character, and an entertaining as she is off-putting anti-hero. Just so unfortunately twisted in what she thinks needs to be done to make the people she cares about strong.
And the whole “Vickie, baby” killed me!!!! That entire fight was fantastic!
Also, my curiosity is officially piqued! Who is the boy at the end with Ragnar?!?!?! And what happened to the girl who killed Pete? Is she just permanently in an induced coma now?
Thank you for this series. It was such a remarkable journey. I know I will visit it again and again. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Matilda, Leon, Arabella’s stories but understand if this is the end. Thank you.
Thank u for this series. Here is my question: It might just be not being able to put 2+2 together but, will Bern take the Etterson last name since he’s a Significant marrying a Prime or will they just go on as their own last names since House Etterson is under the House Baylor umbrella?
Augustine is sitting at House Harrison’s table…. Diana isn’t married is she?
Also thinking back to Rynda Charles (I did reread all the Hidden Legacy novels (can’t use HL as that expands to Half Life in my head…) before Ruby Fever (RF = radio frequency…)), why didn’t she hit Brian Sherwood with the fact that their son DID have magic, like Bern’s, before Edward killed him?
(What? Brian deserved that just as much as he deserved Rynda making him feel what he put her through.)
I’m finally finishing Ruby Fever. (I’m behind, I was on vacation and it took me longer than expected to finish re-reading the other books).
Am I the only one that wants more info on all the recipes Catalina is always cooking? Are these things that Ilona actually cooks? I know she has opinions on appropriate tacos. I want recipes. I want a FB live where we watch Ilona make her famous tacos and I want to know how she makes this taco sauce with mangos…
Please and thank you!
I really like this idea. (I’ve had and made mango pico de gallo before, and am conceptually team mango, but I am now allergic to mangos, so…)
This was so much fun to read.
I’m really struck by how much all the Hidden Legacy books revolve around family – I mean, some, I suppose is natural, as families are so central to the world? But also the Baylors in particular, and other examples of how to be much more caring and functional types of families than seems to be common in the House system.
Seeing Victora and Linus both be at least somewhat integrated into the family was a little bittersweet for me. I particularly liked that they couldn’t seem to stay away from each other, but also spent the entire time bickering. (The bitter part of the bittersweet is from my own family experiences, not the books. But mending these family divisions is kind of a HEA, which one can enjoy in part because it doesn’t always work out in real life.)
I’ve been a bit of a Victoria fan for a while now. She’s smart, she’s competent, and she doesn’t seem to be motivated by being mean or capricious. (Which doesn’t change my not agreeing with either her means nor end goals. But she’s also a great resource, and in her own way, she cares?) I just loved her rant, and her really valid points on the unfairness of how she has been perceived vs. Linus.
So… from that, grew my imaginary story. I’ve long been a fan of the idea of Frida Baylor, international woman of mystery. (Her other life. Her collection of gentlemen callers, none of whom quite suit her as relationship material. Etc.) Penelope’s ongoing embarrassment from he mother’s behavior. (I’d say that being teen Penelope must have been just torture… but one gathers that it was a difficult time for Frida as well.) Frida does what she wants, and is generally greatly beloved. Though she through knitting she suffers. She is wild and free and unconventional.
And then you have Victoria, who is proper and controlled and strategic, thinks out everything ahead of time, terribly powerful, and is both very difficult and has had a really hard time of it. Frida in her coveralls, Victoria in haute couture…
What I’m saying, is, buddy movie. Buddy book? I’d love to see more of Frida. I’d love to see Victoria work through her stuff. And the two of them would be such delightful foils for each other. Hm, hm, now by what contrivance could be forced to travel and work together. (I mean, it’s probably not going to be a road trip in a conventional sense, but I see the raging grannies, tearing across the countryside…)
Put me down for team Office of Records Michael. I think the Bear of Kamchatka would make a better monster buddy rather than a romantic match. Like an annoying little brother.
Loved baby Arthur’s rubber band gun!
Lol’ed at several places in the book – fun moments!