The slow editorial trudge continues.
Saturday:
Sunday:
Mod R is my witness, I keep cutting and cutting and somehow there are more words.
Thank you for all of the encouragement. You guys are too nice!
I received an interesting question the other day: if you could choose a comfort read among your books, what would you choose?
It’s probably Silver Shark for me. It grew out of my experiences more than any other. Don’t get me wrong, when I think about my childhood, it’s sun-filled and bright. The garden, the flowers, the River Street with the huge river flowing slowly past, the parks, the friends…
However, the older I grew, the more aware I became and the bleaker my life looked. It’s normal for teenagers to be nihilistic, but everything was truly falling apart by the time I was 14, and it only got worse from there. My adolescence is desaturated in my memories.
I had a chance to Google-drive past the house where I grew up, and it was in ruins. It really hammered home the point: that life is over. The place of my childhood exists only in my memories. It’s bittersweet, but the place where I live now is wonderful. It’s vivid, and bright, and I’m grateful for it. Yes, US has its problems, and I will complain about them as much as any American, but it’s a huge upgrade compared to the life I left behind.
Which brings me to another question:
Could we get a post sometime where folks share their favorite comfort read portions of House Andrews books?
This sounds like fun. Of everything we’ve written, what scenes or books do you go to when you need a little bit of comfort? One lucky commenter will get a signed book from our shelves.
Please don’t recommend other authors, as we will have a separate thread for that.
Innkeeper series hands down! Hidden legacy close second. Can’t single out one book because once I start the first book I just keep going !
Weirdly enough I am re-reading the kinsmen books for comfort right now.
They are so beautiful.
I had a go with Kate but for comfort it’s the smaller worlds. After kinsmen I’m going to the edge series.
Thank you for them all!
Nevada and Rogan’s trilogy in its entirety is a comfort read for me, but specifically White Hot. I love, love watching Nevada come into her own. I love reading about her love with Rogan blossoming. I love the family dynamics. The entire Baylor clan makes me feel warm fuzzies. I’ve read the trilogy three times in total and White Hot four times. In general, HA reads are go-tos when I need a dose of happy escape. Despite some of the books dealing with true tragedy our main people end up happy and together, and I need more of that in my life.
I read Hidden Legacy when I’m feeling out of sorts with my family that people make unseen choices to help their loved ones, and that families fight but can also forgive.
Also, everything Cornelius ever does is gold. One of the best characters ever.
The chocolate mousse scene with Nevada and Rogan!
Also any scene with Catalina and her dog.
For me it’s the Inn Keeper series, specifically Sweep of the Blade. And I’m really enjoying the Graphic Audio production of the book. The banter between Arland and Maud is wonderful. My two favorite scenes are the Women’s Communal and Arland taking on 9 knights.
Silent Blade is my favorite re-read. I am 100% vested in Meli’s emotions. For me it is a feel good read.
Oh, I love the idea! It’s so nice to go through all the comments and catch yourself nodding in agreement. It made it a lot harder to choose for me, though.
But I’ll go with my initial thought, as that’s probably the most right: Burn for me.
Probably, because it’s the first book I read from you, and because we are talking about comfort – and Nevada’s family is so close, loving, always stigging together and yet still having their challenges, that it just feels right and warm.
And also, I just love to skip to the end in MII and have this incredible feeling of satisfaction, when Nevada steps in the circle and Augustin drops his tablet 😉 Still the best!
Maud’s story is a close second, again for love and family, this whole new (but great) world and the wit in it. And while I absolutly love Kate and Curran, let’s be honest: Their world is unfortunatelly just to harsh to really be a comforting read.
It’s impossible for me to pick just one. I have all the series and shorts on rotation. I just finished all the Kate’s world books and Inkeeper series, about to start Hidden Legacy series (again). I’ve got over a thousand ebooks but House Andrew books are always in rotation between new buys.
+1
It kind of depends on my mood. If I need a longer comfort book then White Hot or Emerald Blaze (though I do end up reading Wildfire/Ruby Fever too lol). A shorter book would be Kinsmen Universe or Clean Sweep.
Not going to lie all of Ilona andwers books are a comfort book too me lol.
I love all the books however, my mind goes back to Kate Daniels. I originally found Kate Daniels on the blog. At that time, I hadn’t heard of Ilona Andrews and have no idea how I found them. I started reading and recalled the scene where Kate was in her kitchen with Boone Farms in front of her when a vampire started crawling on her ceiling. Funny, I actually thought “ARGHHH” and stopped reading the book. I decided to try and re-read the book (thank goodness) and absolutely fell in love with the series so much I told my son he needed to read the series (which he did) and the rest is history. My favorite line of course is “Here, Kitty, Kitty” CLASSIC!!!!!!
I loved the kitty line too. It’s a classic.
nancy, same! I stopped reading right after the “icy wave of fear and revulsion” and seeing the awful reflection in the beer bottle — I thought it was a horror novel and I’m not a fan of that genre. I, too, am soooo glad that I gave Magic Bites a second chance!!!
Oops, not a beer bottle, hard lemonade! (because of course I had to go start a re-read)
My comfort read is Magic Bleeds, no matter how many times I read it, it always makes me laugh. Reading how Kate and Curran finely start being together, their banter, will forever make me feel good. It’s my escape from reality.
Hidden Legacy, Nevada and Rogan, this particular passage about Leon.
“It’s your call,” Bug said, picking up his laptop. “But a word of advice. From personal experience. When you keep people from doing things they are destined to do, they go crazy. Don’t let him go crazy, Nevada.”
Makes me feel like, while you won’t be given your destiny, you can work towards it. To be happy.
For quick comfort, my go to is a toss up among: Fated Blades, Diamond Fire, and Silver Shark.
But my annual comfort reread is the Hidden Legacy series. I love the family dynamic, Nevada’s and Catalina’s hero’s journeys, the great side characters, and of course the world of House warfare and magic (have yet to read any scene that brings me greater pleasure than the Great Ferret Heist).
Kate Daniels is my comfort read, my palate cleanser, and my reset button, all in one. She’s the series I can read, and re-read, over and over, and never get bored.
Ditto
In reading the comments and I’m finding I agree with each response! I enjoy all your books mainly because they provide me with laughter, love and family! I pick Magic Bites, as that was my first introduction to your writing! And what a wonderful reading journey it’s been!
Innkeeper is the one I use for comfort and to recharge. No particular scene, although Ripper Cushions is a favorite.
The Edge and Inn keeper, how they over lap and we see them all growing . I have reread all your books countless times. They are holiday faves, as well as emotional uppers. Please just carry on doing what you do best, love all your books xxx
For me, there are a few moments in my life that I hang on to and re-light in darker moments. Your books are full of them, capsuled by small moments of snatched safety. Your characters are so realized (yes, yes, parasocial etc), it’s like sharing air with a close friend. Too many to choose just one, but my favorites tend to competence p0rn/fight scenes or every single Epilogue/it’ll all turn out ok. Currently open? The House trial in Wildfire.
I just did a comfort re-read of the Hidden Legacy series as I’ve been on bedrest for 5 weeks with a shatter ankle and two scenes stand out for me- scene 1 where Rogan gives Nevada the display of thousands of carnations (providing her with a rare moment of bliss) and the final House Baylor defeat of Arkansas scene where everyone pulls together to defend House Baylor (showing that family (whether chosen or born) when working together are a formidable opponent)
I love Silver Shark as a comfort read too.
Also high on my list: Ferret Heist, Midnight Games, at the end of Magic Bleeds when everyone’s telling Kate exactly what not to do and then she goes and immediately does the thing.
And most recently: Wilmington has been such a mellowing read (and listen! Love the audiobooks too)
For me it’s the scenes with the kids. I love Connor changing for the first time and running into the woods to eat mice. Or not wanting to wear clothes when Kate has an important appointment. Helen has a lot of great scenes as well.
With all of the blood and guts its great to appreciate children.
100% Magic Strikes. The Midnight Games are so fun, first entrance of Hugh, the growing tension with Kate and Curran (that hot tub scene alone!), beginnings of Derek’s growth, the shifters working together with Kate. I reread that book sometimes 3x a year.
I really love this one too! And now that it’s on Graphic Audio, the experience is even better!
Sweep of the blade, Silver shark and Silent Blade are my top comfort reads, but basically if I need a break from life I pick up any of your books, simple as that. Love them all ❤️
Blood Heir is my comfort read. When it was coming out as a serial, it was a light I looked forward to that helped get me through each week. Now when I re-read it, I remember the warmth and care the book gave me. It was such a gift.
Magic Stars is a close second. The short, slice of life adventure of my two favorite characters always makes me smile.
Maud’s book from the Innkeeper Chronicles. Reading about her and Helen and how the romance shapes up is my favorite part of the whole series. I try to read each book in turn during a re-read but then I’ll end up reading Maud’s book separately as well. YAY Maud and Helen!
I think I want to be that kind of vampire when I grow up. lol
First,(Don’t hate me) from my viewpoint, y’all can’t have a book that’s too long. My grandson says the best books have at least 200 k words, and, if its one of yours, I agree.
Secondly, if I have to pick one comfort book, it will be from among your series. Probably an Innkeeper book, but maybe a Kate book or maybe … You see my problem.
The Innkeeper series in general but Sweep of the Blade in specific. When I am stressed I like the low conflict plot but interesting detailed subplots. Maud makes helps me know I can be fierce in adversity but have a safe place with people I love. Thanks for all of your wonderful books!
I like the scene where Erra talked with Kate about her boyfriend Leo’s war dog who was afraid of two things- Erra and thunder. The dog would seek her out whenever lightning occurred and no matter how much she stomped and yelled, the dog wouldn’t leave. He would stay there shivering until the storm passed. When she asked Leo why he did that, he said Erra was the most terrifying thing he knew. When the thunder came he would run to her because she was so terrifying, he knew she would scare away the thunder and keep him safe.
“What happened to the dog?”
“He sired many puppies and lived to a ripe old age. I kept a pillow by my bed and I would drape a special blanket over him when the storms came. I buried both the blanket and the pillow with him when he died so he wouldn’t be afraid in the afterlife. Give your husband and your son my love and get back to work”
Magic Claims
That is indeed a beautiful scene. Well written!
Oooh, this is tough to answer. I often turn to the books on audio and/or graphic audio and listen while I am working or driving to relax. The ones I go back to over and over are Hidden Legacy — all 6 titles, I go right through them — and Clean Sweep, graphic audio version.
Innkeeper -it used to be Sweep of the Blade but now I think it’s Sweep of the Heart.
I really enjoyed the whole Caldenia part. I enjoy her
Although Ruby Fever is a favourite as a whole book
My absolute favorite comfort read of all is the Sweeper volume about her sister’s marriage. I love everything about it. I’d give the title, but my brain will not do names or titles anymore. A great grief since I used to sell books and had all of those at the snap of a finger. oh hell, i’ll go look it up
Sweep of the Blade.
I had to make some very hard decisions this year and several of House Andrews books helped me and gave me comfort. I love all of the books of course but during tough times I love to reread Nevada’s trilogy, the Innkeeper series and Magic Shifts. Nevada, Dina and Kate have a quiet confidence that helps me be more confident in myself. And their is something about the descriptions of Kate and Curran building their new life together that makes me feel better when I am anxious.
Magic Breaks is my most re-read of the series. I love everything about it.
But when I am feeling the need for comfort I listen to the Inn Keeper series. There’s just something about Dina and the inn that makes my heart happy.
I love everything HA but the scene with Conlan under the bed with Kate and BFF trying to get him to come out never fails to elicit a smile no matter how I am feeling.
The innkeeper series as a whole, but of them Sweep of the Blade.
For me, definitely Burn For Me and it’s sequals, the whole relationship between Nevada and Connor is kinda awesome. My favorite scene is when he kidnaps her and realizes she so much stronger than he predicted. I think very fondly of these two characters and wish I could read them with new eyes again. I’m thinking I might have to get the audiobooks as I’ve recently discovered that listening makes the books new again!
The sword fight between Hugh and Kate in the courtyard in Magic Rises, where they end up fighting in front of everyone as an audience. It is a delicious scene that I happily read over and over. The whole book is a comfort read for me.
I love both Hidden Legacy and the Innkeeper books for re-reading. My favorite scene is from Emerald Blaze right after Catalina and Alessandro leave the assembly. I too need someone to “understand me and call me on my crap” from time to time. 🙂
Clean sweep was my introduction to HA and that series remains my comfort that I return to again and again.
Hard to pick one scene – but a favorite scene is when Helen and Arland face-off over bacon in One Fell Sweep. Love Maud’s half apology and confusion over her daughter’s behavior, Sean, Arland, and Caldenia’s delight and Dina’s calm acceptance and knowledge of exactly where she is.
Innkeeper, always Innkeeper. The calling and striving to bless people with comfort, peace, and safety. Maybe it is because the serial was such a blessing in a very dark era of my life, but in times of high stress I return, over and over. Thank you.
Sweep of the blade and silver shark are my comfort reads!!
Also the scenes where the fools enter the midnight games!
I enjoy re-reading Kate’s arrival to her Father’s palace, because it has EVERYTHING. The ride over with Landon was pure comedy, from his reaction to Curran’s commentary. Then once she stepped inside she was finally able to get the proverbial monkey off her back and finally put an end to all the drama and suspense regarding her identity. Obviously the fight scene took care of all the action, but Hibla’s death was so well deserved that I sleep like a baby after she cuts her head off. lol
+1
I think it is Sweep in Peace for me as that is when I discovered the blog (even though I had been reading Kate for years) so I was with you every step of the way as the book was being written (very luckily I discovered near the beginning) and I loved coming back each week for more!!
Tough one. It depends on what I need comfort for.
If I’m just tired, Hugh at breakfast in Magic Triumphs makes me laugh. If I’m sad, I search out grandma Frida or Roman. If I just need a mental break, usually Sweep of the Heart. (or a couple of different, unnamed, authora)
Of Swine and Roses is my favorite comfort read. I love that the character essentially has the most miserable, embarrassing day of her life and then karma essentially goes “ok, ok, ok, here’s your reward for being awesome.” Just a great story.
Sweep of the Blade, followed by Silver Shark.
I love Sweep of the Blade – love seeing a smart, capable mom kick a$$ and take names. LOL . I also love the family dynamics in the Hidden Legacy books.
The Innkeeper series is my comfort reading when I get burned out by other books that are mediocre or too dark. The writing and story lines of this series are so good and interesting that I enjoy them every I read them. I have a room full of books and over 2100 Kindle books so I read a lot. I love all your books also. Automatic buy.
The cooking and social bonding in House Tremaine, with Montgomery, Rogan and Russian grand Duke.
Is there a new book I don’t have yet?
Rosemary is referencing Ruby Fever 🙂, the 6th and for now last of the Hidden Legacy series https://ilona-andrews.com/hidden-legacy-books/#ruby
“For now”???
To steal a phrase, don’t threaten me with a good time ; )
Patient and fluffy, that’s us…
All the Kinsman books but especially Fated Blades. I love the byplay between Ramona and Matias and the hearts they have hidden underneath.
Whenever I was having a a really tough time in college, I’d pick up Sweep of the Blade. At this point, I can probably tell you what chapter the book is on by just looking at the page. I still pick it up now, of course, but that book got me through some really stressful times when I just needed a reminder that things would be okay.
Mine is definitely the scene when Derek overhears Kate and Hugh talking about Roland in Magic Rises, and he tells her that it might matter to some people who her father is, but not to him. Gets me with the warm fuzzies every time.
Anything from House Andrews is a comfort read for me, but Gertrude Hunt is the ultimate safe space. When door to door solicitors won’t take the polite refusal and force me to be rude instead, I always picture Gertrude Hunt ejecting them off the property or sinking them to the waist in the grass. It helps me keep my equanimity. Family driving me nuts? I imagine the house rearranging itself so no hallways or doors lead to me. Ah, Gertrude Hunt. Best place EVER!
Also? Fart gun. When I first listened to the GA adaptations of Innkeeper, I didn’t even think of the fart gun until it was happening. I laughed so hard I hyperventilated! Now I keep that scene cued up on my phone for whenever I really need a moment of pure joy 🤪
I have reread all of the books more times than I can count, and am currently enjoying the graphic audio versions of Kate and Inkeeper. I have found, however, that at least once a year, I feel the need to reread Iron Covenant. There is something about Hugh’s redemption arc, the mystery of what Elara is, and the growth of their relationship that just pulls me in again and again. I always finish the book with a rewarding feeling (and of course, a burning desire for more lol).
Sweep of the blade why because sometimes there are ripper cushions!
If I must pick one favorite moment (there are so many), I have two words: ripper cushions. I love Helen.
For me, it is the first Innkeeper book, Clean Sweep. Definitely my go-to book when I need a pick me up.
“People say that physics has laws,” I told him, walking to the bedroom door. “I prefer to view them as a set of flexible guidelines.”
Kate! It will always be Kate and Curran for me! 🥰🥰🥰
More words aren’t necessarily a bad thing as far as the BDH is concerned, though if the edits need to bring about a certain word count I’m sure it is beyond frustrating for you right now. Hope it becomes better for you as the edit progresses.
Surprisingly enough it’s Iron and Magic for the comfort read win for me. Love the whole story arc for both Elara and Hugh and love watching the bond being forged.
Chapter 14 is probably my favorite:
“Happiness he realized. For the first time in years he felt happy.” and “She would just lay here, luxuriating in the warmth of his body, cozy and safe.”
Oh, me of little faith! I hadn’t ever thought to see the words happy, cozy and safe anywhere in paragraphs relating to Hugh and Elara after first meeting them.
Also I must admit that Bucky and Hugh’s relationship always makes me smile and, on occasion, laugh out loud.
First book of the Innkeeper Series. Where Sean tries to gain acces to Gertrude Hunt. OMG I love it. I usually read that part twice.
Or Kate going “here Kitty kitty” that entire scene. Ahhh
OMG that makes me so happy! Much Love to House Andrews!
The whole Inkeeper series, or Hidden Legacy. Or Kate…heck, everything they write is my go to comfort read!
Innkeeper chronicles (the whole series) is my comfort read. So much so that I read the whole series multiple times every year. I listen to audiobooks like some/most people listen to music.
The book that I feel most connected to is Steel’s edge. Charlotte’s infertility is mirrored in my own. Her story is heartbreaking, but it has a happy ending.
Magic Strikes! When the Fools are at the games and playing cards. It’s such a competent and diverse group, yet family.
This is my second pick after Clean Sweep. 💕
I love the mousse scene in HL (I’m a bit out of it, titles are hard). And the Edge books.
But then there’s Gunmetal Magic. And really, I’m so Team Metal Rose that Magic Stars should top the list
Anything to do with Kate and Curran is my comfort place and I go back to them again and again and again 💓
I love Silver Shark, too & noticed the deep contrast between the industrial, gray, cold environment with the blossoms, colors, smells, tastes of New Delhi (new dahlia?). Also, I work in refugee resettlement so this theme and story (working in a menial job but contributing greatly) is so so accurate and dear to my heart. I’m just lucky that I get to be around these folks and help be part of welcoming new Americans!
At any rate my comfort read (actually scene) is the 3rd Nevada book where’s she’s on the phone with the summoner who attacked the children of her client. Rogan is walking her back to his place and his staff are listening to her rip into that psychopath and hold her own. All around people are cringing away from her but Rogan is just loving her transform into this powerful woman (aka prime) who is a FORCE. ugh. favorite scene ever.
My absolute favorite bits of any IA books are at the end of Wildfire – the scene where the Beast of Cologne shows up on the Grand Parkway overpass next to the Cinemark (I grew up in Katy so this speaks to me) and where the Baylor sisters are tested for House status. The part where Arabella has to do math gets me every time. Love it.
Honestly there are so many from all the series that i cannot decide easily. Maybe if i had to pick, I like the bathtab scene of Kate and Curan from both point o views. I like reading/listening it from Kate and then from Curan and it always warms my heart.
This is a super tough one: after much reflection I think Bayou Moon is just pipped to the post by Clean Sweep. BM if I don’t mind a little darkness with my comfort (triumphing over evil, although with a great load of sacrifice); but CS if I need a real pick me up.
Having said that, I did recently reread Hidden Legacy when in desperate need of escape from real life 🙂
Sweep of the Blade. As a single mom of 3 for the last 11 years Maud speaks to me on every level, and watching her and Arland’s relationship evolve and grow is just the best. Emerald Blaze is a close second though!
When I am in between reads and don’t want to start a series, but want to read something I know I will love, I turn to the Kinsmen Universe. I love all three stories, but especially “A Mere Formality”. It always makes me smile!
Not exactly a “comfort scene”, Helen and Arland with matching twigs and stuff is my comfort scene. But for a laugh/good mood scene – I love where Grandmother Victoria watches Cornelius confront the dino-rhino in the big battle scene, and says “significant, my foot”…
I love Victoria.
Everytime I read “He got himself appointed head idiot” I’m dead
Oh, gosh. How about all your books?
But if I *have* to pare it down, I must confess that I frequently re-read the Innkeeper series for exactly that reason. For all the drama and danger, they still end up being comfort reads (except for maybe the most recent one, which was not so comforting), but I feel very cozy and safe whenever I read the others in the series.
In fact, I think I’ll start re-reading them this evening. I’ve been puzzling all day about what to read next.
Cheers, Faith
Fated blades is always a special treat and the one with the dahlias, who’s title I forget. They’re the series I forget about the most, but every year when I get to it during my reread, I’m delighted.
Silver Shark :).
Well, all of Kinsmen really, Rada dahlias appear in all the stories 🙂
Innkeeper for sure, especially when it’s slightly more slice-of-life (although I do enjoy the fighting-for-their-lives pieces too!). A cozy B&B, what could be more comforting?
« I keep cutting and cutting and somehow there are more words » 🤣🤣🤣
Kate´s books. And particularly book 3, when I need a comfort read.
I have two comfort reads: “Sweep of the blade” (because Maud, Helen and Arland are just adorable and sweet and so good for snuggling in and rereading) and “Burn for me” because the way the family stocks together is so soothing.
I love all the other books (ok, I never grew to like the Kinsmen books), and I am in the middle of my nth Kate Daniels reread, but those are the books I turn to when it is cold and dark and I need something really nice.
Catalina’s trilogy is my favorite comfort read. I usually re-listen to the audio once a year. My favorite moment is probably the scene at the end of Emerald Blaze–there is something about Alessandro’s vulnerability, in how he’s been raised to believe he has nothing to offer anyone, contrasted with how much Catalina sees him, that hits me directly in the feels every time.
“Don’t you get it? Right here, right now, you are everything I ever wanted. I don’t care about money, connections, or reputation. We can earn all these things, together. I just want you. You’re so much more than I hoped for. If you come home with me, I’ll be the luckiest person alive.”
Magic Triumphs is the comfort read for me.
It’s the book where the initial Kate books come to a close, and when i finish it i always get the “And they lived happily ever after..” feeling.
The Innkeeper chronicles (all 5 that are currently on GA) are my comfort listening to, as i usually have them on during my commute to work.. Waiting patiently to add to the list with the Sweep of the Heart release!
Sweep of the blade is my comfort read. Every time I experience maud confront her fears and excel in House Krar, I am moved and encouraged. Also, Helen is so adorable and fun to read. Ripper-cushions is my favorite. I’m hoping house Andrews opens the store for Christmas and I can finally snag a throw pillow!
I love my pillow!!!
and to an earlier comment: I did buy my brother a fart gun when he was down. it worked a charm!!
No question, Kate Daniels, Magic Bleeds. The whole book is awesome, but the best is the scene where Kate is driving home from Bernard’s with Saiman in the car and Curran chasing them in the snow. I love the snark and the snarky characters (Patrice, Erra “little squirrel! You taste like family!”) and bad-ass Kate.
I Love Silver Shark. That entire universe is lush and intense. However my favorite comfort read is anything with Maud and Arland. It’s just lovely to see them fall for each other, and I love Helen!
Sweep in Peace. It’s a go to book for comfort, for relaxation, and for pure escapism when like is just a bit too much.
It used to be Hidden Legacy, especially the first and the third.
Then I switched to 4 and 5 of Hidden legacy and now… Kate Daniels Wilmington Years. Those 2 short stories are so great!
My comfort zone is kate daniels and Catalina’s trilogy. The only way forward is going thru the woods.
The Innkeeper series, specifically the third book, is a big comfort read for me, if I’m in the mood for a whole book. If I want to read something shorter, I’ll return to Silver Shark
On the Edge, where Declan explains to George why he can’t keep everything alive with his magic. It was so well written I could see it as I was reading it, and George realized what he was creating aside of his exhaustion.
Hidden Legacy is probably my #1 HA comfort read, followed by the Kinsmen stories. I love Kate series and Innkeeper, but the tone isn’t quite „comfort read“ for me for whatever reason; and the Kate series is expansive and has a lot of offshoots and short stories, which is something that I don’t look for in a comfort read (but it’s wonderful in any other favorite series)
It’s the first four KD books for me! I first read the books when I was 11 and have been rereading for the nine years since. I have always felt terribly alone and have perhaps, rather irrationally, looked up to Kate. Kate seemed to start out horribly alone and then friendships and a romance just started blossoming in her locale.
Reading the growth of her character offered some hope of my own. And then when reading Magic Clams, and looking back to those first four books that I feel has really set the trajectory for her character, I’m always in awe of how far Kate has come, and it’s somehow always evoked introspection and renewed sense of purpose in my own my life.
I enjoy the KD series rather indiscriminately, but the first four books have always been a point of nostalgia and hope for me. I read them when I get sad and then I feel better.
Ironically, Magic Rises has the same effect as well, raising my blood pressure in the process albeit.
I reread Magic Burns yesterday. My comfort scenes would be when Kate explains to Curran why she was so hell-bent on toothpaste’s and Myong’s marriage, the “please and thank you” scenes…and et cetera. There are so much good stuff, and a whole lot of solace provided!
Sweep of the Blade. Really all of the Innkeeper series…I’ve read them countless times. But Sweep of the Blade is the one I re-read most.
Anything Hidden Legacy, but I particularly love the scene where Rogan figures out that Nevada thinks of him as a dragon. There is so much chemistry there it jumps out and punches you!
Any time Catalina cooks in Hidden Legacy, there is something about it that just makes my soul feel seen. One of my best friends told me, before I read Catalina’s trilogy, that Catalina was the most me adjacent character of all the characters in all the series-es so far, and when I read them I just agreed, so I guess beyond the cooking scenes, just all of her stuff is #relatable and comforting for me.
But also I love when Elara goes to collect Hugh at the end of Iron and Magic. That’s a great scene.
First off I love all your books but I will admit that when I want a comfort read, especially a short one that I can read fairly quickly, I often go to Silent Blade. Something about the passion cones scene gets me every time. If I want to reread a series I often choose the Innkeeper series. That said, I have re-read all of your books so many times that it is a little crazy. So much comfort in a cup of tea, chocolate and an Ilona Andrews book! Thank you for all your hard work, you two!
My number one comfort read is Sweep of the Blade. I love Maud & Arland.
After that I usually read the rest of Innkeeper.
Depending on my mood I then turn to Blood Heir or Wilmington Years.
After which I rember Kinsmen.
For some reason Hidden Legacy is a summer read for me.
Perfect for long evenings outside.
It’s hard to pick a favourite but I think it must be Magic Strikes.
I adore the Can-I-girl vs May-I-girl scene.
I wobble back and forth between Hidden Legacy and the Innkeeper series for comfort reading. Arabella trying to do math is a top scene as is the “battle” at the Costco. Of course once I start thinking about it a bunch of favourites come to mind and then I wander over to Kate and Curran. You just write really well, with characters I love to visit over and over!
The entire Innkeeper series is a comfort read for me. Nothing particular about it, although of course I have my favourite bits (“Please eat, small human.”), but rather the concept. Just embracing the idea that a weary traveler, perhaps burdened by many unknown travails, could show up at Dina’s door, and she would say: “Gertrude Hunt welcomes you.” Then she would make a cup of tea, and by the time the traveler had finished it, there would be a room prepared, that would somehow be perfectly appointed to make them feel comfortable and safe– feel that they could finally rest, for a little while.
+1 I’ve been an often weary traveler too
Wow, you did something so very right with all the votes for Sweep of the Blade! Sweep of the Blade is my comfort read also. My favorite scene is when Ilemina offers Maud the Maven position. What a validating moment for Maud, being recognized for her knowledge and physical skills. To me that is the ultimate comfort, to be recognized for all of the hard work you have done and be given a job where you can further show your value, that challenges you, and gives you the chance to expand your knowledge and experience. I imagine that writing does that for both of you, and I am so greatful that it does! I imagine both of you talking through scenes and getting to just the right wording to build the story and bring the right emotion. No wonder when you are done you are exhausted! You have to go through those emotions yourself to get it right! Well, I love all of the words you write and I appreciate the effort it costs you to write, and I hope that you experience the satisfaction of being recognized for a job well done when each book hits the best seller list!
While I enjoy every book you and Gordon have written the Innkeeper chronicles are now my comfort reads. these books kept me sane while I was the primary caregiver for my mother while she was in hospice. Book 6 had just been released and I decided to re-read the series. These books gave me the mental break I so desperately needed. They will always have a special place in my heart.
First, let me say that any HA book I pick up is my favorite at that time. I love them all.
When I go looking for a quick pop of calm, I go to Hidden Legacy, because I know where everything is taking place. (I’ve lived in this neighborhood for 40 plus years and can picture the scene…)
My absolute favorite is the “Nine month flu” scene when Nevada tells Rogan they are pregnant. The window glass is classic. Never gets old. Never.