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.
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!