The good, the bad, and the ugly.
The Bad: Please stop sharing Cool Aunt. It’s an exclusive reward. You’re putting us into a difficult position with readers and bookstores.
The Good: We will be doing a zoom event today with Sonali Dev, Eloisa James, and Beverly Jenkins, whose series Blessings has just been picked up by Al Roker’s media company. HUGE congratulations to Ms. Bev. She is amazing and Gordon and I super happy for her.
The Ugly: There is no eescape from family. You can try, but they will find you.
My phone rang. Probably Barabas or Christopher. I picked it up.
“You haven’t spoken to your grandmother in six days,” my uncle said.
How did he get my number? He wasn’t even in the same state. “Does everybody know where I live?”
“Everybody who cares about your safety. Do you know how I know that it’s been six days? Ask me.”
Oy. “How do you know?”
“I’m so glad you asked. Your grandmother mentioned it to me five times in the last two days. She called me twice through the fire and three times on the phone. Hold on a second. PUT DOWN THAT COW!”
I held the phone away from my ear.
“Sorry about that.”
“How did she call you? Phones don’t work for her.”
“Apparently, someone dials the number for her and she stands across the room and screams at it. Your grandmother has no trouble making herself heard. BOY! YES, I’M TALKING TO YOU! WHAT DID I SAY?”
I shook my head trying to get the ringing to stop. The two of them could roar loud enough to be heard all the way across a battlefield. I’ve heard them do it.
“You seem pretty busy.”
“Call your grandmother. She’s worried about you, and she’ll keep calling me until she hears from you. Otherwise, I’ll be forced to come to Atlanta in person to verify that all of your arms and legs are still attached, and you have not lost the ability to speak into a phone. And we both know how much I enjoy visiting Atlanta.”
Oh gods. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll call her as soon as the magic is up.”
“Are you doing okay? Do you need anything?”
“I’m fine.”
“If you do need anything, you tell me. If you need backup, you tell me. I’ll come down and smash some heads for you.”
Aww. “Thank you.”
“Gotta go. OR WHAT? I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT. YOU’RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT AND YOU WILL TELL YOUR MOTHER THAT YOU BROUGHT THIS ON YOURSELF.”
I hung up.
OMG – Hugh….A Father?!?!
::thud::
I GOTTA see/read this!!!!
You gotta be careful about that. Hugh probably knows most of the folks in the castle by now. Elara probably has him baby sitting. Or maybe protecting the cows from the kids (children not baby goats).
Remember, it’s been 8 years since Magic Triumphs – so Hugh and Elara have had plenty of time to “practice” and make some mini-me’s 🙂
I am thinking Hugh is a Father, and that Elara was preggers during the Atlanta visit. That was why Hugh wanted her to eat a chicken…But that is hilarious. Hugh not begin able to control his kiddo 🙂 Since Elara is theophage – containing some weird entity – I am wondering if they got a metaphorphos baby….something that an manisfest at will….I wonder how Bale is handing that 🙂 fun times at the Castle.
Omg great theory!! That’s why he was so adamant she eat the whole chicken
I can’t imagine either of them would be cool with her on a battlefield & channeling the entire power of the covens if she were pregnant. Too risky.
Oh yeah… good point I forgot that … back to the old speculation board.
Risky but you have to weigh risks. If Roland takes over the world everyone bows to him or dies. She and Hugh would be the first group up against the wall. So when your options are fight or die, you fight. Pregnant or not.
I’m going to back this one too. I think supposing she was (also supporting that theory), the context decided for them. But there needs must be a t-shirt for PUT DOWN THAT COW!
I’m a little bit surprised, that cows would be kept in the same room as a phone. Unless he was shouting through the window and the kid was outside.
I thought he must be on a cell phone outside
Yes to the T-shirt!
Yeah, I thought he wanted her to eat because she was going to be “working” and needed the protein. Didn’t she skip meals sometimes? busy busy busy
So awesome, that snippet!
That’s what it seemed like to me too, but it also seemed like if “the two of them” had in the past roared loud enough to be heard across a battlefield, the boy is probably too old to be Hugh’s natural child. (At least with Elara.)
Unless “the two of them” means Elara and Hugh, and not the boy and Hugh.
Lots of questions. Very intriguing.
It meant Hugh and grandma.
I am REALLY looking forward to the sequel for Iron and Magic now!!!
Me too. Those characters are fascinating!!!
Okay, that makes more sense. Thanks.
Am I foolish? I thought “the two of them” meant Hugh and Erra.
Yes, that is right uncle and grandmother.
I thought it was hugh and elarra shouting on Battlefield. But hugh and grandma erra fits too.
I think it meant Hugh and ‘grandmother’ as in Erra’s mother (Erra was only ‘grandmother’ to Conlan). At the end of the final Kate Daniels book, Erra and Julie were on their way to Mishmar to see Erra’s mother. And I remember Julie’s curious question at the time: “Should we take him as well? She’s his grandmother, too (or something like that)?” I figured that she was talking about Hugh.
With Roland gone, I’m guessing that Erra released her mother. Why would she leave her in Mishmar?
Conlon is Julie’s brother, so therefore it’s Erra whom she calls grandmother. At the end of Magic Triumphs, when Julie rides off with Erra, she asks if she can call her Granny, and Erra said, Not if you want to keep your teeth ???? Semiramis is Kate’s grandmother, and Hugh is sort of a brother, so she is his grandmother, as well. Also, Semiramis is dead, and wanted to be buried back home. I don’t know if anything could come of Erra just releasing her.
Thanks. I was VERY confused
I agree.
BIGGEST +1!!!! And bwahahahaaaa ????
You’re the best! Thank you.
????????
Only Hugh or Kate would have kids needing to be told to put DOWN (!!!) a cow…
(how can he even lift it? Not the weight, can imagine super strength. But cows are BIG and not a very lifteably shaped… Just think how difficult it is to carry light but awkwardly big things, like matresses or christmas trees! How do you get a good grip on a COW??? ???? Impressive, even for someone with superpowers ????)
Only in this blog do you get a question like “How do you get a good grip on a cow?”
I guess people in ranching are good at gripping calves but cows?
Put down the cow!
Thank you I needed that.
BTW I am enjoying the virtual tours.
Awww Hugh babies!
I want to read about the meeting between Hugh’s kids and Kate’s…????????????????????
Aye
Who will be the sane parent last standing?
This is great. Thank you! Looking forward to seeing Uncle Hugh more and his son – lifting a cow, that is going to be an interesting story sometime!
Guys, calm down, you know House Andrews like to tease us.
You’d think they’d know better than to tease us with Hugh. Last time they did that it turned into an unplanned three-book deal.
Sounds like some relationships. “Well first we had some alone time and then we had 3 little accidents”
And now a series ????????????????
LOLOLOL
Seriously, my first thought (just finished Emerald Blaze last night) was “Oh, Hugh is babysitting Rogan and Neveda’s son”.
I laughed out loud at your comment xD totally loved ur comment!
Omg, me too.
I was a bit confused at first as well, since the graphic is associated with Arabella most of the time.
But with both of them having battlefield voices, a 5-6 year old is old enough to cause plenty of trouble and make plenty of noise on a farm. The southern ‘boy’ reminded me of my uncles talking to my male cousins when they were in trouble.
Yes – graphic relates to the first part of the post, “the bad”.
I was not a hard-copy purchaser, and so did not get the cool aunt story, and have to wait with all the rest for it to (hopefully) be made available on the site.
… I am ok with that (well, not “ok”, I want to read it!), but that was the deal to encourage hard-copy purchases from smaller bookstores. I chose not to participate, so I resigned to wait.
Now I can’t wait to unleash “PUT DOWN THAT COW” somehow into a conversation …
It should be the next tshirt or mug. “PUT DOWN THAT COW” lol
+1. I want it on a mug.
I want it on a milk pitcher 🙂
+1
Totally want that mug!
Cool Aunt is on the site. I read it last nite. I pre-ordered Emerald Blaze from Amazon back in May.
It’s not a public link. And Amazon isn’t on the bookseller list specifically to support the bookshops who hosted the tour. Why would you ignore House Andrews’ wishes?
Why would you do this? We specifically said the story was reserved for the people who supported print stores.
Why would we post any new freebies after this?
Like Sara B, I am waiting for the Cool Aunt story because I bought from Amazon. Please don’t let the turkeys spoil it for the rest of us – we live for your snippets.
I live in Arizona. I complained about the need to order from Texas and then getting no link. Sorry. I finally steeled myself and called The Blue Willow Bookstore. I gave them my order number, they checked and sent me the link to the Arabella story in a minute tops. They were very nice about the whole thing. They are redeemed in my mind forever. And the story—thanks. The worry about the baby was devastating without Arabella saving the day.
Thank You for the snippet, it was everything. I loved Hugh’s – Iron and Magic and am anxiously waiting for the next one! I am a big fan of all the worlds created by the author lords. They each have their own unique look and characters – all of which I love and happily read over and over!
“Cool Aunt“ is a short-short story. Nevada and Rogan have their baby, as told from Arabella’s perspective. Those who pre-ordered hard copy books from three particular bookstores around the country were sent a code to access it on Emerald Blaze book birthday (8/25). The rest of us will get to read it here some weeks from now.
Whoops! I thought I answered someone else elsewhere in the thread. Please ignore.
You were confused at first. Ha, I’m still confused. I know Julie asked Erra if she could call her Granny, because Kate is her Mother by the blood exchange and raising and Erra is Kate’s Aunt. Kate’s Mother is dead, she was killed by Kate’s Father. Kate woke her Great Grandmother from death. Erra is Kate’s Father’s Sister. Kate’s Mother was not a nice person, she used men through her magic, and took them away from their family. Kate has two men who consider her as a sister because of the magical manipulations of her biological Mother and Father.
I am still confused.
LOL. I have a cousin who is almost a sister to me and that’s how she introduces me to people, which is thoroughly confusing to them as she’s (technically) an only child.
Oh, and to further prove my southern roots, her dad (who was my second cousin) was nicknamed “Brother” as a young kid and it stuck. He was my dad’s age, so I called him “Uncle Brother.”
Yes, people often looked at us a little weirdly.
I am from south and have over 50 first cousins. You know your family (both sides) has been in the same area for a couple hundred years when your DNA ancestry test tells you that you are from central Louisiana (I was born there, but when I was a young child my parents moved out of the south, but very extended family still there). Of course random older women approaching you at a fast food lunch with your Mom when you are visiting asking if you are ‘Adrion’s daughter’ because you look enough like your Dad and they are his cousins tells you that too. (My Mom even has ‘double first cousins’ – her Mom’s brother married her Dad’s sister.)
And I have cousins nicknamed ‘Bubba’ (his older sister couldn’t say ‘brother’ when he was little and since he was a ‘Jr’ it stuck with the rest of the family) and ‘Bootsie’ (don’t know where that one came from) and ‘Lil Brent’ (a Jr), etc.
The south (especially Louisiana) can be an interesting place. Though still get annoyed when people I meet tell me I can’t be from the south because I come across as reasonably intelligent (and that is before they find out I am Ivy League educated) – ugh. My uncles and aunt are smart even though they don’t have college degrees, operating heavy equipment, electricians, pipe fitters, etc. pays better than many college education requiring jobs. I actually kind of like the choice a couple of the Baylor children made to not attend college because it wasn’t right for them.
YAY, fellow Louisiana native here, too! Born and raised, Cajun ancestors, mixed in with some Native American (Choctaw), Irish, Scottish, and Italian. (Or as my mom would say, not a quiet bone in my body.)
And I got that same “wow, you’re smart!” Kind of thing. Drove me nuts. I was meeting with a producer early in my writing career and the meeting went long (because it was going well), and at the end of it, the producer’s assistant was walking me out and said, “Wow, you’re just so… smart. And you’re from the south!”
I had to stop myself from saying, “yes, I can breathe and think at the same time.”
Yeah. Both my parent’s have master’s degrees (after being the first to graduate from college in each family – and only out of their siblings) – my Dad says my grandfather told him he was too lazy to make a living on a farm, he needed to get a good education. My Dad’s master’s is in math, from the early days of computers (I colored on punch cards as a kid) and he worked on ‘losing’ his accent before we moved out of the south due to the prejudice.
We are part Choctaw as well. My great-grandfather was a Choctaw medicine man, never wore shoes, rode bareback, best sharpshooter in the parish, etc. My Mom thought of him as dear grandpa, my Dad was told to stay away from him when he was young – grandpa was rumored to have ‘helped’ a couple of game wardens ‘disappear’ when they tried to tell him where he could not hunt. The rest is mostly French/Cajun (direct from France and via Arcadia), some British Isles, Netherlands, ‘Norman’ (I am very very pale, but have uncles and cousins who are very very dark and could pass for Native but tribal affiliations not maintained – though my uncles are very good oral storytellers).
Another southerner here, born and raised. I had to go to a Big Deal business meeting in NYC a number years back.
The first time I said “y’all”, everybody looked at me like I had grown a second head.
I’m from Oregon myself, raised in a time and place where loggers (my father was one) and their families were commonly supposed to make bricks look smart. I thoroughly hated having to spend the summer I was seven inside supposedly learning Spanish rather than outside playing.
Eventually (when I had a kid that age myself) my mother told me that the school district had wanted to take my sister and me and send us to a boarding school so our parents had to prove they valued education – neither my sister nor I had any interest in going anywhere else for school and our parents knew it.
‘Granny’ may mean Grandmother, but it does not suit Erra’s stature
So I feel that Julie may regard Erra as her grandmother and Erra may regard Julie as her granddaughter but that doesn’t mean she wishes to be called granny
Btw I’m considering wether this snippet would fit into Blood Heir, but It is not posted in the Ryder blog
snork
ha ha ha ha ha ha
I needed that laugh! Thank you!
This is such a awesome snippet.
I had to read the first sentence three times before it clicked we were back in Kate Daniels world.
????????????????????????????
So much to unpack in that tiny snippet. Family.
Gramas still need to hear your voice no matter who she is and how much power she has.
Uncles still will come bash heads and yell at you for not calling home.
And nephews!!! Will still challenge their dads until the real authority (mom) arrives!!
You guys made my day and week and month and definitely year.
Thank you!
Hugh as Daddy. Love it!
(I also totally heard narrator Shane East ROARING this in his Hugh-accent. He gives good roar, as we discovered in the first Hugh book.)
Steve West?
Yeah, sorry. It’s the same guy. Different names. I think he records certain types of books under one name, and different types under the other name. (I’m not sure which name is the pseudonym. Maybe they both are. But it’s for sure the same guy.)
Oooh, you’re right! I didn’t know. I wondered about the “East” in his name as opposed to “West”.
Oh hubby used to call our son-Boy, daughter-Girl and youngest son-little boy. The older two requested not be called that, so he changed it to son and daughter. The youngest is still little boy
It really sounds like Hugh is speaking to offspring. OMG this was funny.
My first thought was ‘ooo, Christopher and Barabas have been in contact with Julie!’ Do they know it’s Julie?!
But it also makes me sad to think of her still not in contact with Kate and Curran!
And Hugh seems to be a great uncle. 🙂
Yeah, it makes me sad too. I couldn’t help but read all of Julie’s story with that sad undertone of not being able to see them. I want to think they still talk on the phone, but with the development of her magic I doubt it, which makes it sadder! I understand the why, but still…
There is still room for fire calls and I had kinda thought they all timed visiting Roland and the same time to say hi? Or at least would allow Kate to see Julie though who knows how Kate’s relationship with Roland has changed over time…
That was a scene earlier in Ryder, when she left Monkey in their care.
What??? OMG! Thank you!
Loved the Zoom interview you did yesterday. It was a bright spot in an otherwise stressful week and I soooo appreciate you both taking the time.
Thank you so much for all the treats today ????!
Thank y’all so much. I am so blessed to find this series so long ago! I am being good and not divulging your “bribe”. The book and short story was so super! Thanks for this one too! Hehehehe. Love Ryder as well. Glad that you are all doing okay with hurricane Laura as well.
Outstanding. BOY! Ah yes many memories. Also GIRL! Little girl. YOU YES YOU! So glad you all are safe. Working on attitude of gratitude AND not sacrificing good insisting on perfect. Very. Slow. Going. Tomorrow Krispy kreame has chocolate glazed donuts.
I LOVE IT.
I have no words!!! Except this is the best thing EVER!!!
That was awesome! You got a smile out of me after a pretty rough couple days. Many thanks.
Awwww! Hugh the caring uncle!
Erra screaming at the phone and her advisors standing around her and cringing from the volume.????
Also:
Hugh a father? No! Can’t be?! What child be strong enough to lift a cow? Maybe Conlan? I can’t imagine his and Elara’s child having super strength. Hugh is a healer. Elara is a witch. Or is he really the father? O.O Help!
I think it’s Conlan too… “your mother” could mean Kate and not Elara. Unless high and Elara have had a kid with magic powers, which I guess is also possible.
It’s not Conlan. Hugh is not in Atlanta. He said at the end “don’t make me come to Atlanta” I’m with everyone else that it is most likely his kid but it it wasn’t then I would guess it was some kid from their community before I would jump to Conlan.
It’s her Uncle, which means Hugh. Sounds like she has a cousin who is very strong or magical or both
Thinking that “put down that cow” could refer to levitating, not physically lifting? Maybe? Not sure if levitating is a thing in the Kate Daniels world (and I just re-read all 11 books) — my head is a bit full with re-reading and re-enjoying Hidden Legacy right now, so I could have my worlds cross-wired.
+1
Interesting, and would explain the “no good grip to lift a cow even with super strength”…????
Also, didn’t Elara levitate Hugh out of Roland’s torture chamber when she was in her secret “ice-monster-of-power-from-other-plane” mode? So maybe her and Hugh’s son would inherit his mum’s power? And being a kid, would use it less responsibly? Thus juggling cows? Which is what his mum feeds her power, so maybe the power has grown to like cows? ????????
It’s magic.
Thanks for the laugh! And the glimpse of Hugh and his son!!!
Love, love, loved this snippet!! Thank you!!
This has me speechless with delight!
Lovely snippet… can’t wait for the next book.
I was wondering if Cool Aunt will ever be available other than as a reward though? Living in Switzerland and having purchased my copy of Emerald Blaze months ago (preOrder) on Amazon I have no way to earn it as a reward.
I believe they mentioned that it will be available to everyone in a couple of months.
Living in France I have the same problem, you can’t have cool aunt.
We feel a little disadvantaged…
The Cool Aunt is already on the website.
Which is why House Andrews gave the scolding post.
What she said.
I ordered from malapros bookstore and also thought I didn’t get the link. Went back to the original email the bookstore sent, and it was in that email.
This was wonderful!
Is there a librarian here that would like an extra mass-market version of Emerald Blaze? I inadvertently bought two copies and I’d be happy to mail it to a librarian who could put it to good use. (Ilona/Gordon, if that’s not okay, please feel free to delete!)
You could probably also just contact your local library directly! Most accept book donations right
Yes, of course. I had a taker immediately after posting, though, so we’re good. (My local library orders extra copies because I got them all hooked on the books. )
Thank you very much!!
Hahahaha Young cousins and Uncles who can get you in trouble with your parents and grandparents!!! No escape
I love the glimpse of Hugh as father and uncle. His kids with Elara will be something else. Of course, Elara’s son could lift a cow-I’d worry more about what else they might do to/with the cow!(Power charged child?)
I can also picture Hugh and Erra bellowing at each other across a battlefield! Oh the stories to come! (I hope!)
Actually, I think that Hugh would have to bellow into the phone to be heard across a room that Erra is on the other side of. I feel so sorry for the poor minion holding the handset for Erra, with bellowing coming from both sides of the conversation.
Thank you for the snippet! I had to say goodbye to a furbaby this morning, and I really needed the chuckle.
Sorry about your furbaby. It’s tough doing the right things sometimes.
I am sorry about the Bad. This is why we can’t have nice things.
Thank you for the snippet – as I try to recover from Emerald Blaze
This is awesome! Thanks! This really makes me want to know what the child is doing with the cow, lol ????
Thank you! Hope you get to have a little break after all the book release crazy is over. ????
Oh my goodness…. no words. So funny… Thank you! Your words have made my life inexplicably brighter this week.
Thank you, Ilona Andrews. I ROFLOL and LMAO. Sounded like Hugh had his hands full with a young child. Poor guy. “Bless his heart it’s Good for his soul. “As my grandmother used to say.
Sorry to hear that some of BDH are causing problems by illegally sharing the good aunt story.
OMG that was soooooo awesome. Can’t wait to read the whole book.
Thank you
OMG OMG im having a stroke!!! Hugh had a boy!!!
OMG
Food for the soul I swear.
Thanks 🙂
Also, who is even sharing the cool aunt story lol? Seems kinda rude. I’m just waiting a couple weeks till it comes out myself. Maybe next time set it up so everyone needs an individual authenticated password credentials to access or something
I think some people in the Spoiler post were sharing how to find “Cool Aunt” and mentioning scenes from it. Which wasn’t cool. Thus people who didn’t order via the three bookstores were able to find it. Again, not cool. And this is from someone who didn’t order from the linked bookstores.
I knew Hugh would make a fun dad.
Ahhhh I love that snippet. Thank you both.
I am so confused…how would Hugh be Julies uncle. And how were you supposed to win a reward? I must have missed something.
I think in Magic Triumphs Julie has a conversation with Erra that since Erra is Kate’s aunt and Julie is Kate’s daughter then Erra is Julie’s great aunt and can Julie call her grandmother. Somewhere also in the book there is a conversation about Hugh be a son to Roland except that Hugh was not blood born there fore Kate and Hugh are like brother and sister. In Hugh’s book Elara also has a conversation with Hugh that Kate sees him more like a brother as both were raised by Voron and trained by him. Julie has also been to visiting Hugh and Elara and I think started thinking of him as her uncle. In addition to all that Kate also looks at Nick Feldman as a brother so he is also considered an uncle but that has not been explored as much.
oh my. I needed this!
PUT DOWN THAT COW!
Thank you.
As if it weren’t enough that EB came out this week – and I have now embarked on a re-read (along with probably the rest of the BDH) to gather clues while I may and before I read The Cool Aunt again (thank you for that! I am eagerly awaiting my actual books) – you give us more Ryder and Hugh!
I’ve been smiling and laughing for a few minutes now.
🙂
OMG. Family. Loved the snippet, thank you!
HUGH! AWWWWSOME SNIPPET!
JULIE JULIE JULIE.
That was epic!!!
Is there anyway somebody that bought the audiobook could get Cool Aunt
They said they’d post the link for Cool Aunt for the rest of us at a later date. Couple few weeks? Or months?)
Just wait, Eva— it will in time be posted here for us to slurp up like oysters.
Ahh family love them. Hate them but you can’t get rid of them. Thanks for the snippet.
Oh.my.god
Yay!!! How do you have time!!??!! Be safe- large hurricanes scare me! Thank you for the snippet!
Cool Aunt sharing??? I’m a cool aunt! LOL
Ah..mah..zing????
Who or what is this “Cool Aunt” you speak of?
“Cool Aunt“ is a short-short story. Nevada and Rogan have their baby, as told from Arabella’s perspective. Those who pre-ordered hard copy books from three particular bookstores around the country were sent a code to access it on Emerald Blaze book birthday (8/25). The rest of us will get to read it here some weeks from now.
????❤️❤️❤️
LOL! Awesome.
I guess I’m the only one who read the snipped and thought “Roman”!
I thought Mahon. Everyone in Mahon’s gene pool could pick up a cow. And, we haven’t met George and Eduardo’s kid yet. But … would Mahon ever leave the pack state of Georgia? I don’t think so.
And, how did Barabas and Christopher get Julie’s phone number? Last heard Julie would show up with more gold only if she were still alive. I need more Monkey!!!! and more Sophia!!!! and Luther!!! and …. Did The Clerk ever marry his assistant?
Such a wealth of caring if irascible characters to choose from! Thank you Authorlords!
Kids.
Kids???!! OMG!
::thud::
blinks owlishly
KIDS?!? George had multiples or more than one birth?
Oh maaaaaannnnnnnnnnnn.
Totally awesome. And thank you so much for yesterday’s Zoom with Cary Library!!
You drop 1 word and it’s like a bomb. Kids. ???? Boom! ????????
Plus 1
I read the thing 3 or 4 times and never thought Hugh. I thought Erra had a brother amongst all the people who went to sleep when the magic fell.
Hugh makes so much sense! Gahhhhhh. Brain is fried and no longer working…
We’re all assuming that Hugh has a son. What if he’s talking (roaring) at Conlan?????????????
I really loved this!????????
This is actually what I thought – Hugh babysitting Conlan would be utterly hysterical.
Poor Elara. Poor cows. lmao.
I bought dead tree books using the link and did not get the short story. How do I get it?
Never mind. Found it! Thank you!
Love the snippet too.
I am curious if Hugh know the nature of what Julie is doing? I know obviously he know she is in Atlanta and willing to come help. The prophecy only mentions not having Kate involved technically. I think if Hugh knew, especially considering how he feels about Kate, his sister for all intents and purposes that he would want to help. He cares for Julie and respects her but would he still not come help if he knew about the prophecy? I love this view into Hugh and Julie. It makes me happy.
That was so cool. Loved it. So many questions. People gave away Cool Aunt? You miss so much when you are a rule follower. Thank you. I can wait.
Love love love it!
Thank you, can’t wait for the whole book!
????????????????????????????hahahahhahahhahahaha
How do you know how much I need the fun you provide ? MAGIC. Thank you.
I don’t think Hugh is the Uncle. He has more finesse. Sounds more like someone in Roman’s or Mahon’s family.
Very tantalizing! Thank you!
I’d love to peek into y’alls minds and see where little tidbits come from. Like the thought process that says what would Hugh be arguing about with someone else..let’s see I know holding a cow….thank you. And thank you for emerald blaze. I couldn’t afford a written book and had already preordered a ebook so I hope we get to read cool aunt at some point.
I’m dying laughing here. How can anyone NOT keep reading after the line “put down that cow!”? ????????
This brings me so much joy. Thank you so much!
Please keep up the amazing work!
Haha! First, clearly I need to read Iron and Magic before I read “Ryder” (am having a hard time with the whole name change… for “reasons”). Listening to all the “Magic audio books now. The cool aunt (out in lowercase so maybe no one will notice) is awesome… but I have… questions. We hank you for solving some mysteries in EB. Just live the Baylor’s! Seriously! Also, thank you for creating a “fairy tale” where the mom ( and at least one grandma) is
awesome!
Parenthood is the Karmic revenge. Bwa hahaha ha… Thank you for all the snippets. Do you ever feel like the BDH is actually Kid 3?
????????
I’ve been trying to figure out what BDH means…. And looking on the internet has not been as helpful as I had hoped. What does BDH mean?
Book devouring horde, from the innkeeper “hope crushing horde”
Oh! That’s so adorable! Thank you for clarifying!
Book Devouring Horde. ????
It’s such a good name, now that I know what it is!
Oh god. You can’t do that. You can’t give me teasers of Hugh when you’re not writing Hugh’s next book. That’s just sadistic.
Y’all have spent too much time with Victoria Tremaine. For real.
I apologize but I discovered quite inadvertantly came across the Cool Aunt when I was looking for something else on the site.
I have this image in my head now of Hugh yelling at me ‘Put down that snippet or I’ll have him throw a cow at you” 😉
O
M
G
Lol
Love this!
I saw the title, and I was really hoping it was a snippet of Julie yelling that at Derek. But this is fun too.????
As someone who is “not allowed” to buy dead tree books anymore (“you have too many books! no more!” geez. I need another husband) and is reduced to collecting Legacy, Innkeeper and Iron/Magic on the Nook, I am sort of miffed to be awaiting “cool aunt” but I am still patiently waiting, nonetheless. I understand, truly I do, but I’m still over here nursing my “redheaded stepchild” vibe
It’s not hoarding if it’s books.
That’s right. It’s building a personal library.
Going to make some guesses. Remember time line wise, Iron and Magic is set about a year or so before the events in Magic Triumphs, based on Hugh’s and Elara’s appearance at the conclave. Even with the passage of time and the presumed strengthening of business ties between Hugh/Elara and Atlanta, I just don’t buy Kate and Curran letting Conlan go to Kentucky and its established that Kate and Curran are in town. So I am leaning toward this being a child either by adoption or biology of Hugh and Elara.
Something I am not clear about is what, if any relationship Julie has with Curran and Kate over the last eight years. They have to know what grandma is up to and have to suspect that she left with Julie. Everything I have read this far seems to point toward not having had contact. That said, in the market scene Julie was actively hiding to stay out of sight of Curran and Kate, which indicates that they knew her new look, although Luther didn’t, nor did Ascenino.
I have no doubt that Ilona and Gordon will come up with a completely off the wall answer that none of us see coming. But makes perfect sense 🙂
IMO, I don’t think they knew what Julie looked like now, Julie hiding was more of her reaction I guess.
????
Happiness! I needed this today.
“Put down that cow” has a special meaning for me. For years, my husband, who is weirdly fond of cows (no, he did not grow up on a dairy) drove a white Chrysler PT Cruiser that he put cow spots on. It became the “PT Moozer.” So, when I read “put down that cow,” I had a mental image of a shapeshifter hoisting my husband’s car in the air!
I miss Hugh. Thanks for the snippet.
Hugh!!!and and his kid! OMG!!!I’ve always loved and hated that bastard. LOL
Oh my gosh, thank you for the snippet!!
Hugh and Elara had a child??? OMG!!
Christopher and Barabas know? Yes! I’m glad some Atlanta folks now know that Julie is in Town!
Christopher and Barabas (and daughter?) are watching Monkey for Aurelia … do they know this is Julie yet? I don’t think so??
Thank you so much for sharing! It really does bring us cheer.
This was definitely a feel good snippet. My grandfather only used the phone as a courtesy. He could be heard across 3 states on his own. I am so glad that Julie is so loved by her family. I will be so glad to see her talk to Kate and Curran. I also would like to see Grampa again. Although it is hard to see him that way. There are so many questions and I am sure we will get some answers eventually. I am patiently waiting for the cool Aunt and will continue to do so.
I immediately thought whoever “uncle” is was yelling at Conlan. I’ve learned that our loving authors love to mess with us. I swear I have said while reading the last 5-6 books “Well, I never saw that coming”. I’ve given up guessing as their imaginations are so much better than mine.
I’m am the oldest of five. My dad called me “Son” until the oldest of my younger brothers was born.
The reason Christopher or Barnabas would have her phone # is because Julie as Ryder hired Barnabas to watch the little girl who was living on the streets. The one who gave her info re the priest that was murdered & then became a target.
I read “Put down that cow!” and immediately thought of
1) Terry Pratchett’s childrens book “Where’s My Cow?”
and
2) a new Chick-fil-A billboard
After the stress of prepping alone to possibly ride out Laura in my apartment in Houston, I needed the cathartic release. I laughed and then sobbed on the floor in my living room. 48 hours of emotions released. Washed clean. Thank you for that gift.
Bring on the next punch, 2020. I can take it.
Glad you’re safe.
To a fellow Terry Pratchett fan…
Yes!
Exactly!
Then segued straight into geeky Ilona Andrews fan level and started dissecting the ‘uncle’ scenario and imagining RYDER when it gets published in all its ‘glory’ the way EB has.
+1
To all my fellow “where’s my cow” fans…
A mug with “put down that cow” would look mighty fine in my bookcase beside that book…
Thank you for this surprise! If Hugh came to Atlanta, Kate would somehow find out, and stuff would hit the fan. Julie better call Erra.
I’m reading the Hidden Legacy series from the beginning. Right now I’m reading Wildfire.
Cool Aunt being shared???? Not cool. Not cool. I don’t mind the wait since I know it’s from Arabella’s point of view. The way Rogan reacted when Nevada told him her water broke… He-he. ????
“Put down that cow” and “Step away from the monkey” – two of the best lines from two of my favorite series. 😀
Thank you for the snippet!
This literally is the greatest thing ever!!!!! ❤️
LoL????
Oh I needed that.
Boy Howdy, That is DEFINITELY Hugh’s (and Elara’s!) son.
Nobody else would have the brass to back-sass Hugh that way!
It made me think of the old Parent’s Curse: “May you have 10 kids, all just like YOU!” ROFLMAOOO Thank you SOOOO much!
Also many thanx for EB, it was perfect, loved the end, growled over the Epilogue(Mean Authors! leaving me hanging like that *GROWL*), it was all great. Gratz, You guys ROCK!
Thank you so much for doing the online book tour! It was great to see you guys tonight, and yesterday afternoon too.
I’m confused, who is on the phone? Both sides of the conversation…
This is a snippet from the new Ryder book. Julie is talking to her uncle Hugh, about her grandmother, Erra.
@Jessica A – thank you. That helped. ^_^
Well hello Hugh!
And could that be Conlan having to explain to his mum why he’s in trouble?
what did they gave birth to???
Oh man, oh man, why are people going against your wishes? If those people are so desperate to read it, surely that means they love the books and wouldn’t do anything to possibly jeopardize getting more fun things like free snippets and fiction in the future? Right?! Please stop!!!! #justsaynotobook-greedyfriends
What I don’t get is if you read it, and you shouldn’t be reading it, STFU about reading it! Don’t blab on the comment section that you are cheating. DO NOT ANGER THE AUTHORLORDS!
It’s Hugh? How hysterical. Put down that cow! Snicker
Thank you
Thank You yet again! The snippet is like frosting on the cake(of my copy of Emerald Blaze) arriving just in time for my birthday… YAY!
Take care, and please keep teasing us. 🙂
GET OFF THE SHED
HUGH HAS A BABY!!!! ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Feel the same way about this!
A whole new meaning to cow tipping lol
Most people seem to assume that it’s Julie who answers the phone. But why would she expect Christopher or Barabas to call her?
I think Julie is expecting Barabas or Christopher because they are watching Monkey.
Oh man, I had forgotten about them babysitting Monkey! I thought they were calling her because they knew who she was and why she was here, agreed to keep quiet, and were just checking up on her, smh.
Ok that was funny!! So glad I checked in on the blog today. Thanks!
Promise I have not shared my copy of the short story. I almost commented on someone’s speculation in the blog the other day, tho. Then suddenly realized the answer would be a major spoiler. Ugh.
OK I must be tired. It took me halfway through to realize it was a snippet and not a actual family conversation with your uncle. It didn’t seem too odd until I got to the Atlanta part and I thought, but she lives in Texas.
Once Atlanta clued me in, I had to go back and read it again. Sheesh!
Aww I was so sure their first born would be a girl. But mini Hugh will be just as adorable????
Could be twins, one of each.
That is Hugh?? Is that Hugh?? Screaming across battlefields….lol……
And who is picking up the cow??
I have a mental image of Ilona and Gordon reading the comments on these snippet posts … Really, laughing that hard can be dangerous…especially when you’re drinking hot tea!
Yo, everybody needs a laugh these days. They’ve had a lot to contend with.
OHHH Uncle Hugh is a dad now?
I don’t think he’s babysitting, that’s a typical dad frustration…
Yay, thanks for that treat.
I hope the cow is safe.
Love it
Thank you
HAHA BRILLIANT!!
Another present for us- wow, what a perfect week, thank you!
Loved the interaction with Hugh and the image of Erra making a phone call is prizeless.
Wondering if the boy was Sam, but then I don’t recall if he has magic and he would be too old now to be called boy, so maybe their son after all…..
Looking forward to another short night due to your book tour stop tonight 🙂
Looooove this so much!! I hope Hugh is roaring at a teenage son and we get to see more of them!!
I am Re reading Iron and magic right now, as I blasted through Emerald Blaze in one night and was left with a book hangover. “Hair of the dog”right?
Thanks for the snippet House Andrews. It made my shift break that much more enjoyable! I love grown up Julie!
So I bought Emerald Blaze from one of the stores you listed but never got a link. Not sure if I contact you or the bookstore…? Also the blog “next and prior” buttons at the bottom do not list the blogs in order. It skips around, I’ve had it happen 3 times now so I don’t think its me rather than the site. Great snippet!
I think they track to the next and last post in the same category, not next/previous chronological posts.
I ordered from malapros bookstore and also thought I didn’t get the link. Went back to the original email the bookstore sent, and it was in that email.
Love this!
Thank you so much!
Found it interesting that Barabas and Christopher would be those she would not be surprised to have call on her phone.
Since Christopher is a “full-out avatar”, would he have had more knowledge of the Moloch situation and her mission?
That was a fantastic snippet. It made me laugh. The bad surprised me. I loved Cool Aunt and it never occurred to me to share it.
Oh my god Hugh has a kid?! This is priceless 😀
PUT DOWN THAT COW! Followed by DON’T MAKE ME COME OVER THERE!!
Mine are along the lines of
DON’T HOSE YOUR SISTER!
STOP PAINTING THE WALLS!
Stop climbing on the furniture!!!
Climbing on dresser = bloody nose and assorted bruises from it tipping on
top of me
Climbing on back of couch = swan dive onto coffee table = slit neck =
freaked out mom + ER visit with doctors waiting outside just for me
Surviving your toddler = priceless
Just cracks me up. I’ve reread several times and each time I’m laughing.
BOY! ????
Its Hugh,right? A little confusing when she keeps calling her great aunt her grandmother….
Thank you for the ugly.
I literally shed a few tears laughing.
I needed this Soo much ????????
This is the best! Thank you for a great start to my Friday after a struggling week of remote teaching. Oh, and DON’T place other people’s struggles on your shoulders. We just want you to know how much you are appreciated and why.
Is this Kate getting the call? Julie’s grandmother would be dead, unless the uncle is really talking about her great grandmother.
Or maybe there are more grandmas out there..,
A little confused, but thanks for the surprise! And, Emerald Blaze was great!
Uncle who? I assume Julie’s uncle, but earlier in her story she was put to sleep to assimilate the power of the eye and mentions her grandmother woke family and servants to guard them. I could mistake ‘uncle’ for one of them as well because no names were mentioned. Sorry to nit pick but I’m slightly confused. Thanks.
Mary and Eli, at the end of Magic Triumphs, after Kate is resurrected by Curran and the fighting was over, Erra was riding out of Atlanta when she catches Julie following her.
Julie asks Erra what’s their first stop. Erra tells her Mishmar, and that she has a promise to keep to her mother. Then Julie asks “If Kate is my mother, does that make you my grand-aunt?” Erra says “Possibly.” Julie asks “That’s sort of like a grandmother, isn’t it?” Erra says “Yes.” Then Julie asks “Can I call you granny?” Erra: “Not if you want to keep your teeth.”
After Julie laughs, then said “She’s his grandmother too. Should we tell him? Can we take him with us to Mishmar to visit her?” Erra: “Maybe.”
Then Erra is thinking to herself that “[t]he boy would need to meet his grandmother at some point. But right now, he had his hands full and I doubted his wife would appreciate us dragging him off on family business. It wasn’t so bad to have a granddaughter, I decided. I’d never had one before, and this one brimmed with magic. There was so much I could teach her.” (Magic Triumphs, Epilogue)
Kate considers Hugh her brother since Roland mixed his blood with Hugh, and they were both brought up by Vorlon. Since Julie is Kate’s daughter, Hugh is Julie’s uncle. Even though Erra is Kate’s aunt, in the above part of Magic Triumphs, Julie starts to consider herself as Erra’s granddaughter.
Family…can’t live with them, can’t live without them. 😀
I am patiently waiting for the Cool Aunt story. (:
Oy!!! Does Uncle Hugh have a kid!?!?! Is his kid TERRIBLE!?!?
Is anyone else wondering if Derek is outside her house listening in on the conversation. And he would recognize Hugh’s voice. Even if he didn’t know in the bath scene, the penny would drop if he overheard Hugh yelling over the phone.
Ohh, the possibility!
I was honored to be able to attend the Zoom Author Panel Discussion last night with you and the other authors “at” the St. Louis Public Library. Thank you for mentioning it in time for me to sign up! While I did not actually have a chance to meet you due to the nature of the presentation, it was great seeing you and the others interacting and now putting your voices and current looks together. So, thanks from State College, Pennsylvania, for being there and being yourselves. Please keep the drama and humor coming!
And … hey! “Cool Aunt?” Obviously, I’ve missed something… 🙂
I could be wrong but I think it’s an Arabella short about the birth of Nevada & Connor’s baby that was given for pre-orders to independent bookstores? I’m a little fuzzy on the details. I had already ordered mine elsewhere when it was offered and was unable to cancel but if I’m remembering right, it will be published seperately at a later date. 🙂
For a moment I have no idea who this ‘uncle’ is (beside Nick) until I scrolled through the comment. Now it makes sense xD
Awww. Hugh being sweet.
(I wonder if it hurt him…)
People are never generous when you want them to be, only when it’s a pain.
I’d say they only want to stop the freak out over the scary ending, but I doubt it. They could have done that with a simple spoiler post.
I am almost tempted to try this social media stuff if I can keep up with my favorite authors.
Nah, not today.
Hmm, Hugh and Elara’s son seems a bit of a handful…wonder where that comes from? lol
????????????????Put down that cow! Reminds me of Monty Python.
You guys are awesome – keep dangling these enticing snippets in front of us, love to read them and even if it’s years away – can’t wait to see Hugh being a dad *snickers*
Also, huh, so Erra and Hugh are also in on the family aka even call each other, nice ^^
Hugh and Elara are parents! And to a little hellion… perfect 🙂 🙂
Can’t wait for more Hugh and Elara!
Love it!!
OMG, laughing SO hard!!!
Thank you, Beloved House Andrews!
None of the technology worked for any of my students this week and everyone had trouble getting to their e-books, they loaded the wrong class into our learning management system (twice) so my online students couldn’t access ANYTHING for two days (and then it had all the due dates in January) and I had to have a colleague hold my hand to fix it, then my car wouldn’t start yesterday and I couldn’t make it to the three and a half hour tutoring session that I have been inviting students to all week…
I have had about a whole week of Mondays this week. This snippet could not have come at a better time. I REALLY needed a good laugh.
Now if my car shopping goes well, then all will be good…
May the Force be with you!!
I am in awe of anyone who can make this e-learning work!!
Go Teachers!! At all levels! ????????
Thank you, Jean! We are all being challenged by this pandemic— Stay well!
I wonder if we will see any more of Deidre in Iron & Magic 2, the little girl who was made to go with her aunt & uncle instead of staying with Elara & Hugh. I hope so – she seemed sweet, and being around her brought out the sweet in Hugh. 🙂
I think I’m the only one who didn’t automatically think of Hugh as the uncle. Julies entire family is adopted. Who’s to say in 8 years she didn’t adopt more?
Anyways, whoever HE is, he sounds like my family. Screaming at kids is so normal that growing up I didn’t know there were other parents who DIDN’T yell at their kids like that. I have met some. They’re very odd…
Put Down that Cow – I now really need to know whats up with Hugh and Elara. This was a much needed break from every day stuff…..Thank you.
Also she should definitely call Erra – grandmas really appreciate it when you call and moms don’t like it when you don’t call. So ….how will Kate react to the 8 years of no contact…..or have there been regular updates from Erra that Julie is unaware of….except for the new prophecy of course.
Thank you so very much!!! So many giggles! Love the ambiguity. So very smart, to leave the BDH to speculate on details and identities. I am frequently not as think as I smart I am, so will keep any suppositions to myself and wait to see how it all fits together. I truly appreciate all the lovely reading you provide. So much fun.
Words to live by! I always speculate…and I’m always wrong. LOL
HUGH!!! <3 *crossing fingers, toes and things that shall not be mentioned that there is more Elara and Hugh in the works. 🙂 And Daddy-Hugh would make my life complete!! *heart eyes*
Thanks so much for the awesome snippet, you made my day!
Ohhhhhhhhhh! Hugh have a kid… so cute!
Cool Aunt is awesome! And so is Emerald Blaze – I read the kindle version the day it released. I ordered my copy from Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe because of the signed bookplate offer, and I just got the book.
Unfortunately, only the first 150 people to order a dead tree book from them got a signed book plate, because they had 150, and I’m not one of them.
I have Emerald Blaze as a mass market book. Where will I get the Cool Aunt story?
You only get it now if you bought the book from 3 specific bookstores.
They’ll post the link for everyone in a few weeks.
I was chuckling through the entire snippet. THANK YOU! It made my day.
Sharing my Cool Aunt would be far too kinky for me … no, wait, I didn’t type that, did I?
Love the snippet; thank you! “Put down that cow” reminds me of something from way back; John Wayne or someone imitating his voice saying “How they got that horse up on the seventh floor, I’ll never know!”
My high school had senior pranks. One of a previous year’s prank was walking a cow up the chapel steps (and they don’t like to walk down). Another was relocated a teacher’s Volkswagen Beetle to the roof of a three story classroom building. So, these things happen…
Love it – thank you for making my Friday.
This snippet was the best kind of torture. I’m re-reading Iron and Magic and LOVE HUGH AND ELARA. Such an irrationally soft spot for those two especially and now I’m even more desperate for more H&E books (even knowing there’ll be 2 more books seems like too little time to spend with them!)
Excited to be with Julie this January as well, can’t wait to get back to this world!
I’m sorry about those sharing Cool Aunt. It’s wrong and annoying and takes advantage. This is why we can’t have good things UGH.
Anywho thank you both again for these wonderful characters and for the snippets. You spoil us.
LOL! I can’t wait to read the next Hugh book! Thank you for the snippet!
Husband and I are in our first week of enduring Covid together, quarantined in our bedroom, and I’m vicariously living through the Ryder/Julie scenes. Hugh parenting though? Love.
I have two teen boys and a tween girl who I’ve yelled at through the door whenever I hear a large crash accompanied by arguing. And this snippet today, reminds me I need to revisit Kate’s world on my kindle.
Hey – I’m sorry to hear about your COVID diagnosis. I hope you and your husband recover quickly and fully. May God bless you and your family and watch over you all at this time.
The joy that this snippet brought me was priceless. Thank you. ????????
… I’m confused
You know what I love about this snippet??
Everything ????
I love love, love, love everything House Andrews writes. 🙂 I’m having a problem though – I pre-ordered EB and didn’t get a link to the Arabella’s free story. I must have done something wrong- but what?? Thanks for any advice- I want all the stories I can get!
You had to order hard copy from one of three brick and mortar stores to get the link; it was an incentive to support those stores. The rest of us get the link at a not too far in the future date.
Never mind… I just read Anna’s note. Thanks, Anna.
I just re-read it and it made me laugh out loud AGAIN! Thank you for this again.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. lol. Hugh aggravated so many people it’s good to see what comes around happen to him. Next he’ll be using that tried old phrase “if you don’t behave I’m telling your mother”. Nothing like being a daddy to cut you down to size. Go Hugh!
What a lovely pressie! You are good to us.
Who is Julie’s Uncle?
Fun!
So sorry about people sharing the link. Just be patient folks! It will be out there in a few weeks!
Thank you so much for the fun snippet!
Oh, man.
Thank you. I needed that belly laugh something fierce.
Put down the cow, put down the monkey… what’s next?
Ow! You made me snort my coffee! Had almost recovered from “Holster you weapons and step away from the monkey!” and then “PUT DOWN THAT COW!” Bwahahahaha! Can’t wait for Hugh’s book now….
I LOVED “EMERALD BLAZE”!!!
PERFECTION AGAIN!!!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR GENIUS WITH US !
Snippet is delicious ????
Oh my gosh. I love all the snippets. They make my day.. Thank you so much❤????
And it had to be a cow!!! The animal they sacrificed to elara to save hugh! Priceless. ????????
I have no idea what is happening in this post but I still found it hilarious ????
Howling in laughter at Hugh. KARMA it’s real. lol
I love how you can make a character one of the biggest bad asses in some wildly outlandish world… and the next moment he’s every bit as human as the guy next door.
Judy
Did it to me again.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! I haven’t laughed this hard in MONTHS! And I was desperately needing a good laugh.
Love you guys!
Reminds me of a family story. My sister lives in Virginia. Her 20 year old son (now 46) decides he wants to work in the Alaskan oil fields and off he drives by himself. “Call me as soon as you get there!” “Ok mom, I will.” Of course he doesn’t. Worried sister calls local police and gives her son’s address. They knock on his door, and now scared son answers. “Are you B..P..?” “Yes.” “Call your mother, she’s worried. If she calls us back and says you haven’t called, then we’ll be back. Don’t make us come back.” Son calls mom.
Thank you Alaska police for enforcing the “Power of MOM!”
Hahahahahahaha
I attended the virtual book tours on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Unfortunately I joined the Monday book tour a couple of minutes late and heard all these spoilers from the Gordon that I was literally gobsmacked. Really had me going with the Catalina and Linus marriage. Seriously had my heart rate going there for a bit.
It was interesting to note each event was a bit different depending on the selection of authors participating. I do think some of the events were taped if anyone is curious and wants to see what happened.
Thank you House Andrews for supporting Malaprops. I am an Asheville local and they are one of the best independent bookstores ever. Sat in on the Friday night chat and it is very cool that Gordon hails from these parts. Maybe you can put some mountains/NC in one of your stories.
Please keep doing extras (like Cool Aunt) with Aurelia Ryder release. I am happy to support local and I bet other fans are as well.
Your books make me happy.
I was just thinking of this, but what if Hugh is a distant descendent of Moloch? Given his almost God-like levels of regeneration – could the prophecy/vision have been referring to Hugh, not Julie? And what if Julie has subverted the prophecy from its intent? I’m so tired of the ‘chosen’ one trope, that I’d love to see it subverted for once. Especially considering how convinced Julie is that it is her.
Julie chose herself. She has made it her mission.
I am SOOOO tired of people using trope.
This Son in Alaska story is almost as funny as the snippet! I have read it three times and laughed out loud each time. Thank you!
what is the deal with not publishing Iron Covenant 2? The world is Grim? so you’re not publishing? Thats BS!!
When is the world not a Grim place? That cant possibly be the reason. Imnot complaining about not publishing. My problem is the reason you gave., its ridiculous! If it is infact true its even more ridiculous! Love all your books! xo
Really, dude? … REALLY? =.=
Dude really, read the posts before you complain.
The authors clearly stated that book 2 is quiet grim and under the current circumstances it was a bit much to write. They will finish it just not under your timeline.
The authors just delivered a great book, and provided a short story for readers of hard copies, and are doing virtual book tours, and gifted us with a snippet.
ENJOY IT. CELEBRATE IT. DON’T BASH.
Ditto all the way
Duuuude.
If they say the book is grim so they want the situation to calm down, then that’s their reason.
If they say that for every ungarateful entitled comment they will wait one more year before they write it, then that’s their reason.
If they say they didn’t like the shape of today’s clouds and want to wait for next year for better omens then that’s their fricking reason.
I wonder, do you always get everything you want at once in life and do all the people around you explain themselves to you until you accept their reasons? Must be nice…
If they say they won’t write it, because they don’t want to, you guessed it: They don’t owe you an explanation. Geeez.
Wow. It’s grim and they don’t feel like writing it now for their own mental health and wellbeing, not ours. If I were a rude person, I’d call you a jerk and a hairy butthole, but I’m not rude so I’ll keep it to myself (like you should’ve kept your thought to yourself).
“Put down that cow!” ???????????????? Aw! Uncle Hugh is ready to come down to bash some heads together or whatever else Julie/Ryder might need help with!! Thank you for any little tidbits you’re able to share with us!! You’re a ray of sunshine in an uncertain world and greatly appreciated!
Please, please watch when you have a bit of time, please.
https://youtu.be/ebMKVMRNFZw
I didn’t understand everything because my english skills are not the best when it comes to listening, but this seems really important to share.
Ha. Thank you, you spoiled us rotten. 🙂
Hugh deserves a kid with attitude who talks back, some little warlord in the marking. 🙂
Is it common for a great aunt to be called grandmother in the US/English-speaking countries? It’s very confusing to me, in my country an aunt, whether great or not, is still an aunt, never a grandmother.
Not really common but not unheard of, especially if there a close relationship and the lack of a “real” grandma to fill the role.
Not common, but it can happen. Similar to how I call my much older first cousins Aunt or Uncle.
Thanks again, Ilona Andrews for the great snippet. I was too busy yesterday battening down for remnants of Hurricane Laura to read thru the comments.
I disagree with the majority. Hugh is part of a community where everyone works together for survival. There were a number of shapeshifter Iron Dogs. Plus the community serves as a safe haven for shapeshifters until they can go to Atlanta. I can see Hugh being child sitter. Of course could be his child with Elara.
Da Cow …
I so happy! This is brilliant on so many levels. It is also very unexpected but sincerely appreciated. Thank you.
Did the ssl certificate of the site expired?
This is the problem, it takes you two months to write a book but within 3 hours I have finished reading it. This is an unequal relationship. I suggest you start using magic.
Seriously, I enjoy your books a great deal. Thank you!
This is why we’re called The Book Devouring Horde
My favorite snippet!!
Oy!
I live in India.. I couldn’t buy the dead tree book ..I did buy through Amazon and I’m feeling left out:(
Anyways the snippet is superfun.. you are blessed in that you raise a normal phone call to an epic phone call.. and I respectfully disagree on any word my favorite authors put on page as “ugly”=>not cool!
Thanks for the gift of sharing your words..love them♥️❤️
Nope its got to be their kid. I can’t wait…. I wonder if Hugh and Kate will ever make true peace and learn to trust each other, I think that would be cool. Maybe through the kids?
I so want a sweatshirt or t-shirt with, “Put down that cow.” Can you imagine all of the fans that would recognize the blurb?? A new way to bond o]i this Covid_19 era.
Such a huge fans of ALL of the books…I am back at the beginning and bug doing his snooping for Adam Pierce.
I think that these books get more awesome with each re-read. The DETAILS!!
I still want….a shirt.
Oh…add on…sorry for the typos. New keyboard and faster than me. ????
I loved the book. I bought two books from Blue Willow online, they took my money and I never received the link to the Arabella short tale. That is why your fans skirt around that necessity. You pay money and the expected link never comes. Now they tell me one of the books isn’t coming either. ACK!
Okay, what am I missing? How did everyone figure out that this was Hugh as the uncle? I need to read the series and Hugh’s book again.
Kate considers Hugh as her brother. There were also some hints that there may be more to it due to Julie’s question to her grandmother about whether Hugh should “know” at the end of the last book in KD series.
I had forgotten how much fun the I.A. page is. Excellent.
Who else knows where she lives? His vague answer makes me think she’s not as undercover as she thinks.
I totally was about only Kate Daniels and against Hugh and his separate story. I knew I missed not reading the blogs and other books but now I find myself looking forward to Ryder and missing cool new stories and just their writing style. I am displease with the books I’m finding on audible and I am just listening to Kate’s books f4om the beginning because at least that way I know I’m ending a book satisfied and that I know I’ll enjoy. Until I’m mentally ready for other Ilona A. Books. Can anyone give me good suggestions of books to buy?
I’m considering my options. I’m not sure I can wait for “Cool Aunt”. If I order a hard copy from one of the three bookstores now, will I get the code?
This was such a treat. I was already going through withdrawal after reading Emerald Blaze twice. Kudos to you authors as always. You get the voices and the details exactly right, bringing daily life and smiles to life.
I don’t know about COOL AUNT…….
this is now leaving me feeling incomplete
…let’s start over….
OMG that made me laugh ! I have read it 3 times, it made my day so much brighter . Thanks for that!
Reading this early morning while sipping my coffee => chokes on said coffee.
“PUT DOWN THAT COW!” should be printed on a mug and sold as merch when the book is released. I’d drink to that!!!!
Ahahahaha! So awesome. It took me a minute to figure out who the uncle was. Love her grandma’s way of talking on the phone. Put down the cow! *cackle*
OMG! Is that Hugh as a father? Hilarious!
What is cool Aunt that people are sharing
I’m on here all the time and never saw it
Aaaah… I need coffee. I read this first thing in the morning and it took me a while to figure out who uncle is… I love my Hugh .. Daddy Hugh.. Sorry, not sorry that came out wrong..
OMG this made me so happy! I love everything about that phone call. I love Hugh so much! I love Julie! My favorite snippet, thank you so much for this.
LMAO omg i love this!!!
Apologies that this is kinda unrelated to the post… and I’m late to the party by…. obviously about a decade… as was busy with Ben Aaronovitch and Jonathan L. Howard and generally much more Brit urban fantasy besides. Have just finished binging on the entire Kate Daniels series minus the novellas (just started the Hugh D’Ambray novella— he and Ghastek are my favourite characters), and loved it; feeling rather bereft and missing that world. I was wondering if there were any novellas or short stories centred on Ghastek, and any more centred on Hugh? *hopeful grin*