ILONA ANDREWS

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  1. I don’t know if anyone has said this yet, but why assume that their father really had no magic. He’s born to a mother with mental magic who seems to have tried to go into his head almost since birth. It’s likely that he would have mental magic, too. Just like an irritant like sand can cause a pearl in an oyster. His mother could have caused an extreme block/protection of his magic and if he was at prime level and this was it’s focus throughout his youth, no one was ever going to see it, let alone reach it, including him.

    • Because as a Prime truthseeker she would have seen the magic, like Nevada was able to see through the illusion, she could tell it wasn’t real.

      But Grandma Tremaine must have had an interesting influence on the father, bc he did start an investigative firm as a son of a cruel truthseeker.

    • Because Nevada’s mother told her that her dad had no magic straight out. If that were a lie, it would have tripped Nevada’s passive field and told her.

      • Rena, I was wondering about that. If a person was misinformed, but they really believe what they’re saying, does it register as a lie?

        • Apparently not. The pedophile Nevada forced to confess did not register as lying when she asked him about the crime.

      • only if her mother knew it was a lie. If her father had not admitted to himself or to Penelope that he had magic, she could say that without lying

  2. I blame the cold, wet long weekend we’re enjoying in my part of the world – I’m sitting here knitting and re-reading White Hot and just struck something that doesn’t make sense to me: near the beginning of the book Navada and Connor go to question the families of the victims of the murder they are investigating. After the shake-down, Antonio De Trevino must contact the “new republic” conspirators and tell them that he’s still alive because Connor wouldn’t kill him in front of a child as we hear from David Howling that he was confident Kelly Waller could use children to make Connor turn his vehicle, thereby guiding him into the teleportation circle. I’m good with all that. What I don’t understand is why the new republic conspirators don’t seem to know that Nevada is a truth seeker. Surely Antonio would have also told them about how Nevada ripped the answers to her questions from him and, surely, they would have passed this information out widely, meaning Olivia Charles shouldn’t have been surprised by Nevada’s will-based magic. Any thoughts?

    • If most people think that the passive field is all a truthseeker can do, it might not occur to them that there’s an active ability. He might have thought that Nevada was a different talent, like telepathy.

      • A good thought, but Nevada still would have had to have a mental/will-based magic to pull the information out of his head, meaning Olivia shouldn’t have been so surprised…

    • Because truthseekers are very rare. She’s just a PI with no House affiliation so people don’t pay attention to her, or any staff/employee for that matter. She was a meer “employee” when Olivia met her in the gala, and she acted accordingly to her “manipulations”.

    • Antonio only lived because Connor knew Nevada won’t want him killed. That’s why Connor asked her if he’s not going to be killed. She affirmed this with the reasons why not to kill him: Return him back so that they don’t send people to find out what happened and that these ‘kill targets’ are not helpless. She also mentally raped him. As a harda** mercenary, this must have really broken him.

      As for Truthseeker, I agree with Gene.

    • I think that maybe they don’t remember if she doesn’t want them to? Rogan seemed to know but when she did it with Augustine he didn’t realize until she told him and showed him the recording. Maybe she controls it now? Makes them forget it..? I had the same thought and this is all I could come up with as an answer..

    • I don’t think house Forsberg is invaded in the “new republic”. I think that someone was watching either Trevino or Rogan. If someone was watching\listening they might not know magic was used

    • The people that attacked them at Antonio’s house were from house Forsberg, not the NWO conspirators.

      • Sorry, I got cut off. There are many ways the conspirators could have discovered why Rogan didn’t kill Antonio that don’t involve a direct report or disclosure of Nevada’s abilities. Not to mention that until the gala, she wasn’t even specifically on their radar.

    • I am sure de Trevino had to file a police report before insurance would pay to replace all the things Rogan busted. When police detectives or Forsberg people asked why Rogan stopped destroying the house, De Trevino probably only said because his son asked Rogan to not kill him. He would not want to admit that he told Nevada the truth and what it was because the truth would make him look bad.

  3. I loved this book! I’m losing my mind trying to figure out all the plot lines, but I’m loving every word! In my happy bubble, Rogan and Nevada’s children will be Primes, there’s too much magic in their families for any other outcome. He thinks their magic won’t be compatible, but he’s wrong. Nevada’s got strong, deep magic wells from both the Baylor and Tremaine bloodlines and that will be the game changer. Can’t wait to read about their children-they’ll be so adorable!

    I think Nevada’s dad was Prime with mental abilities and a little something extra and that’s how he got away from E.G. Because of whatever E.G. did to her dad, I think he’s the game-changing strand in the Smirnoff Rubberband model with Nevada and her sisters providing the first changes in the genealogical model. Think about it, he was a teenager, but he managed to keep E.G., a very powerful Prime that was taking his mind apart everyday-from knowing about his escape plan. Only a Prime could have hidden something that important from E.G. everyday. He may have used his magic on Nevada in order to hide his illness, still trying to protect his family.

    The Baylor side seems to be keeping a low profile too. Why? It’s obvious they have a few Primes-Penelope, Grandpa Leon (?) and let’s not forget Penelope’s sister. I think Bern and Leon’s mom is a Prime with pattern and precog abilities. Both boys have those abilities and they’re probably Primes. I bet Bern and Leon’s dads weren’t so randomly chosen. What if she had the precog ability and could see the magical genealogical pattern to produce Primes? And where is she now? Remember, this is my happy bubble, lol!

    • I think that Nevada’sand Rogan’s babies will be gods and goddesses of the magic world with how powerful their magic will be.

    • I re-read BFM. It talks a little bit about Gisela. She’s apparently not dead, anyway.

    • I have a little theory on primes and significants. If we compare the magic model to a money model we would have people like the Kardashians, buying a new car each year when it becomes trendy, people like the Wozniaks who buy new cars but not yearly or trendily, and then we have the Bill Smith (not to be confused with Will Smith) who buys used cars and uses them until the car suffered a catastrophic failure. What a financial advisor once called the millionaire next door, a person worth millions but doesn’t do anything ostentatious with it.
      When tremendous magical abilities started showing there were probably people who looked at the society forming and said “F–k it.” And kept a low profile. The children were trained to not bring attention to themselves, might have had abilities that aren’t flashy or easily measurable(how can you test a technomancer, have them take apart a carburetor and time them? They could easily fudge the test in their favor by slowing down if they want to remain hidden.)

    • I think that Bern is the other Prime that Nevada will use to start their house.? I think they are all primes because of what evil grandmother did to have a child.

    • That’s a good possibility. He may have abilities that are new and EG doesn’t know how to recognise it. Of they have no idea what it is. I wonder how do they test the level of their abilities? I think it has to manifest first before they could test of its level. Though Nevada has an idea of her ability and how strong it is, she is still in denial and she wasn’t properly tested by experts. They only knew of it’s level because she did it on a Prime and Rogan recognised how strong she really is.

      • I don’t recall exactly when the conversation happens, but I think it’s before Connor sees what Nevada’s sister can do. So he knows she can establish her own house, it takes two primes so he may think the second is likely a sister (as they tend to run in the family in siblings) or not discounting her cousins (Bern specifically). He may have an inkling for them as well, but not know, as Nevada was able to hide her full strength for quite a while (basically until she needs to use it- most who suspect how powerful she is has seen her electro-shock her assailants).

      • I had to look up images of ATVs, because I have not seen them before, and are the authors imagining something that looks like the Toyo Tires Ferret?

  4. Can I just say that I loved that Nevada, while she _hadn’t_ been facing her Prime status until forced, _did_ acknowledge to herself that really she knew and was just avoiding it? She’s not stupid, and it was nice to see that played as an “okay, I wasn’t looking but now I have to” instead of a “REALLY?” breathless moment, which would have been very hard to believe.

    Also, *squee* so glad the next one comes out so soon, can barely wait!

  5. OMG This book was 100% pure genius. It was full of Oscar-worthy moments such as:
    Best action scene: Ice on the overpass
    Best romantic scene: Cookie scene
    Best character development scene: Austine’s interrogation and the ride home
    Best Magical Power: Egocissor
    Characters I want to find out more about:
    -the man in the green stole
    -Michael Latimer
    -Anyone from House Shaffer
    -Grandma Tremaine
    -Caesar
    -Arabella
    -Catalina
    -Leon (could it be that he will end up a swarmer?)
    Questions:
    -will Nevada be able to maintain her principles once she is caught up in the strife of House politics or will she in time become the type of person that she most fears? (I hope that she is able to maintain her principles)
    -what color is Rogan’s stole?
    -what else can Nevada, Arabella and Catalina do with their powers?
    -what does Nevada get for Christmas?
    -what do you have to do in the trials to prove you are a prime?
    -if Nevada becomes a prime, will she be eligible to join the Assembly?
    -what did Rogan mean when he said ‘Duel’?
    -what is Nevada’s secondary talent?
    And finally, for purely frivolous reasons, I have included a wish list of scenes I would most like to see in the next book(s)- I really hope the series is not going to stop at just 3 books:
    -Nevada at the trials to become a Prime
    -Nevada meets Grandma T for the first time
    -Nevada kicks ass without Rogan (again)
    -Nevada kicks ass with Rogan (again)
    -Nevada improves her circle drawing skills
    -Nevada attends the assembly as a Prime
    -Nevada gets to play dress up at another black tie function
    -Nevada kicks ass with her sisters
    and (because I am a romantic at heart)
    -more tender scenes with Rogan

    p.s. I find myself secretly wishing that Nevada’s secondary talent is being an egocissor and hoping that she inadvertently uses it on Rogan or maybe Augustine, but sadly I don’t think this is ever likely to happen lol

    • Her dual talent is her aim when under pressure. Opposed to Penelope who waits and goes to her “happy place”, Nevada hits her targets dead one when they are trying to kill her.
      I loved the conversation with Augustine too. Calling Connor his best friend stopped me in my tracks.

    • Leon possibly being a swarmer- I never thought of that but it’s so similar to what Bug does! My mind is blown.

      • Leon can’t be a swammer because i believe it’s an artificial thing that military made Bug

        • Yes, swarmers are created by attaching volunteers to something pulled out of the arcane realm. Bug’s natural talent, if any, would be that he survived longer than anyone else who submitted to the binding. Leon’s talent in similar to Bern’s because it involves simultaneous calculations, in his case of trajectories.

        • *sigh a relieved breath*

          Somehow I got the feeling we might already meet Caesar in Book I… maybe the Caesar is Adam Pierce’s own brother, the late-bloomer Prime heir… maybe, just maybe

          • Who says Caesar is a man? That might be a bit of misdirection by our benevolent Authorlords.

            • We’ve already met Caesar. Remember our clues – … (he’s) a very well respected Prime …

              I won’t spoil things by saying who, just remember Agatha Christie …

            • Caesar is:
              Michael Latimer 50%
              Augustine Montgomery 30%
              Linux Duncan 19%
              Bernard Baylor 0.7%
              Other 0.3%

          • I have a theory. It’s probably totally wrong because it seems too obvious. Two famous Caesars were Augustus and Julius. Could Caesar be Augustine Julien Montgomery?

            • OMG. That is some awesome thinking. Now I’m racing back over scenes with him to try to make sense of this.

            • I don’t think it’s Augustine. He’s been too helpful when he could’ve easily misdirected them. Plus, I don’t think he’s well known enough to be “above reproach” in the way Howling meant.

              At first I thought it might be Linus Duncan, but it seems like he’d generate more division than adulation. I’ve been listening to Burn for Me as a re-read and got this sudden sinking feeling that it’s Lenora. She is above reproach in a way that the masses would follow her and sing her praises. And she seems strangely apart from House politics for someone so powerful. I can see her as someone both Primes (Howling, Pierce) and outcasts (Waller) would follow. In hindsight, I find it highly suspicious that the artifact was so easily stolen just moments after being handed over to her.

              I don’t really want it to be her, but it would fit into the story very neatly.

        • Actually Lenora makes more sense when we harken back to how Nevada used to hero worship her. She could have a power similar to Catalina’s that she has been more canny about using. Now that Nevada is more aware of her own truthseeking, she could be more immune to the power. My immediate thought with Catalina’s talent was to get her in front of crowds and influencers with one Hi! at a time…

  7. White Hot is already listed as a best seller via Amazon so keep the Legacy series coming. Wildfire is just 55 days away if you do not change the publication date. Please dont change the date!

    Legacy, The Edge and Kate Daniels/Curran. . .I have loved them all and gobble them up in one sitting like almond M&Ms. Then, I reread to insure that I dont miss the more subtle nuances.

    By the way, I am 40 year veteran English teacher who reads 650 words per minute with 95% comprehension and accuracy. I score in the 99th% on all reading tests. PLEASE make me a BETA reader!!!!!

  8. Re-reading White Hot, and now that I’m at the ferret part, it is enven MORE fun with the suggested Mission Impossible theme music.

    • The call Rogan makes to his people after the ferret and badger ferret break in is the BEST!

      • I actually stopped and reread the parts where Nevada wondered about the security of the vents and all 3 men looked at her as if she sprouted a 2nd head. I thought it was so funny, I had to reread it…. Then I wondered why Connor had an odd look while watching the ferrets at work. When he called his employee to put pressure sensors in the vent…. and his ‘yes, dryer vents’ .. I started laughing so hard. And Augustine texting….

        • I love how no one thinks some of these powers can be militarized or used outside the box… unless someone outside the box has needs ?

    • Would have loved to have Leon humming the music during that scene. But they wouldn’t want to distract Cornelius.

  9. Just re-read BFM and am WH after reading the these comments and the website extras. I think Caesar is Augustine’s father. The whole theme for this trilogy is parents and children and their Hidden Legacys’. Nevada has Prime level truthseeker magic that was hidden, Rogan is the result of very specific genetic engineering by his father, Rynda is suffering the consequences of her mother’s legacy in WF, Cornelius has the legacy of the Pied Piper. Everything would be tied together if Caesar is Augustine’s father. It makes more sense than Augustine if you factor in his name. He didn’t choose it, his parents did.

    I also think that Nevada’s father was a Prime. However I think his magic was the subtle type that wouldn’t/didn’t register on the usual scales. I think EG experimented with the Osiris Serum and essentially turned her son into a living OS who affects the development of magic in those around him. That would also explain why there is the scene where Leon learns about the generational delay necessary for the rubber band theory to show results (nothing the authorlords show us is without significance). EG messed up because she expected immediate results from tinkering with her son, whereas the effects would be seen generations down the line.

    James being a Prime living version of the OS would also be the only way to explain why Bern and Leon could have Prime or high level magic as well, as the AL’s have gone out of their way to explain how rare and important high level magic is in this world. Remember they talk about how the DeTrevino’s are both rated Average and have this huge house and live so differently from the Nather’s. Grandma Frida, Granpa Leon, and Penelope all served in the military and would have had their magic tested and rated. They would have had a very different lifestyle if they were high level mages.

    It could also tie in to his cancer as well. If you think about James’ magic as being produced by his nervous system and constantly boiling out of his neurons you could consider that his CNS (Brain) is protected from side effects because of the concentration of stuff there causing dilution of the forces, but peripheral nerves are coated by only one cell layer of myelin sheath and therefore would be more vulnerable to insult/injury, which could have lead to his cancer, which was Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor.

    • Well, my intuition is telling me that Augustine is Caesar.

      For starters, Rogan believes Augustine to be principled (which I disagree with when compared to his coercing Nevada to bring in Pierce and likely sacrificing her life), and Augustine makes all the right noises making him appear (sorry for the pun) to be a supporter of the status quo. And in BFM, he and Rogan had a rather ugly interaction after meeting each other for the first time in a while (one gets the impression since college) for them to be friends as described in WH.

      Rogan did not see his cousin’s involvement in events until she revealed herself and promised him retribution he wouldn’t even see coming. So, Rogan may not see Augustine as Ceasar for similar reasons.

      We know Kelly is deeply embittered and has willingly sacrificed her family to advance events to bring down Rogan. Did this happen at the outset of her being excised or did someone who was knows Rogan and has a grudge to settle deliberately (get ready, the puns are coming) fan the flames of her bitterness in order to burn him and his House to the ground?

      Hmm

      • I just realized I overlooked the paragraph that says Augustine’s father is dead (so can’t be Caesar-duh), but Augustine does state his house has four primes and we are told he has two siblings so his mother is likely living and a prime and IMHO still a candidate for Caesar.

        I just think Augustine as Caesar is both too obvious and too messy. He’s been part of everything from the beginning, if he was manipulating outcomes I think everything would look different. I’m onboard with him being a more villainous type, but I just don’t see how he could be Caesar (manipulated unwillingly by Caesar, yes) but actually being the mastermind or the candidate that all Prime’s would respect and believe above reproach, no.

        • What about Nevada seeing Augustine’s shark teeth? They are friends but not always friendly.

          • In BFM the scene between Augustine and Rogan was definitely not friendly.

            In WH Nevada’s comment about Augustine’s shark teeth was (IMHO) just an acknowledgement about Augustine’s drive to put his House’s interests before any other House when he was trying to lure her to House Montgomery and not necessarily a comment about him being a nefarious sort.

            Too obvious? When you want to hide, where’s the best place? Why in plain sight, of course. }:-)

            So now we wait . . . (Wildfire release countdown continues)

    • Could Caesar possibly be Baranovsky’s mysterious love child? Angry at never being acknowledged, ready to strip the House system?

    • James is not related to Bern or Leon, unless he fooled around with Gisela, which is just icky. James could only affect Penelope’s children by genetics.

      • I know, that’s why the point about a living Osiris Serum, with magic boiling off of him (James). It just doesn’t make any sense that magic is supoosed to be rare and special and yet randomly all of these kids have crazy magic for no good reason. James’ children yes, but there’s got to be a better explanation for Bern & Leon than “just because”.

    • James was not the father of Bern and Leon they were adopted into the family they are first cousins and the sons of Nevada’s aunt (the one who is always in trouble) so the extra gene may be on the maternal side of the family.

  10. I love the series. I read it and reread it, but one question I continually have is, why is the Baylor family struggling with money and Navada acting like everything depends on her when they have Grandma Frida? Even if she is only working part time, her skill set is specialized and in demand, so it should bring in a reasonable income. Maybe it wouldn’t be enough for a comfortable life, but enough for Nevada to worry less. If something happened to Nevada or Baylor Investgations, everyone could work for Grandma Frida and they could run a high end, armored vehicle repair shop.

    • Interesting thought. With ATV prices, she should be able to do really well just repairing them.

    • Do you know how much a warehouse costs? Theirs sounds hugh. There is struggling for money and being really poor. Seven people to support with one in college is not cheap, but they do not sound poor to me. They do have that loan to pay.

      • Plus, Grandma, hello? Nothing we have seen suggests that Primes are immortal, and a mechanic is one serious injury away from unemployment. Do any of you support families of seven? How about a family of four? On one income, a family of four is tough in any major urban area. For a family of seven, two solid incomes make things easier, but you are still worrying if you have three more headed to college within a couple-three years. The Baylor money is primarily tied up in that warehouse, which is both residence and business site.

        It makes perfect sense to me that they are always worrying about money, because we have a family of four on one regular income and one part-time self-employed. Granted that we are not poor by any stretch of the imagination, money is on my mind pretty much every day. There is always something that needs repair. Don’t even get me started on school expenses.

        • Yes, just think of their electric bill! It would have to be huge.
          Feeding 7 people… clothing 7 people… shoes for the kids alone.

          • Not to mention, teenagers’ appetites. When I was in college, I’m pretty sure my friends and I put one all-you-can-eat place out of business.

        • You forgot medical expenses. Nevada does not say in BFM or WH that they have paid off all the medical expenses for her fathers battle with cancer. But yes I agree with all your other items. Rent aka the warehouse mortgage and the business mortgage and associated property taxes, Utilities as heating and cooling especially cooling in Texas is not cheap by any means, Electronics– phones and multiple computers, Groceries– food for hollow legged boys is huge expense no matter where you live and vehicle fuel etc…. Also you have specific for business expenses like business licenses, continuing education to keep business licenses, dental and medical insurance is expensive…… long term care and life insurance is expensive too…. ammo, guns, target range expense, taxess….. One would hope that Grandma Frida Afrim’s business is self supporting….

    • It’s the mortgage. The mortgaged the house and the business for the cancer treatment. They even mention how horrendous the interest is on it and how little they manage to pay. Add that to all the running expenses for the warehouse and agence. And add four teenagers, then you have money worries.

  12. In BFM Rogan’s new house is described as Mediterranean. In WH it is described as Spanish Colonial. Is it a different house, a different persons description (Kelly vs. Nevada), or did he rebuild the house into a house he thought Nevada would love?

        • I thought they were just so close in type/style that either an SC would be considered a subtype of Mediteranean or it’d be easy for anyone to mix up the types.

          • No, two different people came up with two different names for the same basic style. Bottom line: it’s a house with several stories, lots of bump-outs, Romanesque curved windows, white stucco, and a red tile roof.

        • No, it’s a confirmation that nobody except a house enthusiast would be able to tell the two styles apart and that they are interchangeable to an average person.

          • I like both styles. Now, if I could find a single-story no more than 2500 SF, in a neighborhood with no home owners association in a near-Mediterranean climate on an acre. That would be near heaven. =P

          • *sigh* … but what an utterly romantic notion … rebuilding your home with the idea the woman you love will find it her dream home. Maybe in another novel, lol.

            • Well, Nevada said Rogan has her dream house, and was plotting on how to get her own smaller one. But now she can get Rogan’s, which I’m sure he built for her.

              • BFM says he built it and demolished the large Colonial style house. He had not yet met Nevada. But I like his smile when she says she loves it. It matters to him, right at the beginning of WH.

  13. OK, there are over 1100 comments, so I’m not going through all of them. Sorry if someone already asked this, but When Nevada snapped Howling’s neck, was she channeling Rogan or was that her threat-based magic at play because she was about to die?
    I know Grandma Freida said that both Nevada and Penelope got their shooting from Grandpa Leon, but since she’s a dual prime, or at least I feel free assuming she is, could that magic lend itself to any life or death situation? Because, unless Nevada hasn’t revealed something very important, she doesn’t have combat training, and your everyday average person, no matter how frightened they are, won’t know how to snap someone’s neck. Rogan however, wood. Just wondering…
    P.S. I’m pissed off that the evil chick’s name was Olivia… just saying…

    • There was no magic involved. She snapped his neck, because otherwise he would have killed her.

        • I’m sure Frida and Penelope passed on more self defense info than just how to shoot.

      • I find all the discussion fascinating. Do we ever get it right or mostly wrong? Thank you for participating. I hope we sometimes give you a good laugh. But I hope it helps you realized how much we love all of your books.

    • I imagine she has had quite a bit of self defense training due to her PI work. How to snap a neck isn’t likely to be part of it however.

      • She has marksmanship training and highly specialized knowledge about guns. It is not a stretch to believe that her martial arts training includes kill tactics. Be prepared seems like a Baylor motto.

  14. “Our Caesar is beyond reproach. A person of true honor.” The only person mentioned in both books that fits that classification is Lenora whose civil service standing is backed by all the houses. It can’t be Augustine because of the way he was mentally turned away mid step by Olivia Charles when he was coming to Nevada’s aide after Olivia tried to chase Nevada away. If he was Caesar he wouldn’t have been treated in that manner.
    The history lesson given by David points to Lenora.

      • Disagree. Linus Duncan also fits those categories. Lenora doesn’t qualify because she’s had ample opportunity to screw up Rogan’s plans (in the end of WHITE HOT, she knows about the siege of the base and could’ve warned Olivia Charles and the other soldiers that Rogan/Neva were coming).

        • I think there is so much evidence suggesting Lenora is Caesar that it can’t be true. I could be wrong, though.

        • I think its Linus. (just to be clear he is the nice prime in the elevator, right?)

    • Where is Rogans dad? I need to reread everything and find out what happened to him. Also his Mom? I thought it read like she is still alive. Could either of them be Caesar?

  15. Ok, am I mis-remembering or does someone have the last name Tremaine in one of the Edge books?

    • There are several names the beloved authorlords seem to like and re-use. I only noticed because I just went on a massive Ilona Andrews binge and re- read all of the series over the last 2 weeks. 🙂

      • Thanks. I couldn’t quite track it down and was wondering if it was a hidden easter egg.

  16. Absolutely loved the book and cannot wait for the next one! I actually love this series more than the Kate Daniels one…

    As for Caesar: “Our Caesar is beyond reproach. A person of true honor.” No one of true honor would go along with much of what this group is doing… so it is possible that the leader of this conspiracy is actually not Caesar? That all this is being enacted without his/her knowledge? That once everything is chaos, a few plan to approach him and beg him to rule, to bring stability and justice… not letting on that they created the chaos or that the goal was to bring him into power and change how the Houses interacted with the populace.

    It would not be the first time that a group of people, admiring someone and how they think he will rule, his code of honor, secretly “dirty their hands” behinds the scenes in order to bring about his rule, knowing that he would never approve if he found out.

    Heck, even Conner is somewhat this way with Nevada – there is nothing he would not do for her and he does not tell her what he is doing, although he does respect her enough to not lie when she questions him about things (not to mention he cannot lie to her). I can see him killing anyone whoever threatens or even annoys her, except he knows she will figure it out if bodies start dropping and he will not do anything for her that she can’t live with… but then he loves her.

    This group could have the same mindset without the in love and afraid of losing her mindset. They could be doing everything they can behind the scenes to put their Caesar, without regard to his approval, into power, with him completely unaware.

    • This thought had occurred to me as well, primarily because I don’t want any of the likeliest candidates to be Caesar.

  17. I LOVED WHITE HOT!!!!!! I am anxiously awaiting Wildfire. I think LInus Duncan is Caesar. He was once powerful and now he is not.
    I wonder if Arabella is an illusionist like Augustine, but when Nevada saw their colors Augustine was gray & white, and Arabella was red.
    When Augustine turned into the demon bat illusion, Arabella giggled, and Nevada said “don’t”. Hmmm, and the soldiers said something big stole Catalina, and when Rogan made a hole in the cafeteria’s wall, it had to be BIG.
    Any guesses?

      • At first, I thought she was an illusionist like Augustine. But when Nevada’s mom told her that Victoria Tremaine would lock Arabella in a cage, I realized that she’s a shapeshifter (a monster).

    • That is a theory I posed. Honestly, if Caesar is really “beyond approach and a man of true honor” he can’t be part of this conspiracy… he must be someone they plan on appealing to for order and help (without him knowing they are behind what happened) once everything is in total chaos.

      Either they were wrong in thinking he was a man of true honor (because no one with honor would accept all the collateral damage, innocents being killed) or he know nothing about what they are doing.

      • Well, it could be that he is ‘a man of true honour’ from their perspective but not actually or from the reader’s perspective.

      • I respect he is able to manipulate minds because of how devoted his followers are, and therefore not a ‘man of true honour’…

  19. Love it! Can’t wait for wildfire. I think Caesar is Lenora based on the description of Caesar as irreproachable and Lenora’s slightly implausible fumble of the relic in BFM.

    • I wondered about that fumble too. Also she was coming to soon to the fortress.

  20. I know I am late to the spoiler party, but, is it too far out there to think the Nemesis has made a deal with the arcane realm? Isn’t that where the power comes from (thinking that is why the DNA is important). It seems like many Primes are willing to die for the cause, I would think it would have to have a huge prize. Whether they win or lose, the status quo is no more, there will be a new sheriff in town. As for individuals, I think it would be hysterical if Harper turned out to be the evil leader (great cover). Thank you for giving us Cornelius, he fit in so well with the Baylor family, that should be fun. Augustine’s assistant -is she his romantic interest or a sibling in illusion to learn the family business? So many questions! Thank you for a great story. I have introduced you to some friends who had never read UF and now they are hooked. Looking forward to Wildfire.

      • Harper wouldn’t put herself in harm’s way if she was the mastermind. The person who pulls the strings stays behind the stage and keeps safe.

    • “The status quo is no more, there will be a new sheriff in town.”

      That’s part of why I think it could be Lenora. She’s a fanatic for justice which is a trait that can get twisted into an “end justifies the means” mentality. So far all the conspirators have been disaffected or have had grudges. Theoretically, when the new sheriff arrives, the majority won’t know about the behind the scenes shenanigans and will take the sheriff at face value.

  21. I just finished reading WH for the third time! I love, love, love these books!
    I haven’t seen anyone else mention it but I am dying to know what Rogan was going to say to Nevada when he gets cut off in this scene:

    His face turned thoughtful. “Do you remember that big speech I made in your garage?”
    “Which one?” I sighed. “You’ve made3 several. I’m contemplating installing a personal soapbox with your name on it.”
    “The one [speech] where I said you would beg to climb into my bed?”
    “Ah. That one. How could I forget? I kept waiting for you to pound your chest like a silverback gorilla.”
    “Forget what I said-”

    WHAT WAS HE GOING TO SAY?????
    Also, I keep wondering if Nevada really did see him standing outside her house one night and he just slipped into the shadows so she wouldn’t think he was stalking her.

    • He’s telling Nevada that he’s NOT going to wait for her to beg … he wants her NOW ❤ so to forget that ‘beg’ speech of his.

      And, yes I think she really did see him that night – remember he’d moved his HQ after buying all that property around her home.
      He also just wants to be near her and know she’s safe xx

      • I love these two together. I so hope we get a Rogan POV for this scene eventually <3

  22. Caesar – of the candidates mentioned, I favor Linus Duncan, though he could easily be someone we haven’t met yet.
    Nevada’s Dad – i kind of like the theory that EG messing with him so much blocked his magic somehow, However, since we know she did something out of the ordinary to have him, that could have affected his ability to perform magic while still leaving the genetic material to pass on.
    One other off-the-wall theory: The magic exhibited by members of the Baylor family is all over the place. Freida and Penelope are not primes, and Grandpa isn’t mentioned as having been one either. Yet it looks like Penelope’s three daughters are primes or (since we haven’t seen everything Arabella can do) significants. Bern appears to be prime or significant as well, and if I understand what Bug was showing Nevada, so is Leon. The two boys have no biological connection to Nevada’s father. Arabella’s magic doesn’t appear in the family tree anywhere. I think there is a gene for wild magic in the family, that expresses itself in a wide variety of ways, not typical of the usual family lines. Waiting anxiously for Wildfire to know if I am right about any of it!

  23. I haven’t see anyone saying this but I wonder if Mom’s family line is the type that have upgraded magic for every generation. Remember? There are 3 types. The stay the same, the better magic and the downgraded. If Baylor is the better type, their family will be really popular.

    For Caesar I have 2 candidates. The Duccan guy and the guy that give her card in the party.

  24. Wasn’t there a hex breaker named Caesare or something in BFM? We don’t know how James was conceived or carried, so Nevada could be related to him or anybody. And it would be interesting if it came down to a struggle with another Prime truthseeker. Also, I don’t think Nevada’s mother or grandmother are Primes. There are a lot of different gifts and degrees of power, and Primes are an extreme, and rare. And the idea of Nevada using egoscissor(sp?) powers on anyone is creepy. It would make her immediately unlikeable. What a horrible violation it would be to take over another person. And it would probably damage a person immensely to have that power from youth. People would fear and despise you. The power Nevada has now is awful enough, though she doesn’t misuse it.

  25. Ooh. I am conflicted about my choice for Cesare. I thought in was Linus Duncan but now I think it *could* be Lenora….

    Interesting that David Howling had help setting up for taking down Nevada and Mad Rogan – he didn’t do things on his own, and you know that he was cut lose from his house. The head of the house Richard, was secured before Nevada and Rogan went to “see” Lenora –

    So, if it was not Lenora – I am thinking it is a cabal t hat mean to appeal to Ceasare when things go fubar. I just haven’t seen anyone I think that is as capable of mass destruction and destabilization, so my only other pick would have to be Linus.

    I find myself wondering what the Scorpion Team was doing in Mexico…especially interesting after seeing that Rogan was set up in Mexico to be caught by the Cazadore way back when. Could it be someone was trying to take him down even then, when he was first seen as a threat? And the Scorpions were sent in now to “tie up” any lose ends that might know about that old history, and provide a clue to Nevada and Rogan as to whom the enemy *really* is? Hum. Or maybe it was EG who was fishing for more info on Rogan and sent a team in to extract the person(s) that could provide that info? (EG being able to read people could get the truth out of them pretty quick.)

    I’m also very intrigued about the fact that Nevada’s father claimed he had no magic, but he was able to withstand EG’s constant mental attacks. I really do wonder *where* James’s parentage comes from on the Dad’s side. (Assuming EG supplied the genetic material, e.g. egg.. who contributed the sperm?)

    Can’t wait. 25th of July is: 54 days and counting away!!! 🙂 Join me in the forums if you want to chat more. I love the blog but can’t read through what seems like 1,100 posts!!!

  26. I find myself wondering what would happen if EG happened to be on Nevada’s doorstep to introduce herself and most likely to make demands, when an attack directed at Nevada occurred. I bet she wouldn’t take kindly to an assassination attempt on her granddaughter, who could be the salvation of her house.

    • If EG was there, her entourage would be also. There would be no ‘sneak’ attack.

  27. I want to post my thoughts about who might be Caesar. Beside Linus Duncan, Leonora Jordan, Michael Latimer, and Augustine Montgomery, I had a suspicion toward Adam Pierce’s brother who we met before however briefly in Burn For Me.

    My theory is, so far the evil party involved was Harper Larvo, Kelly Rogan, Adam Pierce (manipulated), Olivia Charles, and David Rowling. All those mentioned except Olivia Charles had one similarity: they are from the younger generation or the same as Nevada. It occured to me that the real manipulator or as we called him/her ‘Caesar’ is someone who isn’t… old-fashioned? Caesar could pull Adam and his friend’s string easily. Somehow it’s not that hard to imagine Adam’s brother (who I’m deeply sorry to have kind of forgotten his name) giving persuasive instruction to Harper or David (who might be his buddy lol) or Olivia (who hates Rogan so much btw). And Adam’s brother also has close connection with Augustine too since their houses are linked as business partner. I personally thought Augustine’s full name is a great bait if he really isn’t caesar.

    My second guess for Caesar’s candidate is Linus Duncan. When his character was first introduced, it really caught me off guard because I didn’t suspect him even a little until someone pointed out something about an Italian uncle(?) in this blog. It might be another bait from author though, but who knows it might be the real catch too hehe

    • Remember the ring in BFM for their college, and school is mentioned again by David Howling. Could it be someone they went to school? Also Kelly and Harper have little powers but seem to think that they will have more.

  28. CAESAR THEORY: “… our Caesar is beyond reproach. A person of true honor.”

    I think it’s Lenora Jordan. Tired of playing by the rules of the Primes, probably thinks that the only way to achieve the law and order she craves is to tear down the current system first.

  29. I don’t know if the question has been asked, but who is her paternal grandfather?
    It had to be someone with a honest streak that is it could be considered a pass along trait from her father when you consider there rules that they learnt from their father that even their maternal grandmother complains about it.
    That’s why Linus Duncan could have been the sperm donor!

    • That honest streak could be a defence mechanism from being subjected to EG for so long. Like a child of an abusive alcoholic won’t touch a single drink and freaks when his/her kids try drinking.

      I am curious who the paternal grandfather is though!!

  30. Does anyone else find it interesting that the Osiris serum took large portions of the world back to Feudalism, complete with “selling your progeny to the best/highest magic user? The kids are often a tool. Followed closely by if a House does it we will ignore it ( except for a big settlement check)? Great World building! Thank you both so much for the great book!

    • Outstanding catch!

      Makes sense if you look at it a creating a new unregulated resource, society then kind of starts from scratch figuring out how to deal with said resource.

  31. What about the history teacher David referenced……of course, it could also be someone they have not introduced yet…..I feel like a kid waiting for December 25th……July seems so far away…..

  32. This post and all of the theories are amazing (almost as amazing as the book!) Seriously, I haven’t had that much fun reading since I don’t remember when. But! Over 1,000 comments and I didn’t see anyone asking my hard-hitting question: so who, exactly, has Nevada been reading about on Herald, hmmm?

    Is there fanfic where people imagine Adam and Cornelius were more than boyhood friends? Totally over-the-top stories where people think they know the full extent of certain types of magic, but are completely off base? Action adventure tales of swashbuckling through jungles and high seas where shockers play a necessary part…until the guy with the shockers is killed and dum-dum-dum you have to check in next week to see how they handle an out of control Prime?

    Anyway, I plan to utilize my time of eager anticipation for Wildfire to dream up some Herald fanfic for myself. Then snicker accordingly because I’m completely, abominably terrible at creating fiction and there are those pesky concepts of copyrights and other legal-y stuff that I know nothing about.

    (Personally, I think a marketing campaign for the next book utilizing Herald is like low-hanging fruit and could be hilarious fun if only traditional publishers could do that kind of thing. But probably that’s just me.)

    (And no, this isn’t my way of begging the Authorlords to do it.)

  33. What if the Evil grandmother is Caesar? She could have a secondary magic similar to Nevada’s sister and trick people into thinking she is all kinds of great . WH talks about when the evil peeps are talking about Caesar they have a crazy fanatical look in their eyes like they have been spelled??

    • One problem – no one has a positive opinion about her. Evan Augustine, who takes the broad view about the Houses, sees her as a negative.

  34. So after reading White Hot, which was amazing!, I keep thinking that the song “My House” by Flo Rida captures Rogan sooo well! 🙂

    I know not really a question or anything but I can’t get it out of my head now!

  35. That conversation between Augustine and Nevada when she had to show him her power to convince him to build that she’ll – pretty amazing read. And Augustine’s reaction and self reflection was very interesting. Love that Rogan made that phone call and was waiting for her.

  36. I know this has got to be getting tiresome. But I do have a question.
    Rogan saved Nevada multiple times by moving her right before she was magicly hit in BFM & WH. Is he perhaps more intuitive then he realizes?
    Oh and Augustine is at least 4-5 years older then Rogan, right? Rogan was a guenius and graduated college early at 19.
    Thanks for your time.

    • No, probably around the same age. Basically Augustine was pledging a fraternity (Harvard calls them finals clubs BTW) that Rogan already belonged to, and Rogan completed college in 3 years, so if Augustine was a normal 18yo Freshman, Rogan couldn’t have been younger than 17 but more likely 18ish.

  37. Ok first can we not call the bad guys the New Republic? It just sounds wrong if youve seen any of the Star Wars movies…and im not sure how that would be possible!

    I think its very interesting the whole idea about Augustine’s name, after all Augustus was Julius Caesar’s successor though Augustus was also Caesar’s nephew…of course Augustus wasnt his original name.

  38. Caesar is:
    Michael Latimer 50%
    Augustine Montgomery 30%
    Linux Duncan 19%
    Bernard Baylor 0.7%
    Other 0.3%

  39. Have a different take on Caesar based on something said in White Hot. Augustine talking “….Like I said, dark horses never turn out well. They tend to hate their handlers.”

    I believe that Caesar is a Dark Horse. possibly the animator that we saw in the first book who was missing in the second.

    But whatever happened to John Rutger (whose name means famous Spear-man)

  40. I keep wondering if EG bound something from the arcane to her son when he was still in utero so she could carry him to term. Maybe she made a deal with something, like a dragon from another realm.
    If she gave up something truly important her hatred makes sense, not right but understandable, especially if she gave up a part of her soul or something that actually makes hers human.
    He has no magic because whatever she did doesn’t blend well with human DNA but the third generation has fully changed DNA. So maybe Arabella is a dragon? Or able to shape shift to anything. That would also explain how Catalina has a brand new skill too.
    I’m curious how Nevada is affected. Is she an extra powerful Truthseeker? Or just a regular prime. We haven’t seen her compared to another prime Truthseeker yet. However she did defeat Olivia mentally and Olivia is a trained prime manipulator in one of those chalk rooms and Nevada is untrained and standing in a quickly drawn small circle. Is that usual for a Truthseeker?

  41. My primary thought: need more ferret scenes. That was my favorite part of this book.

  42. Cuteness overload prediction for white hot: sgt teddy becomes Matilda’s caretaker when Cornelius is working and the girls are in school.

  43. Was the post taken down? Or is this simply a thread created for the purposes of discussing White Hot rather than the bulletin board.

    Sorry for being dense here.

  45. I started to think since Tremaine made the hexes on Emmons in “burn for me” and we found out that Nevada can extract information without a person bowing it. I think it’s Tremaine is apart of conspiracy. And Nevada’s Dad (james?) was thier attempt to create a Khan (star trek) . Instead of making an ultimate prime James became more of a carrier of some powerful magic. Which could be way the sisters have different magic. Just an idea.

    • “He was hexed by Cesare Costa at birth. You’re not strong enough to break through. This will take a Breaker Prime.”

      Not hexed by Tremaine, but that’s a very interesting name… cesare;)

  46. First – thank you author lords, for writing the most incredible series. I think this is topping Kate Daniels for me, and that’s a very tall order. It’s wonderful, every bit.

    On the Caesar theories, my money is on Augustine. He’s such a fascinating character, and if he isn’t the big end-level boss, then he needs to play a significant role in bringing the boss down. And I think we have enough players in that arena to need that from him.

    My reasoning:
    – he is highly image focused – that almost-perfect veneer, his mask, maybe there because in his efforts to control and manipulate as extensively as he does, his face becomes an invariable. Tight control where everywhere else has to rapidly flex and shift.

    – the name. Misdirection maybe, or a blinking neon sign.

    – Rogan says this in his BFM POV:
    ‘I half wanted to walk into the building and ask Augustine what the hell happened to the young idealist who was going to change the world and wanted no part of House politics? I guess he became his old man after all.’
    What is it Augustine wants to change so badly? He wanted out of the politics and hated the system but now is the epitome of its central core?

    – he doesn’t like the idea of being seen as a bad person by Nevada. Suggesting he’s still an idealist at his core.

    With his perfect facade he’s my number one target.

  47. Why can’t Cesare have the same abilities as Nevadas sister Catalina? The Love factor except the baddie keeps the followers on a leash? And if no one knows the baddie has the ability then it could be anyone we’ve met in the two books. Also did anyone watch the live Facebook video from the Austin library? Gordon said something about Leon’s father? Or something….or just something about who Leon could have got his ability from?

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