Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Ruby Fever by Ilona Andrews Series: Hidden Legacy #6
Published by Avon on August 23, 2022
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 322
Length: hours, minutes
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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An escaped spider, the unexpected arrival of an Imperial Russian Prince, the senseless assassination of a powerful figure, a shocking attack on the supposedly invincible Warden of Texas, Catalina’s boss... And it’s only Monday.
Within hours, the fate of Houston—not to mention the House of Baylor—now rests on Catalina, who will have to harness her powers as never before. But even with her fellow Prime and fiancé Alessandro Sagredo by her side, she may not be able to expose who’s responsible before all hell really breaks loose.
A woman has come into her own in the nick of time because a powerful set of enemies have gone on the offensive and will strike when she’s at her most vulnerable. The third and final Catalina Baylor story has arrived and with it the confrontation that has been brewing through two books, but wait, there’s more- stunning family legacy will bring a whispery wow to many reader lips.
Ruby Fever is not a good candidate for standalone as the third leg in a trilogy and the sixth in the overall Hidden Legacy series.
Catalina and her family lost their previous home, but House Baylor has started afresh in a new home and are not so precariously situated so can breathe a little easier. But, that is when the usual series of disasters strike beginning with a two-pronged attack on two leaders in the Houston magic hierarchy. Catalina isn’t left in doubt for long who is ultimately behind it all. Arkan is determined to take her and Alessandro out and everyone they care about are hostages to fate in the battle. Precision attacks against her family and House are just the start A dangerous Russian prince shows up and escalates their troubles even as Connor and Nevada are forced to fight their own enemy and can’t help as much. Catalina learns there is more to her magic than her siren abilities and she must accept and control it if she is to take on her enemies.
Ruby Fever had several moving parts, but I loved the way the authors kept it from tangling up or bogging down the plot or the pacing. Catalina is at the center, but there is a huge cast of characters at this point and her family and Alessandro are tight relationships for her that get some good page time. Not sure what I make of Konstantin, the prince, but I didn’t hate his appearance in the story. What was interesting is Catalina finally getting the last piece to her family history puzzle on her paternal side and I didn’t see that coming. Alessandro got his own big wow moment about his family. My heart went out to both of them as they had to tuck all that away and keep focused on the business at hand. Their relationship was solid and they partnered well. Not that things were perfect because there is a little situation that causes them to address not hiding things to protect the other person.
The book ended in a way that could end the whole series or leave room for the start of a new central character and a new season story arc. Do I want there to be an Arabella trilogy? You betcha britches!
Urban Fantasy fans who haven’t picked up this series really need to get it on their nightstand stack soon.
About Ilona Andrews
“Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)
Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.
They have co-authored several bestselling series, including the #1 NYT bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels, rustic fantasy of the Edge, paranormal romance of Hidden Legacy, and Innkeeper Chronicles, which they post as a free weekly serial.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I’ve only read one book from this author but the books sound good. I will read more at some point.
Definitely, Mary. You’re in for some fun ones. 🙂
*sigh* I just love Ilona Andrews! I’ve not gotten to this yet because…reasons. LOL But your review makes me want to get to it sooner than later. 😉 Their writing is always stellar!
LOL, would those reasons be tons of other books? Oh yes, this series is so great and can’t wait for you to get to them, Brandee. 🙂
Um, well, maybe…. 😉
Buahaha!
I’ve seen several great reviews for this book today. Glad you enjoyed it so much. 🙂
I am not surprised. 🙂 Its a winner for many.
I have Ilona Andrews on my radar now. This series sounds terrific
I came to her books late, but I kept seeing people gush about them so I had to give them a try.
I am really hoping for an Arabella trilogy! I was quite surprised by the revelations involving Catalina’s and Alessandro’s families. Such a great book!
You and me both. That is something what can be hid only a couple generations back in a family. Oh yeah, we need sassy Arabella’s story, too. 🙂
YES!!! It was an exciting one and so well done. I love that everything tied in from Nevada’s books, too. You wrote that the “last piece to her family history puzzle on her paternal side and I didn’t see that coming.” I could have sworn up and down we knew that at the end of the previous book, coupled with the free short “The Cool Aunt.” So it didn’t come as a surprise to me at all. I don’t know why I was convinced I already knew it, though. Maybe I saw into the future. LOL.
OH man a cool short story? I missed it. Maybe that is where you read some of it or maybe I blanked on some of the reveals in the other book. Could go either way with my memory these days. 🙂
I was rejected for the ARC of this one *sobs* but I bought all three versions: print, e-copy and audio. Will be starting soon! I’m hoping we get a trilogy with Arabella, too, but I want them to write more Julie, more Hugh, more Innkeeper. So I’ll be happy getting any new story from them, lol!
Oh no!!! I was distraught when I got denied for all the Nevada ones, but then, it was weird, because I tried without much hope and started getting accepted for the Catalina ones.
LOL, yes, I really want the next Innkeeper stat.