BURN FOR ME is epic, and nothing less than what I'd expect from the amazing duo that make up Ilona Andrews! It's the start of what I believe is a trilogy for Connor and Nevada and I see great things in this series.
First of all, I adored the worldbuilding. It's one of the aspects of Andrews' writing that I most appreciate because they always craft such meticulous worlds and the Hidden Legacy world is no exception. I'm going to be a bit lazy and let them set the story, with this bit from the start of the book (excerpt provided by Bewitching Book Tours):
In 1863, in a world much like our own, European scientists discovered Osirisserum, a concoction which brought out one’s magic talents. These talents were many and varied. Some people gained ability to command animals, some learned to sense water from miles away, and others suddenly realized they could kill their enemies by generating a burst of lightning between their hands. The serum spread through the world. It was given to soldiers in hopes of making the military forces more deadly. It was obtained by members of fading aristocracy, desperate to hold onto power. It was bought by the rich, who desired to get richer.
Eventually the world realized the consequences of awakening godlike powers in ordinary people. The serum was locked away, but it was too late. The magic talents passed on from parents to their children and changed the course of human history forever. The future of entire nations changed in the span of a few short decades. Those who previously married for status, money, and power now married for magic, because strong magic would give them everything.
Now, a century and a half later, families with strong hereditary magic have evolved into dynasties. These families—Houses, as they call themselves—own corporations, have their own territories within the cities, and influence politics. They employ private armies, they feud with each other, and their disputes are deadly. It is a world where the more magic you have, the more powerful, the wealthier, and the more prominent you are. Some magic talents are destructive. Some are subtle. But no magic user should be taken lightly.
Amazing, no? It means that BURN WITH ME has political intrigue that reminds me a bit of Game of Thrones, which isn't a bad thing. It also reminded me a little bit of the world that Rachel Vincent created in her Unbound series or the one from Devon Monks new series, if that helps paint the picture for you. I loved this idea of warring houses and the more feudal political system. Of course, the politics aren't central to the main plot of BURN WITH ME, which revolves around Nevada's hunt for Adam Pierce, but it provides a very interesting backdrop, one that I hope we'll get to explore in future novels.
The magic in this world is also really interesting. If you liked Andrews' Kinsmen stories or The Edge series, you'll be right at home since we see all sorts of non-traditional magical gifts in BURN FOR ME. Nevada's magic is particularly interesting: she can tell when someone is lying. Her power hasn't really been explored because she's been hiding it but I'm sure there are some neat things to come based on what is revealed in this novel. Connor, on the other hand, is one of the most powerful people in the world and his power is incredibly destructive, so he's essentially the other end of the scale. He's so leashed all of the time with his magic because it's pretty much unstoppable when he cuts loose. They're two very different abilities and only the tip of the mountain, if I'm not mistaken.
The romance between Nevada and Connor is a slow burn, much like the one that Andrews created for Kate and Curran. But Nevada and Connor aren't shadows of Kate and Curran -- they're definitely interesting and strong characters in their own right! We get a lot of the story from Nevada's point of view so you'll get to know her really well over the course of BURN FOR ME but Connor's a bit more of a mystery. He's doing the broody, reserved thing for most of the novel but we do see some small windows into his mind, which left me wanting more. He's such a magically powerful person but I don't know how emotionally developed he is, in some ways. I'm curious to see how his interest in Nevada will go from something lusty to something more full of the feels. (This is paranormal romance, after all.)
One of the nice things about this being a series is that we do get this slower build on this storyline, leaving us with a really strong focus on the plot. Nevada's manhunt has some very cool moments, including some ultra fun interactions between Nevada and Adam Pierce. And can I just say, how compelling is Adam Pierce as a character? Andrews excels at creating compelling characters and everyone who we get to know in BURN WITH ME has a little special something, but this guy is ridiculous. He dominates every scene he's in because he's just one of those charismatic bad guys that you can't help but be intrigued by. He's not a good person but there's something about him that wins you over -- against your better judgment. I can only imagine how much fun they had writing his scenes.
To sum it all up: BURN FOR ME is made of win. If you're looking for an amazing story, this is the one for you. If you're looking for a series with a lead couple on a slower burn (like Kate and Curran or Cat and Bones), this is the one for you. If you just want a satisfying, thrilling story, well, you can guess what I'm going to say, can't you? BURN FOR ME is one of the best books I've read this year!
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“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.) They have co-authored two New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, the urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and the romantic urban fantasy of The Edge and are working on the next volumes for both.
They live in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.
I love magic tales run wild. I can't wait to read this book and hopefully add it to my personal library.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great read filled with the magic I love to read about.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Sounds like my kind of read!
ReplyDelete