Blood Heir: Kate Daniels World, Book 1

The writing is good and the story is engaging, but the bad guy survives to live another day and the relationship issues are left unresolved. I'm really, really, really tired of books that are just prequels to the next story. I've been waiting for four years (and purchased five books) to find out what happened to the DeMille's Inn and where Dina's parents are (Innkeeper series) and for five years (and purchased another five books) to find out who Ceasar is (Hidden Legacy series) and I think it all too likely that Blood Heir is to this series what Clean Sweep is to the Inkeeper series and Burn for Me is to the Hidden Legacy series - a gateway drug in a series of books that will only come to a resolution when Gordon and Ilona get tired of writing the series (see Kate Daniels as exhibit 1). So, although the book is well written, my advice is don't start the series until they've finished writing it.

I keep searching for an urban fantasy author whose worlds can draw me in the way that Ilona Andrews does. And there's just no one like them. The creativity and inventiveness, research, scrappy heroines with smart mouths, and the heroes who would die for them just continue to pull me in. And once there, fans never want to leave. Which is how this whole book got started as Andrews explains in the Afterword. 2020 was a dreadful year and out of that pain when the pandemic got serious in NYC a fan working in healthcare asked for more in Kate Daniels' world. And the husband and wife writing team delivered with this "Eight Years Later" centered on Julie Olsen-Lennart who is back in Atlanta and on a mission.It's a mission with high stakes as so many of their heroines have to face and Julie does it with style, intelligence, and some really strong one-liners. Underneath it all is her caring heart and her desire to save her family and her city.It's tremendous fun seeing all the older characters again who have not frozen in place but gone on to other things. The younger characters are caught in some old patterns but the end of this installment provides hope that they can break out of them. Fascinating mythology, thrilling fights, surprise appearances, and Julie's grit kept me turning pages. The main plot is resolved but all the groundwork is laid for a spinoff series, so I hope it does well.There might be a very slight tinge of fan service here, but I'm a fan and I like to be serviced--so there.On a final note-the artwork by Luisa Preissler is stunning. I hope to see more book covers and supplemental art by her.

Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews is the 1st book in her new Kate Daniels World series. I have read every series by Ilona Andrews, and this illustrious duo (Ilona & Gordon) continue to amaze me how their stories are so great, always grabbing our attention from start to finish. In Blood Heir, even though I had read some early chapters that Andrews so wonderfully gave us glimpses, I was totally blown away with this story, and our heroine; unable to put the book down until I finished it in the wee hours. Needless to say, Ilona Andrews has risen to the top of my list of favorite authors that I need to read. If you have never read Ilona Andrews…..shame on you.Eight years ago, Julie Olson Lennart (Kate and Curran’s adopted daughter), left Atlanta for California and stay with her ultra-powerful aunt, who would help teach her how to learn about herself. The mysterious death of a pastor, brings Julie back to Atlanta, but she is now very powerful, magical, with a new face and new name, Aurelia Ryder. Aurelia arrives not revealing her identity (she is now the Princess of Shinar), but with the knowledge that she needs to stop an ancient ultra-powerful god, Moloch, who is determined to destroy the world and Kate Daniels; and if she reveals her identity or goes to see her mother, Kate and those she loves will die. Aurelia is on her own to find the killer of the pastor, and magical creatures that are killing those touching a special artifact; once she does this the prophecy can be stopped. But can she defeat Moloch? As soon as Aurelia arrives, she is met by a wolf pack, stopping her from entering Atlanta, led by the Beta of Bouda pack, Ascanio; she manages to get past them, and not be recognized. She takes over the case of the dead pastor, acting as a Knight. Along the way, Aurelia meets evil almost at every step, and despite all the fire and heat, she manages to defeat the creatures sent to destroy her. In a short time, Luther and then Feldman discover who she really is, and because of the potential of Kate’s death, they honor keeping her identity a secret. But Aurelia is then blindsided by a huge werewolf, who also wants to know who killed the pastor, and wants to work with her, despite her refusal, he and his pack follow her every move. The caveat: this werewolf is the Beta of Ice Fury (a major pack from Alaska); his name is Darren, but Aurelia recognizes who he is really is…..Derek.What follows is an exciting, mind blowing, non stop action filled thriller from start to finish. Aurelia Ryder is now a bad ass heroine, who manages to win her battles despite life threatening situations that had us holding our breaths. I loved when she cared about a young street girl, who she takes under her wing, and her concern for the boy who was brutally beaten. Most of all, I loved seeing so many characters from the Kate Daniels world, especially Conlan, who is close to his sister, and was fun to see him. Of course, both still visit their grandfather, and continue to learn more of the world of Shinar.Blood Heir was an amazing adventure that introduces us to the Princess of Shinar, who has totally changed over the 8 years she has been gone. Having a powerful mother like Kate, allowed her to move forward and find her true self, being trained by her grandmother, who after all, was the Plague Maker, among other things. I loved the new Julie, and pray the new Derek will there for her in the future. I look forward to the next book in this series, as Blood Heir was totally mind boggling.

During these wretched times very few creative humans--our vital necessary artists--are thriving. These incredibly skilled prolific writers of complex high quality stories may be suffering too. The book is terribly uneven badly organized without the authors finely honed sense of character timing and story tempo. The strong parts shine. Nick giving Julie a reality check in his office. Every scene with the Gilliam family. But so many other parts of the book are critically underwritten. Every scene with Julie and Derek reads flat with NO spark or chemistry. So much story left untold for an 8 year separation. Clever silly Ascancio has become an overly ambitious thug. Where is his mother? Too much time spent on setting on building interiors but too little time creating connections. Why does Julie care about Pack politics and leadership issues? What is her connection to the vast resources of the Casino now? What the heck was the deal with the pierogi seller and the homeless guy? Is the book worth a purchase? Yes. Is it even close to a quality example of the incredible work these authors are capable of? No. Will I come back eagerly purchase the next writing from these masters? YOU BET'CHA! I can't wait!

I inhaled it as soon as I received it, and all I can think now is "MORE PLEASE"!I really hope we get a sequel and then a sequel to that and then a sequel to that etc. I have been on team Derek and Julie for about 12 years, but this book is so much more than just about that.The return to post-apocalyptic Atlanta whilst the real-life apocalypse seems to be starting outside my flat is actually a balm on my anxiety. I was instantly transported through the portal (Team Andrews does that so well!) and amongst friends.It has parallels with KD just enough to feel nostalgic and it has deviations enough to be exciting. The new characters are a joy, the old friends cameos are an ecstasy. Julie's relationship with Kate is a tear jerker for anyone who may have lost people this year.5 SUNS, not 5 Stars!

An absolute must-read! Fans of Kate Daniels will love this book which tells more of Julie and Derek's story. They have certainly grown up and matured into very different people and we get glimpses of a lot of favourite characters but this isn't just a fond revisit, it's a story that measures up to Ilona Andrews' usual high standards! I love Aurelia Ryder as a character and her struggle to protect her adoptive mother draws you in. I don't want to give anything away so I will just say that whilst it's not a couple-ride-off-into-the-sunset HEA, it's a satisfying end with a lot of beautifully tied off threads that made me sigh happily. It's left open enough for either reader imagination or a sequel (I would love a sequel please!). A wonderful treat after a rubbish year.If you haven't read Kate Daniels yet then you could still read this because of the excellent descriptions and explainations of post-magic-apocolypse Atlanta woven throughout but it is rather spoilery and really, you should just read the whole series because it's excellent! I think I am going to read it again, for the 6th? time, who's counting?

I have longed for this book and it didn't disappoint. We return to the Kate Daniels world with a new heroine long in the making.   Julie Lennart Daniels returns to Atlanta after 8 years.  We were all bereft when she left so suddenly in the quiet of darkness all that time ago.  She returns a strong, compassionate adult and an advocate for the disadvantaged. It's a thrilling ride that leaves you wanting more, and with more questions than answers. If you haven't read the Kate Daniels series, I urge you to do so and you will fall, like I did, for the scrawny street child that made a big impression from the moment she appeared on the page.  And in Blood Heir you get to meet the amazing adult she grew into.The scars of childhood are still there as they are for Derek Gaunt who used to be her sidekick before she left Atlanta.   Ilona Andrews writes their vulnerabilities as beautifully as they write their strengths.  To get a sense of their former relationship, I urge you to read Magic Stars too which is written from Derek's view point, something I hope to see more of in the sequel.  A plea to IA for the next book in the series.  One of the many things I like about this book is that Julie and Derek are their own people and have not been written as carbon copies of the adults that shaped their young lives.  There is still a lot of healing to go through for these two characters so they can finally manage the wounds of their respective childhoods.  More, please more... This book has all the in depth descriptions, detailed research and fight choreography we have come to expect from IA.   Happy reading! Happy Book Birthday!

Blood heir is the latest, self published, release by Ilona Andrews a husband and wife team who write primarily Urban Fantasy with a strong romantic element. I love urban fantasy and count Jim butcher, Seanan McGuire and Patricia Briggs as among my favourite authors I consider Ilona andrews as good as any of them and one of the very few authors I will preorder so it’s with a lot of excitement and a small bit of trepidation that I was looking forward to Blood Heir.Blood Heir is Book one of a new series set in the Kate Daniels universe, a Urban fantasy set in a post apocalypse America where Magic is returning in waves known as shifts and Technology is slowly dying as old myths and legends return and new ones rise. Blood Heir follows Auralie Ryder formerly Julie Olsen the adopted daughter of Kate Daniels the Main Character of the original series.The Kate Daniels series mixed action with slow burn romance and this continues with blood Heir with maybe a bit more emphasis in Blood Heir on Auralie potential relationship woes then there was in the first book of the Kate Daniels series there are valid in story reasons for this that are hard to explain without spoiling that said the primary emphasis is still on the plot and world building with the standout being the characters make no mistake this is imaginative and well written UF first and foremost something for which I don’t think the authors get enough credit for. Blood heir is a worthy continuation of the Kate Daniels series it features a lot of characters and old favourites from the original series but also has some new stand outs in Marten and Namtaur I think it does a good enough job of drawing the reader in and providing information without info dumping that it can be enjoyed as a standalone.Like the original series Blood heir doesn’t reinvent the wheel as such the romance and some of the plot is a bit predictable perhaps but it’s well written with some decent tension and avoids some of the worse tropes so no insta love or falling straight into bed the authors like the original series seems to be taking a slow burn approach which gives the story time to breathe, it has a good bit of action and the authors can write a decent action scene, romance is a important aspect but for for people that are looking simply for a decent urban fantasy and aren’t huge romance fans there is a a fantastic secondary cast some snarky one liners and a mythology that takes a lot from more then just the usual European sources there’s a lot to enjoy no matter what you are into. Ilona andrews has become my go to for feel good reads with interesting characters, exciting if a bit predictable plots, real stakes and some grit and darkness but ultimately based around the idea of found family and the idea that anything can be overcome if you stand together and Blood Heir continues that tradition. Indeed my only negative isn’t the books fault just a concern that even though it’s labelled book one and ends on a cliffhanger whether there will be a sequel there has been a few offshoots of the Kate Daniels series that looked to be the start of a series Gun Metal, Grey Wolf, the Hugh series that are still waiting on a sequel however that doesn’t stop me from heartily recommending this book as far the plot..Eight years after leaving Atlanta Julie Olsen now Auralie Ryder returns with a new identity and a new face. Trying to prevent a dark prophecy she is soon pulled into a mystery surrounding a series of murders while complications from her past makes her mission harder while threatening to pull her into local politics. Home to Witches , Shapeshifters and the Undead Atlanta is unaware of the danger as ancient evil rises with only thing standing between the City, and her family, and annihilation is Auralie Ryder. Presuming her past doesn’t get her killed first.

Aurelia is awesome, I love her, so much. I think she's more powerful now than Kate was in the last book. Which makes sense, considering she's had 8 years of constant teaching from Erra, Roland and Hugh. I also love that they have all come to love Aurelia as if she was their family by blood.Next we have Conlan. He's 10 years old, a genius and a magical powerhouse. He's a crazy mix of Curran and Kate and I hope there's another spinoff about him when he's grown up.Barbaras and Christopher have a daughter?! That daughter is about 14 and she wasn't here 8 years ago. I want to know where she came from, I'm dying to know.Luther and Nick are just as fun as ever, I'm so glad they're back. I would never have thought Nick would be the family type.Freaking Saiman is alive! Unbelievable! Always out to save his own skin and make a profit, he hasn't learned a thing.Ascanio confuses me, I think he would be a terrible Beast Lord, I don't get why he's pushing this. Being Beta to the Boudas is a good fit for him, he needs to stay in his lane..Derek, oh Derek. He's all weirdly magical now, again, there's a story there and I want it.Theres lots of little nods to the original series in this book but it also stands so well on its own. I can't wait for more!