Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews
Kate Daniels World/Aurelia Ryder #1
Urban Fantasy
January 12, 2021 by NYLA

Reviewed by Angela

Favorite Quote:

I opened my eyes. A fully human Derek stood right in front of me. His eyes were aglow, and he looked at me as if I were the thing he wanted most in the entire world.

When this book first popped up as a serial on this author duo’s blog I was beyond excited. But honestly? This is the one weekly serial that I haven’t followed week after week, I kind of wanted to wait until it was edited and all the magic that happens after it’s pulled for publication was finished to binge. I wanted to read it all at one time, in one sitting, and savor.

I need to go back in time and pat past me on the back for such a great decision.

This is Julie’s book. And yes, there is a whole lot of Derek and it’s everything y’all.

This Julie has a new name and a new face. Aurelia Ryder is a daughter of Shinar back in Atlanta hoping to save her mother’s life. To do that she has to solve a murder, track down a powerful religious artifact, and change the future. No biggie. Along the way, she will be forced to deal with a whole lot of familiar faces from the Kate Daniels series. Names like Luther, and Ascanio, Nick, and Robert Lonesco. Word of her return absolutely can not get back to Kate and Curran so she’s hoping that the changes to her appearance and the new name will hinder everyone’s memories.

This book was fabulous. I mean, I’m not the most objective person when it comes to Ilona Andrews, I think everything they write is glorious. But really, this book is fabulous. I’ve been waiting for a Julie/Derek spin-off since Magic Triumphs. Maybe even since Magic Stars. This Aurelia/Darren version of them is A++++ top notch amazing.

I won’t dive too deep into the plot, but suffice it to say it’s a well-written mystery that kept me turning pages until way too late in the night. The action scenes are as always outstanding and kept me on the edge of my seat, especially when Derek entered the picture. He and Julie have always been an incredible team and I’m happy to report they remain so. I will say that there is finally a confrontation between them about STUFF and FEELINGS and I was so happy to finally be able to read them talking (yelling) about these things and I hope it means we will get a whole lot more books with them as the main protagonists. Pleasepleasepleaseplease.

It was so nice to be back in this world with two of my favorite characters. It was such a beautiful gift during a shitty year and I deeply appreciate Ilona Andrews lifting their reader’s spirits by sitting down to write a “pandemic serial”. Thank you. If you didn’t follow along week to week, like me, this is the perfect way to start 2021.

Final grade- A

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