Sanctuary by Ilona Andrews
World of Kate Daniels #15.5
Urban Fantasy
July 30, 2024- Self Published
ARC

Review by Angela

As a fangirl of this author duo, I usually avidly follow any serials posted on their blog, and then read it again as soon as the full, edited version hits Amazon. This being 2024, I had a lot of stuff going on with my life, and a ridiculous review schedule, so I decided to wait until it hit Amazon and read it in full. I was lucky to get an ARC copy of the novella, with epilogue, and I can report that I absolutely did read it as soon as it hit my Kindle. I’m kind of glad I did wait for the full version.

This novella features Roman, servant of Chernobog, who has been a mysterious figure in the Kate Daniels world for years. When the book opens, readers meet broody Roman, holed up in his cabin, alone except for his menagerie of magical animals, mad at his god for some reason and dreading spending any of the holiday season with his family. Then he is alerted to an intruder, who turns out to be a teenage boy and his pup, who falls unconscious after claiming sanctuary.

Sanctuary kind of starts out with a bang, and then the action never lets up. Roman’s backstory slowly unfolds as he is aiding the teenage boy, Finn, while battling the bad guys who have come to take him away. I was kind of entranced with this new darker Roman, who keeps his darkness hidden from his friends, but who survived a deeply dysfunctional family and a traumatic start to his service to Chernobog.

One of the things I love most about this world that Ilona Andrews has created is how all the different religions, gods, goddesses, lore, mythology, and magical beings within it coexist. The two main Slavic gods featured in this story are so very, very messy and petty. I was absolutely fascinated by them and how they were woven into the story.

I will admit that this novella feels like a prequel to what might be a longer series featuring Roman, Finn, Finn’s sister Andora, and Roman’s menagerie of demonic pets. At least that is what I’m hoping for. If we see some interaction between him and his family, and possibly the Slavic gods at the center of this tale in the future as well, all the better.

Grade- B