WOW! There are authors and then there are Authors. Ilona Andrew’s never fail to completely overwhelm me with their storytelling, in a good way of course. ‘Wildfire’ is no exception with its sharply written dialogue, page-turning story, incredible characters, and world building. This is the last book that is written from Nevada’s point of view (POV) at this stage, with the next trilogy within the series focused on her sister, Catalina. But don’t worry, Nevada’s makes sure it’s one epic conclusion!
As per the other two books in this series, ‘Burn for Me’ and ‘White Hot’, ‘Wildfire’ is based on an alternative earth where magic is part of everyday life. In 1863 European scientists discovered the Osiris serum. A serum, when given to human’s, would either give them magical powers or cause them to become magic-warped monsters who had to be destroyed. Originally the serum was given out like candy. Governments would give it to soldiers to make them stronger and faster with unpredictable and usually destructive powers. The rich and powerful would use it to give themselves an edge and therefore gain even more wealth and influence. However, it was not long before the devastating effects rippled to the very edges of the world and the serum was locked away. However, the serum had already wrought its effect down to the very DNA of the people who had taken it and passed those changes to the next generation. This began the formation of Houses. Those families with strong hereditary magic created dynasties, feuding with other Houses all in the name of power.
The story picks up immediately after the conclusion of ‘White Hot’, with Nevada having to break the news of their paternal grandmother, Victoria Tremaine, finding them.
‘When life hits you in the gut, it’s always a sucker punch. You never see it coming. One moment you’re walking along, worrying your little worries and making quiet plans, and the next you’re rolled into a ball, trying to hug yourself against the pan, frantic and reeling, your mind a jumble of scared thoughts.’
Victoria is the head of House Tremaine, a Prime Truthseeker and the mother of the Baylor sisters’ father, James. Whilst House Tremaine is the smallest of the three truthseeker Houses in the United States it is the most feared. She can pull the truth out of anyone she meets and is vicious to anyone who stands in her way. Around two decades before the series, Victoria Tremaine went on a rampage and inflicted a reign of terror across a wide swarth of Houses. Primes would disappear and turn up with their minds fried. Some recovered after extensive time and therapy, but there was those that did not. She was looking for James who had run away from her, terrified of what she was capable of and determined to escape her clutches. However, as the only surviving Prime of House Tremaine, she desperately needs the sisters to carry on her legacy and is prepared to do whatever it takes to make them bend to her will.
Along with the looming threat of Victoria, Nevada also takes on the case of Rynda Charles’s missing husband, Brian Sherwood. We found out in Book 2 ‘White Heat’, that Rynda is Rogan’s ex-fiancés through an arranged marriage set up when they were children. Rogan knew that Rynda, a Prime Empath, did not have the ability to deal with the darkness in him so had broken the engagement before entering military service. Rynda’s mother Olivia never forgave Rogan for interrupting all her plans which possibly contributed to her becoming involved in the overarching conspiracy. Now that Olivia was dead, Rynda’s previously high place in society had faded.
‘Two weeks ago, I had friends. I had my mother’s friends, powerful, respected, and always so eager to do Olivia Charles a favour. Two weeks ago, one phone call and half of the city would be out looking for Brian. They would be putting pressure on the police, on the mayor, on the Texas Rangers. But now, everyone is out. Everyone is too busy to see me. There is an invisible wall around me. No matter how loud I scream, nobody can hear me.’
Nevada recognises that Rynda is at the end of her rope and whilst she did not personally murder Rynda’s mother, she did make that death possible, justified though it was. She agrees to help her locate Brian and this initiates the main storyline of the book.
Between investigating what has happened to Brian and trying to deal with the threat of House Tremaine, Nevada has also decided to register as a House. To be registered, the House must have a minimum of two Prime’s that are blood related. Nevada is sure she is a Prime Truthseeker, something Rogan recognised in Book 1 ‘Burn for Me’ and believing her sisters are also Primes with different talents. We get to understand a lot more about her sisters and extended families’ powers in this novel and I can’t wait to see them expanded upon in future books.
There is significant growth in the relationship between Nevada and Rogan in this book. Partially due to there being less action as the previous entries. Don’t get me wrong, there is still great pacing and progressing, it just didn’t feel like they were careening from one encounter to another. Rather there was a bit more downtime detailing their lives when not dealing with issues or being put in life and death situations.
Nevada once again makes an excellent narrator, still upholding her strength of character and unwillingness to compromise her moral and ethical standards no matter how much easier it would make her life. She is still stubborn but caring, tenacious but vulnerable, and gutsy but compassionate. She understands and accepts Rogan as he is, not trying to make him change but supporting him and helping to make him better because she loves him. There are moments when she doubts herself, but she overcomes every obstacle. I really liked how she dealt with Rynda. Nevada doesn’t waver in her belief of how she and Rogan feel for one another, and whilst she can understand why Rynda is latching onto Rogan for a sense of security and comfort, she also won’t let him go. Is there a bit of jealousy, yes, but she doesn’t become irrational or whiny about the situation.
After ‘White Hot’, we attained a more complete picture of what turned Connor Rogan into Mad Rogan. ‘Wildfire’ expands more on his life and history in Houston. There is less background on Connor in this book, but we do get a better understanding of the lengths he will go to protect Nevada. He fights against his instincts and tries to ensure that Nevada makes her own choices without his needs or wants overruling her own.
‘He put himself on a chain for my benefit, because as much as he wants to wrap me in bubble wrap and kidnap me to his lair, he knows I wouldn’t stand for it. He’s trying to make sure I see all choices available to us as an emerging House.’
The secondary characters are once again a highlight of Ilona Andrews writing. Whilst the story doesn’t linger on them you do get a real sense of who they are and what makes them tick. Front and centre is Cornelius Harrison who is now working with Nevada and the family at Baylor Investigative Agency. From the bit character in ‘Burn for Me’, he becomes a fully fledged member of the team and an asset to Nevada and Rogan. I also want to learn more about his daughter Matilda. I feel there is a big reveal to happen with her and I am really excited to learn more about them both.
Nevada’s family is also present, and we finally learn about each of their magics in greater detail. They are still there to support Nevada and each other during the events of ‘Wildfire’ and I really admire how they can tease and poke fun at one another in one moment and then all be a unified team in the next without it feeling awkward of false. A lot of the humour from the book comes through their interactions and the sisterly teasing gave me flashbacks to my own interactions with my two sisters.
‘Wildfire’ is the stunning conclusion to Nevada Baylor and Connor Rogan’s story arc within the Hidden Legacy series. It by no means concludes the main storyline so I am happily expecting many more books in the series, hopefully covering the POV of the other Baylor family members. I highly recommend this book to everyone who has read and enjoyed Ilona Andrews in the past or likes to read Fantasy / Supernatural / Romance books. For those interested. the next book is a novella, ‘Diamond Fire’ written from Catalina’s POV.
5 out of 5 stars!
NOTE:
Again, the only detractor I had to this book is the cover.
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Excellent follow up but pages 153 - 184 are upside down and backwards in my book
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