Diamond Fire (Hidden Legacy, #3.5)

by Ilona Andrews

[Quirky Cat]

Diamond Fire is a novella set in the world of Hidden Legacy. If you haven’t read any of those books yet, you should really stop reading this review and go check those out first. You could skip ahead to this one, but it would include major (and I do mean major) spoilers for the original trilogy.
There are a few ways to look at how this book fits in with the main cannon. You could consider it Nevada Baylor #3, Hidden Legacy #3.5, or Catalina Baylor #0.5. Honestly all three would be correct, and all three are listed on the Goodreads page for it as well.
This novella takes place after all three Hidden Legacy novels have been completed. But it isn’t focused on Nevada this time around. Instead her younger sister, Catalina, is the main character. Nevada and all the other characters we’ve come to know and love all are involved as well, of course. But we really get to see more about Catalina. How she thinks, how her magic works. All that fun stuff!
Rumor has it that this will be its own trilogy as well. Considering how much we still have to learn about Catalina’s powers (and really the family history as well) I think there’s more than enough material for two more novellas (or if we’re really lucky, a novel or two).

Spoiler Warning

Diamond Fire is a novella, so it probably isn’t surprising to hear me say that I read it all in one sitting. Even if it was a full novel I think I would have read it in one sitting. There was no way I was willing to put this beauty down.
It was so much fun getting to read from Catalina’s perspective. I loved seeing how she thought – how much of the investigation business she’s managed to successfully pick up. I also have loved her ability from the moment we finally got to see it, so I’ve been dying to see more of it. And here I finally got my wish!
Watching Catalina try and learn the ins and outs of her magic – the finer points, was a fascinating process. She’s so used to never allowing it to be used that she never stopped to consider the finesse an ability like hers could allow for. I’m glad to see she’s finally realizing that it could be more than a blunt force instrument (though it certainly is that as well).
The family tension felt so real it felt like I was watching it happen in real life. I can absolutely believe that a magical aristocratic family would behave exactly like that. At no point did I question any of it. It was nice having them all have secrets, and better that they were all believable.
Catalina’s investigation was both the main focus and the highlight of the novella. It was great seeing her work, knowing when to ask for help and when to go in alone. Likewise the investigation itself was really interesting. Dealing with a family full of that many secrets…while also at least pretending to be tactful? That does not sound like my sort of cup of tea. But Catalina managed it, and I have to give her credit for doing so.
I’ll admit that I did see one of the final twists coming, but that didn’t make me love it any less. If anything I love that the groundwork had been laid down for it so early in the novella. I love it when you can see the author(s) planning ahead like that.
I can’t wait for the release of the next Catalina book. I know it’ll be a bit though, so I’ll setting for happily waiting to hear the title of the next one.

For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks