Finally I have concluded my Kate Daniels series binge reading with Blood Heir. Took 2 months to finish 13 full novels (Kate's 10 full novel, Hugh's and then Julie's) and many novellas in between. I need to complete my Magic Triumphs review so maybe I'll do some re-read after this, but let's focus onto Julie's book, Blood Heir.

If you follow IA's blog, Blood Heir first serialized in their web under "Aurelia Ryder" series and written when in 2020 pandemic. The year that I'm sure change our life and still affect me to this day. No wonder that Blood Heir also have a slightly "pandemic" vibes especially the homesickness and can't meet a family member that we hold dear. Blood Heir start with Julie finally come back to Atlanta after 8 years but she can't meet Kate because if she meet her, the enemy called Moloch will kill Kate. Julie now go with name Aurelia Ryder, a new face, a new scent, unrecognizable with Atlanta's citizen that once know Julie is Kate's ward. So, we will met characters that we had known and loved but also new characters as well.

Did Julie meet Derek? Of course, but Derek also change and their relationship got more complicated than ever. 

I see some reviews that compared Julie with Kate and I think that inevitable. I read Kate's books and I love her personality and her relationship not only with Curran but also another characters as well. I know that some can be harsh with said Julie is Kate 2.0 or worse, Kate 98 version. Maybe that true, but I think it's also a little bit unfair. There are some similarities between Julie and Kate, but there are also differences. Kate start as a loner and killer, she hide who she is the whole of series up to Magic Strikes because Voron told her to hide her magic in order to avoid Roland so Kate is more prominent in sword fighting rather than magic. Even when Kate finally using her blood magic with the help of Erra, Kate still hesitant to fully embrace it and only decide to use her ability to the fullest because of Conlan (as shown in Magic Triumph and more in the Wilmington Years novella). In Blood Heir, IA describe that Julie's appearance change is because the Eye of Moloch and she wished to become like Kate and Erra. Stronger and harder to kill. In my opinion, Julie's wish is very humane. When you have a Shinar princess as your Mom and Shinar queen as your Grandmother, of course you want to be like them even it was start as a wishful thinking. Julie also want to belong because she start as a street kid. Unlike Kate, Julie learn under Erra's teaching and embrace her role as the heir of Erra in New Shinar Kingdom. While at first Julie seems like better than Kate, I feel like it's unfair to compare them. Kate is her own person, so does Julie. There's no appearance of Kate and I think that's for the better because Kate will overshadow Julie and Blood Heir is Julie's story. Also, when I first read Magic Burn, I admit I can't stand Julie because I think she was bratty. But in my second read, I change my opinion because teenager supposed to be bratty, heh.

To see old characters that we love is a delight to read. Barabas and Christopher married and their daughter, Sophia is adorable. I hope we get glimpse into the children but so far only Sophia and Conlan that have some role. True to the tradition, just like Kate saved Julie back then, Julie also save a street kid named Marten. But, contrary to Julie, Marten is a savvy 7 years old that have bottomless pit and also maybe hide some secret of her own. There's some appearance by our favorite wizard, Luther and his scene is funny and hilarious because

he's one of people that recognize Aurelia Ryder as Julie just because of her magic pattern

. The fracture of the Pack already begun (as shown in Magic Claims novella) and I don't know if the rumble will come sooner or later. What surprised me more is maybe about Nick. To see Nick

have relationship with Desandra is kinda out of nowhere but I can totally see that. They have history back then in Magic Breaks with Nick injured Desandra. So, I really want to know how they become an item? What is Desandra first that make moves or Nick? I see that Nick's love for Desandra is very genuine and maybe their romantic relationship already known by the Order and the Pack. I want to see them married or have their HEA and really hope nothing dire will come to them. While Nick can be very frustrating, I want to see Desandra finally find her happiness because of what happen to her in Magic Rises.

The Atlanta People's faction now have new name and Ghastek is its CEO. I like that while Julie's ability and blood magic mirrored Kate, she doesn't want to navigate the vampire. Thanks for the small favor! There some of surprised character's appearance that 

come back from the death. Heh, Saiman, you sexual deviant. LOL, he's still cowardly til' the end. I think there's no hope for his redemption because Saiman is Saiman. He will never change who he is, a sociopath Jotunn that only think of himself.

About Ascanio, well he also change too. Gone the pervert mischief bouda teenager because Ascanio now is Beta of the Clan Bouda and apparently he vying for the Beast Lord position. I don't think he will become one of Julie's main love interest, because unlike Julie and Derek, I see Ascanio is just a friend. Okay, I admit I'm a Team Metal Rose, lel. Although I kinda disappointed to see the way of their relationship unfold. Julie is still not over Derek despite she want to move on, but Derek also can be so dense! I had read Magic Stars and there's a hint that Derek already loved Julie back. But in that novella, Julie is till in her 16-ish while Derek already 20-ish so I understand why Derek want to be in status quo but Julie also hopelessly in love with Derek and not just a teenage crush. Their lack of communication and misunderstanding in the end is hurt to read and I really want to smack them both like "what are you two doing? why are you act both immature despite of your ages?". I know that both Julie and Derek's feeling hurt because Julie left Atlanta without telling Derek but in the other side Julie hope that Derek will pursue her by ask how she was doing or maybe do some mating dance or what, lel. I just shake my head and I wonder how IA will solve this problem in the next book. If Julie frequently compared to Kate, I don't think Derek is a carbon copy of Curran. First, Derek is more like calm and cold type. He's like to howling not roaring (duh!), but he's not that arrogant, unlike Curran. Namtur once called Derek as Shepherd of the Wolf and like Julie, Derek's wolf form also change so there's something going on with him that still unrevealed yet.

I think this review is already long enough, lol. For me, Blood Heir as a start of the new series is good and well written. Blood Heir will always be compared to Kate's books, it's inevitable. But for the beginning of Julie's adventure and maybe her HEA with Derek (please IA, Derek for Julie, Ascanio (or maybe Yu Fong, lol) can be for everyone, lol), Blood Heir is still a must read and I can't wait to read book 2 especially with that ending that have while didn't end in cliffhanger but have some promise for more stories to come.