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"Sandra"
by
Ilona Andrews
arcanepunk fantasy in a PDF edition that was published by the author on June 12, 2021 and has 8 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Must Love Hellhounds, Dark and Stormy Knights, Angels of Darkness, Hexed, Fate's Edge, Hex Appeal, An Apple for the Creature, "Magic Gifts", Gunmetal Magic, Innkeeper Chronicles, Steel's Edge, Magic Bites, Magic Burns, Magic Strikes, Magic Bleeds, Magic Slays, Magic Rises, Magic Bleeds, Burn For Me, Night Shift, Magic Shifts, Magic Binds, White Hot, Wildfire, Iron and Magic, Magic Triumphs, "Gerard Demille and Helen Meet", "Diamond Fire", "Sweep with Me", Clean Sweep, Sweep in Peace, "A Mere Formality", Blood Heir, "The King of Fire", Sapphire Flames, "A Misunderstanding", Emerald Blaze, "The Cool Aunt", One Fell Sweep, Sweep of the Blade, "Silent Blade", Fated Blades, On the Edge, Bayou Moon, "George and Jack in School", Sweep of the Heart , Magic Tides, Small Magics, "The Wilson Building", "Conlan’s Birthday Text", "Dabwaha", "Don't Fight with Fate", “A Bit More of Roman”, “Getting Distracted”, "Sgt Munoz Had to Go", Ruby Fever, "Regina", Magic Tides, "The King of Fire", Magic Claims, "No Heroes", "Purpose", "A Mere Formality", "I Will Explain Everything", "Sanctuary", "Kind Regards"
A free short story, 1.5, in the Aurelia Ryder arcanepunk fantasy series and revolving around Julie, Kate’s daughter and Erra’s “granddaughter”. The focus is on Sandra’s unexpected reveal. (This is in the Wilmington Years for Kate.)
If you’re interested, there is a chronological listing of the Kate Daniels books on my website.
My Take
“Sandra” is primarily a look-in at how Sandra’s family handles some surprising news, using first person protagonist point-of-view, from Kate’s perspective.
The start is so sad and yet that ending . . . phew, funny and a surprise.
The start is all about Sandra and her family and we’re left to guess about Teddy Jo’s companion — on top of that roof. Eventually Andrews reveals that identity with a very brief mention of Julie, which is the only real tie-in to “Sandra” being in the Aurelia Ryder series. I’d’ve thought The Wilmington Years would have been more accurate.
Still, it is a fun, short read.
The Story
Kidnapping. Torture. And a rescue only to come home to dissent and hatred.
The Characters
Turns out Sandra is not who Colt thought she was and appearances are important to Sandra’s passive-aggressive husband. Anna and Jordan are their children.
Teddy Jo, a.k.a. Thanatos, is the angel of death and a friend of Kate’s.
Kate Daniels has moved to Wilmington, but Julie, a.k.a. Aurelia Ryder, is still her daughter. Erra, a.k.a. the Rose of Tigris, is aunt to Kate and Grandmother to Aurelia.
The cult of Empusa is a nasty bunch.
The Cover and Title
I think the cover is meant to be Sandra, a rainbow-feathered woman against a sparkling black background (the image came from Ilona Andrews’ website). The text is all white with the title above and the author’s name below.
The title is the key character, “Sandra”.
