The Inheritance
Author: Ilona Andrews
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: B
What I’m Talking About:
The Inheritance opens with a very brief primer on the current state of the world. A decade ago, strange portals started appearing on Earth. When the gates on the portals burst, it allows hordes of monsters into the world. After the first portal appeared, select humans developed extraspecial abilities. These people are known as Talents. The portals contain a wealth of materials and rare items, so human teams with Talents mine the materials before the gates burst. Additionally, a team pulls the anchor from the portal before the monsters can enter our realm.
The story is primarily shared via Ada’s first person POV. Ada has a rare talent. She can assess her surroundings, determining things like if a plant is poisonous, if there is a rare metal in the ground, etc., which makes her valuable for a team entering the portal. However this time around, there is a deadly surprise waiting for the team, and Ada is trapped in the portal with the team’s guard dog, Bear. Together, the pair does what it has to in order to survive.
As per their usual, the writing team of Ilona and Gordon Andrews create an interesting, intricate world that sucks me in. The story has a video game feel. Ada even makes a joke about it. The story kept me on edge and completely engaged. I liked learning about the different flora and fauna and all of the new tech and species Ada discovers. The best part is her developing bond with Bear. Ada’s powers increase and expand the more time she spends in the portal, which is cool, but I felt like Ada adapts to her expanding talent way too easily.
The story also features the third person narrative of Elias, head of the organization that was mining Ada’s portal. Although head of a guild, Elias appears to be a good guy. I liked watching him piece together the truth of the accident at the portal.
The Inheritance is about survival and doing the right thing. Ada excels as a heroine because she is moral and just. But she does find revenge on those who wronged her and the team.
Since this was supposed to be a one-off serial, who knows when we will get another. While I hope we do get more, this story is self contained. The plot is straightforward, but there is at least one big Easter Egg that ties it to another one of their series. Possibly two. It’s fun, but not important.
In the end, The Inheritance is a wild and engrossing adventure, and I look forward to more Breach Wars in the future.
My Rating: B
Jen
About the Book:
We are at war. The interdimensional invasion brought us unimaginable suffering, but it also awoke talents slumbering deep within us, a means to repel and destroy our enemy. Every day new gates open, leading to breaches filled with monsters and valuable resources. If you are a Talent, your country needs you. The world needs you. Be the hero you were born to be.
Adaline is a Talent. Ten years ago, she had a happy marriage and a job she loved. The invasion shattered both. Now she works for the government, searching the breaches for magic metals and medicine to help Earth repel an interdimensional enemy. Two kids, one cat, bills, benefits, mortgage and school tuition…Risking her life became routine.
She had gone into the dimensional gates hundreds of times. She was always well protected. This time everything goes wrong. Now Ada is trapped in the labyrinth of alien caves unlike any other. Her only companion is a scared German Shepherd named Bear. Together they must uncover the breach’s secrets and escape, because Ada promised her children that she will come home.
The future of humanity depends on it.
Release Date: August 10, 2025
Publisher: NYLA, self published
Series: Breach Wars #1
Genre: Science Fiction
Format(s): paperback (278 pages), e-book, audiobook
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds