Beast Business
Author: Ilona Andrews
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: B+
What I’m Talking About:
The Beast Business book contains a new novella and some various shorts. The Beast Business novella and Arabella’s accompanying POV takes place roughly around the start of Hidden Legacy book 6, Ruby Fever.
Beast Business is a fun story that gives fans of the Hidden Legacy series a look what is happening while the House Primes are doing their own thing during a tumultuous time. The story is shared via the POVs of series regular Augustine Montgomery and Diana Harrison as they search for a missing arcane tiger that belongs to the Harrison family.
This is the first time readers get such an in-depth look at Augustine and his powers. We discover he’s experienced a lot of pain in his past, but the authors skirt around the actual tragedy. I liked how they humanize Augustine and would enjoy more about his life. Diana’s powers are also interesting and unique. I always enjoy how the Andrews writing team create and rationalize powers that come off as legitimate. There is a hint of romance between the two, but their relationship isn’t the primary focus of the story. It’s a one-off adventure that is a lot of fun for those familiar with the world and characters.
Next up is a short from Arabella’s POV called Arabella Saves the Day. This story fills in a couple holes and completes the picture of the adventure contained in Beast Business.
The remainer of the shorts have appeared on the Ilona Andrews site at some point. I had only previously read The Cool Aunt, so it was mostly new for me. It includes additional Arabella POVs, one from Cornelius’s daughter, Matilda, and two “Inn Talks” interviews where a character from Innkeeper Chronicles interviews Arabella and Augustine. This timing of these shorts within the Hidden Legacy series isn’t spelled out, but it’s not important for enjoyment of the book.
Beast Business is a must for fans of the Hidden Legacy series. It provides readers with a look into the world without expanding the series.
My Rating: B+ Liked It A Lot
Jen
About the Book:
Augustine Montgomery is an Illusion Prime who owns a premier PI corporation and alters his appearance with magic. The people who have seen Augustine’s real face can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The people who witnessed the full extent of his power are dead. The illusion isn’t just the brand of his magic. It’s become his lifestyle.
Show as little as possible. Make them think that illusion is all you have. Your life depends on it.
Augustine lives by this creed. He’s cold, rational, and calculating. He doesn’t get emotionally involved. Then one day Diana Harrison walks into his office and asks for his help. Diana is a Prime, an animal mage who bonds with animals through her magic and prefers their company to humans. Something precious has been stolen from House Harrison. Something Diana must recover at all costs.
The two Houses are allied through a friendship pact. Assisting Diana is simply good business. And yet, there is something about her that disturbs the careful balance of Augustine’s inner world.
Neither of them is who they appear to be. Both would die to keep their secrets. But the enemy they face is more powerful than either had imagined, and saving the life that hangs in the balance will demand the ultimate price neither Augustine nor Diana ever anticipated to pay – complete honesty.
Release Date: January 30, 2026
Publisher: NYLA
Series: Hidden Legacy #6.5
Genre: Urban Fantasy, novella
Format(s): paperback (214 pages), e-book
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds