What happens when you mix Resident Evil, Guardians of the Galaxy, and a dash of Starship Troopers… then throw in a heroine who could’ve stepped straight out of So I’m a Spider, So What?, topped with the nerdy humor of Andy Weir?
Easy: you get The Inheritance, the new (and surprisingly adrenaline-packed) sci-fi experiment by Ilona Andrews.
What began as a “just-for-fun” project for the authors ends up reading like a full-on space-themed RPG campaign you’ll never want to log out of!
The Story
Humanity is at war. An interdimensional invasion has torn through our world, bringing unimaginable suffering — and awakening hidden powers within us. These gifts are the key to fighting back. Every day, new breaches open, crawling with monsters and filled with valuable resources. If you’re one of the Gifted, your country calls. The world calls. And you’re expected to answer.
Adaline is one of those Gifted. Ten years ago, she had a peaceful life — a loving husband, a career she adored, and two kids. Then the invasion changed everything. Now she works for the government, diving into dimensional rifts in search of magical metals and rare medicines that could save humanity. Between her kids, the bills, and her mortgage, risking her life has become just another part of the daily grind.
But this time, something goes wrong. Ada and her loyal German shepherd, Bear, are trapped inside a labyrinth of alien caves unlike anything she’s ever seen. To survive, she’ll need every ounce of strength and wit she has — because she promised her children she’d come home.
What she doesn’t know yet is that the fate of humanity may rest in her hands.
A “Side Project” That Became a Page-Turner
Originally written as a web novel — a small side project between larger series — The Inheritance could have easily been a throwaway experiment. But in true Ilona Andrews fashion, it’s anything but minor!
Here you’ll find everything fans love about the duo: relentless action, imaginative worldbuilding, and a magical system that levels up like an RPG.
The prose is brisk and modern — perfect for a phone read you start “just to peek” and finish in two sittings because you can’t stop turning the pages.
And perhaps the biggest surprise: this is one of the rare Ilona Andrews books even non-romance readers will love. There’s no forced chemistry, no obligatory “spicy” subplot — just a raw, touching bond between a woman and her dog that grows and deepens with every chapter.
Ada’s Journey and Elias’ Promise
Because of its length, The Inheritance is only the first half of a duology — with a sequel already confirmed (and possibly more to come).
If there’s one thing I’m hoping for, it’s a stronger spotlight on Elias. For now, he feels a bit like a suit-and-tie parody of Leon Kennedy — charming but not quite memorable. The authors have hinted on their blog that his role will expand in book two, so fingers crossed we’ll see a bit more edge and less “boy scout”!
Ada, on the other hand, is a fantastic protagonist for a sci-fi adventure: witty, determined, and wonderfully human in her vulnerabilities. She starts with a seemingly useless power — a “scan” spell that only detects hidden materials — but as the story unfolds, her abilities evolve alongside her emotional growth.
With the help of a quirky alien mentor (who feels like she just flew in from a Captain Marvel comic), Ada’s magic becomes a symbol of her resilience and transformation.
Final Thoughts
The Inheritance might have started as a passion project, but it reads like a love letter to creativity itself. Fast-paced, heartfelt, and brimming with imagination, it’s proof that when authors write for the sheer joy of it — we, the readers, have all the fun.
Loved The Inheritance? Here’s what to read next!
- Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
- Solo Leveling by Chu-Gong
- Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
- Alien: Echo by Mira Grant
- This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
