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On the Edge (The Edge #1)

by Ilona Andrews (Goodreads Author)

4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 · rating details · 11,401 ratings · 1,054 reviews

Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either.

Rose thoug...more

Paperback, 326 pages

Published September 29th 2009 by Ace (first published August 28th 2009)

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The Best Urban Fantasy

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Best ADULT Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

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Nov 28, 2010 Kat Kennedy rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: All my peeps

Recommended to Kat Kennedy by: Sharon

Shelves: kat-s-book-reviews, leaves-awesomeness-behind, favorites

Do you guys remember that scene out of Beauty and the Beast when the Beast asks Cogsworth and Lumiere what present he could get for Belle?

Then Cogsworth says:

"Oh, the usual: Chocolates, gifts, promises you don't intend to keep..."

Then Cogsworth and Lumiere make out and the Beast starts feeling really awkward?

Somehow I just KNEW you could find kinky cogsworth shit on the internet if you just looked hard enough!

Well, sometimes reading UF/PNR is a little bit like that. Most authors think they can...more

like 130 likes · see review

Jun 06, 2012 Lisa Kay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: its-magic, m-pb-paperback, 2012-in-2012-group-challenge, m-library-sf-audio-ocd, genre-urban-fantasy, genre-romance-paranormal, genre-romance-dark-fantasy, character-child-children-featured, genre-shapeshifters, character-blonde-hero, all-time-favorites, challenge-disney-princess-reading, reviewed-by-me, authors-a, authors-i, zz-fall-colors, 2-authors-writers

★★★★★ Wow! Adored this book! It grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I am actually reading it for the second time. I mean in a row! Amazing. IA has created a captivating world here – well three, actually: The Broken, The Weird, and The Edge – as well as characters that leap off the page and into a delicious plot and back-story. I’ll admit I was confused at first; Urban Fantasy is not my strong suit. However, I have never had this kind of dilemma before: since I wanted some clarification, did I star...more

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Apr 15, 2013 MrsJoseph rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: format-paperback, goodreaders-great-authors, romance, romance-fantasy, series, series-to-build, 2012-read, 2012-reviewed, hero-alpha-male, heroine-kick-ass-female-character, heroine-spunky-spitfire

Oh wow. I loved this book. I had complicated emotions in the beginning - Declan moved in on Rose with the intensity of a Kristen Ashley hero at first. It really bothered me...I have KA overload and I was concerned.

But I loved the worldbuilding and the writing (of course) so I persevered. Oh boy! I am so glad I did! Declan was wonderful and Rose stood up to him at every turn. The plot was wonderful and felt like the perfect meld of fantasy and romance.

My only complaint is that I don't have book...more

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May 08, 2013 Joanna Tsiou rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-romance, kick-ass-heroine, magic, favorites, paranormal, shapeshifters, urban-fantasy, worth-every-minute

Oh my god! I have to say a huge THANK YOU I.A.

This book was awesome. I wanted more of it. Usually I'm anxious to see how a story ends but this time I just wanted it to keep going. I actually had happy tears in the end!!!

Where should I begin? This book pushed all my buttons. The story, the characters, the world-building, everything was spectacular!

Let's start by the heroes.

Rose...

Rose is such a relatable heroine. She is easy to like and gives the "girl-next-door" vibe. Does she have remarkable ch...more

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Jun 18, 2012 Kat Lowe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, romance

Guess I'm officially an Ilona Andrews fangirl now. Loved the Kate Daniels high octane urban fantasy series, and I had fun with this first book in The Edge series.

There are a lot of parallels between the two series: a prickly heroine (Rose) with mega-magic in her blood, a hot dangerous hero (Declan) who gets thrown into her path, a magical/non-magical combination world with nasty beasties (some of them are human...sort of). But there is also a significant difference that will probably make or bre...more

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Mar 26, 2011 Janina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, on-my-shelf, read-in-2011, romance, adult-fiction, series-finished

3.5 stars

Being a huge fan of the Kate Daniels series and considering that the Edge books seem to be receiving only glowing reviews, I was going into this book expecting to be blown away. That wasn’t exactly the case, but still, I think it’s a good start to a promising series and I’ll definitely be reading the next instalment. Also, I am looking forward to getting to know more about William, whom I found to be a very interesting and complex character – despite his only brief appearance in On the...more 3.5 stars

Being a huge fan of the Kate Daniels series and considering that the Edge books seem to be receiving only glowing reviews, I was going into this book expecting to be blown away. That wasn’t exactly the case, but still, I think it’s a good start to a promising series and I’ll definitely be reading the next instalment. Also, I am looking forward to getting to know more about William, whom I found to be a very interesting and complex character – despite his only brief appearance in On the Edge. I am glad that Bayou Moon will feature a different set of characters. While I loved the secondary characters here – especially William, Rose’s brothers and her grandma – I didn’t really warm up to Rose and Declan themselves. It wasn’t that they were annoying, no, not even close, but they weren’t characters that stayed on my mind for very long (I even had to look up Rose’s name since it has been a few days since I finished the book) and sometimes, I even found their romance a little too … cheesy. Don’t ask me why, it feels strange to me as well. I mean, I have been reading Nora Roberts and didn’t complain about cheesy, but well.

The world building here isn’t nearly as complex as in Andrew’s Magic series – read: you won’t feel confused and a little stupid for not understanding what is going on for about half of the book – but still intriguing and fascinating. The plot focuses a little more on romance, but it is never overwhelming and the rest of the story certainly doesn’t suffer under it.

One thing that really really annoyed me: the cover. I mean, SERIOUSLY? First of all, this cover doesn’t do the book justice. It makes it look like some cheap bodice ripper and not like an urban fantasy novel set in an amazing and inventive world. And secondly, I simply do not want to be told by the cover how my characters are supposed to look like. I couldn’t shake the fact that the Declan on the cover looks like some cheap male stripper. Every time his leather attire and long blond hair (Honestly, I think I have yet to meet a male character in an urban fantasy novel that doesn’t have long hair.) was mentioned, I was thinking of something like this (click at your on risk) and sorry, but that’s just ridiculous.
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Mar 23, 2013 Keertana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Keertana by: Heidi

Shelves: kick-ass-heroines, rainy-day-re-reads, swoooon

Rating: 4.5 Stars

You know, in life there are moments when you think your emotion towards someone or something cannot possibly increase more than what it already is, but then they do or write something that makes you eat your previous words. With Ilona Andrews, I feel as if I am constantly in a state of, “I love them; this is their best book yet…it can’t get any better than this!” and then it does. I’ll tell you right now, it’s a terrific feeling. If there’s one duo I can count on to make me lau...more Rating: 4.5 Stars

You know, in life there are moments when you think your emotion towards someone or something cannot possibly increase more than what it already is, but then they do or write something that makes you eat your previous words. With Ilona Andrews, I feel as if I am constantly in a state of, “I love them; this is their best book yet…it can’t get any better than this!” and then it does. I’ll tell you right now, it’s a terrific feeling. If there’s one duo I can count on to make me laugh, swoon, or get me out of a bad day, it is Ilona Andrews and, believe me, you want these two on your side. (Or, you know, locked up in a basement writing more books for you to devour!)

On the Edge is the first book in the Edge Chronicles, a series of Urban Fantasy stand-alones that take place in a realm called – you guessed it! – the Edge. Unlike the Kate Daniels Series, where the world-building takes its own sweet time to become properly defined and realized, the world-building in the Edge Chronicles is shockingly clear and concise, proving to be ever bit as original and captivating as it sounds. We have the Broken, or the human world, the Weird, a world fueled by magic and ruled by aristocrats, and the Edge, right in between them both. It is in the Edge that our protagonist, Rose, lives with her two younger brothers, struggling to make ends meet with a low-wage-earning job in the Broken. With her mother dead and father gone, the sole responsibility for her two younger brothers rests on Rose’s young shoulders.

Enter: Declan. Declan is a blueblood aristocrat from the Weird, searching for a bride with strong magical abilities – like Rose. Although Declan resolves to woo her by fulfilled any three tasks she so wishes to set upon him, Rose has bigger threats to worry about – especially with a strange new beast in the Edge. It is clear from this set-up itself that Ilona Andrews has a bit of a formulaic set-up here: a loyal kick-ass heroine who is relatively alone in the world, an alpha male (and very rich!) hero who wants her, and mystical threats for them to combat together. Yet, despite this recipe, Ilona Andrews always manages to make it work and add a few twists into it as the same time.

Rose is a heroine I instantly liked, connecting with her strong nature, fierce protection of her younger brothers, and need to be perfect all on her own. As the novel progresses, we slowly uncover her past; the destruction of any family life she’s ever known and her mistrust of men, love, and bluebloods from the Weird. For them, strong magical bloodlines are all that matters and Rose is convinced that Declan wants her for her potent abilities, not who she really is. Furthermore, Rose is a struggling woman in a world with other struggling people. It is her who is forced to make tough decisions, such as to buy new shoes for one brother while forgoing a gift for the other. In addition, her brothers have their own magical abilities, one as a necromancer and the other as a shapeshifter. Yet, despite her obvious difficulties in taking care of her siblings, the bond between the three is strong and unbreakable. Rose is, to her brother, a figure they can lean on and trust. In fact, the only problem is that Rose has no one to lean on herself.

It is Declan, though, who slowly makes his way into her heart and life. With the trials she sets for him, he becomes closer and closer to her family, the most important part of her existence, and subsequently, her as well. No one writes Adult Urban Fantasy Romance like Ilona Andrews – no one – and that much is evident from this story. Declan and Rose’s romance, although not as long and drawn out as Kate and Curran’s (which spans over four novels before they finally get together), is just as rewarding, meaningful, and heartfelt. Ilona Andrews keeps everything real – or as real as it can be with magic around – and the true-to-life struggles that these two faced in their relationship made it come alive for me.

All in all, On the Edge is not a book to be missed, both for fans and newcomers to the writings of Ilona Andrews. In many ways, I find that this series is more accessible than Kate Daniels, simply because its beginning starts out so strong. Yet, whatever it is readers pick up by this duo, it is certain that they won’t be disappointed, whether by the romance or the action-filled plot line itself, full of mythology and heavy lore. Furthermore, the world Ilona Andrews has created, one with shapeshifters, necromancers, and magic co-existing in a secret world next to our own, is just as memorable as their futuristic Atlanta with vampires, shapeshifters, and mercenaries. Honestly, I just don’t think “disappointment” is a word in the repertoire of this fantastic duo.

You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.(less)

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Jan 11, 2013 Breann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-in-series, favorite-heroines, magic, urban-fantasy, shifters, 2013-rrrc-challenge

Right away I knew I was going to be thrust into awesome world building, filled with equally awesome characters. ‘Cause that’s what Ilona Andrews does. With perfection.

We start with Rose who lives in a place called The Edge. The Edge is a long and thin stretch of land that exists between two worlds. The Broken, where people like you and I live, and The Weird. The Weird is filled with magic & creatures that the people of The Broken couldn’t begin to imagine. Most people in each realm don’t kno...more Right away I knew I was going to be thrust into awesome world building, filled with equally awesome characters. ‘Cause that’s what Ilona Andrews does. With perfection.

We start with Rose who lives in a place called The Edge. The Edge is a long and thin stretch of land that exists between two worlds. The Broken, where people like you and I live, and The Weird. The Weird is filled with magic & creatures that the people of The Broken couldn’t begin to imagine. Most people in each realm don’t know the other exists. Only the highest ranking in each society and the people of The Edge. Rose has been left by both of her parents and given the task of raising her two little brothers when she was just eighteen. She’s been trying to maintain a livable lifestyle for them ever since, and belonging to neither The Broken nor The Weird, it’s been a struggle.

Not only is Rose dealing with the financial struggles of everyday life, she has to keep track of her brothers. Georgie, who has the power to resurrect dead people and animals, is slowly killing himself because his sweet little heart can’t let anything go. Jack is a predator changeling and sometimes has trouble fitting in with the rest of society. These two are adorable and steal the show. They love each other and their big sis to a fault.

Amongst the chaos that is Rose’s life, in comes Declan. He bullied his way into Rose’s life with his arrogant, sword-wielding, badass self. She told him to leave her alone. So, he followed her. She told him to stay away from her family. So, he took her brother out to The Wood to practice his predator skills. You get the idea. Declan might have come into Rose’s life under some false pretenses, but he certainly made up for it with his determination to win the girl. (view spoiler)

"I mean to have you, Rose, you and all of your thorns. I'm a disagreeable and stubborn bastard, but I'm not a fool. You didn't really expect me to pass you up, did you?"

Who could resist a speech like that? Rose was certainly prickly and I would have liked a little more romance in their romance. Especially, from Rose. Their banter was fun and snarky, but I didn't really feel their lurve connection until the end. Even then, it felt a bit shaky.

I love everything Ilona Andrews writes. So, why has it taken me this long to read this series? I have no clue. But I will continue to devour her books and anything else she plans to scribble on.(less)

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Mar 08, 2010 The Flooze rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, urban-fantasy-paranormal, vanquished_2010, owned

**3.5**

On the Edge might be called a romance by some. I prefer to think of it as UF with a happy ending. For the most part, it lacks many of the trappings associated with romance. Instead it focuses on intricate world-building, strong characterization, and adrenaline highs--the hallmarks of any good urban fantasy.

That's not to say there isn't some steam, but the tension between Rose and Declan grows gradually. He wins her over bit by bit using bravado, kindness, cunning and consideration. He has...more **3.5**

On the Edge might be called a romance by some. I prefer to think of it as UF with a happy ending. For the most part, it lacks many of the trappings associated with romance. Instead it focuses on intricate world-building, strong characterization, and adrenaline highs--the hallmarks of any good urban fantasy.

That's not to say there isn't some steam, but the tension between Rose and Declan grows gradually. He wins her over bit by bit using bravado, kindness, cunning and consideration. He has a healthy dose of the "protector" to him, but he also acknowledges Rose's talents and doesn't discount her ability to help in the crisis they face. Both hero and heroine are remarkable as individuals, and I appreciate that neither needs to fall at the other’s feet to make the romance work.

Declan possesses a mysterious air. He’s arrogant and haughty when they first meet, but it quickly becomes clear there is much more to him than meets the eye. There are surprises in store for Rose right up until the very end, with each twist more fun than the last. Most endearing is Declan’s interactions with Rose’s brothers. He sees their potential. He treats them as important, and cares for them while encouraging them to test their limits. Forget Rose falling for him; Declan’s attitude toward Jack and Georgie is what reeled me in.

Rose Drayton herself is a wonderful, complicated heroine. Forced into independence at only 18, she provides for her two small brothers and struggles to make ends meet. They live in a world called the Edge where magic exists in a trickle, and the residents utilize it with varying degrees of success. Rose and her family are special in terms of their magic. They are far more powerful than their neighbors--Rose in particular. Unfortunately, this makes her a target. With so many obstacles set before her, Rose has grown into a determined and proud young woman. Yet, despite her exhaustion and disappointments she still retains a warmth that makes her instantly likable. In the words of her grandmother:

"She's put her life on hold, so her brothers would never know what it's like to be abandoned. A young girl is a creature of dreams, my lord. A woman with one foot in the world of fantasy, searching for the face of true love in every handsome boy she sees. Rose has no fantasies. One would expect a woman who has gone through her trials to be bitter and angry, but she isn't. She's kind, sweet, selfless, and generous, and I thank my lucky stars for this every day."

My only problem with Rose’s portrayal is her change in tone once she realises she loves Declan. Suddenly, everything is high drama. She loses some of that sharp, practical, witty edge borne of suspicion and careful assessment; I found myself missing it. I suppose it’s only natural for her to soften in light of her falling in love--regardless of the responsibilities she bears, she’s still a young woman daring to hope for more. Condensing their connection into one neatly packaged story may not have done the characters full justice, but these off-moments didn’t lessen my enjoyment. Let’s chalk it up to my nitpicky dislike of romance conventions and move along.

One thing I love about this duo’s writing is their ability to craft meaningful peripheral characters. Since reading Magic Burns, I particularly love the way they depict children.

By virtue of their magic and their lifestyle, both Jack and Georgie (Rose’s brothers) are more serious than boys their age should be. They are incredibly quick and observant, keeping a wary eye on Declan. At the same time, they are in awe of him, and latch onto his every move in an effort to learn what being a man means. They’ve never really had a male influence in their lives, and with the blueblood's arrival they’re torn between their hero-worship and their fear for their sister. Georgie and Jack are brave and selfless, and their every action speaks volumes for Rose's parenting skills. They are filled with a certainty and melancholy that belies their age…yet they still have the capacity to be silly, playing and getting into trouble as young boys should. I thought the most poignant statements came from them, delivered with their simple honesty and loyalty. They struck me as the real stars of the story.

If there is one flaw to On the Edge, it’s the villain. Casshorn is on the cheesy side. He comes from the school of hollow, drawn-out, evil speeches. A megalomaniac with a god-complex, he’s almost a caricature of a villain rather than a truly manipulative threat. Far more effective at inspiring terror are the creatures he unleashes on the Edge. Cruel and unearthly animals, they are a force to be reckoned with, the stuff of nightmares. I think much more could’ve been made of them, and I am a little dissatisfied at the minimal role Casshorn plays in his own malevolent plot.

Recalling my reaction to book one of the Kate Daniels’ series, On the Edge is a more solid opener. The world-building is much easier to understand, and the notion of the Broken, the Edge, and the Weird is fascinating. Ilona Andrews has created a very different universe to play in, and the possibilities within seem endless. I notice the next book will focus on William. His introduction here was intriguing, if not a little…unsettling at times. Seeing more of him should prove maddeningly entertaining. I’m looking forward to it, and to learning more about this fresh new world.
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Dec 05, 2009 The Holy Terror rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people looking for something different and not the normal PNR

Shelves: owned, magic, shifters, sexy-urban-fantasy, color-orange, color-green

Honestly, this book probably has one of the most unique worlds I've come across in a long time. The character development is fantastic and the way the point of views shift really adds something to the overall story. I enjoyed this book a lot more than Magic Bites and I'm definitely going to continue with this series!

Rose was stubborn and ornery most of the book but for once she's a character that has legitimate reasons. Declan is a fascinating character with more sides to him than first appear....more

like 22 likes · see review

Jun 18, 2011 Brenda Audiobooks Only rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2-audible-com-books, uf-with-romance, favorites

Narrated by Renee Raudman - Narration is 5+*s

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Jan 05, 2011 BarkLessWagMore rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook

Rose is barely eking out a living working a minimum wage job and trying to keep her two younger brothers fed and clothed. Rose lives on the edge between the broken (the mundane world) and the weird (the magical world). Her parents are dead and because she possesses a coveted magical power she’s in fear of becoming someone’s brood mare and is constantly on alert for would-be kidnappers.

Rose doesn’t trust men, with good reason, and steers clear of relationships. Blue-blooded men are the worst but...more

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Dec 12, 2009 I ♥ Bookie Nookie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-pnr-uf, zz-reviewed, i-love-this-old, a-series

I have to say that I was a little apprehensive about this book during the first 30 or so pages--as I learned about the worlds of the Weird, the Edge and the Broken. The characters seemed most strange in an Alice in Wonderland kind of way. On the second page, there is an irrational lunatic, bloody from head to toe running around the yard exclaiming that he wants to go to the pub for a pint. Then we find out that this means he wants to catch and kill a dog and eat its' brains...huh? Then we learn...more

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The Holy Terror Cherra wrote: "and yes, that scene where Georgie had grandpa and all his amimals--sad...so sad for Georgie. but Shannon, I am coming to understand tha...more
Dec 12, 2009 10:02pm

I ♥ Bookie Nookie I am an animal lover too and have a soft spot where they are concerned. My husband calls me the pied piper of animals because every stray seems to fin...more
Dec 13, 2009 02:33am

Dec 11, 2010 Yz the Whyz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Yz the Whyz by: Suzanne

Shelves: ilona-andrews, 2010-reads, nook-others

(A Pick-It-For-Me Challenge book recommended by Suzanne)

This book has a strong urban fantasy feel, but in the end, turned out to be a sweet adventure-romance.

This is my first time reading Ilona Andrews and I'm definitely impressed. The heroine is strong without being overtly stubborn, the hero is arrogant but not too much, the plot is complex enough to keep me riveted, and there is enough action to make it all entertaining.

I got this in audiobook format and Renee Raudman's performance just made...more

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Oct 17, 2011 Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: the-edge, urban-fantasy

I read somewhere that Gordon Andrews once called this series "rustic fantasy." It kind of fits. It's decidedly not urban. The setting is kind of backwoods, really. But it's quirky; it's kind of charming; and while it took me a little while to connect with it, the book grew on me more and more as I continued to read.

This series is nothing like the Kate Daniels books, except for this: the world building takes some getting used to. It's not really hard to understand, but it's also not like anything...more I read somewhere that Gordon Andrews once called this series "rustic fantasy." It kind of fits. It's decidedly not urban. The setting is kind of backwoods, really. But it's quirky; it's kind of charming; and while it took me a little while to connect with it, the book grew on me more and more as I continued to read.

This series is nothing like the Kate Daniels books, except for this: the world building takes some getting used to. It's not really hard to understand, but it's also not like anything else out there. In this case, there are essentially two parallel worlds. The Broken is the regular world we live in: a world of Wal-Mart and electricity. Magic is just a myth. Whereas, in the Weird, there is a world of nothing but magic. There is, however, an in-between place. The Edge is a little of both worlds, and somehow neither, at the same time. This is where Rose and her two brothers live.

Rose has more magic than most other people in the Edge, or perhaps it's more accurate to say, she is better at using it. So everyone wants to breed with her, or sell her, or profit from her in some other way. She is raising her little brothers, working a menial job, and has given up hope that her life could be more. When Declan appears, she assumes the noble from the Weird is there to force her into marriage. But at the same time, strange and dangerous creatures begin showing up. Rose has to work with Declan to fight the threat. And as they spend more time together... well, you know how these things go.

Like I said earlier, I didn't love it right away. Maybe it was the backwoods thing; maybe I just had to get used to the concepts. But either way, I ended up rather engrossed in it. Notably absent was the trademark Ilona Andrews snark, but there was a pretty hot sex scene which helped me get over that. There are some interesting secondary characters... especially William. I hope we see more of him in later books. I'm curious to see where the series goes next, since the ending felt pretty settled for Rose and Declan. There is only one way to find out.

A little more than 4 stars.

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Jan 08, 2013 Melanie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aint-he-sweet, ilona-andrews, badass-hero, bewitch-me, cocky-hero, enemies-to-lovers, fantasy, hey-look-what-i-can-do, kindle, parallel-universe, royalty, warrior-dudes, what-a-jerk, the-edge, paranormal-romance

3-3.5 stars

Identity Crisis Alert:
description

For the most part I enjoyed 'On the Edge'... and in fact one of the most enjoyable aspects of this story was the pretty fantastic world building. Andrews has created an intense, grim, dog-eat-dog place aptly called "the Edge" that exists between "the Broken" which is essentially our own mundane non-magical world chock-full of Walmarts and greasy fast food joints and "the Weird", a world where magic rules and its people have exceptional magical abilities.

A lot of...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: pnr-uf, series-opener, reviewed

3.75 or 4 stars. First book in a fabulous urban fantasy series. It was good, but not my favorite. Even though I loved the heroine, Rose, and the fantastical plot, AND the secondary characters Grandma, George, and Jack, I couldn't warm up to Declan -- not really. He seemed too aloof for the first half of the book. (update: After reading the series, Declan and I are buds.)

This book is quite good. The plot advances nicely, with lots of tension. I was absorbed in the dangerous story line. Plus, I re...more 3.75 or 4 stars. First book in a fabulous urban fantasy series. It was good, but not my favorite. Even though I loved the heroine, Rose, and the fantastical plot, AND the secondary characters Grandma, George, and Jack, I couldn't warm up to Declan -- not really. He seemed too aloof for the first half of the book. (update: After reading the series, Declan and I are buds.)

This book is quite good. The plot advances nicely, with lots of tension. I was absorbed in the dangerous story line. Plus, I really enjoyed the concept of three worlds. Here are the three worlds in this series, all set in America (sorta-kinda) in contemporary times:

The Weird: A land composed of Lousianna and Adrianglia, roughly located across the Southern strip of the USA. In The Weird, everyone is gifted with some degree of magical ability. The society is similar to regency England, with aristocrats and commoners. The more magical you are, the more likely you'll be rich and/or aristocratic.

The Broken: No magic. It's the world of MacDonald's and WalMart -- the America we know today. People from the other two worlds can cross into The Broken (in some cases) but their magic will not work. It's broken. People from the two magical worlds are intrigued by technology, including televisions, phones, etc. -- even if, all too often, it is "broken" within a month. ;-)

The Edge: The boundary land between The Weird and The Broken. Political exiles from The Weird must live in the Edge. They can do magic, but their magic is weakened -- not as strong as it was in The Weird. One part of The Edge is forested (book 1). Another part is swampy, called the Mire, as in quagmire (book 2, Bayou Moon). The Edge is a desperate and often lawless place, reminiscent of the Wild Wild West.

Entire series, an update: I have read all four books. By the end of On the Edge, the worlds are built, preparing the way for William the changeling wolf, in book 2, Bayou Moon (my favorite, a 5-star read). Declan, the aristo hero from book 1, gets some good press in books 2-4, so he grew on me. The boys, Jack and George, become HUGE favorites with me across the series. They appear in books 2-4. I did not care for Fate's Edge, #3. Book 4 is almost as good as book 2.

Hope to see a book 5, with these wonderful kids all grown up, plus with Lark and maybe even Gaston.

And more scenes with William and Cerise, protags of book 2, please! ;-)(less)

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Feb 20, 2012 Lexidreams rated it 1 of 5 stars

I like this author. I am waiting for the next Magic book to come out and so I buy this. The premise is interesting. The three previous books I read from the author were great. This should be goood. In the way a warm cup of hot chocolate is on the dawn of a snowy day.

But I really hated this book. In fact about 2 weeks after reading it, I find my overwhelming dislike for it surprises myself. After all I really like the author team's Magic series. I am counting the days until the next one comes out...more

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Nov 23, 2011 JennyJen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bellyache-funny, oh-how-fun-wheeee, now-i-need-a-cold-shower, kickass, be-still-my-heart, she-is-not-just-a-pretty-face

****NO WORRIES. I DON'T SPOIL BOOKS.****

So, this book was interesting... It's kind of like a Chia pet. You don't know exactly what it is, but you keep coming back to it for hours and hours of entertainment. Is this book a romance? Yes. Is it an Urban Fantasy? Yes. Is it Western-y? Kinda sorta in a cool, modern way. Do the main characters kick some ass? Yes. Are there paranormal creatures? Yes. Is there magic? Yes. I can't pinpoint the genre, but I will say that it's a good book and I had troubl...more

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Jan 24, 2011 AH rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, first-in-series, fantasy, favorites, necromancer, zzxread-jan-2011, were

This was very different from the Kate Daniels series. Different in a good way. I love Ilona Andrews’ imaginative world building. The Edge is a world sandwiched between our world known as The Broken because no magic works and The Weird a place where the blueblood magical aristocrats live. The Weird is like a parallel universe to our world.

The people that inhabit The Edge are an eccentric collection of characters with some magical powers. The Edge is not the safest place to live and in this story...more This was very different from the Kate Daniels series. Different in a good way. I love Ilona Andrews’ imaginative world building. The Edge is a world sandwiched between our world known as The Broken because no magic works and The Weird a place where the blueblood magical aristocrats live. The Weird is like a parallel universe to our world.

The people that inhabit The Edge are an eccentric collection of characters with some magical powers. The Edge is not the safest place to live and in this story there are some sightings of strange creatures that eat people for their magic.

Rose Drayton is struggling to support her two young brothers. She works “under the table” at a cleaning company in The Broken. She scrimps and saves every penny to make ends meet so that her young brothers can have the food and the things they need.

I really liked the cast of characters. It takes a special talent to write such believable characters. It’s refreshing to see a strong female character. Rose is intelligent, brave, and a little too fearless. She is extremely protective of her brothers. Despite all of these characteristics, I loved watching her melt when Declan came into the picture.

Declan was a fun character, a little reminiscent of Curran. His interactions with Rose reminded me of the ongoing sparring that we saw in the other series, although not quite so adversarial. I found Declan a touch too perfect, too strong, too handsome. But who’s complaining? Declan was truly intrigued by Rose and managed to find a way to rent a room in her house, thereby getting to know her better. Once Rose finally trusted Declan, I loved how they worked as a team in their battle against the creatures.

I loved the children Georgie and Jack. Georgie was able to raise the dead and Jack could shift into a lynx. One of my favorite scenes was written from Jack’s perspective as he ran through the woods as a lynx.

While this book doesn’t feel like a romance, it does have that requisite happy ending.

One of the best lines in this book and probably in any book I’ve read lately is: “Go brush your teeth, comb your hair, put on dry clothes, and get the guns. We’re going to Wal-Mart.”

Off to find a copy of Bayou Moon.

Maybe I'll go to Wal-Mart. (less)

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Dec 15, 2009 Summer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: magic, paranormal, urban-fantasy

On the Edge is about Rose, and her two little brothers Georgie and Jack. They live in an area called The Edge. It's called that because it's literally on the edge of two different worlds. One, called the Weird, is full of magic and the other is called the Broken because of it's lack of magic. Rose is currently raising her brothers by herself, however each of them contain strong magic powers. Jack is actually a changeling and he can turn into a cat. Georgie can bring the dead back to life. Rose o...more On the Edge is about Rose, and her two little brothers Georgie and Jack. They live in an area called The Edge. It's called that because it's literally on the edge of two different worlds. One, called the Weird, is full of magic and the other is called the Broken because of it's lack of magic. Rose is currently raising her brothers by herself, however each of them contain strong magic powers. Jack is actually a changeling and he can turn into a cat. Georgie can bring the dead back to life. Rose on the other hand, can flash. In the world that they live in a person's strongest attack is to use their flash. To flash you have to push all of your magic abilities into one big lightning strike of power. The brighter colored your flash is, the stronger you are. Rose flashes pure white and supposedly only nobles from the Weird flash white. So for most of Rose's life since everyone's discovered her abilities she's had to fight off people trying to use her in some way or kidnap her. So when strange things start happening in the Edge and a noble from the Weird shows up on her doorstep Rose only feels anger and dread. He's too strong for her to fight and protect her brothers at the same time. They manage to come to an agreement that the nobleman can take Rose away, but only if he accepts and wins three challenges from her. But soon Rose has to fight off her own feelings for this man who isn't quite what she thinks.

There is sooo much more to this series but I don't want to give everything away. It's definitely more of a romance than the Kate Daniel's series. However, I feel like even though it was a focus of the series, the characters and the world felt more fleshed out than a paranormal romance would have. It also doesn't have a HEA all tied up with a ribbon at the end either. The world is really interesting and the characters were great too. I liked this book a lot, but not as much as I did the Kate Daniels books so I didn't give it the highest rating. But fans of Ilona Andrews, or fans of PNR or UF looking for something different would definitely enjoy this too.(less)

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Jun 18, 2011 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of fantasy with a good dose of romance

Shelves: magic, urban-fantasy, owned-copy, favorite-or-autobuy-author, warrior, alternate-dimension-or-world, hero-i-loved, hero-in-pursuit, heroine-i-adore, adoptive-or-inherited-parents, southern-setting, favorites, kids-in-the-mix, shapeshifter, witch-sorcereress-healer, wizard-warlock-sorcerer, werewolf, fantasy-romance, necromancy, rural-country-setting, 2011-reading

Ilona Andrews (writing team of Ilona and Gordon) caught and kept my interest when I read Magic Bites. I liked the distinctive voice I saw in that story, one that has stayed true in the subsequent stories that I have read by this team. With On the Edge, they have continued that excellence, providing me with a novel that is multi-faceted, genre-wise and story-wise.

Although I grew up in the Midwest, my roots are Southern, and I do appreciate books set in the South that show the real ways of Southe...more Ilona Andrews (writing team of Ilona and Gordon) caught and kept my interest when I read Magic Bites. I liked the distinctive voice I saw in that story, one that has stayed true in the subsequent stories that I have read by this team. With On the Edge, they have continued that excellence, providing me with a novel that is multi-faceted, genre-wise and story-wise.

Although I grew up in the Midwest, my roots are Southern, and I do appreciate books set in the South that show the real ways of Southerners. In this case, I saw something very real and almost familiar in Rose, her brothers, grandmother, and friends and neighbors. I smiled when Rose threw the boys in the car and took them to Walmart. Yeah, that's real. Real people do shop there. How many times do you read a book where the characters go to Walmart to buy not the designer shoes, but the ones that look close enough to pass muster? How about a heroine who buys ground beef and adds rice and bread crumbs to stretch it? Yup, that's real alright. How about those moments when you have to stretch your paycheck and hope you have enough money left over the week to buy gas so you can get to work? I've definitely been there. And the love and ties of family, having to work hard all day and get home, take care of your family, go to bed, and get up and do it again. I think a lot of readers can identify with that. So what if Rose is magical, along with everyone in her family? That's a little more on the fantasy part of the scale. But this combination is why urban fantasy is so irresistible to me. The real and the surreal nicely entwined.

The ideas in this story strike me as very unique and different. I liked it a lot, even if some elements was pretty odd, like a reanimated grandfather who likes to eat stray dogs' brains. Or the fact that a lot folks in the Edge community can curse people, or send flashes of powerful energy out of their bodies. And then there is the shapeshifting younger brother of Rose, Jack. The other young brother is a powerful necromancer (hence the zombie granddad). And things get even more interesting when Declan shows up. Rose's powerful flash abilities have made her an asset to Blueblood families who want to integrate her genes into their family lines, one way or the other. She has become wary of men for that reason, since most of her suitors didn't ask nicely. So when too good to be true Declan shows up to claim her and take her back to the Weird, the magical lands that are adjacent to the Edge, she definitely doesn't eagerly go off with him. She makes an oath with the handsome warrior that he can have her if he succeeds in her three challenges. However, they have big problems on their hands, as there are horrible, magical hounds that are devouring Edgers for their magic. And they really want to get their hands on Rose and her family.

I loved Rose. She was a heroine that you could hang with, and that you'd be slightly in awe of, because she knows how to take care of business. She's the type that you tell to do something, and she takes about five minutes or more, and she's back and ready to get the job done. Not the heroine who is infallible and annoyingly perfect. Nope, she's the heroine that you love because she tries so hard, and she has the determination to do what is necessary. I loved Rose's commitment to her brothers, how she raised them from a young age after her mother lost her mind and her father ran off treasure-hunting. Jack and Georgie (her brothers) are adorable and genuine little boys, despite their very unusual abilities. They were sweeties and reminded me of the poem about what boys are made of (you know, snails and puppy dog tails). You could see why Rose loves them, even though being a single mom to her brothers is far from easy.

Declan was a great match for Rose. He was just as determined and capable. He might be a rich princelike guy, but he was down to earth enough that this didn't bother me. And I do like tough, warrior heroes, I won't lie. He took to the kids very quickly, and he treated them like they were his own. He even makes pancakes for them. I liked how he was as much a thinker as a doer, a problem-solver not afraid to get his hands dirty. He was a guy who made a commitment and stood by his word, no matter what. Declan was definitely a knight in shining armor, and I could see why Rose fell in love with him.

William was also adorable. I felt for him, and I will probably end up reading Bayou Moon soon to get more of him. I liked his wildness but also his goodness and how sweet he was with the kids (I am a sucker for that).

On the Edge has its dark, gruesome elements, but I'm okay with that. I like some dark in my fantasy. I loved the juxtaposition of the everyday with the fantastic and surreal. The Andrews have a great way of writing descriptively and setting the scene without overdoing things and info-dumping. I like that the narrative is spare in some places, and the character sketches give you enough to get an idea of the folks in the story, but you can still learn more as you read. There are times you have to figure things out as you go, which is what I prefer, to be honest.

Although I am sure this book wouldn't work for everyone, I had a ball reading it. I liked everything about it. The romance was great, but the fantasy elements were equally important. I'd recommend this to a reader who likes fantasy but wants to try romance, and a reader on the other side of that equation.(less)

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Mar 30, 2011 Kim Ryser rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011booksread

I was skeptical of this book. I couldn't remember who recommended it to me or why, and when it arrived and I saw the cover, I wanted to hide it somewhere dark and never let it out. So it was with quite a bit of hesitancy that I finally picked it up out of the To-Read pile. But I was in a mood for urban fantasy/paranormal romance, and I figured it was this book's best shot. The author won me over almost instantly. The book begins with Grandpa the zombie getting out of his chains in the garden she...more

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Feb 07, 2013 ❉Olivia ツ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, group-read, kindle

This was surprising! I've heard so many mixed reviews about this that I wasn't sure what to expect. Bottom line: if you don't have an aversion to romance, you will like this. It's amazing how some people hate any type of romance and quickly dismiss the book. There is romance but exactly one sex scene and some kissing. Pretty tame in my book.

As with the Kate Daniels series, the world building was a bit rough. So the first five chapters or so were slow going. There are two parallel worlds. One is...more

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Dec 13, 2010 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: pnr

A light and fun PNR. Really more like 3.5 stars, but since gr's doesn't have half stars, I'm knocking this down to a 3 for the horrid cover alone.

My favorite thing about this book is that Andrews writes 2 children characters, little brothers to the main female character, who are totally endearing and fun without ever being overly precious, precocious, or anything else annoying like that! The romancey bits start out super cheesy. Honestly, I really don't think that grown women would make such fo...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Sunny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: girls-who-kick-a, reviews, über-alpha, own, favorite-series

Like a meandering creek in a Southern town, On the Edge sure takes it time getting going. One of Ilona Andrew’s strengths and trademarks is her/his ability to create a world, an environment, and in this case, you could almost hear the crickets chirping as you wait for the story to get started. If you are willing to make the investment, this story is worth the wait.

We have a saying around here, “It sucks to be in the middle.” The Edge is the land between the Broken (non-magical folks) and the Wi...more

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Jan 31, 2012 Soo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Rose's independent, spunky sass landed her in a pot of trouble. Her moment of triumph became the crap shot of her life, and all her dreams of love died as men tried to take her against her will to become a broodmare. Things settled down a bit, Rose became the head of her household, worked to keep food on the table for the boys, and tried her best to make sure her family was happy and safe. Then twisted hounds invade her town, animals are found dead, and people start to go missing.

To top it all...more

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Mar 26, 2013 ♥Rachel♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars

On the Edge was a unique gem from the amazing husband and wife writing team, Ilona Andrews. If you’re looking for a strong female character, clever banter, and romance that builds to a slow burn, look no further. Their Kate Daniels series won me over as a fan, and this story only increased my love of their writing.

Rose lives in the Edge, a world in between the Broken: our normal world, and the Weird: a world where magic dominates. She lives with her two younger brothers, having to take over the...more On the Edge was a unique gem from the amazing husband and wife writing team, Ilona Andrews. If you’re looking for a strong female character, clever banter, and romance that builds to a slow burn, look no further. Their Kate Daniels series won me over as a fan, and this story only increased my love of their writing.

Rose lives in the Edge, a world in between the Broken: our normal world, and the Weird: a world where magic dominates. She lives with her two younger brothers, having to take over the role of parent since her mother died and her father took off. Rose makes barely enough money in the Broken to care for their needs, and she struggles to keep her brothers behaving while trying to provide. Behaving takes special restraint when you have magic powers like Rose’s little brothers do. Rose is also gifted magically, not that this has made much of a difference in her life so far, other than make her a target for unwanted advances.

Enter Declan, an aristocrat from the Weird. He shows up demanding things of Rose and with his striking green eyes and looks that make any girl go weak in the knees he might be hard to refuse, but Rose is not about to lie down and take anything from him. Least of all his bossing around! But there’s something in the Edge killing, and it seems Declan and Rose must work together to defeat the threat.

This was such a strange and different story, in the very best way. The magic and world described felt like no other I’ve read about. Granted, I haven’t read very many Urban Fantasy novels but this was definitely unique to me, yet easy to grasp. One thing I’ve noticed about Ilona Andrews’ writing is that they do not mire their stories down with endless descriptions that make your eyes glaze over in boredom. Rather, they give you just enough to set the world up perfectly. This was the case with On the Edge.

Another area where this story shines is in the smart and witty banter. Both Rose and Declan are strong characters so when they come together there is a wonderful push and pull between them that will have you cracking up:

“If you touch me, I’ll hit you with this chair,” she ground out.
“I had no idea you enjoyed rough courtship,” he said with a straight face. “It was never my particular favorite, but I’ll do my best to play along, provided I’ll get you in the end.”
Rose opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
“Would you like me to be quiet?” he asked.
“Yes!”
“If you kiss me, I promise to be quiet for a very long time.”

Many exchanges like this had me laughing throughout the story.

Rose is a wonderfully crafted heroine. There is no frustrating or stupid decision making, no whining that make you grit your teeth. Just a woman that works with what she has and tries to get by. This woman is not without defenses either, she has some pretty cool powers. There’s also a sweet side to this story: Rose’s relationship with her younger brothers. She was so caring always putting their needs ahead of her own. The boys as well as Rose’s grandmother were well fleshed-out secondary characters that you grow to love.

This is a first in a series but this story wraps up nicely, and the next one focuses on another secondary character. I have to say you really can’t go wrong with Ilona Andrews. So far I’ve loved everything they’ve written.

You can find this review and more at The Readers Den.(less)

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Oct 10, 2012 Tina (Martina ♥ Bookaholic) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-ebook, 2012, adult, also-for-men, fantasy, favorites, read-in-german, re-read-more-than-once

English Review:
To be honest at the beginning I had a few problems with this book. Particularly the writing style was not mine and was for me a little bit too rough and intricate. In addition all the things, with the whole magic and the different worlds like the Edge or the Weird, were complicated explained at first and too much for me to comprehend all at once, so that I’ve already dreaded the worst. The fear, that the book wouldn’t be something for me, luckily changed fast and as soon as also...more

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May 13, 2012 Filipa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: english-books, urban-fantasy, keen, 2012-reads

I really liked this book. At first I was a little confused by the description of the world but gradually I found myself understanding better and better all the details of this new world Andrews has built. My expectations were pretty high but since I have a lot of faith in this couple's writing I was certain that they could not disappoint me.
Fortunately they have once more showed me why they belong in my Top10 of best writers.
I love the way they develop these universes that work with magic. The...more

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About Ilona Andrews

Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. author2sm“Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a be...more

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Quotes from On the Edge

“Yes, I'm too mad to punish you right now. We'll talk about it when we get home. Go brush your teeth, comb your hair, put on dry clothes, and get the guns. We're going to Wal-Mart.” — 177 people liked it

“I've never created a riot before. I did cause a brawl at the last formal. A large number of young women there actually arrived with the expectation of seducing me into matrimony, and a couple of their mothers came to blows. It was hilari—I mean, dreadful. Simply dreadful.” — 147 people liked it

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