On the Edge

The Edge #1

by Ilona Andrews

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 thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn’t turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off the books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power).

But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them—or they’ll devour the Edge and everyone in it.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Magic, Adult

309 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 29, 2009

About the author

Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. 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 better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.

Reviews

[Kat Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 hand you chocolates, flowers, promises they don't intend to keep (Richelle Mead I am looking at you!)

Every now and again though, an author does something special. Something above and beyond that makes our bookish, young but strong and passionate hearts skip a beat before we say: "To hell with it! Beastiality can't be that bad!"

Or at least, I think that was the point Disney was trying to get at...

Well, this is Ilona Andrews giving us a whole library instead of a box of chocolates and a sleazy grin.

This is the story of Rose who works a minimum wage cleaning job and cares for her two young brothers with her grandmother. She lives on the Edge. There is our world which is completely normal. There is another ghost world occupying the same space in a different reality. This world is called the Weird and it is your typical "magical" world. Then there is the Edge which occupies a middle ground between the two. It is populated with crazy rednecks and people who are probably not embarrassed enough about how interrelated they are.

This Edge factor gives the novel that nice, isolated feel that you have when reading any good fairy tale. It's this world but it has it's own rules and its own ways.

On The Edge is almost not a UF/PNR (Somebody tell me the difference these days?) it's more like what I always imagined that the genre should be which is a modern day fairy tale.

It has the "prince" performing challenges to win the lady's affection, it has a modern setting but the place where our heroine lives is half magical and half plain-old batshit insane. Fights, challenges, crazy antics.

Rose is a fantastic character. She's not your badass mainstay of the genre. She has a magical ability that she has spent years cultivating but that is the only thing that separates her from others. Her main concern is putting food on the table for her brothers.

There's a lot to say about this book but I'm concerned about the drool getting on my keyboard so let's sum it up with a math puzzle.

Take the assumption that based on the Kate Daniel's series, Ilona Andrew's series trend toward getting more awesome with each book as they go. Kind of the antithesis of Richelle Mead.

By my calculations, the fourth book in this series will be so good that it will simultaneously cure all cancer and perform the best oral sex of your life.



She has an ARC...

Now if that isn't a ringing endorsement to go pick up this book, I don't know what is.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 4 out of 5]

➽ And the moral of this rerererereread is: it is a truth universally acknowledged that Ilona Andrews is the best alternative to anxiolytics and antidepressants there ever was and ever will be.



Indeed.

👋 To be continued and stuff.



[April 2020]

🔫 Of Guns and Walmarts Buddy Rererereread (OGaWBR™) with the IA Addicts 🔫

➽ And the moral of this rererereread is: why air forces of puny human countries on this planet have planes and helicopters instead of wyverns and manticores like the Weird Airforce is and forever shall be one of the greatest mysteries of the universe. I mean, wouldn't it be super extra cool to have ruthless beasts like these to transport troops and stuff:





Err...Right. That's not exactly what I had in mind, but sure. Whatever and stuff.



[September 2018]

💊 Ilona Andrews is the Only Antidepressant We’ll Ever Need Buddy Rererereread (IAitOAWENBR™) with the IA Addicts 💊

➽ And the moral of this rererereread is: YES, Declan is a smug, insufferable ass who deserves to have the murderous crustaceans slightly unleashed on him, and YES the romance in this story is tropey as fish, BUT: I want to flash white like Rose when I grow up (and slightly slice people in half) + hahahaha + Georgie and Jack Need I Say More Didn't Think So (GaJNISMDTS™) + vile creatures R Us + Grandpa Cletus getting drunk on dog brains + scumbags galore + yet another Cool IA Grandma (CIAG™) + villainous villain + “ Go brush your teeth, comb your hair, put on dry clothes, and get the guns. We're going to Wal-Mart” = time for a celebratory Broccodance!





[January 2016]

► Buddy reread with the Awesome IA Army Of Utter Awesomeness (aka the eye candy IA Addicts) starting Jan 19, 2016.

» And the moral of this reread is: why do I even bother reading books NOT written by Ilona Andrews? WHY? Because I'm an idiot, that's why.
» And the other moral of this reread is: if I hadn't already sold my soul to the Andrews, I would do it again. Hey, maybe I could sell them a few body parts, I'm pretty sure they'd like that.
» And the other, other moral of this reread is: Ilona Andrews for President.



What? Were you expecting me to write another review for this book? Hahaha, you're so naive. I love you Just kidding. There's a review for you to read right here ↓↓ So get to it. Well if I were you I'd read the book directly, not this non-review. But hey, it's your life, so go ahead and waste it any way you like. You're welcome.



[Original review]

You know you've been hit by the IA Awesomeness Express at full speed when:

① You sit down to read for 5 minutes and next thing you know 2 hours have gone by.
② You, the dark-haired aggravating male addict, find yourself swooning and sighing over a blond hunk *gasps*
③ You, the cold hearted cynic, find yourself melting whenever two little kids are mentioned *gasps again*
④ The Amazon Highlight Police tells you you've exceeded the accepted clipping limit for the book you're reading.
⑤ You read the last line of the story but need one last IA fix so you start reading the excerpt for Magic Bleeds at the end of the book. Then end up rereading Magic Bleeds until 3 a.m.

Don't fight it. There's nothing you can do about it. Just indulge while planning your next reread.

Now please stand back while I unleash the fangirl in me.



Thank you. Feeling much better now.

» Magic and mongrels and nobles, oh my!

YES, the Andrews have done it again! Who else would manage to suck you into a story with crossbows, stray dogs, cats and resurrection? Only the Andrews I tell you!

“Look at Grandpa Cletus! He’s been eating dog brains again, and now he’s drunk. It will take me half an hour to hose him off.”

Yep, that's right, Grandpa's eating dog brains he's slightly dead too, but that's another problem. But that's not all. We also have three dimensions (the Weird has magic, the Broken doesn't and the Edge is in-between), a necromancer, an irresistible lynx changeling, FOGL, gun-loaded trips to Wal-Mart (you can never be too careful), slavers, a 107-year-old Grandma who doesn't look a day older than 55, a cape-wearing, sword-wielding aristocrat straight out of a Regency novel, take-me-home-with-you-or-leave-me-the-hell-alone-challenges, a make-out bunker, a fishy shapeshifter, fainting epidemics, quite a few queen bitches, several scumbags, a very evil, slightly inhuman villain…

» Mix it all up, shake well and you get the perfect IA cocktail of magic, reality, fairytale, humour and action.

Yeah yeah yeah, I hear you. The world-building here isn't as complex and mind-blowing as in Kate Daniels. It's much lighter. So what?! This is fun! LOTS OF FUN! Oh-my-God-I can't-put this-book-down-kind-of-fun. So get over it and just stop complaining will you?



So what makes this book so freakingly amazing? Do you really have to ask? Hello?! This is Ilona Andrews we're talking about! Awesome characters? Hilarious banter? Sounds familiar? No? Okay you're hopeless, I give up.

» Characters? Here we go.

First we have Rose, our butt-kicking damsel in distress. So the girl didn't get a great start in life.

Draytons were always unlucky. Too smart and too twisted for their own good. Grandpa was a pirate and a rover. Dad was a gold digger. Grandma was stubborn like a goat and always thought she knew better than anyone else. Mom was a tramp.

Told you things weren't peachy for Rose. To make things worse her mother-the-tramp died when she was a teenager, her father abandoned her and left her to raise her much younger brothers by herself. She has too much magic for her own good (which makes her great broodmare material), a crappy and illegal cleaning lady job, several banes of her existence, and barely enough money for food and gas. But hey, it's not all bad. She might be a damsel in some distress but she sure doesn’t need to be rescued. She's pretty good with crossbows, great with guns and has the strongest magical flash in the Edge. She's tough, she's stubborn, she's loyal, she's snarky. I'm telling you the girl is cool. Very cool.

True, Declan was heartbreakingly beautiful and hypnotic to watch. But she would have even more fun when she watched that muscled back and that perfect ass recede as he walked down the path away from her house, never to return.

Well hello there, Declan. Oh I'm dreadfully sorry, my Lord. How dare I address you in such a vulgar way? Introducing Earl Declan Riel Martel Camarine, aka Lord Submarine. Blueblood aristocrat, hunk in residence and aggravating knight in shining armour. Except that his intentions aren't so pure. He might even have a hidden agenda. Or two. Can't trust anyone from the Weird anyway. Very true. Sly he can be. Exasperating too. And a total snob. A haughty one at that. He's brash too. And did I mention he was arrogant? I think I'm in love.

He grimaced. “You’re rude, vulgar, and you speak in an atrocious fashion. You’ll take so much work before you can be presentable. And you actually feel that you’re a suitable spouse for me?”

“It’s not flattery,” he said coldly. “Flattery requires exaggeration. I’m merely stating a fact. You’re a beautiful woman wearing an ugly sack of unnatural color.”

Oooh yeah, the guy knows how to sweep a girl off her feet! And you know what? He has a fertile imagination when it comes to "private activities." Irresistible I tell you! He's also good with swords, loyal, brave and great with kids. Hey, I said he could be an asshole, I never said he wasn't a prince charming of sorts. There is a BIG problem though. He has blond hair. *sighs* I think the Andrews and I need to have a serious conversation about their hunks. We can't go on like this. The worst thing is, the Andrews don't play fair. Not only do they come up with an aggravatingly yummy blond alpha male, they deem it necessary to hit you with lines like this:

“You’re the measure of my wrath.”

Seriously?! Just hit me on the head once and for all and get it over with. It would sure save me lots of swooning, sighing, fainting, panting etc. Thank you.

In typical Andrews fashion we have an amazing supporting cast: Elsie and her bears, Latoya, Peter Padrake, William, the Edge mongrels, rolling-pin wielding Grandma Eléonore (just as awesome as the other IA Grandmas). You want to know who really stole the show? Georgie and Jack, Rose's little brothers. Interacting together, or with Rose, or with Declan, or with William… Please, please can I adopt them? I want to take them home with me! I promise I'll buy them sneakers and comics and stuff!! ← Yes people, this is nefarious little me actually melting over two kids. Pretty impressive huh? Only the Andrews I tell you!!

» I'd love to wrap all this awesomeness in a blanket of addictive banter but I'm afraid this review might implode. So. Want more banter? Read this book. Ha.



· Book 2: Bayou Moon ★★★★
· Book 3: Fate's Edge ★★★★★
· Book 4: Steel's Edge ★★★★★

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I were the kind of person who DNFs books rather easily, and If I hadn't been a huge fan of the Andrews' Kate Daniels series, I would have given up on this one after Declan showed up.
He kind of pops up on her property and threatens to steal her away to be his woman.
For me to even attempt to like a story with forced marriage (or whatever he had in mind), it has to be set waaaaaaaaaay back in medieval times. But since I trusted the authors, I decided to keep reading.
And I'm glad I did.
Don't worry, there's a good (non-rapey) explanation for Declan's atrocious behavior!



The story?
Well, Rose lives in The Edge. Which, kind of reminded me of a backward swampy voodoish area.
No offense to anyone who lives in a backward swampy voodoo part of the country.



There's magic there, but not as much as there is in The Wild.
Now, the Wild is where all of the powerful magic users live. They don't have technology there, but they do have laws and a justice system. Which is more than the people in the Edge have.



And then there's The Broken.
That's where we, and the People Of Walmart live. And Walmart is almost a character in this novel because it's Rose's go-to place to shop for everything. Seriously, poor chick spends almost as much time there in this book as I do in real life.
Speaking of, would it KILL them to put a few more cashiers on during the day?! I'm not getting any younger standing in this line. It's like, 50 deep, and wrapping around into the frozen foods section!
Don't worry Walmart, those of us who are perpetually broke will continue to flock to your doors, standing side by side with the unwashed masses in order to take advantage of your unbeatable low prices. Oh, and for the prompt & friendly customer service...



Ugh. Where was I?
Ok, yes. The Broken.
Rose has the ability (like most folks who live in the Edge) to go back and forth between the two places, so she supports her two young brothers by working (under the table) in our world.
If it sucks so bad in Swampland, why don't the people who live there just head on over to the magical (and clean) Wild?
I'm glad you asked!
Most of the Edgers don't have enough magic to cross over into that...dimension, I guess you would call it.
So, they're stuck in Hillbillyville.
Anyway, Rose is trying to eek (yes, eek, not eke. She's frigging scared shitless, Tadiana) out an existence, while staying under the radar, because she has some powerful mojo that makes her a target. More specifically, unscrupulous families want her for a broodmare.
Ewww, right?
And that's where the story starts out. But there's a whole lot more to this one than just that.
A villain from the Wild is on the loose in the Edge, there's a feral shapeshifter hunting in the area, and lots of backwoods politics being played by the people in Rose's small town. Plus, she's got to come up with a way to get rid of her unwanted suitor, before he clubs her over the head and drags her back to his cave.
Except things aren't always what they seem...

If you like urban fantasy, or you're looking for something to read while you're waiting for the next Kate Daniels book to come out, give this one a shot.

[Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

2/7/18 - ON SALE for $2.99:



http://amzn.to/2fjeyMR

1/19/16: Bring on THE EDGE with my fellow addicts at IAA . B/c Ilona!

[Jilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread with the IAA group. So much better the second time around!

Original review:
I love Kate Daniels. Ilona Andrews knows how to write female characters with strong personalities and snarky humor - a winning combination in my eyes.

I love sarcastic girls!

This story is about Rose. She lives in a place called the Edge, which is in a land that sits between the two main lands in this world. One is magical, called the Weird, and the other is non-magical and like our modern world, called the Broken. The Edge is in-between and the people have some magic. It's also like the back woods of Kentucky or something because these people are serious redneck hillbillies.


the Edge Hilton

Rose has more magic than the other hicks in her world, so she is a hot commodity. Everybody wants her because she can pop out some magical babies.


She's got special eggs...

But, Rose has been burned before. She had a boyfriend whom she thought loved her, and he betrayed her by planning on kidnapping her and selling her off to the highest bidder. Worst. boyfriend. ever.

So, this guy from Weird shows up and says he wants to marry her. She's slightly skeptical, and totally not interested. She has built quite a life for herself - raising her two brothers and working as a maid, while living in squalor in hillbillyville and barely able to afford food. Why would she want to leave all of that? So, she tells this guy, Declan, that he has to complete three tests to win her and she will leave with him. She has no plan to go anywhere with this guy, so she plans on making the tests harder than the bar exam. But, she still can appreciate a good-looking a-hole when she sees one.

True, Declan was heartbreakingly beautiful and hypnotic to watch. But, she would have even more fun when she watched that muscled back and that perfect ass recede as he walked down the path away from her house, never to return.



This book is lots of fun and has many chuckle-worthy moments. Declan is definitely a good love-interest, and William is also interesting. I am looking forward to William's book.

[Navessa]

*TRIGGER WARNING: THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT RAPE CULTURE IN THE COMMENT SECTION OF THIS REVIEW*

DNF @ 70%

I just can't be arsed. Life is too short to continue to read a book I don't like.

Bullet list of complaints:
- Rape culture
- A misogynistic pseudo-alpha douche of a male lead
- A spineless doormat of a female lead
- A complete lack of believable chemistry between them
- Rape culture
- Shoddy world building
- The aggressive reinforcement of traditional gender roles
- The devaluing of a woman's worth without a man in her life
- STILL MORE RAPE CULTURE*

Maybe I'll come back to this. If I find a way to bind and gag the feminist who wouldn't stop making snide comments every few paragraphs I read.

OH WAIT, NO, THAT WAS ME.

*as it means different things to different people, see comments section for what I mean when I say "rape culture"

This review can also be found at The Book Eaters.

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sale Alert: Kindle deal 16May20 $1.99

Yes, I am reading this again....Yes, I just read this like 6 months ago....No, I am not sorry half star bump up to a solid 4 stars.

How do you make a book you enjoyed the first time you read it even better?

Easy, find a group of friends to read it with all over again. Thanks to my fellow IA lovers I'd include all your names in this review but there were about 20 of us at Ilona Andrews Addicts (IAA) for making this one of my funnest rereads of a book (The other being Burn For Me)I have had to date.



Rose: My super strong heroine I liked you even more. She is the one person that truly deserved a Prince Charming but she isn't going to make it easy one him.

“I want you to swear that you won’t attempt to molest me.”
He looked her over very slowly. “If I chose to molest you, it wouldn’t be an attempt. And you would be most enthusiastic about it.”
Rose felt heat rise to her cheeks. “On second thought, I’m not sure that my house is big enough to contain you and your ego. Few places are.

Declan: I liked you so much more this second time through. You are very much Prince Charming with a side of snarky attitude. You had me forever at

You're the measure of my wrath

Georgie and Jack: Are adorable as young brothers always looking out for each other and in desperate need a of male role model. I freaking want to take them home with me.

Well worth the reread and I look forward to the Buddy read of the next book in this series.

Original Review March 2013


3.5 Stars

Ilona Andrews seems to weave reality and magic together in a way few other authors do. In the world of the Edge you are in-between two dimensions, one that has no magic and one that is completely magic. Rose has lived in this world her whole life and is an anomaly to it. It has made her life difficult and she has learned to trust no one except for her family.

“Living in your dreams meant bitter disappointment when you woke up.”

Rose is raising her two younger brothers and that is a feat in itself as one is a changling and the other a necromancer. Despite being downtrodden and poor Rose is a remarkably likable character. She is honest, prideful and will not take advantage of those around her no matter how they have treated her in the past.

When Declan shows up, a Blueblood from the Magic dimension, Rose is sure he will be like all the others that have tried to steal her away. She doesn’t trust him but knows that her magic can’t beat his. They come to an arrangement of sorts and Declan is cleaver and finds a way to stay with Rose while he tries to win her affection.

“Our standard rate. A doubloon a day."
It was generous. More than generous--some families would put him up for a week for a single coin.
"Half a doubloon a day," she said.
"No, you see, the idea behind bargaining is that you ask for a larger amount.”

Declan has other reasons for being in the edge than just wooing Rose. He needs to find and destroy a doomsday machine his uncle is using in hopes of stealing magic.

This was packed with the humor and action you expect from an Ilona Andrews novel. While it isn’t as strong as some of the Kate Daniels series I definitely see the potential of the book in later series. It took awhile for the love interest to grow on me but in the end he was everything a hero should be. The world of the edge and the magic in it is interesting and different form their other series and I can’t wait to see what will happen in William’s story.

This was a beautiful blend of action and romance.

[Jo ★The Book Sloth★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read with the awesome gang in IAA group.

Wanna know the good thing in having a very, very bad memory? Every time you re-read a book is like reading it for the first time. I loved this book and I remembered so little of it that it was like I was reading it for the first time.

***********************************************

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 protagonists.

Rose...



Rose is such a relatable heroine. She is easy to like and gives the "girl-next-door" vibe. Does she have remarkable characteristics? Well yes, but she isn't one of a kind. She has a strong flash(the strongest in the Edge) but this doesn't help when she needs to put food to the table for herself and for her two young brothers. She is a strong heroine but unlike most of UF and PNR heroines she is responsible because she has more than herself to think about. I liked her from prologue to epilogue.

Declan...



Declan is mysterious, sexy, full of surprises. Until the last page he keeps Rose on her toes. I really would have loved to have his POV but sadly it wasn't there, although the book was written from multiple POVs. I liked the fact that he wasn't spoiled rotten despite his family's status and his positiion. He was loyal and fierce and HOT.

The whole deal between them was kind of fairytalish. He was the noble knight, she was the Cinderella(though she was no damsel-in-distress by any account), there were challenges to prove his determination to have her and... *sigh*. Words abandon me. The romance side of this book was just great and fullfilling without being sticky sweet.

The side characters...

Well, I loved them ALL. The boys, Jack and George, were so cute and adorable(and I want to adopt them), the grandmother was exactly how she should be(protective and loving), William...-*sigh again*- I loved William, I can't wait for his book. Even the "bad" people were well-written. Seriously there wasn't anyone that I thought shouldn't be there.



The story and world building...

The story was fast and full of action. What I love about I.A. books is that the romance is actually the side story and everything doesn't evolve around whether the heroes are going at it like bunnies or not.

The world I.A. has built is actually quite fresh. Was it the first time we have seen a world built in different dimensions? Nope, but Andrews has added her magic and the world is original enough that you just want to know more. Also thankfully the "rules" of how it works were actually more easily understood than it was in Kate Daniels.

So all in all if the book had any faults I just can't remember them and this is enough for me so I'm giving it a 5 wholeheartedly and already moving it to my favs self. *happy dance*

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 4 out of 5]

f you like Ilona Andrews' brand of romance-driven urban fantasy, grab this one!

4.5 stars. Rose and her two little brothers, George and Jack, ages 10 and 8, live in the Edge, a sort of halfway place between our world (which they call the Broken, since magic doesn't work there) and a parallel world called the Weird, where magical powers reign. In the Edge, magic works, but not as well as in the Weird. Most people can't pass through from one world to the other, or even sense that the other world exists, but there are exceptions, like Rose and her brothers. And Declan, the mysterious guy from the Weird who appears on Rose's doorstep, with magical powers even she can't match, and barges into their lives. Rose doesn't trust Declan an inch ... but she can't deny he's the hottest guy she's ever seen. And just maybe she'll be glad he's there, as deadly magical hounds begin appearing in the Edge and killing people.

I read this urban fantasy for the second time last night, when I really should have been reading other books, but it totally sucked me in and I couldn't help it! Not just the power of Declan (who is awesome), but there's William the shapeshifter, and George (a necromancer), and Jack (another shapeshifter), and Mamere, their French-speaking grandmother...

And how did I miss even giving it a star rating the first time I read it? But I liked it even better the second time.

Full review to come (really! I am going to get to it, sooner or later).

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ilona Andrews officially made it to my favorite authors list. WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO READ HER (THEIR) BOOOKSSS!! maybe the hideous covers.

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author, and for me this was a 4 star UF and a 5 star romance. WAY MORE ROMANCEY than the Kate Daniels, which is cool, just know that going in (but with the crazy-model-photoshop man on the cover, how could you NOT know that? And BTW, guys in real life look terrible with that haircut.)

Get past the slightly confusing first chapter and this book is really great, when you get the "deal" with the world it gets better and better, like a stone rolling downhill. I stayed up way too late to finish it.

What I particularly liked about this is that there are two kid characters I don't want to strangle for being precocious and precious, and she doesn't use them easily as a plot device, which I was dreading. Yeah the main dude is WAY TOO PERFECT, but whatever, that's why I said it was more romance than fantasy in structure. Looking forward to more!

[carol. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a fan of the Kate Daniels series, so it was a natural that I would try their other stories. On the Edge is the first book in a series of four books set around the Edge, an area that intersects the worlds of The Broken, our current world, and the world of the Weird, the magical. While it has many of the wonderful trademarks of the Andrew's writing talent, including fascinating world-building, humor, and interesting creatures, it also has a number of romance tropes. Enjoyment will depend on tolerance.

In this first book, Rose is living a hand-to-mouth existence taking care of her two younger brothers after everyone but their grandmother has died or disappeared. She's working as a maid in the Broken, trying to earn enough money to keep them fed, with gas for the car and new shoes for school. One day, a handsome noble from the Weird appears at the edge of her property. They make a bargain that if he successfully completes three tasks, Rose will come with him as a bride. Meanwhile, evil creatures are appearing in the Edge, attacking magic users. There's a new man in town who wants to date Rose and her past is continuing to haunt her.

My objections had nothing to do with the world, and everything to do with the standard romance frame of Rose as a prickly, independent and hard-headed woman with a troubled past (through no fault of her own), and the arrogant, handsome and talented man who intrudes on her life. True to romance tradition, Andrews wastes far too much word-count on his chiseled shoulders, narrow waist and aristocratic demeanor. She attempts to drive him away by being rude, he protects her family, she realizes she was making assumptions, she wins his admiration and respect with her skills and drive, vice versa, sexual entendre, twue love. It's sweetly done but the staple twist--just as she is coming to trust him--only reinforces the predictability. As a result, the characters of Rose and the romantic interest are fairly standard. I'll note, however, that they also don't use the fairly standard first-lust fast-sex scene as the climax of the book, a genre deviation I appreciated, as it allowed them to focus on the attacking conflict.

That said, other characters were well developed, and it's not every PNR that includes Grandma. The Big Evil was standard crazy but still menacing. Rose's younger brothers George and Jack were fascinating, and even better, sounded like young boys. The complicated relationship dynamics of the Edgers seemed believable. In many ways, it echoes all the things I enjoy about Kate Daniels, though it lacked the fullness developed in that series over multiple books. Those who have read that series first may find that this version is essentially Kate Daniels Lite. The HEA was predictable, but generally sweet.

Ultimately, not a bad way to spend an hour or two.

Re-read because I wanted something predictably fluffy. I forgot that even when Andrews do 'fluffy,' they do it with their own twist. Rose is desperately poor, and the story makes a point of it; when gas money goes elsewhere, the truck does not take her to work, causing economic complications down the line--just like real life. At another point, she takes mental inventory of all the food left in the house. I found myself wondering, just a bit, how much was taken from their own live; Ilona has made no secret that they went through their own economic hardships starting out.

What I didn't love is the constant referrals to Rose's mom sleeping around, and her label of 'slut,' and 'whore,' particularly challenging in a romance book. There's some clarification later, and some psychological analysis, so it is mitigated. And, I have to admit, the story does take place in a small community, and that's a label and situation that undoubtedly finds it's way into small communities, no matter how isolated. Also, as the Andrews lived in Tennessee for some time, I suspect they know of what they are describing.

There's also two really brilliant section where supporting characters have powerful emotional realizations and subsequent growth. I found myself re-reading that, rather entranced by their inclusion into what could have been a facile PNR. Above average, as always.

[Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

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On a scale of five Hidden Legacies, ON THE EDGE rates 4.5 Hidden Legacies. It is not quite up to par with Hidden Legacy but it is very, very close. One of the things I love so much about the Andrews's books is not just the world-building (although also the world-building!) but the heart. They build these huge casts of characters with complex relationships and you can just picture them so clearly in your head, like scenes from a movie. I loved Hidden Legacy because of Nevada's relationship to her family, but I think I love Rose and hers just as much-- if not more.



The world of the Edge series is really unique and interesting. There are three realms: The Weird, The Edge, and The Broken. The Weird is a fantasy realm filled with magic that is a mirror of our world. It has a similar but alternate history to ours, with different outcomes paralleling our own historical events. The Broken is our world, as we know it. No magic. Just drudgery and electricity. The Edge is the narrow band between them where anything is possible and the two worlds can commingle. The people who live there take care of their own and have a complex hierarchy of family grudges and debts to pay.



Rose Drayton has always lived on the Edge. She has a very messed up family and now she is the sole guardian for her two brothers, a shape-shifter and a necromancer. Rose is also incredibly powerful; she has the ability to flash white, in powerful bursts of magic. But because of her lowly origins, people have been trying to force her into marriage contracts or even sell her into servitude and she's had to learn to fight to keep her freedom. Which is why, when a noble from the Weird, walks into her life, Rose's first instinct is to attack first and ask questions later.



Declan is arrogant and dangerous and has magical abilities that rival her own. He claims he wants to take her as his bride and ends up forcing her into a bargain where she has to give him three "impossible" challenges to prove his worth. The challenges end up taking an interesting turn when a new threat other than Declan rears its literally ugly head: "hounds" that devour magic and people with equal fervor. The secret of the hounds is related to Declan in a mysterious way, and Rose must fight her growing attraction to Declan even as she battles the evil that threatens to consume her entire home.



So I loved this, obviously. It's nearly two in the morning and I stayed up all night to finish this book on a work night because it was SO FREAKING GOOD. Like, I don't know what I was thinking only giving this four stars the first time I read it. It's a five, easy-peasy. Rose is such a great character. She's the epitome of a butt-kicking heroine, and I loved the way she stood up for herself and her brothers, and how much they loved her in return. The romance was slow-burn and a DELIGHT. The action was cinematic in scope. The tension and the suspense were A+. And the villain was pee-in-your-pants terrifying. Literally the only flaw was that Declan didn't quite make it to my "best heroes ever" list and the final battle was a little anticlimactic. But everything else was amazing. Especially that ending.



Thank goodness I own all the other books in the series! BAYOU MOON, here I come!



4.5 stars

[Danielle The Book Huntress *Pluto is a Planet!* · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Melindam · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars

"On the Edge" is a traditional Ilona Andrews highball. It is fresh, with sweet and bitter flavours in the right proportions, guaranteed to make you feel hot despite all the ice. :)



Hanging out on the Edge - a world between an ordinary and a magic world-was an undeniable romp.
All the usual ingredients are presented, but served so well that you simply don't mind predictability, clichés or the incomplete world-building. You just quaff it all and when you get to the bottom of your glass, you just want a refill right away.

I loved Rose & Georgie & Jack (happy to see the "connection" to the Innkeeper Chronicles) and Declan.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 May 2020: $1.99 on Kindle

2016 January Re-read: Buddy read with IAA.

When I first read this book, it was my very first foray into Ilona Andrews' work. I loved it, dearly, but I did have issues with it - some that I was reminded of on this re-read. Does Declan have a reason for his actions? Sure. But they still suck. Does he make it right in the end? Yup. But some of the things said prior to then, I'm left wondering if they were part of the 'act' or just his real thoughts. I still dunno. I like Declan. I love Rose. And George and Jack are AMAZING. And I can't wait to read more about William.

23 January 2015: $2.99 on Kindle

Re-read January 2015.

I'm reminded once again, as if I needed it, why I love Ilona Andrews.

So I should actually read my previous reviews before I cross-post. I need to add some stuff here.

I did end up loving Declan, and I liked him immediately, but he pissed me off a LOT in the middle. (It makes sense in the end, but still...) All I can say is stick with him, and even if you don't love him by the end, I think you'll still be wanting to continue on - after all, future books contain different main characters.

Rose's reaction to Declan was a little irritating, too. Instead of kicking his ass from here to kingdom come, she was a little too accepting. She does come around and do some ass-kicking, but I do wish it'd been sooner rather than later.

But William. Nom nom. Must have more William (luckily his book is next).

Ahh. And I just noticed that I first read this before the Kate Daniels series....that might explain quite a bit about my initial reaction actually.

Original review cross-posted from here. Buddy read with my friends at IAA.

The world here that Ilona Andrews created is a fascinating place. Not quite our world, not quite a fantasy world, it's vivid, captivating place filled with captivating characters. I was absolutely immersed in the Edge, and loved every moment that I spent there.

Rose was a fascinating character. She's had the rose-colored glasses, pardon the pun, ripped off her face and expects the worst in everyone but family, whom she's fiercely loyal to. She's very stubborn and almost can't back down from a challenge. I admit I loved this about her. She was not about to let anyone run her life or take over for her. Rose wasn't about to give her trust to anyone that didn't deserve it, and she damn sure wasn't going to let just anyone have her heart.

Declan, I absolutely loved from the first moment that Rose tried to run him over. He was arrogant and brash, and yet at the same time he's honorable, loyal and admirable. His interactions with Rose and her family made my heart tremble. I was rooting for him to find the way past Rose's defenses from the start.

Beyond the utterly wonderful world, and vividness of Rose and Declan, there's a supporting cast of fully three-dimensional cast of secondary characters. Jack and Georgie, in particular, just hit my heart hard. I loved seeing through their point-of-views, feeling the heart-breaking burden of their gifts, the absolutely pure love they had for each other and Rose, and the disarming yearning they had for peace and happiness.

The evil that threatens Rose and all those that live in the edge is cruel and vicious, with complicated connections. I did feel that the resolution of it was a bit rushed, but I was so involved in the character's journeys that it was only after I finished that I really thought about that.

As a first time reader of Ms. Andrews, I was absolutely enchanted with the world-building, the characters, and the emotions in On the Edge. And I can't wait to go back and visit the world again with Bayou Moon which is already out.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone that enjoys Patricia Briggs and Jeaniene Frost. Ms. Andrews has a way of pulling you into the world, to the point where I was up late into the night just having to read 'one more' chapter.

[Cece ❀Rants, Raves &Reviews❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Welcome to the Edge, its basically the hood of the magical world A hidden place that exists between the magic and the mundane, where weirdos like Rose and her brothers can live and try to do their fucking best



Honestly, this was the first Illona Andrews book I've read and just felt... indifferent about

Sure the world is unique, the second characters interesting and a romance added to the general plot adventure....

But the characters don't really interact with the unique world or explain its dynamics, the plot felt sudden and pieced together, the most interesting characters are sidelined, and the love interest's pretentiousness constantly turned me off

So let's Pro Con this bitch:

This book had two key unique features that actually surprised me *which aint easy after lotta urban fantasies** First was the idea of the Edge that's a gray area between everything and allows her to have both elements in Rose’s life. And secondly, her freaking 👏🏻cute 👏🏻troublemaking 👏🏻brothers

It was such an cute adorable family element addition to a urban fantasy novel that I just adored and really added to Rose's character. Where some heroine are total loners, Rose thrives and steers her live based on what best for her fam

Rose is the older protective sister who will do ANYTHING for her brothers... including beat em up when they annoy her *hehe*

“William glanced at her. “Does your sister ground you often?”
“No. She mostly does this.” Georgie rolled his eyes in perfect imitation of her and muttered, “Why me?”



I loved these two little troublemakers, who honestly had pretty interesting storylines for secondary characters. I mean we got Georgie learning his necromancer power and Jack a cat shifter having a hard life BUT STILL LAUGH AND LOVE EACH OTHER and Rose just wants to do whats best for them

“Also, Georgie has a note from his teacher, something about stone books.”
“Stone books?” Rose frowned.
“Yes. I think he needs one made of marble.”
“Marble composition book,” Rose guessed.”

Actually the more I think about it, I think I preferred Georgie and Jack’s stories and POV, more than the romance of the novel... I mean seriously the scenes of her trying to control these little fuckers with amazing powers but limited knowledge was hIlArIoUs!

And now how to describe Declan our love interest? With a series of gifs + quotes!

Be forewarned, the romance was a *slow slow slow slow slow burn*



I'm talking, like over 50% of the book done and bitches aint even KISSED yet. They go from hate to whoa slow the fuck down to tolerating each other to sass to maybe somethings to... okay yeah you get it *eye roll*

He was exactly what you expected of a blueblood noble, with his borderline snobbish behavior. Sometimes he would act like a total DICK, then get all mad when his honor is questioned wtf

“I gave you no reason to believe that I’ll abandon you. Or murder the children and leave them on the side of the road. Really, that was priceless. I was a bit put out.”



I can see the trope that the author was going for... but babe I wasn't really buying it. She was too hard and focused only on family. He was too focused on appearances. Together they made... a psychotic love match

“When you beat him bloody today, it was glorious.”
The hard line of his mouth relaxed slightly. “Glorious?” he said.
She nodded. “I’ll cherish the memory of him rolling around in his own puke for the rest of my life”

But it's Illona Andrews you gotta read it *duhhhhhh*

[Choko · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 4.40 ***

A buddy read with my friends at the Ilona Andrews Addicts

I have come to realize that I take IA's writing for granted. It happens like that. You read enough works from a favorite author and you develop an expectation, a knowledge that once you delve into the pages of their books, nothing could possibly go wrong.

It had been a while since I read a work by the Gordons and I had forgotten about the pure, natural immersion in the world of magic they allow their readers. You are 20% in and not once were you bogged down with info dumps or overwhelmed by surplus descriptions! Not once were you lectured on the world, or lost in a labyrinth of confusion of how this magical world works. You read a page and you just find yourself a part of the story, the world is part of your life, and the characters, family... Voala! Nothing to it, right? Well if this is so easy, why don't all authors do it??? Why do we spend time reading tons of volumes looking for that same ease and make excuses for works which show a fraction of the magic we take as a given in IA's writing??? Because they craft their art so seemingly effortlessly, that we forget to stand still for a bit and acknowledge their mastery of storytelling!!!

There are many reviews which give a better view of the contents of this book and I don't want to get into it here. After all, there are many more books of theirs that I can be more specific with. At this moment I just want to stop, take deep breaths, and basque in the talent that are Ilona Andrews! And thank them, for giving us books to which we can return when we are in need of feeling like we are safely back home! For some that might be something they can find easily, but for me, this elusive feeling is the Holy Grail, and I cherish it beyond measure...

Thanks again for the cozy buddy read with the IAA group and I wish all could find their way to the magical works of this author! Happy reading!

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/



I have avoided this author duo for eternity in fear of upsetting the fanbase. I mean, you gotta admit the love for this husband and wife writing team does to tend to go a bit toward the . . . . .



rabid side at times.

But I finally broke down because this was a recommendation for the library’s summer reading program and would get me one step closer to obtaining free shit – which sadly rates higher than all of my friends’ recommendations due to the fact that I am trash.

And speaking of . . . .

“Go brush your teeth, comb your hair, put on dry clothes, and get the guns. We’re going to Wal-Mart”

Uhhhhhhhh . . . .



You had me at the Wal-Mart. Why the eff didn’t anyone say “please ignore that cover, I am well aware that it is fug, but note that this is all about trailer parks and white trash and everything that makes you, you so you’re probably gonna like it and just STFU and read it already.”

Or that the dang thing opens with meeting Grandaddy in the backyard who might just be a little . . . .



Everyone was right about this book. Magic, a handsome nobleman, a mystery to solve. What’s not to like? I’m not sure when/if I’ll read more of the series after falling down the Sookie Stackhouse rabbit hole a million years ago only to suffer a severe disappoint that kind of turned me off reading anything past first books, but this was a fun start and there’s a solid chance I might break my own rule.

[Rachel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

“Rumors said that if he got drunk enough, he sometimes got his jollies by stripping naked and scaring hikers out in the Broken into thinking he was Bigfoot.”

I really enjoyed this book! On the Edge is about Rose, a young woman raising her two younger brothers in a world “on the edge” of the broken (aka our world) and the weird. Strange creatures keep popping up in the edge leading Rose to team up with a stranger from the “weird” to save the edge community.

“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.”

I was completely absorbed into this book. I listened to the audiobook and it was an effortless experience, I didn’t tune out on accident at all and it captivated my attention from beginning to end. I love Ilona Andrews and how excellent they are at worldbuilding. I kept thinking to myself, how do they come up with these ideas?? I never could (which is why I am a reader and a reviewer, not an author).

An excellent urban fantasy novel, I cannot wait to dive into the rest of the series. Ilona Andrews is an author duo I have come to count on for amazing original content.

“Give me a few minutes.”
“You have time.” He sat in the grass.
“Are you just going to sit there and watch me?”
“Yes. Watching pretty peasant girls is what we poor little rich boys do best.”
“Peasant?”
He shrugged. “You started the name calling.”


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[Lisa Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★ 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 start over at the beginning when I was on Chapter nine and re-read, just pick and choose sections to double check, or continue on because it was getting so delicious? I started completely over and loved every minute of it – picking up nuances about these parallel fantasy worlds and characters’ quirks I loved. Now I’m reading it all over again

White Light by Hengki Koentjoro
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[Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ilona Andrews strikes again!! I’ve fangirled so hard lately for these authors that I’ll keep this one brief. On the Edge was an excellent first book in the Edge series and there wasn’t a single thing I didn’t like about it. The concept was unique (where the Edge is a strip of land between conflicting worlds), the magic system was fun (different types of magic from shapeshifting to reanimation), the characters were a delight (as always), and the plot was fast paced and exciting. I found myself addictively drawn to this story, and I love it when a book can compel me to choose it over other things. Some plot elements took a while to get me fully on board, but once they did I was sold.

I recognize that Ilona Andrews books all have similar components, but that doesn’t seem to be bothering me. The things they repeat are the things I love the most (fantastic argument scenes, great somewhat cheeky side characters, a rich albeit cranky love interest). While repeating elements might be a criticism for any other author(s), in this case it’s one of the things I love most about them – I always know what I’m in for when I pick up one of their works and they’re perfect for when I’m craving the exact brand of what they’re offering.

Overall, On the Edge was a success, and I’m especially excited to see where the story goes next because it has only just scratched the surface of all the fun world building elements thus far.

Series status: this first book was so good, it launched the second to the top of my priority list.

Recommendations: On the Edge was a delightful read, and I recommend it for both urban fantasy and paranormal romance readers. Admittedly I might be looking at this book through the rose-colored glasses I received for joining the Ilona Andrews Die-Hard fan club (not a real thing), because at this point it feels like they can do no wrong. So while I can’t promise you’ll love it as much as I did, I can for sure guarantee it’s a fun read. :)

Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com

Other books you might like:

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buddy Read with Ilona Andrews Addicts (IAA)!

“You are the measure of my wrath.”

Okay, first I need to address the elephant in the room! I originally wanted to read these books, because while reading Sweep in Peace my friends kept telling me about the crossover of characters from this book. No big deal, I marked it in my notes and figured I'd read this series eventually. Then, at the perfect time Ilona Andrews Addicts (IAA) decided to do a buddy read! So I'm reading this, and completely loving it, and by the end I'm like, "Man, I really love Jack, he's like my favorite in this book!" Then I finish and I'm like, "Where was that crossover everyone was talking about?" Finally, I look at my notes and almost faint! I didn't even take into account that the crossover characters could have aged! And apparently, I didn't look at the names in the notes very well. Seriously, I was at a loss for words! And now I have to read on and find out about Gaston and Lark/Sophie.

Okay, enough fangirling. This story is about the Edge, which is where the Weird and the Broken touch. The Weird has magic, and the Broken does not. They are mirrors, or parallel universes, to each other. So essentially, the people that live in the Edge are between worlds.

Edgers have a magical "flash", which is a very powerful magic whip that varies on potency with not only your practice, but also your bloodline. The more white your flash is, the better it is. There is a vast array of colors, but I know white is the best, blue and green are second, and red is the worst. The main character of this book, Rose, surprises everyone when she is able to flash white. Not only are they surprised because she's always been looked over as nothing special, but because this must mean she has royalty in her bloodline. One would think this is a good thing, but it truly is a curse, because now people see how valuable she really is! So now they want to breed her, marry her off then breed her, or sell her off to be bred. This did remind me a little of Storm Born by Richelle Mead, but it's also my favorite Richelle Mead series, so whatever.

Rose is also taking care of her two younger brothers that I was fangirling over earlier. Georgie is a necromancer that doesn't fully understand his power. He also has a very hard time letting things die, so he's constantly resurrecting them, but at a price. Then we have Jack, who is an Edge Lynx! Aka: an adorable cat shifter! Georgie is only ten, and Jack is only eight, but their unconditional love (for each other, and their sister) was really heartwarming, and maybe the best thing about this book.

Rose and her brothers have had a hard life. Their mother passed away, but not before completely tarnishing their reputation. Their father also left them high and dry to find treasure. All they have left is their Grandmother who is one of the six elders in the town. None of them have any money, so Rose is doing her best, working minimum wage jobs and getting treated very poorly. Rose is a really strong female lead, but people treat her pretty shitty in this book, and she is unable to do anything about it (even though she is more powerful than any of them), because everything in the Edge has a repercussion. The Edge has no real law enforcement, so the families just do whatever retaliation they see fit. Rose cares too much about not being able to put food on the table for her bothers, to start a rift between the other people of the Edge.

Rose is just barely getting by, while making the best of the situation for her little brothers, until a powerful nobleman comes to her door named Declan. Rose immediately thinks he is after her for breeding purposes and that she can scare him off, but soon realizes that he is even more powerful than her. They make an arrangement that he has to complete three tasks for her, and if he is able to do so, then she has to come, willingly, with him.

While all of this is going on, someone (well, technically two people) from Declan's past is also in the Edge, and is making quite a few problems for the townsfolk. This villain is making magical hounds that want to eat magic; whether it is spells, or just human bodies that contain magic. After this information comes to light, it's a battle between Rose, Declan, and the townspeople versus this evil sorcerer. Rose soon discovers that Declan is worthy of her trust, and it has nothing to do with the tasks he is completing for her. Declan isn't likable right away (far from it), but by the end I really came around to him, and cannot wait to start the second book in this series. Oh my gosh, I loved Declan's Mom at the end of this book, too!

The sole reason I didn't give this five stars was because the William situations with Rose made me uncomfortable. Like, why was he at Wal-Mart, and why did he so badly want to date Rose out of nowhere? They legitimately only shared a few words, but he seemed appalled that she wouldn't go out with him. Then, he kept trying and kept asking. It's like, dude, she told you no. Get out of her life. I understand the convenient twist at the end made the situation more acceptable, but I couldn't get passed the awkwardness and unnecessariness of William and Rose's meeting. Couldn't she of just spotted the wolf a few places and felt compelled to learn more? Then when the twists came out she could have been like, "Oh my gosh, I've been seeing that wolf everywhere lately!"

I'm still convinced that Ilona and Gordon cannot write a bad book. This writing duo is seriously at the top of their genre, and not even a single writer comes close. They are consistently delivering me (and my Kindle) great stories that are unique. I will auto-buy and read everything by them, at this point in my life.

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[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Go brush your teeth, comb your hair, put on dry clothes, and get the guns. We're going to Wal-Mart.”

After living the Kate Daniels series (of course), being charmed by the Innkeeper series, and falling head over heels for Burn for Me, I was in a mood for another Ilona Andrews series. Unfortunately On the Edge didn't win as much loyalty.

Cue a unique magic world, which seems to the be the author's specialty - different areas of magic that shift if you leave them, and value measured by "white light" or something. It's a little confusing. Rose takes care of her younger brothers while fending off suitors over the years who wanted to kidnap her - and worse - when she revealed abilities. She's not pleased when a powerful blueblood shows up on her doorstep, determined to carry her off as her new wife.

Writing style is of course great. There's humor, fun banter with dialogue, and the characters are basically likable. Rose took awhile to grow on me - while she has legit reasons to have a massive boulder on her shoulder trying my patience, it was annoying to deal with for awhile. Declan has some humor but he doesn't hold the playful, genuine alpha feel of Curran nor the magic of Rogan. Their relationship held spark but it wasn't something I was as invested in.

The villain of the story was a creepy thing. Challenging and horror-filled monsters, and I was intrigued by the side players as much as the main characters. I grew impatient with some of the action later on, but the ending was super sweet.

Overall the book is just average. And yikes, I really said that.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. Rose's two brothers, George and Jack, are probably the best children characters I've ever come across in a work of adult fiction. You get to see the world through their POV and it's really refreshing. I thought all the secondary characters were really great too, but the villain was kind of underdeveloped - I thought his minions were scarier.

In a world where every paranormal romance book is about vampires, werewolves, or fairies, it's nice to read something that it so different. And this is definitely paranormal romance and way hotter than the Kate Daniels series.

This was probably one of my favorite books I've read all year and I can't wait for the next installment!

[Liz* Fashionably Late · Rating 4 out of 5]

IA knows how to do it so one should wonder, why is it that I haven't read this series yet?



So, as a Kate Daniels fangirl, my brain was annoying me comparing the first books of both series (and just the first because nothing compares to KD awesomeness) and thinking:

✎ When it comes to world building, Kate Daniels wins the prize.

✎ But when it comes to characters and their dynamics, The Edge takes it home.

Oh, come on, don't gasp. Curran/Kate is awesome in the next installments but can we talk a minute about the secondary characters in this book? AMAZING. Jack and George are one of the best children characters I've read in the genre. Jack specially with his "knife, knife, knife" scene. It really reminded me of:



This one is solid. And yet, I can't give it five stars.



I couldn't enjoy the relationship between Rose and Declan because he was with her under a false premise: to make little Declans D: so every time I read banter between them, my brain was screaming DANGER, damn it!

Of course, IA was playing with me. Not only he wasn't a pervert but we learn he's the real deal. Ladies love him, wanna marry him... Which reminds me: how many men wanted to get into Rose's pants? hmm, lets see:
⇢ Lord Submarine
⇢ Wolfie Willie (I actually feel sorry for him)
⇢ Creepy Rob
⇢ Douchebag ex-boyfriend.

Geez. No wonder this two are perfect for each other. They're the most desirable thing in one dimension and the other!

Anyways, when his real intentions were finally on the table, I didn't know what to trust. I had to reread some scenes with this new data in mind. By the time I finished it, and without realizing it, I was a shipper. Not a mama Duchess shipper, but still.

"Did you see that?" the Duchess yelled. "He rescued her from us. This wedding is on!"

I should roll my eyes here at the blatant cheesiness of this moment, but no, I grin like an imbecile.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buddy Read with the fabulous Ilona Andrews Addicts Group!

Discussion Thread

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.

4 Stars!

When a group of friends on Goodreads decided to read this book together, I knew that I had to join in on the fun. I am a huge fan of Ilona Andrews. I read this book a couple of years ago and enjoyed but but for some reason never picked up the rest of the books in the series. This seemed like a perfect opportunity to refresh my memory of this book and jump into the rest of the series.

As I read this book, I could not help but think about the things that the writing team of Gordon and Ilona Andrews do consistently well so I thought I would touch on these things in this review:

Excellent world building
The Edge is something completely different than I have ever read. In this world, there are three main divisions: the Broken, the Weird, and the Edge. The Broken would be our world-full of WalMarts, Burger Kings, and people who don't know about the existence of any other world. The Weird is a magical world with fewer people and less technology. The Edge is the point between the two worlds-magic and few people who self govern themselves.

Tough main characters
Rose is no damsel in distress. She doesn't expect anyone to take care of her or her brothers. She does what needs to be done without complaint. She helps out whenever she can despite the fact that others have tried to use her. I love the fact that Rose thinks fast under pressure and is incredibly tough. She doesn't look for a fight but she is not one to back away from one when necessary.

Swoon worthy male leads
First things first-Declan is no Curran and he is no Mad Rogan. He is still a very good male lead. He doesn't hesitate to put himself in danger to protect Rose and her family and friends. Declan became more and more likable for me as the story progress and by the end of the story I was sold. Something about Declan early in the book seemed almost a bit cartoonish but the more I learned about him the more real he became.

Excellent banter
What would a Ilona Andrews book be without the trademark banter? The interactions between the two main characters is extraordinary. I love how they are able to work some humor into every story usually through the character dialog.

Just the right amount of action
This book has no shortage of action. The last part of the book is almost non-stop. There are also the quieter times where we get to really know the characters. By the end of the book, I knew how much the fight meant to everyone involved. The pacing of the book was excellent.

I liked lots of other things in this book. Rose's brothers, Jack and Georgie, were amazing. These two kids were truly unique and amazing characters and ended up being one of the main strengths of the book. I loved that the characters in this book spent time doing such normal things. They went to Burger King and made several trips to WalMart. These are things that most people can relate to although most of us don't start riots because of our attractiveness at any of these locations.

I would highly recommend this book to others. I do think that this book would appeal to fans of paranormal romance. The romance aspect seemed to be a much larger focus than in other Ilona Andrews works. I enjoy romance so that wasn't an issue for me but it may be for other readers. I can't wait to start on the next book in this series.

[Maria Dimitrova · Rating 5 out of 5]

First reread: June 2018.

Sometimes you just need something familiar when RL gets too hectic. And since I'm on a IA wavelength lately thanks to numerous rereads at the Ilona Andrews Addicts I decided to stick with it and go for the Edge. Besides i had planned to reread it as buddy read earlier this year but RL managed to get in the way. And so when I found myself stuck making figures for my thesis I just put this on (thank God for audiobooks!) and immersed myself back into this fascinating world.

I love Rose and the boys. They're just this perfect in its imperfection little family. They have this sibling's love for each other that you know is the right kind but is so rarely seen in the real world. In the few times I've daydreamed of having siblings this is the type of relationship I envisioned. Of course as the firstborn I was Rose - the brave, dedicated older sister that does her best to guide her younger siblings through life. She's simply put amazing. Few people her age would do what she'd done for her family. Especially considering the "shining" examples she's had from her parents.

Her counterpart in this adventure is a noble from the Weird named Declan. The first time I read this book it took me awhile to warm up to him but now I found myself a lot more critical. He's an asshole. Sure, things work out in the end but the amount of stress he caused Rose with his "let the asume whatever they want" approach really bugged me. He's an entitled prick. Thankfully he mostly improves by the end of the book but I'm still more than a little pissed off. And I'm mostly pissed off at myself for not seeing how much of an ass he is when I first read the book.

Original review:>
A few weeks ago I finally started the Kate Daniels series and when I finished it I was left wondering what to do with my life. Thankfully my lovely wife Sarah recommened I continue with the IA theme and read The Edge.

I'm amazed at the ability of IA to create new and exciting worlds. This series is no exception and I fell in love with the edge from the start. It's a really weird place between worlds. On one side you have our world with it's distinct lack of magic (and called the Broken as a result) and on the other there's the Weird and believe me with all the crazy magic in it the name fits like a glove! The denizens of the Edge are hard people and it's every family on their own. The Draytons are one of those families and they have it harder than many others. Rose, the MC, works very hard to feed her brothers and on top of that has to fend off constant attacks because of a mistake she made as a teen. We were all teenagers once and we all have done remarkably stupid things in attempt to impress/rub the noses of our fellow classmates. Especially if those classmates were assholes. Despite having an awful existence Rose is a great person, a loving sister and granddaughter and a responsible neighbor. A bit on the paranoid side but that's only to be expected if people have repeatedly tried to kidnap you and sell you for a broodmare. So when a blueblood noble from the Weird showed up on her doorstep one day she was less than welcoming :D That scene was just perfect! I loved every word of it!

At first Declan, the blueblood, struck me as a major jackass but the inconsistencies between his words and actions soon led me to believe that there's more to him than what appears on the surface. Soon I was rooting for him with all my heart and when he showed his true self I was overjoyed. I felt bad at times for all the burning hoops he had to jump through to get Rose to trust him but it was too entertaining to really pity him. That's what dedication looks like :)

While I really liked both Rose and Declan, Jack and George, Rose's brothers were the ones who stole my heart. They're just so adorable, especially Jack. Brave and smart those two will be trouble once they grow up and I hope we'll have a chance to see more of them.

This new world is rich and layered and there's still a hell of a lot to explore so I'm off to do just that.

[Anna [Bran. San. Stan] · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had Kate Daniels withdrawal so I dove right back into another Ilona Andrews UF world. I must say I enjoyed the world building a lot - our "regular“ old planet (where magic is "broken"), the Weird (where magic and a blueblood aristo-/meritocracy reigns) and the eponymous Edge (a "bridge" wedged in between the two dimensions) - but the plot left me a bit underwhelmed. The world building, the characters and the similarities to Kate Daniels (shape changers, remote-controlled undead, the contrast between magic and non-magic situations, a cat 😍 etc.) made up for that though!

From what I understand, each of the four novels have different viewpoint characters so I was a bit hesitant to get too attached to our Edge mage Rose (h), her little brother Jack, who turns into an adorable lynx kitten, and her brother George, who can use his life energy to resurrect the dead, and finally Declan (H), Earl of Carmarine from the Weird.

Ultimately, I’m mostly reading this series because someone recommended doing so before reading the Innkeeper Chronicles and that’s what I really want to get into - I’m always hooked when there is a GraphicAudio production.

I’m happy to say I still enjoyed this on its own merit and I’m quite looking forward to reading the other books.

[Maria V. Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!! The main character is my favorite type of character - a strong willed, stubborn, protective and smart lady named Rose, the main guy character is also my favorite - strong, silent, and a mystery. The fantasy world and magic system is very unique and utterly fascinating - I enjoyed every bit of this book. The beginning is a little heavy on the world building details and backstory - and it took me a while to get used to the reader since I had just listened to another audio book and it's always jarring when switching over. But once that first chapter ended, I was hooked and even listened at night (instead of reading - which never happened before!).

Yes, I will be ordering the next one - hopefully it will be on audible as well! Oh and if you liked POISON STUDY then you'll like this one - the characters reminded me of Yelena and Valek.