Iron and Magic (The Iron Covenant, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Dec 01, 2018 Moondance rated it really liked it

Shelves: first-in-series, favorite-author, kick-ass-heroine, ilona-andrews, kick-ass-hero, 4-stars, kate-daniels-world, hugh-d-ambray, elara-harper, warrior

"Wake up!"

This is the first book in the Iron Covenant series, a part of the Kate Daniels world. We learn how Hugh came to be a protégé of Roland. We also see his downfall and the depths of his despair. Hugh learns that his Iron Dogs are being murdered and he must step up to stop the killings. His only choice seems to be marriage to Elara Harper. Elara, known as the White Lady to her people needs protection for her lands. The marriage of convenience seems to work for both of them.

I should have re ...more

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Jul 09, 2018 ~♥*Marianna*♥~ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: paranormal-romance, urban-fantasy, five-stars

2021: Third time rereading! Still really good! Hugh is redeemed and Elara is very much perfect for him. I love how well she can read him and his reactions. She has what it takes to disturb him on a personal level and it’s amazing to watch her burrow under his skin. I can’t wait for more of them! Please hurry up with the next book!🥺🥺

Okay, I just read a review that said there was no romance and the sex scene felt off. I completely don’t agree. The romance is in how Hugh dreams about her and is yea ...more

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Jul 01, 2018 Diane ~Firefly~ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, magic, kindle, dog, shifters, vampires, uf

Wow, I am in awe of Andrews. I didn't think they could make me like Hugh as a person, much less a romantic lead. I should have never doubted them as they are amazing writers.

What I enjoyed:
* The characters -we meet Hugh's Iron Dogs and then Elara and her people and they are all interesting and puzzling
* Hugh and Elara have chemistry
* The battles
* Surprise guests - we see a few characters from Kate Daniels books show up
* (view spoiler) ...more

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Jul 25, 2019 Cee rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, apocalyptic, adult-fiction, gore-tastic

Iron and Magic is a spin-off series from the Kate Daniels books, featuring former warlord Hugh d'Ambray. Not only is he no longer in the favour of his god-like employer, a vampire master has it out for him an is trying to kill off his army.

The story heavily draws on the world that is created in the Kate Daniels books - if you haven't read those, I think the book would be confusing and filled with spoilers (including of significant character deaths). This review does not contain any spoilers tha Iron and Magic is a spin-off series from the Kate Daniels books, featuring former warlord Hugh d'Ambray. Not only is he no longer in the favour of his god-like employer, a vampire master has it out for him an is trying to kill off his army.

The story heavily draws on the world that is created in the Kate Daniels books - if you haven't read those, I think the book would be confusing and filled with spoilers (including of significant character deaths). This review does not contain any spoilers that aren't mentioned in the blurb.

Hugh is not a likeable character in any sense of the word, yet Andrews, throughout the book, manages to make Hugh a more complex and rich character that you want to improve. Instrumental in his development is Elara, a mysterious white-haired magic user, whose settlement he needs to feed his army. Hugh and Elara form an alliance, despite hating each other's guts and fighting each other at every turn.

Hugh and Elara enter into a marriage of convenience (as hinted at in the blurb) - a romantic trope which I personally love. It forces close proximity between the characters, bouncing them off each other until they finally realise they like each other for real. Yet, I wasn't sold on this romantic storyline in Iron and Magic. There seemed to be little progression in their relationship, and each time one of them would show some vulnerability, this was ignored by the other. There is a sex scene in the narrative, which I hoped would bring the characters together, but again, the sex came across as soulless and without any tenderness. Everything is a power struggle between Hugh and Elara, and it makes their romance feel "off". By the end of Iron and Magic, we have made little headway, and I'm kind of disappointed we have to wait for another instalment in the series.

There is plenty of action and fighting, yet none of it was particularly thrilling. Hugh is established as one of the most powerful characters in this universe (second perhaps only to Kate and Roland), so any threat that is thrown his way is completely obliterated in seconds. There is no true danger of him ever getting hurt - especially because he can heal himself almost instantly - and the grand obstacle is conquered way too easily.

Overall, though Iron and Magic was quite fun, because it added complexity to a character we only ever saw from a distance, it isn't as good as the main series. The writing was less focused, the references sometimes weird (why does this post-apocalyptic world have Lazyboys and Depeche Mode?), and the good parts were too few and over too soon. It also makes some very odd comments about Christianity which seemed out of place in the narrative. Recommended for fans only.

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Trigger warnings: (view spoiler) ...more

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