Iron and Magic
Author: Ilona Andrews
Release Date: June 26, 2018
Publisher: Self-Published
The Iron Covenant Book #1
ASIN: B07CZ39YYV
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: NetGalley
No day is ordinary in a world where Technology and Magic compete for supremacy…But no matter which force is winning, in the apocalypse, a sword will always work.
Hugh d’Ambray, Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Warlord of the Builder of Towers, served only one man. Now his immortal, nearly omnipotent master has cast him aside. Hugh is a shadow of the warrior he was, but when he learns that the Iron Dogs, soldiers who would follow him anywhere, are being hunted down and murdered, he must make a choice: to fade away or to be the leader he was born to be. Hugh knows he must carve a new place for himself and his people, but they have no money, no shelter, and no food, and the necromancers are coming. Fast.
Elara Harper is a creature who should not exist. Her enemies call her Abomination; her people call her White Lady. Tasked with their protection, she's trapped between the magical heavyweights about to collide and plunge the state of Kentucky into a war that humans have no power to stop. Desperate to shield her people and their simple way of life, she would accept help from the devil himself—and Hugh d’Ambray might qualify.
Hugh needs a base, Elara needs soldiers. Both are infamous for betraying their allies, so how can they create a believable alliance to meet the challenge of their enemies?
As the prophet says: “It is better to marry than to burn.”
Hugh and Elara may do both.
I LOVE Kate Daniels and I love everything Ilona Andrews, but I was scared to read IRON AND MAGIC because I just couldn't imagine that Ilona Andrews could make me like Hugh enough to read a whole book about him. I was wrong. I enjoyed every single moment, and I see Hugh in a whole new light.
We already know the overall world, but we now get to see a different slice than we're used to. Hugh is a giant mess when we start IRON AND MAGIC. He has always been a bit of a dark character, but we see him at his lowest and watch him grow into a man he can start to be proud of. Elara is a bit of a mystery, but she has a strong following of people that look to her for protection. It takes a while to really find out about her, but there wasn't one point in the book that I didn't like her.
Hugh and Elara are anything but a happy couple. You can feel their attraction, but they will do anything to hide it and make each other miserable. They bicker and banter constantly, but it was pure entertainment. Things develop slowly, but they are definitely moving in a good direction.
I enjoyed getting to know the side characters. The Iron Dogs and Elara's people mixed well together and it was neat seeing them work together towards common goals. We also get a visit from some familiar faces and I can't wait to see more familiar faces come together in future books.
I'm excited to see Hugh and Elara grow as allies and partners and I'm excited to see what Kate and Hugh can do on the same side against Kate's dad.
I gave it 4/5 stars
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
