On the Edge by Ilona Andrews
Series: Edge (#1)
Rating: ★★★★☆
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.
2016 January Re-read:
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.
2015 January Re-read:
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:
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.
Leave a Reply