Review: Iron and Magic (The Iron Covenant #1) by Ilona Andrews

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Iron and Magic Book Cover Iron and Magic
The Iron Covenant #1
Ilona Andrews
Paranormal Romance - Urban Fantasy
Nancy Yost Literary Agency, Inc
June 26th 2018
eBook/Paperback/Audio
380
Bought

 

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.

 

Before you beginning. You need to read the Kate Danielsseries first. The Iron Covenant is a spin-off with Hugh d’Ambray, Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, & Warlord of the Builder of Towers from the Kate Daniels series. Once you do read Kate Daniels; Iron and Magic is best read after Magic Binds and before the final installment in the series, Magic Triumphs.

Now onto Iron and Magic.

I had fun with this novel. Hugh is such an interesting character. Here we see him down in the dumps. His Iron Dogs are being hunted like dogs. He’s at his lowest. If you’ve read Kate Daniels, you know that Hugh was Roland’s Warlord, until Roland took away his power and position. I loved and hated Hugh, but here I got to see deeper into the man. Here we get to see him come to terms with what he did and find out who he is. It’s self-discovery. Something he never had a chance to do when in Roland’s power.

This new life, it was just his. Hugh didn’t owe it to anyone. He was building it himself, brick by brick, one shovel of cement at a time, the same way he had built that damn moat. He was building his own castle, and for better or worse, the harpy wormed her way into his world and became its tower.Iron and Magic

Elara Harper the White Lady. She’s powerful in her own right, but it’s a power that can consume her if she is not carful. Many fear her and what she is. When we meet her it’s during a time when she needs a buffer; between her people and those seeking to take the land, the home, they have claimed.

There were two monsters in this hallway, he was one and she was the other, both of them horrible in their own ways. Iron and Magic

Elara and Hugh form an alliance with old traditions; a marriage, not of love, but of convince and necessity. The romance/love is not their yet, but you can see they are building and working towards that. They have a way’s to go and I like the direction it is taking. I’m not totally sold on the romance, but I can see it coming. They have a lot to over come, work on, and it will take time. I feel it’s good for both of them.

And yet they clashed against each other like fire and ice.Iron and Magic

What pulled me in was digging deeper into the Iron Dogs, Hugh, and Elara. I love the character building and see who these people are and what makes them tick. I also had a lot of fun with the banter; between Elara and Hugh. As always their is no shortage of action, amazing battle scenes and battle strategies. We get conflict on so many different fronts and more then one enemy to battle.

The Andrews team does a famous job of pulling you in and making their scenes and world come alive. Iron and Magic is a treat, especially for fans of the Kate Daniels series. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Rated: 4 Stars

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Challenge (2018): Try Something New

 

 

 

I'm an outdoor sun loving reader living near San Fransisco. I’m a mother, wife, animal & book lover. I'm the owner, reviewer & mind behind Angel’s Guilty Pleasures. My favorite animals are horses & dogs. As for reading I love all things paranormal & urban fantasy & my favorite shifters are dragons.

10 comments on “Review: Iron and Magic (The Iron Covenant #1) by Ilona Andrews

  1. I didn’t think I could like Hugh as a hero, but the authors did such a great job telling his story. I wonder where things will head for book two, after reading the final Kate…
    Jen recently posted…Review: Band Sinister by KJ CharlesMy Profile

    • I liked Hugh in the Kate Daniels series. I always felt their was more to him and he wasn’t all bad. It was great to finally know more and why he did that he did. I know I can’t wait to see what’s next.

  2. Excellent review angela!! Loved it!! Shared on all my socials!!????

    • Glad you enjoyed. Thank’s for sharing and visiting.

  3. oh I loved this one so much! I look forward to whatever they write next. Anne – Books of My Heart
    Northwoman recently posted…Thrifty Thursday: HoHoHoRAT EditionMy Profile

    • It was enjoyable. Not my favorite, but still great to read and I can’t wait to see where we go next ^_^!

  4. I really enjoyed this! I loved seeing this side of Hugh and the back and forth between Hugh and Elara was always a lot of fun. I think Kate & Curran’s romance was a slow build too, so there is definitely a chance for it here!
    Tanya @ Rantings of a Reading Addict recently posted…Review ~ Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly LaurenstonMy Profile

    • I did enjoy seeing a different side to Hugh and I’m glad I read it before the last book in Kate Daniels series. I’m not hooked yet on the Hugh/Elara romance, but I did like their back and forth. Thank’s for visiting!

  5. I didn’t love this one, but was glad I read it before Magic Triumphs. Doubt I’ll ever reread it.

    • I agree with you Anne. I didn’t love it, but I still enjoyed it and am glad I read before Magic Triumphs. Thank’s for visiting.