Ilona Andrews can't write bad. I loved this book, as all of the other books by the authors. The world building was incredible, as always and the characters just badass and hilarious.

Having not read the Kate Daniels series yet, I wasn't sure if Iron and Magic would connect for me as a reader - what luck for me that the Ilona Andrews team are better writers than to leave me hanging like that.

Hugh d'Ambray has found himself in a rough spot - and what's worse, he's dragging down his army with him. Convenience strikes in the form of Elara, giving him and his men safe haven and respite from the immediate problems plaguing them; but it turns out this might just be one of those frying pan to fire situations.

I cannot tell you how much I love a snarky villain forced into hardship that deepens the character. I really can't. Iron and Magic is probably my favourite experience of the trope so far - because he's paired with Elara, who plays absolutely beautifully off that. She says everything I always wanted to see said to that villain-type, and the sparks between them flew perfectly as a result.

The only downside, really, is that now I have to go and read an entire series so that I can make the most out of any sequel to this book. But if it's more like this - it's a duty I'm more than willing to face.

This series is shaping up to be even more enjoyable than the Kate Daniels books. I'm a sucker for character growth and watching Hugh evolve and recognize what exactly Roland had done to him was extremely satisfying. His chemistry with Elara was sizzling and watching them go head to head was a delight. I am also very intrigued to both characters secrets which were hinted at in this story. Fantastic read!

So....it took me a long time to figure out how to open this book up on my Kindle app and actually read it. It took me even longer to figure out how to reopen it, once I had closed the book to take a break from reading it!
This made me both sad and angry, because I'm not a simple person and I really was excited to read and review this book from one of my favorite authors!
This book was read over 2 years ago and I don't remember it that well now. I will reread it, and do a proper review of the book here, though it's been published for a while.

Readers of Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series know Hugh D’Ambray as the warlord for her powerful and devious father, Roland. In that role, Hugh hasn’t exactly been a good guy. When Iron and Magic opens, however, he’s a wreck of his former self, cast out by Roland for failing to bring Kate under her father’s power. Without Roland, he has no purpose, and we learn why.

For him, though, there are even worse things than being cast aside. Roland’s necromancers, the controllers of his vampire forces, are killing the Iron Dogs, the military unit Hugh formed and led. The Dogs refused to follow Roland blindly, and he can’t ignore that. They, too, have been cast out and marked for destruction. Four of them come to Hugh to ask him to pull himself together and lead them again.

For the Iron Dogs, Hugh does what he couldn’t do for his own sake alone. He pulls himself out of the gutter. He and his four centurions gather the other Dogs, who’ve lost about a fourth of their number, and forge them into a fighting unit again.

That doesn’t solve their problems, though. Without Roland’s support, they have no source of income and no base, and the leader of his vampire forces is still out to destroy them.

No one wants to do business with them since they often broke agreements on Roland’s orders. Then the centurions discover a settlement in need of protection because Roland wants their land. The settlers have ample food and resources and, perhaps best of all, a castle as a base. The settlers are led by Elara Harper, a magically gifted woman known as the White Warlock. Their group has difficulty finding allies because of something about her magic and because of betrayals of allies and other mysterious events in their past.

Joining forces seems like an obvious move, but no one else will believe either side plans to stick to the alliance because of their past failure to honor alliances. Unless outsiders consider the two groups solidly merged, both will still appear vulnerable. The solution the centurions and Elara’s people devise is a time-honored one, a marriage of convenience between Hugh and Elara.

When the two meet, they take an instant dislike to each other. Both have long been the alphas of their groups, and neither wants to yield control. At bottom, though, each realizes they need each other. They eventually hammer out an agreement and start working together. Hugh believes Roland’s forces will try to take the castle sooner or later, and he immediately begins to bolster the defenses. He also proves surprisingly helpful to Elara in negotiating the sales of the herbal remedies that support the settlement.

Meanwhile, a mysterious force is killing people in surrounding villages and taking the bodies. Hugh and Elara figure out that this is a new breed of enemy but can’t determine why they’re attacking. Facing these and other crises helps forge their two groups into one community and deepens the growing bond between Hugh and Elara.

The attraction between the pair develops slowly and under cover of bickering. When outsiders appear, the two pretend to be deeply in love to sell their alliance. Being seen as a unit opens doors for them, and each time they work together develops the trust and honest communication between them. Neither wants to admit to that trust, though, or to believe in it.

They also have to face repercussions from Hugh’s past actions, especially in regard to the Pack, the shapeshifters of Atlanta in the Kate Daniels series. His reaction to the dark legacy he hadn’t truly faced is emotionally wrenching. Elara’s concern for him, and then her trust that he will protect her people, gradually work their way through his emotional barriers, as his dedication to protecting her settlement erodes hers. When they finally come together, however, neither wants the other to know how much that night means.

This story is set in the world of the Kate Daniels series. The tie-ins to that series are used effectively and serve story purposes other than showcasing familiar characters. There’s also lots of action/adventure and enough explanation of the world to keep new readers from feeling lost.

The exploration of Hugh’s relationship with Kate, which he’d never really thought much about, adds depth to his character. Elara’s insights about that relationship also develop her character and Hugh’s unacknowledged trust in her. When the final battle comes, Hugh faces a test that has been building throughout the story, and Elara risks everything for his sake. The speech she gives before she does so reveals keen insight into his soul and is emotionally touching. It all leads to a satisfying ending even though there are unanswered story questions that promise more to come.

Iron and Magic is a perfect blend of fantasy adventure and paranormal/fantasy romance. It successfully treads the line between building the hero and heroine’s relationship and leaving room for it to grow in subsequent books. This is a great launch for a new series.

What an exciting read! For a newcomer to this particular urban fantasy world (as I haven't read the Kate Daniels series) the authors have done a great job of explaining some of the backstory of the characters without letting it bog down the spinoff tale. The worldbuilding is excellent, lots of action scenes ( a little more violent and gruesome than I'm used to in a romance but not a dealbreaker) and a very interesting couple who've forged a marriage of convenience for the sake of the people loyal to them. Can't wait to read more of Hugh and Elara's adventure!

This review has been posted at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Goodreads.

I will genuinely read anything by written by Ilona Andrews. If they throw away something they have written I am there in the bin searching (in a totally non creepy way). So of course I loved this book. Cannot wait to read what is next!

I should not have been surprised when one of my favorite authors managed to write a series about one of her bad guys and make me root for him. Great story!

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

The much awaited Hugh book!

And it delivered. Grim, brutal, surprising, efficient, clever (and yet, not entirely without light and hope), just like the character about which it was written.

"Some people in the world only saw in black and white. They were driven by fear. They had learned how to survive in their little corner of the world and they saw any change as a threat to their survival."


Am I on the unpopular opinion side when I say that I did not love Hugh D'Ambray in the main Kate Daniels series? Like, at all?

Sure, I get the allure of the smoldering look and the intense blue eyes and the huge muscular build and the barely contained violence and the crazy magic and sword skills... But I thought those were his only redeeming qualities and they were definitely not enough to make me like him. For me he was just a jerk. And an obstacle. A cruel, arrogant, dangerous obstacle to Kate, Curran and the Pack of Atlanta.

“The last time we met, he tortured me,” Ascanio said. He what? Could this get any worse? “You’re still alive,” Hugh said. “Clearly my heart wasn’t in it.”


True, he was bound to Rolland and bound to obey every order and carry out his "justice" and his punishment. But he didn't seem to mind, did he? He even seemed to take pleasure and satisfaction from his gruesome tasks and to show inventive initiatives to top it all.I read this book in preparation for the final book of the Kate Daniels and solely to make sure I didn't miss important events/characters in Magic Triumphs.

But you know the saying : "A wise man changes his mind, a fool never will".

I don't pretend being wise but I was open to changing my mind when I requested the book (Plus, who am I kidding, have I ever hated a book written by Ilona Andrews?). Iron and Magic was cleverly written, action-packed and with one of the most surprising, complex and believable character developments I've had the pleasure to read. I was completely sucked into Hugh's bloody, messed-up and dark head and world. And I enjoyed every second of it.

I won't talk about the plot or the characters, lest I spoil something for you. But I will just say that there is way, way more to Hugh and his Iron Dogs that we were lead to believe in the main Kate Daniels series. Please make sure to read this book before you read Magic Triumphs (KD, #10). Some events in MT will make much more sense and the anticipation you will feel will be highly rewarded.

Oh boy, only Ilona Andrews could make me root for a villain that I passionately wanted Curran and Kate to destroy in the Kate Daniels series. As a spinoff of Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series, Iron and Magic is the “where is he now?” story for Hugh d’Ambray, one of their worst enemies. And now, here I am sitting at the sidelines rooting for his redemption arc to unfold. He’s murdered, captured, and tortured some of my most beloved characters, but after reading Iron and Magic, I am now ALL IN for Hugh being free of Roland’s rule and Hugh creating a new life with a kickass witch named Elara.

Set up as a marriage of convenience book, Hugh and Elara do not get along. At the beginning, their chemistry is a small flickering flame fueled by loathing and angst, but by the end of the book, their flame ignites. And I am looking forward to seeing how their relationship develops throughout the series.

In Iron and Magic, Hugh often comes off as a self-adsorbed badass, but throughout the novel, he starts wearing his heart on his sleeve, portraying acts of kindness and protecting those who are unable to protect themselves. His faithful counterpart, Elara, lives by the rules but she also wants to protect her people at any cost. I love that she stands up to Hugh all the time throughout the novel. But as they are butting heads, they also start compromising and working together. Overall, I am so glad Ilona Andrews is writing this spinoff series, because I am already addicted and need more.

Aaah I finally got to finish reading this book. Life's been busy lately. Just saying, if you have not read the Kate Daniels series and specifically, [book:Magic Binds|17333174], this book might not make a huge sense. It is a spin off series based on one of the hateful characters Hugh d’Ambray who does play an important role in this KD universe.

Well, Ilona Andrews team did it again. I was debating reading this book because I do not like Hugh. I mean, the man has done despicable things most of his life and especially, been horrible to Kate. Not to mention, poor aunt B. I wasn't interested in reading about his "reasons" for being an asshole. BUT....BUT....by the time the book ended...I actually liked Hugh. The book focuses on him and after his cut off from Roland. His connection with the Iron Dogs and what he did for Roland. It definitely puts a new perspective from the other side.

<img src="https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/009/993/tumblr_m0wb2xz9Yh1r08e3p.jpg"


The book started a tad slow for me. However, once <b>Elara</b> entered the scene the pace got better. I loved the banter between the two. She is badass!! As to what or who she is I wasn't clear on that and I feel book 2 will shed more light on her character. BUT she gave Roland the jeebees too he he he. That was worth everything. Yes, the nimrod makes a cameo appearance. Read the book to find out more.

For me, both Hugh and Elara are a good match in basassery and their shady pasts. They have both suffered in their own way and together forging a new path for the future and struggling to find balance for themselves. There are some new monsters in the book as well.

I definitely recommend this book before [book:Magic Triumphs|17333180]

This book did not disappoint. I always liked Hugh and this book made me love him. He is a flawed character for sure but the best villains have both bad and good qualities. I can't wait for the next book.

I loved this book even if I am somewhat sceptical about this new couple. As I am used to having a first-person point of view with Kate Daniels, I was confused by the use of the third person. I felt much less involved in this novel and it's a pity because it has qualities! This new couple promises to explore and teach us new things about Ilona Andrews' world and I look forward to continuing to read about their adventures.

Woweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee that was AWESOME.

I feel so bad for only reading this now when I've had the ARC for a while but life happens, yknow?

Anyhooz, I still haven't read Kate Daniels, but Iron and Magic is easy to follow despite me not knowing anything about the KD world. It makes me want to read Kate Daniels even more now, but Book 1 has been on hold since forever so I don't know when I'll be able to get to it.

Hugh reminds me a bit of Connor?? but of course more ruthless and sometimes even madder in the head??? I love how he's so tired of everything and everyone, Big Mood. He's quite a character, really; it makes me even excited to read KD because I want more of him. I love how he managed the Iron Dogs, and how he was with Sam and Dierdre.

Elara is so awesome I love her so much she can step on me. WHAT IS SHE I JUST WANT TO KNOW????? I love how she doesn't let herself get bulldozed by Hugh and his alpha male tendencies. Her bickering with Hugh made my LYFE. I have so many scenes highlighted of Hugh calling her a harpy and Elara calling him an asshole. They were at each other's throats 90% of the time but when they worked together, they became a force to reckon with.

I love one (1) married power couple.

When's the next book coming out????

You may know Hugh from my much beloved Kate Daniels' series. You may love him. Maybe you hate him. Honestly, I think you're mostly meant to hate him. He's an epic asshole.

I'm drawn to epic assholes - in literature anyway. What can I say. I love him. As soon as I <em>met</em> him, I wanted to know more, before I even knew his name. I've remained intrigued and enamored. Even when I've hated what he's doing - and he's done some despicable things - I love the foil that he is for Kate. So when Ilona Andrews posted on their blog that they'd be writing Hugh's full-length book, I was overwhelmed with excitement. Here was going to be a chance to learn more about the Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, through a different lens, and with different circumstances, than we do in the main series. Then I realized it was April Fools' Day.

Luckily, for me, there was such interest and excitement - which I think probably stoked Ilona and Gordon's interest - that they ended up making good on that joke. And not only do we get one full-length novel, we're going to get (at least) THREE!

I think you probably <em>could</em> start with <em>Iron and Magic</em> as your introduction to Hugh, and the world. The question is: with 9 full-length, and a handful of novella-length, stories, why would you want to? The Kate Daniels' series gives you Hugh as he was. Having that will allow you to better understand Hugh here. <em>Iron and Magic</em> does a good job of showing and explaining why Hugh is the way he is, but ... just go read Kate.

Hugh doesn't stop being an asshole. He is who he is. I think and hope he always will be. He's not redeemed in this book. It would be impossible to do so, but there is a start here. Hugh is free, for the first time - ever. He's calling the shots, living with the consequences, and making the decisions, all on his own. It's a new experience for him. Seeing all of this, seeing him be who he actually is - asshole and all - is a true treat.

Elara is Hugh's match in every way. She's powerful - the White Warlock you may have heard of (seriously, go read Kate if you haven't already). She's snarky. She doesn't take shit from anyone. And she's probably just as tortured as Hugh is.

It's, honestly, a match made in heaven - or wherever. The snarkiness, banter, and fighting between them is one of the best parts of this book.

I was invested and intrigued throughout the story as to what was happening, what was going to happen next, and trying to figure out everything I could about everyone we meet. Ilona and Gordon are amazing at expanding the world, creating a full cast of interesting and diverse characters, and continuously making me want more.

Now, I just wait for the next one. At least I am sure it's not an April Fools' Day joke now. :)

I have never found a book by this author that I didn’t love! I always enjoy the depth of characters and humor. Their writing style is so entertaining and keeps you invested in the story. I love Ilona Andrews.

Holy smokes! Ilona Andrews has done it again! What higher praise can I give other than that they did the impossible. They took the most reviled character from the Kate Daniels world, and made him not only likable but swoon-worthy. I'm seriously in awe of their skill. It's so amusing that this book came from an April Fool's joke they played thinking no one would believe Hugh of all people could get his own romance book. And then the public outcry when it was revealed to be just a joke, hilarious! So needless to say this writing duo had their work cut out for them, and they achieved the goal masterfully. But don't worry, they didn't make Hugh a romance worthy hero by emasculating him, far from it. They just peeled back a few layers we didn't get to see through Kate's eyes AND they gave him a heroine with the ability to meet him step for step. Impressive doesn't even begin to touch this book.

What's even more impressive is the plotline and story. It would have been easy to just focus on the task of making Hugh likable, but they also gave us one heck of a storyline. I really enjoyed how the events tied into the world, and the potential overall reaching arcs for the series as a whole. Some pretty big things happen, especially at the end, and I can't wait to see how that ties into Kate's final book and future Hugh books as well.

Hat's off yet again to the fabulous writing duo, Ilona Andrews. Simply put, they nailed it with IRON AND MAGIC.

I Love this book. I was never a big fan of Hugo. But this book changed my mind. He finally seems like a real person. He cares about people. I hope more books are made about him and all the new characters.

Iron and Magic is the first book in the Iron Covenant series that is a spin-off of the Kate Daniels series. While a reader could pick up this series and start it, I feel they would be missing out on some much of the world building to this point if they didn't read the Kate Daniels books first.

Hugh d'Ambray is no longer aligned with his master/foster father Roland. Hugh really doesn't know what to do with himself initially and seems to drown his feelings in alcohol to get through each day. I felt like had Hugh's Iron Dogs not been in trouble, he probably would have continued on doing nothing. However, the loyal men and women who have always followed him needing his help finally woke him up. I have to say Hugh having concern for anyone other than himself was almost a bit of a surprise, as I've never really felt like he cared about anything but himself and Roland from what we've seen of him so far in the Kate Daniels series. He needs food and shelter for his people and has discovered just the person to help.

Elara Harper is called the White Lady by her people. She has the shelter Hugh and the Iron Dogs needs and he can provide the protection her people need. This unlikely pair and their marriage of convenience could have been the biggest cluster with two individuals who are both used to being in charge. I have to say the banter between them made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion.

I thought Iron and Magic was a good start to this spinoff series. There was much world building to be established, so the book did start out a bit slow. However, once I really was pulled into the story, I was totally hooked. I like seeing a side of Hugh I don't feel like we have ever seen before. I also loved the Elara really kept him on his toes. They really did seem absolutely perfect for one another as they each wanted to protect their people at any cost.

Elara and Hugh fought well together for a common goal, and I have to say I enjoyed learning more about Hugh in Iron and Magic, but have to say I didn't learn nearly enough about Elara. I am absolutely intrigued by her. She is such a strong woman, yet I feel some vulnerability from her as well. I only know I want to know more about her than what we saw in Iron and Magic and can't wait to see who and what she really is.

Iron and Magic left me wanting more, which I feel is a good thing for books in a series. I also wonder what parts Hugh and Elara will play in the final Kate Daniels book coming out later this month. I feel like their involvement will give more insight into future books.


Rating: 4 Stars (B)

3.5 stars. I do enjoy the side novels in the Kate Daniels universe...they add a lot to the overall story line, while giving depth to some of the supporting characters. This is no exception. Hugh is still kind of a jerk, but now he's a jerk you can have at least a little empathy for, and I'm looking forward to learning more about Elara and her people and who, exactly, they are/represent.