Love it! Another IA classic in the Kate Daniels world. It can be read independently, but spoiler alert for KD, so it is best read in sequence.
As always, IA eloquently paints pictures in our minds and draws the reader into the story and I couldn’t stop reading.
Hugh is such an interesting character that we loved to hate. Now we see how he wakes up from being brainwashed from childhood on and discovers what he wants to stand for and also has to deal with the fallout from his past. Elara is one cool and interesting lady, wrapped in mystery and old power. There are twists, turns and a lot of steam and quite a few open questions at the end, so I hope to read more about these two in the future.

Action-packed and romantic, Iron and Magic is a perfect addition to the Kate Daniels world. Can’t wait for more of these characters.

A decent intro to the series, and I will still read all Ilona Andrews, but not as good as their usual - I love their new Hidden Legacy series from the beginning and the Kate Daniels series is still strong.
Going in to it, I was worried how they were going to redeem Hugh - and while there was a bit of back tracking, it wasn't nearly as much as I was expecting and he didn't suddenly turn in to a completely different character by becoming the hero.
I would have liked more explanations - there's no real explanation of the heroine's powers, her people, their conflict, or the mrog villains. I will definitely read the rest of the series, but would have liked more resolution in this book.

If you've read the Kate Daniel's books, you probably have very strong feelings about Hugh D'Ambray. Iron and Magic flips all of that upside down.
Hugh’s struggling to find his footing without Roland and save his people. He has an army of Iron Dogs with no resources and Elara Harper has resources and people that need protection. They put aside their hatred of each other to solidify their alliance through marriage. Cue the violence and comedy.
It was really interesting to get a glimpse into Hughs thoughts, it explains so much of his behavior. He’s done terrible things that he can’t take back, but seeing him deal with the repercussion's is a bit heartbreaking.
Elara is a breath of fresh air. She’s compassionate and sweet, but if she’s threatened she has no problem sinking to Hugh’s levels if that means safety.
Elara and Hugh's interactions are the best parts of the book. I laughed out loud way more than I thought I would with such a dark story. They're both hilarious and well suited to get on each other's last nerve. Between the sarcasm and sexual tension, you can't help but fall in love with this story.
If you’ve read the Kate Daniels books or if you’re new to this world, by the end of Iron and Magic you won't be able to stop yourself from rooting for Hugh and Elara.

This is a must read book. Buy it now. Ilona Andrews bursts into a new series with bloody savagery. Full disclosure, I was ambivalent about reading this book. I was not a fan of Hugh. He is this deadly weapon who just did what he was told. His constant attacks on Kate grew tiresome. To my surprise, Ilona Andrews wrote Hugh as the main character. Not only is he a main character, he finds a woman to possibly love. What is this tomfoolery? The fact that this book came from an April Fool's joke leaves me speechless. I digress. This book can be read as a standalone. However, it is best to read the Kate Daniel series to fully appreciate the character cameos and history of how Hugh fell so hard.

This book is amazing. Hugh is a villain. Or at least he is painted this way and he's known as a butcher. This story starts with Hugh at his lowest. He just wants to die. This is to be expected because Hugh's never been his own person for decades. As an ancillary to Roland, when Hugh's cut off, he is aimless. Some can claim he is lifeless. His life has no meaning since his god has not only abandoned him but completely shunned him. When the center of your universe is wiped out, how does a person survive? Not well.

Within the first chapter, I'm already switching sides and feeling badly for Hugh. As the second chapter progresses, I'm heartbroken. By the time Hugh comes to his realization about some harsh truths regarding his relationship with Kate, I'm tearing up. Hugh is an anti-hero on an epic journey of redemption. Make no mistakes, it has to be epic to overcome all the brutal destruction he has perpetrated. This first book is a good start. How does he start? He saves his remaining Iron Dogs and finds a home for them.

This is where Elara and her people come in. They are a resource rich settlement that needs a large military force to defend them. Both Elara and Hugh come into this partnership with baggage and demands. Neither one wants to share their secrets. I think Elara has more secrets than Hugh and I can not wait for hers to be revealed because what little has been shown has been mind blowing. I love Elara. She is a ruthlessly compassionate. This is perfectly matched with Hugh's effortless killing. They are so compatible with each other it is kind of awe inspiring. Their hostile mating dance is amusing because both of them are able to cut the other so deeply if they tried.

Romance and a rather graphic sexual scene aside, I loved the fortifying of defenses. There is something so appealing to me when I read a book focused on building defenses and working out offensive plans. My adrenaline starts pumping and I get all excited about how to out smart the enemy. Watching two very different groups coming together to defend their home as well as attack invaders is thrilling. Ilona Andrews excels in the vivid fighting scenes. I can visualize every fight and it is glorious. I even want to howl and join in the battle. What I liked about the fighting is that there is loss on the good side too. Whilst there is magic in the book, it does not mean everyone on the good side survives unscathed. This realism makes the story invokes more emotion and I feel more. I love when stories give me the feels. And all too soon, the story comes to an end. There are several subplots that are started in this book and will most likely continue or be completed in the next. I can not wait. So much happened in this story and yet I am still craving more. Like an addict, I'm hooked and antsy for my next hit.

There is one thing that kept catching my attention. I think my AP high school English teacher would be surprised that I remembered her teachings. There is a recurring motif tying throughout this story. It puzzles me and it is nudging me on the edge of my mind because it feels like it is something important. Yet I can't quite make sense of it yet. I feel like I'm missing the bigger picture because I can't decipher the recurring white theme. Is the white a symbolic representation that brutal monsters may not be evil and that they are a necessary evil? Something to think more about.

My final thoughts on this amazing story is that the dialogue is still sharp and cutting. I couldn't help myself with this slightly redacted monologue.

"You're replaceable. One day one of your helpers will kill you and take your place, and [redacted] won't blink an eye while [redacted] is one of a kind. Oh and his dick is bigger than yours"

This book is highly recommended for urban fantasy readers who love antiheroes finding meaning to life again.

I just have to say this IS SUCH A GOOD BOOK!!!!!! IT it's everything I hoped it would be, the fighting scenes are amazing, the sex scene was really hot, and finally I have an Ilona Andrews book I can shove at male sci-fi and fantasy readers without fear that they'll think it's "girl fantasy." (What can I say? Some readers are dumb.)

Worth every moment of reading...and every penny of the ridiculously low fee they're charging for it when it comes out.

It almost makes me want to go mark down all my other reviews because this book is so good it blows most of my other five star reviews out of the water.

To sum up: it's really good. You'll enjoy it.

This book was easily one of the best Ilona Andrews I've ever read.

A little background - I've been reading IA for about 4 years now. From both the Kate Daniels and Hidden Legacy books, I know generally what to expect when I open one of these - well thought out and factual fight scenes, thorough characters, and a meaty story arc.

This book was all that and more. IA's love of fantasy, mythology, and weaponry were out in full force and it made the story that much more immersive. The writing was flawless for the story line - I felt like I was there with the characters and this feeling wasn't deterred by the use of magic in the story. In fact, all of the elements served to make the book so captivating I read it in one sitting - it took me about 6 hours to read!!

More specifically, while I have read Kate Daniels on and off, I don't think I've read the complete series and yet I still got enough out of the book for me to understand what was going on, so I would say it works as a standalone if you at least know the basic plot of Kate Daniels.

My favorite parts/what really worked about this book were:

1) the mystery/intrigue. IA does an amazing job of getting the reader's curiosity piqued about character's backstories and histories. There's no cliffhanger, but I'm already in pain because I know I won't get my answers via book 2 for a while😫

2) the plot. Maybe I've said this before but what I really enjoyed was that IA lets Hugh and Elara develop and find out who they are in the greater context of the story. The urban fantasy part of the story is much more prevalent here than what I honestly was expecting, which I appreciated. In terms of UF vs romance it's definitely closer to UF/KD book one. That said, I'm excited to see where these two go in terms of their relationship and I can't wait to see how IA explores their dynamic in future books.

3) the detail. They say the devil's in the details and IA must be very acquainted with the devil, because they spend the perfect amount of time on detail. I got enough information to know what was going on and get a vivid picture in my head, but not so much where I was bored or tried to skip over scenes. The humor was placed perfectly and actually had the desired effect - I literally lol'd!

There isn't really anything about it that didn't work for me, I seriously had a great time reading this and can't wait to see where the series goes.

All in all, this was a great read that IA should be super proud of. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a new, immersive series!

I received this ARC for an honest review. I loved every word! I already crave the next book! I have always wondered about Hugh and how he became with Roland. This book finally help me to understand Hugh and his choices. Elara is the perfect compliment to Hugh. She helps him find his humanity even if she might not be. Elara is the heart of her people and her people are her heart. She gives so much of herself. Hugh and Elara's relationship had me laughing throughout the book. Their bickering at each other is their form of foreplay. I loved how the husband and wife team of Ilona Andrews write. I love their character and world building. You can clearly see and almost feel their world. You must READ this book. I finished it under a day. I am ready to beg for the next book.

It was so good I kept skimming through it, reading faster and faster. Then I went back and read it, not to proof it, but to make sure I had the full sense of it - sort of like sipping a wine you want to savor. It just carries you along with characters that make you care, and action that makes you keep reading to find out what will happen, or how it will happen.. I didn't think a book without Kate Daniels to carry it could be so good, capturing you with the characters, but this one is. It makes sense even if you haven't read the other books, as it does explain things, but it is much better in context.
I was impressed at how past events got explained, brought up, without dragging the reader down. It never seemed as if the dialogue for that was only there to help the reader. It all carried through quite well.
There were 2 typos that I hope they fix, as it stopped my going forward in the book until my mind figured them out, but I have noted them in remarks to the publisher.

This book completely ruined my day. I got sucked in yet again to another fantasy world causing the destruction of my own. At least for the day.

After being forced to take an involuntary step back from his relationship with Roland, Hugh D'Ambray is now exiled, broke and homeless, but not without company. He is still the Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, and what's left of his loyal soldiers are willing to stand with him...if they don't starve first. Hugh realizes they need more than what he can provide and strikes a deal with Elara Harper. Elara has everything Hugh needs to protect his people from Landon Nez, a former colleague of sorts, who has been hunting the Iron Dogs since Hugh's exile. Elara has her own issues with trying to protect her people as well. Her castle has the space and provisions, but she needs the protection Hugh's soldiers can offer if she wants to keep it, her people, safe from outside threats.

The catch? Marriage, of course! Go big or go home, right? Becoming allies is one thing, but they have to sell it or their enemies won't buy it.

Originally introduced in the Kate Daniels series, Hugh D'Ambray is the type of the character that frankly just pisses you off. With an ego as big as his sword, he is smart, cunning, and downright evil. Or so we are made to believe. Iron and Magic doesn't quite show us a "different" side of Hugh, but more or less gives us an insight into why he is like he is. We watch him replay past events in his mind and come to terms with his actions. But Hugh D'Ambray is still Hugh D'Ambray. And who would ever imagine Hugh as the marrying kind?! He's not exactly husband material, but he unconsciously begins to make connections with Elara and other characters. He doesn't quite understand it, and that's the fun part! Watching Hugh evolve and adapt is what made this book so engrossing.

Ilona, I don't know how you do it, but I applaud your writing. I believe it takes true talent (and guts!) to take a despised and ruined character and make us root for him despite still being a ruthless bastard. Bravo.

The story of Hugh is probably the most well written story of all time. You can smell the fields of battle. You can hear the sounds of war. The interaction of the characters is spot on. As a first story it has already sold me to buy the next book. The confrontations at the end are the beginning of a new chapter in the world of Hugh that I anxiously await.
If you are a fan of Kate & Curran at all, you have hated Hugh on levels that are epic. Read this, you need this story in your life. You need to see another side of the life of Hugh.

Oh. What a ride. I love this book.

I just finished reading it, now I’m writing this review and then I’m going to read the book again.

Hugh is an amazing character. I enjoyed his transformation, cheered when he was confused about his wife and his feelings towards her :) I love his horse. I love Hugh’s Dogs. And his dog too :). I adore Elara. Basically I like all the characters, they are so well written, just like Ilona Andrews always do.

I wanted to stay with them a little bit longer, I wouldn’t mind if the book had 1000 pages. This book has it all: action, sexual tension, great chemistry between main characters, friendship, family, sweet and sad moments.

I love it and highly recommend it. That’s all I wanted to say. Now I am going to reread it.

I was really excited about this book – there's no way for me *not* to be excited when it comes to new books by the Andrews' – but I was also worried I wouldn't manage to care for Hugh. He was responsible for some of the most horrid and emotionally wrecking moments in the Kate Daniels series, was responsible for the death of one of my favorite characters – you'll forever be missed Aunt B – and directly responsible for the torture of my favorite side-character – where is your novella, Christopher?

That's a lot of hate as a reader, and not easy to come back from. Redemption arcs are hard to pull off in any case, and I rarely feel like the villains truly redeem themselves enough to deserve their happy endings.

So I was worried the Andrews, no matter how great their writing is, wouldn't manage to make me root for Hugh, who I genuinely despised, and therefore not care about the romance. I'm glad to tell you that for me, they (mostly) pulled it off.

A good redemption arc has a couple of key components: genuine remorse, deeds of atonement, and a complete change of ways to be a better person. And probably most important, a compelling character you want to see redeemed. And to be honest, it took me a while to warm up to Hugh, because he's such a calculated character, whose emotions have been suppressed for so long, it's really hard to feel for him, especially because there's a lot of reminders to all the atrocities he's committed. But Hugh's relationship with Roland is expanded on throughout the book, and it becomes clearer and clearer that he was groomed, brainwashed and magically influenced to do as he was told. It would have been fair of Hugh to say he wasn't responsible, because he wasn't in control, and I think the fact that he still owns up to all the terrible things he's done, is the reason why I started to like him and root for his redemption. After all, if I love Christopher, and forgive him the things he's done under Roland's influence, I should also forgive Hugh. Especially when we learn everything that Roland didn't let Hugh feel about his actions, how much he masked and magically blunted.

It helped a lot that almost from the first chapter, I started noticing similarities between Hugh and Kate that really got to me. They both have a strong sense of loyalty and responsibility towards the people in their care. They're both recovering alcoholics. They pick up strays wherever they go (In this book alone, Hugh picks up a dog, a horse, teenaged boy and a little girl). And they're both shaped by the love/hate they have for their father.

It's as Hugh finally realizes two thirds in this book. Kate and he are the siblings they never got to have, and in another, kinder universe, they might have been.

What I also loved, was seeing Hugh with his people, the Iron Dogs, and how his care for them was one of his big motivations to change. One of the most interesting aspects of the book was seeing the people of Hugh and Elara slowly grow closer together and start to intermingle, and I genuinely hope for at least 5 more books in this series, because I honestly want to see them become one people.

Which brings me to Elara and her people. She's powerful, has a strong sense of responsibility towards her people, and isn't afraid of the big bad wolf at her door, because she's been seen as the big bad wolf herself her whole life. I really liked her, because she didn't back down and was willing to do a lot for her people.

The Marriage of Convenience trope is one of my favorites, and the book really didn't disappoint there, it was delicious to see Elara and Hugh have to work together, work through their differences and compromise. They both hold back so much, I'm also really curious to see how their relationship will continue, because they really have to work still on an open line of communication. But they're getting there, and I like how not all their differences are solved in one book.

It's not a perfect book, mostly I think because it's both the first book in its own spinoff series, and still has to resolve a lot of issues from the Kate Daniels series. It's packed with a LOT of plot and action, and some of that could have done with a little more room to breathe. There's two Big Bads (Roland/Landon Nez and a mysterious magical conquering force), one old conflict from Hughs life (yay for cameo's from the Kate Daniels series), and one old conflict from Elara's life (probably the Big Bad of future books). There is so much action and violence, which I normally like a lot in the Andrews' work, but sometimes the balance felt a little off. I genuinely think this will improve in future books, when we've moved on after the final Kate Daniels (no matter how much I don't want that), and Hugh and Elara and their people get to find their place in this world.

I want to yell about a lot of other stuff that was awesome, but honestly, that would all involve a huge amount of spoilers, so I shall refrain for now.

All in all, for the excellent beginning of Hugh's redemption arc, the way his relationship and upbringing with Roland was expanded on, all the strays he picked up, the delicious way the Marriage of Convenience was played out (and will be in future books), the intriguing crumbs we got to see of Elara's magic, people and past, the awesome aspect of seeing a community develop, and emotional confrontations with each other, themselves and their past... I really loved this book, and am looking forward to more.

*I received an ARC from Netgalley for my honest review.
WOW! This amazing book left me THIRSTY more Hugh! He’s definitely redeemed himself in this book (not that he really needed to be redeemed, this anti-hero is YUMMY)
Elara is an amazing character for Hugh.

Now if only the next book in this series will be released like tomorrow.

I received and ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was amazing. I have nothing negative to say at all. If you are reading this book you probably should read the other books in the Magic series by Ilona Andrews. This book could technically stand alone but you would miss out on a lot of world building and alot of background information about Hugh (the hero).

The book takes place in a post apocalypse world in which magic and technology come in waves. The author's of the book explain it so much better then I ever could so take a look at those website or read those books to find out more.

The main hero as you heard before is Hugh d'Ambray. He's an anti-hero if there ever was one. Readers love to hate him and hate to love him but we all do. He is hard and intense and make no mistake he is a villian. But he is a villian with his own honor system.

The heroine is the White Warlock, Elara. She's a monster in disguise but at least she has a set of ethics that revolve entirely upon keeping her peoe safe. When paired up with Hugh you can imagine what happens and it isn't love at first sight.

The course of the book revolves around the H and h and how they take thier two separate peoples and make them cooperate (is iron out thier contract). Through this they battle monsters, save children and animals and somehow develop a respect for each other.

I loved the book. It made me love Hugh and see redeeming qualities in him that I never thought were there. He found his perfect match in Elara and I can't wait to read more in their series.

I received an ARC from Netgalley.

what can I say about this book? Only that it is amazing! I am a long time follower of Ilona Andrews and while I haven't loved all of "her" books, this is one book that will fall into my favorites "pile".

For those of you who are Kate Daniels fans you are familiar with Hugh. He was Roland's evil warlord, doing the dirty work of his supreme master. Who can grow to like a man so evil? The man responsible for Aunt Bea's death? Well, fellow readers, you shall not be disappointed with this story!

Hugh doesn't apologize for his past deeds. He owns them. And then he strives to do better. And he does.

I want to write so much more but I worry about giving too much away...

Elara, our new female character is strong, engaging, and interesting. Her witty banter with Hugh is funny and natural. (as in the dialogue is never forced).

I can't wait for the next book!

Absolutely loved the book !! As always, Ilona Andrews does not disappoint :) The character developments are fantastic. Never thought that I would be rooting for Hugh in a novel of his own , but in this book I was. Cannot wait for the next instalment !

It's hard to love Hugh, he was the bad guy, and he is hasn't changed, that much. But he has his loyalty to his Iron Dogs, and he will do what he has to to survive. Elara will do what she has to keep her people safe. Two people who can barely be in the same room together, with enemies coming for them both, will their magic save them or kill them. Engrossing read, wonderful characters.

Loved this!! A bit slow to start for me, but that was probably because I didn't remember Hugh from the Kate Daniels series and had to do a bit of research to refresh my memory. Loved the chemistry between Hugh and Elara...their "witty banter" made me giggle. Loved seeing a more human side of Hugh. Can't wait for the next installment!

Wow. Yes! I love dark heroes. Hugh is such an ass. But who wouldn't be after being raised by Roland? Roland dumped him though, and after months of self-pity, Hugh needs to find a place to keep his Iron Dogs safe. Elara Harper needs men to keep her people and castle safe. A perfect union. Except Hugh and Elara hate each other at first sight. But also the sexual tension crackles between them and some respect starts to seep in. Really, the chemistry between Hugh and Elara is amazing.

I was able to hate the things Hugh did to Kate and characters I love, but also accept his redemption. I started to admire him.

I really think you need to read the Kate Daniels series before reading this one. Andrews doesn't spend much time explaining the world and familiar characters. And I think you need to be introduced to Hugh as Roland's man first.