What an amazing spin off ! And to think it all started as an April Fool's Joke. I always look forward to new novels from Ilona Andrews, but this one was a really hug(h)e surprise.

After all, who knew I'd end up liking Hugh d'Ambray?! I mean, he'd been such an unredeemable and vicious bastard until now. Fun to watch, yet slightly one-dimensional. But with this book, he turned into one hell of an interesting character. What he has gone through added depth to his character and I really enjoyed watching him evolve, coming to terms with what he is, from Roland's neurotic lapdog to this true leader. Don't get me wrong, he' s still a smug asshole, and that's exactly what makes him so perfect. Never in the process of redeeming himself did he loose his essence.

And he meets his match with Elara. I just loved how she managed to take him down a peg or five. I'm a sucker for love/hate relationship and this one didn't disappoint at all. Their banter was just fantastic. Watching them interact and trying to make each other miserable while fighting off their attraction was so amusing.

But what makes this book special is also that it adds new dimensions to this universe we are already familiar with. It's still Kate Daniel's world, but there is this new feel to it. New magic and new players that open different doors. I can't wait to wee how it'll all turned out.

So, they did it. Hugh shown with all his warts, but still able to be a romantic "hero"... Anti-hero? I dunno, but I loved the book. I loved Elara's strength and her commitment to her people (something I admired in Hugh as well). I loved all the banter -- granted they're not Kate and Curran, but few people are!
Spoiler Warning!!
Seeing Hugh realize how badly he handled Kate was tremendous. Seeing him realize how Roland basically "drugged" him into acquiescence because he didn't matter was painfully powerful. Seeing Hugh and Raphael fight? Just frightening. By then I'd come to value Hugh like Elara did and I was just as upset as she was.

This book is proof, yet again, of how incredible Ilona Andrews books are. Brava! Bravo! So very many thanks!

Oh, YES, Hugh did! I will be the first to admit, I was leery of Hugh essentially having to carry his own story AND have the wonderful author lords Ilona Andrews turn this bad guy "anti-hero", into a character that I could come to love. Hugh is unlikeably likeable. There are several moments when Hugh exhibits all the characteristics of a charming serial killer. But throughout, his redemptive moments come shining through.

Elara is the perfect foil to Hugh's character. Her character is introduced as an almost type of "angelic lady" to Hugh's more viscous seeming. Elara, however, can be as determined and 'cruel' as Hugh.

They are both characters that end up showing how much they are willing to do to protect their people.

Iron and Magic was a wonderful experience that took me away to another magical world and introduced a whole new chapter separate from; but a part of the Kate Daniels world.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Hugh. He was a villain in Kate’s world. Yet I could never hate him. Still, not hating a bad guy vs wanting him to get a happy ending? I’m happy to report it really worked. Not that I’m surprised. Andrews always pulls me in.

Hugh has been cast off from Roland after he failed to deliver Kate. He spends a few months wallowing in self-pity and trying to numb the pain of the giant void inside himself where Roland’s magic used to be with alcohol, until his Iron Dogs catch up with him and force him to see what’s been happening to them. They’re being hunted down and exterminated by Landon Nez, Roland’s Legatus of the Golden Legion. They used to be 1200 strong. Now they’re down to 400+.

With no money and no way to earn a living, Hugh accepts a mad bargain – in exchange for their protection, the White Warlock and her people will house and shelter them. Because neither side is really trustworthy, they agree to marry to seal the deal. Marriage to a harpy of a woman isn’t what Hugh ever envisioned for his future, but it isn’t long before he realizes there’s more to Elara than he previously thought. When their bonds of loyalty are tested, they’ll have to decide what’s important.

Hugh really is an anti-hero. He’s a right bastard, sure, but he also has heart and his soul bleeds. Elara is a monster, the same as her husband. She didn’t want the marriage any more than he did. But she can’t deny there’s something very compelling about the Preceptor of the Order of the Iron Dogs. As they come to know each other and learn to rely on one another, I found myself swept up in their story and the fight they find themselves in to protect their territory. I really hope the series continues. I’d love to see more from them.

I think to truly understand Hugh and why he’s so adrift, reading the Kate Daniels series first is a must. However, this an stand on its own if you haven’t read that series.

4.25 out of 5

Keeping the reivew short and sweet: I'm always impressed at how these authors consistently write excellent book, that are interesting, engaging, clever and just plain fun to read. Another great book.

This book draws you on in from the very first page. With one of the main characters lying on the floor in a stupor and his buddies trying to arouse him. I like to read fantasy novels and this one was good from start to finish.

I have been excited about the idea of a Hugh book since way back when it was just a silly April Fool's joke on Ilona and Gordon's blog so of course I was over the moon when I found out it was actually going to be written after all. Hugh has always been a brilliant villain in the Kate Daniels series and a character that I desperately wanted to know more about but I have to admit I wasn't quite sure how he could be redeemed into a character I could root for. I have total faith in the Andrews writing team though and this isn't the first time they've pulled off the almost impossible, they've managed to make Hugh a complex character, maintain his total a-holeness but still make me love him and that's quite an achievement!

This is the first book in a spin off from the Kate Daniels series, Iron and Magic is designed to be read after Magic Binds but before the final book Magic Triumphs and I would highly recommend sticking to that reading order to get the most out of both series and avoid giving yourself any spoilers. In fact, if you're reading this review before you've read Magic Binds stop right now and go catch up with my all time favourite series. You'll thank me when you're done, I promise!

Hugh has done some pretty inexcusable things throughout the series, he's hurt a lot of characters we care about and caused a lot of trouble for Kate and Curran so I've never looked at him as a good guy but it was still pretty shocking to see Roland abandon him the way he did. Hugh is now completely on his own and it's had a huge affect on him but it is his Iron Dogs that pull him back from the edge. They need him if they're going to survive and Hugh is in a difficult situation because he has no way to provide all the things they need. He ends up seeking a marriage of convenience with Elara, she has a castle full of people and plenty of supplies but they are in danger and in need of protection, Hugh, on the other hand, has trained soldiers who are desperate for a home and willing to fight to defend it.

This isn't a marriage built on love or even on trust, in fact it's far closer to insta-hate because Hugh and Elara rub each other up the wrong way from the moment they set eyes on each other, which leads to some glorious banter let me tell you! This is two leaders who are willing to do anything to protect their people and if that means marrying the enemy then that's what they'll do. Their relationship is gradually changing but there's still a long way to go before I'd consider them a happy couple and I'm really glad about the slow build romance we're seeing here. Romance is definitely not the focus of the story, it's just a nice little extra going on in the background.

Instead the focus is on getting to know Hugh better and meeting some of the Iron Dogs, as well as finding out about Elara and her people. At the moment I have far more questions than answers about Elara but I can already tell you she's totally fascinating and more than capable of standing her ground against Hugh - there couldn't be a more well matched pair than these two. As always with Ilona Andrews books you get the most wonderful side characters and I love that we're introduced to a completely new set of characters here. Hugh is the only familiar face for most of the story (there are a couple of cameo appearances later on though) and even with him we get to learn so much that we never touched on in the main series so there is a lot of new territory to cover here and I loved every minute of it.

This story was everything I could possibly have wanted and I'm so excited to continue reading about Hugh, Elara and their people. It's taken me a long time to write this review because I've been in a bit of a blogging slump lately but I've been completely obsessed with this book since it's release and I've already read it four times so that should give you some idea about how much I love it. As sad as I am that the main Kate Daniels series is coming to an end I'm extremely happy that Hugh and Elara are going to be around to pick up the reigns when Kate and Curran slip off into retirement!

I really enjoyed this book, and loved seeing the world Ilona Andrews created from a different perspective. I'm eagerly anticipating the next book, and will probably reread this book several times. I've reviewed this book at A Little Bit Tart, A Little Bit Sweet.

All stars and all the feels. Absolutely effing EPIC. This is one of these times where capitals are a must. Hell, I bow down to the awesomeness of this author and can’t wait for more.


Characters & Chemistry

Ever since I met Hugh d'Ambry in the KD series I was smitten. It felt wrong to have a lady boner for him because he was the enemy. Roland's right-hand man. Preceptor of the Iron Dogs. A butcher. A killer. But I just couldn’t help myself and here it is no different. He is flawed and a tortured soul. My smittenness turned into full out blown love. Nuff said. Moving on!

Elara Harper the White Warlock is one of the best heroines I wouldn't put her on Kate Daniels level, but it is a close call. She has She calls herself unclean. Cursed. An abomination. A protector of her people against the Undead and the Remaining. deal with the devil. As they are the Departed.

There is an underlying connection and chemistry but these two can't afford to show weaknesses to each other and they really do not like one another. They want to be equals. But in time the fondness that they have for one another starts to seep into their interactions.

Writing, Plot & Pace

The Plot as always is top notch. The Iron Dogs are being hunted down one by one and being killed by Landon Nez. The left-hand of Roland, the leader of the Golden Legion. It is time for Hugh to get out of his drunken stupor and lead the Iron Dogs. The Iron Dogs need a base and Elara and her people need protection. So, a tentative alliance begins. A mutual agreement. A marriage of convenience. But right till the very end we are missing out on the big picture.

There is a smooth flow to the writing and it is all fast paced and action packed. The secondary characters add additional depth to the story that I would love to see them all get books as well.

One thing that is commendable toward the author’s that Hugh’s character development when he realizes what Roland did in suppressing his conscience, his guilt for all the things that had done. We see him going through his inner demons and coming out on top. Hugh faces a choice that will either lead him down a path of destruction again or not. Let’s just say he makes the right choice. He is a protector instead of a butcher.

Got to say that I am intrigued as into what Elara is.

Update I made a mistake, he has sex with the airhead Vanessa remember it is a marriage of convenience. But once he is married, Vanessa tries to get back into his bed but he puts a stop to it. Not really cheating IMO.

We get to see Raphael, Andrea and Ascanio. And it is amazing. Last but not least. Hugh makes a statement and picks a side. I am so happy I could shit exclamation marks.

Verdict

I always get nervous when I receive a book/ARC by an author that I adore and here it was the same. But when it comes to these two there is no need to be nervous.
Iron & Magic made my favourite 2018 shelf. It is action packed, totally kick arse and fast paced. A medieval vibe within a world that alternates between tech and magic.

Right off the bat, I just want to say that I never thought I would be reading a book about HUGH. I mean, he was one of the many "antagonists" in the Kate Daniel 's series. It's hard to not hold a grudge but I think... Ilona and Gordon have managed to make me (and I'm sure several others) a fan. I no longer "hate" or despise Hugh for what he did. He's still an asshole but he's also become more human in my eyes. Not to mention Elara is his perfect half; their chemistry is hilarious and HOT.

While the story did start off pretty slow, it eventually picks up once Hugh meets Elara, our new heroine so to speak. Unlike Kate's book, Iron and Magic is written in third person. We don't exactly know the full extent of Hugh or Elara's minds but we do know enough. Hugh has been cut off from Roland and he is not the same person who once was. Not only is he miserable but also broken as well. He has lost the will to go on until the Iron Dogs, those who are loyal to Hugh, persuade him to make a move or else they will all die by the hands of Roland's men. By moving on, he eventually meets Elara and her people.

What I loved most about Hugh and Elara's relationship is that it starts out very unconventional. They absolutely hate each other's guts but are forced to marry each other for the sake of their own people's safety. What we all don't realize until much later on is that their mutual hatred for each other has turned into a deep attraction between the two. Hugh loves taunting and fighting Elara and I'm quite certain she feels the same way. He doesn't feel broken whenever he's with her and instead feels electrified by it. It almost reminds me of Nevada and Rogan's (from the Hidden Legacy series) relationship when they were in their early stages. I never expected to root for Hugh but I'm definitely rooting for him now and his relationship with Elara!

There were a lot of new characters in this book, some old and new, and a few unexpected cameos (Raphael, Andrea, Ascanio!!!). Kate was also mentioned a couple of times in this book and I honestly got goosebumps because of it. Fans of the Kate Daniel 's series should know that Kate's story is ending very soon so this can be counted as a "prequel" of sorts to the final book. Anyway, I look forward to getting stories for the new characters as well since I do see an attraction between one of the Iron Dogs and Elara's friend/close confidant (Stoyan and Johanna).

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though it took me awhile to read and review it. I can't wait to see where Hugh's story will lead because Elara is a very special being. I'm not too entirely sure what she is but... she is very powerful and ancient. Even Hugh is unsure and that says a lot. However, the fact that Hugh is willing to TRY for their marriage is an amazing thing, especially when they never wanted each other in the first place. Highly recommend for fans of Ilona Andrews and the Kate Daniel 's series.

Okay, so you've met Kate Daniels. She's got nine books under her belt and another one coming shortly. She's kick ass and magical and she's got some serious Daddy issues.

You love her. We love her.

Now meet Hugh D'Demanding Dangerous Double Daddy Issues D'Ambray.

He's her darker step brother of sorts. You're probably gonna hate him because he kind of, maybe tortured Ascanio a while back, but let's ignore all that!

He's having some issues lately. He's been purged from Roland. Lost most of his dogs and for the last few months he's been drinking himself down the drain.

But you know. This is a book by Ilona Andrews and they can't exactly have roughly 300 pages of him being boring.

Cue Elara or Harpy or that Abomination as some witches call her. She's a woman who'll eat you for breakfast and burn your play toys on an open fire because you're annoying her and you really shouldn't do that.

She can do things.

Elara's got a castle and a couple thousand people to protect. She's having some issues with Roland. Just like Hugh, but not like Hugh because she doesn't have Daddy issues... although she might have Daddy issues...it's a possibility???

*PLAYS WEDDING MUSIC*

HOW DO WE SOLVE EVERYONE'S PROBLEMS?

WE BIND HUGH AND ELARA WITH A CONTRACT. A DEATH DO US PART KIND OF CONTRACT.

*laughs maniacally*

As a couple, their chemistry is off the charts. They're honestly the perfect pairing and their people mix sooo well.

Iron and Magic is full of twists and turns and some decidedly more graphic content that KD and we're so here for it.

Buy it. Go buy it now

Great backstory on a fascinating anti-hero. The Kate Daniel's series has never lacked depth, but Hugh's story gives it a legitimacy and lavishness that readers won't even know that it was missing.

Despite not being a Hugh fan I enjoyed the book. Color me surprised! Leave it to IA to develop Hugh in a way that feels real without taking cheap shortcuts. There won't be any personality transplants here. Hugh is still an a$$. However, you get more into his back story and understand how he came to be so complacent in the horrors he took part in and why he is the way he is. It is enlightening. Hugh now has a chance to grow and be more. The beginning of that journey starts in this book but it is far from over.

I enjoyed the new characters we are introduced to here. As is typical with IA books, the new sets of side characters we meet are intriguing and I can't wait to see more of them. Elara is still a bit of a mystery at the end of this book but I think the next book in this trilogy will shed some light. The side characters are all intriguing and leave you wanting more of them. The action is well paced and the storyline ties nicely with the Kate Daniels books.

All in all, I round this book up to a 5 due to getting me to read about a character I never liked. Not only do the authors get me to read about despicable Hugh, they get me to see him in a slightly new light. I don't think I'll ever be a huge fan of his, but they are doing a good job of crafting an interesting story with a protagonist who decides he wants to be more than he has been. I can definitely get behind that!

*I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

--Potential Spoilers if you haven't read the Kate Daniels series--

I cannot express enough how excited I was to get my hands on this ARC. Like... I saw that it was up on Netgalley and almost broke my computer trying to get my request in. And then I went and gave it a super late review because I was moving *sigh* For this one, I feel bad about. It is strange how I got to this point too since I started out disliking this series. I read Magic Bites and wasn't impressed. All the praise got to me, so I tried the audiobook and liked it more and after the 3rd book I found myself hopelessly enthralled.

Much like how the main series took me a while to get into, this book felt somewhat the same to me. This is probably because it has been so long since I've read the main series, so I had to try remembering what happened. Once I got into it though? I was loving it.

I love how we see Hugh as flawed-- a leader, an amazing fighter, but dealing with some major issues and having to come to terms with real life and consequences. He grows and adapts to being a better person. Elara is also a strong leader, compassionate, and all around great person. She doesn't really have issues... just her secret power making it so she can't let people get too close to her.

Besides our main characters we've got some good side characters, a few which stick out, but I will admit that I mixed some of them up. There is a mute/deaf character though, which is some cool rep.

I liked the story, again it took me awhile to get a hang of the world again and it is much more difficult than the main story since they live in a castle.

Now, the romance... I wasn't completely sold. The sex scene really threw me. I don't quite get them.. I do I guess, but mostly their relationship is so complicated. Definitely growing on me, and I cannot wait until the next books to see how it progresses. Still thinking the sex was way too soon, but I'm thinking they put it in their since people are expecting a sex scene??? Maybe??? I honestly think a slow-burn drawn out romance can be nice too *cough* like Kate & Curran *cough*

All in all, this book has increased my desire to read Magic Triumphs when it comes out. At this point I will read anything and everything by this couple.

I was cautiously optimistic when I heard there was a Hugh d'Ambray series coming out since he was a pretty evil character in the Kate Daniels series. After finishing IRON AND MAGIC, I'm won over for Hugh as a protagonist of his own story who you can actually root for. The general plot has all you expect from Ilona Andrew; action, intrigue, gore, awesome magic feats, and even a dash of humor.

While I enjoyed the plot, I really enjoyed the evolution or breakdown of Hugh as he comes to terms with what he did and how he has to live now. What was I was impressed most by was the way in which Hugh is shown at his absolute lowest and is beaten down more so to the point where there is really no way to go but up. And he works hard to change and surprisingly you do end up forgiving him by the end of the book because he has done his penance and will continue to do so in the next two books. He's still a dick in this book though, but he's meets his match with Elara who I love because she is so good at taking Hugh down a peg or five. She has some really powerful magic and her relationship with Hugh is a hate to love relationship. And I mean really hate. They bicker so much and try their hardest to make each other miserable. Don't let this deter you though because it's seriously amusing to read as you just know these two messed up people really do care for each other in the end.

I didn't know how redeeming Hugh D'Ambray would work, but IRON AND MAGIC made it work. I can't wait to see his relationship with Elara develop, how the"newly improved" Hugh interacts with more of those he's wronged, and more about Elara's past because there are so many questions I have about her that need to be answered!

A fantastic beginning of a new series by Ilona Andrews. Wonderful world building, suspenseful story and great characters. A winner!!!

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Omar

ron and Magic starts with Hugh D’Ambray, Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Warlord of Roland the Immortal Wizard, Builder of Towers, and father of Kate Daniels, in a drunk haze covered in his own vomit and urine. After the events of Magic Breaks from the Kate Daniels series, were in a plan to try to get Kate to submit to Roland, Hugh got too close to kill her, and as punishment Roland strips Hugh from his power and blessing taking the warm and familiar presence that he knew all his life and leaving him alone and broken in the world. Now Hugh has an emptiness and hole in his soul that he tries to push aside every waking moment with alcohol to stop feeling that emptiness left by Roland. After Roland removed Hugh from his army, he learned that his militia, the Iron Dogs, didn’t follow his orders, they were actually loyal to Hugh as he fought and bleed with them; given that the Iron Dogs didn’t have a use for him anymore, Roland started to purge.

In the hope of saving the rest of the Iron Dogs, the surviving Centurions (leaders) of each Century (squad) of the Iron Dogs tracked Hugh down and persuaded him to put himself together and fight with them. Hugh accepts, mostly to fill the void in his soul that pushes him to suicidal thoughts, but also for the same loyalty that he has for the Iron Dogs. As a way to regroup and have a secure place for the Iron Dogs, Lamar, a Centurion, manages to make a deal to get a castle for them, but every deal or contract has a price, and the security and safety for the Iron Dogs will cost Hugh D’Ambray to get married.

Elara, the White Warlock, and leader of the Departed, the group of people from the community of the castle around it, needs protection and muscles to keep her people safe. Landon Nez, the Legatus of Roland’s Golden Legion, has been trying to make a bet for the castle and the land around it, the situation has escalated to the point where vampires have started to infiltrate Elara’s land. Dugas, Elara’s advisor, and Druid, got in contact and made the deal with Lamar that will be beneficial to both parties, and the best way to make everyone believe in their union was a wedding. What Hugh doesn’t know, or not yet, is the secret that nobody from the Departed wants to talk about, a secret that has to do with Elara and her magic, and a sector group, the Remaining, that used to be part of them.

Now that they are married, Elara and Hugh need to work together to secure the safety of the Departed and Iron Dogs against Landon and mysterious forces that seem to have taken interest in the communities around them.

“Next to him Elara stood, her teeth clenched. Okay. First things first. He would win this battle and then he would figure out what the hell she was and what he had gotten himself and his people into.”

SPOILERS!

I very much like the work of Ilona Andrews. For almost 6 years I have been reading the author-couple work and this time we get a different taste of characters within Iron and Magic. Readers meet Hugh D’Ambray, the Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, in the Kate Daniels series, which most of the readers didn’t like him. But Hugh has changed, he is no longer under the influence and warmed presence of Roland the Builder of Towers, being ripped off of the family and life he had all his life, broke him. For a fan of the Kate Daniels series, once I started reading the book and through Hugh’s POV, we see a broken man that has given up on life and just wants to make the void in his soul disappear. Hugh is different from the person we met before and I liked how the authors wrote the new storyline for him.

Elara is a mystery that I can’t seem to crack, I liked her character and the strange type of magic that she has, but most of all I liked how her community likes her. Elara’s magic is a mystery that seems to do many things, but there is a hunger to feed of from other’s magic that she needs to keep in check. At the end of the book we get to learn little more about her, but instead, we just get more questions and a great scene.

While Hugh and Elara were the main characters and I was excited to learn more about them, there were other supporting characters that I liked and want to get to know more. The Centurions of the Iron Dogs were a fun bunch of soldiers and I liked how they were a team and loyal to Hugh. Some of the people that work at Castle Baile are very interesting and also are quite magical, I also liked the character of Joanna and the reason she had to use ASL language. I really like the variation of magic users in this new series and how they all play a role in the storyline. One magic that I really liked was the collective magic of the Departed, the scene where they are as one was my favorite and it shows how odd they are to Hugh and the Iron Dogs.

“‘Have you gotten anywhere with the Remaining?’ Hugh asked him quietly. ’Nope. Nobody is talking.’ Lamar shrugged his wide shoulders. ‘Everything is great, everyone is friendly and welcoming, the minute we try to ask any leading questions, they clam up.’ He shifted on his feet. ‘You ever get a feeling we stumbled into a cult? Because I do’”

It seems that Kate Daniels was right, and Roland’s presence is not the best thing to grow up with. Over the course of the story of Iron and Magic, Hugh starts to realize that the magic that Roland gave him when he became his Warlord also change his morals and feelings of regret regarding the things he did, but now that Roland doesn’t share his power with him, he has started to doubt his past actions. Roland makes more of an appearance in this book than in the others, and we learned more of the reasons of why he wants Hugh back. We also get to see some of the type of army that Roland uses and might use against Kate in the future, Roland just seems to collect creatures and weapons from across the world.

Iron and Magic sets the storyline for what looks to be the series and I was surprised by the fact that there was more than one enemy. The snippets and summary give us the idea that Roland and his Golden Legion is the enemy of this book, but as the story goes on we learn that there are more enemies that threaten Castle Baile and the community around it. The author-couple Ilona Andrews has mentioned that for the last book of the Kate Daniels series, readers should read Iron and Magic beforehand because it ties events of this book to the last book. After reading this book, it does give information that will play a great part in the last Kate Daniels book, some enemies connect. SPOILERS. We also get an idea of what the future of the series will be and who is working against the main characters.

I liked Iron and Magic, the relationship between the main characters, members of the Castle Baile and the Iron Dogs, and the secrets hidden among all the characters. What I liked the most about this book was that I still don’t know what Elara is. The authors did a great job given glimpses of what she is, but at the same time not fully tell us, and we have to stick around and keep reading to find out. But really, WHO ARE YOU ELARA?

“Her voice came out cold. ‘Bring the cows.’ A shocked silence fell. The Iron Dogs look around, bewildered. ‘You can’t,’ Savannah recoiled. ‘For him? You would manifest for him?’”

If you are a fan of Ilona Andrews and their other series such as the Kate Daniels series, then I recommend you, Iron and Magic. In this new series, we meet a man that gets a second chance in life and tries to redeem his past actions, and also, we meet a woman that has a very dark secret but is loved by her people because her purpose is to create a home for them. Destiny and the need for security bring Hugh and Elara together in marriage, but time and their protective instinct brings them together in a new relationship that might fill that missing thing they never knew they needed.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

I’m going to try really hard to write this review with the minimum of fangirling. But, I am not guaranteeing anything. I can’t seem to help myself, Ilona Andrews (a husband and wife team) is my favourite author. I literally love everything they write, it’s like they know exactly what type of books, characters and worlds that will fascinate me and then craft an interesting story about it. Was Iron and Magic any different? No, I loved it.

Iron and Magic is the start of the Iron Covenant series and also book 9.5 in the Kate Daniels series. Having a new series set in the same world as Kate Daniels has be jumping for joy and maybe doing a little dance as well. I loved seeing it expanded outside of Atlanta and with a, mostly, brand new set of characters. However, if you haven’t read the Kate Daniels series and therefore don’t understand the world dynamics I could see how this book may be confusing.

But, now we come to the crux of why I loved this book, Hugh D’Ambray. Before this, we know him as a ruthless adversary to be feared and hated. He’s done some terrible things to characters we know and love. But, in Iron and Magic we get to see, if not a different side to him at least we get to see his character as a whole. His motivation and reasoning behind his actions. How being under Roland’s control for centuries has affected him. Andrews doesn’t soften him, he’s still the ruthless general he has always been. But now that intelligence and strength seems to be pointed in a different direction.

With such a powerful hero, the heroine of the story needs to be able to match him. And this is where Andrews brought in Elara Harper. You aren’t quite sure what she is apart from scary dangerous and full of magic, as well as extremely protective of those under her care. Elara and Hugh clashing was one of the highlights of this book. They are forced into a marriage of convenience due to a need to share resources as well as having a shared enemy. Both of them had finally met their match. And, although there was a little bit of resolution between them toward the end, it will be interesting to see their relationship develop as the series continues.

I loved this book, it was an Urban Fantasy that was brimming with bloody action and dark magic as well as hint of romance. Andrews has further developed the world created in the Kate Daniels series and I can’t wait to see what will happen next and how the two series will intersect in the future.

Hugh is a shadow of himself now that his master has abandoned him, but that doesn't mean the men he personally trained don't still rely on him. In an effort to save them, Hugh knows he must find them a defensible home. Elara is something not quite human, but she isn't enough to keep her people safe without help. Meeting Hugh could save her people, just as she can provide safe haven for Hugh's, but their forces combined together still might not be enough to save them.

I really, really enjoyed reading this story. Hugh is a nonredeemable character known for his cruelty and generally being truly evil. Somehow the authors managed to not only explain his past behavior, but did so in a way that doesn't sweep it under the rug. Hugh confronting his past and admitting his failures humanizes him in a way I didn't think could be possible. I ended up actually liking him by the end of the book. Elara is a different matter. I liked her from the beginning, however her past is still shrouded in mystery. I'm assuming she'll be better explained in a later book, but I feel like I wasn't able to get to know her as well as Hugh because of those unanswered questions.

The only thing about this book that disappointed me was the world building. This story relies almost entirely on my having read the Kate Daniels series to explain why the world is they way it is. I understand rehashing everything that Kate has learned about the world over ten books just isn't possible, but a bit more description on the shift and on some of the creatures now inhabiting the world would have been helpful.

Wow - this book completely threw me for a loop! Who knew that I had the ability to not hate Hugh, let alone begin to … like him? I’m a little conflicted about that fact, but it just goes to show you how well this book sucked me in.

If you are not familiar with Hugh, you should really go back and start at the beginning of the Kate Daniels saga. I promise you, it’s worth it. Assuming you have been along for the ride like I have, we join Hugh after he’s essentially been dumped by Roland. Since Roland was essentially his reason for living and breathing, he is in a bit of a tailspin. His remaining Iron Dogs end up finding him as he hits rock bottom and convincing him to help save his men. They are all in need of food, shelter, and some sort of motivation. To get this, Hugh must do a very selfless thing - marry and protect “the White Lady.”

The White Lady ends up being a woman by the name of Elara, who is… still kind of an unknown. She’s got devoted followers (much like Hugh) and has a lot of powerful magic, but she is under constant siege by people who used to be part of her community, her neighbors, and (newly) the leader of Roland’s vampires. She’s willing to follow her advisor’s recommendation and wed a man she doesn’t love, but she certainly is in no mindset to even care for him at all. This is all reinforced when they immediately find themselves sniping at one another.

It was pretty awesome to watch Hugh and Elara, who have so much in common, find endless ways to torture each other. It’s only by some miracle that they find some common way of working and, ultimately, a partnership that benefits them both. The stubborness is strong on both sides. In the end, I am completely on Team Hugh/Elara. I cannot wait for the next installment of the series and feel a little guilty for liking Hugh so much. At this point I’d feel really bad if Kate and him had to fight again.