Iron and Magic is written by the brilliant authors, and married couple Ilona Andrews. It is the first book of the Iron Convenant series, which is about the man we all loved to hate; Hugh D'ambray. He was a primary antagonist character from one of the best urban Fantasy series I have had the privilege to read (and reread) by the same authors; The Kate Daniels Series.

P.S: A little advice before I start this review, this book is a spin-off from the Kate Daniels series, while I can see this being read as a stand alone book, it would be much better, and enjoyable to read the former series, before reading Iron and Magic; this will help one get a better grasp on the character and part of his history. Now then, to the meat of my review 😁.
The book continues from where we last heard of Hugh's fate in Magic Binds, suffice to say the former antagonist is not in the best shape, after being magically purged by the man he viewed as his Father and God,(Ouch!)Roland, Kate's Biological father. The story took me on an immersive journey into Hugh's mind, hopes, choices, regrets, a glimpse of things that explained some of his decisions in the Kate Daniels Series, and of course his plan for the future, which includes marrying the obstinate, and alluring witch; Elera.
COUPLE INTERACTION
The dynamic of these two alphas in a relationship makes for an interesting, and sometimes amusing read. Neither trusts the other, they are too alike to compromise easily, and often get under each others skin in a way that made me the reader grit my teeth in frustration for them 😑😬. However, the volcanic back and forth of their fights got just a tad predictable, and repetitive for me, especially when comparing their interactions to the main couple of the KD series, Kate and Curran. This is likely becauseThe former characters had the opportunity to interact and grow without being constantly in each others face, unlike Hugh and Elera, who meet and continue their story under the same roof, without much space between them, I found myself tempted to skim some of their conversations (A first for me, reading any Ilona Andrews book), but held b as ck, as I didn't want to miss an important bit in the story.
ACTION AND SEX SCENES
The action in this book is phenomenal! I held my breathe while reading the fights, looked forward to the next ones, and could easily picture them happening in front of me. The fights were a bit gory, but not any more than what you would read in the Kate Daniels books, this blended nicely with the sex scenes(Our main couple despise each other, do the math 😅😁).
Ilona Andrews never fail to seduce with their love/sex scenes, and this is no different! It's just a bit raunchier than the scenes of KD, so you best be holding a glass of cold water ready lol. The sexual tension between the main characters grew hotter with each page, with a steady and readable pace, I was glad I didn't have to wait for a second (or third 😑) book to see some bed action. If you like very dominant males, with females that don't do submission very well, then this will definitely be your shot of whiskey!
SUMMARY

Overall, I'd give this book a 4 star rating. The one star I took off, is due to the predictable nature of Hugh and Eleras' argument, and one upmanship , which had me fighting the urge to skim through. Other than that, this book is brilliant! The story telling is paced just right, the new characters are interesting, and I was sad when I finished reading it, (So I reread it 😂), I can not wait for the next book!

I started reading the Kate Daniels series when I stumbled upon it at Borders (miss that place!). Probably like everyone else I was skeptical about a Hugh storyline, I didn’t know if I could get behind his story. Of course, I should have never doubted this writing duo! Only they could have made me love a story in which you are equally infuriated with the male character and sympathetic to his challenges. Elara was one of the many reasons I loved this story. She is just another example of the strong, take no s*#t, badass women this team writes. This book was a welcome addition to the Kate Daniel’s world and only increases my excitedment for the next book (and my love for all things that this husband and wife write)!

Really appreciate receiving this advance copy. Reviews left on Amazon and Goodreads.

In Iron and Magic, Ilona Andrews has taken the familiar characters from her Kate Daniels world and offered readers a chance to escape into a new story. This story is grittier than the Kate books, and more explicit, which to be honest, was not my favorite. What I did love, however, was the fast-paced yet exquisitely charted evolution of the two main characters. Stakes couldn't be higher and the story delivers over and over. A must-read for fans!

I'm a huge fan of the Kate Daniels series and the Innkeeper books, so I was really happy to see this.

Hugh d'Ambray has been shunned by his master. Obeying Roland is all he's ever known. As the Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Hugh has fought and killed at Roland's command. Since he was cast out, Hugh has nothing. Nothing but the desire to drink himself to death. He knows he needs to pull himself together. His Dogs need him. Now that he is no longer in Roland's good graces, he knows that Landon Nez will come for them.

Elara Harper (aka The White Lady) needs protection. She must protect her people from any threats. Someone wants her land and will stop at nothing to get it.

Hugh and his Dogs are starving badasses. Elara has plenty of food and needs protection. Sounds like a match made in heaven. Or hell.

I really liked this book. I love the characters and the magic is great. My only complaint is that I wish I would've finished all of the Kate books first. I will still read them, but now I know more than I should going into the rest of the series.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

You know am author is good when they take a character that is known by the reader to be a repeatedly horrible, asshole, and reveal him to be instead a flawed and complicated, but redeemable, man.

This book was AMAZING. I typically expect to love any Ilona Andrews book, no questions asked. This one though, I did go in with a slight concern. I HATED HUGH. His character in the Kate Daniels books caused so much hurt and pain to characters I loved, that I was really unsure if I would even be interested in an entire book about him. I am glad to say I was totally proven wrong though.

What does it for me is the no holds bar "banter" which in reality is actually 2 people trying their damnedest to annoy the ever living shit outta one another. They held no punches, and if I were either character I would have snapped at one point or another! LOL!

All in all this book was fantastic. It was funny, tense, surprising, and enjoyable. I will definitely be reading any and all future books written about these complex characters.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and the authors for an advanced copy for an honest review.

I LOVE Kate Daniels and I love everything Ilona Andrews, but I was scared to read IRON AND MAGIC because I just couldn't imagine that Ilona Andrews could make me like Hugh enough to read a whole book about him. I was wrong. I enjoyed every single moment, and I see Hugh in a whole new light.

We already know the overall world, but we now get to see a different slice than we're used to. Hugh is a giant mess when we start IRON AND MAGIC. He has always been a bit of a dark character, but we see him at his lowest and watch him grow into a man he can start to be proud of. Elara is a bit of a mystery, but she has a strong following of people that look to her for protection. It takes a while to really find out about her, but there wasn't one point in the book that I didn't like her.

Hugh and Elara are anything but a happy couple. You can feel their attraction, but they will do anything to hide it and make each other miserable. They bicker and banter constantly, but it was pure entertainment. Things develop slowly, but they are definitely moving in a good direction.

I enjoyed getting to know the side characters. The Iron Dogs and Elara's people mixed well together and it was neat seeing them work together towards common goals. We also get a visit from some familiar faces and I can't wait to see more familiar faces come together in future books.

I'm excited to see Hugh and Elara grow as allies and partners and I'm excited to see what Kate and Hugh can do on the same side against Kate's dad.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book rocks! Magnetic appeal to fans of their Kate Daniels series. Definitely a must-have for the Ilona Andrews fan and a pretty good introduction to the world for new readers.

Ilona Andrews continues their superb writing talents. They've made an anti-hero redeemable and paired him with the perfect companion (for him). Starting the saga with disillusionment and despair, then moving to redemption and challenge, it's a wonderful addition to their Kate Daniels world-building. In an alternate US, where technology or magic flood or recede, the books demonstrate how people adapt and thrive. Hugh D'Ambray, betrayed and abandoned by the person for whom he gave up everything, is forced from his search for oblivion by his troops. They're being systematically slaughtered and his sense of honor forces him to reenter the world to keep them alive. This search for a haven sends him to a small castle in an isolated part of Tennessee, where he meets the one woman who can provide what he needs and stand with him. In turn, he and his forces protect her and her people from the same foes. I am a huge fan of Ilona's skills; this is well-written, exciting, engaging. The superlatives come easily. If you've not read Ilona's books, I encourage you to start now!

What a fantastic book! Ilona Andrews is the name of a husband and wife writing team who consistently writes wonderful books! There are so many qualities that I can speak of when reviewing this book or in fact all of their books. The voice, storyline, plot twists, suspense, romance, character development are all pretty powerful and present in their stories.

Okay now that I have fangirled I'll get down the the basic review. This book is an installment in the Kate Daniels series featuring a previous bad boy villain. As the title gives you a hint, this story is a paranormal romance which takes place in an alternate universe where magic and technology are at war. This story presents sort of a first for Ilona Andrews; never before have they written a book about a true bad boy. They took a villain from previous books and made him the hero in this book. His redemption is very believable. The heroine is strong, a leader, and deeply protective of the people who she considers hers. The story begins with the couple at war, but they also develop strong bonds.

Be forewarned that as soon as you read this book, you will want to snap up the other books in this storyline. Happy reading!

This book began as an April Fool's joke 3 years ago, but has become the first in a series set in the world of Kate Daniels and featuring the Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Hugh D'Ambray, and the White Witch, Elara.
Hugh has so far been a largely unlikeable and dangerous character in the Kate Daniels books. At the beginning of this book, he is at his lowest point, having been rejected by Roland and spent the time since in an alcoholic haze. He begins what is likely to be a long journey to redemption and humanization, taking responsibility once again for the Iron Dogs , starting to understand and come to terms with Roland's use of him and starting to forge new alliances. The first of the alliances involves a marriage of convenience with Elara, in order to find a base for the remaining Iron Dogs.
Elara's character is as interesting as Hugh's. She is yet another of the authors ' complex kick-ass heroines and, like Hugh. experiences growth and development through the book. The authors alternate the points of view of Hugh and Elara, much more successfully than often happens.
The relationship between Hugh and Elara begins in necessity and distrust and grows towards passion and a true partnership. THe couple's alliance is stronger but the distrust and problems have by no means disappeared by the end of the book. Many other things, such as alliances with the shapeshifters and the nature of Elara's magic, remain to be resolved or revealed. I can't wait to learn more - or to get the next Kate Daniels book, Magic Triumphs!
I received an ARC through NetGallery and am voluntarily providing my honest opinion.

This is a perfect addition to the Kate Daniels series and a good example of how to turn the villain of a well-loved series into a hero. Although the story takes place in the KD world, it is a standalone novel that can be read without reading any of the prior Ilona Andrews' books.

Hugh used to be the warlord of a most powerful being. Having been rescued from a poverty and abuse as a child by Roland, he has been trained and molded to be his ¨hammer¨. Roland is everything for him: his father, his king, his god and his master. All of a sudden, he has been cut off from the one person that has given him everything and is left with nothing but bitterness and despair as he begins to understand and regret what he has done on Roland´s orders. He is however responsible for the men and women he commanded while in Roland's service. These soldiers are now being hunted and killed by another of Roland's warlords. With no options left, the only available path is a marriage of convenience to a little-known witch that is as mysterious as headstrong.
Elara is a witch revered by her people, but we do not know exactly what her powers are. She and Hugh are like water and oil, but they still are attracted to each other. She does not want to marry Hugh but needs him and his army to provide protection for her clan.
Regardless of their unwillingness to get married, they understand it is the only available solution to their problems. Is their shared sense of duty and loyalty to their people enough to start a marriage?

I really liked this book. I did expect to change my mind about Hugh, as IA have not let me down before, but I was wondering how they could find a partner for Hugh that can accept who he is and not be a total jerk. Elara is that person. The action scene writing was awesome, and the side characters are also very relatable. The not so good: there is so much left open! We don´t really get to know what Elara is or what she can do. I guess this means we will get more books, which actually turns this into a good thing. I also hope there is more about magic and fewer battle scenes in the next books. Looking forward to them!

Thank You Netgalley and Ilona Andrews for this opportunity.

This is a book on the power of remorse and how service towards others can offer redemption.

Hugh has spent a lifetime committing unspeakable acts of violence to please two surrogate fathers: first for Voron and then Roland.

Now he is no longer under the influence of Roland but still has to deal with the weight of his past.

The author does not white wash his history, which is realistic.

In Roland's absence, Hugh tries to make sense of what he stands for as a man and a leader.

This is in a sense a very late coming of age book.

In an understated manner, this story is also about the power of love.

For Roland, love is selfish and oppressive; he imprisons those he loves.

Thus far, Hugh has mimicked this as seen by how he behaves with Kate.

In the absence of Roland, Hugh learns what it is to love.

It begins with his feelings towards his horse, a dog and a small child.

As he goes about his routine: of fortifying his base, training with his soldiers, healing the injured, Hugh is able to drag himself out of his depressive stupor.

He discovers a range of other emotions like pride for his work and what it means to keep his word.

Do healers feel compelled to serve? This instinct was suppressed under Roland.
But each time Hugh heals another person he ends up repairing a part of his soul.

His feelings of loyalty and service towards his cohorts and a certain professional pride in his role as a preceptor guide his actions in the beginning.

Eventually, hugh learns that his own version of love is to shield and heal his people and protect the vulnerable.

He does not yet label it love, because he does not know what it is.

But eventually it helps him make redeemable choices for himself.

The is an amazingly engaging tangent in the Kate Daniels universe.

As always, the authors manage to pull off the make the previously thoroughly evil Hugh relatable. His actions suddenly have context and the reader can now have empathy with the character.

Love the female lead and the fact there are so many threads to explore throughout the 3 book series.

Ilona Andrews strikes a home run again. I was deeply suspicious of this book - Hugh is such a deeply evil, unlikable character in all his appearances in the Kate Daniels universe. I liked how Iron and Magic shows the flip side of being devoted to a cruel, capricious god. The aftershock on Hugh of losing Roland's blessing and powers reflects what people might go through after leaving a religion or cult where they used to be devoted believers. There was a little bit of retconning, with Hugh explaining the horrible things he'd done to Kate as not being what they looked like at the time. I could've done without that. But overall this is a really fun new spin on the world and I can't wait to see if the series continues.

Thank You Netgalley and Ilona Andrews for this opportunity.
(May this review represent beautiful and fragrant flowers at the feet of the authors, Ilona and Gordon, representing my love and adoration of their writing.)

Not going to apologize. I am as biased as they come concerning these authors.
And a might nervous at the moment. It's my first Netgalley score. And I got a book from my favorite authors!!!! WINNER right here! Excuse me...is that tiger blood flowing through my veins?
(could be. I did take a little quiz that the authors had posted a few weeks back and I got that I was a part of the PACK/Shapeshifter.)

So.....
my apologies if this review comes across as incoherent. Or amateurish. (that's a given. I'm not a professional. I just want to do right by these authors.)

FIVE STARS *****
In case you're not familiar with the story....
A couple of years ago, I believe, this little gold nugget of a story, started out as a freaking April Fool's Day joke. Because the authors have a great sense of humor, they posted a book cover with a sexy, muscle torso and blurb about a romance story involving Hugh d'Ambray. The character is not a good man. He's Roland's Warlord. He's done bad things. Very bad.
But guess the joke's on the authors? Because their readers wanted the story. And these authors are so kind to their readers that they supplied them with what the readers were asking for.
Here we are. Iron and Magic. And for me, knowing how this story came about just adds to my respect for the authors' writing skills.

Hugh d'Ambray. Roland's right hand man. Roland's Warlord. Roland is Hugh's life. His reason for existing. His god.
But Hugh failed. And Roland exiles him from his presence. Void ensues for Hugh.
So our story begins with Roland being a drunken nothing. His loyal people, the Iron Dogs, rouse him from his drunken stupor and inform him that they are being hunted down and murdered by Nez, Roland's left hand man. Nez is the leader of the Golden Legion, the necromancers who pilot the vampires.
Hugh has to protect his people and he needs a base, a place to shelter and feed them. The Iron Dogs are amazing soldiers/fighters. So who can they offer to help protect in exchange for shelter and food? This is where Elara, the Baile castle and the Departed (her people) come in.
By entering into a marriage, Elara gains protection for her people and Hugh gains a place to take care of his Iron Dogs.
Yay...that's when the fun starts. Marriages of convenience always go smoothly, right?

Elara. We don't get a clear answer of what she is. She has magic. We're given bits of information that lets you know that it's old magic. She's been cursed with it. She denies herself the full power of whatever "IT" is. As if she gives herself over to it then she will be lost. It's a very interesting mystery that should be revealed more in the next book.
Elara is called the Ice Harpy by Roland. They go at each other...consistently. But of course there's chemistry. And it's not just the physical. It's what I enjoy about these authors. They create characters who place more value on the right kind of character traits than just physical beauty.

The plot just flows. (not like this review) The action is nail biting and necessary. The main characters are complex and the side characters, as in all of Ilona Andrews' stories....support the plot, the action and the main characters in a way that I want their story too. example: Johanna (the deaf witch) and Stoyan (Hugh's first centurion leader).
Ilona Andrews never fails to add some mythical creature or creatures that intrigues me. (Erawan and the mrogs.)

This is a part of the Kate Daniels series. Ascanio shows up. And then Andrea and Raphael!!
Loved that part. Big reveal of Hugh's character is shown in this part of the book.

I previously saw this story labeled as Kate Daniels #9.5. Now it's labeled the Iron Covenant Series.
(happy clappy) that means more!! whoo hooo


The fact that Ilona Andrews took the 'bad guy' from previous books and revealed to this reader a character that I am rooting for and admire is amazing to me.
I am loving Hugh d'Ambray and Elara.

I cannot wait to read the possible scene between Hugh/Elara and Kate/Curran.

Ilona Andrews consistently writes engaging and exciting urban fantasy with romantic elements. First in a new series in the Kate Daniels Universe, Iron and Magic may work as a stand alone, but the backstory and setting hold together better if you are familiar with the world building.

Hugh d’Ambray, recovering warlord and formerly bound to Roland (big scary in the KD universe), is pulled back from drinking himself to death to save his soldiers from being eliminated by old rivals. Short on money and needing a safe base he agrees to a marriage of convenience with the mysterious Elara Harper, whose village needs protection from Roland's head vampire Wrangler Nez.

They don't like each other, but that's the fun part. You see them build respect and trust through their interactions without becoming nicer/kinder people. They are attracted to each other, but the chemistry shows up in their arguments, which continue through most of the book. And when they do start getting together, it's hot.

Lots if action on top of interesting character development, makes you feel like you want to know more about makes both Hugh and Elara and the side characters tick. One note, there are lots of hanging threads and characters you'll probably want to know more about (and may be frustrated by the little bits of information you do get). What's the deal with the Remaining, more about how Elara’s magic works, and every side character seems to have an interesting backstory you only get a peak at. While you may be left wanting to know more, it does not end in a cliffhanger, which I really appreciate as a reader.

I didn’t expect to love this book…After all, Hugh was the villain of several previous books. Also, the idea for this book began as an April Fool’s joke on the authors’ blog. Even so, I am a huge Ilona Andrews fan, and I will happily read anything they publish. And I was not disappointed. The characters, especially that of Hugh, are clearly drawn and defined. The plot is solidly constructed, and (as always), the authors provide a world that – almost feels like our own.

Love love this author. Wasn't sure I would like this book. both characters start off as unlikable but by then you are so drawn in that you can't wait to see what happens next. If you thought you knew who Hugh was you are in for a big surprise. I immediately started reading the book again as soon as I finished.

Ilona Andrews has done the impossible: they have managed to redeem the one character I previously thought was unredeemable, someone who seemed to fit into a perfect cookie-cutter villain archetype, someone who deserved everything bad coming his way. That someone was Hugh D'Ambray and his book - it is certainly more his book than Elara's - delves into his backstory, offering up all sorts of complicated nuances and color to what the reader had previously assumed was a black or white worldview. Astounding reversal and so well grounded! This is a breathtaking, spell binding work that expands upon the Kate Daniels series and adds a fascinating new character to rival Hugh, Elara - who is not just his equal but terrifying in her prowess. Fans of Ilona Andrews will not be disappointed - another masterpiece that will leave the reader excited for the next book in the planned trilogy.

As the description points out, Hugh was Roland’s warrior, but has been cast out, cut off from Roland’s magic and when we first meet Hugh here, he’s in bad shape. Hurting as he was Hugh didn’t fully grasp his Iron Dogs were loyal to him, not Roland. Now that they’re being hunted down, and murdered Hugh must get himself together, get his Iron Dogs back in fighting shape to meet the threat.

Elara and Hugh have things each other need to survive, Elara has a castle, food, and supplies Hugh’s Iron Dogs’ desperately need, and Elara needs protection for the people in her keep. To make their alliance believable they decide to marry. They hate each other on sight, Elara has already heard the rumors of Hugh and expects him to be a terrible man, and Hugh views Elara a cold harpy. This is a marriage of convenience, but of course I was hoping for it to turn into more! Love-to-hate relationships are so much fun and loved every verbal sparring match between these two! Really made things heat up!

Hugh was quite a despicable character in the previous books, so when I first heard there would be a book centering on him I wondered if I could ever view him as the “hero” or like him. Shouldn’t have worried because Ilona Andrews pulled it off splendidly! You don’t have to do this because there’s enough information to get the picture, but I did go back and skim through some of the events in Magic Rises (book 6) and Magic Breaks (book 7) to remember exactly what happened with Hugh, Kate, The Pack, and Roland. Some of his actions seemed unforgivable, but we were only looking at them through Kate’s eyes. Here we get Hugh’s motivations, and some important insight about Roland’s influence on Hugh here in Iron and Magic. It made ALL the difference in my opinion of Hugh and I ended up rooting for the guy!

Elara is likeable right off the bat, she’s completely loyal and protective of her people, strong and intelligent in her actions. Elara is also a person (?) of powerful magic, but she’s a mystery and I look forward to finding out more about her in the coming books.

The fight/battle scenes were exciting, full of danger, and action, and easy to follow. I was surprised and thrilled by what’s revealed about Hugh, his skills and powers. Elara is a bit of an enigma, not sure what she is yet, but I have some ideas. When she steps into a fight you take notice, and I was stunned by a certain villain’s reaction to her in the end!

Iron and Magic was fast paced and riveting! We get Ilona Andrews at their best, and what they’re known for as writers: exciting action, multi-faceted, compelling characters, interesting mythology, and of course my favorite: romance! I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book!

A copy was kindly provided by NYLA via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.