After being cast out by Roland, the former Preceptor of the Iron Dogs Hugh d’Ambray is trying really hard to drown his sorrows in drink. At least enough to black out, forget what happened, wake up, remember, and do it all again.

Finally waking from this stupor long enough to be somewhat comprehending, Hugh realizes that the men and women he once commanded are still there ready to follow him, and he also realizes the fight is not over as it seems someone has been hunting down what remains of his warriors.

Elara Harper is known to her people as the White Lady, blessed (or cursed?) with strong magic that is both revered and feared, she takes the protection of her people seriously. When her community faces threats from multiple sources, an agreement with Hugh and his Iron Dogs seems to be the most mutually beneficial option for both groups. But there’s only one way the pact will be taken seriously by outsiders: marriage.

If any of you follow Ilona Andrews (like yours truly, and I recommend it because they are delightful), you’ll know that this story started out as an April Fool’s joke a couple of years ago. Well, the joke was on them because an outpouring of fan enthusiasm ensued and being the awesome author lords that they are, Ilona Andrews have basically gifted us with this wonderful spinoff in the Kate Daniels world.

Now, I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure how Hugh carrying his own story would pan out. I mean he’s complete anti-hero to the core, he’s ok being the “bad guy,” he’ll use charm to deceive you into getting what he wants, and he had plenty of asshole moments for sure. I loved that these aspects of his character were kept intact. Honestly, he’s not here to be liked, he’s here to do a job: protect. And changing that would be a disservice to this intriguing character.

What ends up happening, however, is Hugh winds up pulling Elara’s people into his orbit, maybe not consciously, but he comes to take their protection seriously. We get so much depth to his character as we see his loyalty and honor–and seeing where his own loyalty and honor got him. But make no mistake, he’s always looking for an angle.

And Elara proves to be the perfect foil to Hugh. Their marriage of convenience was a wonderful way to get these two leaders to have plenty of sparring time. Both of them are used to leading in their own, different, ways and I loved every time Elara would outwit Hugh, something he’s not used to for sure. Of course all the animosity leads to some wonderful tension between these two, sparks flew anytime they had page time together, and I’m very interested to watch this slow burn romance play out.

I loved that Elara is kind of this new mysterious entity in this already established world. Ilona Andrews does a really good job of keeping Elara’s background cloaked in mystery throughout the entire book, only giving us little crumbs to glean what we can. I think this is smart because Iron and Magic definitely feels connected to its parent series (complete with some great cameos) and the final upcoming book. After Kate’s series is finished I look forward to continuing with Hugh’s because one thing Iron & Magic definitely does is open up the world.

Since Hugh’s story, and where he is at the beginning, is so connect to where he came from in Kate’s story, I’d say this one is better read having previously read Kate Daniel’s (trust me, you won’t be sorry). Ilona Andrews is a master at rehashing past events so readers can remember how all the pieces fit together.

I’m supremely impressed with what Ilona Andrews has achieved in Iron and Magic with Hugh’s story, and I honestly can’t wait for him to break away from Kate’s series even further to see what direction he goes next.

Wow! This was a great addition to the Kate Daniels universe! While this may technically be the start of a new series, Hugh and many others are characters we know. But this was an interesting look at a character who I didn't know,well, and,had surprising depth that I wasn't expecting. As always the world was fascinating, characters interesting and,the,plot was filled with plenty of action and intrigue. Great read!

The purpose of the book is to set the setting for a spin off series still in the Kate Daniel world and I am all for it after this book. Iron and Magic differs from the Kate Daniels series because the main characters are riddled with flaws and questionable morals. The main characters are more of antiheroes that grow into their hero role than shiny white knight and fair white lady.
Iron and Magic follows the story of the Preceptor Hugh d'Ambray, previous Warlord of Roland, and the mysterious White Lady Elara. This book switches POVs from Hugh to Elara however I would definitely consider this a Hugh book because Elara is still a mystery by the end of the book.
In the Kate Daniel books Hugh was vicious, ruthless, and cruel. While Hugh is still all of those things, we as readers are better able to understand how he got to be that way. We also get to see Hugh grow as a leader and person now that he is no longer Roland's Warlord.
Elara, a new character is the perfect match for Hugh. She is tough, witty, and loyal. Elara does not roll over for Hugh as so many other fictional characters do. She was a great character that experienced her own growth in the series but still has an undisclosed background story at the present which is all apart of the authors' plan in keeping their audience hooked! (it's working, btw)
Iron and Magic is a great start to this new series and I cannot wait to see what comes next. The side characters were plenty and could get slightly confusing but hopefully those kinks get settled in the next book and hopefully we get to see more characters from the Kate series. I will be purchasing the official book when it becomes available in June.
I received an ARC via NetGalley however this is 100% my own opinion.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have read every single book that Ilona Andrews has written, and my all time favorite is the Kate Daniels series. My perception of Hugh for all the times he was mentioned in this series has made me think of him as a war mongering, spoiled brat who has some serious daddy issues. When I discovered that there would be a book written about Hugh, I really did not know what to expect. I have to say that I was very happy with this book! Just as with all of their other books, I could not put this one down!



Hugh is reeling from the shock of being cut off from Roland and feeling like he no longer has a purpose. Unfortunately, Roland is systematically hunting down the Iron Dogs because they are loyal first and foremost to Hugh. Time for this Preceptor to sober up and be the man his men need him to be. He will do anything to keep them safe.

Elara Harper is a woman feared by so many due to the immense power that she has. Elara and her people have been chased off from one place or another because of this fear until they take up in Baile keep. This is now their home, and Elara will do anything to stay there.

Hugh needs a secure base while Elara needs muscle to secure their home from attacks. The solution? A marriage between these two! Too bad neither can stand each other, but they will have to put their differences aside because a powerful enemy is headed right for them.

<a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2018/06/25/iron-and-magic-by-ilona-andrews/" target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart</a>

Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

In my review of <strong>Magic Breaks</strong>,  a key point was I HATE Hugh. I burned with anger. I didn't just want him to die; I wanted him to suffer. It isn't just what he did to Kate, but also Christopher, and so many others.

Now, well, I understand him better. I still think he went from nothing to everything and the power of it corrupted him. He didn't think about the consequences to anything he did; I find it hard to believe he didn't know.  He didn't seem to <em>think</em> much at all. He's an action guy. His knee-jerk reaction is to think about himself. Still in <strong>Iron and Magic</strong>, I did want him to succeed pretty quickly. He actually starting thinking about others!

I devoured this book, starting just a short time after it hit my Kindle. I pre-ordered the moment I knew I could. Ilona Andrews is a well-deserved auto-buy author. It's the combination of character development and growth,  action, mystery and plot which works every time.  And they could even make me root for Hugh - WTF!

Elara is fascinating. I am glad this is the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/230437-the-iron-covenant" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><strong>Iron Covenant series</strong></em></a>, because there is much to learn about her. She is an interesting balance to Hugh because she thinks and cares so much.  Her rules and attitudes helped him to see another perspective. I believe we will see them both in <strong>Magic Triumph</strong>s, but how soon can I pre-order the next book?

I will start this off by saying that I absolutely love Ilona Andrews. Everything they put out is pretty much an automatic buy for me. This novel was no exception. I enjoyed it immensely. It was amazing how well they succeeded at redeeming one of the more irredeemable characters I've encountered. There were so many great things about this book but I will focus on the things that need improvement because I suspect there will be many rave reviews.

This book needed a better editor. There were threads that didn't make sense or were crammed in but did not really go anywhere. The book seemed unfinished. I think we get a reasonably good idea of Hugh and his antecedents, motivations, thoughts and feelings but I felt that Elara lacked depth. I never really get a sense of who she really is. So much of her back story is told in off hand comments here and there but nothing is really shown. The book ends and you are no closer to understanding anything.

The warrior creatures are similarly mysterious. Who sent them and what they were hoping to achieve was never explained. The motivations for the final battle were a bit confusing. I also would have liked if Deirdre was fleshed out a bit more. I think where I'm not fully satisfied is that so much is unexplained.

With all that being said I haven't cancelled my pre-order. I still intend to buy this book when it comes out even though I have already read it. I really did enjoy this book. It was fun and I think it suceeds well in its primary task of redeeming Hugh.

P.S. Bucky was amazing. I hope he appears in future books.

Oh! My giddy aunt! They did it. They actually did it. The writing duo of Ilona Andrews made me like Hugh d'Ambray. I... I didn't think that was possible even when they announced that they were for real writing this book and it wasn't another April Fools joke. Iron and Magic was everything I wanted it to be and more!

Reading this book made me realize three things: 1. There is a damn good reason why Ilona Andrews is one my favorite auto-buy authors, 2. I need the rest of this trilogy in my hands ASAP because I need more Hugh and Elara and their people, and 3. I am not ready for the Kate Daniels series to end. And preparing/setting things up for the end is one thing this book does.

I loved learning more about Hugh. I hated him in the Kate Daniels series but this book shows us that Roland's Warlord is human and has a heart under his brash exterior. He's starting to regret some of the things he's done but he accepts that those things are on his head even though he was just following orders. He is still first and foremost a Warlord and always will be. It's a part of him. And even though we get to see new sides of him, he's still kind of an asshole but I like that about him. The back and forth between him and Elara was amazing!

Speaking of Elara, that woman is bloody fascinating! She's powerful but she has a soft-heart and only does the things she does to protect herself and her people. I loved that she was willing to go head to head with Hugh frequently and didn't let him walk all over her. Elara can hold her own against one of the deadliest men in the Kate Daniels World and it is damn impressive. I want to know more about her past and her magic and why her people call her the White Lady. I'm going to be honest and admit that I ship her and Hugh hard. Their antagonistic relationship is everything! They were practically made for each other so thank heavens this marriage brought them together!

As fascinating as Elara was, I'm even more fascinated by her people. The range and variety of magic users we saw in this book has me wanting to know more. Also, I really want to know what happened that caused them to be known as The Departed. I want to know so badly! I'm equally as fascinated with Hugh's Iron Dogs. They have just as much variety in their ranks as Elara's people and I want to know more about the individuals. I found myself loving every one his Centurions and the Iron Dogs we were introduced to in this story. Their backstories are probably just as interesting as Hugh and Elara's. Let's just assume I want to know about everybody including Hugh's horse.

The plot was as action-packed and fast-paced as we've come to expect from Ilona Andrews. In my opinion, this is one of the best Ilona Andrews books I've ever read. It was amazing! Hugh. Elara. The Iron Dogs. The Departed. I loved everything about it! I can't wait to see where the story goes from here. I need book two in my hands ASAP!

(Don’t want to give anything away and rob you of the awesomeness that is the book so spoiler-free review! No plot/scene specifics no worries.)

Wow, Ilona & Gordon have done it again! The author lords sure know how to world build and bring you so deep into that world you have to struggle to pull yourself out (assuming you even want out). Iron and Magic lived up to every expectation I could have had for the first book in Hugh’s Trilogy. This book could be read as a stand-alone but you definitely miss out not knowing the back-story and familiar characters. It is a far richer reading experience if you have read the Kate Daniels series. If you haven’t read it, you should (as well as the Hidden Legacy, Edge, and Innkeeper series, listed in order of love ☺). It's amazing and is up amongst my top series of all time. I envy you the "first discovery" experience of the series & world.

I’d say this book has a darker feel to it and a slightly different tone then KD, while still distinctly belonging to that world. I was delighted with the other KD characters that made an appearance in the book. Like an old friend coming to visit when you’ve moved to a new town.

Ilona said there is sex and violence and yep, its got that in spades and it is so well done. The battle and fight scenes are unbelievable. Ilona and Gordon have a way of making you feel as though you’re on the battlefield. It is so vivid you can practically smell sweat, blood, metal and magic.

The relationship between Hugh and Elara is fascinating and I can’t wait to see what happens next. They ooze a combative, palpable chemistry. I’m telling you, the sparks are tangible. Banter between the two has the author’s usual wit and the tension between them builds and builds. And OMG the sex! It fits their rapport; rough, a little violent and super hot!

Character development is on point as per usual; the groundwork is laid for some awesome peeps (I heart Bucky). I’m looking forward to delving further into the supporting cast, as well as the history and lore on Elara’s side in future installments.

I was so happy that Hugh didn’t magically obtain a personality transplant and turn good guy, with all that's happened to him it just wouldn’t make sense. As villainy as he was in KD, I was definitely a Hugh fan. He is the assholey Hugh we know from KD but now we get to see behind the curtain. Various changes and developments take place as the book progresses. We get his back-story, how he came to be whom he is and he is dark, sexy, violent, complex and ruthless in all the best ways.

I understand what Ilona meant when she said this book was Hugh’s and the next would be Elara’s. While you get both of their voices and points of view here, we get a fair amount of Hugh’s story and past but only hints of the powerful Elara’s back-story, mystery still surrounds her. Elara is an intelligent, strong, snarky, worthy match to Hugh and compelling on her own. I’m eagerly anticipating reading about Elara’s past and future. I just loved her.

This was a exhilarating, kick-ass book with awe-inspiring world building, the perfect amount of romance/sex and an intriguing plot. I’m beyond ecstatic that it’s a trilogy. I can’t wait for the next book!

I received an ARC from NetGalley (happy dance). Thank you for the chance to review this!

To me, Magic Breaks sealed the fact that Hugh D'ambray was a truly evil and unredeemable character. Now after finishing Iron and Magic, I find myself rooting for him to have a happy ever after. Only Ilona Andrews could have made this possible while remaining true to the events that took place in the Kate Daniels series. Pure talent.

No spoilers in this review but Ilona and Gordon Andrews have done it again, a truly fantastic start to a new spin-off series, though I feel you can enjoy this story without having read the Kate Daniels series first. I thoroughly enjoyed this book where we learn what happened to Hugh d'Ambray following his abandonment by Roland, We're introduced to what's left of his Iron Dogs, gaining an insight into their hearts and minds along with, their depth of feeling for the man who's shaped and lead them through all those times we've despised him and them in the Kate Daniels series. There's also his new battle mount Bucky, who's white and prancing, rather than black and stomping, so tongue in cheek Mr and Mrs Andrews....lol. Last but by no means least is Elana and her people 'the Departed', yet another set of well rounded characters, full of magic and intrigue around their past. We also see characters from the Kate Daniels series linking in and hopefully leading to interesting future storylines. I would definitely recommend this book and who would have ever thought I'd be routing for Hugh d'Ambray!!

Iron and Magic is a spin-off from the Kate Daniels series, taking place roughly after Magic Binds. This first installment of The Iron Covenant Series features Hugh D’Ambrey’s story and explains where and what Hugh has been up to after getting cut off by Roland. Known to most as a villain who committed unspeakable atrocities, I wondered how his character was going to be redeemed and if it was even possible. All I can say is that Ilona Andrews has once again done the impossible, and I soon found myself on a highly emotional an action packed journey as Hugh struggles to come to terms with his previous actions and attempts to get out of the hellhole he’s stuck in after Roland’s abandonment. I like how the author does not just lightly brush off the awful things he has done and instead uses them to add another layer of depth into his character. As his people, the Iron Dogs, gets hunted down, he is forced to forge an alliance via an arranged marriage.

Now on to Elara, the White Warlord. That’s one scary bad-ass woman for sure, who can definitely give Kate a run for her money. I am dying to find out more about Elara’s powers and backstory- good thing we have a trilogy (hopefully even more) to come. This being a hate to love story, Elara starts out by pushing all of Hugh’s buttons to the extreme and driving him mad most of the time their alone. Yet they are forced to put on a show as a lovey dovey couple in public, adding an element of humor to the story as they banter with one another. The romance is slow burn but it is definitely worth the wait to see the sizzling chemistry between the unlikely couple develop into affection and care for each other.

The pacing of the story is perfect, and like every other Ilona Andrews book, the action scenes are impeccable, leaving you on the edge of your seat as Hugh and Elara struggle with their baggage and attempt to find a way to save both their people and their marriage. The cameos including Andrea and Raphael was awesome but I gotta say the ending was hands down the best. I’m already craving for the next instalment and can’t wait to learn more about how their secrets and powers are going to play out and affect each other. Hold on to your seats as it’s going to be one hell of a ride for sure.

I received this ARC from NYLA in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED IT!!! I’ve been anticipating Iron and Magic more than Magic Triumphs (what can I say, morally grey characters are my catnip) and I am in absolute agony I’ll have to wait another year for Iron Covenant 2

Iron and Magic is simultaneously the start of a new series, and a filler story for an already ongoing series.
1. Hugh and Elara’s story
2. An info dump for Magic Triumph.

Let’s focus on the latter first.

Clearly this book spells out some of Roland’s weaknesses that aren’t so obvious from Kate’s POV (**and probably to make his defeat in Magic Triumph seem more believable - because this is UF and I don’t see Kate losing, do you?) **

“We has beaten my father. We won the battle. We didn’t win the war. The war was still coming. But we had beaten him. He lost.” - Magic Binds

“It was the crudest assault known to mankind... Moron” - Iron and Magic

We see that Hugh and Kate are two sides of a coin, and know very different aspects of Roland. I look forward to the inevitable Hugh and Elara appearance in Magic triumphs.

**Also I really appreciated the scene where he spelt out what it meant for the pack with Jim as the Beastlord. **

I love Elara. She’s a completely different heroine to Kate, but just as wonderful. If Kate’s character at the beginning was a loner, slow to form connections in fear of the consequences of Roland; then “everything in Baile and the town revolves around Elara”.

I’m dying to find out what Elara really is, and I can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions.

This book is probably the steamiest the Andrews have written, and phew *fans self. I am here for it. MOAR.

Sidenote: Hugh is definitely a tits man. Also very fond of saying “my wife” for a man who was insistent on the marriage in being in name only ;)

Hugh and Elara. My god. Their relationship is built on mutual loathing and one-upmanship. And a hell lot of respect (begrudging or otherwise) for each other and their positions.

This book has some of the most romantic lines Andrews has written (of the infatuation-devotion-I need you- let me lay the world at your feet variety) but it never, NEVERS lose sight that Elara and Hugh are always looking for weaknesses to exploit. They may never choose to exploit them- but just in case; it’s good to have in their back pocket.

I wish this series was more than a trilogy (all set before Magic Triumphs), I want all the Hugh and Elara I can get.

Most of why this books works so well for me is that because it isn’t the beginning of a new series where all the world building is being set up from scratch, it’s just an addition to all the currently established mythos. (Also because we don’t take an entire book or three for the H/h to get together. Yay marriage-of-convenience trope! Bless you.)


4/5 Stars
#netgalley

I remember watching Wayne’s World the movie many years ago and watching Wayne and Garth bow down and yell “I’m not worthy”, kinda the way I feel after finishing “Iron and Magic”. You know Hugh as the horrible right hand of Roland and could never be redeemed right? If they did it would be some cheesy epiphany where he realized what a horrible person he was and decided to do better ……. Nope, this is Hugh and he becomes the ultimate anti-hero in this book and while mellowing a bit by the end he is still Hugh but not controlled by Roland anymore.

I kept expecting Kate Daniels to make an appearance and maybe save the day and he would swear his undying loyalty …………. Not even close. The relationship between him and The White Lady has to be the ultimate love/hate relationship with a lot of emphasis on the hate part.

What really keeps Hugh from being a monster aside from the removal of Roland’s evil influence which we get a LOT more information about that relationship than we ever knew from the Kate Daniels books. He is loyal above almost everything else, those Iron Dogs of his are what keeps him from just killing himself and we see a lot of things about that relationship we never suspected. He was not exactly a puppet to Roland but, in many ways, not far from it. Part of what makes this an amazing story is getting to know Hugh who was not exactly who we thought.

I can’t tell too much about The White Lady since she has a lot of secrets and it is exciting to find out about them as they are revealed. She is a match for Hugh in temperament and power.

There are several plots involved here as with most Ilona Andrews books and I won’t try to go into them since I feel a lot of it would border on spoilers so be careful about other reviews wanting to share too much, this is a book that is much better if you get surprised by the situations and solutions.

I can say that although I have seen nothing that says it will happen, I just can’t see any way to get the epic ending I want without Hugh and Kate teaming up in some way but since this is going to be a trilogy and Kate only has one book left I might be way off not to mention the fact that this is basically an indie type release where I am pretty sure that Kate Daniels belongs to Penguin/Ace publishers.

Bottom Line: Only 5 Stars because that is all I can post, the fact that I was totally satisfied with the ending even though this is book 1 is an amazing feat within itself, the story was addicting, innovative, imaginative (where the XXX do they get these ideas??), and I can’t wait to read the next one and a testament to a great ending is the fact that I am not screaming at the moon to get it. I am not worthy indeed …

I've been waiting for this "spin-off" book in the Kate Daniels series for awhile and it does not disappoint. Hugh D'Ambray was a delicious villain in Kate's books and getting into his head and understanding him better is a delight. Elara is such a wonderful match for him in every way, not just romantically.

Ilona and Gordon are wonderful writers, as always, and while I am sad to see the Kate Daniels main series end, I am so happy that they are writing about some of the other characters in that world. I hope to see more Derek and Julie stories as well, but this one is just too much fun and I can't wait to continue with this series.

Hugh d’Ambray, once Roland’s gold pupil, has be cut off since his actions toward Kate Daniels. His elite fighting group, the Iron Dogs, are being hunted and destroyed. There only hope is to find a fortress to call their own and they need Hugh to get off his drinking binge and form them into the team/family they’ve always been.

Search for a refuge, Hugh’s men find Elara’s castle in Kentucky. The provision for their truces is a marriage between Hugh and Elara. In turn, Elara will provide refuge, food and pay and Hugh’s men will protect Elara’s group of magically enhanced crew.

It is hate turn to appreciation relationship with a cast of characters that had me riveted to the pages.

Enemies new and old are willing to test this fresh partnership and its going to take everything they have not to become a victim, let alone not kill each other.

What can I say, if the writing team of Ilona and Andrew write it, I’m going to read it. That has lead me to some amazing and fantastical hours of reading and NEVER have I been disappointed.

I wasn’t sure I was going to love this spin off because its lead is a “misunderstood Warlord”, Hugh D’Ambray, but they even made him a character you can’t help but stand behind and cheer for... I know go figure, but there it is...

Then Ilona Andrews added a new and mysterious super power, “the White Lady, Elara and I was hooked! Can’t wait for more on her and what she truly lies behind all that mystery!!!

Once again, I was captivated by amazing characters, fabulous storytelling and crossovers that have fans of the Kate Daniels series swooning for more. I didn't want this novel to end, Ilona Andrews left me wanting more!

I received this ARC copy of Iron and Magic from NYLA. This is my honest and voluntary review. Iron and Magic is set for publication June 26, 2018.

My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Ilona Andrews
Print Length: 406 pages
Publisher: NYLA
Publication Date: June 26, 2018
Genre: Paranormal Romance | Urban Fantasy

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Magic-Cov...
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06/06/18: 5 Stars

Absolutely love the chemistry between Hugh and Elara..

I think they make a great couple. I never really liked Hugh, but with this book I have a new perspective on him and I can really relate to how he feels right now.. Some of his craziness is explained but mostly, he's accepted. He's going through his own personal hell and coming out better for it. Hugh is a genius tactician, which is clearly evident, but is willing to look at things from another perspective.

Spoiler: [I particularly like the scene where he and Elara discuss Europe. (hide spoiler)]

Elara is amazing, she has her own issues and responsibilities, but she never backs down. Once she has your back, she has it completely. Elara is a Badass woman. Do not mess with her.

The character development is amazing.. Ilona Andrews took a much hated character and by the end I was completely won over. The chemistry, the wit, the banter all amazing. The world building was on point.

Spoiler :
[There is a scene between Raphael and Hugh and I was totally team Hugh at that point. (hide spoiler)]

[Also, Roland is an ass hole... (hide spoiler)]

The end is just EPIC

Would definitely recommend. If you haven't read the Kate Daniels series yet, I would suggest that you read those up to book 9 first, then this but if can't for some reason or another, this works as a standalone.

02/06/18: Have got the book thanks to NetGalley and Ilona Andrews. Loving it so far.. So much is making sense and I absolutely loved the beginning.. Will update more soon... (less)

Loved the look at Hugh, we see so many more sides to him now. He’s not just Roland’s mad dog. He is a man, he starts out lost, no anchor. Then he meets a woman more than his match but he must evaluate his reasons, remake himself. I hope for more books not just in this series, but with these two at the lead. Well done.

4.5 stars!

Review
Ilona Andrews are one of those authors that can't seem to do no wrong, and they proved that once again with Iron and Magic.

Filled with interesting characters, pulse pounding action, and vivid world-building, Iron and Magic will leave you breathless with excitement. Fast-paced and well plotted with some of the best battle sequences I've read in my whole life, Iron and Magic exceeded all my expectations, and then some!

“There is a tried-and-true method of making an alliance appear secure,’’ Lamar said carefully.
Hugh glanced at him. "A union,'' Lamar said, as if worried the word would cut his mouth.
‘’What union?”
‘’A civil union, Preceptor.’’
‘’What the hell are you on about?’’
Lamar took a deep breath.
‘’Marriage!’’ Bale yelled out.
Hugh stared at Lamar. ‘’Marriage?’’
‘’Yes.’’
They had to be out of their minds. ‘’Who would be getting married?’’
‘’You.’’

Iron and Magic opens a few months or so after Hugh was exiled. Roland left him, taking away Hugh's lifeline to his magic and favor. He's become nothing but a shell of his former self, and a drunk who basically sleeps in his own piss and vomit. Hugh has hit rock bottom. Not only that, his Iron Dogs are being hunted one by one by Nez. It took a group of his loyal centurions to straighten him out long enough to broker a marriage deal with a mysterious group of people called the Departed, who're looking for someone to defend them against a threat by Nez. And I have to say, I felt some sort of satisfaction watching Hugh hit rock bottom.

It's not me being mean but if you must know, before I go any further: I didn't like Hugh in Kate's books. I legit hated him a few times while reading it. I was unimpressed by his posturing, nor was I amused or happy about his pursuit of Kate. So when Ilona Andrews said they're giving Hugh, not just a book but a spin-off series, I was hesitant. But in hindsight, after finishing Iron and Magic, I shouldn't have been because these two authors managed to change my mind.

Did they manage to redeem Hugh? It's a start. A really, really good start. And in a way, I'm grateful they didn't make him good GOOD. He's a gray character, and I think he will always be in some ways so their decision of not make him suddenly noble and good made perfect sense. And it served the story so well.

‘’If it helps, your prospective bride has to be talked into the marriage as well.’’
‘’Perfect. Just perfect.”

However, as much as I enjoyed reading about Hugh's turn from villainy to heroism, what made--or should I say--who made this book for me was Elara. Elara Harper was vaguely mentioned in Kate Daniels but I couldn't remember the exact book. I'm quite sure she was vaguely referenced there, if not by name, then certainly by reputation.

Anyway, Elara was the standout character here. She's mysterious and gave it as got as she got. She could go toe to toe with Hugh with no problem. And she's not a Kate-type character either. She's more subtle and she's hiding a truckload issues and powers I can't even begin to fathom. We're given sort of a hint of her abilities in this book but the range of her powers or the depths of her issues, and how she came to be and what she is wasn't revealed in this book. But based on what I've read so far, I can't wait to see where Ilona Andrews will take this character, because she is a wildcard.

‘’This marriage is in name only.’’
‘’Sweetheart, you couldn’t pay me enough.’’
Pink touched her tan cheeks. ‘’If you betray us, I’ll make you suffer.’’
‘’We haven’t even married yet, and I’m already suffering.’’
‘’We have that in common,’’ she snapped.

Now for the elephant in the room: the romance. If you're familiar with Ilona Andrews, then you would know that they don't really write straight up romances despite authoring my favorite OTP of all time. They write Urban Fantasy. That said, they're giving us one of my fave romance tropes ever and they did it really, really well. Hugh and Elara couldn't stand to be in the same room together. Elara doesn't trust Hugh, and vice versa.

And for awhile there, I thought their romance would never get off the ground because it was a slow build. But slowly, Ilona Andrews built up their romance in a way that, again, made sense for both their characters. Hugh will never be that guy who will fall immediately in love with someone and suddenly spout poetry. It's just not in his DNA. Same with Elara. And I'm totally okay with that. It made their eventual coming together worth it. And boy, was it worth the wait. Hugh and Elara burned up the sheets together. Honestly, I'm still blushing every time I remember their sexy time together. Whew!

‘’We’re newlyweds. If I threw you over my shoulder and dragged you into the woods, that would be overdoing it.’’
The image flashed before her. ‘’Try it. They won’t even find your bones.”
‘’Oh darling, I don’t think you’ll have any trouble finding my bone.”

As much as I enjoyed the romance between Hugh and Elara, my favorite parts of this book were the battles. There were two major battles in Iron and Magic and both were epic, the last battle especially. Vividly written and filled with so many character moments, these scenes were outstanding in every respect. It was tense and brutal. Not to mention, the stakes were sky-high for the characters. Ilona Andrews continue to impress with their battle writing skills. Don't even get me started on how awesome their world building is with its rules and conditions. I didn't think there was anything else that they could add to this world but i was wrong. They expanded this world and made it even richer.

Fans of Ilona Andrews will find plenty of things to love about Iron and Magic. Whether or not you were a fan of Hugh D'Ambray or not, this book is a must-read!

How to resist this new novel by Ilona Andrews? It is not possible. And when it comes to Hugh? It’s even less possible! So I was more than impatient to immerse myself in this story.

It took a little time for me to get into the story I must admit, but once in it, I could not let go before finishing it and I was curious to see what the authors were going to propose us.

We discover a strange alliance between two people who hate each other but who, to help theirs, will do everything, even to marry together. These two beings who can not stand the other, will indeed have to join forces to advance and protect their people.

It was very funny to see them both interact and exchange, while playing a role in front of strangers. Hugh will change with Elara and become a little different from what he was. I was also delighted to see Ascenio appear, but also Andrea and Raphael and even Roland. It’s always a pleasure to see them. And if we do not see Kate and Curran here, we hear about them several times.

It was a very nice spin off to discover and I always look forward to new novels from both authors!

As with all of Ilona Andrews books, Iron and Magic was compelling and almost impossible to put down. I was completely pulled into this story and didn't want to be interrupted for anything. It's one of those books that even when I wasn't reading, it lingered in my mind. I couldn't stop thinking about it and what might happen next. It's extremely action-packed. There were many times when I felt like I couldn't catch my breath, the action was so intense and unrelenting.

I'm not gonna lie, this was a dark and violent book. Disturbing and gruesome things happened that made me a bit squeamish. But there was also a lot of humor that seemed to come along at just the right time when things started getting a little too dark. And there were many times that I found myself laughing out loud. There was a good balance.

A lot of bad could be said about Hugh, but one thing you can't fault him on is his loyalty. I had mixed feelings about him at the beginning, but by the end I found that I really liked him. He's well matched with Elara. She's fierce, protective, and full of sass. Their chemistry was off the charts and their banter was so much fun.

I think it'd be best to have at least some knowledge of the Kate Daniels series before diving into this one. I've read quite a few of the those books, but am sadly a little behind. I didn't find myself lost at all though while reading Iron and Magic. It just made me all that more eager to read the ones I haven't gotten to yet, to find out all the details of how things got to this point.

Iron and Magic is a must read for any fan of the Kate Daniels series. I'm anxious to find out what happens next!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.