On the Edge

The Edge, Book 1

By: Ilona Andrews

Narrated by: Renée Raudman

Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either. Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn't turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off-the-books job in the Broken just to survive.

Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power). But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them - or they'll devour the Edge and everyone in it.

Spend some more time on The Edge.

©2009 Andrew Gordon and Ilona Gordon (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"[E]ngaging urban fantasy....Andrews has created a complex plot and convincing characters that will keep the pages turning." ( Publishers Weekly)

contemporary humor with a regency hero

I have exhausted the fantasy/paranormal romance genre and all the books are just bleeding together so it was refreshing to have something NEW and FUN with endearing characters in this little family like Jack... the authors must have kids. I actually went back to my Audible library and lowered my ratings on previous books in comparison to this one.

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE ROSE!!!

What made the experience of listening to On the Edge the most enjoyable?

It was a great magic book...I like books about alternate worlds and magical people...and this fi the bill 100%!

What did you like best about this story?

I loved Rose's spirit..she was sassy and smart, and really cared about her family and friends...and even people who did not deserve her care...

Which scene was your favorite?

The initial meeting of her and Declan...and I loved the meeting with the family at the ends...I also loved when Declan made the Will World for Georgie...that was a smart and caring way to show Georgie that life has to eventually end in a way he would understand...

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Georgie and all his reanimated lives..and how he finally went them go...One of them being Grandpa...and how Grandma had to say goodbye once more!

Any additional comments?

I listened to this for book club...and I loved it and will continue the series...I love a good PNR....this one fits the bill 100%, it is well written, narrated and has a very sweet HEA..I TOTALLY RECOMMEND, WELL WORTH YOUR TIME AND A CREDIT!!!

Great potential, but...

Would you listen to On the Edge again? Why?

I concept of this story was new and interesting! And like all authors, filler needs to be added to lengthen the book.

However, I found it distracting and not beneficial to the development of the story, when the author spent such a large part of the book discussing sexual fantasies!

A keeper!

Would you consider the audio edition of On the Edge to be better than the print version?

Never read the print version.

Would you be willing to try another book from Ilona Andrews? Why or why not?

Of course. This husband/wife team is awesome. They constantly come up with good ideas and have quite an imagination. I am never bored when I read fo them.

Which character – as performed by Renée Raudman – was your favorite?

Oooh I don't know on this one. Renee is pretty awesome at every voice so I don't think it is fair to just name one.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The Edge....where nothing is as it should be? (I had a real hard time coming up with that this time lol)

Any additional comments?

This is a good book. I would not hesitate to recommend it mostly because the second book in the series Bayou Moon is so awesome and you kinda need to read the first to get to the second. Reading a book from Ilona Andrews is always interesting and this book holds true.

Love The Edge series

I read this series well before purchasing the audio version. Narrator has done a great job making the audio version so enjoyable.

Good on the surface...

I am an avid reader of the Kate Daniels series. When I realized that Ilona Andrews had other books I was excited to read them. However this book feels like it was one of their early attempts. On the surface the story is interesting. A strong heroine, a gorgeous hero, and likeable secondary characters. The story itself is interesting and moves along at a decent pace. But the explanations regarding why the story was happening, what the motivations were for the villain, and a very abrupt change in the hero and heroine's relationship made for a story that felt more like a formula rather than a fluid reading experience.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the story. If I hadn't just finished the last Kate Daniels book which is very deep in its back story and solid in its mythology, this book may not have bothered me.

So, in summary, is it worth a credit? In my opinion, no HOWEVER if you find it on sale, it's a decent read and worth adding to your digital library.

Imaginative Paranormal Romance

I enjoyed this story more than I expected to. The story is entertaining and the world building is quite imaginative. I'm definitely going to listen to the other 3 books in the series even though Renee Raudman isn't my favorite narrator.

Enjoyable but flawed

(vague spoilers ahead) I actually really enjoyed the little world glimpsed in this book. The Edge refers to the overlap of two alternate versions of earth. Our world, the Broken, and a version in which magic exists, the Weird. However, I find it a little frustrating how little about the Weird we actually find out. It's strange how much the "Edgers" know about our earth, but so little about the Weird. I found this to be one overarching flaw to the story.
As pointed out in another review this is a romance, however one sex scene does not "chic porn" make. The romance plot actually runs parallel to the fantasy plot line. I think this is an interesting approach, however not amazingly well executed in this case. Rather than the book cohesively progressing, both plots were separately advanced and had very little effect on oneanother. The book felt like two separate stories being told together.
Essentially this story is a wonderful idea, however it winds up reflecting it's setting. Is it a Fantasy novel? Yes, but it's got enough romance in it to annoy non romance readers and you aren't going to learn much about the most interesting part. Is it a romance? Yes, but the romance is back-burnered for large sections. The story rides the edge of genres like it does the edge of world's.
I you like both fantasy and romance, and what I said above doesn't turn you away, then you are in for an interesting story with strong, caring, and selfless characters.

Typical fantasy romance but a good one

This book is as advertised, it is a fantasy romance with little in the way of surprises as far as general plot goes but what it does, it does well. There are a couple interesting twists within the story that one may or may not see coming and it details the daily life and world-changing adventure of a young woman raising her two brothers. Magic and a typical male hero intervene and shake things up with a backstory for he and she developing throughout the book. The heroine seems to me the best character and wields a genuinely enjoyable personality that brooks no injustice but is tempered with calm and reason. Thankfully her response to the dashing stranger is more original than his character and she is easy to like. The seeds are laid for a potentially compelling series and, while it is not the most original story ever, it is competent and will probably entertain most lovers of fantasy.

what ive been looking for

Where does On the Edge rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

one of the better books live listened to

Who was your favorite character and why?

one of the boys. they just remind me of myself. not always listening to the one in charge and wanting to play and do their own thing.

Have you listened to any of Renée Raudman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

this was my first

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

nope

Any additional comments?

didnt need to phyical sex scence, i think it takes more talent to imply it than actualy "show" it.