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)

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.

Loved this book!

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

I love the way that Renee Raudman narrates! This was a great listen.

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

She's always great!

Wonderful Fairytale!

Sweat, cute and just grade . Could do without a step by step sex scene, but otherwise great

fantastic

Loved the story, voice, everything. What a great story start to finish. Well written and addicting.

Wasn't Sure...

Then I started listening. Great story and Great Characters. Looking forward to the next book.

I love this book

I love Ilona Andrews, and this book does not disappoint. The only issue that I have with this performance is the way the narrator pronounces Eleonore... it is pronounced El ah nor... she pronounces it Ela nor ae, it is so wrong. I even looked up the correct pronunciation in French, and it doesn't really change.. Otherwise, the reading was great.

Rated 10 years ago

I have listened to and read this book before. I just saw my past review and that was 10 years ago. That’s a lot of books between then and now and I still love the uniqueness of this storyline.