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)

Enjoyed!

Strong female character, well written story. The narrator was really good with most voices and tone and emotion, the slight distraction was the male lead, who came off sounding like an elderly man. It was not a deal breaker everything else was really good.

Solid, but a bit too much of the same

I enjoyed this urban fantasy, with its “Grimm fairy tale meets girl from the wrong side of the Walmart tracks” vibe. I didn’t find this book as engaging as the author-duo’s other series, perhaps because this is the fourth series in a row featuring:
📍Rene Raudman narrating (which I love… but not for every series by this duo)
📍an alternate urban fantasy version of modern day USA where magic and technology share time
📍a feisty, but socially awkward gal with a unique power
📍a charismatic elder, female relative of said gal (grandma or aunt)
📍a mysterious, dangerous alpha male who’s even more powerful than said gal,
and whose battle prowess comes with baggage

As much as I like all of those elements, the similarities tend to make these series blend together. Listening to this, I felt the butterfly effect and flashed to the Kate Daniels series and its theme of shifters going Lupe or its plots involving dangerous beasts from other dimensions… which then flashed to the Hidden Legacy series where demons are summoned from other dimensions and people attempt to force marriage alliances based on magic compatibility…which then flashed to the Innkeeper series with a feisty gal and, yep, another shifter and other-worldly, hidden magical threats.

Which is not to discourage listeners, as all of this author-duo’s series are varying degrees of awesome.
I recommend:
💥Hidden Legacy for the best blend of humor, action, and urban fantasy (also for the narrator switch after book 3). Romance is a multi-book slow burn and comes second to the urban fantasy/mystery procedural fun. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💥Kate Daniels for a more complex, dark, satisfying ten-book story arc. Romance again comes second to urban fantasy and the buildup to great characters takes several books (with one or two missteps).⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💥Inn Keeper for a campier, off-planet twist (admittedly, I’ve only done book 1 here)⭐️⭐️
💥This series when you want each book to feature a new H/h romance with complete stories set in the same UF world ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Romantic Urban Fantasy.

I'm a big fan of the Kate Daniels series so I decided to go ahead with this series. I really liked this book and am going to continue on with the series. I would classify this as a romantic urban fantasy book. Ilona Andrews is really gifted in their world building. I really liked Rose she was a sassy, kick ass character that had no problem showing her softer side to her two awesome brothers. It took me a bit for Declan to grow on me, only due to the fact that he seemed remote and prejudice at first. Once he shed his aristocratic ways, I liked him so much better. The villain was a bit cheesy but I thought the magic stealing hounds was a nice touch. Renee Raudman first pulled me in with her style for Kate Daniels series and I appreciated her nuance's that much better in this book. I really enjoyed her as a narrator.

Really good story :D

4-4.5 stars

This is a really good story. I liked Declan and Rose and enjoyed their combative courtship. This is actually the first book I read by Ilona Andrews but I wasn't on GR then and wasn't reviewing books. I liked it well enough that I continued and now Ilona Andrews is one of my favorite authors. :)

Rose is a young woman that's raising her 2 brothers, Jack and Georgie. Rose lives in a place called "the Edge" which is a place between the world of magic (called "The Weird") and a non-magical world (technology based and called "The Broken"). Rose has unusually strong with strong magic but it caused more trouble than it's worth and now she (rightly) has major trust issues.

Declan is a noble from The Weird, an Earl as well as a high level Constable of sorts. Declan goes to the weird for reasons that aren't exactly clear at first but he is clear in his intent to hunting a new threat that's appeared in The Edge. He's also determined to protect Rose and her brothers.

I wont go into too many details because I don't want to spoil anything but lets just say that Rose has barely met Declan when she tells him she wont marry him and to get off her property. Declan and Rose end up coming to an agreement in which he has to complete 3 challenges and if he does, she'll be his. Their initial relationship is combative and Rose and her brothers see him as an enemy they should be wary of. But when there are threats against the boys, Declan is instrumental in keeping them safe and that does tend to soften those that are distrustful and that includes Rose (if only incrementally).

The new threat in The Edge is a bad one and Rose's family gets involved, as well as other people that live in the Edge. As Rose and Declan work together to defeat this threat they learn to respect each other and even build a fragile trust. It takes some time and a lot of action but the threat is dealt with and in the end, Declan and Rose are together and she and the boys move to the Weird with him to start their HEA.

This was a really good story. I really liked Rose and her family and was very happy she found Declan who will give her the love she deserves. Declan seemed like a jerk at first but give him time. he grows on you. Overall, I really liked this story and would recommend it. :D

Loved it!!!

I can't wait for the next one! Pretty complex world. Hummm Walmart was included in a supernatural story. Got to love it :) Hint: make it soon please lol!

Great story, brilliant supporting cast

I expected a middling book to pass the time. I ended up with an engrossing story. This is a new author for me and probably not the last. I found myself totally immersed in the world and rooting for everyone except of course the bad guys. Well done with the "misunderstanding" between the protags.

Will keep you on the edge!

Rose Drayton led a peaceful life with her two brothers and grandmother in the Edge; a plane of existence outside our world. On one side of the Edge was the Broken; our world, where no magic existed. On the other side was the Weird; a magical realm where your magical power decided your rank. Things were fine until an evil presence that ate magic showed up in the Edge. Rose and her two brothers became targets. A man named Declan Camarine, a noble Earl from the Weird, arrived in the Edge to eliminate the evil. Declan met Rose, was infatuated with her, and wanted her. The story continues with the battle against evil, and the relationship between Declan and Rose. Declan and Rose make pacts to resolve their issues. It’s a fun story and quite interesting. A definite recommendation for the paranormal/romance fan. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

I keep coming back to this book

This is the fourth time I've read or listened to this book, and it's as good as it was when they wrote it. This book has a strong, smart, feisty heroine who takes no crap, and a hero who is worthy of her. The book is action packed, well paced, and sucks you right in. Even after having read it, repeatedly, before, I found myself staying up late to finish it (again).

This is the first of the Edge series, which feeds indirectly into the Innkeeper series. They're all wonderful. They can be read separately, but to get the most out of both, start here.

awesome intro to an alternate universe

this is the first book out four in the Ilona Andrew's Edge series. I've re-listened to Rose and Declan's story many times. It's always entertaining and each time I get a clearer picture of the magical edge between the weird and the broken, which is the common thread throughout the series. I don't want to give to much away, this book is fast paced, funny, heartwrenching, and with a love interest that isn't cheesy. the narrator is Renee Raudman, her range is impressive and her delivery is spot on.
definitely a 5 star book, and a great series.

I couldn’t stop listening! WOW!

I’ve been searching for a new series and new world to lose myself in. I can’t believe it took so long to find this amazing book. Incredible world building, rich and unique characters, exquisite voice performance, beautiful love story. I took a chance and used a credit to buy this when I found a later book through the magic section in romance. I’m so glad I did. Enough gushing; I need to buy the next book!