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)

A Very Entertaining Listen

Very different twist on the paranormal/fantasy genre. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I wished the Weird had been developed more, however a very entertaining story. The female lead stay true to her tough girl facade but with a heart. The male lead wasn't overly demanding or brutish in his behavior. I would recommend, it is worth a credit.

The narrator did a fantastic job!

B+ rating....

My Review:
Overall.... 4.0
Performance... 4.5
Story.... 4.0

What an interesting new world. There are three layers of reality in this paranormal setting....the Edge, the Weird, and the Broken. The Broken is our reality and the Weird is where magic reigns supreme. Rose lives in the middle, the Edge.

Life is hard in the Edge for Rose. She has two young brothers who are just as magical as she that she is simply trying to keep housed, fed, and out of trouble... a task that is much harder than it sounds. Rose has learned the hard way that she can't trust anyone other than herself and her family. At an early age, she showed to have a special kind of magic...it's pure and something that all families want in their heredity. So the bluebloods...who live in the Weird...have tried to take her. By force and by coercion. It's never been about her...only her magic.

Then along come two new men into the Edge...William and Declan...who both have appeal to her. But she certainly doesn't trust either of them or their motivations for approaching her, regardless of what they say.

I like Rose...she is tough and is most certainly a fighter. It's exhausting to think about being her though. She can NEVER take anything at face value and that makes me so sad for her. She constantly has to look for hidden motives from everyone around her.

But I also really loved both Declan and William. Declan is an interesting character just because his background as a blueblood makes him so clueless on a certain level. But he never looks down on Rose. In fact, he's very impressed by her and sees her strength. He wants to know about her world and will do all he can to fit in and fix what's broken there. William has a different vulnerability to him. I loved how he connected with Jack and actually both boys. He feels real...even though it's obvious he has secrets...it doesn't feel like they are evil secrets ever.

Then there are the boys...Jack and George. Still so little but having to act so much older than they should. I loved them and both their magical skills and the way those played into the story. My heart broke for George during the second challenge, but wow...it made for some powerful emotion in the book.

Overall, this was a great intro into this world. I've already downloaded book #2 from my Audible account. I like that every book follows two different characters in this incredible world.

4 and a half

I really enjoyed this story but it moved slowly sometimes. Renee Raudman is good as the narrator. All in all thus is a very entertaining story. I'm getting the next book.

On the edge: The Edge, Book 1

The escape from reality was good. While the setting was magical it was not so farfetched as to be unbelievable.

Wonderful story

Great story flow, narrator was awesome. The characters were lovable and I cared about each one. It's a great twist on a boy meets girl with lots I didn't see coming.

A little dark fun

Okay, first ... am I the only one that was driven absolutely BONKERS by the way Raudman pronounces Éléonore's name? Elle-AY-oh-NUH-RAY? SO WRONG. It's like nails on a chalkboard to me. There's no accent on the last "e," it's pronounced Elle-ay-oh-NOR.

Anyway, now that I got that huge, canker of an irritation out of the way—this story has a much larger romantic element than the Magic Strikes series. It seems like Ilona Andrews had fun with the whole thing—world building and plot are pretty strong. The character development was not quite as strong as the other elements, possibly because of the world building?

Jack and George definitely seem to be the most well-rounded—I think we could have used more info about how Rose had fun or sought stress relief (because she would have had a breakdown if she didn't have some sort of vice or outlet). Rose and Declan have some fun interactions, but I feel like those scenes should have been expanded.

The whole story has a kind of dark, grim feel to it, but not to the point it's depressing or oppressive. Solid 4 out of 5. I'm revisiting this series after a couple years away and remember thinking that things get weird later on in the series.

Loved it!

Really enjoyed the book. I kept finding reasons to get away from people so I could go listen to the book. I thought is would be a fun book to share with my granddaughters.... and then.... drat it.... the sex scene!!! Felt it could have been left out. Don't get me wrong, I am all for rippling muscles, etc.., but the book didn't need it.. It was great without it.
Performance was superb!

This was pretty cute

On the Edge was a little somthing different. It was well written and the narrator was excellent. I enjoyed it, however I am not sure that I enjoyed it enough to purchase any sequels. It was worth the credit, though.

This is a okay story!!!!

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No...because the book seems to end at an odd place. It is just an okay story, and is a little hard to stay with.

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

yes.. because her other works are better than this one

What does Renée Raudman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Renee saves the story, and keeps me from going to sleep.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

NO...

Any additional comments?

It as if she did not put her all into the book... I love her other works better

Best story

Would you listen to On the Edge again? Why?

I have listened to this book twice.

What did you like best about this story?

Excellent story, I love the narrator and the author is one of my favorite.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend this book.