Brought to you by OBS reviewer Omar

ron and Magic starts with Hugh D’Ambray, Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Warlord of Roland the Immortal Wizard, Builder of Towers, and father of Kate Daniels, in a drunk haze covered in his own vomit and urine. After the events of Magic Breaks from the Kate Daniels series, were in a plan to try to get Kate to submit to Roland, Hugh got too close to kill her, and as punishment Roland strips Hugh from his power and blessing taking the warm and familiar presence that he knew all his life and leaving him alone and broken in the world. Now Hugh has an emptiness and hole in his soul that he tries to push aside every waking moment with alcohol to stop feeling that emptiness left by Roland. After Roland removed Hugh from his army, he learned that his militia, the Iron Dogs, didn’t follow his orders, they were actually loyal to Hugh as he fought and bleed with them; given that the Iron Dogs didn’t have a use for him anymore, Roland started to purge.

In the hope of saving the rest of the Iron Dogs, the surviving Centurions (leaders) of each Century (squad) of the Iron Dogs tracked Hugh down and persuaded him to put himself together and fight with them. Hugh accepts, mostly to fill the void in his soul that pushes him to suicidal thoughts, but also for the same loyalty that he has for the Iron Dogs. As a way to regroup and have a secure place for the Iron Dogs, Lamar, a Centurion, manages to make a deal to get a castle for them, but every deal or contract has a price, and the security and safety for the Iron Dogs will cost Hugh D’Ambray to get married.

Elara, the White Warlock, and leader of the Departed, the group of people from the community of the castle around it, needs protection and muscles to keep her people safe. Landon Nez, the Legatus of Roland’s Golden Legion, has been trying to make a bet for the castle and the land around it, the situation has escalated to the point where vampires have started to infiltrate Elara’s land. Dugas, Elara’s advisor, and Druid, got in contact and made the deal with Lamar that will be beneficial to both parties, and the best way to make everyone believe in their union was a wedding. What Hugh doesn’t know, or not yet, is the secret that nobody from the Departed wants to talk about, a secret that has to do with Elara and her magic, and a sector group, the Remaining, that used to be part of them.

Now that they are married, Elara and Hugh need to work together to secure the safety of the Departed and Iron Dogs against Landon and mysterious forces that seem to have taken interest in the communities around them.

“Next to him Elara stood, her teeth clenched. Okay. First things first. He would win this battle and then he would figure out what the hell she was and what he had gotten himself and his people into.”

SPOILERS!

I very much like the work of Ilona Andrews. For almost 6 years I have been reading the author-couple work and this time we get a different taste of characters within Iron and Magic. Readers meet Hugh D’Ambray, the Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, in the Kate Daniels series, which most of the readers didn’t like him. But Hugh has changed, he is no longer under the influence and warmed presence of Roland the Builder of Towers, being ripped off of the family and life he had all his life, broke him. For a fan of the Kate Daniels series, once I started reading the book and through Hugh’s POV, we see a broken man that has given up on life and just wants to make the void in his soul disappear. Hugh is different from the person we met before and I liked how the authors wrote the new storyline for him.

Elara is a mystery that I can’t seem to crack, I liked her character and the strange type of magic that she has, but most of all I liked how her community likes her. Elara’s magic is a mystery that seems to do many things, but there is a hunger to feed of from other’s magic that she needs to keep in check. At the end of the book we get to learn little more about her, but instead, we just get more questions and a great scene.

While Hugh and Elara were the main characters and I was excited to learn more about them, there were other supporting characters that I liked and want to get to know more. The Centurions of the Iron Dogs were a fun bunch of soldiers and I liked how they were a team and loyal to Hugh. Some of the people that work at Castle Baile are very interesting and also are quite magical, I also liked the character of Joanna and the reason she had to use ASL language. I really like the variation of magic users in this new series and how they all play a role in the storyline. One magic that I really liked was the collective magic of the Departed, the scene where they are as one was my favorite and it shows how odd they are to Hugh and the Iron Dogs.

“‘Have you gotten anywhere with the Remaining?’ Hugh asked him quietly. ’Nope. Nobody is talking.’ Lamar shrugged his wide shoulders. ‘Everything is great, everyone is friendly and welcoming, the minute we try to ask any leading questions, they clam up.’ He shifted on his feet. ‘You ever get a feeling we stumbled into a cult? Because I do’”

It seems that Kate Daniels was right, and Roland’s presence is not the best thing to grow up with. Over the course of the story of Iron and Magic, Hugh starts to realize that the magic that Roland gave him when he became his Warlord also change his morals and feelings of regret regarding the things he did, but now that Roland doesn’t share his power with him, he has started to doubt his past actions. Roland makes more of an appearance in this book than in the others, and we learned more of the reasons of why he wants Hugh back. We also get to see some of the type of army that Roland uses and might use against Kate in the future, Roland just seems to collect creatures and weapons from across the world.

Iron and Magic sets the storyline for what looks to be the series and I was surprised by the fact that there was more than one enemy. The snippets and summary give us the idea that Roland and his Golden Legion is the enemy of this book, but as the story goes on we learn that there are more enemies that threaten Castle Baile and the community around it. The author-couple Ilona Andrews has mentioned that for the last book of the Kate Daniels series, readers should read Iron and Magic beforehand because it ties events of this book to the last book. After reading this book, it does give information that will play a great part in the last Kate Daniels book, some enemies connect. SPOILERS. We also get an idea of what the future of the series will be and who is working against the main characters.

I liked Iron and Magic, the relationship between the main characters, members of the Castle Baile and the Iron Dogs, and the secrets hidden among all the characters. What I liked the most about this book was that I still don’t know what Elara is. The authors did a great job given glimpses of what she is, but at the same time not fully tell us, and we have to stick around and keep reading to find out. But really, WHO ARE YOU ELARA?

“Her voice came out cold. ‘Bring the cows.’ A shocked silence fell. The Iron Dogs look around, bewildered. ‘You can’t,’ Savannah recoiled. ‘For him? You would manifest for him?’”

If you are a fan of Ilona Andrews and their other series such as the Kate Daniels series, then I recommend you, Iron and Magic. In this new series, we meet a man that gets a second chance in life and tries to redeem his past actions, and also, we meet a woman that has a very dark secret but is loved by her people because her purpose is to create a home for them. Destiny and the need for security bring Hugh and Elara together in marriage, but time and their protective instinct brings them together in a new relationship that might fill that missing thing they never knew they needed.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

I’m going to try really hard to write this review with the minimum of fangirling. But, I am not guaranteeing anything. I can’t seem to help myself, Ilona Andrews (a husband and wife team) is my favourite author. I literally love everything they write, it’s like they know exactly what type of books, characters and worlds that will fascinate me and then craft an interesting story about it. Was Iron and Magic any different? No, I loved it.

Iron and Magic is the start of the Iron Covenant series and also book 9.5 in the Kate Daniels series. Having a new series set in the same world as Kate Daniels has be jumping for joy and maybe doing a little dance as well. I loved seeing it expanded outside of Atlanta and with a, mostly, brand new set of characters. However, if you haven’t read the Kate Daniels series and therefore don’t understand the world dynamics I could see how this book may be confusing.

But, now we come to the crux of why I loved this book, Hugh D’Ambray. Before this, we know him as a ruthless adversary to be feared and hated. He’s done some terrible things to characters we know and love. But, in Iron and Magic we get to see, if not a different side to him at least we get to see his character as a whole. His motivation and reasoning behind his actions. How being under Roland’s control for centuries has affected him. Andrews doesn’t soften him, he’s still the ruthless general he has always been. But now that intelligence and strength seems to be pointed in a different direction.

With such a powerful hero, the heroine of the story needs to be able to match him. And this is where Andrews brought in Elara Harper. You aren’t quite sure what she is apart from scary dangerous and full of magic, as well as extremely protective of those under her care. Elara and Hugh clashing was one of the highlights of this book. They are forced into a marriage of convenience due to a need to share resources as well as having a shared enemy. Both of them had finally met their match. And, although there was a little bit of resolution between them toward the end, it will be interesting to see their relationship develop as the series continues.

I loved this book, it was an Urban Fantasy that was brimming with bloody action and dark magic as well as hint of romance. Andrews has further developed the world created in the Kate Daniels series and I can’t wait to see what will happen next and how the two series will intersect in the future.

Hugh is a shadow of himself now that his master has abandoned him, but that doesn't mean the men he personally trained don't still rely on him. In an effort to save them, Hugh knows he must find them a defensible home. Elara is something not quite human, but she isn't enough to keep her people safe without help. Meeting Hugh could save her people, just as she can provide safe haven for Hugh's, but their forces combined together still might not be enough to save them.

I really, really enjoyed reading this story. Hugh is a nonredeemable character known for his cruelty and generally being truly evil. Somehow the authors managed to not only explain his past behavior, but did so in a way that doesn't sweep it under the rug. Hugh confronting his past and admitting his failures humanizes him in a way I didn't think could be possible. I ended up actually liking him by the end of the book. Elara is a different matter. I liked her from the beginning, however her past is still shrouded in mystery. I'm assuming she'll be better explained in a later book, but I feel like I wasn't able to get to know her as well as Hugh because of those unanswered questions.

The only thing about this book that disappointed me was the world building. This story relies almost entirely on my having read the Kate Daniels series to explain why the world is they way it is. I understand rehashing everything that Kate has learned about the world over ten books just isn't possible, but a bit more description on the shift and on some of the creatures now inhabiting the world would have been helpful.

Wow - this book completely threw me for a loop! Who knew that I had the ability to not hate Hugh, let alone begin to … like him? I’m a little conflicted about that fact, but it just goes to show you how well this book sucked me in.

If you are not familiar with Hugh, you should really go back and start at the beginning of the Kate Daniels saga. I promise you, it’s worth it. Assuming you have been along for the ride like I have, we join Hugh after he’s essentially been dumped by Roland. Since Roland was essentially his reason for living and breathing, he is in a bit of a tailspin. His remaining Iron Dogs end up finding him as he hits rock bottom and convincing him to help save his men. They are all in need of food, shelter, and some sort of motivation. To get this, Hugh must do a very selfless thing - marry and protect “the White Lady.”

The White Lady ends up being a woman by the name of Elara, who is… still kind of an unknown. She’s got devoted followers (much like Hugh) and has a lot of powerful magic, but she is under constant siege by people who used to be part of her community, her neighbors, and (newly) the leader of Roland’s vampires. She’s willing to follow her advisor’s recommendation and wed a man she doesn’t love, but she certainly is in no mindset to even care for him at all. This is all reinforced when they immediately find themselves sniping at one another.

It was pretty awesome to watch Hugh and Elara, who have so much in common, find endless ways to torture each other. It’s only by some miracle that they find some common way of working and, ultimately, a partnership that benefits them both. The stubborness is strong on both sides. In the end, I am completely on Team Hugh/Elara. I cannot wait for the next installment of the series and feel a little guilty for liking Hugh so much. At this point I’d feel really bad if Kate and him had to fight again.

Iron and Magic is written by the brilliant authors, and married couple Ilona Andrews. It is the first book of the Iron Convenant series, which is about the man we all loved to hate; Hugh D'ambray. He was a primary antagonist character from one of the best urban Fantasy series I have had the privilege to read (and reread) by the same authors; The Kate Daniels Series.

P.S: A little advice before I start this review, this book is a spin-off from the Kate Daniels series, while I can see this being read as a stand alone book, it would be much better, and enjoyable to read the former series, before reading Iron and Magic; this will help one get a better grasp on the character and part of his history. Now then, to the meat of my review 😁.
The book continues from where we last heard of Hugh's fate in Magic Binds, suffice to say the former antagonist is not in the best shape, after being magically purged by the man he viewed as his Father and God,(Ouch!)Roland, Kate's Biological father. The story took me on an immersive journey into Hugh's mind, hopes, choices, regrets, a glimpse of things that explained some of his decisions in the Kate Daniels Series, and of course his plan for the future, which includes marrying the obstinate, and alluring witch; Elera.
COUPLE INTERACTION
The dynamic of these two alphas in a relationship makes for an interesting, and sometimes amusing read. Neither trusts the other, they are too alike to compromise easily, and often get under each others skin in a way that made me the reader grit my teeth in frustration for them 😑😬. However, the volcanic back and forth of their fights got just a tad predictable, and repetitive for me, especially when comparing their interactions to the main couple of the KD series, Kate and Curran. This is likely becauseThe former characters had the opportunity to interact and grow without being constantly in each others face, unlike Hugh and Elera, who meet and continue their story under the same roof, without much space between them, I found myself tempted to skim some of their conversations (A first for me, reading any Ilona Andrews book), but held b as ck, as I didn't want to miss an important bit in the story.
ACTION AND SEX SCENES
The action in this book is phenomenal! I held my breathe while reading the fights, looked forward to the next ones, and could easily picture them happening in front of me. The fights were a bit gory, but not any more than what you would read in the Kate Daniels books, this blended nicely with the sex scenes(Our main couple despise each other, do the math 😅😁).
Ilona Andrews never fail to seduce with their love/sex scenes, and this is no different! It's just a bit raunchier than the scenes of KD, so you best be holding a glass of cold water ready lol. The sexual tension between the main characters grew hotter with each page, with a steady and readable pace, I was glad I didn't have to wait for a second (or third 😑) book to see some bed action. If you like very dominant males, with females that don't do submission very well, then this will definitely be your shot of whiskey!
SUMMARY

Overall, I'd give this book a 4 star rating. The one star I took off, is due to the predictable nature of Hugh and Eleras' argument, and one upmanship , which had me fighting the urge to skim through. Other than that, this book is brilliant! The story telling is paced just right, the new characters are interesting, and I was sad when I finished reading it, (So I reread it 😂), I can not wait for the next book!

I started reading the Kate Daniels series when I stumbled upon it at Borders (miss that place!). Probably like everyone else I was skeptical about a Hugh storyline, I didn’t know if I could get behind his story. Of course, I should have never doubted this writing duo! Only they could have made me love a story in which you are equally infuriated with the male character and sympathetic to his challenges. Elara was one of the many reasons I loved this story. She is just another example of the strong, take no s*#t, badass women this team writes. This book was a welcome addition to the Kate Daniel’s world and only increases my excitedment for the next book (and my love for all things that this husband and wife write)!

Really appreciate receiving this advance copy. Reviews left on Amazon and Goodreads.

In Iron and Magic, Ilona Andrews has taken the familiar characters from her Kate Daniels world and offered readers a chance to escape into a new story. This story is grittier than the Kate books, and more explicit, which to be honest, was not my favorite. What I did love, however, was the fast-paced yet exquisitely charted evolution of the two main characters. Stakes couldn't be higher and the story delivers over and over. A must-read for fans!

I'm a huge fan of the Kate Daniels series and the Innkeeper books, so I was really happy to see this.

Hugh d'Ambray has been shunned by his master. Obeying Roland is all he's ever known. As the Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Hugh has fought and killed at Roland's command. Since he was cast out, Hugh has nothing. Nothing but the desire to drink himself to death. He knows he needs to pull himself together. His Dogs need him. Now that he is no longer in Roland's good graces, he knows that Landon Nez will come for them.

Elara Harper (aka The White Lady) needs protection. She must protect her people from any threats. Someone wants her land and will stop at nothing to get it.

Hugh and his Dogs are starving badasses. Elara has plenty of food and needs protection. Sounds like a match made in heaven. Or hell.

I really liked this book. I love the characters and the magic is great. My only complaint is that I wish I would've finished all of the Kate books first. I will still read them, but now I know more than I should going into the rest of the series.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

You know am author is good when they take a character that is known by the reader to be a repeatedly horrible, asshole, and reveal him to be instead a flawed and complicated, but redeemable, man.

This book was AMAZING. I typically expect to love any Ilona Andrews book, no questions asked. This one though, I did go in with a slight concern. I HATED HUGH. His character in the Kate Daniels books caused so much hurt and pain to characters I loved, that I was really unsure if I would even be interested in an entire book about him. I am glad to say I was totally proven wrong though.

What does it for me is the no holds bar "banter" which in reality is actually 2 people trying their damnedest to annoy the ever living shit outta one another. They held no punches, and if I were either character I would have snapped at one point or another! LOL!

All in all this book was fantastic. It was funny, tense, surprising, and enjoyable. I will definitely be reading any and all future books written about these complex characters.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and the authors for an advanced copy for an honest review.

I LOVE Kate Daniels and I love everything Ilona Andrews, but I was scared to read IRON AND MAGIC because I just couldn't imagine that Ilona Andrews could make me like Hugh enough to read a whole book about him. I was wrong. I enjoyed every single moment, and I see Hugh in a whole new light.

We already know the overall world, but we now get to see a different slice than we're used to. Hugh is a giant mess when we start IRON AND MAGIC. He has always been a bit of a dark character, but we see him at his lowest and watch him grow into a man he can start to be proud of. Elara is a bit of a mystery, but she has a strong following of people that look to her for protection. It takes a while to really find out about her, but there wasn't one point in the book that I didn't like her.

Hugh and Elara are anything but a happy couple. You can feel their attraction, but they will do anything to hide it and make each other miserable. They bicker and banter constantly, but it was pure entertainment. Things develop slowly, but they are definitely moving in a good direction.

I enjoyed getting to know the side characters. The Iron Dogs and Elara's people mixed well together and it was neat seeing them work together towards common goals. We also get a visit from some familiar faces and I can't wait to see more familiar faces come together in future books.

I'm excited to see Hugh and Elara grow as allies and partners and I'm excited to see what Kate and Hugh can do on the same side against Kate's dad.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book rocks! Magnetic appeal to fans of their Kate Daniels series. Definitely a must-have for the Ilona Andrews fan and a pretty good introduction to the world for new readers.

Ilona Andrews continues their superb writing talents. They've made an anti-hero redeemable and paired him with the perfect companion (for him). Starting the saga with disillusionment and despair, then moving to redemption and challenge, it's a wonderful addition to their Kate Daniels world-building. In an alternate US, where technology or magic flood or recede, the books demonstrate how people adapt and thrive. Hugh D'Ambray, betrayed and abandoned by the person for whom he gave up everything, is forced from his search for oblivion by his troops. They're being systematically slaughtered and his sense of honor forces him to reenter the world to keep them alive. This search for a haven sends him to a small castle in an isolated part of Tennessee, where he meets the one woman who can provide what he needs and stand with him. In turn, he and his forces protect her and her people from the same foes. I am a huge fan of Ilona's skills; this is well-written, exciting, engaging. The superlatives come easily. If you've not read Ilona's books, I encourage you to start now!

What a fantastic book! Ilona Andrews is the name of a husband and wife writing team who consistently writes wonderful books! There are so many qualities that I can speak of when reviewing this book or in fact all of their books. The voice, storyline, plot twists, suspense, romance, character development are all pretty powerful and present in their stories.

Okay now that I have fangirled I'll get down the the basic review. This book is an installment in the Kate Daniels series featuring a previous bad boy villain. As the title gives you a hint, this story is a paranormal romance which takes place in an alternate universe where magic and technology are at war. This story presents sort of a first for Ilona Andrews; never before have they written a book about a true bad boy. They took a villain from previous books and made him the hero in this book. His redemption is very believable. The heroine is strong, a leader, and deeply protective of the people who she considers hers. The story begins with the couple at war, but they also develop strong bonds.

Be forewarned that as soon as you read this book, you will want to snap up the other books in this storyline. Happy reading!

This book began as an April Fool's joke 3 years ago, but has become the first in a series set in the world of Kate Daniels and featuring the Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Hugh D'Ambray, and the White Witch, Elara.
Hugh has so far been a largely unlikeable and dangerous character in the Kate Daniels books. At the beginning of this book, he is at his lowest point, having been rejected by Roland and spent the time since in an alcoholic haze. He begins what is likely to be a long journey to redemption and humanization, taking responsibility once again for the Iron Dogs , starting to understand and come to terms with Roland's use of him and starting to forge new alliances. The first of the alliances involves a marriage of convenience with Elara, in order to find a base for the remaining Iron Dogs.
Elara's character is as interesting as Hugh's. She is yet another of the authors ' complex kick-ass heroines and, like Hugh. experiences growth and development through the book. The authors alternate the points of view of Hugh and Elara, much more successfully than often happens.
The relationship between Hugh and Elara begins in necessity and distrust and grows towards passion and a true partnership. THe couple's alliance is stronger but the distrust and problems have by no means disappeared by the end of the book. Many other things, such as alliances with the shapeshifters and the nature of Elara's magic, remain to be resolved or revealed. I can't wait to learn more - or to get the next Kate Daniels book, Magic Triumphs!
I received an ARC through NetGallery and am voluntarily providing my honest opinion.

This is a perfect addition to the Kate Daniels series and a good example of how to turn the villain of a well-loved series into a hero. Although the story takes place in the KD world, it is a standalone novel that can be read without reading any of the prior Ilona Andrews' books.

Hugh used to be the warlord of a most powerful being. Having been rescued from a poverty and abuse as a child by Roland, he has been trained and molded to be his ¨hammer¨. Roland is everything for him: his father, his king, his god and his master. All of a sudden, he has been cut off from the one person that has given him everything and is left with nothing but bitterness and despair as he begins to understand and regret what he has done on Roland´s orders. He is however responsible for the men and women he commanded while in Roland's service. These soldiers are now being hunted and killed by another of Roland's warlords. With no options left, the only available path is a marriage of convenience to a little-known witch that is as mysterious as headstrong.
Elara is a witch revered by her people, but we do not know exactly what her powers are. She and Hugh are like water and oil, but they still are attracted to each other. She does not want to marry Hugh but needs him and his army to provide protection for her clan.
Regardless of their unwillingness to get married, they understand it is the only available solution to their problems. Is their shared sense of duty and loyalty to their people enough to start a marriage?

I really liked this book. I did expect to change my mind about Hugh, as IA have not let me down before, but I was wondering how they could find a partner for Hugh that can accept who he is and not be a total jerk. Elara is that person. The action scene writing was awesome, and the side characters are also very relatable. The not so good: there is so much left open! We don´t really get to know what Elara is or what she can do. I guess this means we will get more books, which actually turns this into a good thing. I also hope there is more about magic and fewer battle scenes in the next books. Looking forward to them!

Thank You Netgalley and Ilona Andrews for this opportunity.

This is a book on the power of remorse and how service towards others can offer redemption.

Hugh has spent a lifetime committing unspeakable acts of violence to please two surrogate fathers: first for Voron and then Roland.

Now he is no longer under the influence of Roland but still has to deal with the weight of his past.

The author does not white wash his history, which is realistic.

In Roland's absence, Hugh tries to make sense of what he stands for as a man and a leader.

This is in a sense a very late coming of age book.

In an understated manner, this story is also about the power of love.

For Roland, love is selfish and oppressive; he imprisons those he loves.

Thus far, Hugh has mimicked this as seen by how he behaves with Kate.

In the absence of Roland, Hugh learns what it is to love.

It begins with his feelings towards his horse, a dog and a small child.

As he goes about his routine: of fortifying his base, training with his soldiers, healing the injured, Hugh is able to drag himself out of his depressive stupor.

He discovers a range of other emotions like pride for his work and what it means to keep his word.

Do healers feel compelled to serve? This instinct was suppressed under Roland.
But each time Hugh heals another person he ends up repairing a part of his soul.

His feelings of loyalty and service towards his cohorts and a certain professional pride in his role as a preceptor guide his actions in the beginning.

Eventually, hugh learns that his own version of love is to shield and heal his people and protect the vulnerable.

He does not yet label it love, because he does not know what it is.

But eventually it helps him make redeemable choices for himself.

The is an amazingly engaging tangent in the Kate Daniels universe.

As always, the authors manage to pull off the make the previously thoroughly evil Hugh relatable. His actions suddenly have context and the reader can now have empathy with the character.

Love the female lead and the fact there are so many threads to explore throughout the 3 book series.

Ilona Andrews strikes a home run again. I was deeply suspicious of this book - Hugh is such a deeply evil, unlikable character in all his appearances in the Kate Daniels universe. I liked how Iron and Magic shows the flip side of being devoted to a cruel, capricious god. The aftershock on Hugh of losing Roland's blessing and powers reflects what people might go through after leaving a religion or cult where they used to be devoted believers. There was a little bit of retconning, with Hugh explaining the horrible things he'd done to Kate as not being what they looked like at the time. I could've done without that. But overall this is a really fun new spin on the world and I can't wait to see if the series continues.

Thank You Netgalley and Ilona Andrews for this opportunity.
(May this review represent beautiful and fragrant flowers at the feet of the authors, Ilona and Gordon, representing my love and adoration of their writing.)

Not going to apologize. I am as biased as they come concerning these authors.
And a might nervous at the moment. It's my first Netgalley score. And I got a book from my favorite authors!!!! WINNER right here! Excuse me...is that tiger blood flowing through my veins?
(could be. I did take a little quiz that the authors had posted a few weeks back and I got that I was a part of the PACK/Shapeshifter.)

So.....
my apologies if this review comes across as incoherent. Or amateurish. (that's a given. I'm not a professional. I just want to do right by these authors.)

FIVE STARS *****
In case you're not familiar with the story....
A couple of years ago, I believe, this little gold nugget of a story, started out as a freaking April Fool's Day joke. Because the authors have a great sense of humor, they posted a book cover with a sexy, muscle torso and blurb about a romance story involving Hugh d'Ambray. The character is not a good man. He's Roland's Warlord. He's done bad things. Very bad.
But guess the joke's on the authors? Because their readers wanted the story. And these authors are so kind to their readers that they supplied them with what the readers were asking for.
Here we are. Iron and Magic. And for me, knowing how this story came about just adds to my respect for the authors' writing skills.

Hugh d'Ambray. Roland's right hand man. Roland's Warlord. Roland is Hugh's life. His reason for existing. His god.
But Hugh failed. And Roland exiles him from his presence. Void ensues for Hugh.
So our story begins with Roland being a drunken nothing. His loyal people, the Iron Dogs, rouse him from his drunken stupor and inform him that they are being hunted down and murdered by Nez, Roland's left hand man. Nez is the leader of the Golden Legion, the necromancers who pilot the vampires.
Hugh has to protect his people and he needs a base, a place to shelter and feed them. The Iron Dogs are amazing soldiers/fighters. So who can they offer to help protect in exchange for shelter and food? This is where Elara, the Baile castle and the Departed (her people) come in.
By entering into a marriage, Elara gains protection for her people and Hugh gains a place to take care of his Iron Dogs.
Yay...that's when the fun starts. Marriages of convenience always go smoothly, right?

Elara. We don't get a clear answer of what she is. She has magic. We're given bits of information that lets you know that it's old magic. She's been cursed with it. She denies herself the full power of whatever "IT" is. As if she gives herself over to it then she will be lost. It's a very interesting mystery that should be revealed more in the next book.
Elara is called the Ice Harpy by Roland. They go at each other...consistently. But of course there's chemistry. And it's not just the physical. It's what I enjoy about these authors. They create characters who place more value on the right kind of character traits than just physical beauty.

The plot just flows. (not like this review) The action is nail biting and necessary. The main characters are complex and the side characters, as in all of Ilona Andrews' stories....support the plot, the action and the main characters in a way that I want their story too. example: Johanna (the deaf witch) and Stoyan (Hugh's first centurion leader).
Ilona Andrews never fails to add some mythical creature or creatures that intrigues me. (Erawan and the mrogs.)

This is a part of the Kate Daniels series. Ascanio shows up. And then Andrea and Raphael!!
Loved that part. Big reveal of Hugh's character is shown in this part of the book.

I previously saw this story labeled as Kate Daniels #9.5. Now it's labeled the Iron Covenant Series.
(happy clappy) that means more!! whoo hooo


The fact that Ilona Andrews took the 'bad guy' from previous books and revealed to this reader a character that I am rooting for and admire is amazing to me.
I am loving Hugh d'Ambray and Elara.

I cannot wait to read the possible scene between Hugh/Elara and Kate/Curran.

Ilona Andrews consistently writes engaging and exciting urban fantasy with romantic elements. First in a new series in the Kate Daniels Universe, Iron and Magic may work as a stand alone, but the backstory and setting hold together better if you are familiar with the world building.

Hugh d’Ambray, recovering warlord and formerly bound to Roland (big scary in the KD universe), is pulled back from drinking himself to death to save his soldiers from being eliminated by old rivals. Short on money and needing a safe base he agrees to a marriage of convenience with the mysterious Elara Harper, whose village needs protection from Roland's head vampire Wrangler Nez.

They don't like each other, but that's the fun part. You see them build respect and trust through their interactions without becoming nicer/kinder people. They are attracted to each other, but the chemistry shows up in their arguments, which continue through most of the book. And when they do start getting together, it's hot.

Lots if action on top of interesting character development, makes you feel like you want to know more about makes both Hugh and Elara and the side characters tick. One note, there are lots of hanging threads and characters you'll probably want to know more about (and may be frustrated by the little bits of information you do get). What's the deal with the Remaining, more about how Elara’s magic works, and every side character seems to have an interesting backstory you only get a peak at. While you may be left wanting to know more, it does not end in a cliffhanger, which I really appreciate as a reader.