Great characters are great primarily when they are believable. It doesn't matter if they appear in a space opera or an urban fantasy novel with romantic undertones, if they are human or monsters, they need to be relatable and wear their humanity on their sleeve, so to speak.
This is what turns this novel into such a wonderful read. The main characters, despite their tremendous powers, are very human and that turns into emotional investment on behalf of the reader. They fight their issues the best way they can, sometimes stumble along the way, and are cautious because they know that their decisions have consequences. This is very rare in the urban fantasy genre: main characters who are reasonable, responsible individuals and I could fully appreciate it in this book. It you pile on that great fighting scenes, meticulous research of anything included (from various mythologies to metallurgy to ASL) a fascinating world and an interesting story, you end up with a great read. The story reads well by itself, though people who read the Kate Daniels books will appreciate the references. Also, the book closes with just enough loose ends for the sequel.

This book. Let me start by saying, I've been anticipating reading it since the authors put up a fake cover as an April Fool's joke. I'm apparently not the only one, since the overwhelming response from fans convinced them to write it. I am a huge anti-hero and villain fangirl, and Hugh was a pretty amazing villain. Part of my intrigue in this idea of giving him his own story was wondering how they were going to redeem him and bring him from villain to anti-hero. I was sure, if anyone could do it, it would be Ilona.

And I was not disappointed. This is not some watered down version of Hugh. This is still Hugh, the guy we all loved to hate in Kate's books, the guy twisted by Roland and trained by Voron. He is deadly. He is quick to violence, and he is not bothered by the worse examples of it. His redemption is done in small steps, and by the end of the book, he is not redeemed, exactly, but he is changed. He is no longer the same man who served Roland for so long. He has found something he cares about, and he's chosen his path. I don't want to say more because of spoilers, but it was done very well, and very believably.

Elara is a big part of Hugh's journey. At first, she is a means to an end. Then, a thorn in his side, albeit necessary. And finally, she becomes something more: his wife in truth. They are still finding each other, but this book makes it clear the path they are on, and that their marriage is no longer simply one of convenience and necessity by the end. Elara herself is a strong character (I expect no less from these authors). She would have to be, to stand with Hugh. What she is, is still a bit shrouded in mystery. But let's just say her power level is off the charts and she is VERY interesting in what she can do. I can't wait to see what happens when she and Kate inevitably meet.

As always in books by Andrews, the characters are all interesting and dynamic. The world building is top notch (as it should be, set in the very well established world of the Kate Daniels series). We do see some cameos by characters we know and love, but more than that I won't say. I try not to spoil people in my reviews. Overall, this book was every bit as amazing as I was expecting, and I can't wait for more.

Ah, Hugh... we first met him in the Kate Daniels series and let's just say he was a handful. During that time he ate, slept, and did everything for Roland but my boy made one mistake and was cast aside like old newspapers on the side of the road and everything he was, was no more. So we find him in Iron and Magic a hollow shell of his former self but the Iron Dogs remind him of his oath to them and he manages to move one step at a time for their sake and from there is a maelstrom of emotions.

The action is fast-paced and only gets better the more chapters you read... not only are his men being threated something else is coming out of the shadows and kill people but we have no idea why. I'm def looking forward to finding out in the next book. We see some new magical beings and some old faces that I wasn't expecting to see... Reading Iron and Magic was a great way to pass the time as we await the next book in the Kate Daniels series and I'm def looking forward to the next Hugh book. Elara is a welcome character and the banter between her and Hugh reminded me of the early relationship between Curran and Kate.

Def recommend!

The book is a new storyline in the world of Kate Daniels. Hugh D'Ambray, the main character, is one of the villains in Kates stories. If you love her stories you will love this new series.

Hugh is a cast out and no longer connected with Roland, his former master, who gave him life, purpose and absolution for every action he made. He is forced out of drinking himself to oblivion by his men – the Iron Dogs – to get his act together and be the leader they need.
Elara is a leader of a group of magical people who are in need of excellent warriors as she is expecting an attack by Roland. A match made in (personal) hell. Both do not like and trust each other but need each other.

It is a promising story and well and enthralling written. There are several unanswered questions but this does not take away from the story. It just leaves you "interested" in more to come. I really enjoyed reading the story and look forward to the next instalment.

I received an ARC of Ilona Andrews Iron and Magic, in exchange for an unbiased review. I love the Ilona Andrews series about Kate Daniels, and think that is one of the best Urban Fantasy series around. This new book is about Hugh D’Ambray, one of this series most awful characters. Hugh has tried to kill Curran, had Aunt B killed, and kidnapped Kate and almost starved her to death! How can he get his own book, since almost everybody in the series hates him, and Roland has thrown him out and he needs to find another way to live. So when I read that Hugh was getting his own book, I was worried, how can there be a book about such an unlikable character. But Ilona Andrews did it, and during the reading of this book, one learns enough about Hugh to feel sorry for him, and actually start to root for him. Amazing!!

The plot is that when Roland threw Hugh out, Hugh quickly hit bottom, drinking his way through several months, which is when this book starts. Hugh’s soldiers find him, tell him that Roland and Landon Nez (his head necromancer) have killed most of Hugh’s Iron Dogs (Roland’s elite troops). There are only a few hundred left, and Hugh has to save them. They have no money, no food, no shelter, and are being hunted and killed by Nez and his vampires. And Hugh has betrayed anyone he had ever dealt with before, so no one trusts him.

Elara and her coven have a castle and money from selling herbs and medicines, but she and her followers have also betrayed people, and have been run out of many towns for being witches. Landon Nez wants her castle, and will kill everyone inside to get it. They need protection.

So Elara and Hugh meet, get married, and are all living in the castle, trying to keep it from their enemies. And there are lots of enemies coming (including the fact that they hate each other as well).

By half way through the book, I started to like Hugh, and was rooting for the Iron Dogs and Elara’s people to win. That Hugh could be that likable was an amazing feat.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who likes Urban Fantasy, certainly everyone who loves the Kate Daniels books (and several characters from those books show up), but also to those new to this world. The book stands alone in the Kate Daniels world and you don’t need to have read them to enjoy this book. Happy Reading.

Wow. Wow. Wow. Did not want it to end. Can't wait for the next installment of The Iron Covenant Series!

I loved it so much. The chemistry, the banter, the craziness, the character development - it was all so wonderfully done.

I was so happy to hear they were writing Hugh's story, and am ever so glad they're turning it into a series! Ever since he was introduced, I had a feeling there was a lot more to him than being Roland's butcher. We get to understand him - the tortured, flawed soul he is - and we see his redemption play out realistically and, oh so, beautifully with the help of his people and kickass Elara.
Elara was a delight! She's powerful, interesting, and owns who she is. Everything I love about a leading lady. Though we don't really get to find out what that is exactly. Though I have a feeling the next installment will shed light on that and give us more insight into her background.

The ending is a HFN. There's no HEA yet. Their story will and must go on.

I highly recommend it. It's 'Kate Daniels' level good.
I expected no less from Ilona Andrews. Everything they write is absolutely awesome.

Love it! Another IA classic in the Kate Daniels world. It can be read independently, but spoiler alert for KD, so it is best read in sequence.
As always, IA eloquently paints pictures in our minds and draws the reader into the story and I couldn’t stop reading.
Hugh is such an interesting character that we loved to hate. Now we see how he wakes up from being brainwashed from childhood on and discovers what he wants to stand for and also has to deal with the fallout from his past. Elara is one cool and interesting lady, wrapped in mystery and old power. There are twists, turns and a lot of steam and quite a few open questions at the end, so I hope to read more about these two in the future.

A decent intro to the series, and I will still read all Ilona Andrews, but not as good as their usual - I love their new Hidden Legacy series from the beginning and the Kate Daniels series is still strong.
Going in to it, I was worried how they were going to redeem Hugh - and while there was a bit of back tracking, it wasn't nearly as much as I was expecting and he didn't suddenly turn in to a completely different character by becoming the hero.
I would have liked more explanations - there's no real explanation of the heroine's powers, her people, their conflict, or the mrog villains. I will definitely read the rest of the series, but would have liked more resolution in this book.

If you've read the Kate Daniel's books, you probably have very strong feelings about Hugh D'Ambray. Iron and Magic flips all of that upside down.
Hugh’s struggling to find his footing without Roland and save his people. He has an army of Iron Dogs with no resources and Elara Harper has resources and people that need protection. They put aside their hatred of each other to solidify their alliance through marriage. Cue the violence and comedy.
It was really interesting to get a glimpse into Hughs thoughts, it explains so much of his behavior. He’s done terrible things that he can’t take back, but seeing him deal with the repercussion's is a bit heartbreaking.
Elara is a breath of fresh air. She’s compassionate and sweet, but if she’s threatened she has no problem sinking to Hugh’s levels if that means safety.
Elara and Hugh's interactions are the best parts of the book. I laughed out loud way more than I thought I would with such a dark story. They're both hilarious and well suited to get on each other's last nerve. Between the sarcasm and sexual tension, you can't help but fall in love with this story.
If you’ve read the Kate Daniels books or if you’re new to this world, by the end of Iron and Magic you won't be able to stop yourself from rooting for Hugh and Elara.

This is a must read book. Buy it now. Ilona Andrews bursts into a new series with bloody savagery. Full disclosure, I was ambivalent about reading this book. I was not a fan of Hugh. He is this deadly weapon who just did what he was told. His constant attacks on Kate grew tiresome. To my surprise, Ilona Andrews wrote Hugh as the main character. Not only is he a main character, he finds a woman to possibly love. What is this tomfoolery? The fact that this book came from an April Fool's joke leaves me speechless. I digress. This book can be read as a standalone. However, it is best to read the Kate Daniel series to fully appreciate the character cameos and history of how Hugh fell so hard.

This book is amazing. Hugh is a villain. Or at least he is painted this way and he's known as a butcher. This story starts with Hugh at his lowest. He just wants to die. This is to be expected because Hugh's never been his own person for decades. As an ancillary to Roland, when Hugh's cut off, he is aimless. Some can claim he is lifeless. His life has no meaning since his god has not only abandoned him but completely shunned him. When the center of your universe is wiped out, how does a person survive? Not well.

Within the first chapter, I'm already switching sides and feeling badly for Hugh. As the second chapter progresses, I'm heartbroken. By the time Hugh comes to his realization about some harsh truths regarding his relationship with Kate, I'm tearing up. Hugh is an anti-hero on an epic journey of redemption. Make no mistakes, it has to be epic to overcome all the brutal destruction he has perpetrated. This first book is a good start. How does he start? He saves his remaining Iron Dogs and finds a home for them.

This is where Elara and her people come in. They are a resource rich settlement that needs a large military force to defend them. Both Elara and Hugh come into this partnership with baggage and demands. Neither one wants to share their secrets. I think Elara has more secrets than Hugh and I can not wait for hers to be revealed because what little has been shown has been mind blowing. I love Elara. She is a ruthlessly compassionate. This is perfectly matched with Hugh's effortless killing. They are so compatible with each other it is kind of awe inspiring. Their hostile mating dance is amusing because both of them are able to cut the other so deeply if they tried.

Romance and a rather graphic sexual scene aside, I loved the fortifying of defenses. There is something so appealing to me when I read a book focused on building defenses and working out offensive plans. My adrenaline starts pumping and I get all excited about how to out smart the enemy. Watching two very different groups coming together to defend their home as well as attack invaders is thrilling. Ilona Andrews excels in the vivid fighting scenes. I can visualize every fight and it is glorious. I even want to howl and join in the battle. What I liked about the fighting is that there is loss on the good side too. Whilst there is magic in the book, it does not mean everyone on the good side survives unscathed. This realism makes the story invokes more emotion and I feel more. I love when stories give me the feels. And all too soon, the story comes to an end. There are several subplots that are started in this book and will most likely continue or be completed in the next. I can not wait. So much happened in this story and yet I am still craving more. Like an addict, I'm hooked and antsy for my next hit.

There is one thing that kept catching my attention. I think my AP high school English teacher would be surprised that I remembered her teachings. There is a recurring motif tying throughout this story. It puzzles me and it is nudging me on the edge of my mind because it feels like it is something important. Yet I can't quite make sense of it yet. I feel like I'm missing the bigger picture because I can't decipher the recurring white theme. Is the white a symbolic representation that brutal monsters may not be evil and that they are a necessary evil? Something to think more about.

My final thoughts on this amazing story is that the dialogue is still sharp and cutting. I couldn't help myself with this slightly redacted monologue.

"You're replaceable. One day one of your helpers will kill you and take your place, and [redacted] won't blink an eye while [redacted] is one of a kind. Oh and his dick is bigger than yours"

This book is highly recommended for urban fantasy readers who love antiheroes finding meaning to life again.

I just have to say this IS SUCH A GOOD BOOK!!!!!! IT it's everything I hoped it would be, the fighting scenes are amazing, the sex scene was really hot, and finally I have an Ilona Andrews book I can shove at male sci-fi and fantasy readers without fear that they'll think it's "girl fantasy." (What can I say? Some readers are dumb.)

Worth every moment of reading...and every penny of the ridiculously low fee they're charging for it when it comes out.

It almost makes me want to go mark down all my other reviews because this book is so good it blows most of my other five star reviews out of the water.

To sum up: it's really good. You'll enjoy it.

This book was easily one of the best Ilona Andrews I've ever read.

A little background - I've been reading IA for about 4 years now. From both the Kate Daniels and Hidden Legacy books, I know generally what to expect when I open one of these - well thought out and factual fight scenes, thorough characters, and a meaty story arc.

This book was all that and more. IA's love of fantasy, mythology, and weaponry were out in full force and it made the story that much more immersive. The writing was flawless for the story line - I felt like I was there with the characters and this feeling wasn't deterred by the use of magic in the story. In fact, all of the elements served to make the book so captivating I read it in one sitting - it took me about 6 hours to read!!

More specifically, while I have read Kate Daniels on and off, I don't think I've read the complete series and yet I still got enough out of the book for me to understand what was going on, so I would say it works as a standalone if you at least know the basic plot of Kate Daniels.

My favorite parts/what really worked about this book were:

1) the mystery/intrigue. IA does an amazing job of getting the reader's curiosity piqued about character's backstories and histories. There's no cliffhanger, but I'm already in pain because I know I won't get my answers via book 2 for a while😫

2) the plot. Maybe I've said this before but what I really enjoyed was that IA lets Hugh and Elara develop and find out who they are in the greater context of the story. The urban fantasy part of the story is much more prevalent here than what I honestly was expecting, which I appreciated. In terms of UF vs romance it's definitely closer to UF/KD book one. That said, I'm excited to see where these two go in terms of their relationship and I can't wait to see how IA explores their dynamic in future books.

3) the detail. They say the devil's in the details and IA must be very acquainted with the devil, because they spend the perfect amount of time on detail. I got enough information to know what was going on and get a vivid picture in my head, but not so much where I was bored or tried to skip over scenes. The humor was placed perfectly and actually had the desired effect - I literally lol'd!

There isn't really anything about it that didn't work for me, I seriously had a great time reading this and can't wait to see where the series goes.

All in all, this was a great read that IA should be super proud of. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a new, immersive series!

I received this ARC for an honest review. I loved every word! I already crave the next book! I have always wondered about Hugh and how he became with Roland. This book finally help me to understand Hugh and his choices. Elara is the perfect compliment to Hugh. She helps him find his humanity even if she might not be. Elara is the heart of her people and her people are her heart. She gives so much of herself. Hugh and Elara's relationship had me laughing throughout the book. Their bickering at each other is their form of foreplay. I loved how the husband and wife team of Ilona Andrews write. I love their character and world building. You can clearly see and almost feel their world. You must READ this book. I finished it under a day. I am ready to beg for the next book.

It was so good I kept skimming through it, reading faster and faster. Then I went back and read it, not to proof it, but to make sure I had the full sense of it - sort of like sipping a wine you want to savor. It just carries you along with characters that make you care, and action that makes you keep reading to find out what will happen, or how it will happen.. I didn't think a book without Kate Daniels to carry it could be so good, capturing you with the characters, but this one is. It makes sense even if you haven't read the other books, as it does explain things, but it is much better in context.
I was impressed at how past events got explained, brought up, without dragging the reader down. It never seemed as if the dialogue for that was only there to help the reader. It all carried through quite well.
There were 2 typos that I hope they fix, as it stopped my going forward in the book until my mind figured them out, but I have noted them in remarks to the publisher.

This book completely ruined my day. I got sucked in yet again to another fantasy world causing the destruction of my own. At least for the day.

After being forced to take an involuntary step back from his relationship with Roland, Hugh D'Ambray is now exiled, broke and homeless, but not without company. He is still the Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, and what's left of his loyal soldiers are willing to stand with him...if they don't starve first. Hugh realizes they need more than what he can provide and strikes a deal with Elara Harper. Elara has everything Hugh needs to protect his people from Landon Nez, a former colleague of sorts, who has been hunting the Iron Dogs since Hugh's exile. Elara has her own issues with trying to protect her people as well. Her castle has the space and provisions, but she needs the protection Hugh's soldiers can offer if she wants to keep it, her people, safe from outside threats.

The catch? Marriage, of course! Go big or go home, right? Becoming allies is one thing, but they have to sell it or their enemies won't buy it.

Originally introduced in the Kate Daniels series, Hugh D'Ambray is the type of the character that frankly just pisses you off. With an ego as big as his sword, he is smart, cunning, and downright evil. Or so we are made to believe. Iron and Magic doesn't quite show us a "different" side of Hugh, but more or less gives us an insight into why he is like he is. We watch him replay past events in his mind and come to terms with his actions. But Hugh D'Ambray is still Hugh D'Ambray. And who would ever imagine Hugh as the marrying kind?! He's not exactly husband material, but he unconsciously begins to make connections with Elara and other characters. He doesn't quite understand it, and that's the fun part! Watching Hugh evolve and adapt is what made this book so engrossing.

Ilona, I don't know how you do it, but I applaud your writing. I believe it takes true talent (and guts!) to take a despised and ruined character and make us root for him despite still being a ruthless bastard. Bravo.

The story of Hugh is probably the most well written story of all time. You can smell the fields of battle. You can hear the sounds of war. The interaction of the characters is spot on. As a first story it has already sold me to buy the next book. The confrontations at the end are the beginning of a new chapter in the world of Hugh that I anxiously await.
If you are a fan of Kate & Curran at all, you have hated Hugh on levels that are epic. Read this, you need this story in your life. You need to see another side of the life of Hugh.

Oh. What a ride. I love this book.

I just finished reading it, now I’m writing this review and then I’m going to read the book again.

Hugh is an amazing character. I enjoyed his transformation, cheered when he was confused about his wife and his feelings towards her :) I love his horse. I love Hugh’s Dogs. And his dog too :). I adore Elara. Basically I like all the characters, they are so well written, just like Ilona Andrews always do.

I wanted to stay with them a little bit longer, I wouldn’t mind if the book had 1000 pages. This book has it all: action, sexual tension, great chemistry between main characters, friendship, family, sweet and sad moments.

I love it and highly recommend it. That’s all I wanted to say. Now I am going to reread it.

I was really excited about this book – there's no way for me *not* to be excited when it comes to new books by the Andrews' – but I was also worried I wouldn't manage to care for Hugh. He was responsible for some of the most horrid and emotionally wrecking moments in the Kate Daniels series, was responsible for the death of one of my favorite characters – you'll forever be missed Aunt B – and directly responsible for the torture of my favorite side-character – where is your novella, Christopher?

That's a lot of hate as a reader, and not easy to come back from. Redemption arcs are hard to pull off in any case, and I rarely feel like the villains truly redeem themselves enough to deserve their happy endings.

So I was worried the Andrews, no matter how great their writing is, wouldn't manage to make me root for Hugh, who I genuinely despised, and therefore not care about the romance. I'm glad to tell you that for me, they (mostly) pulled it off.

A good redemption arc has a couple of key components: genuine remorse, deeds of atonement, and a complete change of ways to be a better person. And probably most important, a compelling character you want to see redeemed. And to be honest, it took me a while to warm up to Hugh, because he's such a calculated character, whose emotions have been suppressed for so long, it's really hard to feel for him, especially because there's a lot of reminders to all the atrocities he's committed. But Hugh's relationship with Roland is expanded on throughout the book, and it becomes clearer and clearer that he was groomed, brainwashed and magically influenced to do as he was told. It would have been fair of Hugh to say he wasn't responsible, because he wasn't in control, and I think the fact that he still owns up to all the terrible things he's done, is the reason why I started to like him and root for his redemption. After all, if I love Christopher, and forgive him the things he's done under Roland's influence, I should also forgive Hugh. Especially when we learn everything that Roland didn't let Hugh feel about his actions, how much he masked and magically blunted.

It helped a lot that almost from the first chapter, I started noticing similarities between Hugh and Kate that really got to me. They both have a strong sense of loyalty and responsibility towards the people in their care. They're both recovering alcoholics. They pick up strays wherever they go (In this book alone, Hugh picks up a dog, a horse, teenaged boy and a little girl). And they're both shaped by the love/hate they have for their father.

It's as Hugh finally realizes two thirds in this book. Kate and he are the siblings they never got to have, and in another, kinder universe, they might have been.

What I also loved, was seeing Hugh with his people, the Iron Dogs, and how his care for them was one of his big motivations to change. One of the most interesting aspects of the book was seeing the people of Hugh and Elara slowly grow closer together and start to intermingle, and I genuinely hope for at least 5 more books in this series, because I honestly want to see them become one people.

Which brings me to Elara and her people. She's powerful, has a strong sense of responsibility towards her people, and isn't afraid of the big bad wolf at her door, because she's been seen as the big bad wolf herself her whole life. I really liked her, because she didn't back down and was willing to do a lot for her people.

The Marriage of Convenience trope is one of my favorites, and the book really didn't disappoint there, it was delicious to see Elara and Hugh have to work together, work through their differences and compromise. They both hold back so much, I'm also really curious to see how their relationship will continue, because they really have to work still on an open line of communication. But they're getting there, and I like how not all their differences are solved in one book.

It's not a perfect book, mostly I think because it's both the first book in its own spinoff series, and still has to resolve a lot of issues from the Kate Daniels series. It's packed with a LOT of plot and action, and some of that could have done with a little more room to breathe. There's two Big Bads (Roland/Landon Nez and a mysterious magical conquering force), one old conflict from Hughs life (yay for cameo's from the Kate Daniels series), and one old conflict from Elara's life (probably the Big Bad of future books). There is so much action and violence, which I normally like a lot in the Andrews' work, but sometimes the balance felt a little off. I genuinely think this will improve in future books, when we've moved on after the final Kate Daniels (no matter how much I don't want that), and Hugh and Elara and their people get to find their place in this world.

I want to yell about a lot of other stuff that was awesome, but honestly, that would all involve a huge amount of spoilers, so I shall refrain for now.

All in all, for the excellent beginning of Hugh's redemption arc, the way his relationship and upbringing with Roland was expanded on, all the strays he picked up, the delicious way the Marriage of Convenience was played out (and will be in future books), the intriguing crumbs we got to see of Elara's magic, people and past, the awesome aspect of seeing a community develop, and emotional confrontations with each other, themselves and their past... I really loved this book, and am looking forward to more.

*I received an ARC from Netgalley for my honest review.
WOW! This amazing book left me THIRSTY more Hugh! He’s definitely redeemed himself in this book (not that he really needed to be redeemed, this anti-hero is YUMMY)
Elara is an amazing character for Hugh.

Now if only the next book in this series will be released like tomorrow.

I received and ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was amazing. I have nothing negative to say at all. If you are reading this book you probably should read the other books in the Magic series by Ilona Andrews. This book could technically stand alone but you would miss out on a lot of world building and alot of background information about Hugh (the hero).

The book takes place in a post apocalypse world in which magic and technology come in waves. The author's of the book explain it so much better then I ever could so take a look at those website or read those books to find out more.

The main hero as you heard before is Hugh d'Ambray. He's an anti-hero if there ever was one. Readers love to hate him and hate to love him but we all do. He is hard and intense and make no mistake he is a villian. But he is a villian with his own honor system.

The heroine is the White Warlock, Elara. She's a monster in disguise but at least she has a set of ethics that revolve entirely upon keeping her peoe safe. When paired up with Hugh you can imagine what happens and it isn't love at first sight.

The course of the book revolves around the H and h and how they take thier two separate peoples and make them cooperate (is iron out thier contract). Through this they battle monsters, save children and animals and somehow develop a respect for each other.

I loved the book. It made me love Hugh and see redeeming qualities in him that I never thought were there. He found his perfect match in Elara and I can't wait to read more in their series.