Review: On the Edge

On the Edge (The Edge series, book 1) by Ilona Andrews

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Edition Reviewed: Paperback
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: On the Edge (1)

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.

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Review:

On the Edge is a title that I both wanted to read and feared. Andrews' Kate Daniels series took a while to build up and hook me. So with that in mind, I thought that On the Edge might take a while to grow on me. Especially since this series is paranormal romance and each book will focus on a new character. The romance of the Kate Daniels series was really slow for me to connect emotionally. Which then made me think that On the Edge would not have enough time to bring the emotions. Now I may not have judged the book by the cover, but I was still judgmental! Even before turning the first page.

Yet again, shame on me! Andrews have really grown into quite the writing team! It's a fantastic mix of all the things I've come to love about the Daniels series. Rose and Declan have great chemistry and the shit that comes out of their mouths—especially Declan's—is perfect. It also has the best setup! Rose has some serious magic power and people from the Weird come over to make her make babies with them! So when Declan comes over to woo her the head strong Rose is not to be trifled with.

The world is just as cool as the Daniels series. The Broken is the average world we live in and the Weird where the magical world resides. The Edge is where Rose lives where magic and machine both work. Every tidbit revealed of this universe is like peppermint to a cat (or catnip . . . maybe it's just my cats that go crazy for peppermint)! The dynamic of all three worlds are so well thought out and realized. Andrews truly deserve a standing ovation.

This is one of the better paranormal romances out there, because the urban fantasy element is just right. The love triangle feels more like an after thought and it was just stupid. It didn't help that I really liked the third wheel, and until Declan waltzed in I was loving him to death! Other spots of the world were not explored and there were a few plot gapes. Oh, and Rose became a damsel just for Declan to save. Sure Rose helps him out, but it felt like Rose was stupid and put herself in danger just so that readers could swoon at Declan's white knight image.

In the end this is the best of what I love from the Daniels series, but I get the pay-off immediately! Declan is freaking awesome! Clever and slightly mouthy heroes are so much fun. Even better when the heroine can bicker just as smartly. On the Edge works great as an intro to this new world and even does a bit to setup the next book. The characters are well realized. It's the pleasure of any reader when it can be said that this world and it's characters feel real enough that you could walk out the door and meet them. Well done Ilona Andrews. Well done.

Sexual Content: Sexual humor, making out, bedroom scenes, and such. More on UF standard then raunchy PNR.

 
4/5- Great! Really enjoyed it.

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
On the Edge (1) Bayou Moon (2) Fate’s Edge (3) Steel’s Edge (4)	On the Edge (1) Bayou Moon (2) Fate’s Edge (3) Steel’s Edge (4)	On the Edge (1) Bayou Moon (2) Fate’s Edge (3) Steel’s Edge (4)