Review: On the Edge by Ilona Andrews

On the Edge (The Edge #1) by Ilona Andrews
Synopsis (Goodreads):

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.

My Thoughts: Major pause, people. This is one badass world we've been given. It's all dark and dangerous and it's not necessarily a nice place to live but the people who are born in it have a hard time giving it up. I love the division between the Broken and the Edge. One is like a old West town where they have no real law and where a show of strong magic guarantees you a little respect. The other is one where a woman with strong magic can be preyed upon like anyone else. It's a frightening change of pace that anyone who chooses to pass between the worlds has to deal with on a regular basis.

Rose is intriguing. She's dedicated to her brothers. She's incredibly powerful. She's lived in fear of being taken from her life since she first realized how people would use her ability. She hasn't had the best life either. A mom who checked out years before, a dad who bailed when he thought she could hold her own, one brother who doesn't understand how to separate himself from his power and a dead end job that she can't quit because it's the only way she can keep her and her brothers fed. Naturally, she suspects the worst when Declan falls into her life.

I kinda loved Declan. He has many different faces and he played them all so well. He's smart and powerful and he cares about the people who cross his path. His personal stake in bringing down the bad guy is heartfelt. Speaking of the bad guy, he's gross. Just... yuck.

Overall, I *really* liked the world we were given. It's complex and sometimes dark. It's full of characters that were interesting - from the main characters to the inhabitants of Rose's small town. I'm extremely intrigued by William and can't wait to see what trouble he causes in the next book.

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The Edge
1. On the Edge - Paperback | Kindle
2. Bayou Moon
3. Fate's Edge
4. Steel's Edge

Ilona Andrews
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