Format: ebook
Source: purchased
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Date read: September 3, 2025
Iron Covenant
1. Iron and Magic - Paperback | Kindle
Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
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1. Magic Stars
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Kate Daniels: Wilmington Years
1. Magic Tides
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1. Blood Heir
Roman's Chronicles
1. Sanctuary
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| Website | Amazon |
Synopsis (Goodreads):
Hugh d’Ambray, Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Warlord of the Builder of Towers, served only one man. Now his immortal, nearly omnipotent master has cast him aside. Hugh is a shadow of the warrior he was, but when he learns that the Iron Dogs, soldiers who would follow him anywhere, are being hunted down and murdered, he must make a choice: to fade away or to be the leader he was born to be. Hugh knows he must carve a new place for himself and his people, but they have no money, no shelter, and no food, and the necromancers are coming. Fast.Thoughts on Iron and Magic: No lie, I didn't expect to like Hugh d'Ambray when I started this book. I mean, I expected a good book that would keep me on the edge of my seat, but I didn't expect to LIKE the guy. I mean, we've seen him torture and kill and kidnap in the past and YET I WANTED HIM TO WIN. I WANTED HIM TO CRUSH HIS ENEMIES and do all the things warlords do when faced with an insurmountable task.
Elara Harper is a creature who should not exist. Her enemies call her Abomination; her people call her White Lady. Tasked with their protection, she's trapped between the magical heavyweights about to collide and plunge the state of Kentucky into a war that humans have no power to stop. Desperate to shield her people and their simple way of life, she would accept help from the devil himself—and Hugh d’Ambray might qualify.
Hugh needs a base, Elara needs soldiers. Both are infamous for betraying their allies, so how can they create a believable alliance to meet the challenge of their enemies?
As the prophet says: “It is better to marry than to burn.”
Hugh and Elara may do both.
To be fair (and to backtrack), Hugh is a product of his upbringing. He was shaped by Roland and Voron from the time he was a child and they made him an effective killing machine. When Roland ripped his power away from Hugh it broke him a little. He went from being a nearly immortal (or actually immortal maybe) warlord to a man who has a whole lot of battle experience, but no cause. The remainder of his Iron Dogs rallied him and gave him something to focus on (their continued survival), but he still had this gaping hole inside him where Roland's magic used to be.
So he made a deal to keep his Dogs alive, as any good commander would, and he and Elara were suddenly orbiting one another. Kind of like swordsmen. Because MAN these two like to verbally spar. The thing is that Elara and her people give Hugh a purpose just the Iron Dogs couldn't. Protecting them, keeping them safe from the bad things that creep in the night starts to fill up that empty place inside him.
On Elara's end, she agreed to the marriage with about as much reluctance as Hugh. These two are NOT friendly with one another at first. Sure, they both play the part of a happy couple for outsiders, but they do it only because their alliance benefits their respective people. Until, you know, it turns into something more. Not that either of them will admit it. I mean, fighting is their love language and they do love to argue.
There is A LOT going on here in addition to Hugh and Elara glaring daggers at one another. Elara's magic is powerful and dangerous (and a closely guarded secret). Hugh is more than just a warlord who's been cast aside and he needs to figure himself out before the things that go bump in the night get to them. There are deadly creatures in the forest, a castle (and her people) to protect, and a possible old horror trying to rise.
Like I said, I didn't expect to like Hugh, but here we are. I'm absolutely ready to see what happens next.
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