On the Edge by Ilona Andrews – review

On the Edge is the start of the new The Edge series for Ilona Andrews, famous for the Kate Daniels series.  In this story, we have the Broken, a mundane world like ours that is juxtaposed with the Weird, a fantasy world of magic.  Along the border between them is a narrow strip of land that has some of the characteristics of both worlds and is called the Edge.  The people who live in the Edge understand some of both worlds but do not fit in either.  Ilona and Gordon Andrews have created a paranormal romance that has the best of both genres.  Rose and Declan are dynamic and interesting characters, and the magic they wield, and must face, creates a fascinating story that readers will thoroughly enjoy.

Rose has lived in the Edge all of her life.  Her rocky family history and exceptional skill with her magic has set her apart from the others who live in the Edge.  Taking care of her brothers has become her entire life.  When that life is threatened by the advent of a great deal of malevolent magic, strange occurrences, the loss of her job in the Broken, and the appearance of an oddly attractive aristocrat from the Weird, Rose refuses to back down.  She will face down an army of evil wolflings if need be to keep her family safe.  For Rose, her life is about to change in ways she could never have predicted.

I must congratulate Ilona and Gerard Andrews for crafting a paranormal romance that was not too sappy or full of oddly beautiful vampires like so many other books in this subgenre.  I found Rose to be compelling and real; Declan, while he is the obligatory good-looking hunk, is also much more realistically drawn than many male co-leads I could name.  The setting was both new and unusual, so I felt comfortable as well as interested to know more.  If you have enjoyed Rob Thurman, Patricia Briggs, or Kim Harrison, you will most likely enjoy this.  As for me, I am very much waiting for more stories of the Edge.