On the Edge (The Edge, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Ilona Andrews (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 29, 2009 | Series: The Edge (Book 1)

View our feature on Ilona Andrews’s On the Edge.

The Broken is a place where people shop at Wal-Mart and magic is nothing more than a fairy tale.

The Weird is a realm where blueblood aristocrats rule and the strength of your magic can change your destiny.

Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, the place between both worlds. A perilous existence indeed, made even more so by a flood of magic-hungry creatures bent on absolute destruction.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Andrews (Magic Bites) takes dysfunctional family stories to a new level in this engaging urban fantasy series opener. Rose Drayton and her two young brothers live in the woods between two worlds: the Broken (mundane smalltown Georgia) and the Weird (a world of strong magic and rigid social hierarchy). Those on the Edge between the two possess individual magical abilities. Rose has perfected her talent, a deadly white flash, and now the Weird's aristocrats envy her power. Is it a coincidence that vicious hounds invade to steal magic and destroy the Edgers just as Weird blueblood Declan Camarine demands that Rose become his bride? Though Rose rejects Declan's advances, the two must join forces to save her brothers and others on the Edge. Andrews has created a complex plot and convincing characters that will keep the pages turning. (Oct.)
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Review

"A fascinating world combined with pulse-pounding action and white-hot romance makes On the Edge a winner!" ---Jeaniene Frost, New York Times bestselling author of At Grave's End

--This text refers to the MP3 CD edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Ace; Original edition (September 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441017800
• ISBN-13: 978-0441017805
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (206 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,074 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times Bestselling author Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Portland with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.

You can read more about their work on their website: http://www.ilona-andrews.com

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#28 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

#33 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy

#48 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

#28 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

#33 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy

#48 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

209 of 214 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite book so far this year! September 29, 2009

By C. Vandehey

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Many readers will be familiar with husband and wife writing duo Ilona Andrews through their very successful Kate Daniels series. (If you're not, I highly recommend them, but that's another review.) On the Edge is the start to an all-new series from the writing team, one that many readers might view as "something to fill the time while I wait for the next Kate Daniels book". This would be an erroneous view to take.

I picked up On the Edge knowing I was in for good writing, but I thought I'd be able to read a couple of chapters and then put it down to make dinner. As it turns out, the spouse was subjected to frozen pizza for dinner that night, because I could not put the book down. When I finally had no choice (work, what a pest!), I thought about it when I wasn't reading. I couldn't wait to pick it up again and get back to the characters and the world. From the moment Rose and her two young brothers, changeling Jack and necromancer George appear on the page, I'm completely hooked.

Some world building background: The Weird is a world that mirrors our own, but with magic instead of technology. For example, their Airforce flies wyverns, not jets - but they do have an Airforce. They even have special forces. Our world, called the Broken, has no magic at all, and if an Edger stays in it for too long, they'll lose what magic they have, permanently. Edgers like Rose and her family are mixed blood descendants of both the Weird and the Broken. Many of them have magic, but not enough to be welcome in the magical Weird, and too much to want to give it up and go live a "normal" life in our world, the Broken. (If they even could - many of the Edgers weren't born in the Broken, and therefore don't have things like birth certificates or social security cards....) They survive on the Edge, a strip of land between the Weird and the Broken, stealing electricity from across the Border and using Ward stones to keep out the worst of the dangerous creatures the Weird deposits in their Wood.

Rose and her two brothers, Jack and Georgie, are among the most powerful of the people on the Edge. In fact, bluebloods from the Weird have been showing up for years, trying to steal Rose away so she can pop out highly magical babies for them (power seems to be a big part of the pecking order in the Weird.) But Rose isn't having it. When Declan shows up, she tells him what she told all the others - no, I won't sleep with you, I won't marry you, go away. But Declan is different. He doesn't try to force his way past her Wards - he offers her a challenge. Give him three tasks, and if he can complete them, she will belong to him. If he fails, he'll leave the Edge and never return. Rose reluctantly agrees.

But coming up with tasks guaranteed to make Declan fail is soon the least of Rose's problems. Evil, terrible hounds have started showing up and trying to eat people, particularly magical people, which puts Rose, her brothers, and their paternal grandmother Éléonore at the top of the list. Together, Declan and Rose have to stop them, or soon there won't be any Edgers left.

As with the Kate Daniels books, the worldbuilding here is top notch. You gain a very clear understanding of what things mean and how they work without a lot of big infodumps of exposition. It's just woven seamlessly into the story, like Rose having to pack up the guns to drive to Wal-Mart. Rose is the primary POV character, so much of what is revealed comes through her eyes. But occasionally we switch to someone else - one of her brothers, her grandmother, one of the other residents. These are invaluable glimpses as well. I particularly enjoy the switches to George or Jack. Although they are 8 and 10 years old, Andrews doesn't "dumb down" for the kids. They are intelligent, normal kids with heartbreaking problems - George can't stop himself from raising things he cares about from the dead - puppies, birds, cats, his Grandfather - even though it's slowly killing him to keep them all animated. Jack is a changeling; he can change shape into a cat, and he's subject to the instincts and whims of how a cat would think.

I defy you not to fall head over heels in love with them!

Rose has the rarest gift of all, something that makes her so coveted, she has to deter "suitors" with a shotgun. With their mother dead and their father long gone, it's up to Rose and her grandmother to raise the boys and give them the best life they possibly can. Rose has sacrificed her own dreams in the process.

But don't worry. Declan wants to give her new ones - of him! Gorgeous, arrogant, and powerful, Declan could easily be a stereotypical alpha male character, but he's not. Just as 3-dimensional as Curran or Raphael (of the aforementioned Kate Daniels series), he has his own story to tell, and his own agenda beyond Rose. There's also the mysterious William, a man Rose meets in the Broken who wants to date her, and not for her power. Each of them have secrets that are dangerous and important to the Edge's survival - and Rose's.

I can't say much more about On the Edge without giving too much away. But the writing is fantastic, gripping, and it's hands down one of the best books I've read this year. I can't recommend it enough. Read more ›

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars A quick warning for male readers February 27, 2012

By L. Walker

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Typically novels that have a 4.5 star average with over 100 reviews are as close to a lock as possible when it comes to a quality read. That wasn't really the case with this book. I should have taken a little more time when reading the reviews to realize that pretty much every review was by a female. As such, I was a little disappointed when this book had a bit more in common with Twilight than with a quality fantasy novel. Like Twilight, the female protagonist (Rose) is pretty much an empty shell. I have no idea what she looks like, other than that she is supposed to be attractive. Meanwhile, excruciating detail is supplied as to how Declan looks, smells, feels, sounds, and tastes. Simply way too much emphasis is placed on this that it becomes nauseating. The phrase "sandalwood musk" was used so many times I feel a compelling urge to now chop down every sandalwood tree I run across throughout the remainder of my life.

The premise, while interesting, does not develop into a plot that is captivating. The characters are all one dimensional, and the book is at times painful to read because it far too often sounds like its written from some awkward and unattractive teenage girl's dream diary. The way men pursue and treat Rose is borderline unbelievable. Declan has absolutely no flaws of which to speak, unless you consider earned confidence a flaw (which Rose does, for whatever reason). I know Ilona Andrews is supposed to be a male/female team, but wherever the writing from a former Army sergeant is supposed to be, I don't see it... unless he is charged with describing the battle scenes, which are almost as bad as the "fauning over Declan" scenes. Essentially, every combat scene can be summed up by Declan cutting a "hound" in half with his sword....

That said, I read the book in its entirety. It isn't horrible, it just isn't good. It's a formulaic female romance novel that just happens to be set in a fantasy world. I write this review because that just wasn't made clear enough when I saw the rating and read some of the reviews when deciding to purchase this book. I wouldn't recommend this to any male readers, or for any woman who isn't constantly day dreaming about a Prince Charming coming along and rescuing her from all of life's troubles.

Unfortunately, I bought all 3 available books in the series, but I won't be reading the second two. Within 15 minutes of starting the 2nd book I already realized I am about to read the same novel all over again, only with two different characters taking on the roles of Rose and Declan. A quick glance at the cover of the 3rd book showed me all I needed to know as to what exactly this series is and will continue to be. Read more ›

36 of 41 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Angieville: ON THE EDGE October 1, 2009

By Angela Thompson VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I let out a very undignified squeal when this unassuming package showed up on my doorstep completely out of the blue. I'm not ashamed to admit it. Here I am fairly wasting away for the fourth Kate Daniels book and then, swooping in like a risen phoenix, a brand, shiny new copy of Ilona Andrews' ON THE EDGE saves the day. The first in a new series, do we even dare hope to two Andrews releases per year a la Patricia Briggs? The two of them together easily top my favorite urban fantasy writers and this new book (and series) does nothing to shake those stats, I'm happy to say. As with Briggs' Alpha and Omega series, I think it's important to go in with a clean slate, so to speak, not expecting Kate and Curran but ready to embrace a wholly new world, and I think you will enjoy this book on its own merits.

Rose Drayton lives on the Edge--the narrow strip of land between the Broken and the Weird. Yes, you read that right. She and the two little brothers she's raising live a dangerous half-life in between a world where magic is myth (the Broken) and another where it is king (the Weird). Edgers, as they are known, have their feet in both worlds but don't seem to belong to either. They, unlike, the denizens of the Broken are aware of the Weird in all its incomprehensibility. And, unlike the inhabitants of the Weird, they are awkwardly connected t0 (even long for at times) the banality of the Broken. When she was eighteen, Rose was effectively ostracized by the whole of the local town for letting loose a stream of magic and then refusing to marry one of the hometown boys. With her parents out of the picture, two half-magical little boys to take care of and train, and determined to control her own life, Rose takes an illegal job in the Broken and attempts to fly under the radar. And it works.... Sort of. Until Lord Declan Camarine appears on her porch step, sword strapped to his back absolutely reeking blue blood Weird, announcing she will be his come hell or high water. Rose responds...less than favorably. And we have ourselves a story!

Once again Ilona Andrews plunges me into a fully realized world without a by your leave. And I love it. Like Kate's Atlanta it is full of complexity and contradiction and a wonderfully messy history. But it is also wilder, in a sense. Rose carries a rifle and she has to use it more than she'd like. The people in the Edge are almost clan-like in their politics. Feuds happen and they last for decades. Payment is harsh and exacted when and where the wronged party decides it will be. This series has a different focus than the more traditionally urban fantasy Kate Daniels series and, though in the end I didn't love it quite as much, I loved the world building and the children who actually seemed real to me. ON THE EDGE is definitely heavier on the romance side of the urban fantasy spectrum and, as a result, Rose and Declan's relationship is more central than Kate and Curran's in the Magic series. Occasionally the descriptions and general admiring of each other's forms got a bit cloying for me, but the nice thing is that they are both well-rounded, compelling characters. At first I wasn't sure about Declan. He does start out a bit looming, take no prisoners, you will be mine for my taste. But there is more there than brawn and arrogance. And it is a very intriguing more. As far as Rose goes, she's had it rough and is still full of fire--just the way I like my UF heroines--but (and this is key) she has the creds and the depth to back it up. She's tough and at the same time she longs for education and training to harness and develop her powers. But instead she spends her days flogging her guts out to support her little brothers. She loves them unconditionally and is determined their lives will be better than hers. I love how full she feels as a character. I believed in her and I liked her. As for the boys, Jack and Georgie, you won't stand a chance against their charms and that is all. There is that trademark humor throughout the story as well and it really held the whole thing together, especially when the particularly creepy elements started rearing their ugly heads. Read more ›