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A review by ammiebelle
Iron and Magic by Ilona Andrews
3.0
Iron and Magic tells the story of what happens to Hugh D’Ambray after Roland casts him out in Andrews’ Kate Daniels series. Let me frank, the Kate Daniels series is one of my all time favorites. I reread it often and am very much looking forward to the final book, Magic Triumphs, that is to be released next month. So I was very excited to read about one of my favorite villains. And yes, Hugh is a villain.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I know it’s the first of three so I’m expecting that it’s going to take all three books for me to be completely won over by Hugh, but I think this is a good first step. The bulk of the story is the introduction of a new main character, Elara, through marriage and a new setting through a battle with a common enemy: Landon Nez, whom we have met in previous Kate Daniels’ novels.
Unfortunately there are a few things preventing me from giving it four or five stars. First, I have a problem with the retconning of Hugh’s feelings on shapeshifters. It’s drastically different from what we previously know about him. The authors try to explain it and I could see where some buy it but I wish his feelings changed based on the trilogy’s story arc rather than the reasons presented. Second, none of the secondary characters made a huge impression on me. In Kate’s world, the characters we meet are so rich and well drawn that I feel like I know them and can predict how they will react. Now, that series is nine books in so I can’t really hold Iron and Magic to the same standard after one book. I just wish that one or some of Elara’s or Hugh’s team would have stood out for me.
Even with these issues, I will read it again and look forward to the next installment. I want to learn more about Elara’s magic, her people, and their history. The snippets that we got were enough to intrigue me and make me want more. And yes, I do want to see Hugh become the hero. I’m rooting for him.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I know it’s the first of three so I’m expecting that it’s going to take all three books for me to be completely won over by Hugh, but I think this is a good first step. The bulk of the story is the introduction of a new main character, Elara, through marriage and a new setting through a battle with a common enemy: Landon Nez, whom we have met in previous Kate Daniels’ novels.
Unfortunately there are a few things preventing me from giving it four or five stars. First, I have a problem with the retconning of Hugh’s feelings on shapeshifters. It’s drastically different from what we previously know about him. The authors try to explain it and I could see where some buy it but I wish his feelings changed based on the trilogy’s story arc rather than the reasons presented. Second, none of the secondary characters made a huge impression on me. In Kate’s world, the characters we meet are so rich and well drawn that I feel like I know them and can predict how they will react. Now, that series is nine books in so I can’t really hold Iron and Magic to the same standard after one book. I just wish that one or some of Elara’s or Hugh’s team would have stood out for me.
Even with these issues, I will read it again and look forward to the next installment. I want to learn more about Elara’s magic, her people, and their history. The snippets that we got were enough to intrigue me and make me want more. And yes, I do want to see Hugh become the hero. I’m rooting for him.