Audiobook Review – Iron and Magic (Iron Covenant, Book 1) by Ilona Andrews, Narrated by Steve West (5/5 stars)

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Length: 12 hours and 51 minutes (392 pages)
Publisher: NYLA
Release Date: July 19, 2018
ASIN: B07FNYX34C
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in the Iron Covenant series
Source: Audiobook from Audible.com
Rating: 5/5 stars

“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.

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.?”

This was a great start to the Iron Covenant series. This series features Hugh and Elara and takes place between books 9 and 10 of the Kate Daniels series. I enjoyed all the action and how that was balanced out with some romance. I always enjoy the Kate Daniels world as how it fluctuates between magic and tech.

This was Hugh and Elara’s story and it was well done. I loved learning more about Hugh and his background. Him and Elara enter a marriage of convenience for the sake of both their people, as a result they end up battling the enemies of both Elara and Hugh throughout the book.

I enjoyed the humor throughout and the awesome magic too. I did get a bit sick of the constant childish bickering between Elara and Hugh, this was heavy handed at points. However, it ends up being a great story.

Overall I really loved this extension of the Kate Daniels world. There’s a ton of action here and some steamy romance. I always love this world and enjoy the humor throughout as well. While this could be read as a stand alone, I would recommend reading the Kate Daniels series first to understand the history and background of this world and the side characters. Highly recommended to fans of urban fantasy.