Audiobook Review: Iron and Magic by Ilona Andrews

Series:	Iron Covenant #1
Pub. Date:	July 19, 2018
Publisher:	NYLA
Narrator:	Steve West
Length:	12 hrs 51 min
Source:	Audible

So I kinda let Hugh slip through the cracks and let this audiobook sit on my to-read shelf for longer than I intended. I even finished the Kate Daniels series before checking out Hugh's story - and I was kicking myself back at the time for not reading this book before Kate and Curran battled Roland.

So its no secret that Hugh is the star of this spinoff series, and I am so happy that he is getting his own story(ies). I have been conflicted about Hugh for the longest time. When he was under Roland's thumb, Hugh did some horrible things. But I always was looking for the good in him, and every once in a while there was enough question in his motivations to see that he could possibly be redeemed. Now Hugh is out on his own, Roland having cast him out of the light. But Hugh had inspired loyalty in his Iron Dogs, and they come to force him from his drunken stupor and make him lead again. And lead he must, for Nes is killing off Hugh's former troops. So it was good to see Hugh start to build his own life away from Roland, even if it starts with a marriage of convenience.

Oh who am I kidding - I love a good marriage of convenience. So Hugh is in need of a castle, food and lodging for his Iron Dogs. And Elara Harper needs protection for her castle and people. Elara was an interesting heroine, and I still am not quite sure just what she is. Abomination. White Lady. Celt/Pict. Crazy creepy creature. But whatever she was, she definitely didn't want to bring Hugh D'Ambray into her life. So she didn't treat Hugh all that great in the beginning, and it made me slow to like her character.  But I did like Elara's uniqueness - her magical abilities were powerful and different. And once she did accept Hugh, things started going in the right direction and set the series up for more relationship building in the future.

I liked that Hugh and Elara were fighting battles on two fronts - one against Nes, and one against some lizard-armored creatures. I think the varying drama helped advance the plot at a good clip, and I never got bored. I even had The Boy listening to this one in the car at times, and he had to admit that it was a good story. (High praise since he usually makes fun of my books - it's a bone of contention, believe me.) 

So I hope we get more books in this spinoff coming soon! I want to see who Elara and Hugh battle next.

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