On the Edge

The Edge, Book 1

By: Ilona Andrews

Narrated by: Renée Raudman

Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either. Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn't turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off-the-books job in the Broken just to survive.

Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power). But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them - or they'll devour the Edge and everyone in it.

Spend some more time on The Edge.©2009 Andrew Gordon and Ilona Gordon (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"[E]ngaging urban fantasy....Andrews has created a complex plot and convincing characters that will keep the pages turning." ( Publishers Weekly)

Not what I expected, but pretty darn good anyway

I loved the Magic series and was looking forward to this book. While it wasn't what I had expected, I found myself enjoying the characters and the way the authors put you into the scenes so that you could feel the air. I loved the boys Jack and Georgie and Rose's love and commitment to them. I also enoyed this story as it at times felt like a historical romances that I used to read in high school. The strong rugged hero, Declan, and the not so much damsel in distress, Rose.
This book has all the classic good vs evil, with all kinds of twists. Throw in the crazy animals and grandparents and it is a good listen. Like I said in the title, I liked it.

Recommended for a winter's evening

An enjoyable read. Likeable characters, including the supporting characters. An interesting setting. And the narrator is very good.

"it's always the cover that stops me..."

I don't know why but this is the second time i have passed an Ilona Andrews book because of the cover. There is something off putting about it but years later as I was going through my wish list, I took a chance and as always I was sucked in by this book.

Rose has great magic within her but she also has the responsibility of taking care of her two younger brothers who both have interesting magic. She struggles to pay bills and take care of two young and impressionable boys. She is also unfortunate in the love department because of her magic as she is a prize that everyone is out to get by any means possible. Soon her world starts crumbling... there is something dark and powerful that is out to destroy her home. Unfortunately, before she can figure what is happening, she runs into two out of town men who both want to use her and have her. She quickly discovers that she is drawn to one as a lover and one as a friend. There is tons of magic, tons of action and tons of humor in this book. I really enjoyed all the characters esp Jack and George (Rose's brothers). At the end of this listen, I was ready to dive in to the next book in the series.. William's story

My opinion, anything Ilona Andrews + Renée Raudman is worth a credit....

Meh. Nothing to write home about.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Maybe it was too "young adult" fantasy for my likes, or maybe the romance component was entirely too predictable, but I found myself listening to On The Edge just to complete it. The underlying fantasy principle, particularly the 'three world' scenario (the Broken, the Edge and the Weird) was interesting and some of the magical components were innovative but I couldn't help but feel that, at the end of the day, this was a cheesy romance novel (geared towards a younger audience) with fantasy being a secondary element. I haven't read any other Ilona Andrews books but this one left me wanting more...more depth of characters, less predictable story lines and more true fantasy. It was an "ok" read - but coming of of other, much more (in my opinion) developed and complex story lines (i.e., Deborah Harkness All Souls series), I couldn't help but feel that this was just a 'junior' read. Again, this was my first time reading this author - so perhaps she writes towards a younger audience and perhaps she intends to write more romance than anything else, but it just wasn't up to par with other things I've been reading lately.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I thought the ending was entirely too fast and not very well developed. I had hoped that this was due to the other two books in the series taking off where they left off, but I later learned that the other two books are entirely different stories with just some minor character overlaps. I thought the book had a solid chance of (finally) meeting my fantasy expectations for the book once the Weird was a central focus but I was very much disappointed.

What three words best describe Renée Raudman’s performance?

No offense, AT ALL to Ms. Raudman, but her performance was what I least liked about this entire novel. Her voice was too gritty, to 'disinterested' for Rose and ended up making Rose (in my head) MUCH OLDER than she was in the story, which didn't help considering the fact that she was only a few years out of high school. Her phrasing of some key exchanges failed, in my opinion, to capture the essence of the dialogue. As stated before, I think the entire book was geared to a 'younger' audience - but if the narration had been better, particularly at some key moments, it could have lent sorely needed depth to a series of characters that were lacking in major substance.To her defense, Ms. Raudman did an excellent job of narrating the voices of Jack and Georgie and I enjoyed her performance as to the grandmother. I do think that her Declan role could have been much better (but then again, she was limited by the 'script' which I think could have been much better too), and that Rose could have been much more compelling had she been performed differently.

Do you think On the Edge needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Yes only because it was just at the point where some serious fantasy could be developed (after what seemed like 90% romance 10% fantasy).

Any additional comments?

I didn't hate this book but I don't think I'll read it again anytime soon. I also don't think that I am interested in reading the other two books in the series based on what I read here.

Enjoyable!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

What a fun listen! I was a little leary about this series at first. I love the rest of ILlona Andrews' other books but the official summary just didn't sound all that good. I was very pleasently surprised! It is much better than the publishers review! Interesting characters, unique story line and a wonderfully twisted romance plot line.

Have you listened to any of Renée Raudman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The narrator had a very nice range of characterization. She also has agreat grasp of the characters emotions.

Any additional comments?

All in all just a very interestingly fun listen! I am looking forward to book two.

Need to think about it

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It is engrossing, every now and then I pause and just think about it, during the action and pretty good story I feel a bit of harlequin romance sneaking out. It ended well and I bought the next in the series so I can decide.

Love the Edge series

Love the characters and the story. It’s original and an amazing read. I’ve read it a few times and listened to it a couple. It doesn’t get old.

Interesting Wørld ßuilding

I really enjoyed the wørld ßuilding, kinda parallel magic world, with the people living on the edge between the worlds adapting to go between. The magic system cool, I enjoyed the necromancer boy, learning to control the dead ravens, and learning that death is part of living, and although sad, death is not bad or evil, but is necessary for the circle of life.
I'm no longer a romantic, now that I'm an Øld färt, but I could do without the descriptive dry humping, throat tongue wagging & raw-dogging.

how very cool!

imagine a world next to ours that had some magic and another beside that was all magic!
I think it would be amazing.
This book is a wonderful description of these 3 different worlds and how the people from the middle live and get by. The things they need to do to survive esp with no ss# or birth certificate, imagine trying to make a living with no papers. it is definitely a parallel on being an illegal.
I think this world is extraordinary and the way IA writes about it, makes it being real a possibility.
worth the credit or money!

entertaining

Decent enough story, kept me interested. Narrator was very good, with the exception of having the worst southern accent ever. Fortunately, this was only a small part of the dialogue.