On the Edge by Ilona Andrews Narrator: Renée Raudman
Series: Edge #1
Published by Tantor Audio on January 7, 2010
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Length: 12 hours, 8 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
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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.
I read On the Edge the first time in a paperback from the library in 2011. I had just discovered Ilona Andrews and was devouring everything I could find they had written.
This time I listened to the audio version. Enough time has passed that I didn’t remember too much beyond the characters and the outcome. It was interesting time on the journey again. As the first in the Edge series, there is the building of the world and the types of magic, in addition to the characters. The stories always have battles and struggles.
Rose is our heroine and how could one not love her? She has worked so hard, suffered, and yet she loves and protects her family in such a selfless way. Rose is no shrinking violet; she fights well, even for those who disparaged her in the past. I was thrilled to get the stories of George and Jack, along with hers. We also get introduced to William.
Declan is the wealthy, handsome and talented guy from the Weird. I don’t recall feeling this way last time, but I did not like or trust him. I felt more closely to what Rose felt initially. They do have some fun banter.
Even with the dangerous and gruesome things which sometimes occur, there is a sense of humor and strength of spirit which carry these books to the top.
Narration:
I read the books previously and also the Kate Daniels series, except for Magic Triumphs and the Nevada Baylor trilogy of the Hidden Legacy series. So that was the first time I heard Renee Raudman. She is obviously a talented narrator and does distinct voices for the characters. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Renée Raudman
Renée Raudman is a multi-award-winning audiobook narrator. A multiple Audie Award nominee, she has earned a number of AudioFile Earphones Awards, including for The Last Secret by Mary McGarry Morris and Wesley the Owl by Stacey O’Brien, as well as a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award for Joe Schreiber’s Chasing the Dead. She has also performed on film, TV, radio, and stage, including the recurring roles of Jordon on ABC’s One Life To Live, Phyllis on NBC’s Passions, and guest-starring roles on prime-time TV. She has been heard in cartoons (The Simpsons, Billy & Mandy), videogames, and on the E! channel. Her narration of Homer’s Odyssey by Gwen Cooper was selected by Library Journal as one of the best audiobooks of 2009, and her reading of Marthe Jocelyn’s Would You was selected by the ALA as one of the best young adult audiobooks of 2009.
About Ilona Andrews
“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 Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.
They have co-authored several bestselling series, including the #1 NYT bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels, rustic fantasy of the Edge, paranormal romance of Hidden Legacy, and Innkeeper Chronicles, which they post as a free weekly serial.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Why have I never heard of this series?!! Excellent review, Anne?
I don’t know but it started earlier in Ilona Andrews career. I read it the first time 10 years ago. But it actually ties in to their current Innkeeper series. It’s fantastic.
I always love the book in the series and getting awestruck by the new worlds they write. I loved the characters and narrator, too.
I’m glad I went back and started from the beginning, even though it had me pushing the buddy read out. Thanks for hanging with me.
I love this book. Great start to the series. Nice review.
I really loved it again and it was great to revisit them since it has been nearly 10 years
So glad you are diving into this series. I loved it.
I love it too. I needed a refresh since it has been close to 10 years since I read it. I was happy to do it on audio this time, rather than paperbacks from the library.
I’ve been meaning to try Ilona Andrews’ books for ages. They always sound so amazing!
I’m biased but I think they are amazing. I hope you get a chance to try them.