
Narrator: Renée Raudman
Series: Edge #1
Published by Ace on September 29, 2009
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 340
Format: eBook
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.
On The Edge is the fantastic first book in The Edge Series by Ilona Andrews. I’m not one to reread books, but Ilona Andrews is one of a handful of writers I will reread. It’s been a few years since I first spent time with this series and I’m so glad to be diving back into it in 2025.
At one point in the book, Rose describes her situation, and it’s a great summary of the story. “Two weeks ago, life was a normal drudgery, and seemingly overnight, her stable world became the place where demonic creatures hunted small boys so they could eat them and the man she loved had to pick between his survival and the life of his best friend.” (page 238)
On The Edge introduces us to Rose and her brothers, Jack and George. They live in a limbo area between The Weird, a place where there is magic instead of technology and its society is structured more like an aristocracy; and The Broken, which is a place with technology and no magic. In the Edge, some people have some magic. Rose and her family have more magic than most people in her town. She is raising her two brothers because her mom died and her dad took off. Rose, like everyone in The Edge, is scrapping to get by.
I find Rose to be so easy to relate to and I enjoy her character from the first few pages of the book. She will do anything to protect her brothers. Ilona Andrews does an amazing job world building in this book. They are able to give you rich understanding without having a book that is six-hundred pages long. One of the most enjoyable parts of this book for me is Jack and George’s character arcs. Even though they are children, they aren’t just background characters. I love the changes they go through and how those changes affect the two adult characters who come from The Weird into The Edge, Declan and William.
Ilona Andrews subverts the damsel in distress trope in this story. Rose doesn’t need Declan, who comes from The Weird and says he wants to take her and the boys back with him. Rose has her own abilities. Declan acts high-handed at first, and we, the readers and Rose assume things about him. We also assume negative things about William, but in this case, if you are familiar with Ilona Andrews writing, you know if anyone can redeem a morally gray character, it’s them.
Small spoiler before I finish my review. When I got to the end of this book, I was so happy I’d misremembered Rose’s grandmother dying! I’ve already borrowed the second book in the series Bayou Moon.
If you’ve read On The Edge what were your favorite parts? The second challenge with George and the foxes, and when Jack and William meet, made me tear up. Both of those scenes are so lovely.
Before I go, I have to share this passage from the book (readers frequently highlighted this)
“Even the most resilient people are fragile. Life isn’t about dying or not dying. It’s about living well, George. Living so you can be proud and happy.” (page 213)
Let’s take that energy with us into 2025!
Share your review/ thoughts for On the Edge:
I thought it might be fun to link up reviews so we can find them all easily. It can be a link to Goodreads or a blog, or wherever you have a review (short or long).
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COYER Challenge is adopting our Read-along. You can read about COYER and join that challenge HERE. On the Sunday after the review posts, they will host a Google meeting (like we do for COYER book club) at 12 PT, 2 CT, 3 ET and 9pm Europe, for a one hour chat. So the first one will be January 19. COYER is moving from Facebook to Discord. The Google meeting chat is HERE.
Here’s your to-do list:
- Find your copies of these books, borrow them from a friend, get them at the library or buy them. The first 3 Edge audios are currently in Audible Plus.
- Sign up to join the Read-along
- Join the chat on Sunday!
- Read book 2 Bayou Moon by February 21
- Look to the COYER event or the blog Facebook page for pacing schedules. These are moving to Discord.
- Make note of a favorite quote or two as you read the book. I REALLY hope you all will contribute your quotes to the rafflecopters and participate in the chats, as we have great prizes.
- If you haven’t read the books before, make a list of questions you have for the discussion. If you have read them, please don’t spoil new readers.
- Enter the giveaways!
Games:
Who said (enter the answer in the Rafflecopter, don’t put in the comments)
Who said “You want to complain? You go right ahead. Who the fuck will listen to you? You’re an illegal, and I can do whatever the hell I want with you. ”
There are other options in the rafflecopter for you to enter discussion questions and quotes to share.
Interviews with Ilona Andrews:
2009- Sep 28: Twisted Fates Cafe interview
2010- Jan 18: Calliope’s Domain interview
2010- Jan 27: Nayu’s Reading Corner interview
2023- Jul 20: HEA Booktubes (an Edge series Read-along) video
2023- Aug 25: Noveltea Corner, Online discussion viideo
Be sure to enter the giveaways!!!
Giveaway:
For each Edge book, Ace Books will give away a paperback copy (US only) or $9 Amazon GC (Intl).
Grand-Prize Giveaway:
There will be 2 winners chosen.
For a US winner, there will be a complete set of the Innkeeper Graphic Audio audiobooks (6) offered by Nancy Yost Literary Agency.
For an Intl winner, it will be the four Edge series audiobooks from Tantor and Recorded Books. The codes work in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
Join in the 2025 Read-along of the Edge series by Ilona Andrews! Time to read Bayou Moon. #giveaways #giveaway @BooksofMyHeart Share on X
Schedule:
We are doing one book every 4-5 weeks, posting on Fridays. We will have a review for most of the books with the team here at Books of My Heart plus some of our friends.
Jan 17: On the Edge – Victoria @First of All
Feb 21: Bayou Moon – Brandee @Unconventional Bookworms
Mar 21: Fate’s Edge – Angela @ Angel’s Book Nook
Apr 25: Steel’s Edge – Sophia
May 16: Clean Sweep – Barb @ Booker T’s Farm
Jun 20: Sweep in Peace – Lillian @ Mom with a Reading Problem
Jul 18: One Fell Swoop – Carole @ Carole’s Random Life
Aug 15: Sweep of the Blade – Rachel @ Waves of Fiction
Sep 19: Sweep with Me – Robin
Oct 17: Sweep of the Heart – Elizabeth @ Elizabeth’s Romance Reviews
Nov 21: Sweep (unlikely but if there is a new book next year we will add it here)
- 🎧 Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz @gregghurwitzbooks.bsky.social @ScottBrick @macmillanaudio.bsky.social @stmartinspress.bsky.social #LoveAudiobooks @GreggHurwitz@MinotaurBooks @StMartinsPress @MacmillanAudio - February 11, 2025
- Sunday Post – 9 February 2025 @caffeinatedreviewer.com @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - February 9, 2025
- Series on Saturday: Jill Shalvis Edition @JillShalvis #SeriesOnSaturday - February 8, 2025
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-Audio
- 25-COYER
I enjoyed reading this again, it’s been along time. Looking forward to the rest.
Thank you. And thanks for joining us and sharing your reviews. I was glad to read again too.
I love this book and this series! This makes me want to go back and read them all over again. 😀
Thanks Kara. Well this is your opportunity to do just that. Read them, love them, chat about them and enter to win prizes!
I’m currently re-reading *listening* to this so I’ll come back and read when I’m finished. I’m loving the story all over again!
Loved the story even more than I thought I would the second time around. My heart did go out to William, when he had that conversation with Jack, too! Rose was such a wonderful main character and I absolutely adored Georgie and Jack! Wonderful review, Victoria!
Thanks for joining us. Since it’s my favorite author and they do such complex world-building there is always more to learn. Rose is awesome. George and Jack have my heart.
I really enjoyed this book! Like you, I found Rose relatable and likeable from the start. And the authors did such a good job of making us suspicious of Declan initially, before slowly revealing his better side (or true nature.) I loved the scenes with the boys, and how, when Declan is able to help them in ways Rose can’t, he doesn’t hesitate to do so.
I think it’s always great with Ilona Andrews. I’m so glad you enjoyed it and are joining us in the Read-along.
I enjoyed listen to On The Edge. It was fun all over again and I picked up on things I missed my first time reading.
It seems like there is more to the story every time I read it. Thanks for joining us.
Yep
You said it, Victoria!
Had a blast listening through for a re-read after not remembering much from the years since I read it. I liked the quote you picked and the poignant moment it came from.
Thank you Sophia. Not everything is sunshine and fairy dust here. I’m so glad you are joining the Read-along.
Maybe it‘s time for me to re-read the Edge novels. It‘s been a while. I have to check if my Audible subscription here in Germany has the books as well. I read the first few Innkeeper novels as well, but they were a bit too much YA for my taste. I am currently doing a re-read of the Kate Daniels novels, they are my favourites.
You are more than welcome to join us Cathy. Everything Ilona Andrews is my favorite. lol
I enjoyed it, thoroughly.
Great to hear it. Please feel free to link up a review if you have one somewhere and enter the giveaways.
Since I first came to Ilona Andrews fandom via the Innkeeper Chronicles, it’s a hoot to re-read the Edge books and see George and jack as kids.
George and Jack have my heart. I do the Read-alongs to re-read favorites or try new series. This is a reread for me, although the Innkeeper series I’ll be excited to read altogether instead of bits each week. I own everything, in multiple formats usually but this Read-along allows me the luxury of reading all together and chatting with friends. Thanks for joining here. Feel free to link up a review and enter the giveaways.
Nice review. So glad I was able to get on chat today. I didn’t say it then… but I also thought the grandma died… so that makes me worried for future titles. Anyhow, the world is super fascinating to me – I love the idea of a transition land like the Edge. They are amazing, creative storytellers.
They are my favorite for a reason. Reasons. I’m thrilled you were able to do the chat. Please feel free to link up your review and enter the giveaways too.
Yes, that quote nails it! I enjoyed listening to this series.
Thanks Kimberly. Glad to have you here. Feel free to link up a review and enter the giveaways. I’m always happy to have your input.
Oops I fell a little behind. But I’m on it and I’ll catch up 🙂
It will be so good so see Jack and George again as little kids 😛
These books are easy to read so I know you will catch up. George and Jack are my heart. I love them here. I hope you’ll be able to link up some reviews and join the chats sometimes too.
Victoria – thanks for a great review and joining us for the Read-along and the chat.
Yay for enjoying it so much again! I wish I’d been able to get into it. I’ll be following everyone’s reviews though as the read along goes along.
Thanks Lisa. I hope you’ll try the first in the next series in May though.
I enjoyed coming back to it, especially since it’s been around 11 years since I last read it!
I know! Thanks for joining us Janie. It’s the foundation for the Innkeeper which is the later part of the Read-along. I really enjoy doing it this way where every book is a month apart instead of year(s) apart.
New to me!!!
I’d love to have you try them then.