Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews
Narrator: Renée Raudman
Series: Edge #2
Published by Ace, Tantor Audio on September 1, 2010
Genres: Science Fiction Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 480
Length: 15 hours, 32 minutes
Format: Audiobook, Paperback
Source: Audible Escape - Plus, Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple 
Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swathe of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan’s long-time rivals are suspect number one.
But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over into the Edge—and Cerise’s life . William, a changeling soldier who left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation’s spymaster.
Bayou Moon is the second book in Ilona Andrews‘ The Edge series. I was excited to read it (again) because it’s William’s story and he — well, William’s been through a lot and I wanted him to find what he wanted in life. Of course, he’s a soldier, honed into a sharp blade and used against his country’s enemies. So when The Mirror, the elite secret service of Adrianglia, shows up at his front door wanting him to return to service against their biggest enemy… let’s just say my hopes for William were dashed.
There are always so many things to love about an Ilona Andrews series. Unique worldbuilding:
“If someone had asked him yesterday morning what hell looked like, he would’ve said he didn’t know. He’d’ spent twenty-four hours in the swamp, and now he had an answer. Hell looked like the Mire.
The boat crawled down the river, framed by dense clumps of vegetation and reeds. In the distance, cypresses rose their bloated trunks grotesquely fat, like old men with beer guts squatting in the mud.”
Intriguing characters:
“Some women waited for a knight in shining armor. She, apparently, had ended up with a knight in black jeans and leather, who wanted to chase her down and have his evil way with her.
When she was a teenager, she used to imagine meeting a stranger. He would be from the Weird or the Broken, not from the Mire. He would be lethal and tough, so tough he wouldn’t be afraid of her. He would be funny. And he would be handsome. She’d gotten so good at imagining this mysterious man she could almost picture his face.
William would kick his ass.” -Cerise
And snarky banter:
“William leaned forward and pointed at the river. ‘I don’t know why you rolled in spaghetti sauce,’ he said in a confidential voice. ‘I don’t really care. But that water over there won’t hurt you. Try washing it off.’
She stuck her tongue out.
‘Maybe after you’re clean,’ he said.”
“Welcome to the Rathole. A word of caution, William. If you betray us, we will murder you.”
Ha!
“I’ll take it under advisement.”
I became enthralled with the world of the Edge in On the Edge, as well as with William. And in typical Ilona Andrews style, they gave me ever more to love in Bayou Moon. First, there’s the Mire. It’s the swampy portion of the Edge, a magical cousin of the Louisiana bayou. In the Mire, there are creatures that will snack happily on you if you’re dumb enough to give them the opportunity. Things like bone sharks, Mire gators, and ervaurgs. I could almost hear the frogs croaking and the mud squelching.
Then there’s the magical element combined with the science-y (sci-fi) ment. It’s magic plus some technology that when combined create some pretty, um, terrifying things.
And there are the characters. Incredibly loyal, tenacious, cunning, and relatable in ways that have you deeply invested in them. Both the MCs as well as the supporting cast.
All these things combined for quite an adventure as we followed William, who’d been tasked with hunting down the most villainous villain, and Cerise, who was doing all she could to protect her family from an eight decade’s old feud with another Mire family. William and Cerise end up working together as their purposes coalesced, making an alliance between them mutually beneficial. And if their alliance manages to give them both what they most want in life? All the better.
The supporting cast, including Cerise’s cousin, Kalder, and younger sister, Sophie/Lark, plus cameos from Declan and Rose (from On the Edge), added depth to the story. The way they all work to protect each other, show compassion — well, it all made for an even more engaging story.
Bayou Moon was a 5 star read for me the first time around. This time, I took off .5 stars for the frustration I felt over an element that could have resolved sooner with a little communication. The ick factor that arose from the sci-fi element bothered me more this time through as well. But overall, Bayou Moon was fantastic. And I’m eager to see where the next installment takes us.
Share your review/ thoughts for Bayou Moon:
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. The chat is February 23. 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 3 Fate’s Edge by March 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 “Hugh was difficult as a child, Some things he just didn’t understand. Our parents and me, we tried our best to take care of him, but his mind just didn’t work the same way. You had to spell things out for him. Obvious things. Hugh always liked dogs and other animals better than people. Said they were simpler.”
There are other options in the rafflecopter for you to enter discussion questions and quotes to share.
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. ” in On the Edge is Emerson.
The villain was Casshorn.
Observations and questions you shared from On The Edge:
(Thank you so much for sharing!) If you can answer any of these questions, you can do so in a comment.
- Given the importance of the Edge as a boundary between the Weird and the Broken, I found it a bit odd that the leaders of the Weird weren’t more interested in controlling it. Instead, they seem to disdain the Edgers and leave the whole area alone unless they want something specific. It seems like a tactical mistake, particularly if they’re worried about possibly having to battle the Broken someday.
- .
Quotes you readers shared from On the Edge:
“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. ”
“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.”
“You’re and impossible woman,” he said mournfully.
“You wouldn’t love me if I wasn’t,” she said.
“True.”
“If you touch me, I’ll hit you with this chair,” she ground out.
“I had no idea you enjoyed rough courtship,” he said with a straight face. “It was never my particular favorite, but I’ll do my best to play along, provided I’ll get you in the end.”
Rose opened her mouth, but nothing came out. “Would you like me to be quiet?” he asked.
“Yes!”
“If you kiss me, I promise to be quiet for a very long time.”
“All he was missing was the shiny white armor and unearthly light streaming down on him.”
Interviews with Ilona Andrews:
2010- Sep 20: Reading on the Dark side interview
2010- Sep 30: Smexy Books: interview
2023- Sep 20: Noveltea Corner, Online discussion video
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 Fate's Edge. #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 Sweep – 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)
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.
About Brandee at (Un)conventional Bookworms
Brandee is a wife and mom of 3. She’s also an avid reader, a genre omnivore, and a recovering one-click addict. On the list of things that keep her busy, she hikes, knits, and writes. She plans to publish her first book later this year.
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.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- Thrifty Thursday: Australia edition #FionaTarr #KerryGreenwood #AnnaWillett #ThriftyThursday #KindleUnlimited - April 17, 2025
- 🎧 The Book That Held Her Heart by Mark Lawrence @marklawrenceauthor.bsky.social#JessicaWhittaker @penguinaudio.bsky.social @acebookspub.bsky.social #LoveAudiobooks @mark__lawrence @AceRocBooks @PRHAudio - April 15, 2025
- Sunday Post – 13 April 2025 @caffeinatedreviewer.com @readingreality.bsky.social @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - April 13, 2025
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-Audio
- 25-COYER
This looks like a fun reading challenge and I have this series on my TBR. It sounds good. It’s fun revisiting a favorite book.
Thank you Naida. It is fun. The Edge is an older series written earlier in their career and Innkeeper is one of their newest. Some characters carry forward and it’s the same world. I’d love to have you join us. This is only the second book. Or just for the Innkeeper part.
I’m going to check if my library carries these.
It has been fun revisiting this series, and I’ll finally finish it, too. 😉 That’s one of the great things about the readalongs for me – finally finishing series!
Brandee thanks so much for joining us and sharing your review! I also appreciate you joining in the comments here. I hope you can make the chat. It’s always fascinating to hear others ideas and thoughts.
I love, love, LOVE Ilona Andrews. I’m obsessed with their Kate Daniels series. The Hidden Legacy series is also amazing. I get the new releases for that series AS SOON as they’re released. I haven’t read the Innkeeper Chronicles or The Edge series, but I plan on getting to them ASAP.
I’d love to have you join us. This is only the second book. The Edge books are older from the beginning during the early Kate Daniels days. Innkeeper is among the newest. You could read one or both with us. They are the same world with just a few Edge characters in the Innkeeper stories.
I struggle with bookish commitments, lol. I would absolutely love to join, but this year I promised myself I would really focus on and tackle my physical TBR and NetGalley ratio. I will not be swayed – even by Ilona Andrews. 😅
I get it. We all need to focus to meet our goals.
You can’t go wrong with and Ilona Andrews series. Like Anne said, we’d love to have you join us on the readalong. It’s fun to chat with everyone about the books.
I’ve got a copy of the audiobook On the Edge and keep meaning to tuck into it, given how much I LOVED The Innkeeper Chronicles. Thank you for a lovely review – sadly I got ridiculously excited when I read that the other two books were in the Plus Catalogue, and then realised it was only in the US. Never mind – if I enjoy On the Edge as much as I think I will, then I’ll be getting hold of the other books, anyway:)).
Sarah, I’m excited to hear your thoughts on this series. Thank you for reading with us.
I hope you enjoy On the Edge as much as I did! And you’ll definitely want to continue with the series. 😁
I am almost finished with this and hope to have a review up tomorrow! Thanks again for hosting, Anne!
I look forward to hearing what you think of Bauou Moon! 😉
I loved this all over again, Brandee! You nailed everything I love about Ilona Andrews stories: Unique worldbuilding, intriguing characters and snarky banter! Yes, the ick factor was a little worse this time around for me, too! I had to up the speed on my audio for Spider’s POV so I could get through it fast. Loved seeing Rose, Declan, George and Jack again and our introduction to Lark/Sophie! Wonderful review!
Thank you Rachel. I love having you with us. Don’t forget to link up and enter for prizes.
It was enjoyable to revisit this novel. Thank you for hosting the read-along.
I’m happy you enjoyed your re-read as well. 😊
Thanks Angela. You guys don’t have to thank me for hosting the Read-along. I mean I get to pick the books I want and it’s a pleasure for me to read and chat with friends.
I love this book!! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it! Feel free to join us for any or all of these books.
I am so in LOVE with this series! I’m so glad William gets the spotlight, but Cerise’s wild and crazy family make the story so amazing! Great review! Thanks for sharing Brandee!
I am so glad you are enjoying it and reading with us Elizabeth!
I love this series, and yes, William has been through a lot!
Thank you. Both William and Cerise have had too much. I hope you link up a review and enter for prizes.
William has my heart. Loved your review thoughts, Brandee!
William is easy to love. Difficult to understand for some people but easy to root for him.
Read it, loved, it, still have to write my review. I’ve been trying to catch up. I think I liked William and Cerise more than Declan and Rose.
It is easy to fall in love with these characters and to feel like the one you just read is the favorite.
I adore revisiting the Edge series. I remember how much I liked William the first time I read the series and I wanted him to be the hero in the first book with Rose. But this was great and I love the big family he married into.
Sophie *sobs* I love her so much.
I was too worried about Rose herself to want her with any guy. She was always in a horrible situation which only seemed to get worse. There’s a theme here because I felt the same for Cerise. Luckily, they both found good matches who actually helped them in the end. I love seeing the start of Sophie, Jack, George and Gaston which is why I set these 2 series into a Read-along.
Lovely review, Brandi! I also deducted a little from my first read for probably similar frustrations. Also, it seemed like the book went on a little too long. But overall, it’s such a fascinating world and I love William. I look forward to reading the remaining two books because I can’t recall what happens!
I was thinking, right up until this past couple weeks that the next 2 books are quite unrelated to the first two which is WRONG. The next two books are Mar men. I remember them as even more fun than the first two books. We will see. Thanks so much for joining us.
I do like Renée Raudman! And this author is fun 😀
I actually started with the print and ebooks in this series and Kate Daniels so I’m just getting to the audio books lately. I’m enjoying them though.
I did enjoy it, though there were parts that were particularly difficult to listen to (audiobook).
yes I had forgotten the “body horror” stuff from my earlier reading. I guess I focused more on the scientific than the horror of it. Or maybe the audio is harder to skim through than the print or ebook? That’s how I read the first time. Thanks for joining us Janie.
I do love all things Ilona Andrews! And I love seeing the origin stories of George and his crew.
This book, to me, has always seemed like two novellas stuck together. The first part is a spy story and it’s fine; the second part is edge-of-your-seat paranormal adventure romance and it totally rocks!
I’d like to pick up the gauntlet on that question way above at the end of the review:
Given the importance of the Edge as a boundary between the Weird and the Broken, I found it a bit odd that the leaders of the Weird weren’t more interested in controlling it. Instead, they seem to disdain the Edgers and leave the whole area alone unless they want something specific. It seems like a tactical mistake, particularly if they’re worried about possibly having to battle the Broken someday.
This is based on a false premise: that The Edge is important. The Edge is the gravel verge on the side of the highway. Most people on either side have no way to navigate it at all. The nobles of the Weird are as worried about it as a semi driver is about a bicycle: it might scratch the paint. Louisiana uses it as a trash dump, so they do keep an eye because they don’t want their own toxic runoff coming back to them. They aren’t really worried about having to battle the Broken (most of them can’t even enter The Edge, nevermind the Broken), they’re just the kind of gun-happy (flash-happy?), paranoid jerks who look at everyone as a threat to be taken down.
I love hearing your thoughts Kate – thanks for sharing. I’m sorry it took me so long to read through because I wanted to sit and read it uninterrupted.