Review: Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews

Thursday December 15, 2011

Fate's Edge (The Edge #3)
by Ilona Andrews
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: November 29, 2011
Author Website

Author Summary

The Edge lies between worlds, on the border between the Broken, where people 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.

Audrey Callahan left behind her life in the Edge, and she's determined to stay on the straight and narrow. But when her brother gets into hot water, the former thief takes on one last heist and finds herself matching wits with a jack of all trades...

Kaldar Mar-a gambler, lawyer, thief, and spy-expects his latest assignment tracking down a stolen item to be a piece of cake, until Audrey shows up. But when the item falls into the hands of a lethal criminal, Kaldar realizes that in order to finish the job, he's going to need Audrey's help.

My Thoughts

In this 3^rd instalment of The Edge series, we see the adventures of Kaldar and Audrey.  Both are scam artists very good at their craft, and both are from the Edge knowing what’s its like to grow up poor.  However, their paths couldn’t be more different.  Audrey wants peace and quiet to forget her past and make a new life for herself working as an investigator in the Broken.  Kaldar works as a secret service agent for the Mirror and privately seeks an opportunity to exact vengeance on those responsible for the death of his aunt. Their paths collide and they go on a mission where both finds more than they bargained for.    

Despite the danger facing at every turn, this is a really fun book to read.  Since Kaldar and Audrey are both proficient masters at the art of scamming, they both know when the other is trying to con the other.  Using inner dialogue to translate what each is thinking while the other is speaking is brilliant.  It resulted in many unrestrained fits of laughter.  

With Kaldar being his shameless self throughout, this quote by Audrey says pretty much everything you need to know about Kaldar:

“This man was a rogue, not because circumstances forced him to be a criminal but because he was born that way. He was probably conning his mother out of her milk the moment he could grin. He'd charm the clothes off a virgin in twenty minutes. And if the poor fool took him home, he'd drink her dad under the table, beguile her mother, charm her grandparents, and treat the girl to a night she'd never forget. In the morning, her dad would be sick with alcohol poisoning, the good silver would be missing together with the family car, and in a month, both the former virgin and her mother would be expecting.” 

The supporting characters are brilliantly depicted as well.  There are very few authors that can effectively establish a meaningful backstory for supporting characters within the limitation of 370 pages.  Ilona Andrews is one of those who can.  We met Jack and his brother George as children earlier in the series and in this novel, we see them as teenagers struggling to find their place in the world.  Both are frowned upon for being “Edgers” and fitting into the Weird is very challenging.  They are both fiercely loyal to each other while at the same they have a good-natured rivalry that can only exist between teenage brothers.  We also see Gaston who is young and hellbent on revenge for his mother’s attack.  It will be interesting to see how their characters develop further in future novels.

It wasn’t all fun and games though. There was a serious lesson for Audrey in the dangers of ignorance and an overall portrayal of ruthlessness in what some will do in a quest for power.  We see Good warring with Bad and lots of conflict and battles.  Also, well written adding to the suspenseful buildup.

My Viewpoint

All in all, this novel has everything needed to make it a great Urban Fantasy novel - conflict, suspense, major obstacles to overcome, believable characters, mind-blowing chemistry between the hero and heroine, and fabulous entertainment value.  Highly recommend reading it! 

5 Bad Boys - Absolute Must Read!!!!!