This is the first book in a spin off from the Kate Daniels
series. This is the first in the Iron Covenant and it can be read alone but if
you have read Kate Daniels its suggested that after reading the first of this series,
to read Magic Triumphs from the Kate Daniels series, because it makes book 2
has things that connect with Magic Triumphs.
A marriage of desperation between a
woman, Elara, who needs soldiers to protect her people, and Hugh D’Ambray,
Preceptor of the infamous Iron Dogs. Hugh needs to protect his people and
Elara, has a castle of her own.
They say there is a thin line between love
and hate, and these newlyweds seem to test this theory daily, getting under
each other’s skin, each constantly testing the other to know the “enemy”. Each
trying to discover every little weakness, every little secret. Even though both
knowing that for the time being to defeat old and new enemies, they need each other
in order to survive.
But can ice and fire unite without
destroying each other.
I am a fan
of Kate Daniels and well Hugh D’Ambray sort of reminds me of Game of Thrones
Jamie Lannister. When you first meet the character, he’s conceited, confident,
sure of himself, willing to do what ever it takes to serve his family and get
them on top, and then with one decision something shifts inside him and you see
a man who finally does what is right and it costs him a hand.
Hugh started out as confident, conceited man
who would do anything to please his Lordship and literal God. But he falls out
a favor, and so begins his journey of discovering himself, and the more the
story goes on, the more you understand Hugh and why he did what he did, and you
start to like him, he becomes much more human.
I really like Elara, she’s a firecracker
and is fearless woman. The perfect match for Hugh. Throw in a mix of
interesting characters beside Elara, known enemies and mysterious ones, plus
twists and turns perfectly timed, and once again, I have fallen in love with Andrews
world of magic and tech.
