4.5 stars
While this is technically the first book in a new series, which can be read on its own, this book fits into the larger framework of the Kate Daniels universe (where this book is book 9.5 out of 10). So there’s quite a bit of back story you’re missing out on if you’ve not read the other books first. While the first book is rough, the series as a whole is my favourite paranormal/urban fantasy series, probably ever, so if you like the genre and haven’t checked them out yet, do yourself a favour and get caught up before you read this book.
Plot summary stolen from Goodreads:
Hugh d’Ambray, Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Warlord of the Builder of Towers, served only one man. Now his immortal, nearly omnipotent master has cast him aside. Hugh is a shadow of the warrior he was, but when he learns that the Iron Dogs, soldiers who would follow him anywhere, are being hunted down and murdered, he must make a choice: to fade away or to be the leader he was born to be. Hugh knows he must carve a new place for himself and his people, but they have no money, no shelter, and no food, and the necromancers are coming. Fast.
Elara Harper is a creature who should not exist. Her enemies call her Abomination; her people call her White Lady. Tasked with their protection, she’s trapped between the magical heavyweights about to collide and plunge the state of Kentucky into a war that humans have no power to stop. Desperate to shield her people and their simple way of life, she would accept help from the devil himself—and Hugh d’Ambray might qualify.
Hugh needs a base, Elara needs soldiers. Both are infamous for betraying their allies, so how can they create a believable alliance to meet the challenge of their enemies?
As the prophet says: “It is better to marry than to burn.”
Hugh and Elara may do both.
This book was never meant to exist. Hugh D’Ambray, the male protagonist of this book (can’t really bring myself to call him a hero yet, he’s very much not one) started out as one of the main antagonists in Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series. His forces killed off a beloved supporting character. He was the main henchman for the series’ ultimate villain and did his job really very well indeed. On April 1st, 2015, the authors posted a fake cover and blurb, suggesting that they were writing a book about Hugh. It was meant to be a joke, but the response from their fans was overwhelming. As the authors explain here three years later (when the book was well and truly completed), they got enough requests for the book and thought about it long enough that they realised they could actually make the book a reality.
Full review on my blog.
Thank you for this – I’ve been DYING to talk about this book with somebody! DY. ING.
I just finished it last night and LURVED it. Like you I’m a huge fan of theirs. I adore the Kate Daniels books and it is absolutely the all time greatest urban fantasy of all times. I will say (with all the love) that I feel the stories are getting a bit too weighted down (many characters, problems, hurdles).
Which is why I loved this book so much. It took the great world they’ve created but stripped things down to a fairly simple story – Hugh and Elara defend the castle. Hugh is a right bastard and a broken man and where most authors would find a way to whitewash his history and have him redeemed through some act of sacrifice. How refreshing that NONE of that happens!
Also fully on board with your 4.5 star rating – Elara could use a bit more development. Hugh steals much of the limelight, although it’s hard to fault the author’s decision there because he is loads of fun. Too little of her past, motivations, and magic is revealed (it feels like her backstory could fill a whole book).
But this is a “best of 2018” for me, fun, great pacing, lively characters, I stayed up FAR too late to finish. I can’t wait to see where they take these two!
The book was so much fun and I’m really glad they didn’t try to redeem Hugh too much, just soften his edges a bit and show that while he was such a fearsome warlord for Roland, he now acts in his own interests and needs to find something new to live and fight for. I was very grateful for the cameos from several of the familiar members of the Pack, and the confrontation a certain (rightfully angry) someone had with Hugh. It never felt completely believable, with none of the previous characterisation we’ve seen in the Kate Daniels books being betrayed in any way.
I really liked the differing POV of the world and characters that they first presented in Andrea’s book and with this, we get a perspective that’s a lot less sympathetic to Kate and Curran, without it in any way taking away from what has already been established. I love that they rose to the challenge of their initial joke and further fleshed out and expanded their already very intriguing world.
I’m quite sure that the two sequels they have planned will give us a lot more about Elara, both backstory and what sort of powerful creature she is/has made some sort of unholy pact with. If I were to take a guess at the structure they’re planning – this book’s main focus was Hugh, the second book’s main focus will be Elara, with the third book having them being a proper cohesive unit to be reckoned with, where they deal with the ultimate threat of the series.
I just started. Like read the first sentence and then had to go do life.