Book Review: Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews

Posted by: Lisa Parkin January 16, 2012 3 Comments

More than a little disappointed with Fate’s Edge.

Book Review: Fate’s Edge by Ilona Andrews

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Title & Author: Fate’s Edge by Ilona Andrews

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date: November 29, 2011

Series: 3rd in The Edge series (but is sorta standalone)

Publisher: ACE

How I Got the Book: Bought

Description:

“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….”

Been There, Read That

After reading both On The Edge and Bayou Moon (the first two books in The Edge series) and now Fate’s Edge, I’m starting to see a pattern. There seems to be a girl who’s mega-fierce who meets a bad boy with a penchant for destruction/trouble…in all three books.

This is then followed by the girl putting a pretty good fight against the bad boy- because clearly there is some “thing” keeping them apart that she can’t succumb to. But, of course, she does. And although the ending isn’t necessarily neat and tidy, the boy and girl do live happily, albeit violently, ever after.

The difference between the three books? Different character names and locations within the realm of The Weird (alternative U.S. with magic), The Broken (regular non-magic U.S.), The Edge (the space in between The Weird and The Broken), and The Mire (The Weird but swampy-er).

To put it mildly, I was disappointed with Fate’s Edge. There wasn’t much to excite or surprise me. It felt like the same ole’ tricks. Some baddies are thrown in to mix things up, but otherwise it all reads the same.

Re-Read Romance

The one thing about reading the same story multiple times (in slightly different ways) is that if the story’s good, there are things you look forward to reading again. Like the romances. I’ll give it to Andrews, she knows how to write a scintillating storyline.

Problems cropped up when Kaldar makes some terribly uncharacteristic choices at the end of the novel. Choices that he explicitly says he’ll never ever go back on throughout the entire novel. It just seemed to wrap things up a little too nicely at the end of the book.

I did like Audrey, though. She’s a wounded type whose family is totally useless because they’re terrible people. But, she’s strong and courageous and not overly-perfect/amazing.

Also, as a side note, if you hate reading about blood and guts, then this book is NOT for you. If The Hunger Games gave you nightmares, Fate’s Edge will put you in a mental ward.

OVERALL:

If you haven’t read any of the other Edge books, you will probably enjoy Fate’s Edge, as it will be novelty. If you have read the other two books in the series (so far), prepare to re-read the same plot, story progression and “falling in love” style.

Have you read a book recently like Fate’s Edge that was exactly like another book?