Steel's Edge (A Novel of the Edge Book 4)

I have loved this series from the beginning and I couldn't put this book down. Sitting here in the dark with my Kindle and a battery powered reading light is the best time I've had since the @#$%^ hurricane hit my part of the world. I will miss this series a lot. Well, I guess I can look forward to Kate this summer!

I love the Edge series, and I really enjoyed this book. I especially like the way it introduces interesting characters who show a new side of the world, while continuing the stories of the characters from earlier books in such a way that you don't have to have read the earlier books to understand what's happening or who these people are.

i <3 Ilona Andrews!!!! thier series are amazing - though i wish this series didnt end, i liked how it came full circle. bringing back characters from the other books to tie them all together. Charolette and Richard are an amazing couple.

I have enjoyed this entire series and the books just kept getting better. I highly recommend all 4 books. Steel's Edge was a fabulous conclusion to these books. Well plotted, well written, great romance and some loose ends well tied up.

I had to wait or this book for some time, but is's so worth it! i fell in love with the Edge world from book 1, but later was not that impressed really. When I opened this book it was all this magic back!Couldn't put it down and read in one go!

If you're an Ilona Andrews fan, please note that this is a slight departure from her Kate Daniels series. This definitely leans more toward romance but you won't want for action, trust me. In this final installation you have love, family, danger, sex, death and lots of magic. It hit all my buttons and I would highly recommend this entire series. I'm just sad that it has to end......for now. :)

The only slight flaw in this book was that it was less humorous - the characters were more serious - than I found the preceding books in the series to be. Despite that, I did like the characters, and I enjoyed meeting characters from the other books again, especially Jack and George. The action was also rousing. Highly recommended to lovers of the rest of the series.

After the disaster of Fate' Edge, I was reluctant to plunk down the money for another Edge novel.Fortunately, the "Look Inside" feature combined with samples from Ilona Andrews' website convinced me to give it a try. It is a much, much better story than the 1950s format romance of Fate's Edge. While it is definitely heavier on romance and character analysis and much lighter on the action/adventure side than either the Kate Daniels series or the first two Edge books, it is still an enjoyable read.

I love all their books and this one doesn't disappoint. I am a big fan of in order because I'm slightly OCD and this is the third of the The Edge series, so Id go read the other ones first and then read this one, because they are all great.

As usual with an Ilona Andrews book, I couldn't put it down until I finished it. The world they have created in the Edge series is unique and yet so well conceived that it becomes immediately believable. This was another captivating story filled with action, romance, and magic. I recommend this series to anyone that enjoys good fiction.

If you have read the first three books in the series then you can't miss this ending! And if you haven't read them I would strongly recommend them all. Sad to hear this is the last in the edge series:( but it has been an awesome ride while it lasted!

I ordinarily love Ilona Andrews' books but this one lost me slightly ... I suppose an important confrontation that's been in the offing since On The Edge was dealt with very quite summarily and in an unsatisfactory manner. The story itself was difficult to distinguish from previous Edge books, despite the new angle of healing magic, because the romance followed a similar pattern. Still a far cry above other fantasy romances, however.

This book was light weight. Not enough plot or action for a novel. It could have made a decent short story I guess I was really disappointed because the book wasn't inexpensive and it just never generated enough of a storyline to get me into the charcters. I felt like I sure didn't get my money's worth. Hopefully this isn't a new trend for these authors because I have loved the previous books (both the Kate series and the Edge ones).

Love the books she writes but has a lot of different series's books that she just leaves you hanging on. She just starts a different series and forgets the other ones she started. I hate to read her books cause I don't know if she will just stop and leave me hanging on. I do like her books just wish she would complete a series or end it with you able to end it there or rely on another coming out.

I am a tremendous fan of Ilona Andrews and buy all their books on the release dates. However I am a critical reader and I don't function on auto-worship. So what follows is an honest review of Steel's Edge.

The authors have managed to write a Bodice Ripper. Diagnostic findings include:

1. We spend waaaay too much time inside the protagonists' heads while they agonize like this: She's so hot...he's so hot...I'm not worthy because I'm not (pick one or more) noble / rich / politically connected / cute enough / talented enough / virtuous enough / fertile enough / important in the scheme of things. There is no progression of the internal dialogue towards greater maturity and coherence, eventually the couple simply declares their love, but in the meanwhile anxiety about love or lack thereof causes the characters to do stupid things that feel contrived and do not move the plot forward.

2. The First Sex Scene (and subsequent) contains rippling pecs, bronzed skin, flowing tresses and a cute nipple. One protagonist (usually female) has a mini-mental or emotional meltdown after the first serious kiss or grope. The timing of the scene is obvious (secluded location, large comfy bed, everyone is freshly showered).

3. The locations are described in often excruciating detail but readers see them rather than feeling them. Consider the Mire as introduced to us when Cerise is chasing Nellie (you can actually smell it), vs the Old Money Castle Dining Room as described by people walking into it and looking around at it.

4. Social etiquette and status are essential plot elements. This last can be done usefully or badly (in the case of Steel's Edge I'll give it a B).

5. The female protagonist, if of the "strong" variety (in this case THE Healer), has a hard time staying in character and goes through "periods of agonizing self doubt" which come across as "whiny wuss"...throw in a faint or two. The male protagonist (inevitably strong) spends a lot of time worrying that his central personality traits and most useful life skills are a turn off. In other words, two very talented and confident individuals waste a lot of ink thinking about themselves and acting below par. The alleged reason(s) for this feebleness are unconvincing.

Richard and Charlotte are very different from the protagonists in the other Edge books - more formal, typecast and innately scripted - and I sense the authors wanted to write a different style of book. Unfortunately they ended up with some great scenes and really marvelous plot twists (no spoilers) flattened out by these under-developed and fundamentally boring characters. The dialog picks up only when supporting characters with greater established force of personality show on the scene. The best single paragraph of dialog is George ranting at his (redacted).

I understand this to be the last Edge book (although there is tremendous additional material in the next generation). I'm sorry to see the series end on a lower note but at least it won't get worse. Many authors go through a serious quality slump at about this stage of their careers, especially if they are under constant time pressure. I was hoping that since the writing team was a duo perhaps we could avoid this malaise, which I think arises from a need to really struggle with a book and a singular lack of desire to do so, combined with a publisher's willingness to put out second rate material because, well, it will still get 5 syncophantic stars on the store.

STEEL'S EDGE was the conclusion to The Edge series. I was so happy that I finally found the time to read the book. My only wish was that I could have read all four stories back-to-back. I read ON THE EDGE in 2010 and I mistakenly let too much time expire between each story. My bad.

I love the word-building of husband and wife team, Ilona Andrews. For some people it can be cumbersome because they start each story at a slow pace. There was a lot of ground to cover and this will put off some readers. But they are one of the few twosomes that I think compose with a single mind. The characters are noteworthy with their distinct personalities and absorbing backgrounds.

As I previously mentioned, the beginning starts out slowly but it was rich in content. The action comes later on. In STEEL'S EDGE, many of primary characters from books 1 and 3 return. But repetitiveness, often the bane of authors that write series, was written tastefully and, more importantly, not overdone. It never bodes well when an author devotes too much time dwelling on and rehashing what occurred in previous stories.

Lady Charlotte was a kicka** heroine who was cautious, charming and deadly. She had deep morals and was always conscious of where the line was drawn between good and evil. She strived to do her best knowing that she might turn over to the dark side.

Richard was an Edger: possessive, quiet and an assassin with a family. He killed with efficiency before meeting Charlotte and would continue to do anything to keep her safe.

This was an adult urban-fantasy. The few sexual situations were detailed. There was plenty of killing really, really bad people. There was a monstrous wolfripper dog that turned into putty, teenagers with moments of angst, snarky humor and some nasty, scum-of-the-earth villains and villainesses with disturbing moments. It was darker and grittier than the previous stories.

I believe it is imperative that you read the other books first and in order; otherwise many of the events that occur here won't make sense.

I have been in a reading slump as of late. I have started many stories this past month and set them aside for one reason or another. But this one worked. Color me happy!

I truly enjoyed this series. I can't wait for book #5. Hopefully I wont have to wait to long.
Sad Note! I just saw where the author said this is the last book in this series and there won't be a 5th book. Now I feel let down and disappointed. I really loved reading this series. It was just that fantastic. Wonder if there is a way to possibly change Ilona Andrews mind?
Filled with Adventure, Danger and a whole lot of 'Kick A## & Take Names Later'. Constant action that held me spellbound.
In this one Richard Mar is the Hunter. It is his goal to hunt down and destroy the Slavers and those who run it. He wants to get to whoever it is at the Top and bring them down, HARD! He wont let anything or anyone get in his way of that goal. It is what he lives for and what drives him forward.
Charlotte de Ney is a Healer and highly respected in her world. Then something happens that sends her to The Edge. She is making a new life for herself when slavers come to her front door and destroy everything she cares about. She refuses to do nothing. She goes on the war path and WOW! She kicks some major butt!!
Richard and Charlotte make a terrifying team! And I loved every second of reading their story. Characters that you met in previous books are involved and some new characters appear. Some are good some are evil. They all come together to make the world that Ilona Andrews has created in The Edge series come Alive!
Steel's Edge (A Novel of the Edge Book 4)

I think Ms. Raudman has performed too many of the books in this series (all of them) and has run out of voices. Why does every adult sound either like a Louisiana hick (or what I imagine one is supposed to sound like) or an octogenarian? Richard sounds either like an old man who is short of breath so can't speak without taking a breath every 3 words, or like someone from the deep, deep rural parts of the South. And when he sounds like his Southern persona, he actually sounds just like Kaldar. Lady Olivia sounds like an old woman, which I suppose she is. But, she certainly can't be as old as Eleonore, and yet her voice is guttural and shaky as if she's on her deathbed. Lady Augustine sounds like the Mother Superior from the Sound of Music. And then there's Angelia. Who is supposed to be a contemporary of Charlotte (in terms of age), and yet she sounds like she's the Queen Mother or something. Jack still sounds like a normal kid, but why does George sound so awkward, when the author goes to such pains to spell out that George is one suave little kid? And let's not forget Sophie, who we are told starting from Book 3 that she is trying to imitate ladies more, and yet sounds like a little gutter rat? Loved the book (except for the unclear ending), but did not enjoy the reading of this one at all.

In Steel’s Edge the Andrews gives us an older couple and I loved it. Charlotte may be a healer but she bared her backbone and I knew we were going to have some fun. I cannot believe how badass she was. The clever twist in her ability was wicked and deadly. Trust me when I say you do not want to get on Charlotte’s bad side. We first meet Richard in Bayou Moon and I was delighted to see him as our hero. Because these characters are older, they are comfortable in their own skin and know what they want. Both are unwilling to settle and this made their growing romance delightful to watch. A little snark, delicious banter and tender moments had me caught up.

Steel’s Edge delivered an intense tale as Richard and Charlotte go after a slave trader with deep connections. I loved the way they battled together. His blade to her gift was the perfect match. He was calm, she seethed and it totally worked. Once again, Jack and George are vital to the mission and gads but I adore these two. Rose, Declan and Kaldar make appearances and Sophie gets a little revenge.

I have absolutely loved reading the Edge books and I'm actually kind of gutted that Steel's Edge was the last one but if you're going to end a series then what better way to end than with a high like this! These books grabbed my attention from the beginning but they really did get better and better and Steel's Edge was probably my favourite. Any time I pick up a book by Team Andrews I know I'm going to love it, they excel at kick butt heroines, fantastic character development, relationships with depth to them and of course off the charts action and you'll get all that and spades in this book.

When healer Charlotte gets her heart broken she decides to leave her life in the Weird behind her and she goes to the edge looking to start afresh. Life may be very different now but she's made a home for herself and enjoys using her healing abilities to help the locals, it's not easy to earn the trust of the edgers but she's made some very good friends and she's happy with her lot in life. All until one terrible day when a badly injured man is brought to her door, Charlotte is determined to save his life but his enemies aren't far behind him and suddenly she finds herself in the centre of a battle that could destroy everything she's worked so hard to build for herself. Now that Charlotte is involved she isn't going to sit back and meekly let her enemies get away with it so she sets out to rescue Richard and to claim her revenge.

As someone with incredible healing powers you wouldn't necessarily expect Charlotte to be a fighter but she's actually one of the most deadly heroines we've met in the series so far. She has a darkness inside her that she's constantly fighting but when her buttons are pushed she will push back hard. Imagine someone who has the ability to cure illnesses, now imagine that she knows exactly how the body works and that she can reverse her ability to actually make someone sick. Imagine the plague she could bring down on the heads of the people who have wronged her. Yes, Charlotte isn't someone you want to be on the bad side of and I loved how capable she is. She is actually a perfect match for Richard, they're both incredibly noble and always try to do the right thing, they protect the people they care about and their own safety is the last thing they think of. When Charlotte finds out more about the gang of human traffickers that Richard has been trying to take down she knows she has to do something to help him no matter what it costs her.

Steel's Edge is darker than the previous books, Charlotte and Richard are about to unleash a whole world of hurt on their enemies and I loved every minute of it. You'll still find the humour you'd expect from Ilona Andrews but there are also a lot of battles and a fair amount of blood and gore. These characters are fabulous, they have such depth to them that you'll feel like you met real, living people by the time you've finished the book. They're both messed up in different ways but they compliment each other perfectly and where one is weaker the other compensates for it. I loved seeing them work together and I really enjoyed the developing romance, here are two people who have spent their whole lives doing right by others and it was about time that they took something for themselves. It was great to catch up with some of the previous characters too and I just loved the whole story from beginning to end. I'm really happy that some characters from these books are now starting to appear in the Innkeeper's Chronicles which is another excellent series from this husband and wife team and I'm definitely going to continue auto-buying anything that they write in the future.

It should come as no surprise that I’ve been enjoying this series a lot, but I haven’t LOVED any of the installments yet, until now. When I first discovered that this final book featured a healer as the main heroine, I had some qualms as to whether Charlotte would be able to achieve the level of badass-ery that I’ve come to expect from Ilona Andrews. Case in point, FATE’S EDGE’s Audrey Callahan wasn’t a fighter either, and ended up being my least favourite THE EDGE female protagonist. All of my doubts quickly flew the coop though when I learned that de Ney’s abilities could also be used to harm, and I’m not talking little ouchies here, but mass murdering plagues. Never have I been so happy to eat my words! The world-building, narration, secondary characters, and storytelling absolutely rocked too. This was the series finale after all, and this author duo doesn’t do half-assed. Period.

I liked that the protagonists were older; they’ve both been married once already, are individuals first, and a couple second. Charlotte and Richard have been around the block a couple of times, and as a result, were unwilling to settle for anything less than true love. It made them both more accepting of their respective faults; the flash fire romance was believable on account of them knowing exactly what they wanted in a partner, and not being afraid to go after it. I loved de Ney’s flawless poise vs. Mar’s backwoods mannerisms, and her raw power to his skill with a blade. She fears transforming into a bringer of plagues, while as he’s worried that he’s not Blue Blood enough for her. When they finally opened up their hearts to a relationship, it was like two puzzle pieces sliding home.

The Andrews’ skillfully wrapped-up this series’ story arc while still weaving a captivating story about slavers, political intrigue, and also tying up several loose ends secondary character wise. Jack and George play a vital role in this installment, and I loved how they were able to get some closure with regards to their father’s abandonment. Sophie gets a piece of Spider for fusing her mother, and even Rose, Declan & Kaldar had brief cameos. As much as I enjoyed the action, I actually liked Charlotte’s poised manipulations and tutelage of Lark more. It takes finesse to defeat a foe with a sword, but even more so with words, and clever artifice. However, not everyone got their HEA unfortunately, poor sweet Éléonore… And, was it just me, or were there sparks between George and Sophie? Potential spin-off?

I’ve now had the pleasure of listening to eleven audiobooks from Ilona Andrews and Renée Raudman, and let me tell you, the experience is in no danger of getting old. There are many reasons why this trio makes up the bulk of my Audible library including spellbinding performances, flawless pacing, and masterful tone. Raudman is the voice behind the Andrews’ written word, breathes life into all of their memorable characters, and makes listeners feel like they inhabit this author duo’s fictional worlds. If you’re still on the fence about audiobooks, I highly recommend that you give these a try, you won’t regret it! In fact, your house may end up cleaner than it has even been because you’ll find yourself actively seeking out excuses to read hands-fee.

STEEL’S EDGE was the ultimate epitome of go big or go home! My god, am I ever going to miss these characters!

I thought this was a wonderful conclusion to a fascinating series. Richard Mar stood out to me in book two, Bayou Moon, with his stoic demeanor and hints of a tragic backstory. Now he gets to take center stage and I felt like it was worth the small wait. He is loyal, protective, and, unknowingly, desperate for stability and love. Charlotte was also great. I really liked the detail put into her healing abilities and how their development matched her personality. I found it very interesting that so much of this book took place in the Weird after the other books devoted most of their pages to the Broken and the Edge. I loved hanging out in this fantasy world and am eager to read the Innkeeper Chronicles soon which feature some of my favorite side characters like George and Jack.

~ 5 Steel’s Edge Stars ~

I've been in a book slump lately, but I can always count on the Andrews team to deliver an amazing story that takes me away to another place.

Steel’s Edge is book four in The Edge series by Ilona Andrews. This is the final book in this series and I am sad to see it end. I have become so immersed in the world and characters that where created for The Edge series.

Steel’s Edge is full of adventure, humor, and romance. I could not put it down, I devoured this book from beginning to end. This was by far the best in the series and I’m glad it ended so well. We get a fantastic world of the Edge and the Weird. Charlotte and Richard were great characters. I was not sure how well Charlotte would do as a healer, but the writing team really surprised me with her abilities and the fit against slavery. I loved Richard from his first introduction in Bayou Moon. Their journey together had so many emotional highs and lows, that when these two did come together it was so sweet and passionate. I can’t forget George and Jack; I have loved these two since the moment they came into play in On the Edge and was glad to once again see them play a fairly big part on the pages.

This is another winner from the Andrews team. I can always count on them to bring adventure, humor, and fantastically interesting characters and world to life. I do hope they some day come back to this series; maybe give us a book on Sophie, George, and Jack since we have watched them grow from children to teenagers. I highly recommend giving The Edge a try.

The last book of the Edge Series. By now we know the world and many of the characters. Still great, imaginative story telling. The darkest and grittiest story of the series.

I liked the plot. It was probably the most complicated. Mission Impossible meets Pirates of the Caribbean. A lot of gore, pretty violent. Nice, undestated romance with characters that are their usual stupid selves, that require repeated head bashings until the coin drops.

I liked Richard a lot more than I would have thought from the previous books. I expected him to be boring, but instead he was prim and stuffy in a nicely roguish way.

It took me a while to warm up to Charlotte. Her story did not resonate with me and I simply did not like her very much. But she grew on me eventually.

But I never connected with the characters or the story as much, as I did with the other books. I had a busy week and not a lot of time for reading, but even so I quite happily put the book down to do something else, when I did have the time. Perhaps it was, because I pretty much read all for books back to back, but somehow this one did not click with me as much as the others.

It was still a very good book with vivid descriptions and nicely fleshed out characters and I would definitely get the next book in the series, if there was one. The ending was great stuff and that elevated the book to five stars for me.

I love Ilona Andrews & for me, even an "okay" novel by them is heads and shoulders above the rest.

What I loved: George, Jack and Sophie are the highlight of this book; they're scene-stealers wherever they appear. Charlotte is a wonderful leading lady, and it's refreshing to have a character who's a little older and has life experience before meeting her prince charming (beyond the violent traumatic childhoods the other characters share). The first half of the slaver story line was riveting and there was a twist that I did not see coming and LOVED! Got to see Declan and Rose again, and heard about William and Cerise (though I'd have loved to see them too).

What I didn't love: Richard. It's been a long time since I read the last Edge book, but I recall him being presented as weak - not leading the family even though he's the oldest; indecisive; average magic... In this book he's unrecognizable - fierce swordsman; boogeyman of the slavers... People do change, but such a dramatic changed warranted a more comprehensive back story. Instead I just kept being told he was always a bad-ass killer & we previously saw him during a low point, which felt like revisionist history to make him work as a lead. That being said, had he been a new character, Richard would have been a compelling one & really likeable. The second half of the story veered off course. The plan to catch the slavers seemed ridiculously complex and unbelievable. Charlotte is "the" healer, the most powerful around, from one of the top ten society families and didn't move to the Edge until her late 20s but no one knows who she is? Even is she was secluded at her college, she's still out and about healing. Her ex-husband, who sounds like he's from a mid-range family had heard of her, and she mentions she doesn't want to deal /w the society gossip when their marriage is annulled, so she's not completely sheltered. Spider's scenes were good, but didn't work for me as part of this book. Maybe a Spider-Sophie short story - somewhere it could get more depth instead of being treated like a loose end to tie. The ending felt rushed, but I've felt that way about other Edge books.

***spoiler

Richard basically gets a face transplant to pass for one of the bad guys. Didn't like this at all, didn't think it did anything to make the story better, and Charlotte has no real problem with the man she loves suddenly having a completely different face. I know she loves the man, not how he looks, but a new face staring at you warrants some reaction. I mean, I don't hear my husband come in the house, I jump when I see him; he has a different face? I scream & probably punch him in the seconds before the surprise wears off.

***end spoiler

Despite my issues, I'd still recommend this book. It's a lot of fun to read, has vivid characters, exciting action & lots of George and Jack.

This was my favorite of the Edge series! Richard and Charlotte's story had so much going on! The action, the secrets, revenge plots, unexpected surprises, and the romance! Ack! I loved their romance! There was so many layers to these two..sigh..

I had the occasional teary moment as the Edge wrapped itself up with style! My only complaint-Sophie's moment with Spider was too short! I really wanted Spider to have his comeuppance; instead I felt..cheated, really..with the way things worked out. However, this was still a fantastic book and I mostly enjoyed how everything tied itself up.

Fourth in The Edge paranormal romance fantasy...and I am so hoping that Andrews plans to continue this series as I've enjoyed this so much! The couple focus is on Charlotte de Ney and Richard Mar.

My Take
Andrews packs a ton of action and emotion into a mere 388 pages. This was intense, and I loved how real Andrews made Charlotte and Richard's shaky alliance. It's so easy to "know" a pair are going to become friends and so easy to allow them to become comfortable with each other quickly, but Andrews made them work for that comfort. Even though both had the same goal in mind, neither trusted the other. Made for good readin'!

George and Jack interact quite a bit in this with Rose and Declan having a cameo.

There's an interesting bit where Charlotte trains Sophie in how to be her companion for their upcoming undercover assignment. Good information on how to follow a trend and yet adapt it to suit your self. Loved the gadgets Charlotte uses. It's also fascinating to watch George and Jack drift between their undercover roles for the Mirror and acing high society.

There's an oddly homey quality to the characters for such a weird world. You can't help but become ensnared by them and want only the best.

The Story
Charlotte has been a healer for twenty years and cannot heal herself. Yet she trusts and knows that Elvei will still love her. They can find another way. Only to have him turn on her, and in turn, she turns on him. Viciously. Righteously. But, oh so wrongly, and Charlotte flees, horrified by how delicious it feels.

Richard Mar is dying, betrayed in a slaver trap, but at least he's taken down those who were after him.

Together, however reluctantly, they'll try to take down more.

The Characters
Charlotte de Ney al-te Ran is a powerful healer, The Healer, in Adrianglia. Elvei, Baron Leremine, is Charlotte's husband. Callis is the slaver dog who adopts her. Lady Augustine al Ran is Charlotte's patron, her adoptive mother, and one of the first ten.

Richard Mar, a.k.a., Hunter, is a born Edger whose skill is the sword. He hunts slavers to prevent anyone else from suffering the losses he and his family have undergone. Kaldar Mar (see Fate's Edge (The Edge, #3)) is his brother. Sophie is the little cousin he protects; she copes by learning all she can of defense. Marissa is the ex-wife.

Éléonore Drayton is a 109-year-old Edger and Rose, George, and Jack's grandmother. Rose is married to Declan (see On the Edge (The Edge, #1)), the Earl Caramine, the Marshall of the Southern Provinces, in Adrianglia while George (he's a necromancer) and shapeshifting Jack work for the Mirror. Her Grace, Lady Jane Olivia Camarine, Duchess of the Southern Provinces, adores Rose and her siblings and will do what she can to help out.

Melanie Dove is Éléonore's friend. Malcolm Rooney and those he gathers are just too reluctant to come to the rescue.

Grand Thane Callis, grandfather to the current Adrianglian king and Brennan, is getting married to Marchesa Imelle de Lon. Dekart is a proscribed "plastic surgeon". Sebastian Lafayette, Comte de Belidor, is also known as Spider.

Jason Parris is ex-military from the Broken, now he's the "most vicious crime lord in the Cauldron". Miko is his second-in-command.

The slavers include:
Those involved in the Edge are Kosom, Voshak Corwen, Milhem, Crow will become Voshak's new second, and Pavel.

The Intrepid Drayton is the ship captained by John Drayton, Éléonore's son. The one who ran out on his kids.

The Council consists of Viscount Robert Brennan, the king's very popular cousin, runs the show; Lord Casside is the main investor; Lady Angelia Ermine is an investor, Brennan's mistress, and interested in training the females; Baron Oleg Rene is one of the Spider's relatives and is their buyer/scout/trouble fixer, and Lord Maedoc, a retired general and decorated war hero---he provides the muscle. Miranda knows what Brennan likes.

The Weird is all-magic; the Broken is our world with no magic; and, the Edge is that buffer between the two, muting magic, but not eliminating it. In the Edge, it's every man for him- or herself. The Mirror is a counterespionage agency.

The Cover
The cover is a collage of events: the ship sailing, waves crashing on shore, Charlotte looking quite contemporary in her jeans, scoop-neck T, and red jacket with the magic swirling around her, and Andrew hovering in the clouds.

The title is another metaphor, for Charlotte (and Andrew) find that she has Steel's Edge.

This is the fourth, and final planned, book in The Edge series by Andrews. It was an excellent conclusion to the series and I really really enjoyed it.

Charlotte is the Healer, the top healer in the Weird. When her husband divorces her because she is barren she decides to leave the Weird and start a new life in the Edge. After years of living there peacefully, the wounded Richard is brought to her doorstep to be healed. Slavers are after Richard and destroy Charlotte's home in pursuit of him. Now Charlotte has decided to dedicate herself to Richard's cause and hunt down the slavers that have destroyed her home. Charlotte will have to find a balance between healing and killing with her magic.

I enjoyed this book. Charlotte is a very likable, if older (in her 30's) heroine. She's dealing with some emotional baggage involving the jerkiness of her former husband. At times she comes off as a bit naive as well because of her secluded upbringing at the Healer's school. Still she does what needs to be done.

At the center of the story is Charlotte's struggle to balance healing and harming with her magic. Harming people with her magic is highly addictive and can turn her into a Plague Bearer.

Richard comes with his own set of baggage. We have seen him off and on throughout the other novels. He is an excellent character; a tough fighter who doesn't take any crap from Charlotte...yet he is always respectful and supportive of her.

The two characters have excellent chemistry and the scenes between the two of them really sizzle.

We also see all the other characters we have come to love; George and Jack are along for most of the story and I absolutely love them. Sophie is also in the story a lot more and it was wonderful to see the tough young woman she is growing into. I really do hope we see future books featuring this younger set of characters....maybe a YA spinoff of this series??

There is a ton of action in this story. Also some medical terminology since Charlotte fights with disease. The plot revolving around the slavers is neatly resolved, with some interesting twists and turns.

Overall an excellent conclusion to this series. This book has well done characters who have excellent chemistry and are easy to engage with combined with a well done storyline and excellent action scenes which make this a joy to read. This is a bit more paranormal romance than urban fantasy. I don't like these book quite as much as the Kate Daniels books, but they are still very well done and highly recommended to paranormal fans.

Reviewed by ANN & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog
"The Andrews have once again written a winner...full of adventure, humour and romance. I couldn't put it down" ~Under the Covers

Charlotte de Ney is not just a healer, but is The Healer and although not a blueblood from birth she has grace and poise that many envy. However, there is a dark side to being a healer, they can as easily start a plague as they can heal one, but to do so is to become an abomination. But once Charlotte tastes the darker side of being a healer, she escapes to the Edge to find peace. That is, until Richard Mar stumbles almost dead on to her doorstep with dangerous enemies in pursuit and a cause that Charlotte can't turn her back on.

It is no big secret that I am a HUGE fan of Ilona and Gordon Andrews and Steel's Edge is a great example of why; full of adventure, humour and romance I couldn't put it down, my eyes became glued to the page, which let me tell you made it extremely awkward to shower, good job I demolished this book in under 24 hours!

For me this was the best in the series and I am glad it is ending on a high note (although, you will see my little rant about this series ending at the end of the review!) The fantastic world of the Edge and the Weird has been built up over the previous three books and has created a perfect setting for Charlotte and Richard to wage their war on slavery as well as develop a romance. Charlotte and Richard were great characters, Charlotte was completely different from the other heroines in this series keeping it fresh and interesting and Richard has intrigued me from when he was first introduced in Bayou Moon.

Charlotte and Richard's journey together puts them through so many emotional highs and lows making a swashbuckling adventure story into something a little more as they try and right wrongs without losing themselves along the way. The mixture of fast paced action, humour and an intelligent storyline kept me turning the pages with relish.

But I am also an avid romance reader so seeing Richard and Charlotte come together so passionately and sweetly after being through so much was also part of the reason I read so greedily. Then there is George and Jack; from the very beginning of this series I have loved them and I am glad that once again they had a fairly big on page presence.

The Andrews have once again written a winner and I am begging them to PLEASE NOT STOP! Or at least write a book for Sophie, George and Jack, we have watched them grow from children to teenagers and I don't think I am alone in wanting to know what they do next. Just a suggestion but I reckon George or Jack (I can never decide which one I like most!) marries a girl called Suzanne, think about it, you'll see it makes sense......

This was a fantastic series, I enjoyed every word and I am sad to see it end so prematurely.

*ARC provided by publisher

When I heard that Steel's Edge was going to be the last Edge series book for the foreseeable future I couldn't help but morn the ending of a series I have thoroughly enjoyed since its conception as "the unclassifiable ON THE EDGE. It's like Twinkies. Everybody likes it, nobody is 100% sure what it is." That said I am never disappointed by an Ilona Andrews book and this volume met and exceeded my already high expectations as a round off to this unpredictable and all-embracing series.

This time around we delve back into the Mar Family with Richard Mar, Hunter of Slavers and Charlotte de Ney a healer from the Weird who found an escape in the Edge. This book was filled with action and a deep characterization along with sparkling world-building and the verve that Andrews is so well loved for. We were introduced to new characters and reunited with old friends--the highlight of which was the kids, George, Jack and Sparrow/Sophie.

I loved the growth in all the recurring characters in this book and while seeing them evolve made it even more bittersweet that their series was ending, being allowed to witness it was a joy. I also relished the expanded entrance into Weird society that seeing through Charlotte's eyes afforded us; I have always loved the world that was built along the Edge and this added dimension was a new window into a view I am chronically impressed with. The plot in this book was well woven and different in its treatment of both healers and what it meant to be damaged. In many ways I feel that this book was the deepest yet penned by Andrews, and I enjoyed both its depth and breadth in handling a touchy subject matter and tying up a series with enough finality to satisfy the fans and yet leaving enough loose ends that if they ever did want to re-visit I am confident in the fact that there are still plenty of stories to be found lurking in the Edge.

I give Steel's Edge a Happy five Stars.

This is the final (for now) book in the Edge series. And in my opinion, it was one of the best!

This book is Richard Mar and Charlotte de Ney al-te Ran's book. Richard is an assassin and a slave-hunter that the slaves call The Hunter, since he hunts them down and kills them in mass numbers. Charlotte was known as The Healer in the circles of the college she trained at, and in the blueblood circles of the Weird.

But when Charlotte's husband abandons her after finding out she's infertile, she uses her magic to harm instead of heal, and chooses to flee into the Edge, where Richard collapses at her doorstep. But after healing him, slavers show up in her life, and her new life in the Edge literally goes up in flames. Charlotte decides to go with Richard to help rid the world of slavers, and hopefully end the evil of the slave trade in the Weird.

But Charlotte is fighting a losing battle with her magic. If she uses it for harm again, she has a chance to become a plague-bringer, someone that will have to be killed. Will her love for Richard allow her to overcome the seduction of the magic?

Richard and Charlotte were so sweet together. They tip-toed around the idea of love for a good while, but when they fell, they fell hard.

I was not expecting the way they ended the book, and I'm sad that it's the end of the series, as they could've really continued it with several characters, such as Sophie, and the Camarine boys, Jack and George. I'm hoping in the future they continue the series, but for now, this is a good ending book. If you're a fan of the series, be sure to pick it up, and if you're not, pick it up anyways, since it's a great series, and you're really missing out!

PJV Quickie: I wanted to love this book! I am all about Illona Andrews and the concept was good, but I think I did myself a disservice by starting at book four. Or I could just take it at face value and state that the world-building was just too much for me. Entertaining and intriguing, but just too much crammed within 400 pages. It was a middle of the road book for me, leaving me with an okay taste in my mouth, but nothing to sing praises about.

Review: Steel's Edge is the tale of Charlotte de Ney, a noble healer born in the Weird. Charlotte is one of the best healers in the Weird, but when she reaches a mature age she is married to a man that she thinks loves her. That is, until she finds out she is barren and he quietly divorces her. The point of marriage, to her husband, is to have blueblood children. Charlotte, distraught, flees to the in-between, the Edge, where she sets up shop and tries to make a home for herself.

One evening an injured man is brought to her and while trying to save him, he brings to her door the slavers that he was trying to take down. The slavers kill her friend and take Richard hostage - Charlotte's has only one focus now. Revenge. She must destroy the slavers that threw her life into chaos and killed her friend.

Steel's Edge, and the world within was a complicated world, with a slight focus on a romance. Charlotte and Richard had to find each other, find slavers, hatch a plot, get introduced to the previous characters of the series and forthcoming characters (I'm assuming), fall in love, establish love, take revenge...and through it all kept my attention, I was lost in a whirlwind of world-building and plot points. I liked Charlotte and Richard, I liked the side characters, I thought the world was quite interesting. The Edge is a series I definitely want to explore in detail, but because of the great many things that needed to be accomplished in the book, I felt the romance was brushed over and kind of forced. I also have to mention, the villains were ridiculously villainous, to the point of stereotypical 2D quality which left me bored at times.

Overall, Steel's Edge, was your typical fantasy/paranormal romance, with the broad sweeping worlds that are usual of the genre. If the romance wouldn't have been forced at times I think I would have enjoyed it much more.

Recommendations: Recommended to read book one in the series, fans of Illona Andrews will enjoy. Paranormal Romance and Dystopian or Fantasy Romance fans should also really enjoy this series. This is an adult romance read, with plenty of sexy time.
If you enjoyed this Fantasy Romance, you'll enjoy these books:

Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1) by Ilona Andrews
Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, #1) by Patricia Briggs

This was a really good story. I've read the previous books in the series and love the series. While this isn't my favorite book in the series (Fate's Edge was my fave) it was extremely enjoyable and I'm really glad I read it.

Charlotte is pretty cool. She's a healer that goes to live in the Edge after a problem marriage. She's happy there until an encounter with slavers destroys her life and makes her vow to take the slavers down. During this time she meets Richard. He's on a mission to take down the slavers and she convinces him to let her help him on his mission.

Richard is a pretty good hero. He's been in the previous books but I never thought "Oh wow, Richard's so cool he should have his own book"...regardless of this, now that I've read it, I'm so happy that he did get his own book! For a number of reasons Richard decided to take on the slavers and take them out. When he meets Charlotte he doesn't want to take her with him because of what the fight against the slavers will do to her but she gives him no choice.

Richard is attracted to Charlotte but considers himself a monster for what he has to do to take care of the slavers so he doesn't think there's any way she'd want him in return. The funny thing is that she feels the same. She is very attracted to Richard but feels she's an abomination for how she's using her magic against the slavers and feels unworthy of Richard. Fortunately they eventually realize the mutual attraction and succumb to it. This does make their mission harder though because now they have something to lose and aren't as eager to risk each other. It's good to see their feelings grow for each other. It felt like they both needed to indulge in their feeling for each other to keep themselves from getting buried in the darkness (emotional darkness) that surrounded them. And those feelings ended up being their salvation later in the story.

The story is fast paced and pretty interesting. Charlotte and Richard are constantly on the move trying to accomplish what they need to. I loved seeing most of the characters from previous books in the story as well and some of the old story lines getting completed (so to speak).

Overall this was a really good story. I really enjoyed it and thought it was a great addition to the series. I hope there's more of the series because it's so good I'd hate to have it end. Ilona Andrews is a great writer and I'd recommend this book and the whole series. I'd buy them all again without hesitation. :D

*Note - I actually listened to the audiobook version of this from Audible.com. Renée Raudman did her typical great job on the narration.

I’ll say wow again here. I’m going to start off with the characters first. In the second Edge novel, Richard wasn’t really on my radar as a guy to like or dislike, too controlled, I guess with too little presence. However, he decided to take on the entire slave trade and that made him interesting. Throw in a healer who is fighting her darker side, but who is unmistakably a lady of fine breeding, and they are a good match.

I loved how Ilona Andrews was able to make it so that one could be a healer but they had the ability to cause great, great harm as well. It happens in a lot of novels with healers of course, but not to this extent. It was nicely done and I loved that detail. Charlotte could be a walking catastrophe of epic proportions and Richard wants her in the worst way. It was glorious. The romance was nice.

Again, the world of the slave trade and the machinations of those behind it were well thought out and executed nicely within the plot. I was seriously impressed. For character development, plot, and of course romance, I’m giving this one 4.5 stars as well.

Ever since she was a toddler, Charlotte was a healer. Meaning her parents sold her to the main Healer school at age seven, for a lot of money to heal their grief of losing a child. Charlotte was raised at the school, leaning that healing came at a price, and that the other side of the coin, destroying life, was easy but would in the end kill her. If she ever gives in to that dark thing inside of her, she would become a walking plague, killing whole populations.
She hasn't felt the need to destroy, but when her husband discards her like old trash, when she is diagnosed as barren, she cannot control herself, and hurts him. She wants him to suffer as he is making her suffer, and is scared of herself. She is so powerful. But she has heard of a place called The Edge, where magic doesn't work as well as in the Weird. And so she flees, leaving everything she knows behind. She almost doesn't make it, having been robbed of everything she owns, and shot when she tried to heal a child. But a kind old lady took her in, and helped her learning the ropes of the Edge world. She is happy with her life here.
Until one day it is all destroyed, and she loses faith with her fellow Edgers. They are cowards, they won't stand up to the slavers who killed her friends, and have abducted her patient. If they won't help her, she will do it herself. Those slavers need to be stopped, to save others the grief she is feeling right now.
To Richard Mar's surprise, she walks right in the slavers camp, letting herself be chained up. He is going mad in his cage, but he can't help her. And then suddenly, some slavers start to cough, and cough harder, and then more and more. And then they die. Will he be next? Or can he get through her haze of grief and make her free him? Charlotte is horrified for what she has done, as she totally enjoyed the feeling of killing those animals. She has trouble reigning her powers back in. And when Richard tells her, there are many more of those bands of slavers scouring the country, she decides to help him on his quest to kill them all, and put a stop to this horror.
Of course Richard doesn't want such a gentle lady to come with him, he works alone, always has. But Charlotte will only follow him, and he can really use her talents. He is ruthless in his goals. And so they set out to find the secret Market, and destroy it, with the help of some allies of his. Some of the most ruthless criminals there are, but who have a bone to pick with the slavers well. And Charlotte gets introduced to the underbelly of society, as she never could have dreamed existed.
She also meets George and Jack, Rose's brothers, whom we met in some previous books. Working as spies for the Mirror, their mission is aborted and they will aid Richard and Charlotte in their goals with their unique talents.

When they find the Market, and destroy it, they are after the Bookkeeper, the only person who knows the identity of the persons behind it all. And when they find out this atrocity evolves from the highest echelons of society, they cannot stop here. They will have to expose those nobles, and end it for good. Which is not going to be easy, and will have to take some sacrifices from them all.

I was mesmerized by this story from the start. The gentle Charlotte, such a great healer, the strongest of them all. Her callous husband, who only used her and then discarded her and how her powers had a dark side to them. How determined she is to right a wrong, how she gives up herself to fight evil. She was strong, she was fun, and I very much enjoyed getting to know her. Richard has really found his match in her. His being unable to share his plans with her, drives her crazy, and she will teach him how to be a partner. He never fears her, even though he witnesses the worst she can do. He still sees the lonely woman she is underneath her power and he will do anything necessary to keep her at his side, even abandon his plans for her. But she won't let him.

A really good book, and I hope to read the stories of Jack and George some day. I like them a lot, and Sophie as well. Great main characters, but the secondary characters are just as good. As evil as they come, and as good as they come. I enjoyed it all. The amazing world building, the descriptions of the fights, the magic, the deaths. I was unable to stop reading past a certain point, which cost me a few hours of much needed sleep. But well, it was almost weekend at that time.

If you have never tried an Ilona Andrews book before, I do recommend this series just as much as the Kate Daniels series, which is Urban Fantasy. But I also recommend you read those books in order, to be able to enjoy everything more. You will have no idea about the Hand or the Mirror, or the different realms in this amazing world.

10 stars

© 2012 Reviews by Aurian

Full review on my blog, [...]

Any book written by Ilona Andrews (Husband/Wife team) is sure to be a great read. Steel's Edge is the 4th book in the Edge series and appears to be the last one. Richard is the brother of Cherise and Kaldar from the previous book Bayou Moon (The Edge, Book 2) (2) and Fate's Edge (3). Richard is an edger from the bayou area from Louisiana. As Ilona Andrews has previously stated on her blog, Steel's Edge is much darker than the previous books in the series. Richard is on a mission to destroy the people that are leading the slave trade. Charlotte de Ney is an aristocratic woman with a powerful healing gift and devotion to her calling. The end of her marriage is the catalyst that unlocks a darker part of her healing gift...the power to inflict disease and plague. Charlottle and Richard meet through tragedy and form an unlike bond despite their radically different backgrounds.

Charlotte and Richard really make a great time in this book. While Charlotte is new to the business of espionage, Richard accepts her into his plans and helps to guide her. This book reminds me a lot of Bayou Moon in terms of the theme. While Bayou Moon was more graphic, this novel is darker in terms of the decisions that people make and what they have to live with afterwards. The growing attraction throughout this novel between Richard and Charlotte is the more lighthearted aspect throughout and helps to balance the dark theme. Here's one passage that I like from Richard's point of view regarding Charlotte.

She was beautiful and radiant. He remembered the concern in her eyes. The same concern drove her now, pushing her toward acts of violence. On the surface, he'd be a fool to turn her down. She was driven by tragedy, just like him, and she would be incorruptible, just like him. He needed a blade to kill, but she could kill dozens at once empty-handed. She was Death, and she had just asked to be his ally.

I really geek out about the dry humor in Ilona Andrew novels. Despite all the numerous parts that I highlighted...this is my favorite funny passage between Richard and Kaldar.

Congratulations," he said, his

voice dry. "You finally managed to find a woman as tragically noble as yourself. I didn't think one existed."

"I'm not tragic."

Kaldar held up his hand. "Spare me. Some children are born wearing a silk shirt; you were born wrapped in melancholy. When they slapped you to make you cry, you just sighed heavily and a single tear rolled from your eye." He dragged his finger from the corner of his left eye to his cheek. " Your first words were probably `woe is me.'"
"My first words were 'Kaldar, shut up!' because you talked too much. Still do."

This book can be standalone but, I would really recommend reading the previous books in the series first. Fans of the series will enjoy this book because of the return of previous characters. As always, Jack and George play a significant role in this book. You also get to check in with Rose and Declan and find out what they're up to.

I hope this is not the last book in the Edge series. I love how each book features a different set of characters with their own story with this Universe. PLEASE WRITE MORE!!!!

I highly recommend this book!

I honestly love this series. There's so much depth and so many tangents and so many wonderful characters that haven't yet been explored that I have this sad little ache inside knowing that this is the final book. I even tried to read slowly so I could savor it but, alas, I'm plowed through it like there was a feral Changeling hot on my heels. *sniffle* That's okay, though. I can immerse myself in a reread in the future and experience it all over again.

But let's talk about this book. Charlotte's battle against the darkness inside was... well, not fun, but it was fascinating to read about. I could understand why she was willing to see the quest through to the end once she had used her power because she literally thought she had nothing else to lose. Richard's desire to see things through because he didn't want anyone else in his family consumed by revenge until they lose all sight of the here and now was no less poignant than Charlotte's. He's seen first hand how the desire for vengeance can twist a person up.

We get to spend some quality time with George and Jack (Jack's Changeling nature FASCINATES me), get resolution to several plot threads that have been laid out in previous books, and get to revisit (no matter how briefly) a multitude of characters we've met before. I'm sad to see this series end but I'm pleased with how it all played out. On the other hand, I wouldn't pooh-pooh another dozen books in this series if the planets aligned and the Gods of all Things Bookish decided to give it a second chance.

I'm just sayin'.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

What it's about: For those of you new to The Edge books, The Edge is a place that is between worlds. It's not a part of the Broken (human world) and not quite a part of the Weird (think the Fae, magic, etc.). Ilona's characters are a part of The Edge -- not quite living in one world or the next. This is the fourth book in the series and deals with Charlotte de Ney (a noble Blueblood from the Weird) and Richard (part of the loud and numerous Edger clan). Steel's Edge is about human slavers, dangerous magic and deep passion. This is the final Edge book and as such wraps up the series (for the most part).

Why you should read it: Ilona Andrews is a talented author, and I absolutely loved her first two Edge books. I enjoyed reading Steel's Edge because Charlotte is a healer (don't ask why -- I've always loved books about healers) and is a Blueblood, who fled the Weird. Overall, the whole opposites-attract thing and Charlotte using her gift for harm rather than good were definitely pluses. Some of the problems I had with the book: the quick wrap-up of the villain and how quickly and easily Charlotte and Richard fell in love. While I liked how quick they decided to work together, I wish their romance would have been drawn out a bit more (they declared their love for one another rather quickly). It's an Edge book, so I recommend the read, while it might not have been my favorite. There's a hint on her website that she may give us a spinoff series involving some of my favorite characters (fingers crossed!). Check out the first three books: On the Edge, Bayou Moon (my favorite) and Fate's Edge.

To see more awesome books that released this week check out USA Today's HEA Blog

What I Loved
Series
This is book 4 in the series. Each book contains its own new couple and story, but with an arcing storyline that connects them all. We still get to hear about past couples and I love this type of series.
Story
I love every book in this series and this book didn't disappointment nor fall short of the rest of the series. Steel's Edge has a perfect amount of ass kicking action, great story line that continues with the rest of the books and a dose of romance that fits perfectly with the books fast pace action.
Characters
Charlotte: I have always loved every single one of their female characters. They are always very strong female characters and that is my favorite type, no weak and whiny females for their books. While Charlotte may not be able to kick ass in a physical fight, she has some wicked power that no one should mess with.
Richard: Another awesome male character that kicks some major ass with the right amount of interior softness.
Romance
Perfect amount of romance, not a lot, but these two are perfect for each other. The connection and chemistry they have together is fantastic.

Didn't Like
Nothing!

Recommendation
An awesome series that needs to be read if you like urban fantasy, adventure and romance.

I have to say that I am disappointed that there will not be any more Edge books. Ilona Andrews has made me fall so deeply in love with the characters and world-building that it's a shame we have to say goodbye.

The hero of the story is Richard Mar, Kaldar's brother, who we first met in Bayou Moon. He is on a mission to destroy the slave trade thriving in the Weird. The slavers nearly destroyed his niece, Sophie, and now he won't rest until he finds the head of the serpent and cuts it off.

Charlotte is the Healer of her generation. Her gift helped her become magic nobility. But even her skills could not help her conceive a child --or keep a husband who married her for all the wrong reasons. His betrayal of their marriage drove Charlotte to use her gifts to harm... and as a result, she fled to the Edge to start a new life.

The two cross paths when slavers chase Richard into the Edge nearly killing him. Charlotte saves his life, but his attackers follow him to her home and kill a dear friend of hers. That starts Charlotte on her own path of revenge against the slavers, and she is willing to use any means necessary to take them down. She and Richard join forces --and end up falling in love.

First I'll tell you what I liked. The world building in this series is fantastic and unique. I love the idiosyncrasies of the Edge and the Weird. I love the complex social class system and the magic. I love how all the books and characters are connected, and while each book features a different love story, the bigger picture remains. Last but not least, I love the characters. Richard is a solid hero, with just a touch of that "I'm not good enough for her" vibe going on. Charlotte is refined, broken, and powerful all at once. She is almost impossible not to like. And --of course-- there are Jack, George, and Lark (Sophie.) They add so much to the story!

This wasn't my favorite book in the series, however. The love story was too fast and the romance too easy. I think Richard and Charlotte were declaring their love in about two days. The real angst was in the external conflict. --My other issue was that it felt like the book was forced into an end-of-series role. It tacked on the Spider and the Hand elements almost as an afterthought... which is a shame considering they were worth their own big story arc.

Overall I did enjoy it. Definitely worth reading for any Edge fan.

Charlotte and Richard tow very different people are thrown together in dire circumstances. He is known as The Hunter, and comes from common relations and he hunts/kills slave runners. He is excellent with flashing and using his sword. She is the most talented healer and a member of a very blue, blue blood family.her life has been sheltered and focused on healing till Richard derails things. He shows up one day at her place of rest, near death and being chased by viscous salvers who will stop at nothing to get him. Saving his life comes at a very high cost. They travel through towns looking for revenge and encounter death, torture and love.
I enjoyed this last book in this wonderful series. I loved seeing George and Jack again. *They are two of my favorite characters. I did not really connect with Charlotte and Richard. I don't know why. I love the world, the story just not them so much. I really hope the authors bring George and Jack into their own books some day.

It appears that a lot of questions are answered in this book . But I am wondering if this is the last book in the series or if there will be more. I certainly hope there will be more because I absolutely love this series . The novel has everything that you Ilona Andrews's work always has: terrific world building, great characters that you love and characters that you love to hate, and wonderful love stories . You cannot get much better than that .

I love just about anything Ilona Andrews writes and this is no exception. Her stories are so intricate and fascinating I can't put them down. This series keeps you going, keeps you reading. I love the characters, they are so interesting and diverse. And the swordsmanship, magic etc. - what fun to read and imagine.

Ilona Andrews is my favorite author and once again, doesn't disappoint with this last in the series about an area know as the edge, which boarders between the broken (non magic world) and the Weird ( a place of high magic).

The story is about Charlotte, known as The Healer, and her quest for vengeance against a brutal yet organized slave traders. Along the way, she meets and saves Richard Mar. Richard, known as The Hunter, has spent the last several years hunting and destroying the slavers, but has been unsuccessful in identifying the head of the organization in order to take it down.

They band together for a violent adventure to destroy the slavers, pitting their skills and their lives against a powerful enemy. Along the way, they fall in love and both will sacrifice themselves in order to protect the other.

Great conclusion to this series. I recommend that you start at the beginning with book one, as this is not a stand alone.

I was very sad to hear that series was ending. I remember picking up the first book and thinking what an original concept this was. This book tells the story of Richard and Charlotte (other reviewers have summarized the plot, so I won't rehash). I actually liked Charlotte better than Richard. Not that Richard was a bad hero, but he was a little too Type-A at times. Charlotte was a wonderful heroine though. I liked that she was intelligent and resourceful and generally avoided TSTL moments. Her inner conflict and battle with her magic was well-written. Her sacrifice in the end to save Sophie and any number of others was quite touching.

I would heartily recommend this series to anyone who likes modern or urban fantasy, although you do need to start with the first one not with this book.

I am a big fan of the Ilona Andrews. So by rights I should not be surprised that I really liked this book. Except that I have come to the conclusion that I subconsciously treat this series like Jan Brady while The Kate Daniels series is unquestionably Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!

And yet, when I do read an Edge book, I can barely put it down and find that I am greatly satisfied once I am done.

So far I think this is my second favorite of the series with Bayou Moon (The Edge, Book 2) coming in first.

In this one Richard Mar is trying his best to break the back of a slavery ring that preys mostly on women and children from the Edge and the Broken. He has built a fearsome reputation as a person known as The Hunter who has been relentlessly and ruthlessly hunting down and killing the slavers. But he has only been able to chip away at the operation from the street level. He knows that in order to do real damage he must find out who is behind the ring funding it. After a particularly harrowing battle with a group of slavers he finds himself at the doorstep of Charlotte de Ney.

Charlotte is a blue blood healer from the Weird. She is an adopted daughter of one of the first families and has incredibly powerful healing magic. But she had fled her home to hide out in the Edge in the aftermath of some bad news and terrible heartbreak. In the Edge, she is befriended and taken under the wing of Rose's grandmother.

However the night that Richard lands on her doorstep, bleeding and near death, sets off a series of tragic events. Charlotte becomes as determined as Richard to end the slavery ring and she lends her support and her considerable magical abilities to the cause.

This was an excellent story. Richard and Charlotte make an unbeatable team. He is lethal and predatory and amongst the criminal set and fringe of society his skills are invaluable. But when their quest leads them into the Weird amongst the high society set, Charlotte's background comes into play and what a play it is. It was a nice departure for the series for this book to take place mostly in the the Weird and for the heroine to be a noble.

Another departure for the series is that that even though this is definitely a romance and Charlotte and Richard fall in love while they are together, I didn't feel that the romance part of this book was an fully involved as the previous books. It felt perfunctory almost. But you know what? I really didn't care. The plot with the tracking down the slavers was 100% engrossing.

The story is half-mystery half-sting operation and it kept me totally riveted. I couldn't wait to find out who was behind the operation and how they'd take them down. I was fascinated by Charlotte's corruption of her healing magic so that she was a death-bringer. I loved the small but vitally important part that Rose's family background played in the storyline. I LOVED George and Jack's involvement in the story and hope, hope, hope they each get their own book. Can I just say that George rocks?!?!

With all that, I liked that the romance was a little bit in the background actually, hovering over and around the plot.

Really good book. Highly recommended for fans of the series. Not a good place for people new to the series to begin, imo. Too many references to The Hand and The Mirror and The Spider etc. All stuff that has come before and needs more context to appreciate. Also, the smallish glimpse we get of Rose and Declan do them NO justice.

Charlotte may be a healer and hold a noble title, but her life has never been easy. Taken from her family at a young age because of her healing talents, she's been sequestered from the world. So when she married her husband she was rather naive in believing his offer of a happy ever after. Then her eyes were opened to the truth and as everything around her came crumbling down, she flees to the Edge. Unlike her homeland, the Edge is a world of its own as it separates the magical realm from the mundane one, called the Weird and the Broken respectively. Her life then settles down into a sort of normalcy, but then everything is turned upside down again once she is dragged into Richard's quest to stop a malicious band of slavers who have destroyed countless lives. Between his unparalleled skill with the blade and her ability to manipulate diseases into a weapon, the pair of them together may just have what it takes to finally bring the slavers down, but at what cost?

I'm not usually a big fan of regency style books, but I really enjoyed the change in atmosphere for Steel's Edge. Granted, if I recall, the previous book was also centers largely in the Weird, but it didn't have the regency feel that this one does. Perhaps that is due to the fact that the characters this time around had much stronger roots to the Blueblood way of life. Oh Richard is an Edger through and through but he was trained by his exiled Blueblood family member and can do society with the best of them. I just found it utterly fascinating once Charlotte starting to explain all the minute rules of society. In all honesty it was quite baffling for a no fuss, no makeup kind of gal, but entertaining all the same. I also enjoyed the way this book lifted the "curtain" from the Bluebloods to see behind their noble fronts and showed that they can be every bit as a monster and the ones they call beneath them. I just love to see the high and mighty get knocked down a few pegs.

I really loved the dynamic between Charlotte and Richard. Despite the fact that they came from two very different worlds, they couldn't be more perfect for one another. They both just seem so grounded and have this utterly selfless nature about them. In fact, both of them were worried that they were not good enough for the other at first, which was rather laughable considering just how much they were willing to sacrifice in order to bring the slavers down. That being said, they did have some pretty insurmountable odds to over come in order to be together, and I thoroughly enjoyed every part of the ride.

As much as I love Ilona Andrew's style of writing and the guarantee for a good story, I can't quite give this particular story the five star rating I would like to. I realize this is the final book in the series and there were a lot of various plot threads to tie up, but that led things into being rather chaotic as the many different aspects were pulled together. It just didn't have the solid and put together feel that the previous installments have had. Also, I really didn't care for the way the final showdown went with the slavers operation. It just felt rather anti-climatic to me in the way it was resolved, especially since all of the other confrontations in the book had a whole lot more oomph to them. That being said I did read an early unfinished review copy, so perhaps things will be tweaked a little in that area before the release. Putting that aside, I felt Steel's Edge did a good job of rounding out the series and leaving things in a good place. There is room for the authors to come back to the series for more, but even if that never happens, I'm rather satisfied with the way everything turned out. Fans of the series will be pleased with this wrap up to the fabulous Edge series.

I really didn't want to invest in another world and cast of characters, but needed something to read while waiting for the next Kate Daniels book. I'm so glad I decided to give The Edge a try! I really hope Ilona comes back to the Edge a couple more times. George and Sofie need a book when they are older, and Jack deserves his story as well. this author is so great at weaving her characters lives in and around each other. I read the inconsistencies, but it didn't bother me. I love the Mar family, as well as Rose and the boys. Now I can't wait for the next Edge story. Ilona was a recommendation on another authors page, and I am so glad I took her advice! Thanks Elizabeth Hunter!

I'm a big fan of Ilona Andrews' stories. That said, I'm a bigger fan of the Kate Daniels series than the Edge one, which Steel's Edge wraps up.

With the Kate stories, there's a clear threat and everything drives (break neck speed) along to attack it.

With the Edge series, the plot twists more.

In Steel's Edge, I felt like I got two books. This wasn't a bad thing, and I'm not dropping any spoilers, but yeah, definitely that twist in there.

The story is good. The healing of two damaged lives is brilliant. As always there is heart and soul in the interactions with family.

Great read. Enjoy! but it's worth starting at the beginning of the series, not with this final volume.

This last installment in the saga, was better than the third and left me sad because there is not going to be any book about George and Jack, but I can always hope....

Questo ultimo libro della serie é stato migliore del precedente, e ora sono triste perché non ci saranno libri su George e Jack, un vero peccato, ma si puó sempre sperare....

I loved all books by Ilona Andrews I've read so far. And yup, this was no exception.
It was fast paced and engaging, the characters were incredible and the plot was spectacular. I really have nothing but great words about this one.

Why not 5 stars? It left me with a question that I kinda wanted answered: what happened to her ex-husband, the one who left her? I wanted to see him pay in some way. What can I say, I like seeing the characters being revenged.

This fourth and final installment in The Edge series was for this reader, a joy. It kept me enthralled from start to finish even though I tried to pace myself. Each book is very different from the others which makes sense as each main character varies. I thoroughly enjoy the appearances of the supporting characters as well as I have grown to love Jack and George immensely. I would hope to hear about them again if the authors were so inclined, but I am happy how the series ended and feel blessed to have been introduced in the first place. Thank you Ilona Andrews for your witty and engrossing storytelling that rings true of humanity in any world.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Beware of spoilers!

Charlotte was dealt a devastating blow when she discovered that she is infertile and it led to her husband leaving her. She is a healer, but couldn't heal herself. The dangerous thing about being a healer is the ability to use the darker side of your magic to cause the very illnesses you can treat. Once Charlotte starts feeling the urge to use her dark magic she decides it's time to leave the Weird and move to the Edge where her magic won't be so potent.

Charlotte meets, Rose's grandmother, Éléonore, who takes her under her wing. She sets her up in Rose's former home and gets the other Edgers to accept her as their healer.

Richard has been trying to get vengeance for the horrors that Sophie has been through at the hands of the slavers and won't rest until he ends them. But when he gets mortally injured in battle he runs to the boundary and into the Edge to die. But he is discovered and taken to Charlotte. She heals him. But when she goes to get more blood for him, the slavers come looking for Richard and when Éléonore won't give him up willingly they burn the house down with her inside, and take him.

Now Charlotte decides she must fight back. She goes after the slavers herself and finds Richard caged. She embraces her dark magic to rescue him. They then decide to work together to find a way to end the slavery ring once and for all. But if Charlotte isn't careful she could lose herself to her magic and could lose all her humanity as well.

I wasn't sure about this book when I saw that it was about Richard. I always found him to be a pretty dull character, especially after just finishing the book on my favorite Edger, Kaldar. But I quickly was drawn into Charlotte's story with the end of her marriage which led to the beginning of her new life. I like how Andrew and Ilona were able to connect Charlotte to Éléonore and her family and truly making the books to date come full circle. I did end up liking Richard, but this story truly belonged to Charlotte!

There were a few dull points in the book, fighting the slavers didn't end up being as exciting as I thought it would be. But once Charlotte and Richard put their plan to expose Brennan in to play the novel became fast-paced and action filled; you won't want to put the book down from that point on!

I enjoyed the ending more than I thought I would and it shows you just how strong the love between Richard and Charlotte truly is and that they really can overcome all obstacles!

This was another good book in The Edge series (although Fate's Edge is still my favorite to date) and I can't wait to see what's in store for us next! I'm anticipating a future book about Jack, George, and Sophie....maybe even a little love triangle? Who knows? I'm not really expecting that to be the next book though as I think the `kids' still have some growing up to do, but I can't wait to see who the next installment will feature! Erian perhaps? I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

This review and more at openbooksociety dot com

An awesome contemporary romantic "urban" fantasy. Last of the four book series, the manuscript can be stand-alone or enjoyed at the end of a long reading marathon. At this time I have only read books one and four.

Ilona Andrews, a husband and wife team, write banter like they took notes during a few of Benedict and Beatrice (Much to do About Nothing) private arguments. Sexy, funny, witty. The men of the series are warriors and the women stand by their side with their special abilities, kicking ass and maybe even scarier than the male loves; Charlotte, the heroine of Steel's Edge, certainly is the more dangerous of the two. All the heroes and heroines are strong people.

And the worldbuilding is delicious. It isn't so much political intrigue as sociological intrigue. Unless you know how to move through the society, you got problems. In the first book it was trying to fit in with the isolated Edgers, and in the fourth book maneuvering through the challenge of a three-hundred-year old aristocratic society - it isn't a Victorian novel on manners, but picking the right color gown can mean the difference of getting in to see the person you need to assassinate.

Steel's Edge is clearly a three-act book - the first on the Edge dragging Charlotte out of her hidey hole back into the land of the living and personal hurt, the second an unholy absolutely amazing preparation for and then battle at a slaver's town, and finally going after the big slave bosses who move at the very top of society. In each act Charlotte's and Richard's relationship develop further and the stakes get higher.

I loved meeting up with the children from Book 1 - George and Jack - again in Book 4. They have grown older, now full teenagers and on the cusp of adulthood. And I may forgive the Andrews the first major death of the book ... if they write two more romances set in the Edge. I want to see who George, Jack, and even Sophie end up with.

I am so sad to reach the end of this series. All the loose ends were tied up and all our remaining heroes and heroines got their happy ever afters. Sigh. I guess I'll just have to move on to the next series.

The writing team of Ilona Andrews do a wonderful job at world creating. The Edge is a between world. Between the world we know, and the world of magic. Usually the Edge is comprised of cut-throats and criminals, but every once in a while you'll come across somewhat decent people. Decent, but who still knows how to kick butt.

I would highly recommend anything from Ilona Andrews. In this series, each book can stand alone, but it would still benefit the reader to read in order since most world building and explanations occur in the first book.

I will admit I got about a third of the way in and lost interest. It was very predictable and I did not connect with the main characters enough to care what happened to them. I skipped to the end and read the ending. No surprises there to make me go back and stick it out. Very disappointed. I usually love Ilona's books.

A unique view of magic and magical characters as well as a deep understanding of poverty and its toll inform all of the Edge series (who can believe there won't be any more?). Moving from the magical to the non-magical world is extraordinarily difficult or even impossible depending on the strength of one's magic or lack thereof. The lands between the two are called the Edge and most of her characters live there. Charlotte de Ney, her character in this novel, escapes from the Weird and attempts to survive in the Edge. The prejudice and insularity of the inhabitants make that very difficult and lead to some harrowing events.

As always, Ms. Andrews' writing is delightful and her gift for understanding the mindsets and motivations of very different people makes compelling reading. Recommended.

A word about Ilona Andrews, or the writing team of Husband/wife Ilona and Andrew Gordon.
They have two major series that I have been following. Kate Daniels and The Edge series.
They also have a wonderful little serial story going on their Blog, CleanSweep, which I suggest you get with immediately. It is a Funny, (though they will probably hate me for saying that) highly entertaining, bit of Urban Fantasy. Did I mention it's a serial? That means you get a little piece every few days. Like tuning in to a show, (like Dr. Who) that runs in ten minute episodes.

As for Steel's Edge, let me just note if you haven't been reading this excellent Urban Fantasy series you should really start at the beginning. "On the Edge" begins this story of an Earth-like world where Magic dwells in some places - The Weird, and "Normal" - in The Broken, but between these lies The Edge, a strip of land that is in-between, neither all normal, nor all magic, but definitely the place to begin reading this engrossing series. It is followed by Bayou Moon and Fate's Edge.
By way of Standard Disclaimer, Ilona was kind enough to send me an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this final book in the series. There were no strings attached. But you may note I am a big fan of IA.
I am also a fan of the Fantasy genres UF and PN (urban fantasy and paranormal). Strange for an old Sci-Fi buff, but there you go. I am fascinated with this genre and Indies. It's where many of the new Ideas are. In profusion.
One more note: No Spoilers, so don't look here for the story line. Much.....
Charlotte de Ney, a healer from the weird, but living in The Edge, and Richard Mar, a man on a mission are the main characters and sparks fly when they meet under strange circumstances. There is lots of action, people who matter to Charlotte and Richard get hurt or killed, and Richard is "abducted".
Charlotte, someone we might have considered meek, goes after him only to find herself embroiled with Richard in bringing an end to a revolting trade in human lives.
As they set out to destroy the Slave Trade their relationship grows more involved.
Many of the characters from previous books in this series are also involved, some have grown or matured. They surprise us just as much as the action. There is Disappointment and Betrayal. Action and Adventure, and all leading up to a totally awesome conclusion that made me think of the classic movie "The Sting" OMG!!! Really well done. This was as well and tightly written as I could have hoped. YOU.HAVE.TO.READ.THIS.BOOK.

I think the Andrewses are getting a divorce. It's the only explanation for the quality of this book.
If the previous books I have read are a true collaboration between two writers, then this book is the result of two different styles of writing with no transition in between. Up until the raid on the Market island the style is true Ilona Andrews (although it's not as good as the previous books). After they burn and kill the slavers the writing is done by a romance writer trying to break through to the supernatural/mystery genre. I think they kept it together to get half the book done (more or less) and then the last half was done by either him or her. It's bad though. The character development stops and instead we are dazzled with descriptions of dresses and ballrooms. How can one person be responsible for half the content of eight great books and completely suck on their own?
On the previous occasions that the books were set in the Weird, it was clearly stated that while they could do amazing things with magic the technology level was about the same as our Middle Ages. In this novel we have microwaves, projectors, horseless carriages and condoms. I guess they needed magic fueled appliances to distract us from the lack of plot. This book sucked.

Ilona Andrews' 2nd series, The Edge, ends (Sadly) in this fourth and final installment about Richard (brother to the heroine in book 2--Cerise and the hero in book 3-Keldar). We meet the heroine Charlotte de Ney first. She is a healer with a great amount of powerful magic, living amongst the aristocracy when tragedy and divorce drive her to the Edge. Its there she encounters Richard, who is on a personal quest to end slavery in the Weird. They join forces.

This fourth book is by far my favorite in the series.

a) Its great to have the characters I've come to like back in the story: Jack and George have great parts and Sophie comes back (from book 2)--I really enjoy the "kids" in these books and how they have grown and developed over the series. I was really happy to see Sophie again--she's intriguing.

b) World building also balances out in this book. I don't know if someone who hasn't read the first three books will understand everything, but I enjoyed not needing as much exposition. I felt like the story was able to move at a good clip without too many asides.

c) Great heroine. I liked Charlotte de Ney a lot. Older than the other heroines, quite potent magically but non-combative, she's an interesting narrator and I really liked the bits of the high society that we get from her explaining things to Sophie. Its a change for the authors, who so far wrote about kind of edgy,l lower-class heroines and all more fighter-types. After Kate, Cerise, (and Rose and Audrey) its a nice change and they do it well.

d) the romance: it was good. For some reason, the "does he/she like me" back and forth that went on for a good chunk of the book was more believable and enjoyable than the other books. I like Richard better than Keldar, what can I say?

If you read the series, you'll probably like this one too, and be sorry, like I am, that there won't be more.

Maybe some short stories.... c'mon: I want to know what happens to Jack!

also, check out their website for the free fiction story. its really fun, too :-)

This is one of my favorite books I've read in a LONG time. Ms. Andrews, keep doing what you're doing! I'm a avid reader of romance and I've been (recently) disappointed by many romances but not by Ms. Andrews. Steel's Edge is my favorite of her Edger novels (I think... I'm going to have to reread them all to confirm!) but it confirms that Ilona Andrews is on my "must buy" list.

I don't think I'll ever tire of Ilona Andrews' writing style. I have loved the Edge series, and this final book of the set was a perfect ending book. This is a series you need to read in order as it involves a complex plot/storyline that involves three realities: The Broken which is a magic-less reality (Earth?), The Weird which is pretty much a magical fairytale reality, and the Edge- a buffer zone between the two where there is magic and danger. I love the complexity of the characters as well as the development of the plot over the four Edge books. Well worth the time to read, and probably ones you will want to own to read again.

> > > Content: Fairly explicit sex, minimal or no swearing, several bloody battles.

4.5 stars. Wow! This was MUCH BETTER than expected, given my disappointment in book 3. I have read all 4 books in the series. Book 2 is my favorite, followed by book 4. Book 1 was fine, but I couldn't warm up to Declan for a long time.

SPOILER FREE -- I keep it obscure:

Characterization: 5★ especially for Charlotte!

Plot, pacing: 4★ solid! Destroy the slavers.

Romance: 4.25★ with a sweet epilogue ツ

Characterization: Outstanding portrayal of Charlotte, Baroness of Ney. Throughout the book, we see her change from a gentle "Do no harm" healer to a killer, out for justice, willing to use her magic to wipe out the slave traders. I sympathized with Charlotte from the beginning, when Elvei abandoned her so cruelly. Whenever evil threatened, Charlotte had to battle the tempting dark side of her healing magical powers. It felt Frodo-ish, battling the seduction of the ring.

Much as I loved Richard -- and I really did!! -- my favorite hero in this series is still William, the wolf changeling from book 2, Bayou Moon (The Edge, Book 2). However, Charlotte gives William's mate, Cerise, a run for her money. IMO, Charlotte and Cerise are tied for best heroine in the series.

Secondary characters: Supporting characters were nicely fleshed out, with the exception of the captain of the ship, who played a surprisingly important role. I didn't buy his character. What motivated him??? Also, I got a thin sketch of the old Grand Thane (see final battle), but that's okay.

★ I was happy to see that Jack, George, and Sophie (Lark) had strong supporting roles. George's character struck me as quite solid, particularly when he confronted the captain on the ship -- an engrossing scene. Keldar also played a strong role, and he was more likeable than in book 3 -- more like how he behaved in book 2. Grandmother Éléonore Drayton, living in East Laporte, in the Edge, also played a fairly important role, and so did the Duchess, Declan's mother. Rose and Declan made only a brief appearance. I ♥ the "wolfripper" dog, eventually given a name and a home. He was so protective of Char and Sophie. Lady Augustine (Charlotte's noble adoptive mother) also had some depth.

The bad guys were "very bad" yet Andrews provided a credible motive for the leader of the council -- I understand WHY he ran the slave trade business, despite his wealth. I also understand the reason for the absurd cowardice of the townsfolk when slavers attacked in the Edge.

Plot and Pacing: Coherent plot! There were several surprise revelations that I never saw coming. Suspense was good -- some scenes were quite tense. I was engrossed in the scenes on the ship and the island, and the various scenes where Charlotte had to battle the dark side of her healing magic. However, some parts of the plot cropped up too suddenly, like the part with Spider. Happy to say, the pacing was not bogged down by endless pages of inner dialogue (but there was too much of that). Pacing also slowed a little when the diseases and germs were mentioned, and when the castle was described in detail, but I skimmed.

Romance: I liked the relationship between William and Cerise in book 2 better, but not sure why. The relationship between Richard and Charlotte is wonderful. Richard was such a cool-headed warrior, but so protective, tender and almost courtly towards Charlotte. She soooo needed to be loved for herself, not for her healing powers or her noble status. Richard also needed to be accepted, loved, and not feared, despite his killings and his Mire-rat status. He had to get over his first marriage, just as Charlotte did (but thankfully, the authors didn't dwell on that too much!).

Sex: I don't read urban fantasy for the lovemaking, but Steel's Edge had more -- and more explicit -- sex than any other book in the series, yet it did not drive the plot (much). A yummy 3-day love scene in Richard's cabin in the woods, while the rain pattered down. ツ

Dialogue: It flowed - but first Charlotte had to teach Richard to "Talk! Use words!" cuz at first he tended to run the show without explaining anything. Also, Steel's Edge had none of the bull about religion that took up endless pages of dialogue and internal reflection in book 3.

Epilogue: Lovely. Several pages. It left me with a good feeling in my ♥.

Disappointments: William and Cerise did not play any role in this book. None. William was mentioned in the epilogue, but that's it. I ♥ William. Also, I wanted Charlotte's cruel ex, Elvei, to suffer more.

Unresolved Issues:

Did you-know-who die? We never saw a body.

What about Erian, Richard's brother who walked away after the fight with Spider at the end of book 2? What becomes of him?

I always thought Sophie (Lark) and Jack would pair up some day, but now I wonder if it's George and Sophie?? Will we ever know? Is this the last book?

Love this series. Love the humor and the characters. Sad to see it be the last in the series but it was a perfect conclusion. As with all of Ilona Andrew's novels you'll never waste a minute when you take time to read/listen to them.

Like the former Reviewers put it, I too miss this series. The Authors have made marked litersry leaps twisting their prose with poetic traces; it made for an even more enjoyable read. I have read everything they have published and am ready for more.

Steels Edge is fantastic, a nail biting edge of your seat paranormal romance, the author duo is a winner that captivates you from the first page! To anyone that hasn't read Ilona Andrews you will not be disappointed.

I usually like Ilona Andrews but this was pretty mediocre. The story was a bit haphazard and there was no real chemistry between the main characters. The passion to do anything to end slavery felt cotrived on the part of Charlotte.Maybe if the authors had stuck with one POV it wouldnt have felt so forced.

Llosa has created a neat world, with unique and interesting characters. These are super escape books. They are hard to put down, but do not take long to finish. The sex and romance do not take away from the plot or action. If you like books by Patricia Briggs you should enjoy these books.

Charlotte and Richard were a wonderful pairing and the plot, characters, and action made it impossible to put down once started. I held my breath and shed a tear at a couple of moments but I have grown to love so many of the characters that live in the Edge and it's environs that I sincerely hope this is not the end. I want to know what happens to Jack and George and Sophie.

Ilona Andrews is one of the best authors today with an unbelievably good ability to blend the fantasy and romance genres. Steel's Edge is about Richard Mar and Charlotte de Nay. Richard is a tragic gentleman and a master swordsman. Charlotte is a blue blood and a healer with the power to give and take life. Richard is hunting human slavers and Charlotte joins him. The events in this book are dark and moving. The characters are very-well fleshed out and have realistic reactions.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The world building and action scenes are outstanding as usual. However, the book is missing levity and the witty lines and come backs that make you laugh out loud (except for the scene with Charlotte and Sophie in the carriage). I was left with the feeling of wanting more happiness, a sense of optimism in this gory world that we are leaving behind.

I've read all the edge books and find them very enjoyable! First time readers should probably start with book one so they don't get spoilers on previous characters but they may find it fun to be thrown into a completely new world.

I am a little bitter and disappointed that the writing of this book no doubt played a huge part in the fact it has been overa year since the last Kate Daniels book.

While the first Edge book was pretty good, they got progressively weaker - and while yes, they are all "good" reads, KD they are not. To justify the year.plus wait this book was going to have to be exceptional...and it sure wasn't.

Having said all that, its an easy read, and while not up to my level of expectation from the writing duo I often claim as a favorite of mine, it wasn't so bad I couldn't finish it.