Iron and Magic

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

–Potential Spoilers if you haven't read the Kate Daniels series–

I cannot express enough how excited I was to get my hands on this ARC. Like... I saw that it was up on Netgalley and almost broke my computer trying to get my request in. And then I went and gave it a super late review because I was moving sigh For this one, I feel bad about. It is strange how I got to this point too since I started out disliking this series. I read Magic Bites and wasn't impressed. All the praise got to me, so I tried the audiobook and liked it more and after the 3rd book I found myself hopelessly enthralled.

Much like how the main series took me a while to get into, this book felt somewhat the same to me. This is probably because it has been so long since I've read the main series, so I had to try remembering what happened. Once I got into it though? I was loving it.

I love how we see Hugh as flawed– a leader, an amazing fighter, but dealing with some major issues and having to come to terms with real life and consequences. He grows and adapts to being a better person. Elara is also a strong leader, compassionate, and all around great person. She doesn't really have issues... just her secret power making it so she can't let people get too close to her.

Besides our main characters we've got some good side characters, a few which stick out, but I will admit that I mixed some of them up. There is a mute/deaf character though, which is some cool rep.

I liked the story, again it took me awhile to get a hang of the world again and it is much more difficult than the main story since they live in a castle.

Now, the romance... I wasn't completely sold. The sex scene really threw me. I don't quite get them.. I do I guess, but mostly their relationship is so complicated. Definitely growing on me, and I cannot wait until the next books to see how it progresses. Still thinking the sex was way too soon, but I'm thinking they put it in their since people are expecting a sex scene??? Maybe??? I honestly think a slow-burn drawn out romance can be nice too cough like Kate & Curran cough

All in all, this book has increased my desire to read Magic Triumphs when it comes out. At this point I will read anything and everything by this couple.