Red-Haired Ash Reads

Hugh d’Ambray, Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Warlord of the Builder of Towers has been cast aside and his immortality stripped. When he learns that his soldiers, the Iron Dogs, are being hunted down and murdered he decides to make a new place for himself and his people. Unfortunately, they have no money, food, or shelter and the vampires are hunting them. Elara Harper, the White Lady, needs help protecting her people. They create a marriage of convenience that will help both of their people.

FYI, I recommend reading the Kate Daniels series before reading this book because this book is a spin-off series. To truly understand Hugh and his actions, you need to have read that series first. This book takes place after Magic Binds (book 9) and before the final book, Magic Triumphs. 

When I saw this was Hugh’s book I was a little apprehensive about starting it because I don’t really like Hugh. He is a great villain but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know what happened to him after Roland banished him. I am glad I read it though. Hugh has changed. Yes, he is still a dangerous man who will kill but he has his own code. Surprisingly, I actually like Hugh now. I didn’t expect to change my mind about him but I have. 

“This new life, it was just his. Hugh didn’t owe it to anyone. He was building it himself, brick by brick, one shovel of cement at a time, the same way he had built that damn moat. He was building his own castle, and for better or worse, the harpy wormed her way into his world and became its tower.”

Elara was fascinating. Her abilities were quite dangerous and I do wish we had learned more about who she really is. I also really loved her people. She had some great friends with fascinating abilities themselves. I do hope we get a second book just so we can see more of them. 

Hugh and Elara’s relationship does evolve slowly throughout the book. They don’t have love by the end of the book though, just respect really. I think if they do continue to stay together it could become a loving marriage. I do like the progress they have made, even when they are bickering at each other, you can still feel the change in it. 

I think my only issue with this book is that we never did say who was controlling the mrogs and why they were attacking the towns. This was really disappointing for me because they were such a main part of the story that I felt it left the book incomplete. Maybe they will reappear later in the second book (if there is one).

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Goodreads / Amazon

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Previous books and reviews for the series:

#1 Magic Bites
#2 Magic Burns
#3 Magic Strikes
#3.5 Magic Mourns
#4 Magic Bleeds
#4.5 Magic Dreams
#5 Magic Slays
#5.4 Magic Gifts
#5.5 Gunmetal Magic
#6 Magic Rises 
#6.5 Magic Steals
#7 Magic Breaks 
#8 Magic Shifts
#8.5 Magic Stars
#9 Magic Binds