Table of Contents
PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF THE EDGE
BAYOU MOON
A thoroughly entertaining blend of humor, action, misdirection, and romance.
Locus
Solidifies the subgenre of romantic urban fantasy superbly... If you like urban fantasy with a strong edge of romance, Bayou Moon will leave you breathless.
SFRevu
Megatalent Andrews returns to the world of the Edge, where magic, blood feuds, and danger await... [Theres] never a dull moment as Andrews thrusts her characters into an array of extreme dangers that are ferocious as well as creepy. When it comes to supernatural fiction, Andrews is always a guaranteed keeper!
Romantic Times (top pick)
Even better than the first book!... With a great setting, a super action-packed plot, and fabulous characters, Bayou Moon is a thrill to read, and I highly recommend it!
Night Owl Reviews
[Andrews has] the ability to build books that create action sequences that make you forget how to breathe, complicated but ultimately satisfying romance, biting humor, and worlds you would like to see for yourself.
Darkly Reading
ON THE EDGE
A fascinating world combined with pulse-pounding action and white-hot romance makes On the Edge a winner!
Jeaniene Frost, New York Times bestselling author
of One Grave at a Time
[An] engaging urban fantasy series opener... Andrews has created a complex plot and convincing characters that will keep the pages turning.
Publishers Weekly
A great, fun romance, an offbeat mix of old-fashioned rural magics, contemporary life (complete with Wal-Mart and comic book shops), and magical sword-wielding warriors.
Locus
The character development is flawless, the plot inventive, and the pace defies readers to put the book down... This one is a winner and shows there is still plenty of room for surprises in a genre riddled with tired replays.
Monsters and Critics
A wildly entertaining world.
Darque Reviews
PRAISE FOR THE KATE DANIELS NOVELS
MAGIC BLEEDS
Ilona Andrews is one of the few authors whose books just keep getting better. A series can sometimes stagnate... Ilona, though, has no such trouble.
Romance Reviews Today
Ilona Andrews does it again... Magic Bleeds delivers on the promise of one hell of a good read. You will not be disappointed!
ParaNormal Romance.org
MAGIC STRIKES
Andrewss crisp dialogue and layered characterization make the gut-wrenching action of this first-person thrill ride all the more intense... mesmerizing.
Romantic Times ()
Andrews blends action-packed fantasy with myth and legend, keeping readers enthralled.
Darque Reviews
Ilona Andrewss best novel to date, cranking up the action, danger, and magic... Gritty, sword-clashing action and flawless characterizations will bewitch fans old and new alike.
Sacramento Book Review
Write faster... I absolutely love the relationship between Curran and KateI laugh out loud [at] the witty sarcasm and one-liners, and the sexual tension building between the couples drives me to my knees knowing Ill have to wait for another book.
SFRevu
MAGIC BURNS
Fans of Carrie Vaughn and Patricia Briggs will appreciate this fast-paced, action-packed urban fantasy full of magic, vampires, werebeasties, and things that go bump in the night.
Monsters and Critics
With all her problems, secrets, and prowess both martial and magical, Kate is a great kick-ass heroine, a tough girl with a heart, and her adventures... are definitely worth checking out.
Locus
[Magic Burns] hooked me completely. With a fascinating, compelling plot, a witty, intelligent heroine, a demonic villain, and clever, wry humor throughout, this story has it all.
Fresh Fiction
The sexual tension Kate emits has me gritting my teeth.
SFRevu
If you enjoy Laurell K. Hamiltons early Anita Blake or the works of Patricia Briggs and Kim Harrison, you need to add Ilona Andrews to your reading list.
LoveVampires
MAGIC BITES
Treat yourself to a splendid new urban fantasy... I am looking forward to the next book in the series or anything else Ilona Andrews writes.
Patricia Briggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author of River Marked
Andrewss edgy series stands apart from similar fantasies... owing to its complex world-building and skilled characterizations.
Library Journal
Fans of urban fantasy will delight in Ilona Andrewss alternate-universe Atlanta.
Fresh Fiction
A unique world laced with a thick plot full of strife, betrayal, and mystery.
Romance Junkies
Ace Books by Ilona Andrews
The Kate Daniels Novels
MAGIC BITES
MAGIC BURNS
MAGIC STRIKES
MAGIC BLEEDS
MAGIC SLAYS
The Edge Novels
ON THE EDGE
BAYOU MOON
FATES EDGE
To Anastasia and Helen
Acknowledgments
Fates Edge was a fun book to write, but even the fun books take a lot of work. Were grateful to Anne Sowards for continuing to edit us and to Nancy Yost, our agent, for continuing to represent us despite our best efforts to drive them both to an insane asylum.
Wed like to thank the following people for making the book a reality: production editor Michelle Kasper and assistant production editor Andromeda Macri for bringing it all together, editorial assistant Kat Sherbo for heroically dealing with our ornery e-mails and keeping us on schedule, artist Victoria Vebell and cover designer Annette Fiore DeFex for creating a gorgeous cover, interior designer Kristin del Rosario for making the book look beautiful between the covers, copy editors Sara and Bob Schwager for making sure the narrative was consistent, and publicists Rosanne Romanello and Brady McReynolds for tirelessly promoting the book.
Special thanks go out to Deric Gant for his knowledge of scripture and charismatic preachers. Wed also like to thank Jill Myles, Meljean Brook, and Jeaniene Frost for many hours of e-mail and phone therapy. Wed also like to thank Jessie Mihalik for helping us move to Texas and find this awesome house, where most of the book was written. Wed like to thank each other for being very patient and avoiding divorce despite the AC breaking three times in triple-digit summer heat.
Finally, wed like to thank our readers for following our stories.
PROLOGUE
IF she had only one word to describe Dominic Milano, it would be unflappable, Audrey Callahan reflected. Stocky, hard, baldinghe looked like he had just walked out of central casting after successfully landing the role of bulldog-jawed older detective. He owned Milano Investigations, and under his supervision, the firm ran like clockwork. No emergency rattled Dominic. He never raised his voice. Nothing knocked him off his stride. Before moving to the Pacific Northwest, hed retired from the Miami Police Department with more than a thousand homicide cases under his belt. Hed been there and done that, so nothing surprised him.
