Ilona Andrews Popular Books

Ilona Andrews Biography & Facts

Ilona Andrews is the pen name of Ilona Gordon and Andrew Gordon, an American husband-and-wife duo who write urban fantasy and romantic fiction together under a portmanteau of their first names. Early lives Ilona Gordon was born in the Soviet Union and immigrated to the United States as a teenager to attend private school. She attended Western Carolina University, majoring in biochemistry and it was there she met her future husband and writing partner, Andrew Gordon.Andrew Beauregard Gordon was born in Florida, U.S., and spent part of his childhood in the Appalachia region of North Carolina. He explained in one interview that he was named after the confederate general P. G. T. Beauregard who fired on Fort Sumter and started the American Civil War, but most often chooses to go by his last name "Gordon" since that is what he went by during his military service. Andrew served four years in the United States Navy as a communications officer. He attended Western Carolina University to study history and political science where he met Ilona in a writing course and they began collaborating and editing one another's work and essays. Gordon's studies in history and mythology and Ilona's knowledge of Slavic folktales went on to influence the world building and inspiration behind their bestselling novels. Ilona usually writes the lines of the female characters and Gordon the lines of the male characters. Early career According to interviews and their own recollection of their early publishing history, Ilona and Andrew were interested in publishing novels as early as their college years. In a recollection of their publishing journey on their website, Ilona recalls that after completing drafts of two novels, she attempted to get traditionally published with very little prior knowledge and it went very poorly. In one interview, Ilona recalls attempting to write a "horrible ninja hobbit novel" that ended up being rejected for publication. Similarly, Andrew stated that he wrote a failed "James Bond-y fantasy" series that eventually ended up partially inspiring parts of their future novel Bayou Moon (2010).Ilona started writing what would eventually become the first entry in the Kate Daniels series as early as 2002, but it went through multiple edits before they managed to find a literary agent and get published. One publisher rejected it on the basis that it was too similar to the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton. The novel went through multiple stages and various cycles of rejection, and Gordon helped Ilona rewrite one of her discarded submissions into "Lost Dog" which was eventually accepted and published as their first novel Magic Bites (2007). Reception Their first novel, Magic Bites (2007) was released to good reviews and decent sales. And its sequel, Magic Burns, reached even greater success, managing to reach the #32 spot on the New York Times extended bestseller list in April 2008. Since their debut they have published at least 30 novels, in addition to dozens of additional novellas and short stories. Their novels have reached #1 on the NYT and Wall Street Journal's Bestseller Lists, and #2 on the USA Today Bestseller List, with over 3.5 million of their books in print and foreign rights sold in at least 18 countries.After the immense success of the first book in the Aurelia Ryder series, Blood Heir (2021), they have indicated that they are considering moving away from traditional publishing contracts in the future since they now have a large enough audience to make a living off of self-publishing. Personal lives The Gordons live in Texas, they write a highly successful blog chronicling their lives, the publication process, and post snippets of free fiction and serial novels. They have two adult daughters, anonymized as Kid 1 and Kid 2 on their site. Their blog posts include fan engagement, polls, recipes, stories, publishing advice and updates about their current works in progress.In the lively comments sections of their website moderated by their assistant (anonymized as Mod R), they are known as Ilona or Gordon and collectively as House Andrews, while their fans have adopted the nickname of "BDH" or "Book Devouring Horde" as a play on the Hope Crushing Horde from their Innkeeper book series. Works Kate Daniels (2007–) Kate Daniels is an urban fantasy series. The first ten books were published under the Ace Books imprint of Penguin Random House from 2007 to 2018. The series was continued in a new setting - Wilmington, North Carolina, beginning with a novella titled Magic Tides that was self-published on January 17, 2023.The first ten books of the series are set in a post-magic apocalypse version of Atlanta, where the world switches between periods of magical and technological dominance, and follows Kate Daniels, a sarcastic mercenary who makes a living dealing with a vast array of magical and mythological creatures. The series follows Kate as she navigates the various factions of shifters, necromancers, magic users and magic-based organizations that hold power in the city.The various entries in the series include conflicts with monsters, gods and beings from Slavic, Celtic, Islamic, Jewish, indigenous, Hindu, Greek, Nordic, Babylonian and Assyrian mythologies. Featuring beings such as upir, formorians, djinn, golems, wendigo, rakshasa, greek gods, draugr, and lamassu alongside a modern take on werewolves and vampires. Iron Covenant (2018-) The Iron Covenant is an ongoing spinoff novel series set in the Kate Daniels World, published independently through NYLA, which follows Hugh D'Ambray, a character who previously featured as a villain in the main Kate Daniels series. The series takes place between the events of Magic Binds and Magic Triumphs and follows former warlord Hugh and his army, The Iron Dogs, as they attempt to move on from their dark past by creating an alliance with a colony of druids ruled by Elara Harper, a powerful and dangerous witch with unknown and terrible powers.Ilona Andrews originally stated the series would likely eventually be a trilogy. The release of the second book in the series has been delayed with no current date of expected publication. Aurelia Ryder (2018-) A second spinoff of the Kate Daniels World, featuring Kate's adoptive daughter Julie Lennart-Olsen, now going by the name Aurelia Ryder. Taking place 6 years after the events of the main Kate Daniels series, the Aurelia Ryder series follows Aurelia's return to post-apocalyptic Atlanta as she attempts to solve a series of murders and comes face to face with a changed version of a man she once loved.The first novel in the series, Blood Heir (2021) began as a serial work on the Ilona Andrews blog in 2020 originally titled "Ryder" and was later edited for self-publication. Despite being self published, Blood Heir climbed to the #5 combined print and ebook fiction ranking on the New York Times Fiction Bestsellers List and #2 on the USA Today Bestseller's List shortly after publicatio.... Discover the Ilona Andrews popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Ilona Andrews books.

Best Seller Ilona Andrews Books of 2024

  • Kiss of Venom synopsis, comments

    Kiss of Venom

    Jennifer Estep

    The New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin series continues with a new enovellafrom the hero’s point of view! Owen Grayson is bound and determined to get Gin back...if her e...

  • Rise Against synopsis, comments

    Rise Against

    Hailey Edwards

    Welcome to the ferocious world of The Foundling, set in a bayou town where men are men except when they are also dragons, kitties with wings, crocodiles and . . . well, Miller.Apo...

  • Thread of Death synopsis, comments

    Thread of Death

    Jennifer Estep

    Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, might have finally killed her nemesis, Mab Monroe, but that doesn’t mean that it’s smooth sailing. Gin goes to Mab’s funeral to say her goo...

  • The Secret Chamber synopsis, comments

    The Secret Chamber

    Patrick Woodhead

    People have been disappearing in what the explorer Stanley called the black heart of Africa the impenetrable forests of northern Congo. But when a brilliant young English doctor v...

  • Unwanted synopsis, comments

    Unwanted

    Jennifer Estep

    The New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin series continues with a new enovellafrom the point of view of Finnegan Lane, the foster brother of Gin Blanco, and a fan favorite ...

  • Heart of Venom synopsis, comments

    Heart of Venom

    Jennifer Estep

    The hotly anticipated ninth novel in the hugely popular Elemental Assassin series finds Gin Blanco on a dangerous mission to rescue a friend.When I say you’re a dead man, take that...

  • Death Knell synopsis, comments

    Death Knell

    Hailey Edwards

    Book Three in the bestselling fantasy series The Foundling, perfect for fans of Shannon Mayer, Jenn Stark and the Sookie Stackhouse novelsWar burned her. Famine nearly killed her. ...

  • Magic Burns synopsis, comments

    Magic Burns

    Ilona Andrews

    Mercenary Kate Daniels tries to save her city from divine intervention in this novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series.As a mercenary who cleans up after ma...

  • Magic Slays synopsis, comments

    Magic Slays

    Ilona Andrews

    In this novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series, warplagued Atlanta has never been so deadly...Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.   Kate Daniels ma...

  • Deadly Sting synopsis, comments

    Deadly Sting

    Jennifer Estep

    The eighth hotly anticipated book in the Elemental Assassin series by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep: it’s Gin Blanco's partyand you’ll cry if she wants you to. R...

  • Nice Guys Bite synopsis, comments

    Nice Guys Bite

    Jennifer Estep

    New York Times bestseller Jennifer Estep continues her Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series with a novella starring Silvio Sanchez, the vampire assistant of Gin Blanco, as he go...

  • Magic Gifts synopsis, comments

    Magic Gifts

    Ilona Andrews

    Now available individually for the first time, a Kate Daniels novella from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Magic Triumphs.It isn’t often that Kate Daniels and the Beast...

  • Tangled Threads synopsis, comments

    Tangled Threads

    Jennifer Estep

    The fourth book in the “outstanding” (Romantic Times) Elemental Assassin fantasy series featuring Gin Blaco, who by day is a waitress at a Tennessee BBQ joint, and by night is a to...

  • Bone Driven synopsis, comments

    Bone Driven

    Hailey Edwards

    Book Two in the powerfully addictive fantasy series The Foundling, perfect for fans of Ilona Andrews, Jenn Stark and Helen HarperThe bayou is burning, the battle is just beginning ...

  • Bayou Moon synopsis, comments

    Bayou Moon

    Ilona Andrews

    The Edge lies between worlds, on the border between the Broken, where people shop at Walmart and magic is a fairytale–and the Weird, where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings r...

  • Venom synopsis, comments

    Venom

    Jennifer Estep

    What kind of assassin works pro bono?It’s hard to be a badass assassin when a giant is beating the crap out of you. Luckily, I never let pride get in the way of my work. My current...

  • By a Thread synopsis, comments

    By a Thread

    Jennifer Estep

    The sixth book in the USA TODAY bestselling Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series featuring Gin Blanco, who by day owns a Tennessee BBQ joint, and by night is a tough female assa...

  • Magic Bleeds synopsis, comments

    Magic Bleeds

    Ilona Andrews

    The fourth Kate Daniels novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author who “defines urban fantasy” (Fresh Fiction).Kate Daniels works for the Order of the Knights of Merciful ...

  • Unraveled synopsis, comments

    Unraveled

    Jennifer Estep

    Danger and new enemies await Gin Blanco, aka the Spiderthe world of Ashland’s most fearsome assassinin Unraveled, Book 15 of the New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin urban...

  • End Game synopsis, comments

    End Game

    Hailey Edwards

    Welcome to the ferocious world of The Foundling.This is the unmissable climax to Hailey Edwards's epic The Foundling series, featuring the fiercest heroine in this world or any oth...

  • Magic Mourns synopsis, comments

    Magic Mourns

    Ilona Andrews

    Atlanta is going to the dogs in this “sexy” (Publishers Weekly) story from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Kate Daniels series.   Andrea Nash of the Order...

  • Chaos Born synopsis, comments

    Chaos Born

    Rebekah Turner

    A fresh and exciting debut novel introducing the Chronicles of the Applecross.Lora Blackgoat, smuggler and mercenary, has been laying low after a job gone bad made her a laughing s...

  • Magic Steals synopsis, comments

    Magic Steals

    Ilona Andrews

    #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews once again pulls readers into the dark and dangerous world of the Kate Daniels novels in this reader favorite, previously pu...

  • Magic Breaks synopsis, comments

    Magic Breaks

    Ilona Andrews

    No matter how much the paranormal politics of Atlanta change, one thing always remains the same in this #1 New York Times bestselling series: if there’s trouble, Kate Daniels will ...

  • Bayou Born synopsis, comments

    Bayou Born

    Hailey Edwards

    "Edwards [creates] amazing fantasy worlds that the reader becomes completely engrossed in." GoodreadsHer beginning may be our end . . . Deep in the humid Mississippi bayou, a halfw...

  • The Heretic Royal synopsis, comments

    The Heretic Royal

    G.A. Aiken

    In this riveting, feminist tale perfect for fans of Katee Robert and Nalini Singh, two sisters battle for a single throne, warring factions take up arms, a land is divided, and unc...

  • Summary of Fated Blades by Ilona Andrews synopsis, comments

    Summary of Fated Blades by Ilona Andrews

    Justin Reese

    DISCLAIMERThis is NOT the original Ilona Andrews bookThis is a wellDetailed Summary of Fated Blades by Ilona AndrewsAn uneasy alliance between warring families gets heated in this ...

  • Bitter Bite synopsis, comments

    Bitter Bite

    Jennifer Estep

    Which is stronger: blood ties or a battletested friendship? That’s the question Gin Blanco asks when a friend’s longlost relative strolls into town. The suspicious reunion is a sur...

  • Dark and Stormy Knights synopsis, comments

    Dark and Stormy Knights

    P. N. Elrod

    It was a dark and stormy knight, and nine dark defenders embarked upon a most perilous quest….They're the ultimate defenders of humanitymodern day knights who do dark deeds for all...

  • Magic Bites synopsis, comments

    Magic Bites

    Ilona Andrews

    Ilona Andrews invites you to experience the first novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series featuring the intriguing fantasy world of mercenary Kate Daniels…Kate Daniels is...

  • Magic Binds synopsis, comments

    Magic Binds

    Ilona Andrews

    Mercenary Kate Daniels knows all too well that magic in postShift Atlanta is a dangerous business. But nothing she’s faced could have prepared her for what’s to come in this hearts...

  • Gunmetal Magic synopsis, comments

    Gunmetal Magic

    Ilona Andrews

    Includes a free bonus: a Kate Daniels novella, "Magic Gifts"The New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels novels have been hailed as “topnotch urban fantasy” (Monsters and Critics). ...

  • Magic Rises synopsis, comments

    Magic Rises

    Ilona Andrews

    The #1 New York Times Bestseller!Atlanta is a city plagued by magical problems. Kate Daniels will fight to solve themno matter the cost... Mercenary Kate Daniels and her ...

  • Angels of Darkness synopsis, comments

    Angels of Darkness

    Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook & Sharon Shinn

    Tales of alpha angels...from four alpha authors.They soar through the night, unearthly creatures of legends and lore. Four masters of urban fantasy and paranormal romance explore ...

  • On the Edge synopsis, comments

    On the Edge

    Ilona Andrews

    Step into a whole new world in the first Novel of the Edge from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Kate Daniels series.The Edge lies between worlds, on the border betw...

  • Snared synopsis, comments

    Snared

    Jennifer Estep

    The sixteenth book in the New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series that RT Book Reviews calls, “An extraordinary series…[containing] one of the most intri...

  • Lake Silence synopsis, comments

    Lake Silence

    Anne Bishop

    In this thrilling and suspenseful fantasy set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Others series, an inn owner and her shapeshifting lodger find themselves enmeshed in da...

  • Poison Promise synopsis, comments

    Poison Promise

    Jennifer Estep

    In book eleven of her New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin series, author Jennifer Estep continues “one of the best urban fantasy series going on the market” (Fresh Fictio...

  • Magic Shifts synopsis, comments

    Magic Shifts

    Ilona Andrews

    Magic is coming and going in waves in postShift Atlantaand each crest leaves danger in its wake in this gripping novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels series. &#x...

  • Magic Strikes synopsis, comments

    Magic Strikes

    Ilona Andrews

    When magic strikes and Atlanta goes to pieces, it’s a job for mercenary Kate Daniels in this thrilling novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.Drafted into working for th...

  • Magic Triumphs synopsis, comments

    Magic Triumphs

    Ilona Andrews

    Mercenary Kate Daniels must risk all to protect everything she holds dear in this epic, can'tmiss entry in the thrilling #1 New York Times bestselling urbanfantasy series.Kate has ...

  • Magic Dreams synopsis, comments

    Magic Dreams

    Ilona Andrews

    From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Kate Daniels series comes a tale of darkness, desire, and werecats. Alpha Pack leader Jim Shrapshire has always been the s...