Review: Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

Title: Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles, #1) 

Author: Ilona Andrews

Rating: 4 Stars

If the distasteful rumors of an impending love triangle within this new series wasn't enough to steer me away from the latest Ilona Andrews, my disappointment following Magic Rises certainly was. Months after the last Kate Daniels release, however, I found myself - quite inevitably - in the mood for Ilona and Gordon's work. With the Edge Chronicles inconveniently checked out of the e-library, I was left with Clean Sweep to borrow. A resigned sigh, the click of a mouse, and the title was downloaded onto my Kindle.

And, lo and behold, I really, really liked it.

First and foremost, allow me to dispel any - and all! - rumors of a love triangle within these pages. While there are, admittedly, two love interests for Dina, our protagonist in question, it is clear just who Dina has feelings for. Moreover, the second love interest - who only makes an appearance a little over half-way through the book - fails to display the same level of romantic interest in Dina. Although he could, very well, be a true contender for her heart as the series progresses, I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that Ilona Andrews steers clear of that path. It hasn't been their style in the past and I certainly hope they do not adopt it for the future.

While Clean Sweep is certainly a stronger introduction to a promising series than Magic Bites ever was, it still lacks the epic nature of a Kate Daniels installment. Nevertheless, Dina is a formidable heroine; strong, resilient, and determined to carry out her job. Dina, the owner of a magical inn, is duty-bound to protect her residents when danger comes knocking on her doorstep. Moreover, as the daughter of two innkeepers who have mysteriously gone missing, Dina has taken it upon herself to maintain neutral territory on her grounds, all while enticing more visitors in the hopes that someone, someday, will know what happened to her parents. With unknown dangers lurking around the corner however, Dina will need all the help she can get - even if it's from her frustratingly handsome neighbor - to keep her community safe.

It seems Ilona Andrews can still be relied upon for a quick, pick-me-up Urban Fantasy read. Though Clean Sweep starts off a little shakily, it quickly gains momentum and maintains a solid pace throughout. I cannot wait to see where Ilona and Gordon take this series next. With such a lot of promise, originality, and heart captured within the pages of this first installment itself, I have no doubts that Dina's books will soon become just as memorable and adored as those of Kate Daniels as well.