The Iron King – Julie Kagawa
7 January, 2012
Author: Julie Kagawa
Published: Feb 1st 2010
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 363
Summary: (goodreads)
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth – that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.
FOUR OUT OF FIVE STARS ****
This is a novel that has hit the shelves with a storm. I started reading this after the fourth book in the series was published and I only started reading it because so many people seemed to be enjoying the series so I thought that I should give it a try. And boy am I glad that I did. It isn’t my favourite book, and it didn’t have the same spark that Hunger Games gave me but it was definitely a brilliant read that I thoroughly enjoyed and cannot wait to continue reading. There wasn’t a moment during the book where I felt that I couldn’t continue or just felt like I was reading because I had to, I simply wanted to because I had to know what was to come next!
Generally speaking, I don’t read faerie stories, or well, I haven’t read a lot of them anyway but this was one story that really had me captivated. I loved to read all about the different magical worlds and I really imagined every place brilliantly because the description was just perfect. There wasn’t too much that it was overwhelming but there wasn’t so little that it was confusing. Julie really managed to paint a picture of an unknown world extremely well with an extremely good imagination. I also enjoyed the descriptions of all the different magical creatures as well. As someone who doesn’t read many of these books, it was really helpful along the way and I really did love the Shakespeare references as well. I also really liked the whole concept of the Iron Fey as well. It was imaginative, unique and an interesting read!
The characters were all well written as well. I have to admit that I love Ash. From the first minute he was introduced I got a little ‘squee’ because I know that people like him and while I didn’t let anyone influence me, I simply adore him. He is distant and seems cold and calculating and yet, there is a softer side to him, a side that he is just trying to keep hidden at bay so as not to get hurt again and this is what makes me like him so much. He is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and still standing to tell the tale. But, I also really loved Puck. He was so charismatic and friendly and caring that I just fell for him instantly as well. He’s the kind of guy that I would love to have around me all the time. And, of course, there is Meghan. She is an extremely likeable character to me. She is protective of those she loves and will always put them before herself yet at the same time, she cares what happens to her. She has strength that she doesn’t realise and I cannot wait to see her use some it in the upcoming novels. I also enjoyed Grimalkin’s appearances, even if he did make me feel as though I was reading Alice in Wonderland at times!
The romance in this novel is really well done as well. It’s not too overpowering and you can really see how hard the pair try hard to not let their emotions get the best of them. It feels natural between them, something that isn’t just there because it needs to be but something that feels like it should happen, something that you just wish would happen. It is also nice that it doesn’t become a full part of the plot but merely a small subplot. It doesn’t pull the story along, just gives it a little bit more flesh and interesting moments. I particularly like how Meghan really can’t work out her feelings and the way Ash just disregards his own because it is easier. Ah yes, I did like the romance in this novel.
On top of all of this, I found the story itself so interesting. Every single time you think that it will calm down for a bit, something else pops around the corner and makes an entrance, pulling you back into the story as you flip quickly from page to page. There is never a dull moment in this novel and it is for this main reason that I cannot wait to read the next one. Kagawa writes brilliantly and I cannot get enough of her and her writing style. She is easy to read and her novel is just enjoyable. She is able to pull you into her own world with her words and that is the one thing that every author should definitely aspire to.
This was a novel that I would happily read over and over and I am extremely excited to start reading the second book in this series.
Faye
3 Comments
Brodie
Oh I could not agree more! Espeically with that last paragraph – Julie maintains that the whole way through the series and it amazes me how there’s always something new hiding around a corner… you think “oh she’s done it all by now” and then she surpsises you again and again!
And definitely nodding my head with what you wrote about the romance. I love that it doesn’t overshadow the plot. I was actually Team Puck in the first book and then it took me FOREVER to continue on the series, but when I did, I realised instantly that Ash had stolen my heart <3
Cannot wait to see what you think of the rest of the series. Fab review, Faye! :D
Lupdilup
This sounds really good, plus I’ve been hearing good things about it, I liked your review.
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