Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove he...
read full description
reviews
Apr 27, 2011
Janina
rated it: 
The Iron Witch is the epitome of a clichéd YA paranormal. There is nothing - absolutely nothing - unique and special about it. This story has been done a billion times before. And it includes everything that has made me weary when it comes to the genre: The heroine, Donna, has lost her parents due to a horrific incident in her past and has been labelled a freak ever since. She is an outsider, bullied at school by the mean popular cheerleader and her clique. She has only one close friend, whom sh
More...
23 comments
like
(46 people liked it)
Feb 19, 2011
Kim
rated it:
How bad is it that talking about the girl on the cover, who is holding a bottle of perfume while sniffing her armpit is more fun, and more interesting than actually reading this book? After putting up with 25% of this book I still feel like I'm looking at a brick wall so I'm throwing in the towel as well.
Come on Jared, throw it in for me, will ya?
I'm going to tell you a short story to express what I want to say about this book. Trust me, I'm going somewhere wi More...
Come on Jared, throw it in for me, will ya?
I'm going to tell you a short story to express what I want to say about this book. Trust me, I'm going somewhere wi More...
176 comments
like
(106 people liked it)
Feb 25, 2011
Jillian -always aspiring-
rated it: 
Those two stars may as well be accompanied with a long, drawn-out sigh.
Don't you hate it when you look forward to a book so friggin' much. . .and then, once you have it in front of you and start reading, it just doesn't live up to anything you had expected?
That, dear Goodreaders, is what happened to me when I began The Iron Witch.
The story has all the hooks in the right places. Faeries and elves! Alchemy! Conspiracies! Angst! But you know what? It doesn' More...
Don't you hate it when you look forward to a book so friggin' much. . .and then, once you have it in front of you and start reading, it just doesn't live up to anything you had expected?
That, dear Goodreaders, is what happened to me when I began The Iron Witch.
The story has all the hooks in the right places. Faeries and elves! Alchemy! Conspiracies! Angst! But you know what? It doesn' More...
16 comments
like
(23 people liked it)
Feb 15, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
DRUM ROLLS...
And the award for Most Unoriginal Book of 2011 goes to...
THE IRON WITCH
Seriously, was there anything new in this book? I don’t think so. We’ve got the half-orphaned, bullied, outcast heroine with magical powers, we’ve got the best friend who seems to be secretly crushing on her and we’ve got the dark, mysterious and insanely hot boy who seems to have some kind of magical powers of his own and to who More...
18 comments
like
(43 people liked it)
Feb 15, 2011
~Tina~
rated it: 
Hmm, what to say, what to say...
I guess I should start off by saying that I did actually like this one.
It has a great blend of magic, alchemical and paranormal. I enjoyed the characters, the writing was well done and the plot was thick with entertainment and intrigue.
However, there wasn't anything hugely unique in The Iron Witch and I felt like I've read all these elements before.
Donna's role is the 'freak'. She wears gloves to conceal her mysterious hands and has a More...
I guess I should start off by saying that I did actually like this one.
It has a great blend of magic, alchemical and paranormal. I enjoyed the characters, the writing was well done and the plot was thick with entertainment and intrigue.
However, there wasn't anything hugely unique in The Iron Witch and I felt like I've read all these elements before.
Donna's role is the 'freak'. She wears gloves to conceal her mysterious hands and has a More...
44 comments
like
(10 people liked it)
Oct 16, 2011
Isabel
rated it:
I feel really torn about what rating to give The Iron Witch. If there were half-stars on Goodreads I think that I would give it three and a half. I don't know. But I did enjoy this book, and I'm looking forward to the sequels. I really liked Navin -- he was a believable and sympathetic character -- but, I don't know, I think the romance between Xan and Donna could have been better written. I feel uncomfortable saying this because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but first of all I didn't
More...
0 comments
like
(5 people liked it)
Feb 13, 2011
Isamlq
rated it:
“Memories are stupid things. Why is it that I can only remember the useless stuff?” Truer words have never been spoken because right now I am remembering rather stupid stuff, but not only that I’m nitpicking over them too!
The book wasn’t terrible, in fact it was rather good at certain moments, most of which involved boy-girl interaction, get your minds out of the gutter! I was referring to Donna and Nav talking the way best friends do and to Donna and Xan, flirting away.
More...
The book wasn’t terrible, in fact it was rather good at certain moments, most of which involved boy-girl interaction, get your minds out of the gutter! I was referring to Donna and Nav talking the way best friends do and to Donna and Xan, flirting away.
More...
5 comments
like
(7 people liked it)
Feb 23, 2011
Erica (daydreamer)
rated it:
I was so anxious to read this book. The premise sounded intriguing, and I thought the cover was pretty cool (not that the cover honestly says anything about the story behind it or that I read a book based solely on the cover, although *cough cough* I kind of do :P). Then I read a couple reviews that said the book wasn’t so great, and my excitement deflated a little, but I still wanted to read it and find out what I thought about it. And, if truth be told, I was kind of disappointed.
More...
More...
3 comments
like
(5 people liked it)
Apr 20, 2011
Krystle
rated it:
Derivative and lackluster. That’s the best I can sum up this book as.
Okay, so the romance is another one of those gag me, “Dude, you are sooooo hot!” “You too, babe.” “You wanna bone?” “RAVISH ME NOW!” Donna is all obsessed with the bloody bastard and is all in lurve as soon as she meets him. Bleh. I’m tired of this stuff.
Donna is some super special girl with these uber awesome tattoos on her arms which is supposed to hideous as heck, but if I had tattoos like that in hig More...
Okay, so the romance is another one of those gag me, “Dude, you are sooooo hot!” “You too, babe.” “You wanna bone?” “RAVISH ME NOW!” Donna is all obsessed with the bloody bastard and is all in lurve as soon as she meets him. Bleh. I’m tired of this stuff.
Donna is some super special girl with these uber awesome tattoos on her arms which is supposed to hideous as heck, but if I had tattoos like that in hig More...
Feb 03, 2012
Cillian
rated it: 
My, my, look at the time!
Third review of the day they see me rolling, they're hating...not really, I'm like 50 reviews behind, but I refuse to think about it now.
The reason why I pushed back reading this book was the negative reviews and low rating. But then again, Imaginary Girls piled 3 little, undeserved, spineless little stars. That's a thorn in my side.
Never judge a book by its rating.
I'm not going to troll the bad reviews in here, opinions are like assholes: w More...
Third review of the day they see me rolling, they're hating...not really, I'm like 50 reviews behind, but I refuse to think about it now.
The reason why I pushed back reading this book was the negative reviews and low rating. But then again, Imaginary Girls piled 3 little, undeserved, spineless little stars. That's a thorn in my side.
Never judge a book by its rating.
I'm not going to troll the bad reviews in here, opinions are like assholes: w More...
0 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Apr 26, 2011
Corinne
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
3 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Nov 04, 2011
Amy
rated it:
This book was just ok for me. I liked how it began and was excited to see a book that mixed witches/alchemists with more paranormal fantasy characters like the fae. But the world didn't come together for me. There wasn't anything about the world or the characters that I adored or couldn't live without. There were some plot holes (Maker?) and the book felt a bit jumbled. I also would have liked more connection with Donna, more time in the world Mahoney created, and more climax build up.
More...
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 28, 2011
lilly bear ♡
rated it:
How would I describe this story in one word? Underdeveloped. It had so much potential that went unrealized. I was rather intrigued by the premise (a girl whose arms have been adorned in iron tattoos as a result of powerful alchemy that saved her life. I mean, sounds kick-ass, right?), but overall the reading experience left me with a very underwhelmed feeling. Although it was well-written, it lacked a degree of freshness and new ideas that made it hard to engage in the story. I had a hard time i
More...
3 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Feb 06, 2011
Caitlin
rated it:
So disappointing.
Those are the only words I can think of to describe this book. I'm not much of a fairy person, nor vampire or werewolf. I like my fantasy to include a realistic feeling to it. Alchemy has always been the closest to "real" I could imagine. I mean, in reality, it was the base of chemistry--before "Science" became reality. So, I was looking forward toward a book that had a real alchemy base. Not a side factor. Not a alchemy is magic factor.
B More...
Those are the only words I can think of to describe this book. I'm not much of a fairy person, nor vampire or werewolf. I like my fantasy to include a realistic feeling to it. Alchemy has always been the closest to "real" I could imagine. I mean, in reality, it was the base of chemistry--before "Science" became reality. So, I was looking forward toward a book that had a real alchemy base. Not a side factor. Not a alchemy is magic factor.
B More...
0 comments
like
(5 people liked it)
Dec 16, 2011
Anna
rated it:
Review orginally posted at http://bookstobrightenyourmood.blogspot....
2.5 stars
The Iron Witch,left me with somehow mixed emotions.Although i wasn't really amazed by it,i can't say i didn't like it at all either.There were times i was really excited with it and eager to know how things evolved and times were i was a bit bored.I just couldn't get into this book,no matter how much i wanted it.
I was more than excited when i picked up this book.It was among those bo More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 26, 2011
Alexandra
rated it: 
Originally posted at: http://alexandrashostak.blogspot.com/201...
THE IRON WITCH is a YA urban fantasy novel centering around Donna Underwood, a high school student branded a freak by her classmates because of extraordinary strength due to the iron and silver tattoos covering her hands and forearms. The tattoos are alchemical--the result of an attack by malicious fae creatures and the magic used to save her.
The story is fast paced like the best action movie (I love action movi More...
THE IRON WITCH is a YA urban fantasy novel centering around Donna Underwood, a high school student branded a freak by her classmates because of extraordinary strength due to the iron and silver tattoos covering her hands and forearms. The tattoos are alchemical--the result of an attack by malicious fae creatures and the magic used to save her.
The story is fast paced like the best action movie (I love action movi More...
5 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Feb 15, 2011
Tina (Fantastic Book Review)
rated it:
Mini Review
I love the cover of this book and the synopsis is what really made me want to get my hands on it. With high praise from and a comparison to some of my favorite authors, I had a feeling I would enjoy THE IRON WITCH immensely. This book immediately pulled me into the life of Donna as she tried to remain in the background while keeping her secrets. A secret that she’s kept from her best friend Navin until an attack blows the lid off of her hidden world.
I really liked ho More...
I love the cover of this book and the synopsis is what really made me want to get my hands on it. With high praise from and a comparison to some of my favorite authors, I had a feeling I would enjoy THE IRON WITCH immensely. This book immediately pulled me into the life of Donna as she tried to remain in the background while keeping her secrets. A secret that she’s kept from her best friend Navin until an attack blows the lid off of her hidden world.
I really liked ho More...
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Feb 06, 2012
Courtney
rated it:
The cover is gorgeous and it sounded like a winner, but it so wasn't. Being a writer, I hate rating books so low because I know all the hard work and love that goes into writing a novel, and I realize it's someone's baby, but this book just never won me over and the author never took me into her world or made me feel anything visceral. With Donna's parents killed in such a gruesome manner, there was so much emotion that could've been explored but never was, to the depth it could've been.
More...
More...
Dec 15, 2011
Charlotte
rated it:
The idea behind this story was different and fresh, and yes I am aware that I am starting to repeat myself, but perhaps that is due to the fact that the most recent books have been very few and far from being similar to one another. I suppose in many ways the book actually made me sit back and think about the xmen, because aren't there people in that who have unique powers and body parts made of different materials? The cover of the book has always captivated me as the marks on her arm are beaut
More...
Oct 20, 2011
Stacey
rated it:
I have to admit that I have a "thing" for faerie stories. Because of that, I am pretty picky with what I like. I really enjoyed this story. It's one of those, "what's gonna happen next" type books.
You know that there was a family tragedy and that she has these crazy/beautiful metal scares on her forearms, but the story behind them is weaved throughout the novel instead of told to you all at once. Plus, other plots are introduced as the story unfolds which i More...
You know that there was a family tragedy and that she has these crazy/beautiful metal scares on her forearms, but the story behind them is weaved throughout the novel instead of told to you all at once. Plus, other plots are introduced as the story unfolds which i More...
Oct 04, 2011
LolaLovesBooks
rated it:
The Iron Witch – Karen Mahoney
I just had the pleasure of reading this YA book by Karen Mahoney. Thanks to my friend of 18 years, Daydrmzzz, introducing me to the wonderful world of author giveaways, I actually won week #1 of Moira Rogers giveaway! Big shout out to Moira … THANKS AGAIN! What an awesome surprise. I felt like a kid in a candy store that could only pick one. Let’s face it, I know I’m awesome, but I can only read one book at a time – geez, give me a break! So upon loo More...
I just had the pleasure of reading this YA book by Karen Mahoney. Thanks to my friend of 18 years, Daydrmzzz, introducing me to the wonderful world of author giveaways, I actually won week #1 of Moira Rogers giveaway! Big shout out to Moira … THANKS AGAIN! What an awesome surprise. I felt like a kid in a candy store that could only pick one. Let’s face it, I know I’m awesome, but I can only read one book at a time – geez, give me a break! So upon loo More...
Oct 03, 2011
Maria
rated it:
Por fin me encontré con una novela en el que Oberon y Titania no hacen(por el momento en esta primera entrega de la trilogía)su aparición.
En la mayoría de libros de elfos, ellos tienen el protagonismo o son claves importantes de la trama, pero en este caso no, unido a que a su vez, este libro escrito por Karen, la cual es inglesa, me sorprendió por la forma en la que tienen los elfos en su libro.
Olvidaos de las criaturas nobles,bondadosas,risueñas...no miréis para atrás y corred, con t More...
En la mayoría de libros de elfos, ellos tienen el protagonismo o son claves importantes de la trama, pero en este caso no, unido a que a su vez, este libro escrito por Karen, la cual es inglesa, me sorprendió por la forma en la que tienen los elfos en su libro.
Olvidaos de las criaturas nobles,bondadosas,risueñas...no miréis para atrás y corred, con t More...
Oct 01, 2011
dontouchmychocolate
rated it:
There was something....missing in the latter half of this book.
I felt as though we could have used without the plotline of the kidnapping of Navin and Maker. Instead, some other storyline about a conspiracy in the Order or explaining the secrecy of Donna's parents existence, Simon's dark ways, the mysterious Quentin, Xan's true nature....those would have played out quite nicely.
The Navin storyline felt too easy, like a way out of the story, when there were WAY more interesting stor More...
I felt as though we could have used without the plotline of the kidnapping of Navin and Maker. Instead, some other storyline about a conspiracy in the Order or explaining the secrecy of Donna's parents existence, Simon's dark ways, the mysterious Quentin, Xan's true nature....those would have played out quite nicely.
The Navin storyline felt too easy, like a way out of the story, when there were WAY more interesting stor More...
Aug 14, 2011
Larissa
rated it:
Being dragged to a party she never wanted to attend filled with people who don't want her there should have been the worst night of her life. It easily would have been too if not for the tall handsome guy she meets while hiding out on the roof. Suddenly with this one meeting she will realise that she is not the only one who is different, not the only one with secrets. But now her secrets are all coming out.
When a chance encounter with a rogue wood elf leads to the abduction of her best More...
When a chance encounter with a rogue wood elf leads to the abduction of her best More...
Jul 29, 2011
Becky
rated it:
would actually give it 3 1/2 stars.
I had seen quite a few posts about this one and thought the cover looked very eye catching and different so I decided to give this one a go. I actually lent it to a friend before I got round to reading it, but she returned it quickly and said she couldn't get into it. I lowered my expectations but thought I would still give it a go.
I read this very quickly, in a couple of hours, but it was mainly because i wanted to get through it. The story More...
I had seen quite a few posts about this one and thought the cover looked very eye catching and different so I decided to give this one a go. I actually lent it to a friend before I got round to reading it, but she returned it quickly and said she couldn't get into it. I lowered my expectations but thought I would still give it a go.
I read this very quickly, in a couple of hours, but it was mainly because i wanted to get through it. The story More...
Jul 24, 2011
Samuel
rated it:
The Iron Witch is a strange book, in that all it's flaws are balanced out by positives, leaving you with a distinctly average book. For example: The fact that It's as shallow as a puddle of gnat wee is balanced by the fact that it's damn short.
One flaw that has been massively overstated by a lot of reviews I have read of this book is its lack of originality. My question is this, does everything have to be original? No, this book as no new ideas and the characters are pretty cliched More...
One flaw that has been massively overstated by a lot of reviews I have read of this book is its lack of originality. My question is this, does everything have to be original? No, this book as no new ideas and the characters are pretty cliched More...
Jul 19, 2011
Sara
rated it:
Plot: 3.5 Stars
My favorite part of this whole novel was the introduction to alchemy. It's a subject that I had not encountered yet, in either young adult or urban fantasy. It was a very interesting way of pulling magical elements into the story, but I wanted to learn more. Many parts of this novel felt like an introduction. Although the novel has a climax and resolution, there are still so many areas in which the story only scratched the surface. In a way, it's a tiny bit annoying. But mos More...
My favorite part of this whole novel was the introduction to alchemy. It's a subject that I had not encountered yet, in either young adult or urban fantasy. It was a very interesting way of pulling magical elements into the story, but I wanted to learn more. Many parts of this novel felt like an introduction. Although the novel has a climax and resolution, there are still so many areas in which the story only scratched the surface. In a way, it's a tiny bit annoying. But mos More...
Jul 08, 2011
Tara
rated it:
* * 3/4
In Six Words
a lot of potential fell flat
Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?
After seeing this cover and reading the summary, I was really excited about this book. While I really enjoyed some parts of the story and plan on picking up the sequel, I felt like this one could have been a lot better. Donna had a good voice and I really wish that the story would have been in first person. I was actually really aggravated by the switch to first person for journa More...
In Six Words
a lot of potential fell flat
Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?
After seeing this cover and reading the summary, I was really excited about this book. While I really enjoyed some parts of the story and plan on picking up the sequel, I felt like this one could have been a lot better. Donna had a good voice and I really wish that the story would have been in first person. I was actually really aggravated by the switch to first person for journa More...
May 02, 2011
Moury
rated it:
First off, I don't know if I was the only one, but I couldn't help in making connections to the book ... 
I mean seriously, it really did seem like The Iron Witch was just a rather poorly done version of The Iron King series. The similarities were just too conspicuous to miss.
To sum it all up, it's your basic(really bland) YA fantasy/paranormal fiction. Teenage girl who happens to be an outcast and labeled as a freak by peers, tragically loses her parents in what seems like mo More...
I mean seriously, it really did seem like The Iron Witch was just a rather poorly done version of The Iron King series. The similarities were just too conspicuous to miss.
To sum it all up, it's your basic(really bland) YA fantasy/paranormal fiction. Teenage girl who happens to be an outcast and labeled as a freak by peers, tragically loses her parents in what seems like mo More...
Apr 04, 2011
Heather
rated it:
Ok, you know, not half bad. I'm not sure why most of the reviews for this one are polarized as absolute love/hate. I wouldn't go so far in either direction - this book has its flaws, surely - but it's not a bad start for a new writer.
Admittedly, I was caught by the publisher Flux, who I had never heard of until they published Maggie Stiefvater. The FIRST publisher, might I add, to do so, and this was before her book Shiver (which no, they didn't get) was published and really took off. More...
Admittedly, I was caught by the publisher Flux, who I had never heard of until they published Maggie Stiefvater. The FIRST publisher, might I add, to do so, and this was before her book Shiver (which no, they didn't get) was published and really took off. More...
