The Iron King (The Iron Fey, #1) in Vampires, Weres and Fae!

Feb 15, 2013 Snarktastic Sonja rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, reviewed, young-adult, urban-fantasy

This was an interesting book. It felt almost like it couldn’t decide what genre it wanted to be: a fantasy novel? A young adult novel? Or an urban fantasy novel? Or did it really wish to be a re-telling of Alice in Wonderland?

It begins with a young girl, Meghan, in high school and all the angsty stuff that goes along with being a teenager. Her father ran off and left them. She’s crazy about the popular boy in high school who only knows that she exists in order to have someone on whom to pick. An This was an interesting book. It felt almost like it couldn’t decide what genre it wanted to be: a fantasy novel? A young adult novel? Or an urban fantasy novel? Or did it really wish to be a re-telling of Alice in Wonderland?

It begins with a young girl, Meghan, in high school and all the angsty stuff that goes along with being a teenager. Her father ran off and left them. She’s crazy about the popular boy in high school who only knows that she exists in order to have someone on whom to pick. And, she has a buddy, Robby, with whom to hang out.

After a series of humiliating events at school (and, really, most of it was her own silly fault, she should have known better!), she returns home only to discover her brother has been replaced by a changeling. Thus begins her journey into the world she has only seen through the corner of her eye . . . the world of the Fey.

I read this book because it was recommended to me in the GGG group at GoodReads. To be totally and completely and utterly honest, I wouldn’t have continued beyond the high school hazing had it not been for the encouragement of my recommends partner. I am just not fond of young adult angst. Been there, done that, you can keep the t-shirt. She promised me that it would improve once we left the ‘real world’, especially once the kids left Oberon’s kingdom, and so it did. But, I found it improved enough once we left this world for to continue reading.

Once in the Fey World (spelling Ms. Kagawa’s), Meghan is up to her neck in all sorts of mythical and fantastical beings – including what can only be considered a Cheshire cat. The cat intrigued me – I never really knew what he was going to do next. Along with her buddy, Robby, she ends up on a quest with the Ice Prince, Ash. So, we can already see the love triangle building, right? Do they have to make it quite so obvious.

That being said, my absolute favorite part of the whole entire book was the relationship between Robby and Ash. The two are hysterical around each other – they not only posture to impress Meghan (though, of course, neither would *ever* admit it), there is also a history between them that keeps them each on their toes. If the book were just about *them*, I probably would have loved it much more. I found Meghan to be your typical, uninspired, angsty teen ager.

The world of the *iron* fey that Ms. Kagawa has created is fascinating. An entire race of beings is developed from cast aside technology – formed from the very thing that kills, or at least severely wounds, most other fey – Iron. The politics and creation in this group of beings is without a doubt the most interesting thing in the novel.

Ultimately, I would give this one 3.5 stars. It is better than your average young adult story but not quite as interesting as I would have liked it to be. I did really like Ash and Robby, aside from their ‘love triangle’ rivalry, and the world is interesting. All that brings it just a tad above average. I will, however, round it down to 3 stars because I’m just not convinced it deserves 4 and I don’t think I am interested enough – nor care enough – to move on in the series. ...more

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Apr 27, 2014 Jenner rated it really liked it

Shelves: series-ab-5-to-9-books, z2014, series-i-have-finished

This book pulled me in and swept me away. I finished it in 2 days. I really enjoyed it & I am excited to read the next book! I want to know how the trio will end up.

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