The Iron King (The Iron Fey, #1) in Once Upon a Twilight blog

Jul 26, 2010 Yin Chien rated it it was amazing

I have nothing bad to say about this book, really. The Iron King was fantastic! I love Julie's writing style, and I mean it when I say the front part of the book spooked my out. Meghan was a nice, well-liked character, and I was really amazed at how far she was willing to go to get her [kidnapped:] half-brother back. She exuded intelligence and unswerving determination even though she had to face various obstacles on her journey to the magical realm to save her brother.

The Iron King is not a boo I have nothing bad to say about this book, really. The Iron King was fantastic! I love Julie's writing style, and I mean it when I say the front part of the book spooked my out. Meghan was a nice, well-liked character, and I was really amazed at how far she was willing to go to get her [kidnapped:] half-brother back. She exuded intelligence and unswerving determination even though she had to face various obstacles on her journey to the magical realm to save her brother.

The Iron King is not a book about cute and adorable faeries. In the fey world, Meghan learned that most fey are abominable and that nothing is free. When you request for a help, you must know that you have to return the favour some day.

I thought that the cait sith, Grimilkin was an interesting character. He was earnest in helping Meghan to find Puck in exchange for a small favour, but only when he met Oberon, the King of the Summer Court did I realize that he was actually aiming for Oberon because he knew that Meghan was the daughter of Oberon. However, I don't think he was a bad character. He was just mysterious, elusive and calculative.

Meghan's relationship with her fey-friend Puck a.k.a. Robbin Goodfellow and love interest Ash a.k.a. the third prince of the Winter Court is one of the major aspects in this book. While I was glad that Puck's mischievous, caring and supporting character provided fun and comfort for Meghan, I was even touched by Ash's willingness to trade his life for Meghan's in The Iron King's fortress, even though he did it in the name of his contract with her. I somehow figured out that he was in love with Meghan, and I was hoping he would have a happy ending with Meghan in the future, despite the serious affection that Puck, his sworn-enemy, obviously had for her.

Thumbs up for the great plot! The author inserted a lot of twists and turns throughout the story and it kept me interested the whole time. Each chapter ends with a clue of what is going to happen next or a last line that will will implore readers to read more, regardless of the time. The writing has a constant flow that will make you read with ease and excitement. As the plot builds, you will find yourself entranced by the beauty and danger of the Fey world.

Overall, The Iron King is a wonderful, fascinating depiction of the Fey world through the eyes of a half-fey. Julie presents a strong, solid opening with The Iron King, and I'll definitely be reading The Iron Daughter to see what will Julie present in this second book of the The Iron Fey trilogy.

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Oct 06, 2010 Laura Kreitzer rated it it was amazing

What can I say about this wonderful book? First, the whole idea of the Iron Fae was brilliant and masterful. I really do enjoy it when an author can take a topic over-used and turn it into an original piece of fiction. Some reviews stated they couldn't believe how the main character acted. That's ridiculous--she's a teenager whose only problems in life are school, friends, and family (not in that order). Meghan Chase ends up turning into a very mature, self-sacrificing adult. Maybe some people h ...more

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May 04, 2011 OpenBookSociety.com rated it liked it

Julie Kagawa
The Iron King
Iron Fey, Book #1

Brought to you by OBS staff member Annabell Cadiz

Synopsis:

“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 everythi ...more

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Jul 05, 2010 Shari rated it really liked it

Really rated at a 4.5!! First off I have to mention how much I love the cover of this book, it SO beautiful. Second, what a great book (in my oh so humble opinion)! I'm so glad that I picked this book to read during the book-a-thon, it grabbed me and I was anxious to find out what was going to happen to Meghan, Puck, Ash and Ethan. There were parts of this book that made me stop and go "WHAT!" and I would have to go back and read that part again. ~Ethan standing over his mother~ aaaahhhhh! That ...more

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Apr 27, 2011 Stacey (sassysreadingnook) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites, own, re-reads, 2022-reads, library-books

Wow what an amazing adventure. I'm about to strap myself in and go again with book 2 :D ...more

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Dec 28, 2010 Megan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: i-challenge2011

Okay- I admit it. I TOTALLY came late to the Iron Fey Party. Until this past fall, I didn't know that these books existed and BOY, was I missing out! If you know me at all, you know that I have a fairy fetish. They are everywhere in my house, around my house, on my blog profile, just everywhere. I fell in love with Celtic Fairy Lore and Culture after my college roommate (Thank You, Brianne!) got me hooked on the Merry Gentry Series by Laurell K. Hamilton. Now, lots of people out there absolutely Okay- I admit it. I TOTALLY came late to the Iron Fey Party. Until this past fall, I didn't know that these books existed and BOY, was I missing out! If you know me at all, you know that I have a fairy fetish. They are everywhere in my house, around my house, on my blog profile, just everywhere. I fell in love with Celtic Fairy Lore and Culture after my college roommate (Thank You, Brianne!) got me hooked on the Merry Gentry Series by Laurell K. Hamilton. Now, lots of people out there absolutely loathe these books- and that's cool, to each his own- but you can't fault Laurell's research. I own a number of the books that she used to create her fey world and I love every one of them. The Celts are responsible for the fairy beliefs all over the world. Fairies, sprites, pixies, morrigans, doxies, will o wisps, the sidhe, goblins, the Wild Hunt, fairy mounds, brownies, boggarts and kelpies. So many creatures and stories come from the Celts and their belief that the fey captured the British Isles from it's original inhabitants, the Fir Bolgs, and that the fey have since lived on the isles. They believe that in the past, and sometimes even today, the fair folk will come out of their fairy mounds and into our world to aid or wreak havoc upon the mortals they find. This world of the fey, or the sidhe, is what helped inspire Shakespeare when he wrote A Midsummer Night's Dream. The story of the fey in MND sounds much like all the epic tales of the fair folk- such as the classic tale of Cuchulain. Julie Kagawa further marries the Shakespearean tale with the legends of the fair folk- and then she makes it her own.

I absolutely loved this book. I really did. Although I do have to call out Kendra from Books Complete Me- she thought I'd be Team Puck and I have to say that she was wrong. I love Puck, I do, but Ash. *Sigh* Where was I? Oh yes, Iron King. Basically, Meghan Chase is the daughter of the fairy king. Her mother took her and ran after her human father disappeared. She has since been living on a pig farm with her mother, step-father and half brother. Meghan's best friend, Robbie, lives nearby and attends school with her. When he starts to act strangely overprotective and even stranger things start happening around Meghan, the life that she thought she knew starts to unravel. When her brother is taken into the Nevernever, or the fairy world, Meghan has to go after him. "Robbie" goes with her and they begin the journey that will change Meghan's life forever.

I found this book to be fun, exciting and interesting. The writing was vivid and expressive, so much so that you really could visualize yourself there in the Nevernever. So much of the world that Julie is writing is "real," meaning that the creatures or characters come from the traditions of the Celts. My favorite example is the Kelpie that Meghan has a run in with in the Nevernever while she and "Robbie"/Puck race for the Summer Court. Kelpies are believed to be the basis of the Loch Ness Monster legend. Kelpies are fey that can look like beautiful women or gorgeous horses but that guise is only used to help them lure men to the water's edge. Once the man is at the water's edge, the kelpie bites down on the man's arm and drags him into the water to drown. Some believe the kelpie does it for fun, others believe that kelpies eat their prey. Either way, it's a pretty wicked fey creature. I love the character of Grimalkin. He reminds me of the old fairy legend about the woman who messed around with another woman's husband and got pregnant, the man's wife said that the hussy's outside should match her inside and turned her into a cat. The woman as a cat gave birth to a kitten who would be a boy. But the fairy boy always wore the signs of his mother's shame because even as a human shaped sidhe warrior, he was calico colored. Fairy cats. Very cool.

Overall, I would say that this book comes highly recommended. As in go buy it now, if you don't already own it! The Iron Fey books are suitable for all teens. The books contain little to no graphic sexuality and in general, they are light hearted and fun- even in grim circumstances. So give them a try!
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Aug 30, 2010 Laura rated it really liked it

This was the first book I bought for my Kindle. I took it everywhere, I could not put it down! I loved how the fairy myths and legends played into the story. Meghen's progression into a strong protagonist is believable. Puck is snarky and lovable. Then thrre is Ash of course. Yummy! Can't wait to read the next book. ...more

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