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

Feb 15, 2011 Jessi rated it liked it

In Julie Kagawa's debut novel, she introduces readers to a world where faeries are created through imagination and creative efforts of the "real" world. Megan Chase, our main character, discovers on her 16th birthday that there is a whole other realm that exists when her brother is kidnapped and traded for a changeling. Megan enters the world of faery politics should had never dreamed of, becoming the pawn of the courts and wanted by a power neither know exist.

When I first started reading YA fa In Julie Kagawa's debut novel, she introduces readers to a world where faeries are created through imagination and creative efforts of the "real" world. Megan Chase, our main character, discovers on her 16th birthday that there is a whole other realm that exists when her brother is kidnapped and traded for a changeling. Megan enters the world of faery politics should had never dreamed of, becoming the pawn of the courts and wanted by a power neither know exist.

When I first started reading YA fantasy, I'll be the first to admit that I had no interest in reading books about faeries. I read mostly about vampires, stemming from a couple of decent encounters with adult vampire series. I started with Twilight while I was student teaching, simply to get into the heads of the plethora of students I had reading the books. I wasn't overly enamored with the series, but I'll admit that I didn't have the violent negative reactions many adult readers had to the series. But I digress. So, faeries. I picked up Need by Carrie Jones as my first diversion into the realm of the fey (pixies, to be exact). I wasn't overly impressed. My second attempt was Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr and after that I was hooked. But, again, this review is not about that. This is about the splendid world created in The Iron King by Julie Kagawa.

This book promised adventure, and I felt that it delivered on that promise. Kagawa's knowledge of faery lore and etiquette clearly exceeds my own, but I felt that those familiar with such topics wouldn't be disappointed. She pulls from the realms of well established characters, such as Queen Mab and Robin Goodfellow (aka Puck) and weaves the characters with a modern day coming of age story of a half-blood faery.

I very much enjoyed the Megan's character. She was a strong-willed female who persevered through many trials along the journey to save her brother. Every once in awhile I would cringe when she would start making deals left and right with faeries, something the reader learns fairly early on is not always the best idea. On the whole, I thought she was a strong, possibly slightly underdeveloped, character. Kagawa also gives her readers the classic good guy vs. bad boy dilemma from the start, with Puck and Ash. Puck is Megan's long-time best friend and servant of the king (her father), while Ash is the prince of the other court (technically her enemy). You gets hints throughout of Puck's feelings for Megan and in the end, there are most definitely sparks flying between Megan and Ash. Only time (and the rest of the series) will tell which "team" readers, and ultimately Megan, choose. ...more

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Jun 01, 2011 Sonia rated it liked it · review of another edition

Ancora non riesco a capire come ho fatto ad arrivare alla fine del libro.
Gli ho dato tre stelle, ma solo grazie a Puck, una delle poche note positive, e perchè comunque lo stile della Kagawa non è male.
A non essermi piaciuta è la storia, confusionaria e scontata, a cui non sono riuscita ad appassionarmi. Nella prima metà del libro non accade praticamente nulla, appaiono solo un numero indefinito di creature magiche e il mondo fatato sembra più che altro un circo.
L'unico personaggio che ho appr ...more

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Apr 28, 2011 Rie rated it really liked it

This is a take on the fey that was much more like Chronicles of Narnia than Wicked Lovely.

It takes you on a journey through three of the lands of fey. Meeting characters that quickly became friends and others that took a hard time to like.

Meghan’s family is impossible to like at first. They do not pay attention to her in the least and spoil the younger child. When he is replaced with an evil little fey-thing Meghan goes to save him.

Robin Goodfellow, Puck, is a good friend and is willing to sacri ...more

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Jan 28, 2011 Mallary rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, read-in-2011

I'm in awe at how much I enjoyed reading this book. The characters, the setting, the creatures, it all comes together to make an entirely new world. Julie Kagawa's descriptions led me to feel as if I was actually there in Nevernever. I can see why I've been hearing so much hype about the series from other readers. I've got to say, the references to Midsummer Night’s Dream were an unexpected surprise. Throughout reading the book, you can definitely get a feel for how much research must have went ...more

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Dec 10, 2010 Lisa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: harlequin-teen

I had never read a fiction book about faeries before...ever, so I was very skeptical starting The Iron King. I was also worried that Kagawa's use of Robin Goodfellow would be repetitive, since so many have alluded to him in creative works before. But boy, was I EVER WRONG! I LOVED this book! I could not put it down. While I was reading this book, Kagawa had me believing in faeries and looking out for the door that would take me to Fairie. A book hasn't blended into my reality like that since Har ...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Autumn rated it liked it

I wish I could give this book 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the book, and thought I had everything figured out early on. Some of my theories were right, but not all of them. After I have finished the series, I will re-read this book (like I do with all books). Hopefully, I will enjoy it more the second time, instead of constantly wondering if my theories are correct.
2 nd reading
I enjoyed this book much more the second time, than the first. I caught more details this time than the first. It's still my le ...more

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Mar 25, 2011 Christine rated it liked it

I decided to read this book after holding on to it for a long time. I found it quite enjoyable and really liked Meghan's character. It was a fun read but I felt like something was missing....maybe Puck. I found Ash to be a bit of a jerk. I am hoping this changes in the future books and am excited to read them. ...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Linda rated it it was amazing

I'm so wrapped up in this amazing world!

I have little experience with the faery world and so I didn't really know what to expect with The Iron King. Needless to say, though, I am not disappointed. I loved this book!
I loved the storyline and I loved the characters.
I just loved everything about it!

More!

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Mar 23, 2011 Amalie Howard rated it it was amazing

This series is so ingenious. I mean who thinks up of a whole new kind of fey based on technology? An insanely awesome author, that's who. Terrific writing. Characters who leap off the page. Twisty plot. Brilliant. Get into this series. Do it. ...more

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