Review: The Iron King by. Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Age Range: 11+
Publication Date: January 21 2010,  Harlequin Teen
Pages: 363
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: 8/10

 Synopsis from Goodreads: Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series.

Review:  The Iron King bundled everything I enjoy about faerie books into one convenient package. Equipped with oblivious faerie heroine (oblivious to the fact the she is a faerie, as well as oblivious to...other things), hot romance, and kick butt fight scenes!

I thought it was great the way the story expanded from just the first story line. A quest to find a kidnapped loved one turns into the beginning of a war, as well as the beginning of a romance. It all flowed together well and the characters were well developed. I love the reoccurring roles of the Seelie and Unseelie courts in the faerie world. Such an adventurous plot that had so much at stake all at once. The romance also fit together perfectly. I didn't feel like it was just a separate point in the book, it just flowed very nicely with the book.

The characters, such a variety of characters there were. My #1 is definitely Puck! Puck was the funnest character I've read on in a long long time. He was always upbeat and funny and protective of Meghan, though I think she took it for granted... Anyways Meghan was pleasantly not the same character I pegged her to be in the first few chapters of the book. Once she is on a mission, she turns her intelligence on and uses it to her advantage. Of course she could be very impulsive at times, but who wouldn't be in her situation i.e kidnapped siblings and possible wars. Ash got on my nerves most of the book, but I didn't completely dislike him. He was actually pretty cool to read about, and had more layers to him than meets the eye. Though he seemed not only stoic but so scripted at times. He was so by the book I questioned whether he had any emotions or thoughts of his own at all at times.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next installment. Loved the characters, loved the plot, and loved the set up for the next books in the series. As a lasting statement I would like to leave you all with this: GO TEAM PUCK!!!

Recommendations:  Everyone who loves faeries will love this book. And those who enjoyed Wondrous Strange will love this book just as much!


Overall: 8/10 

Characters: 8/10 
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 7/10 
Entertainment: 8/10 
Ending: 9/10 
Writing Style: 10/10 
Cover: 10/10