The Iron King

Title:  The Iron King

Author:  Julie Kagawa

Series:  The Iron Fey #1

Publisher:  Harlequin Teen

Date Published:  January 19, 2010

Genre:  Fantasy, Young Adult

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Thoughts:

-    I am torn between 3 and 4 stars on this one. It is probably a 3.5 star rating for me. 

-    Meghan Chase is just a regular teen trying to find her way through high school and life. Her reputation at school used to be her biggest worry until her little brother gets kidnapped by a faery king, like what happens to Jennifer Connelly in Labyrinth. She journeys into the Nevernever with her best friend, who turns out to be a faery named Puck. Yes, Puck from A Midsummer's Night Dream. Now she has to travel through a land where everything is trying to eat her and rescue her brother.

-    I first read this in 2014, so it has been a long time since I've journeyed through the Nevernever. I remember really loving these books, but I was worried that 34 year old me wouldn't like the stories as much as 26 year old me. Luckily, the stories have stood the test of time, and I had a lot fun. 

-    I liked Meghan, Puck, and Ash well enough, but there wasn't anything that endeared them to me. I'm hoping that I will warm up to them more as I get better reacquainted throughout the series.

-    The best character is Grimalkin. That cat is hilariously snarky, and I love that he only sticks around because he is amused. 

-    I loved the world of fae that Kagawa has created. I loved what she has taken from mythology, fairy tales, and other literary works. I want to live in the Nevernever. 

-    I am proud to say my reviews have gotten a lot better over the years. If you'd like to see my old (and kind of embarrassing) review, here is a link. 

My Thoughts in a GIF:

Trigger Warning:  Some Violence, Bullying

Fan Art Friday

I've put this series off for far too long. I'm currently reading The Iron Daughter, but I didn't want to spoil anything for me, so today's Fan Art Friday is showcasing The Iron King.

I was a bit sad that I could only find pictures of the characters and no scenes, but I still enjoyed seeing these.

Which one is your favorite?

In case you missed them, here is a link to previous Fan Art Fridays:

The Book Thief

The Chronicles of Prydain
Divergent
Legend
The Hobbit
Mary Poppins
The Night Circus

The Iron King

Goodreads 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 everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil, no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

My Thoughts:

-    This was better than I expected. I was expecting a sort of fantasy, but instead I got a fun paranormal. 

-    The story is like a combination of Labyrinth, Paranomalcy, Eyes Like Stars, and Alice in Wonderland.

-    I guess it would help make the story more awesome if you are familiar with A Midsummer's Night Dream. I am not, but I still understood it and enjoyed it.

-    I liked the characters a lot. I think Meghan was a typical teenage girl. She was a bit whiny at times, but I liked her overall. Ash and Puck were fun characters. Neither stole my heart, but they were fun. My favorite was Grim. I love that cat!

-    I won't say who or how, but that was not a very believable death. Of course they weren't dead!

-    I really liked the Nevernever. I thought the author did awesome creating this paranormal world. It sounds beautiful.

-    I liked how everything resolved, but I'm eager for more!