The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

By -
  • **2010 Debut Author Challenge List**
  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (February 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she finally discovers why. For when her half-brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she had never imagined--the world of Faery. 

MY REVIEW: When I first read the blurb I thought, "Oh no, another story about the fae." After finishing EYES LIKE STARS, LAMENT, FAIRY TALE, and halfway through DARKLIGHT, I picked up the book after I received it and turned to the first chapter.  As a writer I am always interested in how authors begin their stories. Kurawa started with this intriguing line: "Ten years ago, on my sixth birthday my father disappeared." By the time I looked up I had already finished the first chapter.

Needless to say, I enjoyed THE IRON KING for two reasons: the main character's voice and the darkness of the story. I haven't been a huge fairy fan, but I've read some really good stories about these creatures over the last year and I now find them intriguing.  I also have to acknowledge the crop of talented YA authors who have interpreted the lore and created entertaining books from it. Kurawa has added redcaps, goblins, knights, gremlins and very evil fairies to her tale about a teen girl who doesn't fit in. Little does she know a new world awaits her visit and the adventures she'll undertake once there. Her best friend turns out to be a lot more than that, and the monsters we tell our children don't live in the closet, in the Chase house they do. One such monster steals her four-year-old brother, leaving a horrible changeling in his place, and Meghan is off to the fairie dimension to bring him back. Her trip is filled with violence, creatures who look upon her with disdain and hiss "half-breed" at her, a father who is a King of Summer, and the gorgeous ice prince, Ash, whose heart isn't as chilly as he pretends it to be. I enjoyed the author's nod at how technology can create problems for those who use it in place of everything, while forgetting about the natural beauty of the real world around them.

My birthday is in August and I already know I'll be asking for the second book, THE IRON DAUGHTER (and a bunch of other new releases) as some of my presents.

RATING: ++++

FOR FANS OF: Contemporary fantasy; fae tales; romance and adventure.

SERIES: Yes. THE IRON DAUGHTER, August, 2010 and THE IRON QUEEN, tba.

REVIWED BY: Laurie

BOOK SOURCE: Purchased.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop

By -
Image
What time is it? Since it's St. Patrick's Day, it's also time for the 4th Annual   Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop ! This hop is hosted by I Am A Reader and co-hosted by Books Complete Me . The hops runs today, March 17th, through midnight on March 24th. Find the complete listing of all the participating blogs HERE   or below. What are we giving away? Well, since spring is ALMOST here and we know many from around our country are tired of dealing with or seeing snow on the ground (as much as I love snow, this season has been one of the toughest ), we thought we would celebrate Spring . Reader Girls is offering our winner their choice of an upcoming spring release--paperback or hardcover, YA, NA or adult--up to $15. If your choice costs more, we can send you a $15 Amazon gift card which you can apply to purchasing your top spring read. We will share our top  two  most anticipated Spring reads.  They are: Let's celebrate Spring ! Days fill
Read more

The Devouring #2: Soulstice by Simon Holt

By -
Image
Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 1, 2009) Book summary: The terrifying, nail-biting, and grossly intriguing sequel to The Devouring.  It's been six months since Reggie first discovered and fought against the Vours, malicious and demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on the eve of the Winter Solstice.  The Vours still haunt Reggie, but only in her dreams-until one night, when an unexpected visitor turns her nightmares into reality. My Review: Soulstice was the first book I finished for the new year. Holt has created a gripping, realistic horroriffic fantasy with likable characters, a female heroine we can root for, and a truly evil protagonist. I realized this is the first YA horror series I've read and totally enjoyed. Reggie is back, wondering what the Vours are doing in the quiet time since the incident with Quinn and her rescue of brother Henry six months earlier. The peaceful break do
Read more

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

By -
Image
The 4th Annual Spooktacular Giveaway Hop hosted by  I Am A Reader, Not A Writer  has begun. This hop has over three hundred and fifty blogs participating, easily making it one of the biggest hops of the year. Find the list of other blogs here . This giveaway ends at midnight on October 31st. Reader Girls are offering a Paranormal Pack of books --some surprises, some swag, and  these NEW paperbacks: Getting Rowdy (Love Undercover #3)  by Lori Foster Paranormal romance Paperback/ebook, 448 pages Published September 24th 2013 by Harlequin HQN An alpha hero's attraction to the one woman he can't have could draw him into a killer's snare in the sizzling new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster  Charismatic bar owner Rowdy Yates isn’t the kind of man women say no to. So when he approaches waitress Avery Mullins, he fully expects to get her number. However, the elusive beauty has her reasons for keeping her distance—including a past that
Read more