The Iron King (Iron Fey #1)
by Julie Kagawa

Summary

Ever since her father disappeared when she was a young girl, Meghan Chase has felt like an outcast and a misfit. Then as her 16^th birthday approaches, weird things begin to happen. Her four year-old brother Ethan seems to be possessed, and Robbie, Meghan’s best friend since childhood seems to know more than he’s letting on. Meghan is left reeling when Robbie reveals a strange and deadly new world that exists alongside our own. In order to save her brother, Meghan embarks on a perilous journey filled with creatures and beings she thought only existed in fairy tales.

Review

The Iron King is a high-stakes adventure, filled with a variety of interesting characters. Meghan is a likeable protagonist, who grows over the course of the novel, and has the potential to become a truly fascinating and powerful heroine as the series continues.  The supporting characters are well-developed and highly entertaining, and even though they were plucked from other stories (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Alice in Wonderland) felt unique. I must admit to liking the supporting characters even more than the main character! The author does a wonderful job of describing the faery world in magnificent detail, but I did find a few situations and plot points were lacking in explanation.  I also found that some scenes which should have been quite emotional, did not manage to elicit the expected emotion. These small issues aside, the story was interesting and fast-paced with plenty of surprises along the way.

Verdict

The Iron King was a captivating and entertaining story, and I can’t wait to read more of Meghan’s adventures in Winter’s Passage (novella) and The Iron Daughter, the next installment in the Iron Fey Series.

*I received this e-book for review from the publisher.

*The Iron King is book #3 for the What’s in a Name? Challenge