Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King {Iron Fey #1}

Published: Harlequin Teen Feb 2010

Sypnosis: 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.

Status: Read from December 23 to 25, 2010 — I own a copy

My Thoughts:

I’m hesitant when choosing to read YA books in this genre because I have found its been quite a hit and miss proposition for me probably because I am somewhat older than the target audience. Therefore I usually rely on the premise and world building to capture my imagination and draw me into the story rather than the characters. For me, The Iron King did just that.
Julie Kagawa may have drawn heavily on the Labyrinth (directed by Jim Henson), Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Shakespeares Midsummers Night Dream for inspiration but she has woven the threads to create a fresh and engaging tale of adventure and magic. The premise is not exactly original, but there are magical and physical duels, clues to follow and a destined (if a little too pat) romance that entertains and intrigues.
However its the creation of the iron fey that is inspired and makes the story stand out. I love the idea and that it makes such perfect sense.
Megan is a little too shallow for my tastes, she isn’t as resourceful as I had hoped she would be and some of the conflicts rely on her being too obtuse to see the obvious. Despite that, she is likeable and surrounded by such a fun and creative group of characters, I wasn’t as irritated as I might have been.
The writing is excellent, Kagawa vividly describes the fey world and its inhabitants with carefully crafted detail by showing what her characters see and experience. It was easy to immerse myself in the NeverNever with its familiar yet unique landscape.
The Iron King is an entertaining YA fantasy with an engaging twiat of tradition. I am glad I have The Iron Daughter to hand to continue the story of the Iron Fey.

@ Goodreads