The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King
Series: The Iron Fey #1
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Copyright 2010 by Julie Kagawa
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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.

I have just finished reading The Iron Knight…the last of the Iron Fey Series; but before I write that review, I thought it would be helpful to review the other books in the series. What can I say, I was so hooked on this incredible journey that Julie began, I just kept reading and reading and reading.


I have always loved dark fey stories. Their sneaky, charming, addictive, and sometimes deadly ways fascinate me. Julie put a twist on her stories that I utterly and completely loved. “Fey are born from the dreams of mortals.” Wow! So when all the stories of fey, the big bad wolf, and other things that go bump in the night are forgotten, they will cease to exist! How unbelievably sad that makes me.


I believe the best way to get a feel for a story is know the characters, after all, they are the ones you will love or hate, the ones you will have a vested interest in. So, I shall introduce you to the characters of The Iron Fey Series, as they are in The Iron King. Many will continue throughout the series and all will change with time…for better or worse!

• Meghan Chase – Meghan is the half-blood fairy who this series revolves around. In the human world, she is completely out of place. She is poor, lives in the middle of nowhere, and has one friend…Robbie (more on him later). Meghan has a crush on Scott Waldron, a boy at her school. Sadly, he only lives to torture her. Meghan may have one flaw…personal loyalty. She places the safety of those she cares about above her own safety. Choosing who to save and when may be her downfall!
• Ethan – Meghan’s fully human four-year old brother who finds himself thrown into Their world.
• Robbie – Meghan’s one human? friend. She has known him since before she can remember. He is her closest neighbor, although she has never seen his house. He is also quite the prankster. He is protective of Meghan and may possibly have his own crush on her. However, Robbie aka Robin Goodfellow aka Puck, may have more than one secret to hide.
• Grimalkin – The all knowing Cait Sith that will lead Meghan and her friends through NeverNever.
• Oberon – King of Summer Court, Seelie. Also, the fey half of Meghan’s parentage.
• Ash – Prince of the Winter Court, Unseelie. Unbelievably charming and handsome, he is also cold and dangerous. He is the once best friend turned enemy to Puck. The Winter Court has a long standing grudge with the Summer Court, making Ash and Meghan natural enemies.
• Queen Mab – The Queen of Winter Court. She is a heartless and ruthless ruler who has little regard for any type life…fey or otherwise.
• King Machina – The King of the Iron Kingdom. His fey could be the end of NeverNever and all fey.
• Ironhorse and Virus – Lieutenants to King Machina.

Well, as you can see, there are many players on the field and what will come to pass is only to be seen. Meghan is the only thing that can stop the Iron Kingdom from killing all of NeverNever. Robin Goodfellow and Prince Ash may have to save the killing for another day…not to worry, a squirmish or two may arise. And man, Robin makes me laugh.


In the land of the fey, nothing is free. Any favor done, means a favor in return. Contracts and vows are irreversible. Politics galore…


Julie invented a fascinating world to live and dream in. She pulls you into the story, causing you to invest yourself in the characters life. If you haven’t read this series yet, you should.