Here is the summary of the book:
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.
As the vampires and dystopia, the fae seem to be in vogue in the YA book scene. Although I love all things magical but the iron king would be the first book I have read that is of the YA genre. Literary I have come as far as the Shakespeare's 'Midsummer Night's Dream' to the fae lore.
It starts of like this - its Meghan's 16th birthday and definitely nothing can go wrong in her mundane day-to-day life as she like every other highschooler hustles with school with her best friend - well protective best friend Robbie Goodfell to be exact. So its her birthday and like every other day of her life her birthday is nothing different. Even her best friend who is the only one who remembers the day can't repair the dullness of it all. But maybe something is going on and why is she seeing such strange things these days? Well when her younger brother Ethan is kidnapped and replaced by a changeling - a creed of faerie known to be violent - Meghan wants answers. Robbie Goodfell is the one to take charge and he explains the deal about the fae world and that he is King Oberon, the lord of the Seelie (Summer) Court and that Meghan is co-incidentally the only living off-spring of the King of the Summer court - well half-blood.
So with Puck leading the way Meghan enters the Nevernever to only get her brother back. But to her surprise Nevernever is definitely not as the fairytales proclaim them to be. Its tricky, its dangerous and definitely not a place to go joyriding. Aside from being cautious Meghan must be aware of what she says and what she does - for if not careful then by the time she finds her brother she'd be under heavy burden of debts - well nevernever does work on debts doesn't it? Enter Ash, the youngest prince of the Unseelie (Winter) Court. Gorgeous and handsome. Hails from a land frozen in show as the heart is. While his character is enough to give someone a whiplash but Meghan seems to be drawn in to him. And Grimalkin, the mysterious talking cat who is as sharp-witted and cat like as ever.
With the help of Puck, the winter prince and the cat Meghan must navigate the customs and traditions of this unknown land and find her brother before it is too late.
First of all i'd like to say The Iron King delivers the goods. Not only is the Fae lore present in its elements as the beliefs have it without changing the details at all. Second Grimalkin - well i'm not well versed with what the books say about him but he strongly reminded me of the Cheshire cat....yes a strong resemblance to Alice in Wonderland and not to forget Midsummer Night's Dream and Peter Pan too. The plot is intriguing enough. And a lot of twists and turns that will make you sit on the edge of your seats throughout and mystical enough to fill in the quota of like minded Fantasy lovers.
Well a tale this magical tale is never enough without a romantic ark. So yes we have the burgeoning relationship between Ash and Meghan is sweet and beautiful and heart warming. Add to it a jealous best friend Puck and you get a triangle. If you ask me well i'm Team Ash from the first instance. He is tall, he is dark, he is icy and with those silver eyes what is not to like? His feud with Puck was a nice twist in the story. Puck according to me is more of a loyal best friend instead of a love interest.
As far as the characters go - Ms. Kagawa had nailed them to the spot. Each portrayed a different characteristic and a provided a level of complexity to the plot. Our heroine, Meghan Chase is also fun to follow. She is strong, tentative and emotional, genuine enough. Puck as I already stated a goofball and Ash a forlorn gorgeous prince. Ms. Kagawa has indeed captured every curve and aspect needed to maintain such a humble rhythm on the plot.
The Iron King is a great promising start, with great characters, intriguing plot lines and devious tendencies. Oh hopefully i'll get to start THE IRON DAUGHTER soon.
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