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- Verified Buyer
I was utterly and completely blown away by this book. I had no expectations going into it and though it started off at a snail's pace, it soon picked up momentum and once I got to the chapter where the terrifying changeling came into the picture, there was no turning back. There's an unmistakeable dark edge to this story which I found both enticing and mesmeric.The Iron King is one of the rare books where I loved absolutely everything about it. I'll confess that this is the first book I've read by Julie Kagawa, but sure as heck will not be the last. I was captivated from the very first page, but two chapters into the story I did feel that it was moving a little too slow for my taste, yet I was too curious about Meghan's dad's disappearance to abandon it. Only further on did I realize why it was necessary to get to know Meghan's family and her life at school first, and find out more about her past. All that background info is vital to the story. The minute I understood that, it was smooth sailing all the way.Where shall I start? OK, let's start with Meghan. Ya'll know by now I have a low tolerance for clichéd, bratty female protagonists, right? Well, Meghan ain't one of "those". And really, this is where I want to shake the author's hand and maybe put up a statue in her honor, simply because she had so much faith in her protagonist, she knew she could push her to her limits to show us what Meghan is made of. There is nothing typical about Meghan. She doesn't have it easy at school (no really, the kids put her through hell), she lives on a pig farm in the boondocks and gets ridiculed by the popular crowd at school, while at home she is practically ignored by her mother, and her stepfather treats her as though she doesn't exist. But all that is nothing compared to what she has to endure in the Nevernever. Honestly, there were times I was convinced there is no way she was going to make it through to the end in one piece. And I have the utmost respect for an author who can put her protagonist through the wringer again and again and again. What made Meghan even more convincing was that she never pitied herself or complained about the horrors she had to endure, but quietly gave in to her emotions only when there was no-one around to hear her. Meghan is not a butt-kicking character. Still, she showed a strength beyond her years which I could only admire. The rest of the characters - Puck, Ash, Grim, and just about every single character in this novel - is well rounded out and plays an integral part in the development of the plot. It is saturated with memorable characters which you'll either love to love, or love to hate. But either way, there's not one bland character in this superb fantasy.I have to mention that my number one favorite character is unquestionably Grimalkin, the cat (or rather a Cait Sith). He's intelligent, sneaky, witty, and proudly embraces every typical cat trait you can think of. My other favorite creature characters were the pack rats. They were incredibly adorable in their odd way; so much so it almost made me cry.Kagawa's imaginative and clever world-building in this story is nothing less than spectacular and way beyond impressive! Every single page is an endless feast for the imagination. The combination of fantasy and technology in Faeryland and the modern world, had me marvelling at the resourcefulness of this author's mind. The breathtaking beauty of the Summer and Winter courts, in stark contrast to the wastelands of the Iron court, helped set the mood of the novel and steadily drew me deeper and deeper into the Nevernever. I also enjoyed the parts of the story that took place in the real world and I was awed at how smoothly the story transitioned between these two worlds. Everything felt so real.The dialogue is fluid, stimulating and suits each character perfectly. Expect stellar writing, heart-stopping scenes, and an exceptionally riveting plot should you choose to read this book. The sequence of events happens timely, and the action is intense and highly gratifying. To my relief the romance is kept to a minimum and only glides along in the background. I only hope it stays that way for the rest of the series. The ending wasn't exactly what I wanted it to be, but it still came to a satisfying conclusion with a wide opening for book two on which to continue. The Iron King is a book I refused to put down, even when my vision started blurring at the edges, but I simply couldn't tear myself away from it. I highly recommend it to all who enjoys a fantasy novel filled with characters and creatures born only from the wildest of imaginations. It deserves countless stars for unadulterated fantasy perfection.
