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A review by theespressoedition
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I've been wracking my brain the past few days, trying to remember how many times I've actually read this book. I know for a fact that I've read it twice before, but there's a chance it was actually three times. I kept starting this series and never finishing it. Terrible, I know. But it's officially time to get through all four books and dive into the spin-off!
I was discussing the book with my buddy-read partner this morning and we really covered so many bases as we chatted, so I'm going to dive into those things a little more in this review.
The first of which is that this is definitely a plot-based book more than it is character-based. Aside from some in-depth descriptions about Robbie and Grim, we don't know a huge amount about the other characters, including our MC, Meghan! This is a little odd to me because they're really important and yet we know virtually nothing about them - not even hair colors (or sometimes even names in the case of Meghan's mom). The most we know about Meghan is that she loves her half-brother and wears a lot of old clothing. Oh, and she's totally unlikeable.
Going further into the last point I made - Meghan is not a character that you feel yourself rooting for. Yes, you want for her to help Ethan, but mostly, you'll be face-palming over her naivety and teenage emotions that cause rash decisions. What are these decisions, you might ask? How about running straight into faerie courts, kissing people who say they'll kill you, and not trusting your best friend. Those are just a few examples.
My favorite characters in the book are the ones that have the most descriptions: Robbie and Grim. They're witty, sarcastic, loving (in their own ways), and want the best for Meghan, even if that means making tough choices to help her grow.
This book definitely appeals to a younger audience (duh, it's YA fantasy about a newly 16-year-old) but it's still fun to read as an adult. I picked it up on a Sunday afternoon and flew through it in one sitting. It doesn't take a huge amount of brain power or focus to enjoy!
I look forward to finally moving forward and finishing the series!
I was discussing the book with my buddy-read partner this morning and we really covered so many bases as we chatted, so I'm going to dive into those things a little more in this review.
The first of which is that this is definitely a plot-based book more than it is character-based. Aside from some in-depth descriptions about Robbie and Grim, we don't know a huge amount about the other characters, including our MC, Meghan! This is a little odd to me because they're really important and yet we know virtually nothing about them - not even hair colors (or sometimes even names in the case of Meghan's mom). The most we know about Meghan is that she loves her half-brother and wears a lot of old clothing. Oh, and she's totally unlikeable.
Going further into the last point I made - Meghan is not a character that you feel yourself rooting for. Yes, you want for her to help Ethan, but mostly, you'll be face-palming over her naivety and teenage emotions that cause rash decisions. What are these decisions, you might ask? How about running straight into faerie courts, kissing people who say they'll kill you, and not trusting your best friend. Those are just a few examples.
My favorite characters in the book are the ones that have the most descriptions: Robbie and Grim. They're witty, sarcastic, loving (in their own ways), and want the best for Meghan, even if that means making tough choices to help her grow.
This book definitely appeals to a younger audience (duh, it's YA fantasy about a newly 16-year-old) but it's still fun to read as an adult. I picked it up on a Sunday afternoon and flew through it in one sitting. It doesn't take a huge amount of brain power or focus to enjoy!
I look forward to finally moving forward and finishing the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Torture, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Toxic friendship