Review: The Iron King

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 363
Format: Pocket
Published: February 2010

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.

A great adventure

The Iron King is a fantastic fairytale with a lot of originality.

Megan Chase is soon going to be 16 years old. She lives with her mom, her little brother and her stepdad - her real dad disappeared when Megan was only 6. She spends most of her time with Robbie, her nextdoor neightbour. Meghan leads a quiet life, but that is soon going to change. Her littlebrother Ethan tells her oe day that there is a man in the closet, men when Meghan goes to investigate, there is't anybody there. And soon Ethan starts behaving strangely. Meghan must travel to another world, a world she never knew existed.

Julie Kagawa has created a novel and a universe you become totally immersed in. And the sentence that opens the book, makes you curious and you will want to keep on reading:

Ten years ago, on my sixth birthdat, my father disappeared.

There is not long before dramativ events starts to unfold and you will have a hard time putting the book down. Kagawa has created a fairytale - world with goblins, centaurs, fairies, sirens and other mythical creatures. I love her writing style, and you can actually feel how much she enjoys telling and creating stories.

The book is original, with some exceptions:
The door into the fairy world is hidden in the closet. (Did anyone mention Narnia?)
Meghan is soon about to be 16 years old.
( Why is it that writer of teen-novels are so fascinated with the age 16?)
Megan is not like other girls, and dresses casually in worn-out jeans etc
(Why is it that every heroine in teenage books must dislike fashion and dressing up in order to be looked upon as strong and original?)

There is a lot in the story that shows that the auhor have been inspired by other tales. I mentioned Narnia, there is also references to Alice in Woderland. That said, I think Kagawa has created a spellbindig and magical world. I loved the book and was totally absorbed in it.

I love all the characters, especially Puck and Grimalkin - not to forget Ash. This series is one of my new favorites. I can't wait to read the next book.