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A review by becs_l
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
3.0
A little disappointed especially after all the good reviews this book was getting.
The Iron King uses a lot characters and settings from A Midsummer Night’s Dream as we get to meet characters such as Puck, Titania and Oberon. Not being a Shakespeare expert (or fan actually), I don't know much about this particular play and I'm still none the wiser. It was not that this book didn't tell me the story, and I didn't expect it too, but I still don't know that much about these characters.
The main thing that bought this book down was, to be blunt, it was flat which made it cheesy. The characters were very 2D with not enough background or personality to flesh them out. This especially was the case for Meghan, the lead character. I want to be on the same level as the lead, especially a female one, where I feel as though I can slip right into their shoes. However by the end of this book, if Meghan dies, to be honest, I really couldn't care less. She didn't feel human enough. Ok ... she is half fey but that doesn't make any difference. Even leading aliens need a helping of some human traits unless they are a really tragic character. Meghan accepts things too quickly, jumps in too recklessly and because we never really get inside her head you are left running to keep up ... shouting WHY?
This is the same for both Puck and Ash. I didn't really care. Ho hum... he's hurt ...that's nice.
The relationship between Ash and Meghan... what relationship? Ok there are a few one liners *emphasis on the one line* that Meghan likes Ash in more that "let's just be friends". But, I repeat, I don't know anything about this guy and nor, by the sounds of it, does Meghan. She seems to fall in love with his looks which I don't like. Yes they have to be good looking but personality is so much more important. AND THE NEXT YOU KNOW THEIR KISSING AND SAYING THEY ARE GOING TO WORK THINGS OUT!! I’ll calm down. If Meghan did see more in him than just looks then maybe it would be nice for her to explain it a little. This book is first person after all.
Sorry but to use an example say like in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead *minor spoiler for those who have not read it*. Rose and Dimitri didn't get to the stage of "trying to work things out" until near the end of book 3. We knew both of the characters by the end of book 1 and this scene really makes you mutter "about time" with utter joy. In The Iron King, I didn't not feel that; it was too soon.
Plot is very important as well but without good characters there is not much point. I kind of liked the story, even if it wasn't very original. Yes it is hard these days so I'm not going to criticize. I can see that Kagawa wanted to have a fast paced action packed story and congratulations she seriously managed to pull it off. One of the main reasons that I didn't throw the book down due to annoying lead was because none of the scenes got excessively dull. However this fast pace was too fast which left no room for characterisation which leads back to point one.
The best part of the book was the setting and the fey. The Nevernever (not sure about the name but now I'm just being picky) is the sort of place I look for in a fantasy. I also like the concept of the Iron Fey which was definitely new to me. No interest in the characters but the concept was really good; as was the politics between the Seelie and Unseelie courts (I don't know how far that was developed in Midsummer night's dream).
This book had potential but it fell short because of the characters. The story was good, although maybe a few too many diversions in places, and the setting and the word were great. If this book was slightly longer or, if possible split into two books as more debuts need to be about 300 or so pages, it could be a lot better as it gives more time for the author to pad it out. I'm aware it is her debut but I'm afraid, for me, that's not an excuse as I have read amazing debuts where I fall in love with the characters.
The story has intrigued me so I will be carrying on with the series hoping that Julie Kagawa will improve her writing as she writes more but for now we'll just have to wait and see.
The Iron King uses a lot characters and settings from A Midsummer Night’s Dream as we get to meet characters such as Puck, Titania and Oberon. Not being a Shakespeare expert (or fan actually), I don't know much about this particular play and I'm still none the wiser. It was not that this book didn't tell me the story, and I didn't expect it too, but I still don't know that much about these characters.
The main thing that bought this book down was, to be blunt, it was flat which made it cheesy. The characters were very 2D with not enough background or personality to flesh them out. This especially was the case for Meghan, the lead character. I want to be on the same level as the lead, especially a female one, where I feel as though I can slip right into their shoes. However by the end of this book, if Meghan dies, to be honest, I really couldn't care less. She didn't feel human enough. Ok ... she is half fey but that doesn't make any difference. Even leading aliens need a helping of some human traits unless they are a really tragic character. Meghan accepts things too quickly, jumps in too recklessly and because we never really get inside her head you are left running to keep up ... shouting WHY?
This is the same for both Puck and Ash. I didn't really care. Ho hum... he's hurt ...that's nice.
The relationship between Ash and Meghan... what relationship? Ok there are a few one liners *emphasis on the one line* that Meghan likes Ash in more that "let's just be friends". But, I repeat, I don't know anything about this guy and nor, by the sounds of it, does Meghan. She seems to fall in love with his looks which I don't like. Yes they have to be good looking but personality is so much more important. AND THE NEXT YOU KNOW THEIR KISSING AND SAYING THEY ARE GOING TO WORK THINGS OUT!! I’ll calm down. If Meghan did see more in him than just looks then maybe it would be nice for her to explain it a little. This book is first person after all.
Sorry but to use an example say like in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead *minor spoiler for those who have not read it*. Rose and Dimitri didn't get to the stage of "trying to work things out" until near the end of book 3. We knew both of the characters by the end of book 1 and this scene really makes you mutter "about time" with utter joy. In The Iron King, I didn't not feel that; it was too soon.
Plot is very important as well but without good characters there is not much point. I kind of liked the story, even if it wasn't very original. Yes it is hard these days so I'm not going to criticize. I can see that Kagawa wanted to have a fast paced action packed story and congratulations she seriously managed to pull it off. One of the main reasons that I didn't throw the book down due to annoying lead was because none of the scenes got excessively dull. However this fast pace was too fast which left no room for characterisation which leads back to point one.
The best part of the book was the setting and the fey. The Nevernever (not sure about the name but now I'm just being picky) is the sort of place I look for in a fantasy. I also like the concept of the Iron Fey which was definitely new to me. No interest in the characters but the concept was really good; as was the politics between the Seelie and Unseelie courts (I don't know how far that was developed in Midsummer night's dream).
This book had potential but it fell short because of the characters. The story was good, although maybe a few too many diversions in places, and the setting and the word were great. If this book was slightly longer or, if possible split into two books as more debuts need to be about 300 or so pages, it could be a lot better as it gives more time for the author to pad it out. I'm aware it is her debut but I'm afraid, for me, that's not an excuse as I have read amazing debuts where I fall in love with the characters.
The story has intrigued me so I will be carrying on with the series hoping that Julie Kagawa will improve her writing as she writes more but for now we'll just have to wait and see.