The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Synopsis:
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.

My Review:
This book had elements of Alice in Wonderland, Lament, and The Mortal Instruments Series all rolled into one. I enjoyed this book and thought it was entertaining and it provided an escape from reality. Was I completely engrossed putting off everything I should be doing until I finished? No, but I did look forward to picking it up and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens next. I really liked the way the author connected the actions we take in our world and our obsession with technology and how that affects the world of the Fey. I thought it was wonderful imagery when one of the characters was explaining the effects of technology and how human imagination and belief in The Fey keeps them alive and how there are ramifications for how humans think and behave. I enjoyed the twist with modern elements mixed with old themes of nature verses technology. The author did a great job describing the iron world which sounded hauntingly like a landfill of machines and waste along with the summer fey world which I pictured being beautiful and full of life.
While I really enjoyed the book I felt like there were some things missing. I wish there was a little more character development because I don’t think the author gave much insight as to who these characters were. I would like to have a better idea about who Meghan is and I just wanted her to have something unique about her. There were moments when I thought Meghan was too calm for the dangerous situations she was in but she did have some witty internal thoughts and external comments which made her very likeable. I also did not quite buy into the romance and relationship of Meghan and Ash because it felt like they fell for each other way too fast for two people who are suppose to be enemies and do not even know each other. To me it would make more sense for her to have a stronger connection (not necessarily romantic) with Robbie Goodfellow because she knew him much longer. I wish Meghan and Robbie’s history had been fleshed out a bit more. I also struggled when action scenes would come and go in the blink of an eye and my mind is trying to catch up and then we are on to the next moment of danger without any reprieve. There was not quite a steady progression of events, just a jump from one scene to the next.
This is only my 3rd book about faeries I have ever read so I know the place I am coming from is one of little experience with the world of faeries. I will say I am looking forward to the next one and I will be interested to see what happens to Meghan and Ash as well as the rest of the faery creatures.