The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Release: February 1st, 2010

Pages: 368

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Source: Bought

Summary:

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.

Review: Easily one of the best fantasy novels I've read in months, The Iron King gained me as a fan from the first chapter. Hook, line and sinker - I didn't stand a chance of setting this novel aside.

Meghan Chase is a bit of a computer techie who tends to blend into the scenery - so much so, even her own family tends to forget about her. Despite her "invisibleness," Meghan is a standout character from the beginning. She's funny, she's caring, and yes, she's definitely a teenage girl who's bound to make mistakes (and boy, does she make a few).  Ethan was a sweetie of a little bro, her mother and stepfather were slightly forgettable and annoying, but it's dear old Puck who stands out the most. Fresh and fun, I could have read about Puck for days.

The romance leans more heavily to a certain prince who just might want to kill her (hey, nothing says romance like a near death experience...Oh, wait. That only works when they aren't the one who's trying to kill you. Oops). All joking aside, he's an intriguing character that I sympathized with at times, which is surprising since I usually hate characters like him. These three characters (Puck, Ash, Meghan) manage to get themselves in and out of scrapes easily (or not so easily), but it's the surprising ending that will get reader's hooked on this series.

Perfect for fantasy and fey fans, The Iron King surprises, entertains, and is definitely a must-read story.

Highlights: I didn't think this novel would be my cup of tea, so to speak, but I was dead wrong. Kagawa has such addictive writing and really gave her protagonist Meghan a wonderful voice. She describes the Fae universe perfectly - from the Summer Court to the Winter Court (and another court that proves intriguing when it comes to faeries), and I love how the characters from A Midsummer Night's Dream are present. And Grimalkin - best character ever. This book just has it all: fight scenes, a bit of romance, friendship, stolen little brothers, and more! Don't miss out! 

Lowlights: I thought Ash was a bit cliché (brooding, handsome boy that has to kill/kidnap you, et cetera) when it comes to the bad guys, and there were quite a few moments that seemed to be repeated throughout the story.

Rating:  

And oh yeah...Team Puck!

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Release: February 15th, 2011

Pages: 336

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: Publisher

Summary:

Brooke: I don't like Kathryn Pease. I could pretend everything's fine between us. I could be nice to her face, then trash her behind her back. But I think it's better to be honest. I don't like Kathryn, and I'm not afraid to admit it. 

Kathryn: I saw a commercial where singers used their voices to shatter glass, but the whole thing is pretty much a myth. The human voice isn't that strong.

Human hatred is. Anybody who doubts that should feel the hate waves coming off of Brooke Dempsey. But I don't shatter; I'm not made of glass. Anyway, the parts that break aren't on the outside.

Brooke and Kathryn used to be best friends . . . until the night when Brooke ruthlessly turned on Kathryn in front of everyone. Suddenly Kathryn was an outcast and Brooke was Queen B. Now, as they prepare to face off one last time, each girl must come to terms with the fact that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had.   

Review: Oh, how I love a good bitter rivalry - and Wealer serves one up with all the right elements. 

Narrated in alternating chapters by shy, quiet Kathryn and Queen B Brooke, the story works its way through senior year along with junior year flashbacks. The transition between past and present worked wonderfully and flawlessly, and gave both girls more depth. They're both gearing up for a big musical competition, and they know it's going to come down to the two of them. The real reason for the rivalry between them is slowly revealed, and while it may have been blown out of proportion, it does have a bit of substance behind it. 

The musical aspect was one of my favorite parts even though I know nothing about the type of music they listen to. But somehow, it was easy to still enjoy that part of Brooke and Kathryn. The fact that these two girls had a hobby they loved so much made them all the more real, because let's face it, we all have one thing we're obsessed with  (hello, my book obsession).

Even through the pranks and mean-girl antics, Rival is strangely heartwarming to read and an easy novel to simply love and enjoy. This novel is truly written perfectly to convey two unique girls and the things that keep them battling against each other. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a great contemporary story, especially one revolving around friendship. 

Highlights: Wealer skillfully manages to make both characters easy to like, and manages to stay true to what it's like to be in high school and how complex relationships/friendships can be at that age. I found myself enjoying Brooke's character more than Kathryn's, despite some of the cruel things Brooke has done to her. All of the characters have layers to their personalities, and none of them are perfect. Rival's narrator's both have done and continue do things that aren't right, but that's what makes them human. Even the dialog is wonderfully spot-on. 

Lowlights: I disliked some choices the characters made, but those bad choices made them more complex and real, so I can't really call that a "lowlight". 

Rating:   

Signed Bookmark Giveaway!

I've got a few signed Sweet Venom bookmarks to give away thanks to the wonderful Tera Lynn Childs (I totally should have started this contest weeks ago...oops). To enter, simply fill out the form below:

PS: Many apologies for the blog being a bit non-existent regarding posts...School is eating up more of my time than I thought it would! But I'll have plenty of posts going up soon :)