Scan barcode
sibley's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
paratuna's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
jezzebelljc's review against another edition
4.0
21st-Century Fey World Telling Both Cold and Amusing
The imagery in this book is simply stunning. When you are supposed to have goosebumps and be chilled to the bone, you most certainly are. When you are meant to feel wonder and imaginative, you do. When you are introduced to the character that takes Meghan's breath away with his beauty and coldness, yours is taken as well. The characters are charming and easy to become favorites, even the bad ones. Not only that, but there is already some serious character development in the first book as Meghan starts out being an exceptionally naive and almost annoying character and grows fittingly throughout the book.
The Bad
In the beginning, I thought this was going to be a horror story or thriller instead of more a Paranormal read due to the content and became grateful when about 20% in it became more the genre I was looking for. This is just personal preference though as I do not tend to read books on purpose that will make me sad or scare me. Also, being a mother myself, I found parts of it unbelievable as to how Meghan's mother would behave.
The Romance
I have to say that you can tell Puck, Meghan's best friend, is seriously in love with her. So we definitely will have a triangle of sorts. The other love interest introduced is Ash who is the Winter Prince and is described well enough that you know she has some serious infatuation for him. He, on the other hand, is elusive and out-of-bounds.
Conclusion
The plot line was really compelling and makes you say, "Ah ha, yes that makes sense". I would definitely recommend it for anyone that reads Paranormal and Fantasy.
The imagery in this book is simply stunning. When you are supposed to have goosebumps and be chilled to the bone, you most certainly are. When you are meant to feel wonder and imaginative, you do. When you are introduced to the character that takes Meghan's breath away with his beauty and coldness, yours is taken as well. The characters are charming and easy to become favorites, even the bad ones. Not only that, but there is already some serious character development in the first book as Meghan starts out being an exceptionally naive and almost annoying character and grows fittingly throughout the book.
The Bad
In the beginning, I thought this was going to be a horror story or thriller instead of more a Paranormal read due to the content and became grateful when about 20% in it became more the genre I was looking for. This is just personal preference though as I do not tend to read books on purpose that will make me sad or scare me. Also, being a mother myself, I found parts of it unbelievable as to how Meghan's mother would behave.
The Romance
I have to say that you can tell Puck, Meghan's best friend, is seriously in love with her. So we definitely will have a triangle of sorts. The other love interest introduced is Ash who is the Winter Prince and is described well enough that you know she has some serious infatuation for him. He, on the other hand, is elusive and out-of-bounds.
Conclusion
The plot line was really compelling and makes you say, "Ah ha, yes that makes sense". I would definitely recommend it for anyone that reads Paranormal and Fantasy.
the_bookish_nurse's review against another edition
adventurous
2.0
Although I liked the books, the Manga leaves a lot of information out and, I believe, it would be hard for someone to read without the knowledge the full book gives you.
govmarley's review against another edition
3.0
Fae. Teen angst. Magical creatures. And a love triangle. Typical YA fantasy series, and pretty ok.
munderoon's review against another edition
3.0
Gosh, I just wrote one big hell of a review and it vanished into thin air -_- Not going to do that again, so here's the short cut:
If it wasn't for the end, the book wouldn't have made it up to three stars. This one clearly was the introduction book, full of information and less plot. At some point, I couldn't enjoy new fey-thingys as much as I did before, which was sad. But the rats, those little helping hands of the "real" Iron King, were the best example for me, that I did enjoy some of those inventions in the book. For me, there were simply too much.
The one thing that kept me going was Puck. Never been so obsessed with a less important character. In the end, he was gone - again! - and what kept me reading then was Ash's (sudden) transformation.
I already heard the rumour, that he's going to be different in time and when it came to that point, it was like a big sign, reading "I'M DIFFERENT FROM NOW ON!" Until that moment, I didn't like Ash. I think, mainly because the author already knew, that Ash wasn't as bad as he acted, but somehow he had to seem bad. And I think/know that things like that are hard to write. So that moment, after slashing this weird dragon, you can literally see that border between "Playing cold-hearted bastard" and "Who's the handsome Winter Prince?". The one thing that was strange about that was their conversation, heavy with meanings and problems, such as "What should we tell the courts?" ... I was confused, first. Because, hey. Two pages ago, you weren't even looking at each other closely and now your tragic romance is dangerous for the two courts of yours? Oo Come on!
But enough with the negative things in this book - i'm gonna stop right here, before it comes down to Meghan, because finding something positive about her would mean to wait until the very last pages of the first book - and hello positive things!
So, although Ash's character development was weird at first, I did like him in the end. It feels like, his emotions are real, his feelings for Meghan, but on the other side, he is a prince of the Wintercourt and he knows his duty. Since the moment he told a little bit more about his past, I can understand Ash, being all silent, much better.
As I already mentioned: Robin Goodfellow is my hero. He surely made the book much more enjoyable and I miss him. (Thats one argument for keep on going with the series).
I loved the end. From the moment they killed Machina, I loved the mood and the decisions and the scenes. Was close to perfect, that particular bit. I already started with the second book and I could still make a ton of comments on every word, Meghan says, but it feels more like a book that invites on journeys, than learning the fey's different rules, courts and creatures.
All in all this book did strange things to me: Falling for the guy, who gets friendzoned over and over again. Watching character developments very closely. Not liking the main character until the end. And cheering for the bad guys. I mean it! Machina, for example, was a character, which felt more dangerous and sharp and well written than Meghan and Ash at that particular moment. Somehow I'm kinda sad, that he had to die! He was scary, but perfect.
Which leaves me to my final question: Did anyone else had Queen Mab from the Merlin movies with Sam Neill in mind, evertime it came down to her? :D
If it wasn't for the end, the book wouldn't have made it up to three stars. This one clearly was the introduction book, full of information and less plot. At some point, I couldn't enjoy new fey-thingys as much as I did before, which was sad. But the rats, those little helping hands of the "real" Iron King, were the best example for me, that I did enjoy some of those inventions in the book. For me, there were simply too much.
The one thing that kept me going was Puck. Never been so obsessed with a less important character. In the end, he was gone - again! - and what kept me reading then was Ash's (sudden) transformation.
I already heard the rumour, that he's going to be different in time and when it came to that point, it was like a big sign, reading "I'M DIFFERENT FROM NOW ON!" Until that moment, I didn't like Ash. I think, mainly because the author already knew, that Ash wasn't as bad as he acted, but somehow he had to seem bad. And I think/know that things like that are hard to write. So that moment, after slashing this weird dragon, you can literally see that border between "Playing cold-hearted bastard" and "Who's the handsome Winter Prince?". The one thing that was strange about that was their conversation, heavy with meanings and problems, such as "What should we tell the courts?" ... I was confused, first. Because, hey. Two pages ago, you weren't even looking at each other closely and now your tragic romance is dangerous for the two courts of yours? Oo Come on!
But enough with the negative things in this book - i'm gonna stop right here, before it comes down to Meghan, because finding something positive about her would mean to wait until the very last pages of the first book - and hello positive things!
So, although Ash's character development was weird at first, I did like him in the end. It feels like, his emotions are real, his feelings for Meghan, but on the other side, he is a prince of the Wintercourt and he knows his duty. Since the moment he told a little bit more about his past, I can understand Ash, being all silent, much better.
As I already mentioned: Robin Goodfellow is my hero. He surely made the book much more enjoyable and I miss him. (Thats one argument for keep on going with the series).
I loved the end. From the moment they killed Machina, I loved the mood and the decisions and the scenes. Was close to perfect, that particular bit. I already started with the second book and I could still make a ton of comments on every word, Meghan says, but it feels more like a book that invites on journeys, than learning the fey's different rules, courts and creatures.
All in all this book did strange things to me: Falling for the guy, who gets friendzoned over and over again. Watching character developments very closely. Not liking the main character until the end. And cheering for the bad guys. I mean it! Machina, for example, was a character, which felt more dangerous and sharp and well written than Meghan and Ash at that particular moment. Somehow I'm kinda sad, that he had to die! He was scary, but perfect.
Which leaves me to my final question: Did anyone else had Queen Mab from the Merlin movies with Sam Neill in mind, evertime it came down to her? :D
nytxia's review
3.0
I have purchased this exclusively because I enjoyed the book but I was disappointed.
I am giving three stars for the artwork. I thought this was incredibly short and fast paced. It's interesting for those who have read the book as you can see the characters come to 'life'. But if I have to be honest, if I haven't read the book before, this on its own would not pique my interest (so I am happy I read the book first).
Also, dividing the first book in several parts for the manga was a bad move and I won't be buying the next one (I will stick to the books!)
I am giving three stars for the artwork. I thought this was incredibly short and fast paced. It's interesting for those who have read the book as you can see the characters come to 'life'. But if I have to be honest, if I haven't read the book before, this on its own would not pique my interest (so I am happy I read the book first).
Also, dividing the first book in several parts for the manga was a bad move and I won't be buying the next one (I will stick to the books!)
clonazine's review against another edition
Lo leí hace un par de años y mucho no me había gustado pero como estoy con la temática de hadas quise escuchar el audiolibro. Me gustó mucho la narradora sólo por ella le puse un poco más de onda y escuché 4 horas pero UN EMBOLE la historia. No me convenció el world building ni el romance eso de hacer que los dos intereses amorosos sean criaturas más viejas que la escarapela cuando ella sólo tiene 16. Mmm no gracias se me hace raro