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samrushingbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Every time I find an author or series I love, I start the latest book with the thought that I will restrain myself and read a little at a time so I can savor the book. With Iron Kin, much like numerous other books, I couldn't help but devour it as quickly as possible. I wanted to knoww more about Fen and Saskia, and all of the issues between the four races of this world. I was not at all disappointed...at least not I until I finished the book and realized I would have to wait almost a year for the next book, Fire Kin, which I think will be about Liam and-I'm sort of hoping-Bryony. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. M.J. Scott needs to write faster, lol. I need more of her books.
fishgirl182's review against another edition
3.0
Full review to come....
This one is probably actually closer to a 3.5 star read for me. I really liked Fen and Saskia's relationship but am marking this slightly lower than the other two books in the series only because I thought that the ending was somewhat abrupt and, while not really a cliffhanger, still left a lot unresolved. Fen and Saskia also got a little shortchanged I think near the end as Half-Light City politics took center stage and their relationship got pushed to the side. I understand why that happened but I think they deserved a few more pages for their story. I do have a feeling that we'll get a little more of them in the next book but the ending did leave me feeling a little unsatisfied. Overall though I really enjoyed this book. The events of the previous two novels come to a head in Iron Kin the events that take place will change the landscape of the Half-Light world.
Full of drama, intrigue and romance, Iron Kin is an action packed book that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The Half-Light City balances on a precipice and the next battle determine whether it falls into light or darkness. I think it's Bryony's story as well, which I am pretty excited about.
Fun, fun series!
This one is probably actually closer to a 3.5 star read for me. I really liked Fen and Saskia's relationship but am marking this slightly lower than the other two books in the series only because I thought that the ending was somewhat abrupt and, while not really a cliffhanger, still left a lot unresolved. Fen and Saskia also got a little shortchanged I think near the end as Half-Light City politics took center stage and their relationship got pushed to the side. I understand why that happened but I think they deserved a few more pages for their story. I do have a feeling that we'll get a little more of them in the next book but the ending did leave me feeling a little unsatisfied. Overall though I really enjoyed this book. The events of the previous two novels come to a head in Iron Kin the events that take place will change the landscape of the Half-Light world.
Full of drama, intrigue and romance, Iron Kin is an action packed book that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The Half-Light City balances on a precipice and the next battle determine whether it falls into light or darkness. I think it's Bryony's story as well, which I am pretty excited about.
Fun, fun series!
nakedsushi's review against another edition
2.0
I'm done with this series. It's not plausible that someone who could see the future would act so stupidly and others around him, who know he can see the future, don't want to believe him. The romance was also average and nothing new. I thought the politics surrounding the city and the different paranormal races would interest me more, but not that much happened around those issues and only leads up to what I think will be covered in the next book.
essjaye's review against another edition
2.0
I bought this book in an airport (as I always need a book when I get on a plane) and I didn't realise until I started reading that there were books in this series that probably should have been read first. For that reason, I was ready to give my critique of this book a bit of leeway, but Scott gave enough information about the world and previous characters throughout that that wasn't a problem.
What was a problem were a few main things that simply cannot be ignored:
1 - I felt ZERO chemistry between the hero and heroine. And what a shame because I enjoyed their characters as individuals, I really did, but aside from the moment they met where there was an obvious attraction on both sides I never felt their attraction for each other again. The author did a lot of telling the reader from either characters point of view that they liked or were attracted or whatever to the other, but not nearly enough showing to make me feel it and believe it. Additionally what brings them together - - makes their motives and feelings for each other completely unclear... I don't think we really ever hear them say/think about why else they want each other. That was a major let down as their romance was a big part of the book and it just fell really flat no matter how much I liked Fen and Saskia.
Speaking of liking Saskia - there was not enough SHOWN about her character - she's a damn metal mage, how badass is that?! Yet we only get a brief look into her life at her craft, and few odd moments (though fairly good ones) of her setting things on fire or whatnot, and usually just to prove herself to someone. Otherwise it's just a lot of her sensing metals, which, I'm sorry, is rather boring considering what a metal mage is capable of. She talks a lot about wanting to learn from the Fae metal mages so I assumed we'd get to see that at some point but we don't. I would have liked to have seen Saskia's skills on display more and to have been shown her craft to a larger extent... there was just so much potential to have not gotten more.
2. The Reggie character. Perhaps this is minor, and I don't know how this character was handled in the previous books (because it's implied she was around for a long while before this book takes place). But I found the use of this character infuriating. She is the epitome of a damsel in distress (which apparently was a plot point for Holly's book as well), it's almost like all the characters revolve around this world simply to keep this one character from peril... it's confusing, it's annoying, and frankly it seemed more often that Fen was in love with Reggie instead of Saskia even though their relationship was described as like siblings. It was just bad.
3. The 'villain'. I guess this may be another case of telling instead of showing, but the big bad of this story - - is built up to be this horrifying person (well, vampire) but it's all told without us experiencing any evidence which makes him a lot less terrifying to the reader and makes the stakes feel a lot lower (or even non existent) compared to what the author is trying to get us to feel. We were taken into the Blood hub of horror - why weren't we shown anything the characters talk about? We get told all these rumours throughout the book, and for what? In most fantasy stories, the plot and/or heroes are only as good as their villains... this villain had plenty of potential but landed well below the mark.
4. Potential never comes to fruition in this book. There are a variety of plot points that are framed in an interesting way and built up at length like something really incredible is going to happen so hold on to your seat.... and then nothing. I think my key word for describing this book is "flat" - the romance falls flat, the action points fall flat, even the intrigue of the over-arching political plot falls freaking flat. The book ends and it feels like you've read all these pages and nothing's actually happened. I had to remind myself that there were actual plot points since they were so easily faded out by nothing ever reaching the point of excitement we seemed promised, and even those things fall flat because you don't feel any different at the end of book.
I'm really disappointed in this book, and I'm always sorry to give a book such a low rating... maybe the first two books were better. The author did some decent world building and DESIGNED characters that, in theory, are interesting and dynamic, but there's a serious case of telling and not showing in this book that just makes it impossible to sink into. The Veiled Queen for instance - she was set up to be this awesomely terrifying character and I loved the image of her that Scott put in my mind, but we don't actually experience anything awesome and terrifying from her, we're really only told by other characters how awesome and terrifying she is. She's also a great example of there not being nearly enough follow-through on the action/dramatic parts of the story... if she has so much power and she's so well-feared than there should have been some sort of magical storm of fury when her veils went black, but there was just a resounding nothing. There's way too much exposition, I felt like I spent most of my time reading about a group of people sitting in a room talking about the world around tham and the troubles they face and barely getting to experience the world that seemed truly interesting. Flat.
What was a problem were a few main things that simply cannot be ignored:
1 - I felt ZERO chemistry between the hero and heroine. And what a shame because I enjoyed their characters as individuals, I really did, but aside from the moment they met where there was an obvious attraction on both sides I never felt their attraction for each other again. The author did a lot of telling the reader from either characters point of view that they liked or were attracted or whatever to the other, but not nearly enough showing to make me feel it and believe it. Additionally what brings them together -
Spoiler
Saskia's ability to make Fen's vision and therefore pain awaySpeaking of liking Saskia - there was not enough SHOWN about her character - she's a damn metal mage, how badass is that?! Yet we only get a brief look into her life at her craft, and few odd moments (though fairly good ones) of her setting things on fire or whatnot, and usually just to prove herself to someone. Otherwise it's just a lot of her sensing metals, which, I'm sorry, is rather boring considering what a metal mage is capable of. She talks a lot about wanting to learn from the Fae metal mages so I assumed we'd get to see that at some point but we don't. I would have liked to have seen Saskia's skills on display more and to have been shown her craft to a larger extent... there was just so much potential to have not gotten more.
2. The Reggie character. Perhaps this is minor, and I don't know how this character was handled in the previous books (because it's implied she was around for a long while before this book takes place). But I found the use of this character infuriating. She is the epitome of a damsel in distress (which apparently was a plot point for Holly's book as well), it's almost like all the characters revolve around this world simply to keep this one character from peril... it's confusing, it's annoying, and frankly it seemed more often that Fen was in love with Reggie instead of Saskia even though their relationship was described as like siblings. It was just bad.
3. The 'villain'. I guess this may be another case of telling instead of showing, but the big bad of this story -
Spoiler
the new blood lord Ignatius4. Potential never comes to fruition in this book. There are a variety of plot points that are framed in an interesting way and built up at length like something really incredible is going to happen so hold on to your seat.... and then nothing. I think my key word for describing this book is "flat" - the romance falls flat, the action points fall flat, even the intrigue of the over-arching political plot falls freaking flat. The book ends and it feels like you've read all these pages and nothing's actually happened. I had to remind myself that there were actual plot points since they were so easily faded out by nothing ever reaching the point of excitement we seemed promised, and even those things fall flat because you don't feel any different at the end of book.
I'm really disappointed in this book, and I'm always sorry to give a book such a low rating... maybe the first two books were better. The author did some decent world building and DESIGNED characters that, in theory, are interesting and dynamic, but there's a serious case of telling and not showing in this book that just makes it impossible to sink into. The Veiled Queen for instance - she was set up to be this awesomely terrifying character and I loved the image of her that Scott put in my mind, but we don't actually experience anything awesome and terrifying from her, we're really only told by other characters how awesome and terrifying she is. She's also a great example of there not being nearly enough follow-through on the action/dramatic parts of the story... if she has so much power and she's so well-feared than there should have been some sort of magical storm of fury when her veils went black, but there was just a resounding nothing. There's way too much exposition, I felt like I spent most of my time reading about a group of people sitting in a room talking about the world around tham and the troubles they face and barely getting to experience the world that seemed truly interesting. Flat.
rachelini's review against another edition
3.0
It's odd to me - this book, based on the name and the cover, is Saskia's story, but she really didn't have much to do it in. Fen moved the story along, but she was just...there. The end of the book was abrupt, and their relationship felt unresolved, not something unexpected for this genre, except that so far each book has been about a different couple.
book_hoarding_dragon's review against another edition
5.0
Last book, Blood Kin, was good, but I wasn't as impressed with it or liked it as much as the first book Shadow Kin. Not to mention that I had a hard time getting into Blood Kin. However, I didn't have the same problem for Iron Kin. I'm not sure if it was cause of Saskia or Fen (hmmm, Fen. For some reason I kept picturing him with an earring in one ear like some dastardly pirate). Last book, Holly was meh and Guy was all right. I loved Saskia's spunkiness in this book. Plus, a chick who can fashion a dagger out of a candlestick? Awesome.
Another thing that I adored about this book was all the twisty turns in it.
Seriously, I did not expect to see them coming.
The pacing and the events that occur in the book really grip you. I have a bunch of times when it was past midnight and feeling a bit hallucinogenic. But I kept reading on because BAM! Scott hit me with a scene that made me go "WHAT?! I must know what happens next!!!!"
I must also say that I was pleasantly surprised that the resigning of the Treaty occurred within this book. Since sometimes authors will drag something like that out through lots and lots of books (like Kresley Cole... in her Immortals After Dark series, she talks and talks about how the characters are gearing up for The Accession, but it never happens. I grew so fed up with this, I gave up after book 8.).
I am so stoked for Fire Kin! Can't wait, can't wait.
Another thing that I adored about this book was all the twisty turns in it.
Seriously, I did not expect to see them coming.
The pacing and the events that occur in the book really grip you. I have a bunch of times when it was past midnight and feeling a bit hallucinogenic. But I kept reading on because BAM! Scott hit me with a scene that made me go "WHAT?! I must know what happens next!!!!"
I must also say that I was pleasantly surprised that the resigning of the Treaty occurred within this book. Since sometimes authors will drag something like that out through lots and lots of books (like Kresley Cole... in her Immortals After Dark series, she talks and talks about how the characters are gearing up for The Accession, but it never happens. I grew so fed up with this, I gave up after book 8.).
I am so stoked for Fire Kin! Can't wait, can't wait.
shadowmaster13's review
4.0
Not a great resolution for the romance and so the lack of negotiation resolution was also a pain.
Would have been five stars but the HFN ending lost a star.
Just to be clear the HFN annoyed me because the previous two books had more HEA and it's not really clear that Fen and Saskia will be together.
Would have been five stars but the HFN ending lost a star.
Just to be clear the HFN annoyed me because the previous two books had more HEA and it's not really clear that Fen and Saskia will be together.
slc333's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable enough instalment in this series but definitely not my favourite. While I liked Fen I found Saskia a little annoying with her aggressive determination to be involved in the negotiations in order to prove to her brothers she didn't need to be protected. Honestly they weren't that bad. She was training as an iron mage and had nothing to do with governing or protecting the humans of the city - she had no real business there. While I quite like alternating view points in general, unfortunately it didn't work well here as there was no difference in the "voices" of Fen and Saskia. Many times I was reading what I thought was one person's view only to find out ( when they spoke to the person I thought I was reading) then I would have to flip back to the start of the chapter to clarify whether it was Fen or Saskia.
gijanechosen's review against another edition
4.0
Slightly frustrated that my library has none of the other books in this series. Each book is about a different set of characters which helps, yet it is clearly a continuing storyline where I feel like I missed some minor background information and don’t truly get to know the end. The book doesn’t quite end in a cliffhanger, but there it’s obvious there’s still more to happen.
raetheraven's review against another edition
2.0
This one was pretty boring. For one thing, they all seem to be variations of the same story.
One DuCaine sibling meets half-Fae hybrid and they're instantly super attracted to each other. Then they spend the first part of the book fighting that attraction, then they have at it for the next portion of the book, all while denying they feel anything but desire for each other, then they argue and the DuCaine sibling temporarily hates the Fae hybrid, but then they realize they're in love with said hybrid and forgive them, especially when they find out the hybrid had a good reason for whatever grievance they caused. Insert the various names and you get the main story of each book.
Aside from that, nothing really happened until the end and then, well it ended. It was like one long prologue for the next book. The first book is still my favourite in the series.
I didn't really like Saskia, to be honest. I found her annoying kind of childish. I do want to know what happens next though. Despite the repetitiveness of the books, the overarching political plot is interesting and I'm interested to see how the series ends.
Full review:
https://abooknerd13.wordpress.com/2016/07/13/iron-kin-by-m-j-scott-book-review/
Aside from that, nothing really happened until the end and then, well it ended. It was like one long prologue for the next book. The first book is still my favourite in the series.
I didn't really like Saskia, to be honest. I found her annoying kind of childish. I do want to know what happens next though. Despite the repetitiveness of the books, the overarching political plot is interesting and I'm interested to see how the series ends.
Full review:
https://abooknerd13.wordpress.com/2016/07/13/iron-kin-by-m-j-scott-book-review/