1.5 Stars: An Okay Read
Series: The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1
Paperback: 379 Pages
Publication: October 23, 2012 by Halequin Teen
Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.
That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.
Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.
After The Iron Knight and The Immortal Rules, I was really hoping to like this book. Okay, I’d really liked seeing things from Ash’s perspective in the last book, and I might have wondered how hot Ethan was going to grow up to be. However, this book really felt like one big fan service. I cringe to use this phrase, but the story embodies all these plot devices that I’m seeing as a recurring pattern in with YA books recently and am not really liking.
The Lost Prince is one big romanticized adventure. The guys are hot and kickass in a fight while the girls are helpless, always needing to be protected in a fight. Yes, they stand up for themselves at times, but mostly they give comfort to the guys and aren’t much help in a fight. I like feeling independent, but I concede that I would totally dig a guy who stands up for me in a time of danger. The characters also fall into grave danger, but things happen at convenient times to help them get out of danger. While I love books where all the odds are against the characters, I need to be convinced that what happens really could happen even if it wouldn’t be plausible in the real world. I didn’t feel convinced here.
Ethan is no longer the little boy that I fell in love with (in a protective, big sister kind of way). He’s grown up to be a big broken boy, convinced that his sister abandoned him and the rest of her human family and that the fae are out to get them. We know from the first series that Meghan didn’t want to leave her family behind–she only did that to protect them and because she also had duties to her people, being a Queen. However, Ethan doesn’t know that, and he’s grown up scared and unable to trust anybody. Nevertheless, while I can understand why he feels the way he does, I just couldn’t empathize with him, which may have to do with the writing style. Ethan’s thought processes aren’t fully developed, and it didn’t let me get to know him as well as I could have.
While this book wasn’t quite for me, I am still interested in seeing where the story takes us. I enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new characters, including one that was somewhat introduced in The Iron Knight but we don’t really get to meet until this book. And Grimalkin… he’s still as catty as ever. I just adore him. This book also introduces a new enemy, one whose full intents still remain shadowed. I’m looking forward to finding out more about them.
An ARC was provided by HarlequinTEEN for review.
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Review of The Iron Knight (The Iron Fey #4)
Author: Crystal
A story girl at heart, Crystal is a bibliophile who can easily spend the day immersed in a good read. She writes under the name Kristy Wang. You can follow her writing adventures on X and Instagram @_kristywang.
Taylor McBroom says
I really liked the other books in the series, and I've been intrigued with this one, but I can't say I've been dying to read it. When I first heard about it I was actually kind of surprised Kagawa decided to continue the series. I don't know how I would feel about reading from Ethan's POV if he's not very developed. Great review!
Natalie Aguirre says
I've been excited to read this, but now I'm not so sure. It's on my wish list at the library and I'll see what I think when I get a little time. Thanks for the review.
Crystal says
I really wanted to like this as well. Let me know what you think about it!
Rachael-Madison ^__^ says
I completely agree with you about the girls – I didn't quite understand why Mackenzie insisted on coming with Ethan to fight every time when she couldn't fight herself & always had to be rescued >__< Did you enjoy THE IRON FEY series though? I'm thinking of picking up THE IRON KING since I loved Puck & Ash ^__^
Anyways, great review Kris!
Rachael@Moosubi!
Crystal says
I agree with you. Kenzie can't fight and only ends up putting Ethan in danger to protect her. And Kiernan's girl does the same. It's really hard to like the girls in this book.
If you love Puck and Ash, you'll love The Iron Knight. The Iron King isn't bad either (introduces these characters), but it isn't my favorite. I didn't like the other two books in the series.