Review Comparison: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Review Comparison: The Iron King

Review Comparison is a new feature I'm trying out where I am pulling out the pros and cons of the featured book mentioned in my review and other bloggers' reviews. Please let me know how you like this new feature and if you have any suggestions on how to make it better. I'm still playing around with the format.

Click for my original review: 

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa 
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Team: Puck

The following bloggers kindly allowed me to include their reviews in this feature: 

Paranormal Indulgence

Rating: 5 out of 5

Team: Ash

Amaterasu Reads

Rating: 5 out of 5

Team: Ash 

The Bookish Type

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Team: Puck

The Book Vixen

Rating: 3 out of 5

Team: Pash

Brooke's Box of Books

Rating: 3 out of 5

Team: Ash

Please click on the links to read their full reviews!

~Conclusions~ 

Grimalkin was unanimously liked, and all but one mentioned the characters as a strength of the book. World building was another notable strength. The plot was overall liked, but two reviewers noted significant inconsistencies. 

Three reviewers mentioned that they enjoyed the book even though they don’t usually like fairy books. Three reviewers felt the book did not live up to the hype, but they did enjoy it nonetheless. 

 

       

 

 ~Characters~

General:

• Vivid and lifelike personalities (The Bookish Type)
• “They all had at least one attribute that I latched onto” (Brooke’s Box of Books)
• “I’m really attached to the characters” (Paranormal Indulgence) 
• With the exception of Grimalkin, they all felt a tiny bit lacking (Small Review)

Meghan:

• “Ultra-relatable” (Paranormal Indulgence)
• “Surprisingly relatable heroine” (The Bookish Type)
• “Will strike a chord with young adult” and adult readers (The Bookish Type)
• Admirable and refreshing, never whiny (The Bookish Type)
• Refreshing attitude (Brooke’s Box of Books)
• “Likable character who has her priorities in order” (The Book Vixen)
• She grew throughout the story (Amaterasu Reads)
• "I like her, but I don't love her" (Small Review)
• Great narrator, “there wasn’t too much thinking or over-analyzing” (The Book Vixen)
• Nice narrative voice, not overly introspective (Small Review)
• “Her true nature remains mysterious” (The Bookish Type)

  

Ash:

• “Not the typical hero…” (Amaterasu Reads)
• “Makes me want to swoon” (Amaterasu Reads)
• Allure heightened by intrigue (The Bookish Type)
• “Pretty darn hot…” (Brooke’s Box of Books)
• Hot (Small Review)

 Puck:

• “A fun, lovable character” (Amaterasu Reads)
• Entertaining and endearing, entirely lovable (The Bookish Type)
• “…Managed to annoy me and crack me up all at once…adds to his charm” (Paranormal Indulgence)
• “Great sarcastic lines,” snarky (Brooke’s Box of Books)
• Likable, but not as developed as I would have liked (Small Review)

Grimalkin:

• Liked him, humorous (The Book Vixen)
• “The most interesting supporting character I’ve read in a while” (Amaterasu Reads)
• “I absolutely love Grimalkin!” (Amaterasu Reads)
• “Steals the show” (The Bookish Type)
• “[Kagawa] personifies the aloof and condescending attitude of a cat perfectly and hilariously” (The Bookish Type)
• “His sarcasm lightened the mood for me…” (Paranormal Indulgence)
• “I laughed a lot because of him” (Paranormal Indulgence)
• “I adore Grim” (Brooke’s Box of Books)
• He’s the character I wonder about…” (Brook’s Box of Books)
• "If Grimalkin was a human, I'd totally be Team Grimalkin" (Small Review)

  ~Plot & Writing~

• “Swept me away from the moment I turned page one” (Paranormal Indulgence)
• “Sucked me in without me even knowing it” (Brooke’s Box of Books)
• Fascinating (Paranormal Indulgence)
• Engrossing (The Bookish Type)

• “Lacking in some areas and flourished in others” (The Book Vixen)
• A number of inconsistencies (The Book Vixen, with page references for support)
• Some inconsistencies and characters not making sense (Small Review)

• Unique, engaging, “phenomenal” world building (The Book Vixen)
• Great world building, fascinating (Amaterasu Reads)
• Good world building, "I lost myself entirely in her world" (Small Review)
• “Brilliantly created” (The Bookish Type)

• Antagonist is fresh and unique (Amaterasu Reads)
• Thought-provoking (The Bookish Type)
• Never a dull moment (Small Review)
• Fun, light, and jovial (Brooke’s Box of Books)
• A lot going on, but not overwhelming (The Book Vixen)

 ~Romance~

•  “It took some time before I got to see some embracing… [this] added to the appeal of their relationship” (Paranormal Indulgence)
• Romance “develops slowly and tantalizingly” (The Bookish Type)
• Doesn't develop too quickly or monopolize the plot (Small Review)
• Romance is formed fast, but liked that Meghan kept her focus on her mission (Brooke’s Box of Books)
• Romance is cute, but predictable (Brooke’s Box of Books)
• “Even Team Puck fans will find themselves holding their breath…” (The Bookish Type)
• Wish Puck had been given more of a fighting chance (Amaterasu Reads)
• Finds the romance interesting (Amaterasu Reads)

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