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Dark Swan #3
Iron Crowned
An embattled mystically entwined with our own,
the Otherworld is at the mercy of one woman...
Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham is the best at banishing entities trespassing in the mortal realm. But as the Thorn Land’s queen, she’s fast running out of ways to end the brutal war devastating her kingdom. Her only hope: the Iron Crown, a legendary object even the most powerful gentry fear…
Who Eugenie can trust is the hardest part. Fairy king Dorian has his own agenda for aiding her search. And Kiyo, her shape-shifter ex-boyfriend, has every reason to betray her along the way. To control the Crown’s ever-consuming powers, Eugenie will have to confront an unimaginable temptation--one that will put her soul and the fate of two worlds in mortal peril…
the Otherworld is at the mercy of one woman...
Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham is the best at banishing entities trespassing in the mortal realm. But as the Thorn Land’s queen, she’s fast running out of ways to end the brutal war devastating her kingdom. Her only hope: the Iron Crown, a legendary object even the most powerful gentry fear…
Who Eugenie can trust is the hardest part. Fairy king Dorian has his own agenda for aiding her search. And Kiyo, her shape-shifter ex-boyfriend, has every reason to betray her along the way. To control the Crown’s ever-consuming powers, Eugenie will have to confront an unimaginable temptation--one that will put her soul and the fate of two worlds in mortal peril…
378 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
175 people are currently reading
10474 people want to read
About the author
Richelle Mead
105 books69.3k followersScorpio Richelle Mead is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington where she works on her three series full-time: Georgina Kincaid, Dark Swan, and Vampire Academy.
A life-long reader, Richelle has always loved mythology and folklore. When she can actually tear herself away from books (either reading or writing them), she enjoys bad reality TV, traveling, trying interesting cocktails, and shopping for dresses. She's a self-professed coffee addict and has a passion for all things wacky and humorous.
A life-long reader, Richelle has always loved mythology and folklore. When she can actually tear herself away from books (either reading or writing them), she enjoys bad reality TV, traveling, trying interesting cocktails, and shopping for dresses. She's a self-professed coffee addict and has a passion for all things wacky and humorous.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,014 reviews
June 11, 2020
EDIT (June 2020): I just want a book focusing on Dorian and Eugenie from start to finish. Am I really asking that much?
I have to say that my opinion or feelings on this book did not change.
I still hate Kiyo (from the first moment in book one).
I still want more of Dorian.
I still want to shake Eugenie to finally wake up! I mean no matter what Dorian does, she makes it the biggest betrayal ever and when Kiyo she's totally shocked and hurt. Where's the rage? She's just surprised Pikachu.
I mean Kiyo was always a bad boyfriend, and for some reason, Eugenie always tried to find some stupid excuses. In the name of "being human".
"I see. It's your turn again."
This sentence still breaks my heart.
EDIT (11/4/2017): Grr! No way! Kill Kiyo! Kill him! I'll start a petition: Kill Kiyo!
I love Richelle Mead. I love her stories. Unfortunately, Eugenie is killing me!
I would love to give 5* to this book. But I cannot because of her.
I love Dorian more and more with every book. She does not deserve him. And why is she still surprise that he has his own agenda?
"I see. It's your turn again."
And at the end, Dorian saves the day again.
I have to say that my opinion or feelings on this book did not change.
I still hate Kiyo (from the first moment in book one).
I still want more of Dorian.
I still want to shake Eugenie to finally wake up! I mean no matter what Dorian does, she makes it the biggest betrayal ever and when Kiyo she's totally shocked and hurt. Where's the rage? She's just surprised Pikachu.
I mean Kiyo was always a bad boyfriend, and for some reason, Eugenie always tried to find some stupid excuses. In the name of "being human".
"I see. It's your turn again."
This sentence still breaks my heart.
EDIT (11/4/2017): Grr! No way! Kill Kiyo! Kill him! I'll start a petition: Kill Kiyo!
I love Richelle Mead. I love her stories. Unfortunately, Eugenie is killing me!
I would love to give 5* to this book. But I cannot because of her.
I love Dorian more and more with every book. She does not deserve him. And why is she still surprise that he has his own agenda?
"I see. It's your turn again."
And at the end, Dorian saves the day again.
June 9, 2023
*Deep breaths Helen, don't throw your Kindle at the wall, don't kill the next person to approach you...*
SPOILERS!
If you saw my review of Thorn Queen you might remember that I hate Kiyo with a fiery passion. Well, that was then.
I still hate him; my passion, however, has been somewhat redirected because now
I hate everyone.
Kiyo: same reasons as before, except now add that he's a homicidal thundercunt willing to force the mother of his children into an abortion.
Eugenie: she is a narrow-minded, unfaithful, reckless, inconsiderate, lying, pretentious cockholster!
Phew.
I feel better now that I got that off my chest.
Dorian: to me there is a difference between -
-a confident, dominant, sexy man who knows what he wants and goes for it and
-a possessive, controlling, manipulative jackass who has no regard for the consequences of his power griping.
Dorian really crossed the line in this book and I don't know if I can ever appreciate him the way I used to.
Roland: he has every right to be angry at Eugenie for keeping secrets. However, I suspect his reservations about her kingdom and magic has less to do with that anger and more to do with anti-gentry prejudice.
Everybody involved in the Iron-Crown-acquisition plot: what the hell were you thinking? Does Eugenie really need/deserve ANOTHER kingdom?!
Notable exceptions, people I don't hate: Tim, Lara, Jasmine, Rurik, Shaya. That's it.
April 27, 2017
*2.75 Stars*
There is a recurring theme in all of Meads books that is starting to make me wonder about her personal life. Could this be wish fulfillment? Or perhaps something that happened to her in her past? For her sake I hope not.
I'm getting the feeling that Mead wants us to hate all her main characters. She has them make idiotic decisions, betray the ones who love them, and do the one thing they should have done in the first place when it's almost too late. They ignore useful advice and instead plow their way through the plot haphazardly, no matter who gets caught in their wake. Eugenie, Georgina, Rose; they're essentially the same person with a few minor tweaks. She makes me want to strangle every single one of them. With Eugenie though, I'm the most disappointed.
The events of this book directly follow those of Thorn Queen. Eugenie's and Dorian's lands are in a war with Katrice and her Rowan Land. Eugenie is desperately trying to find a way to end the war with the least amount of casualties and destruction. A seeress comes to her one night and tells her if she finds the Iron Crown, then Katrice will be intimidated and give up. Dorian confirms as much, but only Eugenie can go after the Iron Crown since it's, well, made out of iron. Without asking enough questions, Eugenie sets out on her quest with Kiyo tagging along, hoping that this one artifact will be her answer to ending the war.
By this point in the book, I was already wary of what would happen. I saw the next series of events coming a mile away. Eugenie's justification for her actions was disgusting. And it's one of those instances where you say to yourself, "I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed." And that makes it hurt so much more.
I didn't agree with the way Dorian went about sending Eugenie on her quest, but I did agree with the outcome. Was it betrayal though? No, not at all. Sure, Eugenie has the right to be pissed and indignant, but in no way did Dorian act out of character. He has let his ambitions be known since the beginning. He has always been forthcoming about how he feels and what he wants from her. Even Volusian can see that:
It's these passages that give me pause and think, "Mead knows that Eugenie is a blockhead, and her characters know it too, so why does she make her act like this?" I can't for the life of me figure that out.
Dorian was fantastic in this book. He is still my favorite character. Ever. Eugenie doesn't deserve him, but more importantly, Dorian doesn't deserve her. Eugenie likes to piss and moan about how Dorian is always trying to control her and be her "puppet master," but if he wasn't around to steer her in the right direction, she'd drive herself over a cliff, and then blame him. Dorian wonders at her human emotions and why she can't see the right thing that needs to be done, but it's not her human thinking that makes her do stupid things. She's just being stupid.
As for Kiyo: STAB, STAB, STAB.
So, the ghost subplot. What was the point of that? Eugenie doesn't even solve the mystery; she hires someone else to do it instead. The only point was to have the ghost strategically placed in order to overhear something. Now doesn't that sound familiar? How about Georgina's out of body experiences, or Rose listening in on pertinent information while inside Lissa's head? It really makes me angry that Mead continues to use and reuse the same plot devices.
The thing is though; I can't stop reading her books. I love that she makes me feel heartbroken along with her characters. I feel the betrayal, (maybe not with the intended character,) but I feel something nonetheless. I can't say I hate her series just because they make me uncomfortable.
I devour her books. I speed read them because I can't wait to see what happens next. I alternately hate one character and love another, and can't help rooting for them all in the end. Yes, Eugenie is a stupid selfish brat. Yes, the story is a bit contrived and Mead continues to use and abuse the same plot devices and motifs over and over and over again. For whatever reason though, I enjoy reading them. I love the world she's created and I have to see how things end. I'll probably be disappointed in where the stories go and the actions she makes her characters take, but I won't ever regret having read them. Mead's books are my crack, and I'm a dirty dirty addict.
Here is my review of the previous book, Thorn Queen.
There is a recurring theme in all of Meads books that is starting to make me wonder about her personal life. Could this be wish fulfillment? Or perhaps something that happened to her in her past? For her sake I hope not.
I'm getting the feeling that Mead wants us to hate all her main characters. She has them make idiotic decisions, betray the ones who love them, and do the one thing they should have done in the first place when it's almost too late. They ignore useful advice and instead plow their way through the plot haphazardly, no matter who gets caught in their wake. Eugenie, Georgina, Rose; they're essentially the same person with a few minor tweaks. She makes me want to strangle every single one of them. With Eugenie though, I'm the most disappointed.
The events of this book directly follow those of Thorn Queen. Eugenie's and Dorian's lands are in a war with Katrice and her Rowan Land. Eugenie is desperately trying to find a way to end the war with the least amount of casualties and destruction. A seeress comes to her one night and tells her if she finds the Iron Crown, then Katrice will be intimidated and give up. Dorian confirms as much, but only Eugenie can go after the Iron Crown since it's, well, made out of iron. Without asking enough questions, Eugenie sets out on her quest with Kiyo tagging along, hoping that this one artifact will be her answer to ending the war.
By this point in the book, I was already wary of what would happen. I saw the next series of events coming a mile away. Eugenie's justification for her actions was disgusting. And it's one of those instances where you say to yourself, "I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed." And that makes it hurt so much more.
I didn't agree with the way Dorian went about sending Eugenie on her quest, but I did agree with the outcome. Was it betrayal though? No, not at all. Sure, Eugenie has the right to be pissed and indignant, but in no way did Dorian act out of character. He has let his ambitions be known since the beginning. He has always been forthcoming about how he feels and what he wants from her. Even Volusian can see that:
"'I told you that long ago, that the Oak King's own agenda will always come first. As will the kitsune's. But, unsurprisingly, my mistress chooses to ignore the only sound advice given to her and instead listens to those who use affection for their own purposes.'" (213)
It's these passages that give me pause and think, "Mead knows that Eugenie is a blockhead, and her characters know it too, so why does she make her act like this?" I can't for the life of me figure that out.
Dorian was fantastic in this book. He is still my favorite character. Ever. Eugenie doesn't deserve him, but more importantly, Dorian doesn't deserve her. Eugenie likes to piss and moan about how Dorian is always trying to control her and be her "puppet master," but if he wasn't around to steer her in the right direction, she'd drive herself over a cliff, and then blame him. Dorian wonders at her human emotions and why she can't see the right thing that needs to be done, but it's not her human thinking that makes her do stupid things. She's just being stupid.
As for Kiyo: STAB, STAB, STAB.
So, the ghost subplot. What was the point of that? Eugenie doesn't even solve the mystery; she hires someone else to do it instead. The only point was to have the ghost strategically placed in order to overhear something. Now doesn't that sound familiar? How about Georgina's out of body experiences, or Rose listening in on pertinent information while inside Lissa's head? It really makes me angry that Mead continues to use and reuse the same plot devices.
The thing is though; I can't stop reading her books. I love that she makes me feel heartbroken along with her characters. I feel the betrayal, (maybe not with the intended character,) but I feel something nonetheless. I can't say I hate her series just because they make me uncomfortable.
I devour her books. I speed read them because I can't wait to see what happens next. I alternately hate one character and love another, and can't help rooting for them all in the end. Yes, Eugenie is a stupid selfish brat. Yes, the story is a bit contrived and Mead continues to use and abuse the same plot devices and motifs over and over and over again. For whatever reason though, I enjoy reading them. I love the world she's created and I have to see how things end. I'll probably be disappointed in where the stories go and the actions she makes her characters take, but I won't ever regret having read them. Mead's books are my crack, and I'm a dirty dirty addict.
Here is my review of the previous book, Thorn Queen.
March 17, 2011
Ugh. Where to begin. I'm not a great reviewer, I don't usually give a synopsis of the story, or break down the book in a nice, rational way. And I don't always leave reviews for books. Often, I feel my star rating says enough. My reviews are usually just based on how the book made me feel. So I tend to leave more reviews for books I loved, and books I greatly disliked.
This one falls into the latter. Ugh. Where to begin? Most anything I rant about will be spoilers, but suffice it to say I am completely disgusted with Richelle Mead. I felt like the last Vampire Academy book was completely lacking, and this book compounded my ire. Her series started out great, but now it's like she's milking her money maker, putting out rubbish to cash in on her current popularity. Three series at one time? A book a year from each one? Truly, when you think about it like that, how can there be any quality to her work?
Anyway, back to Iron Crowned. I was completely exasperated by Eugenie's actions throughout this entire book. It got to the point where, truly, I think I hate her. Every single thing she said or thought made my blood boil. And she does something early on in this book that greatly added to that dislike.
She is selfish. She is immature. She is impulsive. She is a whiner. She goes on and on about how broken up she is about the war, how much it pains her that people are dying because of her. Then she gets in a tricky situation and is so damn impulsive that she's ready to destroy a huge group of people, just to ensure she gets away.
She acts like she doesn't want power, that she never asked for this and just wants her normal, human life back. Then in the next breath she's bragging about how much more powerful she is than everyone else. She's all "Do you know who I AM?" and "I am the Thorn Queen, beware my wrath!" Make up your damn mind.
And don't get me started on her love life. And I use the word "love" very loosely. But Eugenie doesn't. No, she throws the word "love" around everywhere, but it is all telling me--never showing. And no, sex does not equal love. I think someone needs to tell Eugenie that. And Richelle Mead.
It just baffles my mind that an author would write a main character that is so unlikeable.
But then...then... then! I get to the end, only to discover that the thing Eugenie did that aggravated me so, the thing that made me decide I probably hated her...ended up being a flipping PLOT DEVICE. And a very obvious one, at that. Mead writes like a damn paint-by-numbers. I'm done.
I read a review yesterday :waving to Thenia: on Magic Bleeds and it couldn't have been more timely for me. And I think it's comical that the part of her review I liked the most--and totally agree with when it comes to Magic Bleeds and all the Kate Daniels books--is also what made me hate this book.
"People act the way they do for a reason and not because it would help the story move along."
Not in Iron Crowned. This entire book was just one big plot device.
Did I mention I'm done with Mead? Just making sure. :)
ETA: Lest you think I'm a bitter reviewer who regularly doles out 1 star reviews, check this shit out: this is the first 1 star review I've ever given, in almost 500 books. How you like them apples? See, I'm not the bitter crone you thought I was.
I never usually leave 1 star because I feel bad for the author. It's like telling someone their kid is stupid & ugly. But I don't feel bad doing it for this book, because this kid was thrown together with some playdoh and a couple popsicle sticks.
Is it a true 1 star book? No, I would not have finished it if that was the case. But it was a 2 star book--Eugenie is just that unlikeable. But I am fed up. Mead starts a series with one or two good books, then starts cranking out mediocrity, knowing that people will keep buying the sequels, based solely on her earlier efforts. While she sits back and reaps the royalty checks. It's really shitty. Shouldn't an author take a bit of pride in what she puts out?
And now she's pregnant--I'm guessing the baby might take up a bit of her time. So how much time do you think she'll put into future books? Oh, but she finished the Vampire Academy series, so she'll have more time for Georgina & Dark Swan, right? Wrong. Don't forget about the new Vampire Academy spin off series--that 1st book comes out in August.
Check this out--from December 2010 to August 2011, Mead has 4 books being released--VA #6, Dark Swan #3, Bloodlines #1, and Georgina #6. Four full length books, in four different series, in less than 9 months????? How, in all that is good & holy, can someone put out any kind of quality it that time frame?
This one falls into the latter. Ugh. Where to begin? Most anything I rant about will be spoilers, but suffice it to say I am completely disgusted with Richelle Mead. I felt like the last Vampire Academy book was completely lacking, and this book compounded my ire. Her series started out great, but now it's like she's milking her money maker, putting out rubbish to cash in on her current popularity. Three series at one time? A book a year from each one? Truly, when you think about it like that, how can there be any quality to her work?
Anyway, back to Iron Crowned. I was completely exasperated by Eugenie's actions throughout this entire book. It got to the point where, truly, I think I hate her. Every single thing she said or thought made my blood boil. And she does something early on in this book that greatly added to that dislike.
She is selfish. She is immature. She is impulsive. She is a whiner. She goes on and on about how broken up she is about the war, how much it pains her that people are dying because of her. Then she gets in a tricky situation and is so damn impulsive that she's ready to destroy a huge group of people, just to ensure she gets away.
She acts like she doesn't want power, that she never asked for this and just wants her normal, human life back. Then in the next breath she's bragging about how much more powerful she is than everyone else. She's all "Do you know who I AM?" and "I am the Thorn Queen, beware my wrath!" Make up your damn mind.
And don't get me started on her love life. And I use the word "love" very loosely. But Eugenie doesn't. No, she throws the word "love" around everywhere, but it is all telling me--never showing. And no, sex does not equal love. I think someone needs to tell Eugenie that. And Richelle Mead.
It just baffles my mind that an author would write a main character that is so unlikeable.
But then...then... then! I get to the end, only to discover that the thing Eugenie did that aggravated me so, the thing that made me decide I probably hated her...ended up being a flipping PLOT DEVICE. And a very obvious one, at that. Mead writes like a damn paint-by-numbers. I'm done.
I read a review yesterday :waving to Thenia: on Magic Bleeds and it couldn't have been more timely for me. And I think it's comical that the part of her review I liked the most--and totally agree with when it comes to Magic Bleeds and all the Kate Daniels books--is also what made me hate this book.
"People act the way they do for a reason and not because it would help the story move along."
Not in Iron Crowned. This entire book was just one big plot device.
Did I mention I'm done with Mead? Just making sure. :)
ETA: Lest you think I'm a bitter reviewer who regularly doles out 1 star reviews, check this shit out: this is the first 1 star review I've ever given, in almost 500 books. How you like them apples? See, I'm not the bitter crone you thought I was.
I never usually leave 1 star because I feel bad for the author. It's like telling someone their kid is stupid & ugly. But I don't feel bad doing it for this book, because this kid was thrown together with some playdoh and a couple popsicle sticks.
Is it a true 1 star book? No, I would not have finished it if that was the case. But it was a 2 star book--Eugenie is just that unlikeable. But I am fed up. Mead starts a series with one or two good books, then starts cranking out mediocrity, knowing that people will keep buying the sequels, based solely on her earlier efforts. While she sits back and reaps the royalty checks. It's really shitty. Shouldn't an author take a bit of pride in what she puts out?
And now she's pregnant--I'm guessing the baby might take up a bit of her time. So how much time do you think she'll put into future books? Oh, but she finished the Vampire Academy series, so she'll have more time for Georgina & Dark Swan, right? Wrong. Don't forget about the new Vampire Academy spin off series--that 1st book comes out in August.
Check this out--from December 2010 to August 2011, Mead has 4 books being released--VA #6, Dark Swan #3, Bloodlines #1, and Georgina #6. Four full length books, in four different series, in less than 9 months????? How, in all that is good & holy, can someone put out any kind of quality it that time frame?
August 28, 2016
*** 3.44 ***
A buddy read with the Wednesday Urban Fantasy Fanatics at BB&B!
This was a very well written, but very frustrating book in the series.. I am getting a bit tired of the love triangle and am frustrated because I neither like nor trust either one of them and I wish Richelle Mead would offer us and Eug a third, worthy choice.... I know plenty of people feel Dorian is too good for her, but I think he is all about his agenda and power-hunger, with a tendency for megalomania and is maybe attracted to her, somewhat... Kiyo has become, and probably had always been, a cheating douchebag, and I am deeply disappointed in him. But the one who is realy bugging me is Eug and her inability to commit to anything or anyone... She knows she should be completely committed to the people whose survival and livelihood depends on her and her choices, but she can't drop her job in our world for some reason, nor can she keep her clothes on anytime she gets pissed at one of her lovers and runs into bed with the other... Ghhrrrrrrrrr!!!! Thank goodness we still have Tim and Jasmine has realy grown as a character and I am starting to love her!
The book deals with the politics of the Fae Otherworld and Eug is making some good and bad choices. She hates this political aspect of this new position of hers, but she is not putting true effort into learning the in and outs of how to get better and the rules of the game. So she puts herself and her people in the hands of others, whose first loyalties are not to them, but to Dorian and that drives me crazy!!! It is like the president of the US saying, you know, the Queen of England knows better about all this politics and ruling, so I am going to let her and her office take over here for me, since I am not too much into the actual work of leading the country - it turns out, it has a ton of boring and hard stuff that has to be done, and I rather not make the difficult decisions... Ridiculous!!!
So, despite the many issues I have with the way the plot is developing and the characters are acting, the book itself is well written and I want to know what happens, since I am invested in the story already... SO, this coming Wed. I am going to join my buddy readers and we are going to finish with the full arc:):):) I hope it gets less frustrating!
I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find joy in the pages of a good book!!!
A buddy read with the Wednesday Urban Fantasy Fanatics at BB&B!
This was a very well written, but very frustrating book in the series.. I am getting a bit tired of the love triangle and am frustrated because I neither like nor trust either one of them and I wish Richelle Mead would offer us and Eug a third, worthy choice.... I know plenty of people feel Dorian is too good for her, but I think he is all about his agenda and power-hunger, with a tendency for megalomania and is maybe attracted to her, somewhat... Kiyo has become, and probably had always been, a cheating douchebag, and I am deeply disappointed in him. But the one who is realy bugging me is Eug and her inability to commit to anything or anyone... She knows she should be completely committed to the people whose survival and livelihood depends on her and her choices, but she can't drop her job in our world for some reason, nor can she keep her clothes on anytime she gets pissed at one of her lovers and runs into bed with the other... Ghhrrrrrrrrr!!!! Thank goodness we still have Tim and Jasmine has realy grown as a character and I am starting to love her!
The book deals with the politics of the Fae Otherworld and Eug is making some good and bad choices. She hates this political aspect of this new position of hers, but she is not putting true effort into learning the in and outs of how to get better and the rules of the game. So she puts herself and her people in the hands of others, whose first loyalties are not to them, but to Dorian and that drives me crazy!!! It is like the president of the US saying, you know, the Queen of England knows better about all this politics and ruling, so I am going to let her and her office take over here for me, since I am not too much into the actual work of leading the country - it turns out, it has a ton of boring and hard stuff that has to be done, and I rather not make the difficult decisions... Ridiculous!!!
So, despite the many issues I have with the way the plot is developing and the characters are acting, the book itself is well written and I want to know what happens, since I am invested in the story already... SO, this coming Wed. I am going to join my buddy readers and we are going to finish with the full arc:):):) I hope it gets less frustrating!
I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find joy in the pages of a good book!!!
March 9, 2011
This should be re-titled The Dumb Queen series.
OK I finished it - yes, it was a quick read & I felt compelled to blow through it but wow....WOW. Was it me or did Eugenie come across as fickle as a 70's housewife at a swinger party?
If you've read Mead's other series & see her character formula, I felt like this was if you took Rose & Georgie both & they had a love child - Eugenie would be the result but all of the bad & none of the good.
I had so many problems with this book & these characters I'm apparently supposed to feel for, I don't even know where to begin. Why is Eugenie written in such an insipidly shallow way?
And let me be clear, my issue is not b'c of what she did to Dorian (so therefore coming down on the woman but forgiving the man). My issue is a character who we know, knows better by now (about many, many things) so should be acting & reacting somewhat accordingly. My issue is that I found this book so poorly executed that there's no excuse for it.
Sure, no one's perfect yadda, yadda, trials & tribulations are necessary to gain experience, mistakes need to happen in order for personal growth. I get it. Not only do I get it but generally love to read characters who are able to do this & author's who carry this out well.
What I don't get is why Mead felt she had to make Eugenie so incredibly inept & unlikable all around, ALL the time, 24/7. Why she just had to pretty much wipe out her previous narrative from the last 2 books & practically start writing a new character b'c I had no idea she was heading in this direction with Eugenie. And to me, it doesn't make a good deal of sense with someone who I thought had a great deal of talent.
Eug has never been a favorite character of mine. It took me a while to warm to her but by the end of book 2, due to her shocking experience, I felt that Eugenie was starting to accept her reality & face her responsibilities. Make decisions & grow up a bit.
Nope. Not according to this latest installment. In fact if anything, Eugenie's regressed & paralytic. She's also a HUGE self-righteous hypocrite making her very hard to root for.
Eugenie's personality & journey in this book are just flat out illogical to the point of absurdity. It's got more holes than a slice of swiss which made it very hard to believe the story Mead is trying to create & get us to go along with.
See for me, when the character & her plight become too foolish for their own good by constantly acting out impulsively, never EVER referencing what they know (& what we know they know) or properly using the abilities they have (& what we know they have)... I have to ask myself what the fug is going on here? I did that. Numerous times. Here's what I came up with.....
Suffice to say, once again I feel like Mead has lobotomized her character (I said this same thing about her VA series w/her MC Rose in book 4. And I've allllmost felt her going there with Georgina on occasion).
It makes me wonder if Mead even likes her own creations, esp. Eugenie b'c she's marginalized her overall intelligence & rational thinking so badly.
I'm sad to say Mead's formula is growing tedious with me. Between the exasperating way the presents love & relationships throughout this series & her others but, esp. this one. For example; bad parents who turn their backs on a daughter whose been held prisoner & raped, betraying lovers & friends always emotionally & physically cheating, to the ridiculous non-stop series yo-yo-ing of Kiyo...Dorian....Kiyo...Dorian... back & forth like a used up ping pong ball. Honestly, it insults my intelligence.
Which is probably why after almost throwing my kindle against the wall after reading 60% of frustrating mediocrity, I just emotionally switched off in order to finish the book & by the end, realized I don't actually care about these characters enough to continue the series.
**SPOILERS BELOW ***
There's nothing redeemable about Eugenie's 'does not compute' personality or her impulsive, immature & narcissistic behavior. She just doesn't get it... barely processes the implications of her words, deeds, actions, her responsibilities to others, her behavior or repercussions AT ALL. Where is her head?? Nice move totally flipping off a shape shifting assassin who just offered her secret services during wartime b'c that's not at all what assassin's do! Or getting hatefully angry at Dorian for being such a trickster by foolishly getting one over on her. What?? Please. Is she crazy? Has she learned nothing? Dorian has always been agenda heavy & manipulative. She knows this. She's also a part of it when it works for her! And Kiyo is just...god don't even get me started on that character.
All of it... time & time again, makes her such an all around stunad, I'm genuinely surprised we're supposed to accept her as the hero. Yet we are & thus she's a self-proclaimed "badass Queen" & feared as well as revered. Yeah I'd fear her too...all this has me in the same camp as Kiyo & Volusian. She's too stupid to live in my book as well.
Here's the thing - Eugenie is a hypocrite in the worst way & I can't take it. She actually thinks nothing (I mean it...she really does not compute) of impulsively changing her mind & loyalties therefore, her intentions (even though she has repeatedly stated or sworn otherwise) & yet she cuts off the people in her life who've actually never been anything different to who they've always been. It's all been blatantly in front of her eyes & she invites them into her life when it's been convenient for her but gets upset & acts out like a 12 year old when she realizes she's actually a bad ass chump though no fault but HER OWN.
Is Dorian's methodology really a surprise? Nope. Kiyo's spying & loyalty toward Maiwenn? Hells no! Katrice's quest for vengeance & not taking Eugenie seriously after her son Leith was able to capture her & then got a lucky break by Dorian finishing him off on her behalf? Not when you think about it.
So then tell me, if it's not a surprise to me as the reader then why does Mead insist on trying to make it be the plausible excuses for Eug's behavior? Yes, I know denial is a deep & insidious personal evil, allowing people to see, do & believe what they want from the safety of their own personal glass house but I mean...come ON here.
I jut can't find it in me to remotely find empathy for her character. What? She realizes she's sorry (w/Dorian) only AFTER Kiyo actually tries to kill her & their children in front of her own family? Give me a break. And then that end!? How quickly she just relies on Dorian's hospitality & makes no mention of what she did. Actually, a fleeting thought runs through her head when he makes a passing comment about her cheating on him & she still doesn't see it.
Mead did this in the 4th installment of VA. Rose acted v. out of character, big things happened between her friendship with Lissa & yet the action at the end was so jam packed - Mead just allowed them to gloss over the heart of the ramifications. For me, the central characters (Rose & Lissa) never truly owned their behavior & therefore didn't show any true growth. It was all "Well you came back in the end & saved me so we're friend's again!" And Mead's completely done this with Eugenie & her whole Dorian/Kiyo trajectory! It's ridiculous. Get a new ploy. I feel like she is shrugging off Eugenie's missteps with a lack of big picture thinking & overall concept awareness.
How many times throughout this series can she go back & forth between these 2 men b'c someone pisses her off in some way, let's her down or doesn't come through the way she wants? Dorian KILLED her rapist (which is what she wanted) thus inciting a war but b'c he tricked her (again really? have you learned nothing about your lover? Has he never been blatant about his motive?), she cheats on him with that shady loser Kiyo for vengeance sex b'c clearly... her brain is in her vagina & nothing else matters. And this isn't the 1st time she's done this. She cheated on Kiyo too in the last book if I remember correctly.
And the sex? Ugh. Was that supposed to be hot? Because I don't know about you but I felt as used as Eugenie should have. With both men...her inner dialog, the way she views it/them, categorizes it & behaves..I just found it repellent. There was something so dissociative & her observations said as fact during those moments where just so off to me, it actually made me feel uncomfortable b'c it came across as skeevy & borderline nasty to me. I can't really explain it, it was just OFF. Actually, Volusian summed it up perfectly in the end about her ignoring sound advice in regard to all of this & I felt that too. She is so blinkered & in denial for her own personal agenda & gratification but then gets mad...she allows herself to be used by her own hypocrisy & just it grosses me out.
I just can't get with Mead's program or formula anymore. The fact that I know it didn't get rectified in the VA series (for me) doesn't instill much faith with me in regard to this creation when I think about the long run. Ugh god, I am scared for the conclusion of Georgina's series now.
OK I finished it - yes, it was a quick read & I felt compelled to blow through it but wow....WOW. Was it me or did Eugenie come across as fickle as a 70's housewife at a swinger party?
If you've read Mead's other series & see her character formula, I felt like this was if you took Rose & Georgie both & they had a love child - Eugenie would be the result but all of the bad & none of the good.
I had so many problems with this book & these characters I'm apparently supposed to feel for, I don't even know where to begin. Why is Eugenie written in such an insipidly shallow way?
And let me be clear, my issue is not b'c of what she did to Dorian (so therefore coming down on the woman but forgiving the man). My issue is a character who we know, knows better by now (about many, many things) so should be acting & reacting somewhat accordingly. My issue is that I found this book so poorly executed that there's no excuse for it.
Sure, no one's perfect yadda, yadda, trials & tribulations are necessary to gain experience, mistakes need to happen in order for personal growth. I get it. Not only do I get it but generally love to read characters who are able to do this & author's who carry this out well.
What I don't get is why Mead felt she had to make Eugenie so incredibly inept & unlikable all around, ALL the time, 24/7. Why she just had to pretty much wipe out her previous narrative from the last 2 books & practically start writing a new character b'c I had no idea she was heading in this direction with Eugenie. And to me, it doesn't make a good deal of sense with someone who I thought had a great deal of talent.
Eug has never been a favorite character of mine. It took me a while to warm to her but by the end of book 2, due to her shocking experience, I felt that Eugenie was starting to accept her reality & face her responsibilities. Make decisions & grow up a bit.
Nope. Not according to this latest installment. In fact if anything, Eugenie's regressed & paralytic. She's also a HUGE self-righteous hypocrite making her very hard to root for.
Eugenie's personality & journey in this book are just flat out illogical to the point of absurdity. It's got more holes than a slice of swiss which made it very hard to believe the story Mead is trying to create & get us to go along with.
See for me, when the character & her plight become too foolish for their own good by constantly acting out impulsively, never EVER referencing what they know (& what we know they know) or properly using the abilities they have (& what we know they have)... I have to ask myself what the fug is going on here? I did that. Numerous times. Here's what I came up with.....
Suffice to say, once again I feel like Mead has lobotomized her character (I said this same thing about her VA series w/her MC Rose in book 4. And I've allllmost felt her going there with Georgina on occasion).
It makes me wonder if Mead even likes her own creations, esp. Eugenie b'c she's marginalized her overall intelligence & rational thinking so badly.
I'm sad to say Mead's formula is growing tedious with me. Between the exasperating way the presents love & relationships throughout this series & her others but, esp. this one. For example; bad parents who turn their backs on a daughter whose been held prisoner & raped, betraying lovers & friends always emotionally & physically cheating, to the ridiculous non-stop series yo-yo-ing of Kiyo...Dorian....Kiyo...Dorian... back & forth like a used up ping pong ball. Honestly, it insults my intelligence.
Which is probably why after almost throwing my kindle against the wall after reading 60% of frustrating mediocrity, I just emotionally switched off in order to finish the book & by the end, realized I don't actually care about these characters enough to continue the series.
**SPOILERS BELOW ***
There's nothing redeemable about Eugenie's 'does not compute' personality or her impulsive, immature & narcissistic behavior. She just doesn't get it... barely processes the implications of her words, deeds, actions, her responsibilities to others, her behavior or repercussions AT ALL. Where is her head?? Nice move totally flipping off a shape shifting assassin who just offered her secret services during wartime b'c that's not at all what assassin's do! Or getting hatefully angry at Dorian for being such a trickster by foolishly getting one over on her. What?? Please. Is she crazy? Has she learned nothing? Dorian has always been agenda heavy & manipulative. She knows this. She's also a part of it when it works for her! And Kiyo is just...god don't even get me started on that character.
All of it... time & time again, makes her such an all around stunad, I'm genuinely surprised we're supposed to accept her as the hero. Yet we are & thus she's a self-proclaimed "badass Queen" & feared as well as revered. Yeah I'd fear her too...all this has me in the same camp as Kiyo & Volusian. She's too stupid to live in my book as well.
Here's the thing - Eugenie is a hypocrite in the worst way & I can't take it. She actually thinks nothing (I mean it...she really does not compute) of impulsively changing her mind & loyalties therefore, her intentions (even though she has repeatedly stated or sworn otherwise) & yet she cuts off the people in her life who've actually never been anything different to who they've always been. It's all been blatantly in front of her eyes & she invites them into her life when it's been convenient for her but gets upset & acts out like a 12 year old when she realizes she's actually a bad ass chump though no fault but HER OWN.
Is Dorian's methodology really a surprise? Nope. Kiyo's spying & loyalty toward Maiwenn? Hells no! Katrice's quest for vengeance & not taking Eugenie seriously after her son Leith was able to capture her & then got a lucky break by Dorian finishing him off on her behalf? Not when you think about it.
So then tell me, if it's not a surprise to me as the reader then why does Mead insist on trying to make it be the plausible excuses for Eug's behavior? Yes, I know denial is a deep & insidious personal evil, allowing people to see, do & believe what they want from the safety of their own personal glass house but I mean...come ON here.
I jut can't find it in me to remotely find empathy for her character. What? She realizes she's sorry (w/Dorian) only AFTER Kiyo actually tries to kill her & their children in front of her own family? Give me a break. And then that end!? How quickly she just relies on Dorian's hospitality & makes no mention of what she did. Actually, a fleeting thought runs through her head when he makes a passing comment about her cheating on him & she still doesn't see it.
Mead did this in the 4th installment of VA. Rose acted v. out of character, big things happened between her friendship with Lissa & yet the action at the end was so jam packed - Mead just allowed them to gloss over the heart of the ramifications. For me, the central characters (Rose & Lissa) never truly owned their behavior & therefore didn't show any true growth. It was all "Well you came back in the end & saved me so we're friend's again!" And Mead's completely done this with Eugenie & her whole Dorian/Kiyo trajectory! It's ridiculous. Get a new ploy. I feel like she is shrugging off Eugenie's missteps with a lack of big picture thinking & overall concept awareness.
How many times throughout this series can she go back & forth between these 2 men b'c someone pisses her off in some way, let's her down or doesn't come through the way she wants? Dorian KILLED her rapist (which is what she wanted) thus inciting a war but b'c he tricked her (again really? have you learned nothing about your lover? Has he never been blatant about his motive?), she cheats on him with that shady loser Kiyo for vengeance sex b'c clearly... her brain is in her vagina & nothing else matters. And this isn't the 1st time she's done this. She cheated on Kiyo too in the last book if I remember correctly.
And the sex? Ugh. Was that supposed to be hot? Because I don't know about you but I felt as used as Eugenie should have. With both men...her inner dialog, the way she views it/them, categorizes it & behaves..I just found it repellent. There was something so dissociative & her observations said as fact during those moments where just so off to me, it actually made me feel uncomfortable b'c it came across as skeevy & borderline nasty to me. I can't really explain it, it was just OFF. Actually, Volusian summed it up perfectly in the end about her ignoring sound advice in regard to all of this & I felt that too. She is so blinkered & in denial for her own personal agenda & gratification but then gets mad...she allows herself to be used by her own hypocrisy & just it grosses me out.
I just can't get with Mead's program or formula anymore. The fact that I know it didn't get rectified in the VA series (for me) doesn't instill much faith with me in regard to this creation when I think about the long run. Ugh god, I am scared for the conclusion of Georgina's series now.
September 15, 2016
And This is Why I Hate MOST Love Triangles. I get it the suspense of who will win the girl is a good tension builder but I’m of the opinion that once the heroine has slept with and gone back and forth between the two possible choices multiple times now I’m just don’t care anymore. Mostly I’m irritated with how much of the story that portion is taking up.
Eugenie…Eugenie…Eugenie….what are you thinking. Okay so is isn’t just the love triangle that I’m having a few issues with it is also Eugenie’s complete and utter disregard of any of her duties to a land she claimed. She spends a lot of time neglecting her kingdom and pretending that she is normal in the human world. She is the Ostridge sticking her head into the ground and pretending that everything isn’t happening around her. She honestly drives me a little crazy.
Sometimes she is bad-ass and then other times she is just a complete mess trying to avoid any responsibility to anything. I just wanted her to accept her choices and own them, instead of hiding.
The characters in this that I really liked the most were Dorian because he is a pretty fun guy even when machinating and finagling Eugenia into places she needs to be and Jasmine. YES you herd me right I liked Jasmine the half-sister that at one time wanted to kill Eugenia and have the Stormlord’s grandchild she is the one I wanted more page time with.
I will give props to the twist toward the end. While I did see part of it coming I didn’t see people’s reaction to it and what it would drive Eugenie to do. I am invested in how the story will play out and I’m happy that this book SHOULD have totally resolved the love triangle completely so I won’t have to deal with that anymore but overall this is the weakest book in the series so far.
Eugenie…Eugenie…Eugenie….what are you thinking. Okay so is isn’t just the love triangle that I’m having a few issues with it is also Eugenie’s complete and utter disregard of any of her duties to a land she claimed. She spends a lot of time neglecting her kingdom and pretending that she is normal in the human world. She is the Ostridge sticking her head into the ground and pretending that everything isn’t happening around her. She honestly drives me a little crazy.
Sometimes she is bad-ass and then other times she is just a complete mess trying to avoid any responsibility to anything. I just wanted her to accept her choices and own them, instead of hiding.
The characters in this that I really liked the most were Dorian because he is a pretty fun guy even when machinating and finagling Eugenia into places she needs to be and Jasmine. YES you herd me right I liked Jasmine the half-sister that at one time wanted to kill Eugenia and have the Stormlord’s grandchild she is the one I wanted more page time with.
I will give props to the twist toward the end. While I did see part of it coming I didn’t see people’s reaction to it and what it would drive Eugenie to do. I am invested in how the story will play out and I’m happy that this book SHOULD have totally resolved the love triangle completely so I won’t have to deal with that anymore but overall this is the weakest book in the series so far.
January 15, 2011
Based on reading Storm Born and Thorn Queen, I begged Richelle Mead not to let Eugenie end up with Kiyo. Now after reading Iron Crowned…wow!! I’ve despised Kiyo from the beginning and always thought him to be even worse than Dorian! I still do. At least Dorian doesn’t pretend to be something he’s not. At least Dorian’s actions are not meant to cause Eugenie harm, and at least they’re not tied to his loyalty for another woman!! Everything Kiyo has done or said from the beginning has disgusted me…from the sexual positions he always chooses and that he doesn’t even care if Eugenie gets off too, his dominating tone and manner with her, always giving her orders and condescending her, his running off to tell Maiwenn every little thing that happens in their personal relationship…these are not the actions of a devoted lover. Part of me always hoped Mead was dropping these Kiyo-traits as hints to the reader not to fall for Kiyo…but the other part of me wondered if she actually thought Kiyo’s behavior was ok, mostly because Eugenie has always made excuses for Kiyo for some appalling reason…which is also why I have found her so weak and wondered about Mead's view of female self-worth. I knew from the moment Volusian told Eugenie in Storm Born that neither man was for her and that both would always be for themselves first, that Volusian of all people (or spirits in this case) was the one to listen to! I’d hoped Richelle meant it that way, so I’ve tried to keep faith and keep reading. I now have more hope, thank you!! And while the romantic in me would still like to see Dorian come around and let his own selfishness go, since I don’t think his character has been completely ruined (yet), I won’t be disappointed if that’s not the case. I would be more than happy for Richelle to have Eugenie kick BOTH these men to the curb!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2011
After reading this I have to say that Richelle Mead made the right decision when she decided to write Bloodlines and bring her adult-targeted series to an end. With only one book remaining in both this and her Succubus series, most of us will stick with them to the bitter end, if only for no other reason than to find out what happens. But, after that, I really don't see many in the adult crowd picking one of her books again. I hope her fangirls represent a good market.
A couple of years ago, when her name was already pretty big with the UF/YA readers, if you said you were reading a Mead's book, the first question you heard in return was "What is it about?" Now, instead, even before you're finished saying her name, people are already asking (tiredly and in a monotone) "which of the characters are in the love triangle?" Her writing has become that predictable.
Now, I'm not saying that love triangles are exclusively hers, but she lets them become the focus of her stories to the point where everything else is just background noise. Take her VA books; at first, there was a plot, and people would even discuss and speculate about it, but for the last two or three books, everything everyone could talk about was "Adrian or Dimitri," "Dimitri or Adrian" and nothing else. Because, frankly, there was nothing else. Using this plot device once is acceptable—I still wish she wouldn't, since I don't think much of it, but it's acceptable. Now, when you use it on every series you're writing, then Houston, we have a problem.
Also, you already know that the three participants will act in ways that will make you hate them. Since, with Mead, it's always one woman and two men, some readers—mostly women—might like one of the men—usually the underdog—but everyone, invariably, will hate the heroine and at least one of her love interests. I'm sure this sounds like heaven to the fangirls who can spend a whole year bickering online about what "team" is better and printing shirts and tattoing themselves and all that nonsense, but I, and everyone else who doesn't have the faintest interest on how the love triangle turns out, have been left with nothing to keep us entertained. The only real mystery is which guy will be lame enough to "win" the selfish and whining heroine's affection. Other than that, you can see the plot unfold from miles away.
The current quality of Mead's writing is considerably lower than when all these series started; it has devolved into childish wish fulfillment, which would not be wrong at all, if her target audience had been after that all along but she tricked us with the promise of more mature writing and then, midway, changed it into this. Not cool.
This book is a mix of the previous two. Everyone, Dorian included, tells Eugenie in no uncertain terms that Dorian will always put his agenda first. Obviously, Eugenie chooses not to believe any of this until *shocked gasp* it proves to be true. Now, if you're expecting that she takes some time to think over what's happened, the whys and the hows and maybe, just maybe, assume some responsibility for willfully disregarding everyone's warnings, you'll be disappointed. Being Eugenie, what she does is getting in the sack with, not just another guy but, the other guy. Someone with whom she had a relationship that ended abruptly and, just like this time, without giving much thought about the real reasons behind the separation. So, boom! She's back in a relationship. Again, everyone is warning her that nothing has changed, that this guy will put his own agenda before everything, too. Of course, she ignores everyone until it almost got her killed. Then, adding insult to injury, she runs back to the first guy and, without even discussing what drove them apart in the first place, they're back together. The end.
Seeing the characters running in circles, knowing what everyone was going to do and yet, having them whining for chapters on end was really annoying. The fact that I listened to this instead of reading (almost ten hours) might have contributed to the general feeling. I had too much time to ponder all the ways I would gleefully help Volusian to get rid of Eugenie in my hands. When you factor in that I didn't like the narrator's voice… well, let's just say that you won't see me recommend this book to anyone.
Sadly, I have to admit that I'll probably read the final installment of the series. I just wish I could be happy about that.
A couple of years ago, when her name was already pretty big with the UF/YA readers, if you said you were reading a Mead's book, the first question you heard in return was "What is it about?" Now, instead, even before you're finished saying her name, people are already asking (tiredly and in a monotone) "which of the characters are in the love triangle?" Her writing has become that predictable.
Now, I'm not saying that love triangles are exclusively hers, but she lets them become the focus of her stories to the point where everything else is just background noise. Take her VA books; at first, there was a plot, and people would even discuss and speculate about it, but for the last two or three books, everything everyone could talk about was "Adrian or Dimitri," "Dimitri or Adrian" and nothing else. Because, frankly, there was nothing else. Using this plot device once is acceptable—I still wish she wouldn't, since I don't think much of it, but it's acceptable. Now, when you use it on every series you're writing, then Houston, we have a problem.
Also, you already know that the three participants will act in ways that will make you hate them. Since, with Mead, it's always one woman and two men, some readers—mostly women—might like one of the men—usually the underdog—but everyone, invariably, will hate the heroine and at least one of her love interests. I'm sure this sounds like heaven to the fangirls who can spend a whole year bickering online about what "team" is better and printing shirts and tattoing themselves and all that nonsense, but I, and everyone else who doesn't have the faintest interest on how the love triangle turns out, have been left with nothing to keep us entertained. The only real mystery is which guy will be lame enough to "win" the selfish and whining heroine's affection. Other than that, you can see the plot unfold from miles away.
The current quality of Mead's writing is considerably lower than when all these series started; it has devolved into childish wish fulfillment, which would not be wrong at all, if her target audience had been after that all along but she tricked us with the promise of more mature writing and then, midway, changed it into this. Not cool.
This book is a mix of the previous two. Everyone, Dorian included, tells Eugenie in no uncertain terms that Dorian will always put his agenda first. Obviously, Eugenie chooses not to believe any of this until *shocked gasp* it proves to be true. Now, if you're expecting that she takes some time to think over what's happened, the whys and the hows and maybe, just maybe, assume some responsibility for willfully disregarding everyone's warnings, you'll be disappointed. Being Eugenie, what she does is getting in the sack with, not just another guy but, the other guy. Someone with whom she had a relationship that ended abruptly and, just like this time, without giving much thought about the real reasons behind the separation. So, boom! She's back in a relationship. Again, everyone is warning her that nothing has changed, that this guy will put his own agenda before everything, too. Of course, she ignores everyone until it almost got her killed. Then, adding insult to injury, she runs back to the first guy and, without even discussing what drove them apart in the first place, they're back together. The end.
Seeing the characters running in circles, knowing what everyone was going to do and yet, having them whining for chapters on end was really annoying. The fact that I listened to this instead of reading (almost ten hours) might have contributed to the general feeling. I had too much time to ponder all the ways I would gleefully help Volusian to get rid of Eugenie in my hands. When you factor in that I didn't like the narrator's voice… well, let's just say that you won't see me recommend this book to anyone.
Sadly, I have to admit that I'll probably read the final installment of the series. I just wish I could be happy about that.
March 6, 2011
Antibotics? Ok come on, whatever.
Really, seriously, Kiyo again? Whatever.
Dorian, you lying hunk of badass royalty. Whatever.
Hated the book.
Love the series.
Really, seriously, Kiyo again? Whatever.
Dorian, you lying hunk of badass royalty. Whatever.
Hated the book.
Love the series.
April 24, 2011
Loved parts of it, so frustrated by others. Dump the fox and keep the fairy king, woman!
November 11, 2015
WHAT. THE. HECK.
February 28, 2011
Not what I expected - 2.5 stars
Most of my reading time with this book was spent being annoyed at the main characters. There were even a few instances of me wanting to fling the book across the room. Don’t get me wrong – it’s not a bad book. It just drove me crazy.
Words can not express my frustration and hatred for one of the main characters. Here’s a hint: he is the despised furry one – Kiyo. Why, Eugenie, Why? After the end of the last book, there would have been no way that I would buy a relationship between Eugenie and Kiyo. Why, Eugenie, why? You were so happy with Dorian. I was happy with Dorian.
I started scratching my head when Dorian suggested that Eugenie go on a quest for the Iron Crown with Kiyo. Yes, I understand that Kiyo was immune to iron, but still, the beast was your girlfriend’s ex. Weird, no? The quest was a little boring in my opinion, not too memorable and a little too quick. A few scary snakes, some fire, and there it was.
It seemed to me that Eugenie spent most of the book getting played by all the main characters. That has to be the reasonable explanation, right? Those gentry are tricky at the best of times, so why wouldn’t Eugenie be more aware of the jockeying for position?
I found that Eugenie spent far too much time “commuting” between the two worlds. In a way, her absence was responsible for much of her problems.
There were a few characters that I did enjoy. Jasmine, who has always been a little bit of a wild card, surprised me with her newly found maturity and support for her big sister. What a difference from the last book. I’ve always enjoyed Tim and Lara’s adversarial phone message relationship. They were very cute together. Volusian remains my all time favorite character in the series. I love how he is loyal to Eugenie even though he would turn around and kill her at his first opportunity for freedom.
This book felt like a filler book. It is the book where I decided that I despise Kiyo more than any other character. I am still curious as to where the next book will go. There is still a prophecy to worry about, so I guess I will read the next book in the series.
Most of my reading time with this book was spent being annoyed at the main characters. There were even a few instances of me wanting to fling the book across the room. Don’t get me wrong – it’s not a bad book. It just drove me crazy.
Words can not express my frustration and hatred for one of the main characters. Here’s a hint: he is the despised furry one – Kiyo. Why, Eugenie, Why? After the end of the last book, there would have been no way that I would buy a relationship between Eugenie and Kiyo. Why, Eugenie, why? You were so happy with Dorian. I was happy with Dorian.
I started scratching my head when Dorian suggested that Eugenie go on a quest for the Iron Crown with Kiyo. Yes, I understand that Kiyo was immune to iron, but still, the beast was your girlfriend’s ex. Weird, no? The quest was a little boring in my opinion, not too memorable and a little too quick. A few scary snakes, some fire, and there it was.
It seemed to me that Eugenie spent most of the book getting played by all the main characters. That has to be the reasonable explanation, right? Those gentry are tricky at the best of times, so why wouldn’t Eugenie be more aware of the jockeying for position?
I found that Eugenie spent far too much time “commuting” between the two worlds. In a way, her absence was responsible for much of her problems.
There were a few characters that I did enjoy. Jasmine, who has always been a little bit of a wild card, surprised me with her newly found maturity and support for her big sister. What a difference from the last book. I’ve always enjoyed Tim and Lara’s adversarial phone message relationship. They were very cute together. Volusian remains my all time favorite character in the series. I love how he is loyal to Eugenie even though he would turn around and kill her at his first opportunity for freedom.
This book felt like a filler book. It is the book where I decided that I despise Kiyo more than any other character. I am still curious as to where the next book will go. There is still a prophecy to worry about, so I guess I will read the next book in the series.
February 26, 2011
Fantastic!!!! This was so worth the wait. Mead does not disappoint!!!
I'm reeling over this book, it might take me a while to get to sleep, so I thought I'd put a few random thought on here.
*********SPOILERS FOR PREVIOUS BOOKS********
First of all...I LOVE Dorian!!(xoxoxo)
Second....Kiyo SUCKS!!!!
This book continues pretty much where THORN QUEEN left off. Eugenie and Dorian have teamed up in a war waged in the Otherworld by the Rowan Queen, after her son Leith was killed by Dorian for the kidnap and repeated rape of Eugenie. Eugenie wants this war to end with as little bloodshed as possible. So Dorian brilliantly deceives Eugenie into going on a quest to find the iron crown, which would make her feared and respected among the other rulers of the Otherworld. And Dorian decides it's a good idea for Kiyo to help her, and thus Kiyo goes on this quest with her, bad idea! However Dorian doesn't disclose all he knows about the iron crown, and the real powers it possesses, and when Eugenie finds out she feels all betrayed. Well she really overreacts in a way that has really changed my feelings for her. I've liked her up to this point, but she did some STOOPID things in this book.
I still feel that Dorian has genuine feelings for Eugenie, but he has his own a agendas too, but still Dorian doesn't hide this. Kiyo...I'm not sure what his feelings ever were or are, it always seems he's keeping an eye on her for Maiwenn, and sex is an added perk.
I can't go any farther without spoilers for this book. It was great, and if you're a fan of the series, don't miss this one!! Mead is fantastic!!
I'm reeling over this book, it might take me a while to get to sleep, so I thought I'd put a few random thought on here.
*********SPOILERS FOR PREVIOUS BOOKS********
First of all...I LOVE Dorian!!(xoxoxo)
Second....Kiyo SUCKS!!!!
This book continues pretty much where THORN QUEEN left off. Eugenie and Dorian have teamed up in a war waged in the Otherworld by the Rowan Queen, after her son Leith was killed by Dorian for the kidnap and repeated rape of Eugenie. Eugenie wants this war to end with as little bloodshed as possible. So Dorian brilliantly deceives Eugenie into going on a quest to find the iron crown, which would make her feared and respected among the other rulers of the Otherworld. And Dorian decides it's a good idea for Kiyo to help her, and thus Kiyo goes on this quest with her, bad idea! However Dorian doesn't disclose all he knows about the iron crown, and the real powers it possesses, and when Eugenie finds out she feels all betrayed. Well she really overreacts in a way that has really changed my feelings for her. I've liked her up to this point, but she did some STOOPID things in this book.
I still feel that Dorian has genuine feelings for Eugenie, but he has his own a agendas too, but still Dorian doesn't hide this. Kiyo...I'm not sure what his feelings ever were or are, it always seems he's keeping an eye on her for Maiwenn, and sex is an added perk.
I can't go any farther without spoilers for this book. It was great, and if you're a fan of the series, don't miss this one!! Mead is fantastic!!
March 5, 2011
This might have been a little more than a 3 star book, but Eugenie is such an obtuse character that I had to issue a demerit.
The war sparked by events of the last book rages on in Iron Crowned. It makes for an interesting backdrop - or rather, it would have if Mead had given a glimpse of the various battles as opposed to mere tactical updates. Instead, Iron Crowned is more about Eugenie’s relationships and her ineffectual decision-making.
Am I supposed to cheer Eugenie on? Think her fabulous? Or is Mead content with me hating her protagonists? I ask because Eugenie sparked in me the same frustrated disapproval Rose Hathaway inspires. Georgina Kincaid, too, now that I think on it. Though I like the worlds she presents, I can’t get behind the women Mead writes. They’re brash and weak-minded, utterly defiant, and illogical to the extreme. The saving grace (or maddening plus) to her series is there’s always a side character who completely captures my interest.
Ah, Dorian. Delightfully, he makes plenty of appearances throughout the book. Unlike Eugenie, I can accept him for what he is: a cunning, scheming ruler whose private emotions shouldn’t be belittled just because he happens to be very good at his job. Sure, he can be manipulative, but he never strips Eugenie of her control. Instead, he seems hell-bent on making sure she has as much power as possible, even if that means putting himself at risk.
Unfortunately, Eugenie can’t see this through her bratty attitude. She annoyed me far more in this installment, as she allowed her emotions to spin out of control countless times. She is one of the least wily characters I have ever come across. Eugenie only understands brute force, blunt words, indignance and outrage. She lacks any of the finer nuances needed to adequately rule (particularly where the fae are concerned).
Time and again, Eugenie refuses to consider advice. She makes decisions wholly founded on her need to rebel. On several occasions, she informs the people around her that they’re not the boss of her. The only thing missing was the stomping of her combat boot, but I’m sure a strong gust of magical wind and a dart of lightening can be seen as substitutes. The real kicker is that after every temper tantrum, she realises that the advice she’s received is sound! Too bad that her acknowledgement is always too late.
The plot? Somewhat aimless. A lot happens in this book, but the events didn’t strike me as cohesive. There’s some running back and forth between our world and the Otherworld; there are battles too easily won; there are mundane tasks, boring introductions, and even more tedious tactical discussions. With a war being fought in the background, why are we focusing on all this crap? Oh, right. Because Eugenie is a horrid leader who fulfills only the bare requirements of duty.
I question the inclusion of a random ghost - the information she provided could have been gleaned some other way. The war with Katrice and its results are predictable once the action gets going. The Big Dramatic Reveal…I saw that coming only 120 pages in.
I’m frustrated. But will I keep reading? Sigh. Yes. Yes, I will. Though the main character is infuriating, I’m eager to see how the secondary characters deal with certain things. I’m anxious to know more about the prophesies and visions we’ve seen across the first three books. And of course, more than anything, I am desperate to spend more time with Dorian. He’s easily the best of Mead’s creations and his sly smile is enough to keep me coming back for more.
For now, at least.
The war sparked by events of the last book rages on in Iron Crowned. It makes for an interesting backdrop - or rather, it would have if Mead had given a glimpse of the various battles as opposed to mere tactical updates. Instead, Iron Crowned is more about Eugenie’s relationships and her ineffectual decision-making.
Am I supposed to cheer Eugenie on? Think her fabulous? Or is Mead content with me hating her protagonists? I ask because Eugenie sparked in me the same frustrated disapproval Rose Hathaway inspires. Georgina Kincaid, too, now that I think on it. Though I like the worlds she presents, I can’t get behind the women Mead writes. They’re brash and weak-minded, utterly defiant, and illogical to the extreme. The saving grace (or maddening plus) to her series is there’s always a side character who completely captures my interest.
Ah, Dorian. Delightfully, he makes plenty of appearances throughout the book. Unlike Eugenie, I can accept him for what he is: a cunning, scheming ruler whose private emotions shouldn’t be belittled just because he happens to be very good at his job. Sure, he can be manipulative, but he never strips Eugenie of her control. Instead, he seems hell-bent on making sure she has as much power as possible, even if that means putting himself at risk.
Unfortunately, Eugenie can’t see this through her bratty attitude. She annoyed me far more in this installment, as she allowed her emotions to spin out of control countless times. She is one of the least wily characters I have ever come across. Eugenie only understands brute force, blunt words, indignance and outrage. She lacks any of the finer nuances needed to adequately rule (particularly where the fae are concerned).
Time and again, Eugenie refuses to consider advice. She makes decisions wholly founded on her need to rebel. On several occasions, she informs the people around her that they’re not the boss of her. The only thing missing was the stomping of her combat boot, but I’m sure a strong gust of magical wind and a dart of lightening can be seen as substitutes. The real kicker is that after every temper tantrum, she realises that the advice she’s received is sound! Too bad that her acknowledgement is always too late.
The plot? Somewhat aimless. A lot happens in this book, but the events didn’t strike me as cohesive. There’s some running back and forth between our world and the Otherworld; there are battles too easily won; there are mundane tasks, boring introductions, and even more tedious tactical discussions. With a war being fought in the background, why are we focusing on all this crap? Oh, right. Because Eugenie is a horrid leader who fulfills only the bare requirements of duty.
I question the inclusion of a random ghost - the information she provided could have been gleaned some other way. The war with Katrice and its results are predictable once the action gets going. The Big Dramatic Reveal…I saw that coming only 120 pages in.
I’m frustrated. But will I keep reading? Sigh. Yes. Yes, I will. Though the main character is infuriating, I’m eager to see how the secondary characters deal with certain things. I’m anxious to know more about the prophesies and visions we’ve seen across the first three books. And of course, more than anything, I am desperate to spend more time with Dorian. He’s easily the best of Mead’s creations and his sly smile is enough to keep me coming back for more.
For now, at least.
August 25, 2016
I enjoyed the storyline in this one, but I just felt like, after reading so many of Richelle Mead's VA and Bloodlines books, that this series is less polished in its execution.
The whole ghost/murder mystery background story felt unnecessary, a lot of things felt repetitive (oh, look, I am spending more time in the Otherworld now... over and over and over)...
And the back and forth between Dorian and Kiyo is giving me whiplash. He's bad, I want that one. No, wait, that one is bad, I want this one. Oh, no, I was right before, I want the first one, the second one is bad....
And, sorry, Eugenie, sweetie, your justifications for your actions don't fly with me.
Overall, I still enjoyed the book and am enjoying the series. I'm just disappointed to see that not all her work is as awesome as prior reads.
The whole ghost/murder mystery background story felt unnecessary, a lot of things felt repetitive (oh, look, I am spending more time in the Otherworld now... over and over and over)...
And the back and forth between Dorian and Kiyo is giving me whiplash. He's bad, I want that one. No, wait, that one is bad, I want this one. Oh, no, I was right before, I want the first one, the second one is bad....
And, sorry, Eugenie, sweetie, your justifications for your actions don't fly with me.
Overall, I still enjoyed the book and am enjoying the series. I'm just disappointed to see that not all her work is as awesome as prior reads.
February 23, 2011
I’ve been lucky enough to meet and chat with Richelle Mead (and Carrie Jones, both are such sweethearts!) so you can imagine how excited I was to read Iron-Crowned. First things first, I hate UF narrative. I usually find it too simple with too much inner dialogue. But Mead is the only UF author so far that doesn’t bore me. There’s this ease to which she writes and her plotting is beyond anything I could ever come up with. This book blew my mind!
But it didn’t start out that way. It’s been a while since I read Thorn Queen so I forgot a lot of what happened in the previous two books. But it wasn’t too much of a problem because Mead is able to give you a recap of past events without make you feel like you’re reading Dark Swan for Dummies. It’s never redundant or tedious.
There was one thing about this book that bothered me and it was Eugenie. There are times when I want to beat her into submission because of her ego.(Just so everyone knows I am TEAM DORIAN.) I understand that Eugenie was hurt that Dorian left out an important fact about the Iron Crown, but I thought Eugenie reacted like a child. Her wounded pride made her blind to all the war politics while Dorian did what needed to be done during the war. Instead, Eugenie was back in Tuscan, fighting and pretending to live a normal life EVEN THOUGH SHE’S A FREAKING QUEEN! I didn’t think she embraced her titled as Thorn Queen. She pushed all her queenly duties onto Rurik and Shaya. She could have handled it better.
What also pissed me off what the fact that in the midst of her anger towards Dorian, she fucked Kiyo. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, KIYO JUST WANTS EUGENIE FOR SEX! He even says it in three different ways while he’s fucking her.
The ending blew my mind, which shouldn’t be a surprise because IT’S MEAD WE’RE TALKING ABOUT HERE! But after my issue with Eugenie, I was almost going to put this down. I’m so glad I didn’t because the whole pregnancy deal with Kiyo was a worldwind!
Cue rant. WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH KIYO!? HOW THE HELL COULD HE DISOWN HIS CHILDREN LIKE THAT? I would’ve killed him as he was beating on Roland. The bastard! And he says it’s “all in the name of good”. My-fucking-ass!
I LOVED that Eugenie was on her knees in front of Dorian, begging for his protection. What Kiyo did, or rather fail to do with Leith and what Dorian failed to mention about the Iron Crown is no match. Kiyo screwed up big time in the last book and he did it again tenfold in this one.
Once again, Dorian wins! 2-0.
I can’t wait to see what happens next!!!
But it didn’t start out that way. It’s been a while since I read Thorn Queen so I forgot a lot of what happened in the previous two books. But it wasn’t too much of a problem because Mead is able to give you a recap of past events without make you feel like you’re reading Dark Swan for Dummies. It’s never redundant or tedious.
There was one thing about this book that bothered me and it was Eugenie. There are times when I want to beat her into submission because of her ego.(Just so everyone knows I am TEAM DORIAN.) I understand that Eugenie was hurt that Dorian left out an important fact about the Iron Crown, but I thought Eugenie reacted like a child. Her wounded pride made her blind to all the war politics while Dorian did what needed to be done during the war. Instead, Eugenie was back in Tuscan, fighting and pretending to live a normal life EVEN THOUGH SHE’S A FREAKING QUEEN! I didn’t think she embraced her titled as Thorn Queen. She pushed all her queenly duties onto Rurik and Shaya. She could have handled it better.
What also pissed me off what the fact that in the midst of her anger towards Dorian, she fucked Kiyo. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, KIYO JUST WANTS EUGENIE FOR SEX! He even says it in three different ways while he’s fucking her.
The ending blew my mind, which shouldn’t be a surprise because IT’S MEAD WE’RE TALKING ABOUT HERE! But after my issue with Eugenie, I was almost going to put this down. I’m so glad I didn’t because the whole pregnancy deal with Kiyo was a worldwind!
Cue rant. WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH KIYO!? HOW THE HELL COULD HE DISOWN HIS CHILDREN LIKE THAT? I would’ve killed him as he was beating on Roland. The bastard! And he says it’s “all in the name of good”. My-fucking-ass!
I LOVED that Eugenie was on her knees in front of Dorian, begging for his protection. What Kiyo did, or rather fail to do with Leith and what Dorian failed to mention about the Iron Crown is no match. Kiyo screwed up big time in the last book and he did it again tenfold in this one.
Once again, Dorian wins! 2-0.
I can’t wait to see what happens next!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2011
This book deserves more than 5 stars!!! The words that came to mind while I was reading were: OMG!!, OMFG!! WOW!! I absolutely L.O.V.E.D. this book.
All I should write in order for you to believe the depth of excellency of this book should be to point out and that IT IS a Richelle Mead book. Not only a Richele Mead book, but a 3rd book in the series book. If you've read at least one of her 3 series you know that she has this thing that on the 3rd book she pulls the carpet under your feet, shredding your heart, doubt your like and dislikes for the main characters, shocks you senseless with the unexpected and leaves with a WTHMFG???!!! moment. This was no exception.
I have to admit I am biased. Richelle Mead is my favoritest modern author :). She has gained that tittle by writing 3 series of which I've read every book of and have loved each and every one of them. No other author has that effect on me. I like, even love the writing of other UF, PR, SciFi writers out there, but she tops them all.
If you haven't read the first two books 1. Where have you been??,2.You should not start here.You will only get lost.
This books starts not long after book 2 left off. Dorian and Eugeine are at war with the Rowan Land. Euginie does not want the death and war this war is bringing and is given the option of looking for the Iron Crown. This crown is said to be so feared that it would stop the war by its mere sight. Eugine goes in seach for it and what happens next is a great, great ride that had me, smiling, laughing, crying and blowing my mind with excitement.
Have you ever been to that California Adventure Hunted Hotel ride? or the Superman the Ride at Six Flags?. That is kind of what reading this felt like. Interesting at first, kinky even, mellow and then, BAM you're in a free fall you can't help but enjoy.
I cannot wait for the next book,each day I wait will be torture. Good thing is that there are other Richelle Mead releases this year to ease some of the suffering. If you are a UF fan, this book (Series) is a MUST read. Drop everything and get this one. You'll only wonder why you had not done that sooner.
All I should write in order for you to believe the depth of excellency of this book should be to point out and that IT IS a Richelle Mead book. Not only a Richele Mead book, but a 3rd book in the series book. If you've read at least one of her 3 series you know that she has this thing that on the 3rd book she pulls the carpet under your feet, shredding your heart, doubt your like and dislikes for the main characters, shocks you senseless with the unexpected and leaves with a WTHMFG???!!! moment. This was no exception.
I have to admit I am biased. Richelle Mead is my favoritest modern author :). She has gained that tittle by writing 3 series of which I've read every book of and have loved each and every one of them. No other author has that effect on me. I like, even love the writing of other UF, PR, SciFi writers out there, but she tops them all.
If you haven't read the first two books 1. Where have you been??,2.You should not start here.You will only get lost.
This books starts not long after book 2 left off. Dorian and Eugeine are at war with the Rowan Land. Euginie does not want the death and war this war is bringing and is given the option of looking for the Iron Crown. This crown is said to be so feared that it would stop the war by its mere sight. Eugine goes in seach for it and what happens next is a great, great ride that had me, smiling, laughing, crying and blowing my mind with excitement.
Have you ever been to that California Adventure Hunted Hotel ride? or the Superman the Ride at Six Flags?. That is kind of what reading this felt like. Interesting at first, kinky even, mellow and then, BAM you're in a free fall you can't help but enjoy.
I cannot wait for the next book,each day I wait will be torture. Good thing is that there are other Richelle Mead releases this year to ease some of the suffering. If you are a UF fan, this book (Series) is a MUST read. Drop everything and get this one. You'll only wonder why you had not done that sooner.
March 21, 2018
I'm still loving the narrator for this series. Jennifer Van Dyck really gives a great voice to not only Eugenie, but all of the Otherworld characters. I especially love her portrayal of Dorian. I don't much care for Kiyo, but I don't know if that's the writing, the voice, or his actions period.
Iron Crowned went where I never expected it to. There were so many twists and turns and though I didn't really like much of what happened in the story, it still held my interest. I'm not as thrilled with this series as Vampire Academy, but I do like how Richelle Mead isn't afraid to take chances with her characters. She puts them through hell! But I also like that the MC's are strong, butt-kicking females who persevere through it all.
On to Shadow Heir...
Iron Crowned went where I never expected it to. There were so many twists and turns and though I didn't really like much of what happened in the story, it still held my interest. I'm not as thrilled with this series as Vampire Academy, but I do like how Richelle Mead isn't afraid to take chances with her characters. She puts them through hell! But I also like that the MC's are strong, butt-kicking females who persevere through it all.
On to Shadow Heir...
May 25, 2020
Caution: this review may contain spoilers for the previous books in this series.
This is yet another series in which some of the secondary characters--especially Rurik and Shaya in the Otherworld and Tim and Lara in Tucson, Arizona--are much more likable than the three primaries: (1) Dorian the Oak King, an effective ruler who never hides his principal agenda to increase his power throughout the Otherworld; (2) Kiyo the half-human half-kitsune fox shifter whose child Maiwenn the Willow Queen is carrying; and (3) the first-person narrator Eugenie Markham, a shaman who makes a living banishing supernaturals in Tucson and has also become queen of the Thorn Land in the Otherworld. She and Kiyo pop back and forth between Arizona and the Otherworld through innumerable convenient portals.
Eugenie's mother, remember, is human while her father was the Otherworld's Storm King, now deceased, and there is a prophecy that his first grandson will conquer all the worlds, including ours. Since the Storm King had no sons and two daughters, Dorian and other princes of the Otherworld are very eager to father the prophesied conqueror on Eugenie or her teenage (half?-)sister Jasmine. Horrified at this threat to humanity, Eugenie faithfully takes birth control pills and keeps Jasmine in magic-deadening chains in the Thorn Land where Eugenie is queen. I do hope this is clear so far.
There are a couple of rollicking adventures that made for enjoyable reading and (I thought) some delightful twists beyond page 300 that set up a climactic encounter among the principal characters. The rest of the book was so-so, in good part because it was mainly character-driven--something I know many readers value, but I found the action scenes much more worthwhile.
It becomes even clearer in this third volume of the series that a new type of life style is being introduced. Instead of serial monogamy, in which a couple is faithful to one another for a time and when they break up they go their separate ways, Eugenie engages in what I'd call alternating monogamy--at each break-up, she hooks up with her previous partner. This economizes nicely on partners; she just needs Kiyo and Dorian--faithful to one for a month or two, then solid with the other, then back to the one. Another reviewer has clocked her at five shifts of allegiance so far.
It's hard to take any of her hook-ups too seriously, or for that matter any of the three people involved. For a fox shifter, Kiyo is pretty weasely ; Dorian happily uses Eugenie to gain power; and Eugenie...well, I admire her courage and determination to try to stop the war that's killing so many Otherworlders and to foil that prophecy. But she's not only unqualified to be queen of a Land in the Otherworld --she seems unable to take her responsibility to her people seriously. Sigh. But her adventures are fun!
This is yet another series in which some of the secondary characters--especially Rurik and Shaya in the Otherworld and Tim and Lara in Tucson, Arizona--are much more likable than the three primaries: (1) Dorian the Oak King, an effective ruler who never hides his principal agenda to increase his power throughout the Otherworld; (2) Kiyo the half-human half-kitsune fox shifter whose child Maiwenn the Willow Queen is carrying; and (3) the first-person narrator Eugenie Markham, a shaman who makes a living banishing supernaturals in Tucson and has also become queen of the Thorn Land in the Otherworld. She and Kiyo pop back and forth between Arizona and the Otherworld through innumerable convenient portals.
Eugenie's mother, remember, is human while her father was the Otherworld's Storm King, now deceased, and there is a prophecy that his first grandson will conquer all the worlds, including ours. Since the Storm King had no sons and two daughters, Dorian and other princes of the Otherworld are very eager to father the prophesied conqueror on Eugenie or her teenage (half?-)sister Jasmine. Horrified at this threat to humanity, Eugenie faithfully takes birth control pills and keeps Jasmine in magic-deadening chains in the Thorn Land where Eugenie is queen. I do hope this is clear so far.
There are a couple of rollicking adventures that made for enjoyable reading and (I thought) some delightful twists beyond page 300 that set up a climactic encounter among the principal characters. The rest of the book was so-so, in good part because it was mainly character-driven--something I know many readers value, but I found the action scenes much more worthwhile.
It becomes even clearer in this third volume of the series that a new type of life style is being introduced. Instead of serial monogamy, in which a couple is faithful to one another for a time and when they break up they go their separate ways, Eugenie engages in what I'd call alternating monogamy--at each break-up, she hooks up with her previous partner. This economizes nicely on partners; she just needs Kiyo and Dorian--faithful to one for a month or two, then solid with the other, then back to the one. Another reviewer has clocked her at five shifts of allegiance so far.
It's hard to take any of her hook-ups too seriously, or for that matter any of the three people involved. For a fox shifter, Kiyo is pretty weasely ; Dorian happily uses Eugenie to gain power; and Eugenie...well, I admire her courage and determination to try to stop the war that's killing so many Otherworlders and to foil that prophecy. But she's not only unqualified to be queen of a Land in the Otherworld --she seems unable to take her responsibility to her people seriously. Sigh. But her adventures are fun!
November 2, 2014
Eugenie Markham is quite the kick-butt heroine! She is queen of the Thorn Land, half-human, half-fae and she is in the middle of a huge war with The Rowan Land. This book starts off with a great start.
***Please note if you have not read the previous two books of the series I suggest doing so before reading further to avoid past spoilers.***
Working with her current lover, King Dorian, along with her advisors Shaya and Rurik, Eugenie is trying to manage the war with minimal damage. And she still has to manage her Earthly job, banishing and dealing with unwanted visitors. Bills must be paid after all! I do not think I could handle the dual life. It's no wonder her judgement slips some in this book.
Yes, it slips. In a few areas of life. The biggest being she STILL cannot stick to a guy. While she starts of with smooth, dominant, hot, and somewhat manipulative Dorian, she switches (yet AGAIN) back to Kiyo. Kiyo the kitsune, father Queen Maiwenn's daughter, sexy and very anti-war. After basically abandoning her in the past book, she goes to him in an an insta-switch moment after she feels Dorian tricked her.
Now I can deal with the love triangles where they like each other but don't act much on it. But I hate when one can't decide and ping-pongs her affections the way Eugenie is!
Outside of the romantic aspects of this book, Eugenie is trying to one up Katrice of Rowan Land and the rumored Iron Crown might be the answer. Jasmine really starts to come around in this book and I am starting to actually like her. And the famous animosity between Tim and Lara come to a surprise (and unrealistic) head when they finally meat!
There is also a bit of story for a ghost named Deanna who wants Eugenie's help. While a small bit role. the information she has for Eugenie is priceless!
Some major turns in this book! While I did enjoy it overall, Eugenie's behavior and the relationship bounces did put me off a bit. The story I love and Richelle Mead's writing style continues to impress. Few authors have drawn me into their worlds the was she has done so far.
***Please note if you have not read the previous two books of the series I suggest doing so before reading further to avoid past spoilers.***
Working with her current lover, King Dorian, along with her advisors Shaya and Rurik, Eugenie is trying to manage the war with minimal damage. And she still has to manage her Earthly job, banishing and dealing with unwanted visitors. Bills must be paid after all! I do not think I could handle the dual life. It's no wonder her judgement slips some in this book.
Yes, it slips. In a few areas of life. The biggest being she STILL cannot stick to a guy. While she starts of with smooth, dominant, hot, and somewhat manipulative Dorian, she switches (yet AGAIN) back to Kiyo. Kiyo the kitsune, father Queen Maiwenn's daughter, sexy and very anti-war. After basically abandoning her in the past book, she goes to him in an an insta-switch moment after she feels Dorian tricked her.
Now I can deal with the love triangles where they like each other but don't act much on it. But I hate when one can't decide and ping-pongs her affections the way Eugenie is!
Outside of the romantic aspects of this book, Eugenie is trying to one up Katrice of Rowan Land and the rumored Iron Crown might be the answer. Jasmine really starts to come around in this book and I am starting to actually like her. And the famous animosity between Tim and Lara come to a surprise (and unrealistic) head when they finally meat!
There is also a bit of story for a ghost named Deanna who wants Eugenie's help. While a small bit role. the information she has for Eugenie is priceless!
Some major turns in this book! While I did enjoy it overall, Eugenie's behavior and the relationship bounces did put me off a bit. The story I love and Richelle Mead's writing style continues to impress. Few authors have drawn me into their worlds the was she has done so far.
January 1, 2023
I am just in love with her and all her series. She never ceases to amazing me. Amazing book from cover to back. Fabulous addition to her series.
February 28, 2011
Kiyo needs to go...I don't know why Eugenie can't see how wonderful Dorian is? This is a two star book; only getting an extra star for the final two chapters. There wasn't a good flow to the plot. Eugenie spent awkward scenes in transition to this world and the next...such as the whole dating kiyo again - "We fell into our old routine of TV and sex; or something". She wasn't even doing any banishing really; and the PI never really came into play. That made for a dull filler waiting for the
to take place, and then some more filler before the cliffhanger bomb was dropped...
The actual part about finding/getting the crown was too short. Then the sex thing afterwards was weird. Dating again lead to avoiding the otherworld, so Eugenie was away on a sexcapade, allowing
was a little too perfect and rushed. Whatever happened to funny gentry babyshowers, and helping her people find water. I don't know if I am disappointed in this book because it didn't turn out like I thought or what?
If you are a Kiyo lover you will most certainly enjoy it. This Bud's for you! Otherwise, if Dorian is close to your heart (like mine); then this story will break your heart. The very first few scenes where Dorian and Eugenie were a couple, and he was 'admiring' Eugenie's dress (stolen from AH's comments...priceless); then reading Dorian's vast difference in opinion from Kiyo's take on FATHERHOOD were the best! I hope Dorian kills Kiyo - just like Leith!
to take place, and then some more filler before the cliffhanger bomb was dropped...
The actual part about finding/getting the crown was too short. Then the sex thing afterwards was weird. Dating again lead to avoiding the otherworld, so Eugenie was away on a sexcapade, allowing
was a little too perfect and rushed. Whatever happened to funny gentry babyshowers, and helping her people find water. I don't know if I am disappointed in this book because it didn't turn out like I thought or what?
If you are a Kiyo lover you will most certainly enjoy it. This Bud's for you! Otherwise, if Dorian is close to your heart (like mine); then this story will break your heart. The very first few scenes where Dorian and Eugenie were a couple, and he was 'admiring' Eugenie's dress (stolen from AH's comments...priceless); then reading Dorian's vast difference in opinion from Kiyo's take on FATHERHOOD were the best! I hope Dorian kills Kiyo - just like Leith!
January 16, 2012
Honestly, I want to CRY that I wasted a whole days reading on this blip in Richelle Meads Dark Swan road. Really, I would LOVE nothing more then to post all the spoilers for all to see and save you from the trauma of this disaster of a book. BUT I WON"T
I ADORE Richelle Mead, but we are all human. THis book will have to be chalked up to her one tragic mistake...
I ADORE Richelle Mead, but we are all human. THis book will have to be chalked up to her one tragic mistake...
March 19, 2016
I really enjoyed the first two installments of the Dark Swan series but I found myself getting really frustrated as I was reading Iron Crowned. Eugenie makes some seriously bad decisions and there were times I was about ready to strangle her! I'm getting really annoyed that she refuses to accept her role as queen of the Thorn Land, her people are suffering because she won't step up to her responsibilities and it's about time she grew up and did the right thing.
I've also had enough of the love triangle and starting to wonder just how many times Eugenie will jump back and forth between Dorian and Kiyo. Dorian behaves badly in Iron Crowned and while I don't blame her for being angry I didn't like the fact that she goes running straight back to Kiyo before even talking to him to get his side of the story. I've gone from really loving Kiyo in the first book to completely despising him now, his actions in Iron Crowned made me want to punch him! I don't think Dorian is much better though so at the moment I'm not routing for either one of them. I'd rather see Eugenie on her own and learning to become a decent queen.
I am curious to see if Eugenie can redeem herself in the next installment though and although I saw the twist at the end coming it should make things interesting as the series progresses. Unfortunately this wasn't my favourite book in the series but I'm hoping things will improve again from here onwards.
I've also had enough of the love triangle and starting to wonder just how many times Eugenie will jump back and forth between Dorian and Kiyo. Dorian behaves badly in Iron Crowned and while I don't blame her for being angry I didn't like the fact that she goes running straight back to Kiyo before even talking to him to get his side of the story. I've gone from really loving Kiyo in the first book to completely despising him now, his actions in Iron Crowned made me want to punch him! I don't think Dorian is much better though so at the moment I'm not routing for either one of them. I'd rather see Eugenie on her own and learning to become a decent queen.
I am curious to see if Eugenie can redeem herself in the next installment though and although I saw the twist at the end coming it should make things interesting as the series progresses. Unfortunately this wasn't my favourite book in the series but I'm hoping things will improve again from here onwards.
May 8, 2011
Originally posted at WickedLilPixie Reviews
Iron Crowned is the much anticipated third book in Richelle Mead’s Dark Swan series. The series follows Eugenie Markham, newly made Queen of the Thorn Land and daughter to the epically feared Storm King. She must maintain her responsibilities in the Otherworld as Queen while also paying her bills and keeping her house as a part-time shaman in the real world. War is raging between her land and the land of Rowan. Her only hope of winning this War and minimizing deaths is to seek the Iron Crown…
I’m just going to jump right in and say that I grew quite frustrated with Eugenie’s childish stubborness. At this point in a series we expect a character to really grow, but in Iron Crowned she does several things that truly had me disappointed in her. She turns her back on newly acquired responsibilities, taking full steps backwards instead of forwards. She starts off in the novel as this kickass Queen, and then halfway through the book she ends up an Anita Blake cliche. Nevertheless, this is her story and it was told in true *smokin hot* Richelle Mead style. There is definitely drama, and most of it was predictable, but there is one *GASP!*-style betrayal that definitely threw me for a loop. Dorian continues to be the strongest and most enjoyable character to follow. He is what he is. He has never pretended to be otherwise nor has he tricked her in to believing he is something else, like some other characters have {coughcoughKIYO}. Although he does manipulate Eugenie at times in to doing something, he makes it clear (to me!) that he sincerely does have her best interest at heart. Even if it just happens to directly effects his best interest as well . The few heart-touching moments in this one completely revolve around Dorian. At this point, HE makes the series for me. I want him to prevail, and to be happy!
The bottom line with Iron Crowned is that you might not like what you are reading with how things are playing out, but you definitely won’t be able to put it down. Without giving away too much, when you reach the last page, you will want to throw the book as it ends quite abruptly. I enjoy this series, but I really don’t feel like it holds a candle to her Georgina Kincaid series. Maybe it’s not fair to compare the two, but there you go. I still have faith that with the events in this one that Eugenie will truly rise to her potential and be the Queen the Otherworld needs her to be!
Dark Swan is set to be a 4 book series, so the next book will be the end. And we only have… 10 months to find out what happens next. *bites nails*
Storm Born
Thorn Queen
Iron Crowned
Title TBA – January 2012
Iron Crowned is the much anticipated third book in Richelle Mead’s Dark Swan series. The series follows Eugenie Markham, newly made Queen of the Thorn Land and daughter to the epically feared Storm King. She must maintain her responsibilities in the Otherworld as Queen while also paying her bills and keeping her house as a part-time shaman in the real world. War is raging between her land and the land of Rowan. Her only hope of winning this War and minimizing deaths is to seek the Iron Crown…
I’m just going to jump right in and say that I grew quite frustrated with Eugenie’s childish stubborness. At this point in a series we expect a character to really grow, but in Iron Crowned she does several things that truly had me disappointed in her. She turns her back on newly acquired responsibilities, taking full steps backwards instead of forwards. She starts off in the novel as this kickass Queen, and then halfway through the book she ends up an Anita Blake cliche. Nevertheless, this is her story and it was told in true *smokin hot* Richelle Mead style. There is definitely drama, and most of it was predictable, but there is one *GASP!*-style betrayal that definitely threw me for a loop. Dorian continues to be the strongest and most enjoyable character to follow. He is what he is. He has never pretended to be otherwise nor has he tricked her in to believing he is something else, like some other characters have {coughcoughKIYO}. Although he does manipulate Eugenie at times in to doing something, he makes it clear (to me!) that he sincerely does have her best interest at heart. Even if it just happens to directly effects his best interest as well . The few heart-touching moments in this one completely revolve around Dorian. At this point, HE makes the series for me. I want him to prevail, and to be happy!
The bottom line with Iron Crowned is that you might not like what you are reading with how things are playing out, but you definitely won’t be able to put it down. Without giving away too much, when you reach the last page, you will want to throw the book as it ends quite abruptly. I enjoy this series, but I really don’t feel like it holds a candle to her Georgina Kincaid series. Maybe it’s not fair to compare the two, but there you go. I still have faith that with the events in this one that Eugenie will truly rise to her potential and be the Queen the Otherworld needs her to be!
Dark Swan is set to be a 4 book series, so the next book will be the end. And we only have… 10 months to find out what happens next. *bites nails*
Storm Born
Thorn Queen
Iron Crowned
Title TBA – January 2012
August 27, 2016
3.5 stars. This had a few surprises in it and was also quite irritating. I thought that I was annoyed with the author and the book but I'm annoyed with the characters, which should mean the author has done a good job..and maybe it does- I can't decide. I have no choice but to finish the last one in the series with the BB&B brigade to discover how it all ends.
September 8, 2024
IM-PRE-SIO-NAN-TE!!!. Madre mía!!. Ya me estaba encantando, pero desde la visita al hospital....Es que no lo puedo ni creer!. Viva Dorian! Viva su madre, viva su tíaaaaa!.
No, en serio...giro más creíble y más inesperado a la vez... y de esos que una vez lo lees, miras hacia atrás toda la historia desde el principio y se te ponen los pelos de punta (sin gomina, digo).
Me había parecido doloroso el libro pasado, pero esto... aunque de una forma distinta, fue bien terrible. Casi no puedo pensar en otra cosa. Qué traición!. Qué traición!.
Tanto es así que se me olvidan el porrón de momentazos supercalifragilísticos de esta misma novela, como lo que le costó a la pobre hundir la mano en la tierra irreclamada... y no convertirla en otro desierto😂 "Quédate como estas, quédate como estás" y los otros todos desconcertadosccon cara de haba😳 "Y ya está?" Jajajaja 🤣🤣🤣🤣
De verdad que no puedo creer que esta sea la autora de Vampire Academy, que me gustó, pero es que esto es otro nivel. No parece escrito por la misma persona. Pero ni un poquito. Qué librazo, oye!. GL (Richelle Mead)
No, en serio...giro más creíble y más inesperado a la vez... y de esos que una vez lo lees, miras hacia atrás toda la historia desde el principio y se te ponen los pelos de punta (sin gomina, digo).
Me había parecido doloroso el libro pasado, pero esto... aunque de una forma distinta, fue bien terrible. Casi no puedo pensar en otra cosa. Qué traición!. Qué traición!.
Tanto es así que se me olvidan el porrón de momentazos supercalifragilísticos de esta misma novela, como lo que le costó a la pobre hundir la mano en la tierra irreclamada... y no convertirla en otro desierto😂 "Quédate como estas, quédate como estás" y los otros todos desconcertadosccon cara de haba😳 "Y ya está?" Jajajaja 🤣🤣🤣🤣
De verdad que no puedo creer que esta sea la autora de Vampire Academy, que me gustó, pero es que esto es otro nivel. No parece escrito por la misma persona. Pero ni un poquito. Qué librazo, oye!. GL (Richelle Mead)
September 19, 2012
Spoilers
-I did find this entertaining, I was hooked from the beginning until the end but I couldn't rate this higher because I hated the heroine with a burning passion — not because she turned out to be a cheater, not because she was dumb but because she let people treat her rubbish - Kiyo, Roland, her mum, that freeloader Tim and everyone in between.
-I hated Eugenie's mum and stepdad, Roland - they were hideous and vile. Seriously, Eugenie has the worst parents ever — what kind of father wouldn't want to kill the guy that repeatedly raped their daughter? I think if Eugenie was his real daughter he wouldn't have hesitated killing her rapist. I can't believe her mum and Roland ignored Eugenine and treated her like shit after she was kidnapped and raped for weeks - Where was the unconditional love and support? What pissed me off more was Eugenie didn't call them out on their behaviour or act like they were being dicks — no, she thought it was ok for her parents to treat her so atrociously, when she so desperately needed looking after. Sure, she didn't tell Roland about what she was in the Otherworld, but what did he expect when she knew how he would react. And so what if she hid the truth, any other parent would put that aside to make sure their daughter was ok after her rape, they wouldn't tell her to fuck off and act like she was the anti christ..WTF sort of parents were they? All the way through I was waiting for Eugenie to give them a verbal smack down about abandoning her when she needed them most — but no, she was the one who was groveling and begging for forgiveness..ugh. Her parents attitude pissed me off more than anything else in this book.
-Eugenine was stupid, she knew Dorian was manipulative but she was too dumb to see he was playing her. I don't know why she was so shocked by what he did.
I don't have any sympathy for Dorian, he knew Eugenie would be pissed with him and possibly dump him — but he did it anyway because he wanted power more than he wanted Eugenie. I don't know why so many readers think Eugenie's the bad guy in the relationship — he put her life in danger and he was the one who suggested that her ex lover should work with her — he should have seen her cheating out of anger coming.
I actually don't blame her for how she reacted — he didn't deserve faithfulness after he sent her on a suicide mission, lied to her and betrayed her.
-Naturally I hated Kiyo - he's one of the worst love interests ever. He's annoying self righteous, hypocritical and judgmental. He was unbelievable — he refused to kill the guy that raped the woman he loved, and he didn't want to kill Katrice, the queen that had started a war and killed thousands yet he could so easily kill Eugenie - a pregnant woman he claimed to love, all because of some old prophecy..it made no sense.
I was irritated that Eugenine constantly tried to defend her actions to Kiyo - she didn't owe the bastard any explanations. Why couldn't Eugenie actually be the badass she claimed to be and kill the fucker?!
-When someone offered to assassinate Eugenie's enemy, Katrice, to end the war, Eugenie got all self righteous and ethical claiming it was wrong and underhanded to have her killed. So she basically thought it was better to carry on a war and let thousands of innocents die rather than kill just one person — and not just any one person but the person who was responsible for the war in the first place. How fucking stupid.
-Jasmine would have been a better queen — she knew how to play the game, she was comfortable with her powers and heritage, she was ruthless when needed and most of all she wanted to rule. Eugenie had none of those qualities.
I didn't completely hate this book but it was a huge let down because the first two books were actually quite good. Eugenie could have been a decent heroine but like all Mead's other heroines - Rose and what's her name, she became more and more unlikeable as the series progressed. And I know she's only going to get worse...ugh.
-I did find this entertaining, I was hooked from the beginning until the end but I couldn't rate this higher because I hated the heroine with a burning passion — not because she turned out to be a cheater, not because she was dumb but because she let people treat her rubbish - Kiyo, Roland, her mum, that freeloader Tim and everyone in between.
-I hated Eugenie's mum and stepdad, Roland - they were hideous and vile. Seriously, Eugenie has the worst parents ever — what kind of father wouldn't want to kill the guy that repeatedly raped their daughter? I think if Eugenie was his real daughter he wouldn't have hesitated killing her rapist. I can't believe her mum and Roland ignored Eugenine and treated her like shit after she was kidnapped and raped for weeks - Where was the unconditional love and support? What pissed me off more was Eugenie didn't call them out on their behaviour or act like they were being dicks — no, she thought it was ok for her parents to treat her so atrociously, when she so desperately needed looking after. Sure, she didn't tell Roland about what she was in the Otherworld, but what did he expect when she knew how he would react. And so what if she hid the truth, any other parent would put that aside to make sure their daughter was ok after her rape, they wouldn't tell her to fuck off and act like she was the anti christ..WTF sort of parents were they? All the way through I was waiting for Eugenie to give them a verbal smack down about abandoning her when she needed them most — but no, she was the one who was groveling and begging for forgiveness..ugh. Her parents attitude pissed me off more than anything else in this book.
-Eugenine was stupid, she knew Dorian was manipulative but she was too dumb to see he was playing her. I don't know why she was so shocked by what he did.
I don't have any sympathy for Dorian, he knew Eugenie would be pissed with him and possibly dump him — but he did it anyway because he wanted power more than he wanted Eugenie. I don't know why so many readers think Eugenie's the bad guy in the relationship — he put her life in danger and he was the one who suggested that her ex lover should work with her — he should have seen her cheating out of anger coming.
I actually don't blame her for how she reacted — he didn't deserve faithfulness after he sent her on a suicide mission, lied to her and betrayed her.
-Naturally I hated Kiyo - he's one of the worst love interests ever. He's annoying self righteous, hypocritical and judgmental. He was unbelievable — he refused to kill the guy that raped the woman he loved, and he didn't want to kill Katrice, the queen that had started a war and killed thousands yet he could so easily kill Eugenie - a pregnant woman he claimed to love, all because of some old prophecy..it made no sense.
I was irritated that Eugenine constantly tried to defend her actions to Kiyo - she didn't owe the bastard any explanations. Why couldn't Eugenie actually be the badass she claimed to be and kill the fucker?!
-When someone offered to assassinate Eugenie's enemy, Katrice, to end the war, Eugenie got all self righteous and ethical claiming it was wrong and underhanded to have her killed. So she basically thought it was better to carry on a war and let thousands of innocents die rather than kill just one person — and not just any one person but the person who was responsible for the war in the first place. How fucking stupid.
-Jasmine would have been a better queen — she knew how to play the game, she was comfortable with her powers and heritage, she was ruthless when needed and most of all she wanted to rule. Eugenie had none of those qualities.
I didn't completely hate this book but it was a huge let down because the first two books were actually quite good. Eugenie could have been a decent heroine but like all Mead's other heroines - Rose and what's her name, she became more and more unlikeable as the series progressed. And I know she's only going to get worse...ugh.
April 3, 2011
What were my thoughts on this book?
Hmmmm.....Let me think for a second...............Okay! Back to my thoughts!
It was a remarkable,suspenseful ongoing joy ride read for me! I literally, no LIES,jumped in my seat with anticipation from beginning till end,along with hundreds of profanity words that I just could not help expressing while reading. So what's my point? Here goes,I don't normally get all riled up and crazed about a book; but for some bizarre reason all of Richelle Mead's series tend to make me Angry,Happy,Sad,blissful.Point blank,it makes me into one crazy Byotch! My emotions falter so quickly, I can never make up my mind whether I'm enjoying myself or not,but then I realized if I can express myself this way by reading just this one book. Then it's a Staggering,Astonishing,Extraordinary,Mind-Bloggling Read! I LOVED IT
I'm trying my hardest to write a few thoughts down,without spoiling this read for anyone,so bear with,if it seems as if I'm speaking in circles:
As Much as Eugenie Markham didn't want to be a part of the Otherworld and become Queen of the lands Thorn and Rowan. She did a phenomenal job and understood her importance of taking care of her two kingdoms. The only thing that shoved my feelings aside a few times for her was,she didn't couldn't make up her mind between the two men she loved but couldn't make sense of "why" she loved one but then loved the other as well.In My Opinion,she needed to learn to trust one of them and should have seen from day one Kiyo the shape-shifting bastard was not the right guy for her,although he came in handy for one thing in this novel,but it could have been avoided. On the other hand if she would have gave in and seen the the whole situation from Dorian the Oak King's Pov,she would have saved herself so much despair and heartache! She was such a dumb broad! Other than her mistakes,which I know she wrongfully regrets. She was an awesome Heroine in this series,and I wouldn't ask for less or more of who and what she is.
The whole plot of the story was quite remarkable.What fascinated me the most,was Eugenie going on the Hunt for the Iron Crown. I swear whenever the subject was up I shivered with goosebumps! It was written so perfectly,I felt like I was the heroine in the book and I was receiving this news. The First time Masthera explains to Eugenie what the Iron crown is,it pulled me into the story more than I already had. Here's an example:
"What's the iron Crown?"
An ancient artifact.One warn by the greatest,most powerful leaders in the 'shining ones' history.Leaders feared by all,who ruled many kingdoms"
Just hearing the word Powerful Leader makes me ansty! So when the unexpected happens and she does her thang! I fell in love with this series,and don't regret anything that T'd me off! Once again I loved it!
IMO if you're someone who loves to read UF then pick this series up and start it or finish it! The first book was meh,but only because the author introduces us to all the main characters and their powers etc.Other than than that,book 2&3 ARE OFF THE HOOK! Get'em and read them A.S.A.P!
My Review can also be viewed on: http://shamelessromancereviews.blogsp...
My thanks goes out to Rhonda W.For this rec, To be honest,I would have not picked up this series at all if it weren't for her.I gotta show her some lovin' she keeps surprising with all these wonderful books & sticks by my side through my angry tears,happy tears,and all my excited squealing! LMAO! You're the Best Rhonda!
Hmmmm.....Let me think for a second...............Okay! Back to my thoughts!
It was a remarkable,suspenseful ongoing joy ride read for me! I literally, no LIES,jumped in my seat with anticipation from beginning till end,along with hundreds of profanity words that I just could not help expressing while reading. So what's my point? Here goes,I don't normally get all riled up and crazed about a book; but for some bizarre reason all of Richelle Mead's series tend to make me Angry,Happy,Sad,blissful.Point blank,it makes me into one crazy Byotch! My emotions falter so quickly, I can never make up my mind whether I'm enjoying myself or not,but then I realized if I can express myself this way by reading just this one book. Then it's a Staggering,Astonishing,Extraordinary,Mind-Bloggling Read! I LOVED IT
I'm trying my hardest to write a few thoughts down,without spoiling this read for anyone,so bear with,if it seems as if I'm speaking in circles:
As Much as Eugenie Markham didn't want to be a part of the Otherworld and become Queen of the lands Thorn and Rowan. She did a phenomenal job and understood her importance of taking care of her two kingdoms. The only thing that shoved my feelings aside a few times for her was,she didn't couldn't make up her mind between the two men she loved but couldn't make sense of "why" she loved one but then loved the other as well.In My Opinion,she needed to learn to trust one of them and should have seen from day one Kiyo the shape-shifting bastard was not the right guy for her,although he came in handy for one thing in this novel,but it could have been avoided. On the other hand if she would have gave in and seen the the whole situation from Dorian the Oak King's Pov,she would have saved herself so much despair and heartache! She was such a dumb broad! Other than her mistakes,which I know she wrongfully regrets. She was an awesome Heroine in this series,and I wouldn't ask for less or more of who and what she is.
The whole plot of the story was quite remarkable.What fascinated me the most,was Eugenie going on the Hunt for the Iron Crown. I swear whenever the subject was up I shivered with goosebumps! It was written so perfectly,I felt like I was the heroine in the book and I was receiving this news. The First time Masthera explains to Eugenie what the Iron crown is,it pulled me into the story more than I already had. Here's an example:
"What's the iron Crown?"
An ancient artifact.One warn by the greatest,most powerful leaders in the 'shining ones' history.Leaders feared by all,who ruled many kingdoms"
Just hearing the word Powerful Leader makes me ansty! So when the unexpected happens and she does her thang! I fell in love with this series,and don't regret anything that T'd me off! Once again I loved it!
IMO if you're someone who loves to read UF then pick this series up and start it or finish it! The first book was meh,but only because the author introduces us to all the main characters and their powers etc.Other than than that,book 2&3 ARE OFF THE HOOK! Get'em and read them A.S.A.P!
My Review can also be viewed on: http://shamelessromancereviews.blogsp...
My thanks goes out to Rhonda W.For this rec, To be honest,I would have not picked up this series at all if it weren't for her.I gotta show her some lovin' she keeps surprising with all these wonderful books & sticks by my side through my angry tears,happy tears,and all my excited squealing! LMAO! You're the Best Rhonda!
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