Karen Mahoney

I've wanted to read a longer work of Mahoney's since first finishing "Falling to Ash" in The Eternal Kiss anthology. I eagerly waited for The Iron Witch and when the chance came I bought it and horded it and loved it and named it George.

It doesn't disappoint. In some respects I think it took a little too long to bring all the various plot elements together (Xan's secrets, the beast that attacked Donna, Navin's kidnapping, the shadiness of practically every adult in the book). Navin doesn't get kidnapped until about two-thirds into the book, leaving how Donna saves him and resolves some mysteries for the last third. Leaving a rather important piece of the book for the ending third meant a lot of what happened was dumb luck and plot convenience, especially when they found the secret room.

I really liked Donna, Navin and Xan, I think Donna's a little oblivious where Navin is concerned, but all three of them were likable and enjoyable to read about. Mahoney didn't make it easy for any of them, Donna's initial starstruck awe of Xan is gradually tempered with a natural concern for the fact she barely knows him. Navin, despite his feelings (or not) for Donna never becomes that guy who is irrational or confrontational. And Xan...he was a good mix of mysterious older cute guy and vulnerable victim putting up a brave front.

Most importantly, at least to me, Donna had a good head on her shoulders. She made some reckless decisions, but trusted in herself so those reckless decisions never became recklessly dangerous foolhardy decisions. She made valid points that despite what the Order says, given a choice between what Navin's abductors wanted and Navin (an ordinary human) they'd put their interests first. Which doesn't make them any better then the abductors. Blindly following what they tell her, with vague promises that one day it would make sense, was questionable at best.

Despite knowing there's a second book coming (next year :sobs: ) Donna's ending journal entry felt abrupt. It was like 'And so I got into trouble.' I hope that when the second book comes out it makes a bit more sense (maybe something happened to her that made her cut the journal entry off so abruptly?). I also hope that it doesn't lose the balance it has maintained between the three.

Rachel Vincent's post "Rachel on love Triangles" about love triangles in her books (Soul Screamers mainly with Nash/Kaylee/Tod) was timely because it put into perspective how I felt about Navin/Donna/Xan. Which is not a triangle because one piece of it (Donna) doesn't acknowledge that there is any other person she's interested in. She loves and holds Navin in affection, he's her best friend and they've been through a lot together, but that feeling is not the same as what she has for Xan.

I really hope the second book doesn't tip it over one way or the other.
… (més)

Maybe it was the elf and fairy thing but I just couldn't get into this book. I typically like fantasy books with witches and magic and I was hoping this would be a good one but it was just disappointing. I skimmed the last half of the book. The book is pretty short so it's a quick read but I think because it's so short there's not much character development and I didn't care about any of the characters at all. The plot really wasn't that interesting to me and it seemed predictable. Overall, just not my type of book. I will not continue this series.… (més)