The Iron Witch Review

Unfortunately, only one book review today. Sorry all.

Customary warning: This is a reminder that these are my personal opinions. My thoughts and feelings are not your thoughts and feelings. I may not always be the target  audience for a book; sometimes I am. If I do not like a book, that doesn’t mean you’ll dislike it. If I love a book or simply like a book, you may hate it. Take everything I say with this knowledge. If it sounds interesting to you despite what I’ve said, then go ahead and read it. You’ll only know you like something if you read it yourself.

That being said… Spoilers ahead.

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The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

Synopsis From The Book

When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed Donna Underwood’s father and drove her mother mad. Her own nearly fatal injuries were fixed by alchemy―the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. Now seventeen, Donna feels like a freak, doomed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. Only her relationship with her best friend, Navin, is keeping her sane.

But when vicious wood elves abduct Navin, Donna is forced to accept her role in the centuries-old war between human alchemists and these darkest outcasts of Faerie. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous guy with faery blood running through his veins and secrets of his own, Donna races to save Navin―even if it means betraying everything her parents fought to the death to protect.

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Initial Thoughts Before Reading:

I hope that this book is a book without a sequel. The premise seems fantastic, and I don’t want it to be another book added to my count of books without sequels that I’ve read.

Initial Thoughts After Reading:

It was short and sweet, requiring a sequel. Upon further investigation it is the first book in a series of three. This is understandable, however I have no idea when I’ll ever get the sequel. This is one of the books I got from my friend.

Plot Overview:

Donna is a senior in HS, homeschooled by the Order of Alchemists that raise her. When she was seven her father died protecting her in an attack of Dark Elves, while her mother was rendered soulless. In the incident, her hands were damaged and forced to be fixed with an iron compound. She wears gloves to hide these scar like tattoos.

The book begins with Donna and her best friend Navin going to a party. At the party Donna meets a rich boy named Xan. The next day Donna is going to visit a man named Maker, Navin stalkers her, and they run into a Dark Elf. They escape successfully, and Donna explains her history as an alchemist to Navin.

The next day she goes on a date with Xan, finds out he’s half fae and has scars just like she does (him from his wings being ripped out). A few days later Navin is kidnapped by the elves. Xan and Donna go to rescue him, and find out from the Elf Queen that she wants an elixir for immortality. Xan and Donna break into the lab of one of her order’s leaders to get the elixir and returns to save their lives.

The book ends with her returning home after saving her friend’s life and to be put on trial for stealing the elixir.

What I Liked:

The characters were intricate for as little time as we are given to meet them.

The fairy lore is explained well enough. This is to say, for how much time is spent on it, we learn a lot.

The battles are well described and full. I really liked this, aspect.

What I Would Have Liked or Changed:

I would like more on the alchemist part of it all. I don’t feel like I learned much about alchemists at all.

Time line: What is too fast? This book is too fast. It takes like a week at most for everything to happen.

I want more on other types of fae. We have a half Fae, why don’t we talk about that more, and what Donna knows even if Xan knows nothing.

Time Taken To Read

1hr 10min

Rating: 3/5

Notable Quotes:

None