Iron Crowned by Richelle Mead

Iron Crowned (Dark Swan, #3)

by Richelle Mead

New York Times bestselling author Richelle Mead takes readers back to the Otherworld, an embattled realm mystically entwined with our world—and ruled by one woman's dangerous choice. . .

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. . .

Praise for Richelle Mead's Storm Born. . .

"My kind of book—great characters, dark worlds, and just the right touch of humor. A great read."
—Patricia Briggs, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

Reviewed by Linda on

4 of 5 stars

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I'm not sure if this is really a fair rating, but I was actually quite disappointed in a lot of things in this volume!

First of all, Dorian lived up to my suspiscions, he WAS using Eugenie, and I don't see that ending any time soon. His love for her was more a love for her power, the possibility of her having the heir, and the fact that her magic was growing more and more each day.

And I was really disappointed with Eugenie as well, I can't believe she actually slept with Kiyo before she had talked to Dorian! Really, the little 'in my head it was over straight away, so I wasn't cheating' must be one of the more ridiculous things she's ever thought or said ever. And then, she never even let Dorian explain anything, she only held on to her anger.

I loved the way she stepped up to get Jasmine back from Katrice, though, that was awesome. And I also loved how she took over Rowan land, that was the best revenge she could ever get over Katrice and her family.

I totally hate what Kiyo became in this book! I didn't totally trust him, but I did like him before, even with his withholding the truth about Maiwenn and his upcoming fatherhood. However, the way he went back into Eugenie's life, even if he helped her get the iron crown, was not cool at all. And the way he treated her after he found out that Eugenie was pregnant was truly despicable.

The whole last part was just a huge mess, and not really in a good way. Kiyo trying to kill Eugenie, Dorian 'willing' to step up and play father to Eugenie's twins, and Jasmine running around being all kinds of helpful is just too weird.

Also, I really didn't like the steamy scenes in this book, they were not a nice steamy in my opinion, very quick and to the point, with not a lot of feeling in them at all, just a quick way to scratch an itch it seemed.

So all in all, I am not satisfied with this book.

However, I do have hopes that the twins might end up being Dorian's after all! It could have taken a little time for his little swimmers to arrive where they had to go to make her pregnant, and the pill could have been inefficient even before Eug took the antibiotics. Then, I could get back to trusting Dorian more, and being happy about things.

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  • Started reading
  • 23 February, 2011: Finished reading
  • 23 February, 2011: Reviewed