To Charm a Dark Prince (The Iron Crystal, #1)

by Kathryn Ann Kingsley

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.In To Charm a Dark Prince, Kingsley transports readers to the Avalon. In this version of Avalon, King Arthur is dead and Mordred, the Prince in Iron, rules. The people of Avalon fear Mordred, but not in a good way. He imprisoned Elementals, hence entrapping magic. He had good reason to do so, as the Elementals became reckless, thus creating chaos. However, this action led to Avalon becoming a desolate and depressing city.

He faced opposition from many angles, one of which came from Gwendolyn, a nineteen-year-old from modern day Kansas. The manner in which Gwen got caught in this whole scenario was quite hilarious. I will not go into many details, but I will say this much. It involved a cat and fire.

It was interesting getting to know Mordred. The story portrays him as controlling, a tyrant, and brutal. However, it seemed he had a bit of a soft spot for Gwen, which may lead to his downfall. Also, there were times throughout the story when I kept wondering if Mordred was really the villain. Sticking to his convictions and not being easily swayed was his most admirable trait. Some readers may find Gwen’s behaviour annoying. However, given the sheltered life she lived, it came as no surprise. She shows some growth as the story progressed, but there is room for improvement.

Mordred and Gwen’s interactions reeked of sexual tension and humour. It was quite interesting, given the circumstances. Mordred doesn’t trust her, and with good reason. 

The world Kingsley created fascinated me and fed my desire for everything Arthurian. The story started out slow, and it took sometime for it to pick up. This was mainly because of the author introducing readers to the new Avalon, and providing information as it relates to the reasons for Mordred’s actions.

To Charm a Dark Prince delivered a fun start to The Iron Crystal series. I am curious to learn if Gwen will succeed in her mission to bring down Mordred, or will they join forces? So many questions, especially with that explosive ending. This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading