The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (Iron Fey, Book 1)

Meghan has always been practically invisible. Since her dad disappeared, and her mom remarried, it seems like everyone's focus is on her little half-brother Ethan. But tomorrow is her sixteenth birthday, and she has a study session with the hottest guy in school. She's determined to make the most of it, so when her day starts with a card from her little brother...she's confident that things are off on the right foot.

Wrong. First, her regular social life is murdered, then her brother is stolen away and replaced with a changeling. As if that wasn't enough, her best friend reveals himself to be Robin Goodfellow AKA Puck (yeah, from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream). Puck lets her in on a secret: her brother's been taken to Faery: the only way he's coming back is if they go find him. So much for Sweet Sixteen!

Suddenly she's walking through her brother's closet, and ending up in Faerie...which is beyond bizarre. As a servant of King Oberon, Puck isn't exactly following orders by leading her around. When he disappears mysteriously, Grimalkin shows up. (He's very Cheshire Cat). He agrees to lead her to Puck for a favor. Meghan is brought to Court...where she learns that Oberon is her dad?! The fact that Puck is always calling her princess suddenly makes more sense. The Winter Court of Queen Mab is scheduled to visit the Summer Court of Oberon and Titania soon. Meghan is expected to take part in the festivities, and there she meets Ash (again). He's the one who tried to kill her in the forest! He is the son of Queen Mab, Prince Ash.

The four of them strike a deal: Puck, Ash, and Grimalkin will help Meghan find her brother. Grim is doing it for his own reasons, Ash agrees only if she will come to the Winter Court afterwards, and Puck is there as her ever--present protector and friend. Along the way they encounter many hardships, both in Faerie and in the real world. Will they ever figure out who has her brother? What are these strange fey that seem to be neither wild, Winter, nor Summer? The Iron Fey make their appearance, and it's not pretty.

Meghan must find the power within herself to continue on her quest. Her heart beats faster whenever Ash gets close. Could something be blossoming between Winter and Summer? This quick read is great for faerie fans. The romance isn't overbearing, and the plot incorporates old mythology and stories. I enjoyed it!

"'Picture the glamour in your mind.' The cat half slitted its eyes again. 'Imagine it is a cloak that covers you completely. You can shape the glamour to resemble anything you wish, including an empty space in the air, a spot where no one is standing. As you drape the glamour over yourself, you must believe that no one can see you. Just, so.'
The eyes vanished, along with the rest of the cat. Even knowing Grimalkin was capable of it, it was still eerie seeing him fade from sight right before my eyes," (Kagawa pg. 190-191, 2010).

*Library Link*

If you liked this, check out:
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa (Iron Fey, Book 2)
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (Paranormalcy, Book 1)
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely, Book 1)

Kagawa, Julie. (2010). The Iron King. Don Mills, Ont: Harlequin Teen.