The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

Reading Level: Ages 12 and Up

Paperback: 312 Pages

Publisher: Flux

ISBN: 978-0-7387-2582-6

My Rating: 4/5

When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed Donna Underwood's father and drover 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 be 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.

It took me a long time to read this book just because I'm in school. And normally I have the worst memory in the world and forget everything. I'd usually have to go back over the book and skim through it to kind of jog my memory I guess you could say. I didn't have to do that with this book which was great. It really stuck with me and I very much enjoyed the story. The characters were likable for the most part and it was very well written.

Characters: The only thing bad I can say about the characters is that I didn't get enough of them. Donna is a great character...she's well developed, makes the story very engaging, has a good personality. She has a lot of great qualities and likable assets. Navin we don't learn too too much about other than the fact that he is Donna's best friend and stands by her no matter what. He's a very endearing character and I really liked Xan...he was probably my favorite character.

Plot: The plot is great in this story. It's basically Donna struggling with her...abnormal physical attribute and hiding it from everyone. She doesn't go to high school anymore because of something that happened and now none of the kids like her and they all think she is a freak. Eventually she meets Xan very early in the book and they start this weird kind of...relationship I guess you could say. Anyways, it all boils down to Donna trying to save Maker and Navin from the wood queen.

After going back over this I realized I rambled a bit haha. I have a hard time explaining  things without giving away too many details. I don't like to ruin books for people because I hate when they are ruined for me. Anyways! haha. It's a great book, if you haven't read it yet then you should pick it up, it's really good. The characters were admirable, the plot was engaging, and overall it was amazing! I loved everything about it and it stuck with me even though I had to take a break from reading for a while.