Iron by Robin L. Cole - Exciting, compelling, and sure to draw you in. 4.5/5 Stars!

Today, I am reviewing the Paranormal/Urban Fantasy story Iron by Robin L. Cole. The first novel in the exciting The Warding series, we’re introduced to a world where fae folk (don’t call them “faeries;” it pisses them off) walk between the worlds. Some of them, however, have run afoul of the increasingly mad High King, and have been exiled to Earth, searching for some way to return.

Unfortunately for Caitlin, a regular woman who’s rapidly approaching her 30^th birthday (and feeling every minute of it), she’s exactly what they’re looking for. She has the Warding, the ability to repel fae magics and glamours, and the exiles need her.

This is an absolutely stellar book, filled with action, character development, and intriguing plot. I give it a 4.5/5. Here is my breakdown:

Characters: 5/5. A definite strength of this novel. It’s often a trope of urban fantasy how easily and quickly the characters shift from their “normal” lives into the new powers and/or responsibilities thrust upon them. It’s tough to make the journey seem natural and realistic, but Cole has done just that. As Caitlin evolves from a soft woman lamenting hitting 30 into an absolute badass, I felt every step on the journey as she struggled to come to grips with lying to her best friend, her guilt about her new fae compatriots…even the first life she stole. Beyond that, the whole supporting cast was played fantastically, with particular favorites of mine being Mairi and Gannon.

Yeah, definitely like Gannon. /looks over his shoulder and wipes his brow.

Plot/Storyline: 5/5. Realistic yet fantastical, Cole blended fae politics and intrigues with the present day like a seasoned professional. Every plot twist was handled excellently, with just enough “whoa” and none of the “WTHeck?” The final reveals made total sense, and I loved the unfolding of interpersonal relationships and how they drove the story. Character-driven storylines are the best, and this one did it just right.

Flow: 5/5. Perfection. Cole paced between beats like a marching band – always in rhythm, always in tune, and when things got heated you could tell by the tap-tap-tapping of your heart along with the words. The pages passed through my fingers until, at the end, I was astonished that it was already over. In fact, the first thing I said to Cole was “Is the sequel done yet?”

(No, not yet. But she’s writing as fast as she can!)

Spelling/Grammar: 4/5. There were a few typos in this book. A few homophone errors and a couple dropped words round out the mistakes, but I’ve seen much worse. It was a solid, but not fantastic, editing job.

Overall: 4.5/5. I loved Iron and, if you’re a fan of E.J. Stevens’ Ivy Granger series, or Neil Gaiman, or Curse of Prometheus by Morgan St. Knight, then you’ll absolutely adore it too. I’m waiting on tenterhooks for Faster, the sequel, and I’ll let you know what I think!

Pick up your copy of Iron at Amazon today: