I've avoided reviewing this one because I think I would have liked it more if I hadn't been lured by the idea of a lesbian love triangle; but alas, I was, and so I was disappointed.

"McGuire’s debut novel beautifully combines fantasy and real-world conflict into one gripping story. With complex themes of sexuality, family, and responsibility, this tale will enrapture readers in its characters’ journeys." --Booklist (4 stars)

It was a fresh and interesting take on fae. But the true highlight, for me, was the diversity of the characters.

I have elected not to read and review this book due to time constraints. Thank you for the opportunity.

I found Ironspark a little confusing at times and found that I had to force myself to pick it up. I think this is one of those cases of the book just wasn't for me.

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.

Ironspark was the perfect book to read to start out my September. The first scene builds a perfectly spooky vibe that puts the reader right into the world of the Fae. This isn't a world of beautiful elegant Fae, but cruel, ruthless Fae from the legends. Bryn is a hard-edged teen, burdened with responsibilities many her age can't even imagine. Her fierce attitude and constant vigilance make her a boot stomping bad ass with a secretly soft heart. While the romance is refreshing and realistic for Bryn's age, it is the friendships between the newly formed gang that really gave me all the feels.

This is an action packed, fast paced fantasy read that I would suggest for younger teens. While I enjoyed the story, it hit a little younger than I prefer. Overall this was four stars for me, and I would definitely suggest it to tweens and younger aged teens in my library!

Fairies, and shadelings, and water wives, OH MY!!! Ironspark by C.M. McGuire is the snarky urban fantasy I had no idea I needed.

As far as openings go, this quote really sets up expectations remarkably well. We know magic exists. And we know that whatever we think we know about magical creatures is, well, sixty percent bullshit.

Total transparency here. This novel is not for the queasy or faint of heart. It gets gory and has a fair amount of violence. They aren’t over the top and nothing felt overly graphic, but it’s important to note that this does fall towards the older spectrum of YA.

Okay. With that little piece of housekeeping tidied up, we can move on to the good stuff.

Bryn is a complicated seventeen year old girl. She lost her mom to the fae, who then cursed her dad. The entire reason they live in the small town of Easterton, Pennsylvania is because the Seelie court isn’t there. But that doesn’t mean it’s fairy-free.

Most teens harbor rebellious tendencies. And in Bryn’s case, she’s apprenticed herself to a fairy fighting priest, determined to learn everything she can about how to kill fairies. Her father doesn’t know and her younger twin brothers definitely do not know. She’s a girl with secrets and keeps everyone at arm’s length. No matter what.

Well… almost everyone. She does have an ex-girlfriend. But she’s a fairy, of a sort. Her water witch tribe heals and generally works to help keep Bryn safe. And she has a tiny little army of shadelings living with her. Tiny shadow creatures that love being helpful in exchange for jam and snacks. I mean, it sounds like a pretty good deal to me. I’m not going to lie, these shadelings stole my heart from the beginning. I love them and will die for them and would also like my own little shadeling army, please and thank you.

But for as much as Bryn wants to be the lone wolf, and as much as she wants to protect the people she loves by keeping them in the dark, things are about to get a little out of control. And by a little, I mean A LOT!

The Seelie court has infiltrated Bryn’s small town and her mom is showing up in her dreams. She’s so on edge that when a new guy is talking to Jasika––the only person Bryn can call a friend––she’s positive he’s fae. Turns out, he’s not. But when he sees a shadeling appear to warn Bryn of fae trouble, he’s difficult to shake.

With Dom refusing to stay away, Jasika stops taking no for an answer, and Bryn finds herself in a misfit fairy fighting crew.

Which is good, because the Seelie court is closing in.

The mystery dynamics are steeped with delicious tension. Between dreams that aren’t dreams, magic with unclear consequences, and a looming countdown for when the Seelie will arrive, I was turning pages late into the night.

The characters and character dynamics are all very real. Sure, there’s shadelings and witches and fae, but the humans are wonderfully vivid. And yes, there is a bit of a love triangle, but there also isn’t. I mean, it’s complicated. And here is where the rep in this book is outstanding. A bi protagonist, an ace cinnamon roll boy, a lesbian witch. There’s the reality of mental illness, panic attacks, and grief. Magic and supernatural creatures aside, this book captures the layered and nuanced depth of life.

Part of the other reality is how Bryn deals with the hand life has dealt her. She makes plenty of bad choices, often made with good intentions but also simply because she’s just plain stubborn. And as frustrating as that is for the reader, it also struck me as very true to life. I mean, I was a teenage girl once and boy I’m sure my parent’s have some STORIES about stubborn bad choices.

She wants vengeance and answers, but she also is doing the best she can. It doesn’t shield her from consequences and I adore how Dom and Jasika call her out on some of her more very bad choices. But it’s also heartbreakingly tragic how she doesn’t see things until it’s too late. She’s the target of the fae but doesn’t have any sort of Chosen One vibes. It’s her and her wits and if she’s lucky, a hunk of iron. And I really loved that part of what made her strong was the people (and fairies) that surround her.

There are so many things that I loved about Ironspark. The story had intrigue, power, and strength. The story begins by meeting Bryn, a strong and powerful woman who has lost so much. Right off the bat, the character drew me in and held me tightly…or as tight as a FAE SLAYER can hold! I said it…a FAE SLAYER. Bryn has felt for so long that she has had to do everything on her own.

“Times flies when you’re bleeding on someone’s backseat.”

Bryn soon realizes that she doesn’t have to do everything on her own when three individuals are put into her path with the Court Fae show their faces: Gwen, a water witch, Jasika, who has her own grudge against the Fae, and Dom, who was thrown into this world. The combined stories are so powerful and give me Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes. There was a darkness in the air, and Bryn and her friends where there to take names!

“These were no-holds-barred, smoke- ‘em-if-you-got-’ em, pull-out-everything-you’ve-got stakes.”

The characters were very relatable, and the best part of the book! The story flowed so well, I didn’t have to put the book down. I was fully immersed in the story. I strongly give this book a 5 star rating! I really can’t wait to see what more the author brings out. Let’s see some more Bryn!!!!!! I wonder what would happen if Buffy and Bryn fought? Hmmm…..

One of the best contemporary fantasy books I've ever read over the Summer! Not just because of the badass protagonist that I managed to connect to quite easily, but also because of the superb love story which offered amazing queer representation.

Characters and relationships
The characters in this book are very well fleshed out and our main characters – Bryn, Dom, Jasika and Gwen – all have interesting character arcs. Bryn’s character growth is also done very well. The book starts with Bryn still coming to terms with the loss of her mother. Although she puts on a brave front when taking care of her younger brothers and when she’s out fairy hunting, she actually struggles with anxiety and panic attacks. Over the course of the book, we see her grow as a character as she slowly learns to open up to her new friends and share her burdens with them. I also completely fell in love with Gwen. She’s a water fairy, one of the water wives, and she is such a kind and gentle soul. Although I loved all the characters, Gwen was definitely my fav! I can’t wait to see how her character further develops in the next book. I also loved the friendship that develops between Bryn, Dom and Jasika, especially when they start to work together to deal with the Fae that are targeting their town. The book also features a very interesting queer romance, including an F/F love triangle. I won’t say too much about it to avoid spoilers, but I personally really liked the romance in this book and I can’t wait to see how things turn out for our characters in the sequel!

Fae lore and fairy hunting
I really enjoyed the Fae lore in this book! We get to see a lot of different Fae creatures, some beautiful and enchanting, like the water wives, and some downright creepy, like the drones. I also loved the ‘fairy hunting’ aspect of the story. I loved that there were some nods in there to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which I also love. For example, the dynamic between Bryn and her mentor, Father Gooding, reminded me a bit of Buffy and Giles. Plus, there is also a Scooby Gang reference at some point in the book, which I thought was really cool. If you love the Fae, and you also love Buffy, you’ll definitely fall in love with Ironspark.

Queer representation
I loved how well-written the queer rep was in this book. There is representation for bisexual, pansexual and asexual characters, as well as a couple of F/F romantic pairings. There is also a scene in the book where Bryn and her friends are discussing about their sexualities, which I thought was very well-written. I loved that the book featured an open discussion like this about queerness and sexuality. This is definitely something that I’d love to see more in YA literature.

Plot, pacing and tone
I thought the story was very interesting, with a lot of secrets to be uncovered and some really cool twists and reveals. The plot was also very well paced, with a good balance between action-heavy scenes and quieter, character-focused moments. And although there were several serious and emotional scenes throughout the book, the book also had a lot of snarky humor, which I really liked.

My final thoughts
Overall, this book was a very solid beginning to what promises to be an amazing series. The book definitely put a fresh spin on the Fae genre, with at its helm a wonderful kick-butt queer leading lady. I really look forward to the next book!

Hi, yes. You had me at queer and fairies. I received this arc for TBR and Beyond Tours. Unfortunately, I wasn't a big fan of the story. The writing was lovely. I just really want my Fae not to be quite so creepy. This would be a perfect Autumn and Spooky Season read!

I really, really wanted to like this book more than I did. It had a promising storyline, and queer romance is always a draw for me, but things just fell flat.

Bryn is a badass character, but her relationships with other characters, romantic or other, are not fleshed out well. Especially the super sudden relationship she gets into with one of the characters. That really seemed to come out of nowhere. Bryn's abilities and courage shown through her actions, but her flaws and struggles were never really addressed.

I did like the creepy and haunting take on faerie lore. I've always gravitated toward seeing them as creatures to fear, and it makes for a more gripping story. All in all I wasn't very impressed with this books characters, but the fairy lore was an engaging story.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I am really hoping for a book two, this is C.M Mcguire first book and she did a fantastic job. The world building was amazing and so colorful. The ending did leave me wanting more, which is fine with me. I loved all the characters and can’t wait to see what is next for Bryn, and for all the other characters and friends introduced. Bryn was my favorite Character with Gwen right behind. A lot of magic , and that’s why Gwen is my second favorite. I absolutely love books that deals with Fae and magic

A link to my blog tour has been added.

Magic, Fae, Queer? Yes, please! If you’re a fan of fae stories, there are some of your typical elements here that you would expect in fae courts. However, there are definitely still some fun surprises, which I definitely appreciated. I really enjoyed our MC Bryn. She’s a badass fae slayer with a penchant for protecting those she loves, but also shows her vulnerabilities as well. I’m always on the fence when it comes to love triangles, but I think this one was well done. Overall, if you are looking for a great fae read, pick this one up.

For fans of shows like Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Supernatural. Honestly, I was expecting a bit more from this book. Though I loved the fae lore of it, the book took a turn about in the middle and it wasn't really where I thought the story was heading. Sometimes these types of twists and turns are a good thing. Unfortunately in this case it just wasn't for me. The main character I thought was a bit whiny and written has edgy but in a forced way. The pace of the story for me seemed all over the place. At sometimes I thought it dragged on and then was rushing to get through some places. I really wanted to love this book since it has so many elements I love but it wasn't for me.

The cover alone made me so excited to read this book, however, upon learning that this book has queer representation and that its Fantasy with Faes, I was beaming! This is C.M. McGuire’s debut novel and I am really looking forward to more of her books whether its a continuation of Ironspark or not since one of the reasons why I really liked this book is how easy it was to read due to the authors very readable writing.

But the characters are the real WIN for me here. You know those fictional characters that you think will be a great friend in real life? Of course you do. Well, Bryn is like that. Bryn is probably one of the most badass MC I’ve read this year. Don’t get me wrong, this character isn’t perfect. In fact, she’s well aware of how difficult and stubborn she can be, her thoughts also shows how imperfect she is especially when it comes to being vulnerable. But the character calling out herself made me like her more. I admire how the character arc was done. Bryn can be described as “unlikeable” yes, however, she’s authentic with realistic voice and this is what makes her well written. I could say the same thing with the secondary characters as well as their character individuality is noticeable.

There is a romance subplot included in this story and I have a mixed feeling about it, it’s a little difficult to explain further without spoiling so much so let me try to keep this short. I liked this aspect, however, I wished it was explored more. The development of the whole thing, of the romance, it felt rushed and in some way, forced. Unfortunately, I felt this towards the whole story as well. Ironspark is indeed fast paced and action packed. However, there were too many things going on that I was wanting to have a chapter that will just be about the history of it all. I wanted more magic and faeries and more backstory. The Epilogue is greatly done though! It will really keep the readers yearning for the second book and it was the atmosphere of that whole chapter that I really liked.

Overall, IRONSPARK is really worth your afternoon. I say afternoon because you will just breeze through the whole book. if you’re looking for a badass MC and a readable AND enjoyable fantasy, IRONSPARK is for you!

Oh my god this was such a fun book. This is for anyone that loves shows like Buffy or Supernatural. Ironspark certainly has those vibes but with fae creatures and queer! I loved the main character, she was sassy and independent. Her friends were very likable and I instantly cared about them. Only thing that could've been a little better was that her mentor was kind of dud, I was expecting someone cool like Giles from Buffy and he was just boring and almost pointless. I would love a sequel for this book, so hopefully that happens.

3.5 stars!!

Aaaahhh okay so first of all I have to say I really enjoyed this book. I unfortunately had to read it a little here and there, but I wish I could have taken longer and read it in one or two sittings!! The beginning was a bit slow and didn't immediately suck me in – those who hate slow paced beginnings beware! – but the rest of the book was great and with a relatively fast pace.

The relationships in this book were what I liked best – apart from the queer rep which was awesomeee! The ace rep was very nice and I mean, sapphics. That said, this book didn't have that much romance, which I really appreciated. This will most definitely be a book I'll recommend to those who like it with a little less romance.

Anyway, as I was saying: the relationships in this book were great! My absolute favourite was Marshmallow and Bryn's (surprisingly). Their friendship is literally so sweet and adorable and like I can't 😂 so cute. But the trio's relationship – Bryn, Dom and Jesika – carried the book on its back!

As for the characters themselves, I thought Bryn took really stupid decisions sometimes which maybe made me want to bang my head on a wall. That said, if she had taken all the right decisions it would have been boring!

If you've read The Cruel Prince (or Modern Faerie Tales), this world will be very familiar to you. I honestly loved getting back into it, and learning more about it – I find it fascinating!!

Overall, this was a sweet read that, after the beginning, kept me hooked!! I think the only reason I didn't give it four stars is because while I was reading, it didn't make me feel very strongly about anything. But this is still a book I really enjoyed and that I would recommend to fantasy lovers!

Ironspark is a fun YA fantasy set in our world but with murderous fae and magical creatures added in. For the past nine years, Bryn has done everything she can to learn how to kill fae after what happened to her family. They killed her mother, cursed her father, and forced the rest of them into hiding. So Bryn wants revenge. Will she be just as determined when she finds out why the fae are really after her family? Filled with characters you love to root for and a f/f romance I dare you to not ship, Ironspark is sure to be a hit. There is a massive cliffhanger, so readers will be dying for the sequel. Highly recommended to anyone looking for something fresh in YA fantasy.