The Iron Butterfly

I made the mistake of reading reviews before reading the book. I agree that the beginning was a little disorienting, but it makes sense why it had to be that way after you've read a little way in. Thalia also overshares, and we are constantly told what she is thinking and why she is thinking those things. But I had the same critique of the Hunger Games, and people loved that, so maybe it doesn't matter. And also, this is one of Chanda's early books. So, that out of the way, I really did like this story.

The book begins with Thalia fighting to escape, well, we don't know who or where. She has no memories of anything. Fortunately, she has help, although she doesn't know if she can trust any of her rescuers, and there are a few. When she is show more brought to the Citadel so she can recover in a safe place, she learns about the Denai, magic users who work alongside humans, and the Septori, the group that had been holding her captive and experimenting on her.

Thalia was an interesting character. She gets mad when people assume she needs to be rescued and she gets mad when they don't come to her assistance. Maybe she is a typical teenager, but I was amused. There is also a protector that is constantly getting under her skin, so I'm expecting this will turn into an enemies-to-lovers trope at some point, but at this point, it's fun to wait and see when he will turn up and what he will do. There is also a particular horse that speaks to Thalia and only Thalia (and is, as she points out, quite vain). I do love a talking horse, especially since so many YA fantasy novels default to dragons (which I do also love). It will also be fun to learn more about that backstory, why no one else hears animals and what Thalia's other gifts might turn out to be.

This book focused primarily on Thalia figuring out her past and trying to stay one step ahead of being killed by the Septori, but there were numerous fascinating side characters. And while Thalia was suspicious of everyone, readers will be left guessing who is her side and who is pretending. And with the twist at the end, it may take a bit more time for us to find out. I will definitely be continuing this story. show less

I love finding treasures among the Freebie Nook Books and this one. After a somewhat slow beginning, I was sucked in and devoured it in a day. The story is simple, but well constructed. The characters are full. Thalia as a protagonist is wonderful, if only a little too trusting considering her past. I generally don’t care for first person perspective, but the author weaves the story well. For a young adult fantasy, it didn’t have any of the usual hang-ups one finds in this genre. It wasn’t sappy, swoony or watered down. This isn’t another “magic school” book, as I had read in another review. It was, however, a fun story that left me wanting the second in the series. I would be remiss if I didn’t add that Hahn would benefit show more from hiring an editor, but still a pleasant read. show less

I loved the world that this book is set in, and I think the main character is very likeable. Thalia is strong willed and will always stand up for herself which are qualities I admire, especially in female characters.

However, I don't think the story is very well written. It often feels clumsy and events seemed to happen at random without explanation. Thalia seems to have too much knowledge about the world for someone who has no memory of life before prison. At the beginning we are thrust into a world and I found the first few chapters very confusing as many terms weren't really explained until later. It would have been better for the reader to learn alongside Thalia a bit better rather than assuming knowledge.

i was disappointed that show more not much is explained about the Septori apart from them doing something to Thalia and then wanting to kill her repeatedly. I would have liked to have a little more revealed about exactly what they were trying to achieve. I liked that Thalia's powers develop gradually throughout, but a bit more explanation of how she got them and how they work would have been good.

I enjoyed the twist at the end and that actually made me want to possibly read a sequel to find out what Thalia's home is like. show less

I tried. I truly did. When trusted friends recommend me books, I try, I do. (althoguh perhaps I should rethink that policy for friends who have different taste in books than I)

But, it just, ugh...

Basic conversation I had with my friend:
Me: there should have be more commas.
My friend: I'll be the first to agree she's not the best at grammar, but it's a good story.
Me: If you say so...
My friend: Where are you?
Me: I'm at the part where she's talking to the Council of Adepts and... nothing else is going on.
My friend: Give it a couple more chapters. It gets better.
Me: Allright...

one day and two chapters later, I'm still bored, and I say it: "I can't do it. I just can't do it."

But I promised my friend I would try--so I did the one. last. show more thing
that has been known to make me excited about books that I don't like.
I read the last chapter.

The last chapter was intriguing. Not enough to make me want to read all the chapters in between chapters 8 and last chapter, but interesting enough to make me want to read the next one.
(Which totally doesn't make sense.)
I don't see any sort of plot that connects where I left off in Chapter 8 to the last chapter.

Thalia falls in love with Joss.
I already knew that.
Magic happens.
When doesn't it?
We meet some dude named Bearen.
How many chapters will that honestly take? One? Possibly two?

But-- some things that I assume are triggers for book 2 happened in the last chapter.

Thalia is found by her family and they start heading 'home'.
Some other chick is a bitch to Thalia clearing pissing all over Joss, 'He's Mine' style.
Some dude called Fox Fur attacks said bitchy girl. Thalia hypothesized two possible reasons for it, but to me, it seemed like he was defending her honor, or something like that. Perhaps Fox Fur is an old boyfriend from Thalia's other life?

While all these things are INTRIGUING however, they a) aren't enough, and b) even if they were, I'd probably need to read the middle bit of this one. And I reeeaaaallllllllyyy don't want to. show less

"We are like sands on a shore, numerous beyond measure and everywhere. Eventually we will have her and she will die."

This one was just okay. It started pretty rocky with not a lot of information and a lot of confusion. I thought Thalia's insta-love was annoying and unreasonable. But as the story continued and grew, Thalia did as well and I slowly started to like her.

I thought the end was a bit abrupt but I did like the conclusion and how it all unfolded. I loved the night where they hunted her. good fun.

This book is well crafted, peopled with interesting characters, and full mysteries. When we first meet Thalia she was imprisoned in a cell, routinely being subjected to unspeakable tortures. And she was not alone, though she was the only one that continued to survive.

What happens next is not particularly surprising or the story would have been very short. However the way it happens plays heavily into Thalia's future. And there is still more to that mystery than we've yet learned.

Having no memory of her life prior to being a prisoner, at least none other than her first name, Thalia doesn't know where she belongs. The people who later find her bring them back to the Citadel with them to answer questions about what was done to her, as show more clearly the other children she had been with had been missed by their families. People knew something was going on, just not what or why. . .

The Citadel is the impregnable fortress where the Denai train. The Denai all have different gifts, but they are magical in nature and something no human possesses. The decision is made to keep Thalia at the Citadel while efforts are made to locate her family. And though the story was cruising along it is at this point for me that it became a book I didn't want to put down, regardless of needing sleep for work the next day.

This is a gripping tale, filled with action, mysteries, and even some budding romance(s). The arc of the story flows smoothly once Thalia begins moving, and for all the action there is still solid character development as well. Ms. Hahn has created a vivid world for us to enjoy. As I imagine it must be quite clear, I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel! Easily a 4+ for stars. show less

I snapped this book up while it was free on Amazon and I was surprised at how much I liked it. After finishing the book yesterday, I was glad to see that the second book is already available. I can't wait to read what happens next.



Thalia has been abducted from her home to be tortured and experimented on. When she escapes, she has no memory of her former life, but is given refuge in the training area of the Citadel. The results of the experimentation have left Thalia with strange new powers that she must learn to control while trying to figure out who she is.