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The Iron Witch #0.5
The Lost Boy
‘The Lost Boy’ started life as a story written for an anthology of urban faery tales. The anthology was eventually cancelled (although I’d withdrawn my story long before that happened) leaving me with a homeless story. It’s about half-fey Xan from The Iron Witch, and is set several months before that novel – before Donna even meets him – so there are no major spoilers for the trilogy. But the story does of course give some insight into Xan himself, as it’s written from his POV and we’re in his head for the duration.
13 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
1082 people want to read
About the author
Karen Mahoney
22 books876 followersBritish writer of fantastical things.
THE IRON WITCH, THE WOOD QUEEN & THE STONE DEMON make up my YA contemporary fantasy trilogy for Flux in the US and Random House in the UK. It's about alchemy, dark elves, and a girl with magical iron tattoos. FALLING TO ASH (September 2012), began a new series for Random House UK about an ass-kicking teen vampire called Moth. You can read more of Moth's adventures in her very own webcomic: www.mothtales.com
In my varied career I've been a professional Tarot reader, a college counsellor, a dating agency consultant and a bookseller. Ever since I was six years old what I really wanted to be was Wonder Woman, but have instead settled for being a writer which is the best job of all!
THE IRON WITCH, THE WOOD QUEEN & THE STONE DEMON make up my YA contemporary fantasy trilogy for Flux in the US and Random House in the UK. It's about alchemy, dark elves, and a girl with magical iron tattoos. FALLING TO ASH (September 2012), began a new series for Random House UK about an ass-kicking teen vampire called Moth. You can read more of Moth's adventures in her very own webcomic: www.mothtales.com
In my varied career I've been a professional Tarot reader, a college counsellor, a dating agency consultant and a bookseller. Ever since I was six years old what I really wanted to be was Wonder Woman, but have instead settled for being a writer which is the best job of all!
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 30, 2019
3,5 Sterne
Want to Read
April 26, 2020So I cannot seem to access this novel on Karen's site, and really want to read it! Please if you can let me know where I can get it! Thank you
May 3, 2013
À la fin du tome 2, j’étais pas mal frustrée de ne pas en savoir plus sur Xan alors cette nouvelle tombe vraiment à pic, d’autant plus qu’elle nous permet de découvrir le passé d’un personnage qu’on découvre dans ce tome 2… Ce que je regrette, c’est qu’on ne découvre cela que dans cette nouvelle et pas dans le roman. Mais il est vrai que vu ce qui se passe dans The Wood Queen, ça aurait été bizarre de caser ça, surtout quand Donna et Xan ne se voient que très peu.
Donc dans cette nouvelle, on découvre le passé de Xan, on s’aperçoit qu’il y en a plus qu’on pensait (à moins que j’aie oublié), on découvre qui il est vraiment et ça m’a fait penser à un livre que j’ai lu début 2011 et que j’ai beaucoup aimé, mais en bien différent… J’avais un peu mal au cœur pour Xan, et je me suis attachée à la changeling qui traîne avec lui. C’était bien d’apprendre à les connaître tous les deux ! Maintenant, je comprends un peu mieux Xan (non, je ne me suis à aucun moment dit que c’était presque le genre de perso à qui on a envie de faire un câlin, ahem) et j’espère vraiment continuer à en apprendre plus sur lui dans le dernier tome de la trilogie !
Dernières petites choses : j’ai gloussé à une réflexion que se fait Xan, à m’en faire regarder d’un air perplexe (ça change pas de d’habitude je crois), et il y a le mot « steampunk » dans la nouvelle, et ça j’ai beaucoup aimé. Quel est l’intérêt de ces petites nouvelles bonus, si ce n’est pas pour y intégrer quelques détails « in », après tout ? :)
Pour la lire en français : http://www.kazmahoney.com/extras/le-g...
Donc dans cette nouvelle, on découvre le passé de Xan, on s’aperçoit qu’il y en a plus qu’on pensait (à moins que j’aie oublié), on découvre qui il est vraiment et ça m’a fait penser à un livre que j’ai lu début 2011 et que j’ai beaucoup aimé, mais en bien différent… J’avais un peu mal au cœur pour Xan, et je me suis attachée à la changeling qui traîne avec lui. C’était bien d’apprendre à les connaître tous les deux ! Maintenant, je comprends un peu mieux Xan (non, je ne me suis à aucun moment dit que c’était presque le genre de perso à qui on a envie de faire un câlin, ahem) et j’espère vraiment continuer à en apprendre plus sur lui dans le dernier tome de la trilogie !
Dernières petites choses : j’ai gloussé à une réflexion que se fait Xan, à m’en faire regarder d’un air perplexe (ça change pas de d’habitude je crois), et il y a le mot « steampunk » dans la nouvelle, et ça j’ai beaucoup aimé. Quel est l’intérêt de ces petites nouvelles bonus, si ce n’est pas pour y intégrer quelques détails « in », après tout ? :)
Pour la lire en français : http://www.kazmahoney.com/extras/le-g...
June 30, 2016
Full review at http://bronzelock619.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-lost-boy-iron-witch-05-karen-mahoney.html.
This is a story before Xan met had even Donna. Back in Ironbridge, Xan enlisted the help of the Changling girl Ivy to find out about the Changling who had taken over his life and identity, left in his place after he was kidnapped by the Wood Elves. Xan needed to know about the one who became Jonathan Kane in his place, as he no longer knew how to live as Alexander Greyson anymore.
Lost boy is a short story from Xan's point-of-view, and it can be found at the author's website at http://www.kazmahoney.com/free-reads/the-lost-boy/. He was a bit different from how Donna knew him. He was slightly rougher and a lot ruder, especially towards Ivy. It was understandable, as he was going through an identity crisis.
Donna's suspicious about Xan and Ivy had been confirmed. There was definitely something between the two of them. They were not actually dating, but they definitely did have a physical relationship. Xan was still quite the gentleman though. Even with their kind of relationship, he refused to take advantage of a drunk Ivy, so kudos to him.
Even though this is just a short story, I found the writing to be slightly better than the original series. Xan's internal turmoil had been wonderfully described, drawing parallels with the environment of the club he was in. As it was in Xan's point-of-view, it provided a rare insight into his thoughts.
This is a story before Xan met had even Donna. Back in Ironbridge, Xan enlisted the help of the Changling girl Ivy to find out about the Changling who had taken over his life and identity, left in his place after he was kidnapped by the Wood Elves. Xan needed to know about the one who became Jonathan Kane in his place, as he no longer knew how to live as Alexander Greyson anymore.
Lost boy is a short story from Xan's point-of-view, and it can be found at the author's website at http://www.kazmahoney.com/free-reads/the-lost-boy/. He was a bit different from how Donna knew him. He was slightly rougher and a lot ruder, especially towards Ivy. It was understandable, as he was going through an identity crisis.
Donna's suspicious about Xan and Ivy had been confirmed. There was definitely something between the two of them. They were not actually dating, but they definitely did have a physical relationship. Xan was still quite the gentleman though. Even with their kind of relationship, he refused to take advantage of a drunk Ivy, so kudos to him.
Even though this is just a short story, I found the writing to be slightly better than the original series. Xan's internal turmoil had been wonderfully described, drawing parallels with the environment of the club he was in. As it was in Xan's point-of-view, it provided a rare insight into his thoughts.
January 3, 2014
A pretty fun, quick read that provides some insight into the character of Alexander from The Iron Witch series. The story is set several months before the actual trilogy begins, and it focuses on Xan as he meets the changeling who replaced him and is now living his life.
The writing is actually pretty good and I must say I am now pretty curious to read the first book in the trilogy and find out what happens next. Xan seems like an interesting character and I'm looking forward to getting to know him better.
At merely 14 pages, it's literally a lunch-break read that will give you a pretty good idea of what to expect from The Iron Witch series. It's entertaining and captivating enough, so you might want to give it a go!
The writing is actually pretty good and I must say I am now pretty curious to read the first book in the trilogy and find out what happens next. Xan seems like an interesting character and I'm looking forward to getting to know him better.
At merely 14 pages, it's literally a lunch-break read that will give you a pretty good idea of what to expect from The Iron Witch series. It's entertaining and captivating enough, so you might want to give it a go!
October 2, 2012
This is a prequel short story set before The Iron Witch and in the POV of Xan. He's an intriguing character, so it was cool to get a closer look at him.
Xan is half-fey and has become obsessed with finding the changeling who 'stole' his life. However, finding him doesn't exactly help Xan find the answers he was hoping for...
This is a lovely and very well-written story. Xan is an interesting character with physical and emotional scars, trying to find his way in the world. Oh, and I just loved how the title means so much to how the story turned out.
Xan is half-fey and has become obsessed with finding the changeling who 'stole' his life. However, finding him doesn't exactly help Xan find the answers he was hoping for...
This is a lovely and very well-written story. Xan is an interesting character with physical and emotional scars, trying to find his way in the world. Oh, and I just loved how the title means so much to how the story turned out.
July 20, 2012
Xan, who we know from The Iron Witch Series is part Fae. I really enjoyed seeing Xan and finding out part of his story and his relationship with Ivy (a changeling). I think Xan needs his own book, maybe some kind of prequel about what it was like growing up and having his powers emerge. Xan's world is a world that we don't get to see too much in the series.
November 3, 2016
I enjoyed the first book so much that when I seen this book here on goodreads, I rushed to get it.
Maybe I would have liked it .. if I had read it first but I didn’t read it first. So I found the book pointless.
Maybe I would have liked it .. if I had read it first but I didn’t read it first. So I found the book pointless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2015
http://www.kazmahoney.com/free-reads/...
It was nice to have the back round this short offered into a MSC. It gave you some insight into his history without giving away details of the trilogy.
It was nice to have the back round this short offered into a MSC. It gave you some insight into his history without giving away details of the trilogy.
April 20, 2013
Great short story of Zan and Ivy, and how he finds the one who replaced him when he was taken, and things about choices, and yeah, good short story!
July 7, 2012
I'll give it a 3 1/2 stars. I has me intrigued after 30 pages, so I'll definitely be giving the first full book in the series, The Iron Witch, a read through. :o)
September 6, 2012
http://www.kazmahoney.com/free-fictio...
LOVED IT! as I knew I would, Karen is an excellent author!
LOVED IT! as I knew I would, Karen is an excellent author!
April 11, 2013
bon, bah c'est bon, je suis frustrée, je veux savoir la suite, va falloir que je lise le tome 1 de The Iron Witch en VO maintenant...
March 16, 2014
The whole time I was reading this all I could think was, um, what? And I love this genre. After seeing many disappointed reviews for The Iron Witch, I don't think I'm going to bother.
May 25, 2014
An interesting look at Xan, especially his friendship with Ivy.
June 8, 2014
Interesting prequel. Definitely wanted to make me read the series to find out more.
August 26, 2014
This was a quick little short story. It wasn't great but it wasn't bad either.
December 17, 2012
review to come
March 17, 2014
I thought this was well written and loved some insight into Xan, and it left me wanting more.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews