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The Iron-Jawed Boy (The Sky Guardian Chronicles) Paperback – July 6, 2013

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 116 ratings

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Year 2300 Protea, island city of Eldanar Two hundred years have passed since the lands of the Outerworld humans were destroyed, save but a handful of rebellious cities. In their ruin, the last gods of Earth, the Illyrians, rose victorious. And ever since, it's with a cruel iron fist they've ruled over their subjects--desperate to keep their thrones. Ionikus Reaves knows the gods' malevolence all too well, orphaned by them after their call for a military draft on Eldanar, his home island. But when a power once dormant in Ion boils to the surface, he's whisked off to a new world where he comes face-to-face with the mighty Illyrians. For Ion is a Guardian--a reincarnated god bound to serve and protect the pantheon he's so quickly learned to hate. Now torn between his obligations as a Guardian and his hatred of the gods he's to guard, Ion finds himself in the middle of a war within himself. A war that could uncover a dark secret of the gods'...and split the pantheon in two.
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The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Being the first author to write a middle grade fantasy series with an lgbt main character is something I say with great pride. All growing up, I had no role model who was as relatable as all the other kids had. Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, all of them--they were cool and heroic, but I just didn't...connect as much as everyone else. And it wasn't until I was older that I truly realized why.

If I want these books to serve as anything, I'd like them to reach out to those disenfranchised and show them being heroic, being powerful, being important--it's not just reserved for those who are considered to be "normal". Perhaps young people will find a role model in my not-so-conventional characters, perhaps adults will. Regardless, I'm happy to have written what I've written, and I'll stand by it until the end.

About the Author

Nikolas Lee was born in Evansville, Indiana, moved with his family to Las Vegas, Nevada, when he was eleven, moved back to Indiana when he was fourteen, then moved back to Las Vegas when he was sixteen. No, neither he, nor his family are under the witness protection program. Though that would be much cooler than the real reason. He currently resides in Irvine, California, where he's usually watching anything with Tina Fey in it, playing World of Warcraft, or writing.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Parthenon Publishing House (July 6, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 264 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0615819753
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0615819754
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.66 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 116 ratings

About the author

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Nikolas Lee
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Hello, my people!

So, here's my bio. I'm 6 feet tall. 6'1" if you count my hair, which the doctor does not seem to want to. I was born in Indiana and moved to Las Vegas when I was 10. I love my family, friends, dogs, rhinos, elephants, rain, brownies, and cheese when I'm in the mood to ignore my lactose intolerance. Also, I'm a writer (guess, that was a given, huh?).

I authored my first book almost two years ago and have since released two more in the series. It is the first tween fantasy series to feature a gay main character, so if you're looking for an interesting new take on the old school fantasy novels, please feel free to check them out on Amazon!

Peace. Love. Kindness. Cupcakes.

Nikolas Lee

He can be reached at niklee9009@gmail.com

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
116 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book compelling and fun to read. They appreciate the interesting premise and original plot that makes it accessible for readers of all ages. The fantasy content is imaginative and exciting, enticing fans of mythology and fantasy. The characters are well-developed and diverse. The humor and lightheartedness make the book enjoyable. Overall, customers describe the book as an original and classic in the making.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

14 customers mention "Readability"14 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it compelling, fun, and engaging. The book has great pacing and is well-written. Readers describe it as similar to the first Harry Potter book and say it's not your typical everyday read.

"...This is the first book. This book was pure awesomeness! I found it very engaging and unique...." Read more

"...I think it's a very impressive debut effort and that Lee is an author to watch, the rare kind who will perhaps benefit just as greatly from his own..." Read more

"This was a fun read. One of my students had recommended it and I see why...." Read more

"...It reads very much like the first Harry Potter book and is perfect for curling up for an afternoon of fun...." Read more

11 customers mention "Plot"11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story's premise and original plot. They find it an exciting, fun adventure with humor and suspense. The book is described as an amazing debut with excellent worldbuilding and interesting characters.

"...of suspense cloaked in a web of mysteries that complemented the action and adventure nicely...." Read more

"...I think it's a very impressive debut effort and that Lee is an author to watch, the rare kind who will perhaps benefit just as greatly from his own..." Read more

"...giving this four stars because it's well-edited and is reasonably decent at any given moment...." Read more

"...deep philosophical questions or complicated plots but romps through a very fun adventure while making occasional snide comments and observations...." Read more

9 customers mention "Age range"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable for readers of all ages. They say it's accessible to middle school kids and perfect for its target audience.

"...This book is suitable for young adult through adult readers" Read more

"...I feel it works well and makes the story accessible to middle school kids...." Read more

"...Once I got used to his writing style I decided it was just as easy for an adult of 58 like me to roll along happily with the story as it would be..." Read more

"...that middle grade is known for, making it highly accessible to young readers...." Read more

6 customers mention "Fantasy content"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the imaginative and exciting fantasy content. They find it great for mythology and fantasy fans, especially those who enjoy Harry Potter. The characters are lively, unique, and engaging. The banshee and familial aspects are a nice touch.

"...This book was pure awesomeness! I found it very engaging and unique...." Read more

"...I'll say: the banshee stuff was a nice touch, as was exploiting Ion's natural familial loyalties...." Read more

"...This fast-paced story is sure to entice fans of mythology and fantasy. I can't wait to see what adventures are in store for Ion in book 2!" Read more

"...This was a very imaginative and exciting fantasy. The storyline is completely unique and does not follow the same mythology that I was expecting...." Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters, with a variety of female characters.

"...I also must say whoa huge variety of female characters!..." Read more

"...no matter the time, or if you need to go to work... The characters are well developed with the main one being one of my favorite Middle Grade..." Read more

"...The characters are lively, unique, and engaging. This was a very imaginative and exciting fantasy...." Read more

"really compelling read. great pacing. action and character development are well tuned. Ion's story is exciting and really funny...." Read more

4 customers mention "Humor"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it lighthearted and fun, with adventure, suspense, and mystery elements.

"...its influences on its sleeve, yet manages to build something new and fun...." Read more

"...My favorite part of MG is the humor, and Ion and his ever-snarky sister Oceanus always manage to give me the giggles...." Read more

"...Ion's story is exciting and really funny. deals with the emotional life of a young boy with great subtlety. good for both young and older readers...." Read more

"...There is humor and adventure, suspense and mystery...perfect for its target audience. This was an enjoyable read!" Read more

3 customers mention "Originality"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book original and interesting. They say it's a classic in the making.

"...volume 1 is a really good book, as I read it feels original and very interesting...." Read more

"Amazing book! Absolutely enjoyable for all ages. Original and fun to read. I couldn't put it down! Can't wait for the next one!" Read more

"Pure genius! An awesome, original and action-packed middle grade..." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing style"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's writing style. They find it well-written and engaging from the start.

"...I'm giving this four stars because it's well-edited and is reasonably decent at any given moment...." Read more

"This book is very well written and drew me in from the start. The characters are lively, unique, and engaging...." Read more

"...somewhat new twist on a very worn world of Gods and Humans and rather simple writing." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2014
    This series must be read in order. This is the first book.

    This book was pure awesomeness! I found it very engaging and unique. The world was loosely based on a far future of an alternate Earth where we are the bad guys and supernatural element callers and living Gods roam. We destroyed the world by using up all the resources and polluting indiscriminately so the Gods were forced to come out of seclusion to clean up our mess and restore some semblance of Balance. These societies are at constant war with each other.

    This coming of age story is all over the place (in a good way) especially with plot twists and reversals of fortune which is what made the story so enthralling in my opinion. I consider this book dystopian in nature as well as future post post apocalyptic fantasy. There was loads of suspense cloaked in a web of mysteries that complemented the action and adventure nicely. I can't wait for the sequel The Iron-Jawed Boy and the Hand of the Moon (Book 2, Guardians of Illyria) to come out so I can find out what trouble Ion will get himself into next!

    I would recommend this book to paranormal audiences as well as fantasy ones. The post apocalyptic audience would enjoy it as long as they like a post post apocalypse as the world is already rebuilt even if not in a form we can recognize.

    ***This book is suitable for young adult through adult readers
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2014
    A middle-grade fantasy that wears its influences on its sleeve, yet manages to build something new and fun.

    I LOVED the opening sections of this, wherein Ion is separated from his family and forced to work for some comically appalling people. I also enjoyed the progression towards the climactic events at the end, about which I can't say much without spoilers. I'll say: the banshee stuff was a nice touch, as was exploiting Ion's natural familial loyalties.

    I also must say whoa huge variety of female characters! It's somewhat unusual, sadly, for this particular kind of novel -- about One Special Boy and written by a young male author -- to feature so many different female characters. Kudos to Lee for ensuring that in the world of the Iron-Jawed Boy, women are just people. Ion, he of the iron jaw, has wonderful non-relationships with many of them, especially his sister. These kids act like real siblings! I would like to see more of the secondary characters, too, and look forward to doing so as the series continues.

    My quibbles with this book, then, are not so much to do with gender or character relationships, but mostly with various aspects of world-building and detail. For a start, and at the start, I found it difficult to believe that Ion would not recognize his sister, Oceanus, after just a few months apart -- the elapsed time between the opening section and when they are reunited reads more like a couple of year than only a few months. And Oceanus acts incredibly authoritative for someone we soon learn is only a student (and still a tween, at that). Related to this last bit: I could never quite grasp the hierarchy of the gods, the guardians, etc. There didn't seem to be any consistent differentiation between them, so I couldn't always figure out the power relations in play at the... gods' school for new gods, where most of the book takes place. Some of the characters given the most humor (an otherwise appreciated note), were also then expected to have the most authority, and I could quite buy into it. The balance between humor and seriousness was just a touch off somehow. I think this was also why I never quite felt immersed in the book, but instead just skimming the surface and very easily distracted from it.

    There was also a bit of the "Special Main Character is the Specialist Kid in Special Town and is Good at Everything" trope going on, although a lot less than there could have been. Ion, after all, does have to work a little bit more than not-at-all to master some of his abilities. I just wish we could have seen more of that work, rather than just a bit of it. We're told, after all, when he's not doing his homework. Even then he's Too Special to be punished for that. It's just inconsistent, again.

    I would give this 3.5 stars, because my quibbles outweigh my squee just so much. I think it's a very impressive debut effort and that Lee is an author to watch, the rare kind who will perhaps benefit just as greatly from his own continued writing experience and reader feedback loop as he would from a professional publisher's editorial hand. I will definitely be reading Book 2.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2015
    This was a fun read. One of my students had recommended it and I see why. As you read the creative descriptions, you'll sometimes feel you're glimpsing into Harry Potter's realm. If you check the author's bio, he mentions that this homage was intentional. I feel it works well and makes the story accessible to middle school kids. On a personal note, I feel the iron jaw works as a great metaphor for this part of ourselves that is there for the world to see; a part we haven't quite accepted of ourselves and that others sometimes ridicule. We can't do away with it because it is now part of our essence, but does it define us or our actions? Or is it just one other facet to our being? I resonated with that aspect of Ion and I felt it was handled well. I look forward to reading the sequels and to recommending it to other fans of YA fantasy and to my future students.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2014
    After reading this book, I have much more appreciation for J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter series. Certainly, I must cancel plans to write an article for the Huffington Post urging her to quit writing. Apparently, it is harder than I thought to write this sort of novel.

    What does The Iron-Jawed Boy have to do with Harry Potter? Everything . . . and nothing. What if you wanted to write a book like Harry Potter - protagonist from humble origins with mysterious parentage, heir to great power yet immature, sent to a magical school as a child of destiny where you took various sorts of exciting classes and feuded with another student or two? Well, there's plenty of room for books like that, but obviously you would want to put your own slant on it.

    And there lies the rub. What if, when putting your own slant on it, you did it wrong? What if your mythology was confusing and ridiculous, the headmaster of your school was a poor pastiche of Dumbledore and Zeus, and the whole thing just never quite comes together? Why, then, you would have this book.

    I'm giving this four stars because it's well-edited and is reasonably decent at any given moment. But the plot holes are so big that it's more hole than plot, it's not a particularly compelling story, and I could never warm up to it.

    Edit: Two weeks after I wrote this review, I'm still irritated by Dumblezeus and the Shoddy Plot. That warrants dropping it a star.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Percy Jackson eat your heart out.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 11, 2014
    I was immediately drawn to this book as I thought the cover and title sounded intriguing.

    I have given this book 5 stars as its truly a beautifully written story that capture's your imagination from the start and doesn't let go until the last pages ......I want more, more, more please, can't wait to read the sequel.

    Although this is similar to Harry Potter/Percy Jackson this book is definitely unique with so many mythical creatures, gods, ghosts, monsters, and most importantly guardians.

    Guardians are gods reincarnated who protect the gods and their laws, however are not aware of this or their powers until they come of age.

    Our main character Ionikis is separated from his sister and father and kept as a slave by a cruel ruler. He spends his days following orders or chained in a horrid room. Until one day a powerful God appears who's powers turn her into a swarm of locusts devouring everything they touch. When Ionikis is attacked his powers of manipulation of the weather become apparent and an unlikely hero whisks him away to a hidden world of the island, which is very different to the world Ionikis has been living in.

    Here Ionikis (the iron jawed boy) finally is reunited with his sister who is also a guardian. How will the iron jawed boy adapt to this strange place with all sorts of strange creatures, bizarre food a totally different type of school. Why has his father put an iron plate on his chin before they were separated for protection? Why does it respond to his emotions? How can he rescue his father from his bonds as a slave like himself?

    The iron jawed boy is magical, enthralling, intriguing, keeps you turning the pages, is everything a fantasy story should be with lots of darker themes as well.

    I would recommend for any fantasy fan, especially Percy Jackson fans. I personally enjoyed this just as much if not more than Rick Riordan, so if you loved Percy Jackson its well worth giving this a read, not to be missed.

    One final note although aimed at younger readers, I think all ages would enjoy this.
  • Rachael Hardcastle
    5.0 out of 5 stars a great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 7, 2013
    A great read! Really different from what i expected and can not wait for the next one, some characters can be linked to Harry potter-esk but, they were interesting and fit well with the book!

    Fully recommend this for anyone who enjoys mythology and wants pure escapism
  • Pascale F.
    3.0 out of 5 stars A nice story but lacking a little in depth
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 16, 2013
    I downloaded the book because I was told about it on Goodreads and I thought I would give it a try, as I like Fantasy.
    It is a nice enough story but I found it lacking in excitement until nearly half of the book. The synopsis promised more than what was delivered, in my opinion.
    I nearly gave up at 20%. Not because it is badly written, but because it does not have the magical element that I look for in Fantasy books. But I persevered and I am glad I did, because it becomes interesting by 43% and then, by 75% it all happens at once. But it is too late in terms of reading. The reader should be captivated much earlier.
    The Iron-jawed Boy is a mixture of everything, a bit of mythology, a bit of Harry Potter , a bit of Science Fiction and a bit of Lord of the Ring, even a bit of The Wheel of Time (enslavement of the Callers) and a bit of the Iliad. While I do not mind if a book sounds like another, the book seems to have too many sources and it why I found it lacking in depth. The plot is sound though. Therefore, I believe The Iron-Jawed Boy will do well as a Young Adult or children books. They will feel at ease with the characters in the book, due to the language that is the language of youngsters and also, it is full of goofy childish humour.

    As a parent, I definitely recommend it for children aged 11+ (Ion's age) and I hope my own son will read it as I said before it is a nice story. And for parents to whom it is important, no swearing and no snogging. This is a bonus. But for an adult who reads a lot of Fantasy, maybe not.

    I believe this to be a début novel, so, I am sure the others that will follow will be better, and I will buy the second one.