Julie Kagawa’s Iron Prince is a 2012 time capsule of the 'edgy YA' era, but it holds up surprisingly well. While many fantasy series from that decade feel dated, the 'Iron Fey' world-building—where technology and iron actually poison the magical world—remains one of the coolest concepts in the genre.
It’s technically a spin-off, but it works as a fresh entry point. If you have a reader who likes their fantasy with a side of mystery and a protagonist who actually hates being the hero, this is a solid win. It's clean, fast, and builds a world that’s genuinely fun to inhabit.