Review - The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Knight

Author: Julie Kagawa

Series: 4th (The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen)

Pages: 361

Published: October 25, 2011 by Harlequin Teen

ISBN: 9780373210367

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn.  I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her.My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

I Give This ...

 

I would have been ok had this series ended with The Iron Queen.   Maybe not thrilled, but the ending made sense to me.  I was overjoyed to hear about this final edition to the series told from Ash's point of view.  I was hoping it would make a satisfying ending to a wonderful series.

I have to be honest and say that Ash's point of view was not what I was expecting.  But, his character has changed so much from the beginning of the series.  He's lost everything he has ever known.  He's no longer the cold-hearted Unseelie prince we met at the beginning.  He's willing to literally go to the end of the earth to find a way to be with Meghan.  I was wondering if he had the courage and love to really go through with it all.  I think this was a great story about the true depths of human emotions. 

There was some twists and turns in the story that I was not expecting.  I feel we learn a great deal about Ash that we never really knew before.  There are lots of moments and events that made him the person (fey) we know and love.  I also loved that Puck was along for the ride.  Their friendship/hatred has so many levels to it that I really longed to understand how it all started.  I finally get that.  I also get great closure on their feud.  Just what I hoped for!

I enjoyed the trials that Ash goes through to prove that he is worthy of a human soul.  The third trial left me feeling a little off at first though.  I wasn't sure if it was real or not, and I wasn't happy initially with the chain of events.  I felt things were really glossed over.  When I realized what the point was, I was much better.  I also think it showed an amazing side of Ash.  I was happy to have the end be that he might have the best of both worlds.

I enjoyed the story overall.  I wish we would have got a little more of Meghan.  But, I loved getting to see another side of Ash and Puck.  I also enjoyed getting to see a bit more of characters that have been little more that shadows in previous books.  I'm sad to see this series end, but will be revisiting it again soon!

 

Review: Summer's Crossing (Iron Fey #3.5) by Julie Kagawa

Title: Summer's Crossing

Author: Julie Kagawa

Series: Novella in the Iron Fey series

Pages: 57

Published: Available now from Harlequin Teen

ISBN: 9781459206403

Source: Free Ebook

Description: A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence—and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts.
Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help—into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice—betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist.

I Give This ...

 

I was excited to read this.  I'm eagerly awaiting The Iron Knight and I was hoping this might tide me over for a little while.  It's just enough to make you want more.

I wasn't sure what I would think of having a story told from Puck's point of view.  I like Puck, but for me he was always the best friend.  Although, I admitted after The Iron Queen that I could see how Megan could have feeling for him as well.  I'm not surprised that Puck decides to help Ash.  I just don't think of them as deadly enemies anymore.  I'm not sure how that works with there sworn oaths to kill each other.  I think the idea of pulling the wool over the queen of summer was more tempting than anything else.  I enjoyed the ultimate prank he pulled.  Even I feel for it.

What really did this story for me was Ash.  I got a sense of the pain he was in at the end of The Iron Queen.  But, in this little short book it was down right awful to watch him.  He's still Ash, but he's lost so much of his spark.  He can barely muster up the spark to fight with Puck.  But, you know it's all because of how much he lost.  I'm hoping there's some hope in the next book.  I want my Ash back!

Overall, a quick read.  I don't think it's really important to the storyline.  But, if your a fan of The Iron Fey series, of course you will read this!

The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey #2) by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Daughter

Author: Julie Kagawa

Series: 2nd in Iron Fey

Pages: 359

Published: August 2010 by Harper Teen

ISBN: 9780373210138

Source: Library

Description: Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

I Give This ...

I wasn't sure were this story was going to lead after the first book.  I was hoping the story would continue to be original since the first half of The Iron King I thought was was to familiar but redeemed itself in the second half.    

I love the idea of the winter court.  I think it shows how different the courts are.  Everything is covered in ice and snow.  Plus, everyone's attitude seems to match their environment.  Or maybe it's just their attitude towards Meghan because she's part of the summer court and she's part human.  I actually would have like more insight into it all.  I was prepared for some distance from Ash, but I really wasn't expecting him to be that cold.  But, as events unfolded, I learned that in all reality he was still protecting Meghan.

Speaking of Ash, can I say how much I love him.  He like the perpetual bad guy, the one all the good girls want and can't have.  But, he's so much more than that.  Their chemistry is awesome!  I just don't feel it as much with Puck.  He's a great guy, a good friend, and I love the sarcasm.  But, it's just not as believable of a romance to me.  

The story line takes some interesting twists.  Meghan isn't always looking for her prince to save her and Ash isn't constantly acting like she's a damsel in distress.  They both have backbone and do their fair share of saving each other.  Because in the end all they have is each other.

I can't wait for The Iron Queen.  This one has some questions that I really want answered.  They are so buried in the storyline that you almost miss them.  Plus, I just want more of Ash!

The Iron King (Iron Fey, #1) by Julie Kagawa

 
Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: Iron Fey #1

Published: February 2010

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 363
ISBN: 9780373210084

Source: Library Book

Description: Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. 

I Give This Book 4 Stars!

I have to be honest and say that I was very unsure of this book during the first 100 pages or so.  The story and characters were good, but I felt like I read it before (or to be more specific watched the movie).  I was a big fan of The Labyrinth and The Neverending Story growing up, and I really felt like this book was a combination of the two.  About half way through, the story decided to take on a life of its own and got immensely better!  I liked Meghan.  She was determined to accomplish what she set out to do.  I think she might have been a little head strong about it.  But, what to you expect from a teenager!  I loved Ash.  I thought it was interesting how the love interest is also the bad guy.  You could feel the tension between the two.  I also really enjoyed Grimalkin (although reminded of another key character in a story).  You could always expect the truth from him although how it was delivered was always interesting.  How the author managed to connect the the fantasy world to our world was great.  Overall, the second half of the book more than made up for the deja vu feeling of the first. I look forward to reading the sequal The Iron Daughter!