The Iron Fey Series

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Date Published: 1st February 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
ISBN: 0373210086


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.


Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.


When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.


But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.


I was looking forward to reading The Iron King as I had read great reviews for it, and I wasn't to be disappointed. This is the third faery book I've read, and by far, the best. I really liked the premise that the Fae exist from the imaginations of mortals and if they have poems or stories written about them, to help remember them, they become all but immortal. The idea that the iron fey exist as the mortal world develops and improves technology was really unique.


The protagonist, Meghan, was a really likeable character. In the beginning of the book, she seemed like the kind of girl who might let others push her around but by the end, she had grown and become brave and determined. She was also caring and thought of others before herself. The secondary characters, Puck, Ash *swoon* and Grimalkin were really likeable too. Puck is Robbie, Meghans best friend, who she has known for as long as she can remember. He is part of the Summer Fey. Ash, is the handsome winter prince of the Winter Fey and mortal enemy of Puck. And Grimalkin is a cat....with attitude. He was entertaining.


I feel there is going to be a love triangle here. In my opinion, Puck is interested in being more than just friends with Meghan. I am a fan of a good love triangle and I will be rooting for Ash, who I think is probably my favourite character.


This book was well written and easy to read. The descriptions of the places and creatures were really good and I was easily able to picture them. All of the characters were well written and interesting. It is fast paced with a lot of action. I was intrigued by the references to A Midsummer Night's dream as I was not familiar with it at all.


Julie Kagawa's Nevernever world was a fascinating place which I enjoyed travelling through. I would definitely recommend this book. I was never a faery fan but this has converted me. This is definitely a book that I will read again in the future. I cannot wait to continue on with the series.


Although this ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, I had the second book in the series on hand and I was ready to go again.

"Something grabbed my wrist, pulling me forward. I collapsed against a solid chest, my fingers digging into the fabric to keep myself upright. As the adrenaline surge faded and my heartbeat returned to normal, I glanced up and found Ash's face inches from mine, so close I could see my reflection in his silvery eyes. His nearness made my senses spin, and I couldn't look away. This close, his face was carefully guarded, but I felt the rapid thud of his heart beneath my palm. My own heartbeat picked up in response. He held me a moment longer, just long enough to make my stomach lurch wildly, then stepped away, leaving me breathless in the middle of the trail."

Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa
(Iron Fey #1.5)


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Excellent!


"I replayed our last kiss in my mind, clinging to it like a life vest in a raging sea. Had I imagined his feelings for me, misread his intentions? What if everything he’d said was just a ploy, a scheme to get me to Tir Na Nog and the queen?
No, I couldn’t believe that. The emotion on his face that night was real. I had to believe that he cared, I had to believe in him, or I would go crazy."

Published by: Harlequin Teen
Published on: 1st August 2012
ISBN: 0373210132
Author Info: Website/Facebook
Age Group: Young Adult






The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


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—ironbound 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 stuck 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.



This was just as good, if not better than, The Iron King. I could not put it down. It was even more action packed, fast paced and emotional than the first book. And the ending was fantastic, it made me so happy.


We see a lot more of Puck in this book. I really like him but I'm still loving, loving, loving Ash. He is amazing. He stands up for love and doesn't care what happens.


We see a different side to Ironhorse, seeing him as brave and sensitive rather than just the enemy.


I was glad to see the return of Grimalkin, he had me laughing out loud at times with his sarcasm. I love the way he says "I am a cat" when asked how he does something.


And of course, Meghan. She is a great protagonist. Her character has grown in leaps and bounds since the beginning of the series and I don't think she's done yet. I can't wait to see how much stronger she is going to become as she really gets a hold on her magic. She is definitely one of my favourite female characters.


Julie's descriptions in this book were just as good as in The Iron King and even though there are a lot of characters, they are all so well written that there is no confusion.


This book is very hard to review without spoilers so I will leave it there.


Again, I would have no hesitation in recommending this book and will be putting it back on my shelf as a reread.

But for now, the only thing I wanted was standing right here, looking at me with an expression so open and unguarded that I thought my heart would burst out of my chest. "Don't leave," I whispered, tightening my hold. "Never leave me again. Stay with me. Forever." 

The Winter prince smiled, a small, easy smile, and lowered his lips to mine. "I promise."

Now, onwards and upwards to The Iron Queen!



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The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
Published by: Harlequin Teen 25th January 2011
ISBN: 0373210183
Age Group: Young Adult




My rating: 5 of 5 stars


My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.


This time, there will be no turning back.


Unbelievably, this was even better than the first two. The action just didn't stop and it had its fair share of romantic encounters too. Ash had me swooning, who knew he would turn out to be so soft and mushy. We see a completely different side to him as he drops his ice cold façade and opens up with Meghan.


Pucks emotions get the better of him and he goes from being a light hearted prankster to being bitter and mean. But who can blame him. His feelings have been hurt and it eventually all comes out against Meghan.


Grimalkin, what can I say. I love him. I don't think the books would be the same without him. "I am a cat". Those simple words have taken on new meaning for me lol.


A lot rests on Meghan's shoulders in this book but, she stands up to the task of her biggest challenge yet. She must save the Nevernever from the false Iron King and his iron army or all of faery world will die. But again, she is brave and determined and does what she has to do. Her character has developed so much from the first book, The Iron King, and she is amazing.


This book is imaginative, gripping and funny while being an emotional rollercoaster. I laughed, I swooned, I cried. Fantastic read. Would definitely recommend it. I can't wait to read The Iron King. One of the advantages of reading a series when all the books have been released, I can just read straight through :)


Off to read Summer Crossing now, before starting The Iron King.




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Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was really good and I enjoyed Puck's POV

Published: October 26th 2011 by Harper Teen
ISBN: 0373210361

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
My rating: 3 of 5 stars




Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing. 

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.


Ok, how to review this. Well I got a happy ending, thank God because I cannot handle a sad ending. But I had a knot of anxiety in me while reading this book. I have just finished it and I still feel in bad mood. I could not put it down because I had to see what happened, but I can't say I enjoyed it. From the start of the third trial, I was just stressed out. Wishing and hoping that things were going to take a turn. I just couldn't bear for Ash to end up like that.


I will not read this book again. It just left me with a sad, foreboding feeling even though things seemed to have turned out in the end.


The story starts with Ash and Puck going in search of Grimalkin. Along the way, they gain the company of the big bad wolf, who I liked in spite of who he is. And Ariella, who I did not trust throughout the entire book and was totally shocked at what she did in the end.


I wasn't enjoying this book, even before it started to stress me out. Even though there was a lot of action, I found I was getting bored. I really missed Meghan.


This book was a total let down to the end of a fantastic series. I love Ash, and enjoyed being inside his head, but it just wasn't enough.


I really, really wish that I could be finishing this series on a happier note, but the tone of this book just wasn't for me.


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