The final book in Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey Series comes out Tuesday October, 25th. Each week until the release date I’ll Book Talk and Review each book in the series…including those novellas! I’ve become addicted to the series, so whether this is your first time with the books or you’re eagerly awaiting The Iron Knight’s debut a little trip to the Nevernever is good for everyone!
Without further Ado…The Iron King
Do you remember the tales of your childhood? Faery Princesses, Knights on horseback, Mermaids, Gremlins, Goblins, and Trolls? Do you remember a time when you believed it? When you could see the pointed ears of a faery? The tree that hid the elf?
No?
How about the man beneath your bed? The boogie man who hid in your closet? The fear that gripped you in the night? These memories stay with us longer. Everyone has a boogie man, a monster that no amount of adult-flash-light wielding will chase away.
As adults we’ve outgrown these fantasies. We fail to see the magic amongst our daily routines. Meghan Chase has been haunted by fleeting visions of the fantastic. A flash of unearthly color in her peripheral vision, a pair of eyes in the back of a closet. At 16 she’s learned to ignore these abnormalities. As humans it’s what we do best…rationalize the supernatural…turn a blind eye to our childhood lore.
Meghan is about to be drawn into a world she has long forgotten. Faeryland, The land of Nevernever. A place where all the tales of your youth are alive and well. Not only will she embark on a dangerous journey among the legendary…she’ll find a father she never knew. A destiny larger than the restraints of the imagination. Meghan will find herself a Summer Princess. Half-human, half-fey. Gifted with more power than she’d ever dreamed and enthralled with a man who could very well be the death of her. Her entire world is about to be turned upside-down, a lost brother and a romance between the Summer and Winter courts can never end well.
Review
Talk about combining our fairy tales or faery tales depending on your origin. This series packs everything from Irish, French, Shaksperian, and Alice-and-Wonderland-ean creatures. You’ll meet everyone from Puck to King Oberon to the Cheshire Cat a.k.a. Grim.
I have to admit that there were times in this read that my head was spinning trying to take in the details of Kagawa’s world. You are introduced to sooo much! Kagawa is operating under the premise that these creatures of the Nevernever are kept alive through the belief in their tales. Thus, the more popular/amount of tales written about you the stronger a Faery creature you are. As your tales fade from existence, you too as a creature fade from the Nevernever.
In fact, Nevernever itself is beginning to fade. Which makes me sad while at the same time slightly annoyed by all the fairy stuff happening. Lol, I was reading thinking “geeze, if I wanted a child’s setting I’d pick up some Grimm’s Tales myself!”. While at the same time wanting to do some clapping so I could keep little Tinkerbell alive. Disclaimer…Tinkerbell does not make an appearance in this tale. Apparently, Kagawa had to draw the line somewhere. But then that’s the problem with the Nevernever, it’s fading because people are starting to not believe in its creatures. And perhaps creating an evil that will destroy Faeryland faster than any disillusionment of humans.
But I digress, back to the review at hand. I’d read in other reviews that this first title in the series was “just ok” but that the rest were more of the “I LOVE it!” variety. Thus, I’m sticking with it. I just think that, sadly, as an adult so much fairy tale is difficult to take. Even with all my reading I was sad to find that my imagination was taxed with all of the world building my mind had to do! I was pressed to find images from movies and half-forgotten lore from both childhood and a fairy tale literature college class to pull this world together.
But I can see the potential. Ash is super hot, and Puck obviously has the hots for Meghan…and true to the trope Meghan is oblivious to Puck’s crush. Instead her heart is flip-flopping every time the Ice Prince comes close. Their journey into the Faeryland of Nevernever is one full of obstacles and very political contract making. Offering a tithe to a fey is tricky business and I was happy to see that Meghan caught on to this verbal sparring quickly…because she hands out more than her share of favors. Oh, and Grim the cat was my FAVORITE character in the book. Love him and his cat-like ways. Sarcastic, aloof, secretive, and strangely loyal he’s a real winner in the creature department.
Ultimately this tale was an introduction to the world. You meet almost every creature I’ve heard of and some that I hadn’t. The relationships that begin hold promise. And Meghan’s history/destiny has barely begun to be revealed. It’s these tastes of future tales that inspire me to read the rest. It’s a decent start…but I’m hoping it picks up speed in the future.
Rating: 6/10
Awesome book talk. The 2nd in the series, The Iron Daughter, is my favorite.
Oh my! I devoured this book. I loved the world-building, I loved the Nevernever, I loved everything about it. The series gets better and better as you go along. By the time I got to the Iron Queen, I thought I was going to EXPLODE. And then as I read The Iron Knight, as wonderful as it was, I was still sort of sad because it was the end of the series.
It WILL build up for you and get better. And I’m pretty sure you WILL love it. Julie Kagawa’s mind is so much fun. If she had wanted to keep going with the series, it would have been alright with me.
I’m glad you’re reading this!
[…] @ Bookgoonie for encouraging me to do the Iron Fey series. Loved it! Especially the final book *sigh* Gotta love a man who will go to the Ends of the Earth […]