*Spoilers*…The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa…*Spoilers*

So I very much-loved The Iron Fey Series. Thus my month-long Tuesday reviews of the entire series…even those novellas…I was pretty proud of myself running through the whole text without giving away too many spoilers. But, Oh, the restrictions of keeping my beans contained! It’s like being given chocolate cake and just having a bite a week…No chance to savor the whole slice that is The Iron Fey.

Well I’m off the No-Spoiler Wagon my friends. The beans are being spilt…

Shield your eyes…

Read no more if you’d like to keep the mystery that is Ash intact…

Without Further Ado…My Thoughts

*Spoiler Alert*

Ash’s Dream-Real-Fake Life

Oh my gosh, stop my bleeding heart. While I was reading this section all I could think of was how adult Kagawa played it. She held nothing back…Ash had this bittersweet life. True, he got to be with Meghan and his son, but he also experienced old age, jealousy, etc. And still he chose that life. Even I was wavering after that trial…but Ash just stuck with it. He felt such love and longing for his former/fake/dream life that he’d do it all again, knowing he’d be doing it as a human rather than a fey.

The human in me appreciates the potential sacrifice Ash is making. Loved him for it. And I don’t know that I would have been that strong…

The Puck Situation

My heart aches for Puck. ACHES. He’s a good guy, really he is! But he gets totally shafted in this series. No supernatural Jacob/Reneseme ending for this guy. Throughout the series he’s been a stalwart friend, even to his enemy, and a faithful lover of Meghan. Yet, at the end of this series Puck is still in love with Meghan, he’s formed a bromance again with Ash…There was a fleeting moment in which I thought he might get a shot with the back-from-the-dead Ariella…but nope, he’s still alone!

Seriously…anyone else screaming for a Puck spin-off? One in which he gets the girl? Maybe the glory too? Give Puck a chance! lol. I feel as though this is the only lose end I see. Puck’s story just didn’t feel complete. I’m just not quite sure how he moves on with it all…

The Ex-Girlfriend

WTF?! Did anyone else see Ariella coming back from the dead? Not even recently back from the dead…she’d been alive (sorta) the whole time!

What about her ghost dancing in the flowers? What was that? Color me baffled.

Again I give props to Kagawa for playing this all in a very adult way. Ash spends a lot of thought choosing between his lost dream of Ariella and his new relationship with Meghan. Kagawa fleshes out this situation in such a real way that there were times in which I thought Ash just might choose Ariella. I was nervous, I was kinda angry, and then once Ariella did all the right things…I was kinda sad. Ok, really sad. Weepy sad. Maybe they shoulda given her to Puck…Just saying…

The Lack of Meghan

I think this made the book strong, and yet at times I felt like something was missing. I know, bipolar much?

I guess I loved this book because it was just Ash’s story. His voice was strong, and one that we didn’t see too much of in earlier books. I think the single voice made the story powerful. It harkened back to legends of a time long past. A time before multiple narrators and dystopian-teen-fiction. Loved it.

But like I said. There was some part of me that missed Meghan. I wanted to see her view. Her thoughts and worries for her love. Her reaction during Ash’s real-life-dream-life. Every previous book has shown her P.O.V. and I missed her. I think because we never heard from her it kinda felt like she was too busy ruling to think about Ash. And while I know it’s not true…I just got a sense of that ever now and then. Anyone else?

*sigh*

Maybe I’m just sad it’s all over. True, this was one of the best endings to a series I’ve ever done. I felt really satisfied that Ash and Meghan’s story was complete. Except for my hope for a Puck spin-off I’m quite content to let this faery tale rest.

But I’d love to keep rehashing…Thoughts? Questions? Concerns? I’d love to hear it 😉

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The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kawaga

The final book in Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey Series comes out today, Whoo Hoo! I’ve gone through the entire series and fallen in love with Meghan and Ash…and maybe Puck just a little too 😉

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 Knight

BookTalk

Ash is again banished. This time his Queen, the woman he’s pledged his eternal devotion to has cast him from her kingdom. This is not a lover’s quarrel…but a measure of safety for the Winter Prince.

You see, Meghan Chase is now the Iron Queen. She has given herself unto the land that is the Iron Kingdom and the Iron Kingdom has brought her back to life. The binding of the land and it’s Queen was always Meghan’s destiny. But to embrace the change meant forever seperating Meghan from her lover Ash.

To Ash the Iron of Meghan’s world is the ultimate kryptonite. Mere hours within the kingdom’s borders will kill Ash’s Winter fey body. What Ash needs is a soul. If Ash had a soul, he’d be human, he’d be able to enter the Iron Realm without the slightest discomfort.

But the quest for Ash’s soul will take him and his band of friends beyond the Nevernever, beyond the deep Wylde, beyond the edges of this world and beyond even life itself…into the shades of death.

Review

I Loved this book.

Did you catch that? Loved-with-a-capital-L

I cried, twice. This from the girl who made it through Titanic without shedding a tear. Yep, I watched Rose pry off Jack’s frozen hand simply held the tissues for my friends (one of whom was RachelKiwi by the way). So needless to say this book got me good.

This was by far my favorite of the series. I know that the first 3 books are Meghan’s journey, the legend of the Iron Queen. But I think with Meghan it was different. I connected with Meghan as a human. She was someone in a love triangle, someone who at times wanted to return to her human life. Her journey was longer, drawn out. It didn’t feel as seamless as I expect legends or myths to be.

Now don’t misunderstand me. The rest of the series was great. Loved it too. But it was complicated, complex, involved real-world sticky emotions. The first three books handle the story realisticially…well as realistically as you can get for a story involving a world of fey and a character I can’t help but think of as the Cheshire Cat (grim, sorry buddy). Anyway this last book is what I think of as a fairy tale, or legend, or myth. A story of a man who goes to the End of the World to be with the woman he loves.

At the end of the book when Ash says he went to the End of the World, beyond the Deep Wylde, endured the Gauntlet…ahh he means it! Seriously, it’s like watching Gone with the Wind and then reading it…you know Rhett leaves but when you read it you’re like *gasp* he leaves. This ending is just like that. Ash is recapping his trials and you’re like *gasp* *tear* he really did!

I’m explaining this all so horribly! I’m trying to be elequent about my love and it’s coming out sloppy, lol. What made this book special was Ash finally dealing with his emotions and his past. The Ariella/Puck history we’ve been watching for the last three books is finally dealt with. Ash has always been such a reserved character and it’s so cool to see this tale from only his point of view. And to see him navigate feelings that are very deep and complex is touching.

This is an old fashioned quest. A journey to the ends of the earth for love. There will be battles and villains and impossible tasks. Friends will remain steadfast and enemies will become allies. It’s a beautiful end to the series.

Rating: 5/5 Loved it. Simply, loved it.

Check back tomorrow for my spoiler report on the book! I enjoyed it far too much not to dish…

*Book received for review from Harlequin via NetGalley…Thanks!*

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Summer’s Crossing (Iron Fey #3.5) by Julie Kagawa

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 a 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…Summer’s Crossing

BookTalk

Ash and Puck are on a mission. Ash has granted one too many favors during the course of the series. Someone was bound to collect…

Queen Titania and Leanansidhe have a long-standing feud. One that forced Leanansidhe into her own kingdom of the in-between. Two very beautiful and very powerful women, determined to fight over any crumb they can find.

Enter “The Violin” A beautiful instrument Queen Titania has stolen from Leanansidhe. Obviously, Leanansidhe wants it back…And she wants it back now. Leanansidhe sends Ash into the realm of the summer court to retrieve the instrument capable of making such glorious music.

Puck is Ash’s best bet at retrieving “The Violin”. But can Ash trust Puck to fulfill his end of the bargain?…Can Puck remain stalwart to an old friend? or will he fall prey to the perfect crime; expose Ash and Puck gets Meghan all for himself…And neither of them saw that “The Violin” was never really an instrument at all…

Review

I’m reviewing this book after having read the final book of the series. So my view on why I liked this novella is a little different. You see, looking back on the read, I find that the best part of this story is getting to see the relationship between Puck and Ash. This continues into The Iron Knight, but having such a focused story centering around just the two characters really exposes the intricacies of their relationship.

I think at times I forget how close Ash and Puck once were. We see peeks into this past in other books, but here we get a taste of how much they once enjoyed working together. Best Friends in the fullest sense. These boys had fun! They pulled pranks, they fought, and hunted, and fell for the same girl (again and again apparently, lol). It’s just so sad to think that they lost that…

And then we have Puck…and Puck’s issues. In the novella you get the feeling Puck is hiding a lot of deep emotion behind the facade of wit and sarcasm. And I honestly couldn’t blame him for considering feeding Ash to the Lion that is Queen Titania. It would solve all of his problems. No more rival…Meghan would be all his…a perfect storm of double-crossing. And, much as I like Puck, I don’t think he’d have a problem carrying off the lie that it was all an accident.

This was such a well done preview of the final book. Even though technically you don’t have to read the novellas to enjoy the main books in the series. I suggest this one as the perfect background to make the reading of The Iron Knight that much more enjoyable.

Rating: 4.5/5 Action packed novella exposing the history of the most famous Faery Bromance

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The Iron Queen (Iron Fey #3) by Julie Kagawa

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 a 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 Queen

BookTalk

“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.” (from Goodreads)

Meghan and Ash have found love. They’re banished from Faery and attempting to go at it alone…in the realm of the mortals. Though both are giddy with their newly free and established love both knows their story isn’t done yet. The Iron Realm is growing, still poisoning the Nevernever spreading sickness and disease faster than the fey can combat it. Meghan is their only hope. The only person to have taken down the Iron King once. Now he’s calling for her…The Iron King haunts Meghan’s dreams. She’ll have to learn to fight her own battles or lose more than the world of the Nevernever…Meghan will forfeit her own life.

*Minor Spoilers*

Review

I think I was a little frustrated at Meghan that she didn’t immediatly tell someone about her Iron King dreams. Obviously they mean something…something vital. And yet she shares them with no one till the book is almost complete. As a reader I felt frustrated with this, though Grim is always around to explain that all will be learned in due course and that everyone has to learn it for themself. Blah, lol, can’t the cat just tell us everything we need to know?! But then I suppose we wouldn’t have this enjoyable series of books…just a few pages of monologue from the cat…

I was happy to see that Leansidhe was still good to Ash and Meghan. She could have turned on them when they came to her kingdom of the inbetween with nothing. And yet, she helped them. I like that about Kagawa’s books…you’re always finding aliances in the most unlikely areas. Its fun to see all these creatures who shouldn’t be friends help eachother. The Fey’s point of view is such a cold and manipulative one…I like that their actual actions betray the ability to become moral or “human” at times.

I loved when Meghan was asked to save the day by the Summer and Winter Fey. Just to see her have that much power. Loved it. Also, it was obvious that Ash and Robin desired to go back to the Nevernever. Besides the fact that I knew when I started the series that there were more books than just the three, Ash and Meghan just seemed sort of stuck in the inbetween. No real life to lead on either side of the paranormal line. While it was nice to see Meghan making breakthroughs with her father, it was definitely a situation that couldn’t last forever.

The ending. Oh, that ending. And Meghan and Ash, the vow…oh the vow. I don’t want to major spoil these two points for anyone. But how lovely they ended up being. Such a wonderful set up for the fourth book. This third started out a little slow for me. But I was really digging it’s ending.

Rating: 4/5 Shucks, the vow, the ending, the blending…good stuff.

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

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 a 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 Daughter

BookTalk

Meghan Chase has returned to the Nevernever. She must fulfill a bargain made to a Winter Prince…The Winter Prince she’s fallen in love with. But Meghan’s about to find that the infinate time of the Faery and their prejudice between the Summer and Winter courts is all but insurmountable. The Ash she followed into the Wyldewood is not the Ash who delivers her to Queen Mab and the Winter Court. The Winter Prince turns so cold that “Frosty” would be considered a lustful term.

Soon a lost love, a royal assassination, and a dash through the terrible Briars will deliver Meghan on another chase of the Iron King. Alliances with unlikely fey and a relationship Meghan should think better of serve only to bring her closer to her Destiny…

Review

*Spoilers*

Finally Meghan shows a little spunk! I mean, the girl apparently has powers beyond belief, we know that she’s super loyal and empathetic…but there have been times in these books that I’ve just wanted her to stand up and shout “Listen to Me!”. And she did. She took Mab down a notch. Meghan, Ash, and Puck have saved the day in each novel and yet no one gives them any credit for it. When Meghan is in the middle of that battle field, hanging on her last strings I’m happy she finally lets her feelings fly…great scene.

Of course that show of strength doesn’t last long. Ash admits to loving Meghan and though he’s the last of the Winter Princes. The only one still true to the kingdom he’s ousted because he fell in love with a girl who is equally trying to restore peace. Seriously these faery’s annoy me! Can’t they just let the love go and thank these two for trying their best to save the day. What is equally as shocking is that Meghan follows Ash out into exile. She’s been working so hard in the Nevernever and throughout this book she’s shown a few more romantic sentiments to Goodfellow…Even though I don’t like the love triangle I wasn’t sure she had reached the point of blindly following Ash into exile. I guess I was wrong.

Obviously, with two more books to go in the series Meghan and her band of faery boys are not finished with the battle in Nevernever…But I’m sincerely hoping that Puck finds himself a new love interest. I don’t like the love triangle in this series at all. There just isn’t enough draw from Meghan to Puck. And my heart hurts thinking of the day that Puck will finally realize that Meghan is never going to go for him. It’s all just a little awkward and I honestly don’t understand the attraction to Meghan. One guy…yes, Multiple guys…no.

What keeps the reader going is Kagawa’s plots. They always fill in like a cobble stone path, never what you expect but a perfect fit. The Winter Dance right when the human hormones were needed. Iron Horse joining the good guys and staying so loyal. Heck, even Leanansidhe not double-crossing anyone and doing her part to save the day. Was anyone else surprised at how cool and not so scary she ended up being?

And yet I am filled with questions at the end of this book. Is Meghan really the potential Iron Queen? If she is, how will this fix the troubles of Nevernever? How will she and Ash still manage to stay together? How will Puck deal with it all? And serisouly…will we ever figure out Grim’s part in everything?

Rating: 4/5 Because the ending really is that good

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

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 a 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…Winter’s Passage

BookTalk

“My name is Meghan Chase.

If there are three things I’ve learned in my time among the fey, they are this: don’t eat anything you’re offered in Faeryland, Don’t go swimming in quiet little ponds and never, ever, make a bargain with anyone.”

Meghan Chase is following the mysterious Winter Prince Ash through a passage to the Winter Kingdom. She made a contract with this man, a man who’s cold exterior warms her in ways that could be fatal to a Summer Princess. Their attraction could mean death for both of these royals. While not yet a full-blown romance their feelings for one another will only be encouraged by this journey…While the relationship seems to be headed in a hopeless direction, the couple won’t have to worry about its repercussions if The Hunter catches them first…

Review

I liked this novella. I think I liked it more than Kagawa’s first book in the series The Iron King. I was pared down. Far simpler in its fairy tale scope than the first. It could be that I was already familiar with the characters and their story plots. But I liked that the hunter was our main focus and that places and creatures we’d already met were glossed over. I wasn’t overwhelmed with creature and place descriptions like I had been in the novel.

What I liked about this little teaser of a story was it made me realize some mad respect for Kagawa’s knowledge of fairy tale history. I took a few classes in college on fairy tales and what I’ve always loved about this type of literature is its history. How cultures spread far and wide still came up with so many similar tales and characters. When the big bad wolf says

““I am Wolf. I am older than you, older than Mab, older than the most ancient faery to walk this realm. I was in stories long before the humans knew my name, and even then they feared me.”…”I am the wolf at the door, the creature that stalked the girl in the red hood to grandma’s house. I am the wolf who becomes a man, and the man who is a beast inside. My stories outnumber all the tales ever told,…”” (34, ePub ed.)

I was so inspired by this quote. It is amazing to think of all the tales we grew up with…how far back they truly reach. I think that in this tale of passage to the Winter realm of the Unseelie I truly began to respect the spectrum of lore Kagawa is honoring. And the tale does just what it’s supposed to. It whet my appetite for the next book in this series and gave me a view of a legendary character that does deserve some respect.

Rating: 7.5/10

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

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

BookTalk

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

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