Helpful Score: 1
Whenever I really enjoy a book it's difficult for me to review it because I keep trying to shape my thoughts into something coherent and all my brain throws back at me is "It was Awesome!". Which is exactly what's been going on all day today. Julie Kagawa took the series to a new level with this book and fulfilled all kinds of promises in the process. The character development, the story arc, the very unexpected but logical and satisfying resolution of the love triangle that kept bugging me in the last book and the epic ending I did not see coming all hit the right notes and when I turned the last page the only thing I didn't like was that the book was over. You know how they say that when you're dreaming up a story don't be afraid to dream big? Ms. Kagawa isn't afraid, not even a little bit.
I enjoyed seeing the characters' growth in this book. Meghan's transformation from a teenage girl into an adult who understands what's important is complete and she is now strong enough to do what needs to be done, no matter how painful it is. Ash and Puck are not just boys with a centuries-old feud, they are finally acting their age, showing that they can do more than draw swords at the drop of a hat, that they can take a step back and do what's best for the girl they both love.
Speaking of love, I can't resist telling you that this book has an amazing scene that is my absolute favorite of all the romantic scenes so far. I can gripe about love triangles and immortal beings falling for a teenager all I want but when there's a scene like that all my gripes melt away and all I can do is sit there soaking up every word, rereading the paragraphs and grinning like a real hopeless romantic in the face of true love. You want a hint now, don't you? Well, the title of the next book is a huge spoiler as far as this particular scene is concerned.
Of course it's not all about mushy stuff (what kind of Iron Fey book would it be if it were, right?), there are excellent action sequences and great standoffs that keep you hoping things don't turn nasty. Pair that with terrific dialogue throughout and you've got yourself a thrilling adventure with plenty of chuckles along the way.
Fortunately for the series the more mature characters, themes and relationships didn't change the writing. It's just as light and effortless as it's always been, making this book an extremely easy and fun read and proving that it is possible to talk about serious things without being stiff and drowning in big words.
A lot of the conflicts that were established and developed in the first two books came to a resolution in this volume and while the story came to an end on one level there's still more to come before it can really be over. I look forward to finding out what kind of deal Ash made with Leanansidhe, how he will be able to overcome the challenges Meghan's new role in the Nevernever brought and how he'll get along with Puck now that they actually have a chance at friendship again. The faerie adventures continue and I could not be more pleased about it.
I enjoyed seeing the characters' growth in this book. Meghan's transformation from a teenage girl into an adult who understands what's important is complete and she is now strong enough to do what needs to be done, no matter how painful it is. Ash and Puck are not just boys with a centuries-old feud, they are finally acting their age, showing that they can do more than draw swords at the drop of a hat, that they can take a step back and do what's best for the girl they both love.
Speaking of love, I can't resist telling you that this book has an amazing scene that is my absolute favorite of all the romantic scenes so far. I can gripe about love triangles and immortal beings falling for a teenager all I want but when there's a scene like that all my gripes melt away and all I can do is sit there soaking up every word, rereading the paragraphs and grinning like a real hopeless romantic in the face of true love. You want a hint now, don't you? Well, the title of the next book is a huge spoiler as far as this particular scene is concerned.
Of course it's not all about mushy stuff (what kind of Iron Fey book would it be if it were, right?), there are excellent action sequences and great standoffs that keep you hoping things don't turn nasty. Pair that with terrific dialogue throughout and you've got yourself a thrilling adventure with plenty of chuckles along the way.
Fortunately for the series the more mature characters, themes and relationships didn't change the writing. It's just as light and effortless as it's always been, making this book an extremely easy and fun read and proving that it is possible to talk about serious things without being stiff and drowning in big words.
A lot of the conflicts that were established and developed in the first two books came to a resolution in this volume and while the story came to an end on one level there's still more to come before it can really be over. I look forward to finding out what kind of deal Ash made with Leanansidhe, how he will be able to overcome the challenges Meghan's new role in the Nevernever brought and how he'll get along with Puck now that they actually have a chance at friendship again. The faerie adventures continue and I could not be more pleased about it.
Helpful Score: 1
Review by: http://bibliophile-bestiary.blogspot.com
Wow. I have been long awaiting this book to come out and it did not disappoint! It was a very quick read because it kept you totally entranced in the world. Meghan has finally accepted who she is and what she can do and she is good at it. The love story between Ash and Meghan is tear jerking and heartbreaking but lovely at the same time. The Iron Fey world is growing and both the Iron and "normal" fey cannot inhabit the same world. To them, they only see the solution of war and exterminating the other, but is that the only way? Meghan sees a different outcome and she is determined to make it happen. A great continuation of Meghan's story. 4 out of 5 stars!
Wow. I have been long awaiting this book to come out and it did not disappoint! It was a very quick read because it kept you totally entranced in the world. Meghan has finally accepted who she is and what she can do and she is good at it. The love story between Ash and Meghan is tear jerking and heartbreaking but lovely at the same time. The Iron Fey world is growing and both the Iron and "normal" fey cannot inhabit the same world. To them, they only see the solution of war and exterminating the other, but is that the only way? Meghan sees a different outcome and she is determined to make it happen. A great continuation of Meghan's story. 4 out of 5 stars!
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Meghan Chase wants nothing more than to return home to her mother, step-dad, and little brother. Shes gotten as far as her front yard when out of nowhere she is attacked by spidery-type iron fey creatures. Just when she thought that maybe she could return to a normal mortal life, Meghan is drawn back into the world of Never Never.
Ash, Puck, and Meghan are approached by representatives from the Summer and Winter Courts, and their banishments will be lifted if they agree to come back to Faery and aide in fighting the (new) Iron King. His army is encroaching on the magical lands, destroying everything in its path. Soon, there will be nothing left of the Summer and Winter Courts. The two sides have formed a reluctant alliance in their war. Of course, Meghan knows that the bargain means they want her to journey into the Iron realm and kill the Iron King.
Aided by the ever entertaining Grim, the three journey into the desolate land. Meghan is drawn by some unknown force, guiding her to where they need to go. They encounter a small band of resistant iron fey who soon become allies in the battle. With the aid of Glitch and an entertaining gremlin named Razor, Meghan does what she can to defeat the new Iron King.
THE IRON QUEEN, in my humble opinion, is the best tale of the series to date. From early on, the adrenaline rush starts, and doesnt let up until the back cover is closed. And even at that point, when I got to the final page, I wanted to scream, No! Dont leave me hanging like this!
Meghan is such a strong character and has many hard choices to make. Ultimately, she is faced with what she wants and what needs to be done. Its a hard decision for anyone to make, and hardly easy for a seventeen-year-old. But Meghan follows her destiny with heart, spirit, and the assistance of true friends.
But its not Meghan that kept me entranced throughout the entire book. Can I say Go team Ash?" The Winter Prince is truly the most captivating part of this novel. The tension between Ash and Puck is non-stop, but its Ashs unfailing loyalty to Meghan that just melts the heart.
Im eager to see how THE IRON KNIGHT plays out, knowing that Ashs story will next be told.
Meghan Chase wants nothing more than to return home to her mother, step-dad, and little brother. Shes gotten as far as her front yard when out of nowhere she is attacked by spidery-type iron fey creatures. Just when she thought that maybe she could return to a normal mortal life, Meghan is drawn back into the world of Never Never.
Ash, Puck, and Meghan are approached by representatives from the Summer and Winter Courts, and their banishments will be lifted if they agree to come back to Faery and aide in fighting the (new) Iron King. His army is encroaching on the magical lands, destroying everything in its path. Soon, there will be nothing left of the Summer and Winter Courts. The two sides have formed a reluctant alliance in their war. Of course, Meghan knows that the bargain means they want her to journey into the Iron realm and kill the Iron King.
Aided by the ever entertaining Grim, the three journey into the desolate land. Meghan is drawn by some unknown force, guiding her to where they need to go. They encounter a small band of resistant iron fey who soon become allies in the battle. With the aid of Glitch and an entertaining gremlin named Razor, Meghan does what she can to defeat the new Iron King.
THE IRON QUEEN, in my humble opinion, is the best tale of the series to date. From early on, the adrenaline rush starts, and doesnt let up until the back cover is closed. And even at that point, when I got to the final page, I wanted to scream, No! Dont leave me hanging like this!
Meghan is such a strong character and has many hard choices to make. Ultimately, she is faced with what she wants and what needs to be done. Its a hard decision for anyone to make, and hardly easy for a seventeen-year-old. But Meghan follows her destiny with heart, spirit, and the assistance of true friends.
But its not Meghan that kept me entranced throughout the entire book. Can I say Go team Ash?" The Winter Prince is truly the most captivating part of this novel. The tension between Ash and Puck is non-stop, but its Ashs unfailing loyalty to Meghan that just melts the heart.
Im eager to see how THE IRON KNIGHT plays out, knowing that Ashs story will next be told.
This is the third book in the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. The fourth book in the series The Iron Knight is due out some time in 2011. I got an advanced reading copy of this book through NetGalley(dot)com. This was an excellent addition to the series and a great place to leave things with Meghan. I am not sure how she does it but Kagawa sure does know how to write a story that draws the reader in and totally captures your imagination. Can I give this book more than 5 stars?
Meghan and Ash have been cast out of Nevernever. Meghan is determined to go home to her human family but on her way up the driveway is attacked by the false Iron King's minions. Now she realizes she can't go home until the False Iron King is dealt with. To do that she needs to learn both how to fight and how to use her magic reliably. When she sets on the path to destroy the false Iron King she has no idea that her path will take her to an epic battle between the False Iron King and the rest of the fey; the very existence of the Nevernever will depend on Meghan's resolve.
This is a wonderful wonderful book in what has been an absolutely stellar series. Kagawa creates characters that are complex, easy to engage with, and so easy to care about. The world she has created is amazingly complex, but never feels too complicated. At every turn we see new fascinating places, people, and creatures. Kagawa always keeps you guessing. There is a ton of action here, some true love, adventure, quests, epic battles...really this book has everything any fantasy fan could ever hope for.
Gone is the Meghan who couldn't take care of herself; she is replaced with a girl with more backbone, more know how, and more resolve than ever before. The Winter Prince Ash has finally thawed, gone is the stoic Prince from previous books...now he is showing us how he feels and giving us glimpses into his past that help to explain his actions. To keep the story from getting too intense we have Meghan's sharp sense of humor and the presence (and sudden absences) of the wonderful Grimalkin...he continues to be mysterious, funny, and very Cheshire-cat-like. Grimalkin is hands down my favorite character in this series.
Kagawa does such an excellent job describing environments, I actually feel like I am there with Meghan. Her action scenes are creative and you never know what is going to happen when you turn the page. And this book was a page turner. I read the almost 400 page book effortlessly and couldn't believe I had already reached the end. It was soooo hard to put down. As for the characters, well this book is quite a rollercoaster...the characters are put through a lot. You will laugh, you will hold your breath, and you will cry a few times...it takes a great author to pull a reader through all this emotion and that is what Kagawa is. At times in this book the story becomes truly epic and I was impressed that Kagawa handled massive battle scenes just as wonderfully as the other types of scenes in this book.
My only complaint is that I want more. I will warn that some readers may be disappointed in how this book ends....the fact that there will be a book dedicated to Ash's story called The Iron Knight should give a bit of insight into the ending of this book. I personally thought it ended well and realistically, although it did feel a bit rushed and I was surprise that Meghan didn't struggle a bit more to change things.
Overall this is absolutely, hands-down the best fae based story I have ever read. Kagawa is a writer to keep you eye on; this blows all of those other YA faerie series out of the water. I just don't know how she does it; the pacing, the creativity, the wonderful world and characters; it is all spot on. I am super excited to see what The Iron Knight brings us and I thoroughly enjoyed this series. I highly recommend it to any fantasy fans out there; not just the female set either...there is enough fighting, action, and epic battle to make this book appeal to any fantasy fan in the young adult or older age category.
Meghan and Ash have been cast out of Nevernever. Meghan is determined to go home to her human family but on her way up the driveway is attacked by the false Iron King's minions. Now she realizes she can't go home until the False Iron King is dealt with. To do that she needs to learn both how to fight and how to use her magic reliably. When she sets on the path to destroy the false Iron King she has no idea that her path will take her to an epic battle between the False Iron King and the rest of the fey; the very existence of the Nevernever will depend on Meghan's resolve.
This is a wonderful wonderful book in what has been an absolutely stellar series. Kagawa creates characters that are complex, easy to engage with, and so easy to care about. The world she has created is amazingly complex, but never feels too complicated. At every turn we see new fascinating places, people, and creatures. Kagawa always keeps you guessing. There is a ton of action here, some true love, adventure, quests, epic battles...really this book has everything any fantasy fan could ever hope for.
Gone is the Meghan who couldn't take care of herself; she is replaced with a girl with more backbone, more know how, and more resolve than ever before. The Winter Prince Ash has finally thawed, gone is the stoic Prince from previous books...now he is showing us how he feels and giving us glimpses into his past that help to explain his actions. To keep the story from getting too intense we have Meghan's sharp sense of humor and the presence (and sudden absences) of the wonderful Grimalkin...he continues to be mysterious, funny, and very Cheshire-cat-like. Grimalkin is hands down my favorite character in this series.
Kagawa does such an excellent job describing environments, I actually feel like I am there with Meghan. Her action scenes are creative and you never know what is going to happen when you turn the page. And this book was a page turner. I read the almost 400 page book effortlessly and couldn't believe I had already reached the end. It was soooo hard to put down. As for the characters, well this book is quite a rollercoaster...the characters are put through a lot. You will laugh, you will hold your breath, and you will cry a few times...it takes a great author to pull a reader through all this emotion and that is what Kagawa is. At times in this book the story becomes truly epic and I was impressed that Kagawa handled massive battle scenes just as wonderfully as the other types of scenes in this book.
My only complaint is that I want more. I will warn that some readers may be disappointed in how this book ends....the fact that there will be a book dedicated to Ash's story called The Iron Knight should give a bit of insight into the ending of this book. I personally thought it ended well and realistically, although it did feel a bit rushed and I was surprise that Meghan didn't struggle a bit more to change things.
Overall this is absolutely, hands-down the best fae based story I have ever read. Kagawa is a writer to keep you eye on; this blows all of those other YA faerie series out of the water. I just don't know how she does it; the pacing, the creativity, the wonderful world and characters; it is all spot on. I am super excited to see what The Iron Knight brings us and I thoroughly enjoyed this series. I highly recommend it to any fantasy fans out there; not just the female set either...there is enough fighting, action, and epic battle to make this book appeal to any fantasy fan in the young adult or older age category.
The Winter and Summer courts have joined forces to battle the Iron Fey who are insistent on taking over all of Nevernever. Since iron is deadly to the Fey, they cannot go after the Iron King and of course, Meghan is asked to save Nevernever. With Ash and Puck at her side, she enters the Iron Kingdom in search of the false king. It's interesting that when Meghan falls for Ash, they are exiled because Summer and Winter cannot be together but now that they need her, all is forgiven.
I particularly liked the animosity between former friends Ash (who got the girl) and Puck (who didn't). The little snarky comments seem to hide a reluctant friendship. In a romance novel, this animosity would turn into true love. As a young adult novel, I highly doubt it's heading in that direction but wouldn't it be interesting?
I really liked this installment and can't wait to read Ash's tale, The Iron Knight.
I particularly liked the animosity between former friends Ash (who got the girl) and Puck (who didn't). The little snarky comments seem to hide a reluctant friendship. In a romance novel, this animosity would turn into true love. As a young adult novel, I highly doubt it's heading in that direction but wouldn't it be interesting?
I really liked this installment and can't wait to read Ash's tale, The Iron Knight.
This is the best book of the series. Meghan has grown up alot and has become a much stronger and more likeable heroine. I also loved the relationship development with Ash and Meghan and of course Puck and Grim were awsome as usual.
