The Iron Warrior by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Warrior (Iron Fey #7; Call of the Forgotten #3)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2015

Genre: YA Paranormal (Fey)

Pages: 330

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Retelling; Finishing the Series; 52 Books - W18

Waking after a month on the brink of death, Ethan Chase is stunned to learn that the Veil that conceals the fey from human sight was temporarily torn away. Although humankind's glimpse of the world of Faery lasted just a brief moment, the human world was cast into chaos, and the emotion and glamour produced by fear and wonder has renewed the tremendous power of the Forgotten Queen. Now she is at the forefront of an uprising against the courts of Faery—a reckoning that will have cataclysmic effects on the Nevernever.
Leading the Lady's Forgotten Army is Keirran himself: Ethan's nephew, and the traitor son of the Iron Queen, Meghan Chase.To stop Keirran, Ethan must disobey his sister once again as he and his girlfriend, Kenzie, search for answers long forgotten. In the face of unprecedented evil and unfathomable power, Ethan's enemies must become his allies, and the fey and human worlds will be changed forevermore.

A fitting end to the Iron Fey series. I can't say it was my favorite book from the series, but it was good. The last book left the read with one hell of a cliffhanger. I'm glad this one picks up basically where that one left off. We get to see the final confrontations play out. We see growth in relationships. And Ethan and Keirran finally find their places. I'm glad I stuck with the series to see the end. But I must say that Grimalkin and Puck are still my favorite characters. Too much fun!

The Iron Fey

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal (Fey)

Pages: 342

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Seriously Series; 52 Books -- W10; Well-Rounded Reader -- YA/NA

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.
After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for—his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.
But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

Much better than the first one in this series. We actually get more of the underlying storyline and more characterization. I loved seeing how Ethan and Keirran evolved throughout the novel. I loved the appearances by Puck and Ash. I loved the concept of the almost final action sequence. I loved the set-up for the third books. I loved the journey Kagawa takes the reader on. The only thing I'm not crazy about: the cliffhanger ending. I figured that was how it was going to end, but reading the actual last page just threw me. I want more! I want to read how this all ends. I want to see where the characters go and how they resolve many of the conflicts. I want to see more of Keirran and Ethan and Kenzie and the Lady and Puck and Ash and even Razor (he really grew on me!).

The Iron Fey

The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2012

Genre: YA Paranormal (Fey)

Pages: 377

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; 52 Books - W8; Women Authors; Seriously Series

Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.
That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he'd dare to fall for.
Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

It was refreshing to read a book set in fey that wasn't focused on Meghan. I'll admit that I was tiring of her by the end of The Iron Fey series. I needed a change to stay interested. Ethan is a great change. We get appearances by Meghan, Ash, and even Puck, but the book is really centered on Ethan and Keirran's journeys. I liked getting to know these two new-ish characters, The book definitely ends on a cliff-hanger, but I'm okay with it. We get a whole new mystery to solve in thus series and I'm on board. I can't wait to see how this all plays out.

The Iron Fey

#1 The Iron King
#1.5 Winter’s Passage
#2 The Iron Daughter
#3 The Iron Queen
#3.5 Summer’s Crossing
#4 The Iron Knight
#4.5 Iron’s Prophecy
#5 The Lost Prince
#6 The Iron Traitor
#7 The Iron Warrior

The Iron Legends by Julie Kagawa

Title: Iron Legends (The Iron Fey #1.5, #3.5, #4.5)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2010

Genre: YA Paranormal (Fey)

Pages: 287

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Women Authors; Seriously Series

While I had read the four main novels in the Iron Fey series, I thought I would pick up this compilation of the short stories. Quick, but enjoyable reading as Kagawa helped to fill in the gaps in-between books.

Winter's Passage
Never make a promise to a faery. They always come to collect. Now Meghan Chase must fulfill her promise to Prince Ash of the Winter Court and embark upon a dangerous journey into the heart of enemy territory—while being pursued by a relentless new foe and guarding her own foolish heart.

This was my least favorite of the stories, if only because Meghan is still so young and naive. I think I knew too much of what comes after to truly enjoy this one.

Summer's Crossing
What can turn enemies into reluctant allies? A call from the Exile Queen, Leanansidhe, ties legendary prankster Puck to his archenemy, Prince Ash, on a journey that may end in betrayal and will set them both on an irreversible path.

My favorite of the stories because it stars Puck. Other than Grimalkin, Puck is the most interesting character in the entire series. I loved reading about his adventures with Ash and Leanansidhe. Great fun!

Iron's Prophecy
Before she ever knew what she might become, Iron Queen Meghan Chase was warned by the oracle that her firstborn child would bring nothing but grief. And even as Meghan and Ash celebrate their long-awaited union, the prophecy stirs.…

A nice bridge between the original Iron Fey series and the new Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten series. This actually made me want to read the next series. I have to see what happens to Ethan and Keirran.

The Iron Fey

#1 The Iron King
#1.5 Winter’s Passage
#2 The Iron Daughter
#3 The Iron Queen
#3.5 Summer’s Crossing
#4 The Iron Knight
#4.5 Iron’s Prophecy
#5 The Lost Prince
#6 The Iron Traitor
#7 The Iron Warrior

Iron's Prophecy by Julie Kagawa

Title: Iron's Prophecy (Iron Fey #4.5)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2012

Genre: Paranormal - Fey

Pages: 66

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Paranormal - Fey; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: iPad Read

Meghan Chase is finally getting used to being the Iron Queen, ruler of the Iron Fey. Her life may be strange, but with former Winter prince Ash by her side at last, she wouldn't have it any other way.
But when they travel to the Summer and Winter courts' gathering for Elysium, the oracle from Meghan's past returns with a dire prophecy: "What you carry will either unite the courts, or it will destroy them."
Now Meghan faces a devastating choice that may determine the future of all fey—and her and Ash's unborn child…

Picked this one up as a free Kindle book to continue the Iron Fey series. I wasn't hugely fond of The Iron Knight, but felt like I wanted to continue Meghan Chase's story. This was a nice wrap-up to the cliffhanger after Ash won a human soul. But it did leave me wanting more. I may just have to read The Lost Prince now...

The Iron Fey

#1 The Iron King
#1.5 Winter’s Passage
#2 The Iron Daughter
#3 The Iron Queen
#3.5 Summer’s Crossing
#4 The Iron Knight
#4.5 Iron’s Prophecy
#5 The Lost Prince
#6 The Iron Traitor
#7 The Iron Warrior

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Knight (The Iron Fey #4)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Releases Oct. 25, 2011

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 360

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fantasy; 2011 - Hot Off the Presses

How I Got It: NetGalley! (my first one)

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…
To cold 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 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. And along the way Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

My first ever book from NetGalley and it's one that I have definitely been looking forward to. I read the first three Iron Fey books last month and loved them. Great characters. Great stories. Great setting. I was glad to see the conclusion of the story with Ash's adventure.

The Good (and the Great)

Puck, Grim, and... introducing The Big Bad Wolf! Grimalkin was my absolute fave from the first three books and he continues to be amazing in this one. I love his little riddles and comments. We all know he knows more than he's telling, but we have to wait until the last moment to see what he means. Puck is always a great character. I am completely on Team Puck and you'll never change my mind. Although I wonder if he would have been able to pass the trials to gain a soul. Oh well, still a great character. The BBW was a great addition to the party, adding a foil for Grim and an uneasy companion for Ash and Puck. I love seeing the legend up close and personal. Great choice!

Most of the story was fast-paced and intriguing. The search, the briars, the River of Dreams, the gauntlet, and finally the Testing Grounds were beautifully crafted settings within the action. I could see each on in my mind and let me tell you some of them, like the River of Dreams, Nightmare section, were downright scary! The story started fast and ended fast, just like it should with a book like this.

The Not-So-Good

Ash's third trial at the Testing Grounds tried my patience. I knew what the third trial would be from the opening paragraph of that chapter. I thought, "Makes sense, now let's see the result." However the trial went on and on and on and on.... I thought it would never end. Around 50 pages later, we finally get the conclusion. My copy was ~360 pages long. I think Kawaga could have told that story in ~300.

Overall

Loved it! I only knocked off 1/2 star because of my annoyance at the third trial. But this book is definitely a must read! I think Faeries might be my new favorite subject! (At least if the rest are anything like Puck! hee hee)

By the way, I read on Julie Kawaga's blog that she's planning a second Iron Fey series for next year staring an older Ethan Chase! Putting that on my TBR list.

The Iron Fey

#1 The Iron King
#1.5 Winter’s Passage
#2 The Iron Daughter
#3 The Iron Queen
#3.5 Summer’s Crossing
#4 The Iron Knight
#4.5 Iron’s Prophecy
#5 The Lost Prince
#6 The Iron Traitor
#7 The Iron Warrior

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Queen The Iron Fey #3)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2010

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 358

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Local Library; A to Z Title: I

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.

Warning: Tread carefully if you haven't read The Iron King and The Iron Daughter.

What a way to end the trilogy! I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. It opened with a bang and ended with a bang. Constant action, or at least movement.

The book focused more on the war between the realms than the romance between Meghan and Ash. Thank goodness! I got very annoyed with the romance angle in the second book. Kagawa redeemed the love story by focusing more on the larger world than the inner insecurities of Meghan.

The return of Machina and Ironhorse, albeit not in physical form was a nice touch. I loved how Kagawa paints these characters are evil when we first meet them. But over the course of the trilogy we come to see that not everyone is black and white in this world. These characters had/have certain redeeming qualities. It just took us and Meghan a while to notice them.

The title of the book alludes to what happens in the end. Not that I minded the foreshadowing. I figured at the end of book one that Meghan would become the Iron Queen. It makes sense. Yet, when it happened, I was still surprised. Her transformation was wonderfully done. Congrats!

I've heard that there's a fourth book coming, The Iron Prince, focusing on Ash's story. Obviously at the end of The Iron Queen we get a bit of a teaser about Ash's new adventure/quest/suicide mission? I'm definitely putting it on my TBR list with an asterisk. (That means I really want to read it soon!) Great trilogy, Great world, Great characters!

I don't usually do this, but I had to share with you one my favorite lines from the book: "I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked at the skeletons again, fingers interlaced in death as they had been in life. And I wished that, for once, faery tales--real faery tales, not Disney fairy tales--would have a happy ending." (page 38)

The Iron Fey

#1 The Iron King
#1.5 Winter’s Passage
#2 The Iron Daughter
#3 The Iron Queen
#3.5 Summer’s Crossing
#4 The Iron Knight
#4.5 Iron’s Prophecy
#5 The Lost Prince
#6 The Iron Traitor
#7 The Iron Warrior

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey #2)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2010

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 359

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Local Library; A to Z Author: K

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.

Warning: Contains spoilers for The Iron King.

I loved this book! The continuation of Meghan Chase's story was just what I needed. Anyone who read The Iron King knew that Ash would come to take Meghan back to the Winter Court per their contract. But from there, the story takes on a whole new dimension.

We meet some new and interesting characters. Well, okay, not necessarily new, but we didn't get a chance to meet Sage and Rowan in the first book. They only made an appearance at Elysium. This time we get to see all three Winter Princes. Very interesting. I guess who would betray them all, but I still liked the plot twist.

The action was good: fast-paced, but still leaving room for conversations and quiet moments. The large battle scene at the end wasn't overly descriptive, but gave enough to imagine it. (It kind of looks like the battle for the Fields of Pelenor from LOTR.) It was terrifying. I was riveted to the edge of my seat seeing Meghan try and get through.

My only issue with the story: the relationship between Meghan and Ash. In The Iron King, it felt like the Romeo and Juliet doomed romance. He was the bad boy of the Winter Court. She was the naive, but beautiful and powerful half-breed Summer Princess. How would they ever stay together? Throw in a dead love, Ariella, and another romantic interest, Puck, and we have a quagmire. After reading the first book, I didn't really want Ash and Meghan to end up together. I wanted him to continue being a distant asshole and her to wake up and see Puck. Unfortunately, this book makes the romance story even more complicated. It irked me. I hope the third book clears it up.

Can't wait to start the third one. So thankful the library had all three!

The Iron Fey

#1 The Iron King
#1.5 Winter’s Passage
#2 The Iron Daughter
#3 The Iron Queen
#3.5 Summer’s Crossing
#4 The Iron Knight
#4.5 Iron’s Prophecy
#5 The Lost Prince
#6 The Iron Traitor
#7 The Iron Warrior

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King (The Iron Fey #1)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2010

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 363

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Local Library; Fantasy

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.

Could not put this down. It's been awhile since I found a book I got completely absorbed in. I loved it!!!!

The story is intriguing. I haven't read much including faeries, so this was actually quite a refresher from my historical romances and zombie stories. I liked the change. it felt fresh. (Wonder if it will by the end of the trilogy?) The plot was fairly predictable, but it didn't detract from the great story line.

The characters were fun. I was always guessing what Puck or Ash would do next. They were forever at odds with one another, yet there was something else going on underneath all that maleness. (We find out, but I won't give away the secret.) Oberon and Titania and Mab are just like how I imagine them from myth: powerful, enchanting, self-absorbed. Perfectly drawn. Meghan was fun: feisty and innocent all wrapped up in a normal 16-year-old girl package. But my favorite is definitely Grimalkin. He reminded me of the Cheshire Cat, but that's okay because I adore the Cheshire Cat. Everytime we think he's disappeared, he comes back to help. It may not always be on Meghan's time or in Meghan's way, but Grim is truly a friend.

I can't wait to read the next in the series: The Iron Daughter. Good thing I got all three from the library!

The Iron Fey

#1 The Iron King
#1.5 Winter’s Passage
#2 The Iron Daughter
#3 The Iron Queen
#3.5 Summer’s Crossing
#4 The Iron Knight
#4.5 Iron’s Prophecy
#5 The Lost Prince
#6 The Iron Traitor
#7 The Iron Warrior