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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

  • #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
tags: 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Fairytale Retellings, fantasy, fey, Finishing the Series, Julie Kagawa, young adult
categories: Book Reviews
Sunday 05.01.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

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

  • #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
tags: 5 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, fey, Julie Kagawa, library, Seriously Series
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 03.07.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

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
tags: 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, fey, Julie Kagawa, library, Love for Books Readathon, Seriously Series, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 02.21.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Iron Legends by Julie Kagawa

iron-legends (1920).jpeg

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
tags: 4 stars, fey, Julie Kagawa, library, Seriously Series, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Monday 02.10.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Tithe by Holly Black

tithe (1920).jpeg

Title: Tithe (Modern Tale of Faerie #1)

Author: Holly Black

Publisher: Simon and Schuster 2002

Genre: YA Paranormal (Fey)

Pages: 340

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Women Author; 52 Books - W6; Top 100 YA Novels; Read Your Freebies

Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms -- a struggle that could very well mean her death.

The entire time I was reading this, I just kept thinking "I've read this before."  I haven't read this actual book, bit I've read so many YA stories just like it that the storyline was just incredibly familiar.  I was pretty bored. I think I could have liked this book, but I've just read too much of this genre.  I was going to include this series in my Seriously Series Reading Challenge.  Since i am nixing this series, I will not include it and substitute a different series for the challenge.

Modern Tale of Faerie (DNFed series)

  • #1 Tithe
  • #2 Valiant
  • #3 Ironside
tags: 3 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, ebook, fey, Holly Black, Read Your Freebies, Top 100 YA, women authors, young adult
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 02.04.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Iron's Prophecy by Julie Kagawa

irons (1920).jpeg

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
tags: 4 stars, fall into reading, fey, Julie Kagawa, mount tbr, paranormal
categories: Book Reviews
Thursday 10.10.13
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

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