The Iron Queen

The Iron Fey #3

by Julie Kagawa

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.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fae, Paranormal, Fairies, Magic

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 25, 2011

Reviews

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the books in 'The Iron Fey' series, 'The Iron Queen' is my favorite. This book is pivotal and takes the story in an entirely new direction. Not only is this book filled with action and adventure, but I finally got to see the romance between Meghan and Ash evolve.

Not only does the relationship between Meghan and Ash grow, but Meghan undergoes a great deal of self-discovery and growth as an individual. 'The Iron Queen' really is Meghan's "coming of age" book. She grows stronger, both physically and spiritually. She is faced with many painful truths and twists along the way, but she rises to the challenge.

To say the least, I felt that this book had a strong "girl power" vibe going on. In earlier books, Meghan was always cast as the damsel in distress, waiting for Ash or Puck to come to her rescue. While she still has a plethora of male protectors to do her bidding, Meghan also rises as a leader in and of her own right. She is only beginning to learn about the power within her and I cannot wait to see what she will be able to do once she is able to access it fully.

Meanwhile, this book proved to be emotionally engaging and, at times, heartbreaking. Mostly, my heart went out to Puck. He made some mistakes along the way, but none more serious than anything that Ash ever did, in my opinion. He loved Meghan so much, but it was evident that he had been "friend-zoned" and had no chance at ever becoming anything more. As much as I loved Ash and Meghan as a couple, I couldn't help but feel bad for poor Puck.

King Oberon and Queen Mab take on unexpected roles, as the false Iron King continues to gain power. In order to save faerieland, Meghan will have to rise to the challenge. She is faced with many difficult choices and adversity along the way.

More so than other books in the series, 'The Iron Queen' ended with a huge upset. I was left reeling. It felt like my heart was ripped from my chest. Knowing that the story wasn't over yet kept me pushing forward. I knew that things wouldn't be left like that.

Like the other books in the series, the narration for this book was superb. I continue to be enthralled with this story and the magical world that Ms. Kagawa has created. After finishing this one it was on to the next on immediately. I had to know how things would work out for these characters.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! That freaking ending! I can't even people, the FEELS



I CAN NOT believe I have had these books for so long and they are so freaking awesome! I have so many books hanging out here with me that I haven't gotten to yet. How many more gems do I have?

Being able to love so many genres of books is just amazing. Yes, you get the ones you don't like from time to time, but mostly they are so wonderful. I love to be taken away to all of these places and it doesn't matter if someone else loves the same book as you. It doesn't matter if someone loves the same genre as you, just loving a book and supporting people that love books is amazing. ♥

This book is both wonderful and sad. Meghan has balls of steel let me tell you. She's such a strong person, even when she's having sad moments. She is strong to do whatever it takes to save the ones she loves. *Sob*

In the last book, Meghan and Ash were exhiled <--- I spelled that wrong, from the Faery world. But they were only in the human world for like 5 minutes when the freaking Iron Fae come looking for Meghan. A person can't even have a minute to do anything!

Meghan and Ash are being dragged back into Nevernever because some stuff is going down. Oh, and Puck got exhiled too when he went looking for them so he's back in Nevernever going to go on a fight with them. It's like, yes you just killed one evil being but there is no time to sit down, we have to go and get this other evil being killed. The said evil being is the False Iron King. It's this whole thing, you need to read the books.

This time the Seelie and Unseelie Courts ban together to fight the Iron Realm and it's not easy because Iron kills them at the drop of a hat. But they hold off the best they can so Meghan, Ash, Puck, Grimalkin and a little ragtag go and try to defeat this false king. And this whole time the real Iron King that Meghan defeated before is still with her. She absorbed him, that's all I'm saying, it sounds gross but it's something else.

Anyway, with Meghan's awesome powers and insights things are mostly set to right.

I really hope in the other books in this realm some things will change what happened at the end of this book. I don't want it left like this, although, it could have been much worse. Sigh......

MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, this is it. Wow!

I can’t even begin to explain how much I loved this book. I know, this has been said many times before but I have to repeat it. This was epic!

The Iron Queen picks up right after Meghan and Ash got exiled and tells the story of Meghan’s last fight against the False Iron King and her attempt to save the Nevernever. This was an epic story about bravery, loyalty, friendship, true love as well as despair, loss and sacrifices.

All my beloved characters were back in this book. Grim was his usual mysterious self, providing “I am a cat” as an explanation for almost everything, and Puck was still the funny and loyal, though a little more bitter, best friend that I’ve grown to love. Then there were some new characters that added to the fun like Glitch and Razor. I fell in love with Razor right away. I want my very own little Gremlin! And, of course, there were Meghan and Ash. I adored Meghan in this third installment of the Iron Fey series. She’s grown up, she’s brave and loyal and displays the possession of some serious guts. But the best character of this entire series is Ash. He really gets to shine in this book. I enjoyed seeing his icy facade melt and getting a glimpse at the amazing person that lies beneath it. Both Ash and Puck made my eyes well up several times with their declarations of love and dedication to Meghan.

There has rarely been a book that managed to suck me into the story as thoroughly as the books of the Iron Fey series have. You know how sometimes your thoughts drift off while reading? It doesn’t mean that the book is bad, it just happens? Well, this was definitely not the case here. I love Kagawa’s worldbuilding and the dark and brooding atmosphere her writing style creates. It’s like a mixture of Alice in Wonderland, Matrix and The Lord of the Rings and made me forget everything around me. Her writing was so vivid, I saw the world unfold before my inner eye like I was watching a movie. Truly amazing.

As for the romance...I have mentioned before that I’m not a big fan of that instant-love-at-first-sight-thing. It rarely works for me. Where it did work, for example, was Twilight. Yes, I am one of those people. Don’t hit me, please. And after having finished the Iron Queen I can say, here it worked again. Ash is just...he’s so...I am at loss for words. Nothing I can say would do him justice but let me tell you this: He nudged Edward off his throne. That’s how much I adore this character.

As for the ending? Oh.My.Freaking.God. To say that I cried like a baby would put it mildly. I’m talking heart wrenching, all-consuming sobs here. And now I am desperate, yes desperate to read the Iron Knight. Oh God...

Last but not least, thanks to Harlequin Enterprises for the opportunity to read this book now, instead of having to wait until February 2011. Thanks so much!

------------------------------------------------------------
I know, this is getting old but I have to mention this. I LOVE these two quotes. They made me fall in love with Ash all over again:

“Hey,” I whispered, as Ash slipped his arms around my waist from behind, drawing me close. I could feel his glare aimed at Puck over my head, a silent, protective gesture that spoke louder than any words. “Mine. Back off."

“One more thing” Ash said in his dangerous, soft voice as we turned away. “If you do not return with her” Ash continued staring him down, “I will turn this entire camp into a bloodbath. That is my promise.”

----------------------------------------------------------

Songs I listened to while reading:

“On the nature of daylight” by Max Richter
“All that is good” by Tyler Bates
“Evenstar” - Lord of the Rings sound track
“Violin Concerto II” by Philip Glass

Stef and Morgan, thanks for providing the right soundtrack for this book. It made the reading experience so much more intense. While I was reading the final chapters I listended to “on the nature of daylight” by Max Richter and it made my heart shatter into a million tiny pieces.

Kim, I really enjoyed our reading date. Thanks, hun. ^^

Alright, that’s it. I’m locking myself up in a closet now and I won’t come out before a certain dark faery knight shows up and offers to take me away.

[Krystle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ah, I’ve finally come to the end of this series (sort of). It’s quite clear to me that I really am not a fan of Julie Kagawa’s writing style but I’m always hopeful. Sadly, I have resigned myself to believing that this is not going to change, not now and not ever.

There was nothing really offensive to me in this book as they were in the previous ones. The story moved at a decent enough clip, I suppose, though I find myself having to force myself to finish it because her prose is just so dry and boring. Her writing is very rough and stilted, lacking any finesse or subtlety. The dialogue was particularly cringe worthy at times, being either too sappy or too cliché. Even the witty lines of banter traded between Puck, Ash, and Meghan gave me a moment of pause because my only thought was “where have I heard this before?”

I have finally realized why I dislike Ash so much. He reads like a fangirl’s wet panty fantasy of Sephiroth, only in faerie disguise and in a different book. I mean, really, how can you not see the similarities? He’s cold and distant, got lots of nice, long, glossy hair, wields a sword with skills like no one’s business, and well, supposedly, he’s hot beyond the extremes!

Case in point:



Does that look a wee bit familiar? No, well then I have a good explanation for this! It’s no wonder Ash constantly a giant ice cube rammed up his ass if his true name is Ashallyn’darkmyr Tallyn. What kind of ridiculous name is that?! I would forealz be a stuck-up bitch loser if I had some shitz0r name like that. Ahahaha.

Thank freaking goodness Meghan decided to cut the water works in this series. If I had to hear about how much her tears spilled out of her eyes or whatever nonsense like that I think I’d take Ash’s own sword and stab her through the gut. Now she’ll really have something to cry about, the loser. At least this time in this book she doesn’t stand around like a loser. She actually gets involved in things. Haha! Too bad the sex scene you guys were waiting for was nothing more than a super short paragraph and a very vague fade to black. No hot fantasies here. (Not that I would ever have one with him, eew.)

And, omg, there was one point in the book I wanted to facepalm so hard. Okay, so Meghan finds this cellphone and it has a Hello Kitty sticker on it with and I quote “Japanese kanji”. WHO ARE THE FACT CHECKERS HERE?! Kanji is already Japanese, so therefore the need to call it Japanese is redundant! If that was the case why didn’t she just call it Japanese characters?! HELLO? Does anyone get super annoyed by these simple errors like me? I mean it could have been fixed in two seconds if someone just googled up kanji. Bleh!

Spoiler here, I’d suggest skipping if you don’t want to know.

The ending was mildly interesting in that there was a lot of action and that final showdown everyone was looking forward too. I found it quite disappointing that the guy was killed off so easy. Like, wut? I just gotta tap into my super uber SPECIAL power I didn’t know I had and OMG, HE DIES? No. Just no. I was about to scream HELLZ YEAH, when Meghan was dying because I could not stand anymore of her pathetic, emo-riffic thoughts. And then I was all HOORAY, THANK THE WRITING GODS that her and Ash are now PERMANENTLY split up. I could not stand anymore of their mushy mushy, let’s kiss kiss times ANYMORE. Freaking sap ass fairy. Ima teach him how a REAL bad ass fairy is supposed to look like.



Oh, hellz yeah.

Sephiroth would beat the shit out of him (Ash) with his HAIR. Hah. But anyway, the ending while actually resolved makes me mad because obviously it’s open ended and now there’s gonna be another book from ASH’S POINT OF VIEW! Watch I bet it’s all gonna be about omg, Puck that evil bastard killed my ex-girlfriend, then omg, Meghan I love and misses you so much and we needs to have more hot loving time, but NO YOU REJECTED ME. PAH!

You give fairies… a bad name. (Yes, totally intentional) XD.

Update: Since I was quoted in Julie Kagawa's post: http://juliekagawa.blogspot.com/2012/01/authors-and-negative-reviews-re-posted.html, I guess I'll have to add on to this. I didn't say her name "Julie Kagawa, you give fairies a bad name" as is stated in my review. I'll make it clear that I was listening to this song while writing to the review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrZHPO... which is where the line came from. I believe I was referring to Ash giving fairies a bad name, not her. Besides if you listen to this song, I think it sums up Ash and Meghan's relationship quite well.

And, seriously? This review is just a critique of her story and if I someday get published I would not give a shit if someone wrote negative reviews. The snarkier, or blunt, or straight to the point the better. As for not saying this to someone's face in person I sure as fuck would. I express myself freely and how I want so they get to do the same too.

[Simona B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better than the previous book, but I still skipped a few parts.

“I wished that, for once, faery tales –real faery tales, not Disney fairy tales– would have a happy ending.”

I wished that too, but Meghan didn't die, so, adios happy ending. There'll be other occasions.

Okay, I'm usually not this harsh towards fictional characters, and I don't like to be, so I've made up my mind: I won't bully Meghan in this review. Also because I've abudantly vented my fury and indignation in my reviews of both The Iron King and The Iron Daughter.

Only, allow me to say two things: firstly, that once again she proved her extreme and stubborn childishness when she accused Puck of, basically, having saved her father's life and thus began holding a grudge against him. Had it been Ash, she would have forgiven him in the blink of an eye. And as a matter of fact, I strongly believe that this book was written with the sole purpose of making us grasp once and for all that if you're not Ash, you are not worth a dime.
I beg to differ.

In the second place, if you sleep with dogs (or in this case, just one dog... stop being mean, Simona!) you'll wake up with fleas, because it seems to me that the more time Ash spends with Meghan, the more hysterical and teenager-ish he turns. He and Meghan keep fighting, or sort of, seeing how they make up -and then make out- a couple of pages later, because she tells him she can take care of herself, and he goes mad for this. You get it? She tries to stand for her independence, and he's kind of offended by this because he's supposed to be her knight. Then, he goes all icy out of spite, just like a four-year old would. The only definition I find for this behavior is shamefully immature.
Why did Kagawa have to ruin even him?



Yeah, I thought that too. Definitely too much useless and perfectly avoidable drama here.

But, what a twist, I've also something positive to say: I liked the ending very much. The last forty, or maybe thirty pages were actually nice to read and more enjoyable that the rest of the book. I'll surely read the next installment eagerly, not only because of this ending but also because it's told from Ash's perspective, and we all know what that means: no more Meghan's thoughts around to kill my surviving neurons. That's blessing, that's what it is.

I have a question concerning the plot though, and I'm wondering if, having just flipped through thos three or four chapters, I may have lost some information, or if maybe it is just a plot hole and that's it. Now, not that I don't trust Kagawa, but I don't really trust Kagawa, so excuse me if I'm prone to believing the latter.
The question is: if the Iron King's powers can be passed on only when a king dies, then how could Machina ever obtain them if Ferrum was still alive? I'd be really glad to anyone who would enlighten me, because if truly no explanation of this is given, well, that's a pretty huge oversight to me.

[Maria✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

“You!” I gasped. My heart lurched, and my stomach dropped to my toes. Of course, it was him. How could I not have seen it before?

I have said it in the previous book and I will say it again now. No one bothered to ask for a book and a half who the False King was. Literally no one. No one asked, no one said they did not know. All that bad writing only for a twist that we saw coming. How much should you dumben your characters to create the illusion of mystery?

This 3rd installment in the Iron Fey series is slightly better than the first two, but unfortunately if you take the completely horrid writing from it, what remains is boredom. The entire book is Meghan going here and there, following instructions, almost never thinking herself because everyone else gives her everything she needs to know and of course, always together with her 2 boys. That is pretty much it. There is of course the bad guy, but as I mentioned the book tries to distract you from his identity in the stupidest of ways so no one really cares about him, especially since the book offers no real danger. Whenever something bad happens, it gets fixed right after so we all know Meghan and her team will be virtually untouchable. And if someone says "It might take a long time to heal or maybe never", you can bet it will take at most days for things to be right again. Boring, boring, boring.

My true gripe in this book, however, is Grimalkin, the cat. Every fantasy book can have its deus ex machina moment, but Grim has been consistently for 3 books the one existence that knows absolutely everything, sometimes with no reason other than "I'm a cat" and the one with all the smart ideas and the one saving Meghan when she needs it, etc. He is basically the safety net for the entire series and it has finally reached a peak in this book, always being at the right place at the right time with the right thing to say. Wow, such good writing!

There is nothing else to say about it. The main trio still has the brains of an unripe banana and apparently, everyone else too apart from Grim. Character development? What is this, can it be eaten? Cannot wait for the final installment to see how more idiotic can these characters get.

[Kristalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Final rating: 4/5 stars





So... how the hell do i start this review???? Lemme see:
A long, long, time ago, in a fae land not so far away, nevernever was under an attack... Nope, sounds like
"Weird Al" Yankovic's song .... So um ...... lemme see.... i know! With an interview!!

The guest of this interview today is the book "The Iron Queen", for short IQ.

IQ: So let's start from the beginning, shall we?

ME: Sure :D

IQ: So, for starters, how do you feel about me?

ME: You were amusing, fun and lovely book, but i hated one thing about you, and your sisters The Iron Daughter and The Iron King. Which is the reason i gave you 4.5 stars... *sighs*

IQ: What could that possibly be?

ME: Meghan. Who else? At least i am finally free of her YAAAAAAY!!!!!

IQ: May i hear the reason why?

ME: Her unbearable and intolerable stupidity knows no bounds. She hurt both Ash and Puck and then it takes her a while to say i am sorry.

My poor babies were hurt and they always forgive her *rage*! Whyyyy???? Be men for once and be angry, like really angry at her!

IQ: ...

ME: Ain't i right?
[insert desperate Loki shouting: "TELL ME!!!"]

IQ: Y-yes...but she got better through the book and especially towards the end?

ME: That's a debatable question.

But i did like her in the end. It was a brave thing to do.

IQ: Ouuuch. Anyway...what about Ash and Puck?

ME: I wanna hug Ash and tell him its all right. And now i finally know his true beautiful complicated i cannot even say it name: Ashallyn'darkmyr Tallyn! ♥

“You are my heart, my life, my entire existence."

But i seriously hope he wont ever change, become something i hate or whatever in the next book.

IQ: You know well i cannot answer that....

ME: Yep, i know. And Puck... I loved him... With all of his kick ass comments.

“I want her to be happy, and she's most happy with you. Maybe this will make up for... past mistakes." He shook his head and returned to his normal idiocy. "So, either you say, 'Sure, I'd love to have you along,' or you have a big bird dropping things on your head the whole trip.”

And he deserves his own happy ending too :D

IQ: I feel the same. There was this particular scene in the book where Meghan and Ash had Sex . How did you feel about it?

ME: Except Meghan being to young for it i was like this:
- fangirling -
IQ: Interesting. In one word describe what you think of the story?

ME: Kick-ass.

IQ: *blushes* The Nevernever world is in danger from the Iron Fey...What did you think about the ending?

ME:
#indescribable emotion

IQ: What about other characters?

ME: Grimalkin was awesome ♥ He is truly the true hero to the series. And i kind of have respect for Mab . But i kind of guessed halfway who the false king was...

ME: P.s. Now you can give me Ash and Puck and we can end this interview.

IQ: WHAT? You know i cant do that!??? *shock*

ME: Don't care, give them to me...now...

IQ: But that's not possible, they are fictional characters!

ME: You think i dont know that? You underestimate me book!
#facepalm

IQ: ...

ME: Whatever. At least i wont suffer from being in Meghan's head again. It's time to possess our dear Ice-boy's pretty brain *evil laugh*

IQ: You are crazy, you know that?

ME: Tell me something i don't know. I am leading interview with a book. *Sigh*

"This must be how madness feels like"
- Firefly TV series

THAT'S ALL FOLKS.

► OVERALL:

If Meghan was stronger character, i would have given these books five stars. I loved the story - many things happen and it was addicting and i enjoyed it so much. Off to the next book! ♥

► REVIEW(S) RELATED TO THIS BOOK:

◉ The Iron King (The Iron Fey, #1)
◉ Winter's Passage (The Iron Fey #1.5)
◉ The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey, #2)
◉ The Iron Queen (The Iron Fey, #3)
◉ Summer's Crossing (Iron Fey, #3.5)
◉ The Iron Knight (Iron Fey, #4)
◉ Iron's Prophecy (The Iron Fey, #4.5)
◉ The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #1)
◉ The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #2)
◉ The Iron Warrior (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #3)




This review can be found on my blog: infinity-of-time.blogspot.com also known as...

[Steph Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I.Am.Speechless.

This is easily one of the best series I have had the pleasure to read. I read all of the books back to back and let me tell you! Nothing ever prepared me for this epic adventure let alone the ending!

I struggled to actually sit and write a review for the first two books, because I was so caught upon the adventure. I knew there was no way I could write a review until I read all three of the books. So instead of just reviewing The Iron Queen, this will be an Iron Fey review. Got it? Ok, off we go!

The Iron Fey series is about a girl named Meghan Chase. When we first meet her he day of her 16th birthday, she is a normal, quiet, teenage girl struggling to fit in at school. However, when her brother is kidnapped by the fey, she travels to the Nevernever to rescue him alongside her best friend, Robbie Goodfell, who is the legendary Puck or Robin Goodfellow (unbeknownst to her until then). Along the way, she meets a Cait Sith named Grimilkin and the Winter Prince, Ash. She also finds out she is a half fey and her father is non other than Lord Oberon, King of the Summer Court. Along the journey, they discover a new breed of fey called Iron Fey. They are growing in number and threaten to destroy the Nevernever as they know it.

However, she never planned on falling in love with Ash and he her. It is forbidden for summer and winter to fall in love. I loved watching Ash and Megan's love grow for each other in this series. It was beautiful. I did think that in the Iron daughter, Meghan got a bit obsessive, reminding me of Bella swan, but it can be over looked because this series is just that amazing.

The character growth is brilliantly written. By the end of the series Meghan is no longer a shy girl; she is tough and knows what she wants. And even though Ash vows to protect her, he realizes that she has changed and become strong.

The banter between Puck and Ash was classic. And I swear no one can insult and compliment someone in the same sentence the way Grimilkin did.

The battle/fight scenes were epic! Very descriptive. I felt like I too was fighting besides Ash, Puck and Meghan.

The best part of the series was the ending. The last book. Seriously. If you pick up The Iron King and The Iron Daughter and are wondering what the hell I'm hyping this up for, READ THE LAST BOOK. It's one of the best books I have ever read. It was perfect. I think I cried for the entire ending. I felt the hope, desire, and love. I keep thinking there could have been another way Julie! But that is what I love about this series, it's realistic fiction. We don't always get what we want, no matter how hard we want it to be so. Living a fairy tale doesn't change that. And for that, I believe there was no other way to end this series with changing the book cannon.

Hats off to you Julie Kagawa. That was truly remarkable.

In the words of Meghan Chase, "It was...quite a ride. Wasn't it?"

It sure was.

I desperately look forward to The Iron Knight and any future works from Julie Kagawa's imagination.

More reviews and more at Cuddlebuggery Book Blog.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone, this book BLEW MY MIND.

0_0
Amazing.
BRILLIANT.
OVERALL, IF I DIED WHILE READING THIS, THEN IT MUST BE A GOOD THING.

There was action... adventure.......


...I had a heart failure at the ending....
...........
yah.


But this had action, (meaning Ash and Meghan being badass)
There was romance, (meaning they kissed and made me die multiple times)
There was STUPID Oberon(meaning WHO'S GONNA F*CKING KICK HIS ASS FOR ME?!)
And there was laughter, peace and poor Puck ending up with nobody...*sob*

Haha, YOU'LL LOVE IT.


Thank you, everybody, and good night. ;)

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have not read this series... please do! I am so very in love with it!

This installment was probably my favorite of the three.

I think one of my favorite parts of reading a series is watching the characters develop. And The Iron Fey series was an excellent example of that. Ash proved himself to be more than an ice cold heart, Puck's incessant mischief even gives way to seriousness and Meghan, once a insecure school girl, find courage beyond her means. It was powerful, I even cried... goosebumps and everything.

Meghan, girlfriend.... you kicked some butt, and I totally respect you for it.

Besides the characters, the story itself was also completely encompassing. Within the first few pages, I was swept up, into this stunning world that Julie has created and I didn't want to leave. Julie's writing is so easy to read, and her imagery, the creatures in this world.... everything is just so very imaginative. I'm pleasantly surprised every time I read one of her novels. And the love story reaches it's pinnacle.... and can I just say.. WOW... and awwww.... and please, oh please, oh please! and the most important reaction: YOU'RE KILLING ME!

I honestly can't say enough good things about these books... and I wish I was a little more eloquent, so that I could write a review worthy of it's awesomeness... but you'll have to settle with this dear readers.

An exciting ending to a truly magnificent series! It was everything I could have wanted and more.

(I'm DYING to read Ash's story... THE IRON KNIGHT!!)

[Nassy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only kinda reading. This is my go to book while waiting to read another one. Love me some Ash 💕💕

[Roohdaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beware of spoilers!



This book completely flipped my views on the characters, the plot, the concepts, etc. I cannot believe how much I Pucking love this book. See what I did there. It's insane. The characters I used to think of as annoying, clingy, boring, and dull, NOW I LOVE THEM ALL! My excitement for these amazing, dynamic, brilliantly written characters is unfathomable. I don't know how I'm going to write this review. I feel like such a moron because organization just seems like an alien concept to me right now. I just want to fangirl hard.




Regardless, I need to get my feelings out for this incredible piece of epic awesomeness.

Characters
Holy Puck. How these amazing creatures made me heart melt into a melted pool of Godiva chocolate in this book.

Meghan:
In the first two books, Meghan was insecure, weak, stupid as hell, and confused in regards to almost everything. She annoyed me in TID so much when she was with Ash. Then she completely made me head-over-heels for her. She changed into a beautiful, determined, incredibly strong fighter who did things that were best for the people she loved. She accepted the fact that not all things can end happily. And that made my heart break. Meghan wanted to be someone, be with her family, go places, do things, and she had to give it all up for the sake of her friends and family. I have respect for such a heroine. Meghan was honest, unafraid, caring, loving, and she never let anything get in the way of her goals. She sacrificed nearly everything for the safety and wellness of a world she barely knew. All her other flaws: her obsession over Ash, her slightly stupid responses or actions towards situations, and her unawareness towards her best friend all seem like nothing. I don't care anymore because Meghan grew to become a fighter, a woman, and a queen. I love her. Props to Kagawa for crafting such a memorable character. Thank you.

Ash:
Oh, Ash. I thought I would dislike you for the whole series. Your icy-like-the-inside-of-my-freezer personality, your boring, quiet ways of interacting with people, etc made me want to hate you. Then this book comes along and I like you. You won my heart. You changed my views on you.

In the first two books, Prince Ash is the emotionless, calculating, callous son of Queen Mab, the emotionless, calculating, callous queen of Winter fey. However, he falls deeply in love with Meghan and a side of him is revealed. When he's around Meghan, he's different. It's cliche, but it's sweet. I must admit. In this book, he completely won my heart when he becomes Meghan's knight. What he said while he was on his knees with his head bowed made me want to read that paragraph at least five times because it was so darn romantic. *sighs* He opened up to Meghan in this book. He became more friendly and sweet. Their romance developed so beautifully, and I loved that. I believed that Ash and Meghan didn't fit, but after reading this book, I am sticking with them. They are meant to be. I was just really angry because Meghan annoyed the crap out of me and Ash was just... Ash. Now I love them together because they are perfect for each other. And that makes me happy.

Puck:
I loved you from the very beginning, babe. You won my heart at that bus stop when I first met you. You made my heart skip. You made me jump up and down and do happy dances. You made me ponder. You made me smile. You made me laugh. And you complete me.

Robin Goodfellow, the beast of mischief, wit, and Summer, lets us see a side of him that he never showed in the first two books. In the first two books, he is Puck. The Puck who is wild, careless, impulsive, witty, and confident. In this book, his love for Meghan grows more. And we see the passionate, hurting, lost Puck. Though it did shatter my heart to see him like that for Meghan, he did make me want to love him even more, if that's even possible. He lets go of Meghan and accepts the fact that only Ash can make her happy, romantically. He lets her go because of Ash, who lost Ariella because of Puck's actions. Ash deserved to be happy and Puck let his feud with him go to hell for the sake of his friendship with Meghan and Ash. I love Puck so much. And I almost cried when he cried for Meghan in the end. However, Puck is happy. That makes me happy. And I am dying to know what happens to him in The Iron Knight. I want to read about Puck more than I want to read about Ash, despite the fact the the book is written in Ash's perspective.

Puck, you could not have Meghan. You still love her, I know that. You might think that no one will love you except Meghan.



You should know that
alt="description"/>

So


And it's all good, Goodfellow.

Grimalkin:
I want to honor him by naming my cat Grimalkin. I love Grim so much. His discreet personality, his sly, cunning attitude, his insulting mannerism towards Meghan amazed me. He is fond of Meghan, but shows it in the most bizarre ways.

"I am a cat."

Yes, you are. And a beastly one at that.

This series was a hell of a ride. I recommend this to everyone! I do understand the first two books are a bit cliche and dragging, BUT BUT BUT! This book will reward you with its epicness! It's incredible. It will change you. I'm telling you. Siriusly. I am done. *sighs* I'll be thinking about this book for a long time. Oh, I will.

[Michele (Reading Lark/CanadianTwiMom) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review can also be found on Reading Lark: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2012/...

P.E.R.F.E.C.T.I.O.N. in EPIC proportions!

BRILLIANT! I read the netgalley of The Iron Queen before the book was released (thank you Netgalley and HarlequinTeen!)... it was so good I immediately had to reread the series up to and including The Iron Queen again. I am still blown away! Julie Kagawa is a master story teller. She has the ability to paint the scene with her words and describe the characters so richly, it's like a movie is playing in my head as I read.

Julie masterfully orchestrated the perfect faerie story with a modern twist. It will touch on every raw emotion you have so be ready for a very emotional roller coaster ride.

The Iron Queen starts off with a bang and keeps a full pace throughout. Meghan and Ash have been exiled to the mortal world. Meghan is, in her mind, planning her future in the mortal realm after some rather life-altering events that took place in the previous books. However, this book proves that those thoughts were futile from the very beginning. Meghan's destiny has other ideas.

Meghan has to be my favourite heroine/protagonist EVER! She is tough yet vulnerable. Her character develops and matures in a believable and yet dramatic way. She's not perfect, and still tends to revert back to her 17 year old idiocies at times, but that grounds her, in my mind. But when the chips are down... she's got plenty of courage and determination to fulfill what she sets out to do. She sacrifices so much for the greater good... that's a huge part of her character and is so very integral to the story... it's all about sacrifice for those she loves. What I also adored about Meghan is that she is the sort of person who just brings out the best in everyone around her. You can't help but want to be her friend.

I still have a real soft spot for Puck. He, of course, has to be where Meghan is... old habits die hard.... and so we find out that he has chosen to follow her into exile as well. Puck continues to be sharp witted, and there is a bit of a bitter edge to him now. It's a tough pill for him to swallow, seeing Meghan and Ash together... happy. My heart really goes out to him.

And Ash... oh where do I begin?? Meghan has grown by leaps and bounds since the beginning of this series... but perhaps the most astonishing transformation is in Ash. The former prince of the Unseelie Court sheds several layers of his icey facade and displays what has been hiding behind his (beautiful) mask, and it reveals a wonderful hero. In The Iron Queen, we learn a lot about Ash's background, and why he puts up that blank mask -- for protection -- both for his heart and from the Winter Court. It's heart-warming that it is Meghan who touches his heart and brings out the real Ash. He hit all the right buttons for me. Ash was fiercely protective of Meghan, yet tough on her too... for example, when she asked Ash to teach her to fight. He was not gentle with her. He loved her enough to teach her to fight for real... with skill, instincts and cunning, which in turn, also boosted her confidence, and helped make her a stronger person all around. Ash is the epitome of the perfect "knight in shining armour"... literally. In my eyes, he is the perfect love interest, leading man, hero. There is nothing I don't love about him.

Grimalkin is back... popping in and out as required...always in time to save their butts, along with his infamous retort when asked to explain himself, "I am a cat".

We meet some "friendly" Iron Fey, too: Glitch, Razor (I LOOOOVE Razor!!), and some of Iron Horses's kin.

All the characters, good and bad, come alive... no one is superfluous... each has a purpose, and are rich and dimensional. Each and every character pulls some sort of emotion out of you. Julie made me care so much for all of them.

There is TONS of action sequences and surprises with just enough "I knew it" tidbits thrown in to make you clap to yourself! And with Meghan and Ash, there is NO shortage of romance. *sigh*... beautifully written and perfectly balanced.

I will not give the ending away but I will say that it literally left me emotionally drained. This story sat with me for a very long time afterwards. That's how I know it was so good... it leaves an impression that doesn't easily fade away. And regarding the ending, THANK GOD I knew ahead of time that there will be a fourth book in this series, The Iron Knight!!! Knowing there will be more story got me through the ending of this one, even though the plot of this book had its conclusion.

I tell you honestly... if you haven't started this series yet... YOU HAVE TO... RIGHT NOW!! This is EPIC... PHENOMENAL! Well done, Julie K! Well done! And I still say... if I could give it a hundred stars, I would!

Note:

Originally read: November 12-20, 2010.

I have since read this book two more times and listened to the audio once. It still is my ultimate favourite TIF book but they are ALL sooooo good. This one just resonated with me the most and it still does! ADORE it even more each time I visit!

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Iron Queen is one of the best fantasy books I've had the pleasure to read. Julie Kagawa took me on a journey that I can only describe as fantastical. The characters are incredibly realistic; vivid and rich with depth and passion. The world she creates is described so minutely that you can visualize yourself with Meghan right down to the acrid smell of iron. The emotions the story evokes run the gamut. This is one powerful story that deserves the highest praise.

Ash and Meghan have been exiled from NeverNever and all portals leading to Faery have been sealed off to them. Meghan and Ash are travelling to Louisiana, back to her family when they are attacked by iron fey intent on delivering her to the false King. It's then that Meghan realizes she can't use her glamour without getting extremely weak and dizzy. Thus their journey begins. Meghan and Ash are soon joined by some old friends and set out on a quest to defeat the false iron king. Throughout the book, Meghan and Ash grow closer and closer and of course a dear friend makes his appearance as only he could do.

There's an admirable amount of character development in this book, most notably seen in Ash and secondly in Meghan. The ice cold Prince is warming up and some of his gestures throughout the book are downright swoon-worthy and heart breaking.
Meghan faces life or death choices at an age when she should be worrying about prom, zits and getting a car. The amount of wisdome she develops

Puck is, as always, unforgettable and loyal to the end; Grimalkin, my favorite kitty is wise and fickle as ever but even he has non-Grimalkin like behavior, nothing that's outright, just revealing a little more of himself then he ever has before. Meghan's character has progressed perfectly with each story's challenges and she becomes courageous in the face of danger while remaining altruistic and compassionate. Her love for Ash and Puck is a constant struggle amongst the three of them though she loves them both very much, she loves them differently. She is a heroine that is worthy of respect and someone who can be looked up to for her character and sense of spirit.

I was pleased with the introduction of all the new characters and in order to keep this as spoiler free as possible I'll not mention any names. I'll just say that within the iron fey there are many Machina loyalists that recognize the false king for what he is, false, cruel and power-hungry. They know if the false king were to capture Meghan his strength will only grow thus allowing his tyranny to continue. For the Fey Meghan's capture could put NeverNever at risk of becoming NeverAgain as the iron destroys more and more of Faery.

I will say that the ending left me with soggy tissue and red-rimmed eyes but also with the hope that things will continue on.

*Complements of NetGallej

[Maroua Zaatour (Mirou) ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY FEELS..... THAT ENDING! I am dead, seriously cannot cope 3 *Review to come*

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The false king is still trying to take over the Nevernever and he needs one more thing to accomplish his goal: the power of the Iron King. The land is slowly getting poisoned, more and more fey are dying and something needs to be done soon.

Meghan Chase, Ash and Puck are still banished from their homes, but that will soon chance once Oberon and Mab realize they need their help to take down the false king. They come to an agreement: The trio will no longer be banished, if they can defeat the false king and save Nevernever. Summer and Winter will work together to overcome their biggest enemy, something that hasn’t been done in a very, very long time. Meghan and her friends team up for a journey that will change the lives of every single creature in the realm. Fans will devour this book, and that’s exactly the way it’s supposed to be.

You’d think it’s impossible for a writer to come up with a series of books that just keeps on getting better and better. You know the characters, you’ve been through a lot of things with together and you’d think you’ve seen it all right? Wrong. This might be a weird way to compare things but reading The Iron Daughter was like putting on a comfortable pair of shoes: you already remember how much you love wearing them after a few steps. I’ve grown to love these characters; their personalities, their wit, the strong bond they share… This feeling is the strongest with the ones we are most familiar with, but even the ones we only met briefly, or the ones who are already gone played a very specific part in this story, each being an ingredient for a very potent formula.

Fast-paced, never a dull moment and action packed: this is the shortest way to describe this book. It’s impossible to compare the Meghan we met in the Iron King to the Meghan we’re following now. Her character slowly blossomed, going from being a little girl to becoming a strong, confident woman. A leader and a warrior. Her relationship with Ash is one of the most beautiful I’ve read about so far. Their love for each other developed at a believable pace, unlike so many other young adult books you read these days, making it strong and unbreakable. More and more, they became equals, ready to die for each other and do whatever necessary.

I’m on the edge of my seat, eagerly awaiting The Iron Prince’s entrance, banners and everything.

[Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now,



I don't know if I'm in love or if I'm pissed. Oh well, I guess I can be both, right? RIGHT?

I don't know if I should rate it 4, 4.5, 5 stars. No. Idea.

Truth to be told, that was amazing. Meghan, Puck, Razor, Grim, Ash, and all the creepy little bugs and other creatures... You're full of flaws, infuriating, you made me laugh, swoon, yell, cry, hope, dream, smile. I hated you. I love you all.

This book is far from flawless, and contrary to many, that's not my favorite (nah, that's the first, I know, I'm a weirdo, blabla). I still found myself completely drawn into that world and it stayed a page-turner for me.

Review to come, somehow, when I'll finish all the freakin books of this series, finally finish my work, and sleep. Oh, yes, sleep. What a stranger concept right now.

[♥ Becky 22 · Rating 5 out of 5]

★Mini review: This book was epic; read it.★





(!Minor Spoilers!)

Well, well, well, Ashallyn'darkmyr Tallyn, we finally know your True Name.



Kidding, it's kinda cool actually. But I prefer Ash.

Let's talk about the whole Ash-being-Meghan's-knight thing. I want Meghan to be able to kick ass on her own, so I wasn't entirely sure how to feel about that at first.
I needn't have worried, though, because Meghan soon proved just how much she has grown since the first book. Who needs a knight when you're awesome Meghan Chase, who can fight like Rose Hathaway and is as brave as Tris Prior?



As much as I liked the scenes with Meghan and Ash....

"What would the girl be willing to part with. Perhaps...your future chi-"
"No," Ash and I said in unison.

...I loved the parts with Meghan, Ash AND PUCK even more. They're the ultimate trio. Although I did feel really sorry for Puck.

"Oh, I don't know, princess. Maybe it was because I was stupid enough to care about you. Maybe I actually thought I had a chance. Silly me, thinking that one little kiss meant anything to you."

That was not nice, Meghan.


I understand why she did it, though. Puck is awesome.

I admit that I was a bit taken aback by Ash's confession about having seduced and pretty much killed a human girl. That was...sad to hear.

"Not having a soul frees us from any sort of conscience. She was only human, and a foolish one at that, to fall in love with a fairy."

But I forgive you, Ash. You love Meghan now, so I guess you've changed. <3




The ending was absolutely amazing. Like, wow. Moving. Heartbreaking. Bittersweet. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.







Oh, Meghan-Ash-Puck. <3

[~Tina~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Iron Queen continues off the last time we saw Meghan and Ash. Exiled from Nevernever and into the mortal world. Everyday normal possibilities are discussed and maybe, just maybe Meg and Ash can live in peace. Yeah, if it was only that easy.
The False King is still after Meghan and will do everything in his power to have her, for she possesses the key that will give him total power over the Iron realm.
Join Meghan, daughter of the Summer king. Ash, her beloved and Winter prince. Puck, comical genius and best friend and last, but surly not least, a familiar favor-collecting cat named Grimalkin, on yet another epic journey in hopes to stop the False king, bring balance to the Winter and Summer courts, and some where down the line find there happily ever after.
That is, if they can survive it....

Wow, I don't even know where to start. It's incredibly difficult to write a review with out wanting to scream exactly wants on your mind with out giving everything away. If this was a couple of months later then this would be written in an entirely different tone, but for now, this will have to do.

I'm always floored every time I go back to Julie Kagawa's world. It's so vivid and alive. Rich with madness, magic and mayhem that you can picture ever single creature, monster and character it's almost like watching a movie in your mind. Pure greatness.
This book was my favorite by far, it's non-stop wonders, on the edge of your seat suspense and swoon-worthy moments that turned my insides into goo.

What can I possibly say about these characters that I haven't said already? I adore them? I love them? It just doesn't sound enough.
There is a different side to Ash that we get to see. In the previous books we see our Winter prince serious, reserved, obeys his queen and denies his heart, but in this book Ash shows his true colors, and it's beautiful. Ruined-me-melts me-owns me, Beautiful.
Seriously, it's almost criminal how delicious one character can be.
The one thing that I simply adored about Puck is his great humor, but he felt rather wounded in this one and I wasn't use to it, the humor is still there mind you, but I guess it just feels...bitter. Not that I blame him though, still, if I had to pick one best friend in the literary world, then it would be Puck.
It was wonderful to see how much Meghan has grown. She's shown great strenght and determination to see things the way they should be. Even if sacrifices has to be made.
I enjoyed meeting a lot of new characters, always so animated and entertaining.

I don't want to say to much about the ending, and how much I cried. Or the romance, and how much I cried. Happy tears or sad? I can't tell you, but I will say that while this isn't exactly the ending that I wanted to happen, I'm still content with the way things played out. It's the way things should be and I'm pleased that Julie remained faithful to her characters and the world they live in.
But, dammme what an ending!?!?!

Basically, I just loved the hell out of this book and this entire series. It's always so much fun getting lost in this universe and swooning over these characters and I'm thrilled that the adventure doesn't stop here but continues on with Ash, in THE IRON KNIGHT!!

If your ever going to pick up a Fey series, even if you don't care for this particular paranormal lore, then this is the series your going to want to read. It's thee best!

Special thanks to Harlequin Teen for giving me the opportunity to read this outstanding masterpiece!

IRON KNIGHT, I NEED YOU!!

[Chelsea ✨Arielle’s Nebular Ally and Team Acrux✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh gosh, my heart. My poor broken little heart. Prince Ash broke it many years ago and he broke it again with his tortured boy tears and unwavering loyalty. I’m so glad I took a moment to sit back, relax, and enjoy an old favorite I had forgotten virtually everything about. My tastes have changed-as far as writing style-but those old feelings cannot be faked nor forced, and I’m so glad I got reacquainted with some of my old favorite characters again (okay but, we all know who I mean. #notashamedintheleast).

****

I learned that love can transcend race and time, and that it can be beautiful and perfect and worth fighting for but also fragile and heartbreaking, and sometimes sacrifice is necessary. That sometimes it's you against the world, and there are no easy answers. That you have to know when to hold on...and when to let go.

God. Damn. It. Damn you, Julie Kagawa! What. Was. THAT?! That is not one, but two, TWO series where she has literally (I DO MEAN LITERALLY) killed me with the endings at the pique of the series. People. I am telling you now-I love peril and I love action and I LOVE the climax of a story but rarely am I a blubbering, incoherent mess of emotion during these aforementioned scenes. In The Iron Queen I laughed, I swooned, I cried, and I literally fucking fell apart as the ending unraveled. I didn't know what I was going to say about this book because it is just so hard to express how epic you believe it is in terms that others can interpret and apply to their own thoughts and beliefs, because once they get in their head that I think something is epic, they think surely something awesome happens that will blow them away...but everyone is different in their levels of astonishment and awe and I have learned that many times before-but I can't deny what I thought this book was: Epic.

Ash pulled back slightly, his silver eyes bright as he stared at me, his cool breath washing over my heated face.
"You are beautiful, you know that, right?" he murmured, all seriousness, one hand gently framing my cheek. "I know I don't say...things like that...as often as I should. I wanted to let you know."

Book three. Oooooh book three how will I explain you spoiler free for my friends who are considering reading this series? Something happened in book two that lead to undesirable circumstances for Prince Ash and completely ideal circumstances for Meghan...to an extent. So, we start book two with Ash and Meghan...in a precarious state they never imagined possible. After the events leading to this, the Iron Kingdom, the false Iron King, and all of his minions are after Meghan so they can bring her back to their land where her power can be used to fuel the false king...and make him the strongest of all of Nevernever-which would mean the end of the summer and winter courts (Prince Ash, Grim, and Puck included) and everyone that calls Faery home.

"One more thing," Ash said in his dangerous, soft voice as we turned away, and Glitch shot him a wary look. "If you do not return with her," Ash continued, staring him down, "if she comes to any harm while she is with you, I will turn the entire camp into a bloodbath. That is my promise, lieutenant."

Meghan has become a complete badass. She was good for most of the book and even most of the last book, but in this book, we see a fierce, strong-willed, and impressive girl who has done a complete turn around since book one. She had to make some tough decisions and she didn't always know what to do, but in the end, she kicks ass, and there was no way she couldn't have earned respect from everyone who reads of her battle against the false Iron King to save all of Nevernever. After all...the fate of the whole Fey world sits on her shoulders.

"You tell the false king he doesn't have to send anyone to get me," I said in the firmest voice I could manage. "I'm coming for him. I'm coming for him, and when I find him, I'm going to kill him."

And Ash. Oh Ash. I need my review gush session for the amaaaazing Prince Ash lol. But what is so funny about Mr. Ash is that....all he does is brood and tell Puck off-AND I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF HIM! Whyyyy is this guy under my skin so deep? What is it about him that makes me squee and fangirl and obsess over him so? I don't know what makes him so special to me, but he is. His sole purpose has become to protect Meghan, to love her, to save her from those who mean her harm-his sole existence is this human girl who came out of nowhere and turned his dark world upside down, bringing him out of a deep depression and the darkness that has plagued him for years and drawing him back into the light. He is loyal, protective and now wears his heart on his sleeve...and I love him. (If I hadn't mentioned that before ;))

His lips touched my hair, very lightly. "I won't let anything happen to you," he murmured. "You are my heart, my life, my entire existence."

I don't think I'm going to say much more...my last three or four reviews (if you include the novella) have been more than forthcoming on information and, frankly, at this point, I've probably said too much. All I can say and express is how shocked, happy, and surprised I am that this series has became a favorite of mine-I think this just goes to show that it doesn't matter how out of your comfort zone a book or series is, it's how the author writes it. It's how that author appeals to you and draws you in and most importantly-how they execute it. An epic novel with an epic conclusion that I will not soon forget, I am anxious for book four and how Kagawa will wrap this all up. I am a jumbled ball of nerves...but it's the best feeling in the world.

He stopped and looked down, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And I'm afraid. I'm afraid I'll fail you like I did Ariella, that the crimes of my past will ruin any chance we have at a future. That you'll realize who I really am, what I really am, and when I turn around you'll be gone."

Ugh, and AGAIN I have ran out of room to put my special quotes I had highlighted for this review and have to stop....but here are two quotes that I HAD TO SHARE...but can't. They are spoilered-look at them at your own risk.

“My name is Ashallyn'darkmyr Tallyn, third son of the Unseelie Court...Let it be known--from this day forth, I vow to protect Meghan Chase, daughter of the Summer King, with my sword, my honor, and my life. Her desires are mine. Her wishes are mine. Should even the world stand against her, my blade will be at her side. And should it fail to protect her, let my own existence be forfeit. This I swear, on my honor, my True Name, and my life. From this day on..." His voice went even softer, but I still heard it as though he whispered it into my ear. "I am yours.”

annnnndddd the one that tore my heart out as I relentlessly sobbed-

A soft noise, almost a sob. Ash rose, hesitated, as if fighting the compulsion to obey. "I will always be your knight, Meghan Chase," he whispered in a strained voice, as if every moment he remained was painful to him. "And I swear, if there is a way for us to be together, I will find it. No matter how long it takes. If I have to chase your soul to the ends of eternity, I won't stop until I find you, I promise."

And then he was gone.

Gaaaaaah! And that concludes a little of why I was a mess. lol.



For more of my reviews visit

[Penny Well Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 1.5 stars

I lost interest in the story.


The Iron King (The Iron Fey #1) - 2 stars
The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey #2) - 2.5 stars
The Iron Knight (The Iron Fey #4) - 1 stars

[Isamlq · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed both Iron King and Iron Princess, but IRON QUEEN is definitely the clincher. As can be told from my waxing on an on about Ash (see below if you don’t mind spoilers,) I am a big fan of his: Initially, I was all for Puck, but events in Iron Princess and Iron Queen have turned me into a card carrying member of team Ash. Though he is a big reason for my loving the series, he is not the only reason. Another reason is the fact that I cried. Now, I cry at the drop of a hat, but the events in this book were just so heartbreaking gut wrenching sad; I was surprised to see/hear myself bawl (as I did when Sofia Coppola died in Godfather III.)

Who would have thought Meghan would grow a backbone? In Iron King, I absolutely abhorred her. Not merely because she had caught the Winter Prince’s eye (grrr,) but because of the way she was: she was more middle school fiction instead of YA fiction material; juvenile. In Iron Princess, I came to tolerate her more, because at least there she showed some maturity. But in Iron Queen, she vacillated between her Iron King self and Iron Princess self, well at least in the first half of the book. In the second half of the book, I was a bit surprised even impressed by her choices and the turn of events. (That bit was the one that made me cry.)

Ash. Where do I begin? Again see below for my fan girl review.

Then, what the… Puck! Feeling used and bitter over not being chosen by Meghan, he still makes a reappearance in Iron Queen with the same humor and sarcasm, but with a bit more acid to him. Who wouldn’t be put off after being used, then dumped? Should I love his dogged determination to be there for her (even if, I think, she didn’t deserve it; even after everything she had done?) Or should I find him pathetic for the very same reason? I find myself torn between those two opinions.
____________________________________________________________

**Stop here if you hate spoilers**

After her spectacular exit in Iron Princess, Meghan thinks she’s home free. She couldn’t be more wrong. Realizing that as the half breed princess with an affinity for both summer and iron magic, everyone, and I mean everyone, will come after her and Ash, she seeks refuge with the Queen of the Exiles.

The main draw for me is, was, and forever, will be ASH. If I were Julie Kagawa, this is how some of the conversations would go:

*begin delusional imaginary dialogue between me and the characters*

First bit:

Meghan thought, “I was human; he was an immortal soulless faery. What kind of future did we have together? I would eventually grow old and die; Ash would live on forever, or at least until the mortal world became too much for him and he simply ceased to exist.”

To which I would say, “Boy, if I had my way, nothing. You guys wouldn’t have a future together… Ash is mine!”

First, that she fears aging so much; that she fears him staying forever young reminds me a little too much of a certain sparkly vampire against whom I hold nothing but fond, fond memories. Second, if I were in her shoes I’d lap up the time I would have with the Winter Prince.


Second bit:

“You know what I feel for you. You know I’ll protect you from whatever comes at us, but this is the one thing I can’t fight.”

“Ash-“

“If you’re torn about whether you want to be with Goodfellow, tell me now. I’ll step down, give you space, whatever you want me to do.” Ash trembled, just a little, as he said this…. Just answer me this today, and I’ll never ask you again. Do you love him?”

Woohoo! That has got to be my favorite line this year. I get this little tingle going up and down my spine whenever I read it… I mean Ash trembled. He trembled!!!


*end delusional imaginary dialogue between me and the characters*

Enough of my raving about Ash. Oh, wait. Just one more: He definitely stepped up to the plate. In previous books, he was the epitome iciness. Here we get to know a lot more of him. I should stop talking about Ash. There I’m stopping. There, I stopped.

Now, I’d still give IRON QUEEN 4 stars. And here’s why:

** Puck. When I first started with the series, I was rooting for him and though Ive switched teams (go Ash!) I still think Puck is great BFF material. He’s the comic relief, but he has matured. He is not just a sidekick longing secretly for the girl, because let’s face it, the secrets out. Rejected, and a bit bitter… I thought he added a little more edge to the book.

**Leanansidhe. OK Who would have thought that she would simplify matters for Meghan:

“Like it or not you’re balanced on the edge of everything- faery and mortal, Summer and Iron, the old ways and the march of progress. Which way will you fall? Which way will you choose?”


The only part that I didn’t like so much was, sad to say, the heroine. Particularly at the beginning of the book. Peevish, whiney and mercurial are some of the words that come to mind. Who could blame her for acting that way? Especially given everything she had to go through (a kidnapped brother, a boyfriend who almost dies?) I just wish that the mature side that she showed in Iron Princess showed more here. Well it does/did, but I think Iron Queen is where Ash got to shine.

Finally, is that really the way it ends?
___________

Favorite lines, lines and more lines:

* “There is one constant in your future, child, and that is pain. Pain and emptiness, for your friends, the ones you hold dearest to your heart, are nowhere to be seen.”

*“I hate it when you’re reasonable.”
“Someone has to be.”

*“Like it or not you’re balanced on the edge of everything- faery and mortal, Summer and Iron, the old ways and the march of progress. Which way will you fall? Which way will you choose?”

* “You know what I feel for you. You know I’ll protect you from whatever comes at us, but this is the one thing I can’t fight.”

“Ash---”

“If you’re torn about whether you want to be with Goodfellow, tell me now. Ill step down, give you space, whatever you want me to do.” Ash trembled, just a little, as he said this…. Just answer me tis today, and Ill never ask you again. Do you love him?”


* “I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you. But I do want you to understand. Teaching you to fight means your going to be in even more danger and I may be hard on you sometimes because I don’t want to you to lose…”

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the variety of creatures in this book. The different type of fae are varied and interesting. I really liked the gremlins.. too darn cute! I love Puck and Ash and how they are always bickering. The ending was sad and I hope there is a better resolution in the next book that makes more people happy. I definitely can't wait to read the next one and see what happens next.

[Colleen Houck]

I knew it was coming but still was not prepared for the ending of this book. I love how it's all coming together. Puck just leaps off the page. The gremlins are so cute! This one is my favorite of the series so far. I adore Ash.

[Saniya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh...my...GOD! :O
Face expression after reading this book:

This freaking book had so many twists and changes, I am still shocked right now. Its really hard for me to dissolve all the book, especially the ending, inside me, right now.
Things happened so quickly in this book, I was left with a shocked face in the end. Thus proving this book was total win.
Lemme just say this. The Iron Queen was full of epicness. (if thats even a word) And I just want the damn fourth book right now! xD

Things I loved in this book:

Meghan is now such a mature character, I couldn't possibly believe she was that selfish, annoying and irritating character in the beginning of the series. The way she fought and cared for everyone and how she sacrificed herself in the end was truly admirable. I love her now. =) Win#1

Ash. This bad boy has now become one of my favorite heroes of all time. First I was totally like, hes emo and weird and just keeps everything to himself, but now looking at Prince Ash, all I could think is, "Daaayuumm, he IS something." ^.^ Hes hot and brave and a kind of boyfriend every girl in this freaking world deserves. Team Ash when hes with Meghan :D Win#2

Puck. He is my favorite character in this book. I will always be TEAM PUCK, no matter what. And its not because he deserves Meghan or something, its because even though she didn't love him, he loved her and accepted her decision to be just friends. He always fought for her, made her smile and feel better, always supported her no matter what and I think no one in this book has suffered more than Puck, besides Ash. I think hes feels as much guilt as Ash for Ash's ex-girl friend's death and I just love him. Win#3

The Story was really really good. Even though I didn't like Part 1 because of Meghan being against Puck, I adored Part 2 and 3. The story flowed and each and every scene was perfect in it's time. The ending was huge and marvelous and it just made me want to grab Iron Knight right now. Win#4

Julie Kagawa. Do you know you are in my top 10 authors right now? She wrote this book beautifully and each and every part was described nicely. I am just surprised that how can an author write a book so good?! Julie Kagawa is a really amazing author and I won't even give a second thought before marking any of her other books as-read now. Win#5

If theres anyone I love along with Puck and Ash, I would definitely say Grimalkin. This cat is such a nice character and I think if he wasn't there in this series, then Meghan and all would have been long dead. He was so sarcastic and confusing sometimes, even I was like ^_- when he said, "I am a cat." after each and every question. Win#6

I love how the author also focuses on Meghan's family issues because most of the YA authors would have forgotten about them after the first book. I especially loved that moment when Meghan explains everything to her family and also when she calls Oberon "father". Her 2nd dad, Paul's mystery also got solved and I am just happy for her family. =) Win#7

And do you know, theres a spin off of this series, in which her brother, Ethan is going to be the main hero?! I am just so excited to read more and more books related to this series. I will give this book 4.5/5 stars!
-0.5 for Meghan slapping Puck. I was very sad. But anyways, :) Iron Knight, here I come. ;)

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favourite Quote: "His forehead bumped softly against mine, his brilliant silver gaze searing into me. “I plan to keep you, from everyone, for as long as I’m alive. That includes Puck, the false king, and anyone else who would take you away.” One corner of his mouth quirked, as I struggled to catch my breath under his powerful scrutiny. “I guess I should’ve warned you that I have a slight possessive streak.”

The Iron Fey series is one of my all time favourites. So I was extremely excited to get ARC but was also a little worried that it wouldn't live up to the previous books. But there was no need to worry as The Iron Queen was AWESOME. It had the same action packed and surprise filled plot but it was also was more emotional (tears were shed) and had more loads more delicious romance (yay!) than before.

My favourite element of this series is the magical world Julie Kagawa has created. I love all the different creatures. There are so many it hard to keep up. Here is just a few: gliders, spider hags, packrats, gremlins, iron beetles, clockwork golems, hacker elves, dragons, iron horses, gryphon, musket elves, wireman…. Kagawa makes you wish that you were character in this book exploring Nevernever. And if you asked me which character I would love to explore Nevernever with I couldn't pick. I am constantly changing my mind about who is my favourite. Ash, Razor, Meghan, Grim, Puck, they are all amazing.

Meghan in the beginning is a little insecure (not in a bad and whiny way) but as the story goes on she becomes strong, confident and courageous. Ash is still the same gorgeous dark faery but he seems a little more open and happier. Puck however is a little more brooding this time but still manages to bring a sense of mischief and fun when he is around. Grim, definitely hasn’t changed as Puck says ‘He’ll show up when we least expect him, being all cool and mysterious I wouldn‘t worry about that furball.”. We are also introduced to some new characters Glitch and Razor. I have especially taken a liking to Razor, a gremlin, he is both cute and crazy and I want one.

The romance is beautiful. Although sometimes I would have liked a little more details. Hint, hint for next time (I hope Julie Kagawa is reading this).

The ending, I can’t say much because I don’t want to spoil it but I am very happy that Julie Kagawa is writing The Iron Knight and lets leave it at that.

Overall, fans of this series won’t be disappointed. And if you love fey tales or fantasy and you haven’t read this series you really need to do so immediately.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Teen for providing me with a copy.

[oliviasbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

2011: The third installment of my very favorite fairy and steampunk series featuring my favorite cat ever and the cutest Gremlin alive ... I loved The Iron King and just liked The Iron Daughter. The typical consequence following the law of paranormal trilogies would be that I tolerated The Iron Queen - for old times' sake. But no - I got to be surprised (although I sometimes feel so unsurprisable): In most parts I liked The Iron Queen almost as much as The Iron King and in some parts (i.e. the number of Grimalkin dialogues, the multiple, fantastic steampunk elements, the Puck-and-Ash-banter and Meghan's personal growth) I think it even surpassed it in my eyes.

Before reading The Iron Queen my guess about The Iron Knight/Ash's story was that we would be told some ancient story about his former self wooing Ariella or losing his soul or growing a heart or battling his brothers, but now I am pretty positive that Julie Kagawa is going to treat us with a narration of what happens after The Iron Queen - in Ash's point of view. I cross my fingers that I am right. There has to be a way.

And please, Mrs. Kagawa, write some awsome new series on the side, won't you? I bet it will relax you in the evenings after hours of tweaking Ash's musings and Puck's teasings.

Ohhh ... and I forgot: TBR Pile Reduction Challenge 2011, Book #8 (challenger = Jessica)

[Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was just as good as the first time I read it years back. It's so much fun following the characters (especially Ash, who's amazing) and watching Meghan grow into someone stronger (finally). Plus, the world-building is original and intriguing - I never felt bored while reading this.

Well, it's onto re-reading the final book!

[Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 OH SHIT Stars

Oh nooooo....what the hell is that ending??

Finally, as soon as Ash and Meghan find an ounce of happiness...only sadness results.

UGH.

Loving this and can't wait to see how this plays out in the next one!