Book Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication date: October 2011
Pages: 400
Source: e-book from NetGalley
For: Fun
Series: Iron Fey, Book 4

*Spoilers for the first three books are inevitable*
Ash, banished from his home in the Winter Court, unable to be with Meghan in the Iron Court, is determined to find a way to stay with her. With the help of Puck and a few other friends, he embarks on a dangerous journey, one that will lead to death or to a life with his true love.

Things I Liked:
Kagawa can write a killer good faery story.  I love the complex world she's created and especially the many unique characters that inhabit Faery.  There are so many aspects of the Nevernever that make this story interesting and add depth.  I also love a good story and this one definitely has a good story.  Action and adventure, sacrifice, love, understanding, and a touch of humor.  Something for everyone in this one.  Though I saw the ending coming a mile away (I mean, who didn't?) I still enjoyed the journey.  I'll be interested to see where Kagawa goes next.

Things I Didn't Like:
I actually had a really hard time getting into the book.  I've never been that much of a fan of Ash, to be honest, so that probably was part of it.  The story was pretty slow moving too, despite having some awesome action sequences.  I just really struggled through about the first half of the book.  After that, I got into it enough.  It was pretty predictable in the story arc, and a little bit sappy sweet, but I think Kagawa strikes a pretty good balance too.  But man, I really liked Puck more.

Read-alikes:
Read the first three books in the Iron Fey series first
Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: ! 
a few here and there

mrg-factor: X 
implied, off-page stuff

v-factor: ->->
they have to battle creatures and beasties quite often

Overall rating: ***

I think this series has been raved about by nearly everyone.  Am I just missing something?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication date: January 2011
ISBN: 9780373210183
Source: e-copy of ARC provided by NetGalley

Definitely spoilers for the first two books ahead:
Meghan and Ash have been banished from the Nevernever.  But, when Meghan tries to head home, she realizes there isn't anything there for her either.  She sets off on a quest to find her mortal father, the one who raised her as a child.  The fey, however, have other needs for her.  Oberon and Mab offer a plea for Meghan's assistance in fighting against the false Iron King, who is taking over the Nevernever and destroying all of Faery with their iron influence.  Meghan is the only one who has the power to destroy the false king, and so she sets herself on the impossible quest, with the help of Ash and Puck.  But, will she survive the battle with the Iron King herself?

Things I Liked:
Kagawa wrote a fabulous story, again.  I really love the faery mythology and especially the iron fey.  I liked how there were surprises, even if the story seemed like it couldn't go anywhere else.  She's created a realistic and well-developed world that seems to fit neatly with our own world.  Interesting characters making difficult choices kept me reading the book.  Puck continues to be my favorite, even though he isn't Meghan's choice and even though Meghan was so angry at him (which kinda made me roll my eyes a bit).  Also Grimalkin was interesting and snarky throughout, much to my enjoyment.  And I have to admit the ending was pretty gutsy.  But, I suppose if there is going to be another book, then it makes more sense.  

Things I Didn't Like:
I kept getting a bit annoyed by the plot - it seemed like an endless cycle of prepare for battle, last night before battle, battle, and then more of the same.  There were so many "last nights" in this book I started to wonder how many times they could almost die.  Also, while the ending, as I mentioned was gutsy, I thought Ash's motivations were odd.  *SPOILER MOMENT* Didn't he say how he would do anything and everything in his power to be with Meghan?  So why did he not hang out with her when she left the Iron lands occasionally?  Why didn't they meet and mingle every chance they got?  Why watch her from afar, because he can't keep away and yet manages to keep away?  I just thought it was quite out of character.  I'm willing to be convinced if someone can explain this to me, but it seemed more like it simply led to the next book.  *END SPOILER MOMENT*  I'm probably one of the only people out there that didn't adore this book, but I did like it.  Be sure to check out some other reviews, too.

Read-alikes:
Read the first two books in the Iron Fey series
Wicked Lovely books by Melissa Marr
Lament and Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
here and there a few

mrg-factor: X
some implied stuff, nothing on page

v-factor: ->->
there are an awful lot of battles, but not a lot of gore

Overall rating: ***

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication date: August 2010
ISBN: 9780373210138
Source: e-book provided through NetGalley

Meghan must return to the winter court, according to her promise with Ash.  Once there, she is essentially a prisoner and cannot leave to return home or to the summer court.  But, when a powerful talisman is stolen from winter court and summer is immediately blamed, Meghan must find a way to escape and prove that it was not summer but the iron fey that stole it.  A new king of the iron fey has emerged and he is determined that summer and winter will kill each other off and he will rule in their places.  Can she find the stolen scepter before it is too late?

Things I Liked:
I'm still intrigued by the unique twist on faerie stories Kagawa has created.  Introducing iron fey?  Just so awesome.  I love the idea of having an entire kingdom of fey that are counter to the regular fey.  Meghan is an interesting heroine - strong and resilient, but also weak and foolish.  She seems to know what she wants most of the time, but not always.  It was a fun, fast-paced faerie story for those looking for something a little different than the usual fare.  And I would just like to say - I'd pick Puck any day.  I definitely prefer humor to Ash's icy coldness.  Here are some good quotes:

Dark, wild music echoed throughout the chamber, played by a group of humans on a corner stage.  The musicians' eyes were glazed over as they sawed and beat at their instruments, their bodies frighteningly thin.  Their hair hung long and lank, as if they hadn't cut it for years.  Yet, they didn't seem to be distressed or unhappy, playing their instruments with zombielike fervor, seemingly blind to their inhuman audience. p 21 of ARC

No matter how much I wanted a normal life, there would be a part of me that longed for this world, for the magic and wonder of it.  It had seeped into my soul and shown me things I'd never thought existed.  I couldn't be normal and ignorant ever again, knowing what was out there.  Faery was a part of me now. p 125 of ARC

"I would kiss you, cat," Puck said as we crowded through the doorway, "if we weren't in such a hurry.  Also the hairballs could be unpleasant." p 238 of ARC

Things I Didn't Like:
I was not as impressed with the story in this one.  It seemed a bit tenuous that Meghan would be involved in wanting to save Faerie again.  Her reasons didn't strike me as believable.  Also, it just wasn't as interesting. I got a bit tired of the extremely in love teenagers, especially when Meghan would talk about how much she loved Ash.  I think I need to read something without romance. :) Still kept me intrigued enough to keep reading though.  I'll be interested to know where she takes the next book, since things didn't seem very clearly explained in this one. 

Read-alikes:
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (read it first)
Wicked Lovely books by Melissa Marr

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
some throughout, nothing too strong

mrg-factor: X
mostly kissing and longing to be kissed

v-factor: ->->
there is some fighting and violence

Overall rating: ****

Do you find yourself getting tired of a favorite genre after a while?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

As I'm sure you've figured out by now, I've been celebrating fairy tales with NotNessie of Today's Adventure.  Which may leave you wondering why I'm posting a review of a book that doesn't scream 'fairy tale' at you.  Well, it just so happens, that I subscribe to the definition of fairy-story or fairy-tale that Tolkien explains in his essay "On Fairy-stories."  While talking about what exactly fairy-stories are for about ten pages, he finally gets to this little tidbit: 

A "fairy-story" is one which touches on or uses Faerie, whatever its own main purpose may be: satire, adventure, morality, fantasy... Tales about fairies, about the fair family in any of its houses, or even about dwarfs and goblins, are only a small part of their content. p 39 of The Tolkien Reader

Thus, as you will note from my labeled reviews of fairy tales, I refer both to the traditional idea of a fairy tale - like Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty - and to the types of stories that are about fairies/faeries/fae in any form.  Which can be a lot of stories.  I say, the more then merrier.  And on that note, here's the review:

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication date: February 2010
ISBN: 9780373210084
Source: Library

 

Meghan Chase does not have an easy life.  Her father disappeared when she was four.  Her mother remarried a nice guy, but one who hardly notices her.  She lives in the backwoods of New Orleans and has to put up with everyone at school teasing her for it.  But things are about to get a lot worse.  When her brother is apparently stolen by faeries, she must find a way into faeryland and then face hostile courts and a deadly enemy that could destroy them all.

Things I Liked:
While at first it seemed kind of like every other recent faery book I've read, I was pleasantly surprised at the interesting turn it took.  I liked the idea of a different court, one that no one knew about, but that was so destructive to the others.  The plot took a while for me to really enjoy, but when it took those interesting turns near the end, I found myself quite caught up in it.  I'll be interested to see where Kagawa takes the story next.  Here are some good quotes:

The wine filled my mouth, flooding my senses.  It tasted of nothing and everything.  It tasted of twilight and mist, moonlight and frost, emptiness and longing. p 55

And then, like an explosion of light on the inside of my eyes, I felt it.  It was like color given emotion: orange passion, vermilion lust, crimson anger, blue sorrow, a swirling hypnotic play of sensations in my mind. p190

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit, for the first half or so, I was really annoyed by Meghan.  Seriously, she just seemed like such an idiot - running into danger, needing to be saved at every turn, completely ignoring anyone who told her to run away from evil.  I wanted to slap her and tell her to get smart.  I think she managed it in the end.  Also, with all the fabulous reviews, I was expecting it to be more awesome, so I felt just a little let down.  It was still enjoyable but not the most amazing book I've read ever.  

Read-alikes:
Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr
Wings by Aprilynne Pike
Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#
fairly regularly throughout

mrg-factor: X
there were several rather sensual parts, but not a lot

v-factor: ->->
some fighting, nothing too gory

Overall rating: ****

What do you think of as fairy tales?  Does it include stories about fairies?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage