November 23, 2011

Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa


Paperback, 1st edition, 361 pages
Published: October 25, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Series: Iron Fey #4

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.


To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.


Really? Really? Do I really need to tell you how amazing this book is? Did Damaris @ GCR not already rave about the other books in the Iron Fey series? Do I really need to tell you how I never put this book down - even for a second - much to the frustration of my husband and child? Do I really need to tell you how this book makes you want to cry for Ash, and then cry for Puck, and then cry for Ash again?

Well...if you insist...


This book was absolutely everything I wanted/expected it to be. In this, the continuation and final book in the Iron Fey series, our hero Ash, becomes the new focal character of the series. I love this about the book though, because while I loved Meghan, it was so much fun to get inside of Ash's head - see what he's thinking, how he's feeling and how strong his love for Meghan is - especially when he comes face-to-face with a love from his past.

In the Iron Knight, Ash is forced to go through a series of trials in order to earn a soul, become human,  and live with Meghan. Each trial is more difficult than the last, and for me personally (as a lover of puzzles) each more interesting than the last. The ordeal that Ash goes through - both physically and mentally - tests not only his love for Meghan, but for Puck as well. Puck has been my very favorite character from the beginning and that is only cemented in this book, as he stands by Ash and never leaves his side. His loyalty is inspiring and beautiful and in my opinion, in a lot of ways, Puck is the true unsung hero of these novels.  

The entire Iron Fey series is hands-down, one of the best set of books I've read in my life. They allow you to escape to a world of fantastical characters who show you what it means to love as passionately as you hate, to be brave in the most dire of circumstances, and to remember that a true friend is more important than anything else in the world.

I will truly miss these characters and this series. NICELY DONE, JULIE KAGAWA!!

6 out of 5 stars!





__________________________________________



11 comments:

  1. I LOVED this book too! My favorite of the series. I voted for it as best YA fantasy book in the Goodreads awards! Great review :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I so agree...6 out of 5 =) I loved this series and Ash's book was my favorite. I got more Ash and Puck. I will so very much miss those characters as well. Julie is awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the comments ladies!! I'm so glad you both loved this book as much I did :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love this series, it's truly one of the best ones out there! The 4th book was really great, especially because,as you already said, it was awesome reading it from Ash's perspective! A great end for a great series.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow, 6 out of 5 stars!!! I need to recommend this to some YA readers I know.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have wanted this series for a long time now. They are at the top of my Christmas wish list. Your review makes me want them even more. I can't wait to read these. Hopefully Santa will be generous this year.

    ReplyDelete
  7. holy crap this book is like, the best out of the whole series.
    this series is totally the opposite of what people expect as "the story turn worst as the series goes on"
    i though the first one was okish, the second one exciting, the third one thrilling, and the fourth one excellent.
    did you know julie kagawa was orginally going to leave ash and meghan to their fate and stiop writting at book three?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for the great review. I had wondered about this series & THE IRON KNIGHT in particular. 6 STARS - WOW!!

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've heard nothing but great reviews from this series. Most definitely will add to me read list.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love this series! Just finished the first one and I can't believe it took me so long to start this series! Gonna hurry and read the rest!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am pathetically in love with Prince Ash! I agree with your review whole heartedly!!
    Jeannette
    www.walkingonbookshelves.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by! We love reading your comments and we try to reply back to each comment. So make sure to check back with us.