The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Date:  October 25, 2011
Series or Standalone:  Fourth in series
ISBN: 978-0373210367
Format: Paperback, 304 pages
Source: Netgalley

 Rating: C   
First line: "Oy, ice-boy! You sure you know where you're going?"

Description (from goodreads): 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. (More)

Oh, The Iron Knight. Oh, Ash who I love so, so, so, so very much. Oh, how I was kind of disappointed.  Oh, reader who is probably thinking of all the ways you are about to kill me for this rating. 

This is the one time I will say I wish a book had never been written. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Ash. This series is one of my favorites.

But for me, The Iron Queen was SO fantastic. It was the *perfect* book. And then I heard there was going to be another one. I was pretty darn excited--as was the rest of the world. But I have to be honest and say I was a little let down by this one. I'm not entirely sure if this is a case where my tastes have changed during the waiting because I've grown as a reader and so I'm not as easily satisfied OR if it's really the fault of the book. I will tell you all the reasons and then you can form your opinion.

Also, I have lost sleep over this review because I didn't want to write it. But as I'm trying to put my thoughts together, I know I have to say this to have an honest review. So. Here we go. I will try really, really, really hard not to spoil things.

It took me 60 (maybe more) pages to believe that it was Ash telling the story. It wasn't what I expected him to sound like. Then there was a point when I accepted it was him, and the voice didn't bother me as much. But then, there were other things that did. One example, he saw a lot of random things that I didn't understand. (Ie. the hairs on someone else's neck stand on end. How did he see that? How?)

Then there is the return of a character who I a) totally knew would come back b) was not happy that this character was back and c) completely predicted the reason the character was back. It was a trick that left me really dissatisfied because the character was supposed to create tension, and didn't really do that.

Everything happened really quickly. Our characters are on a quest here to do something really epic--give Ash mortality so he can be with Megan--and it's built up in the book as impossible. No one ever survived the quest. But then, as Ash, Puck and company go along, they complete it so quickly. Every chapter was Ash and company defeating a new challenge. I know that it was happening so it would all be done in one book, but I wanted SO much more than I got. I would have rather had less things happen and them take longer, than to have so much crammed into one book. There was so much happening I still don't know the point of some of those things they did--and definitely can't remember them all.

The ending was a really, really, really big let down. I'm not going to say anything as to what happens, but the POV switches in the last chapter and I still can only think of how much that was the one moment I wanted to see from Ash's perspective and didn't get to. So sad. So sad. That's probably the biggest thing that made me like it less. The other things I could've gotten over, but not that.

Not everything was bad.

The best parts of this book were Grim (as always) and, surprisingly for me, Puck. Puck and Ash had such great banter and comroderie that I can't even begin to express how much I loved it. It was so perfect. Seriously. Perfection. For me, maybe because Ash doesn't work as well as a narrator, Puck made the book. Shocking, I know since I'm team Ash.

All in all, I think everyone who loved the series will read the book. Most people will really love it. If you were like me and totally fell hard for The Iron Queen then you may want to think and wait and let some of this review marinate with you. Check out some other opinions. I may be the only who feels this way. It was a hard adjustment for me.

What else should I say.....? I am a cat.  

 Get more info/pre-order:
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The author on the web:
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Iron Fey Winner!

 

Thanks to everyone for you participation this week! Hope you had fun getting to know Julie and the Iron Fey series. If you haven't read it yet you need to!

determined by Random.org

Amy Carlin!!

Julie Kagawa Giveaway!

It's been a great week celebrating Julie Kagawa! I love The Iron Fey series & Julie! I hope you do as well!

Here's a fun excerpt direct from The Iron Queen...

Ash strode to a nearby rock, swooped down, and tossed me a long, slightly curved stick.  When I caught it, I saw that it was actually a leather sheath with a gilded brass hilt poking from the top.  A sword.  Ash was giving me a sword … why? 
            Oh, yeah.  Because I wanted to learn to fight.  Because I’d asked him to teach me. 
            Ash, watching me with that weary, knowing look on his face, shook his head.  “You forgot, did you?”
            “Nooooo,” I said quickly.  “I just … didn’t think it would be this soon.”
            “This is the perfect place.”  Ash turned slightly to gaze around the clearing.  “Quiet, hidden.  We can catch our breath here.  It’s a good place to learn while you’re waiting for your father to come out of it.  When we’re done here, I have a feeling things will get much more chaotic.”  He gestured to the sword in my hand.  “Your first lesson begins now.  Draw your sword.”
I did.  Unsheathing it sent a raspy shiver across the glen, and I gazed at the weapon in fascination.  The blade was thin and slightly curved, an elegant looking weapon, razor sharp and deadly.  A warning tickled the back of my mind.  There was something about the blade that was … different.    Blinking, I ran my fingers along the cool, gleaming edge, and a chill shot through my stomach.   
            The blade was made of steel.  Not faery steel.  Not a fey sword covered in glamour.  Real, ordinary iron.  The kind that would burn faery flesh and sear away glamour.  The kind that left wounds impossible to heal. 
            I gaped at it, then at Ash, who looked remarkably calm to be facing his greatest weakness.  “This is steel,” I told him, sure that Leanansidhe had made a mistake.
            He nodded.  “An eighteenth-century Spanish saber.  Leanansidhe nearly had a fit when I told her what I wanted, but she was able to track one down in exchange for a favor.”  He paused then, wincing slightly.  “A very large favor.”
Alarmed, I stared at him.  “What did you promise her?” 
        “It doesn’t matter.  Nothing that endangers us in any way.”  He hurried on before I could argue.  “I wanted a light, slashing weapon for you, one with a good amount of reach, to keep opponents farther away.”  He gestured to the saber with his own weapon, a blindingly quick stab of blue. "You’ll be moving around a lot, using speed instead of brute force against your enemies.  That blade won’t block heavier weapons, and you don’t have the strength to swing a longsword effectively, so we’re going to have to teach you how to dodge.  This was the best choice.”
“But this is steel,” I repeated, listening to him in amazement.  He could teach a class with his knowledge of weapons and fighting.  “Why a real sword?  I could seriously hurt someone.”
“Meghan.”  Ash gave me a patient look.  “That’s exactly why I chose it.  You have an advantage with that weapon that none of us can touch.  Even the most violent redcap will think twice about facing a real, mortal blade.  It won’t scare the Iron fey, of course, but that’s where training will come in.”
            “But … but what if I hit you?”
             A snort.  “You’re not going to hit me.”
            “How do you know?”  I bristled at his amused tone.  “I could hit you.  Even master swordsmen make mistakes.  I could get a lucky shot, or you might not see me coming.  I don’t want to hurt you.”
            He favored me with another patient look.  “And how much experience do you have with swords and weapons in general?” 
“Um.”  I glanced down at the saber in my hand.  “Thirty seconds?”
              He smiled, that calm, irritatingly confident smirk.  “You’re not going to hit me.”

Ah! It's so lovely isn't it?! The book is amazing!  On to the winning....The lucky winner will receive your choice of the series from the Book Depository. It's open international if TBD delivers there.  Contest closes January 30 at 9 pm EST.

Click here to enter!

Julie Kagawa Interview!

Today, I have the lovely Julie Kagawa on for an interview! She took time out of her crazy-busy schedule to answer these so I hope you enjoy it! Before all that, here's a little about Julie.

Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel. 
Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian Shepherd who is too smart for his own good, and the latest addition, a hyper-active Papillon puppy. 

If you were an item on a Mexican restaurant menu, what would you be and why?
Um...a Jalapeno Popper. Small, hot and cheesy, lol!

What are the last five songs played on your I-pod?
Don't have an ipod, but the last five songs I listened to were "Bulletproof Heart" by My Chemical Romance, "The Only Hope For Me Is You" by MCR, "What is This Feeling" from Wicked, "I'm Only Happy When It Rains" by Garbage, and "On The Nature of Daylight" by Max Richter. (I have eclectic music tastes.)


If you could have dinner with one person—dead or alive—who would it be and why?
Neil Gaiman, because he is my author hero. Also Ben Barnes, but there wouldn't be much eating, just a lot of swooning and fainting.

If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be?
"Wrestling Goats and Making Stuff Up."

Tell us two truths and a lie..** **I have the answer. You'll get a chance to guess in the giveaway tomorrow for an extra entry!
I owned a talking parrot that would wolf-whistle at girls.
My ball python would curl up inside my shirt because it was warm. 
I would take my pet chameleon to the mall perched on my head.

What is the first book you remember reading yourself?
I don't think I can remember back that far. My parents tell me all I did even as a small child was read.

What do you in your free time?
In my free time I enjoy video games, painting, drawing, reading, and movies.

What is one thing you have learned through your time as a published author?
That you can have three novels under your belt, and still be terrified about the release date.

What is your writing process?
I usually try for 1,000-1500 words a day. Except when I'm doing NaNo, and the word count jumps to 1700-2000.

You participated in NaNoWriMo in previous years. Since a lot of people participated a couple months ago (including me) can you tell us about the post-writing process was like for you?
Lol, post-writing process? What's that? When you're writing a series, there's always another book to be written. I take short breaks between stories, but I never really stop. :)

Mmmm...stubborn! *swoon*

Which book or scene from any of the books was the most difficult to write?
I'd say a certain icy prince gave me a heck of a lot of trouble when I was writing his story. We would argue. I would be like: "say something already! Open up! Tell me what you're feeling, dang it!" And he would just stand there and be stubborn.

What can we expect in the next book--The Iron Knight? (Which is going to be glorious and smoldery with Ash-ness!!)
I can't say very much, except this: if you think you know Ash, you haven't seen anything yet! :D

Thanks Julie! That was fun. And thanks for writing lovely books that I get to read. 

Come back tomorrow for a chance to win your choice of an Iron Fey book!

Julie Kagawa Week: The Iron Queen

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: January 25, 2011
Series or Standalone: Third in series 
ISBN: 978-0373210183
Format: Paperback, 386 pages

Description:

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.
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.

First line: Eleven years ago, on my sixth birthday, my father disappeared.

I LOVE THIS BOOK. It’s my favorite of the series (until the next of course because nothing will be as great as a whole book in Ash’s perspective. I’m drooling already).

Why do I love this book? I’ve made a list.

Great opening. From page one, we see the repercussions from the decision at the end of Iron Daughter. You start immediately rooting for Meghan. The things that unfold on the first ten pages are the reasons for everything in the rest. You know, immediately, that there’s a threat. Not only for the Nevernever, not only for Ash. But for Meghan. For her family. That is one thing you don’t mess with.

The rest of my list is all centered around the characters. They are the thing I can talk about the most without ruining the book sooo...characters! Again, Julie Kagawa develops these amazing characters.

Meghan. I love Meghan in this book. I think this book completely blows her character out of the water and makes me look back on her in the other two books with fondness. Really. She’s that good here. The entire book is Meghan’s journey to save them, to save Nevernever, to fight the Iron Fey and mostly, to survive.

Ash. He is an incredible character. If you didn’t catch that before, you catch it here. He sacrifices a lot for Meghan and he works so incredibly hard to keep her safe. Plus, they have lovey-dovey moments of goodness.

Grim. “I am a cat.” That says it all, right? I mean, he knows everything. He’s a smart cat.

Puck. I’m team Ash but I like Puck—even when he makes unwise decisions—because he’s a good friend to Meghan. He’s a good friend to Ash even, deep down. He’s a good guy all around. And funny. But he proves that no every good guy is perfect.

The truth comes out! Meghan discovers many things that affect her life forever. Things I can’t tell you because they will spoil but know that they are big. Really big.


The end. I said in my review of Iron Daughter that the end of this book killed me. It did. The wait for Iron Knight is going to be looooong. The whole world is on verge of disappearing. The other books in the series have been leading us to this moment. This is the ultimate battle to save the Nevernever or to lose it. In the end, it all comes down Meghan and a choice. It all comes down to the Iron Fey.

The result is brilliant.

I can't say anything else really--because I don't want to spoil anything. But know that this book is brilliant.

Julie Kagawa Week: The Iron Daughter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: August 1, 2010 
Series or Standalone: Second in series 
ISBN: 978-0373210138
Format: Paperback, 304 pages

Description:  

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

First line: The Iron King stood before me, magnificent in his beauty, silver hair whipping about me like an unruly waterfall.


I really enjoyed The Iron Daughter. The story opens with Meghan in the Winter Court—and Ash nowhere to be found. When he does show up, which is always in the nick of time, he isn’t interested in her anymore. Feeling alone and trapped in the cold world of Winter, things can’t be any worse for Meghan. Of course, shortly after the Summer Court hands over the changing of the seasons to The Winter Court, something horrible happens. Things for Meghan and Ash and the whole of the courts are at stake and only Meghan can save them.

Meghan grew a lot in this book. You can tell the things she faced in IK changed her. I know I liked her more. I believed her selflessness and quest to save the realm with her friends at her side. This story takes them farther and deeper into danger than the last.

Like in the first book, the character interactions in Iron Daughter are incredible. They feed off each other and bounce off the page. I can’t even tell you how much I love each of Kagawa’s characters. Even if they seem minor and unimportant, they are so well developed and alive (and rarely unimportant.) Each one adds a unique piece to the story. As always, Grim is my favorite (next to Ash.) Why? “I am a cat.”

Aside from her amazing characterizations, the details in every scene are intense and vivid. Every place Meghan and crew travel is painted in my head because of her descriptions. The Nevernever and our world are both dripping in great scenery.

Ash and Puck. Ash and Puck. Well, Ash is smoldery. Puck is Puck. Separately, both characters add so much: humor, heart, love, smolder, swoon, joy. Together they bring all of that and witty, sarcastic banter. I can’t get enough of that! Plus, this is the book Meghan chooses between them, or they choose for her, or fate steps in. You can call it what you like.

Everything builds and builds in Iron Daughter to lead up to the most amazing ending. I seriously think I was stopped breathing and died. Well, until I read Iron Queen, that is.

Julie Kagawa Week: The Iron King

 
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Date: February 2010
Series or Standalone: First in series
ISBN: 978-0373210084
Format: Paperback, 368 pages

Description:

MEGHAN CHASE HAS A SECRET DESTINY— ONE SHE COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED…


Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.


When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change.


But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

First line: Ten years ago, on my sixth birthday, my father disappeared.

I’m don’t read many books about the Fae. It’s not personal—and I’ve tried on numerous occasions—but I can’t do it. There are a couple that I’ve picked up a few times and still not succeeded. There was even one I read the entire first book and attempted the second but couldn’t. I don’t know why that is. I like faeries, I just haven’t had much luck reading the books about them. When I was bullied into reading The Iron King, I went into it open-minded, though I wasn’t sure I’d like it. Is anyone surprised that I was wrong?

I was hooked from the first line of this story. Meghan lost her dad and then spent the last ten years feeling invisible to her family. The only people who’ve ever noticed her are best friend Robbie, the prankster extraordinaire and best friend, and her four-year-old brother, Ethan. (And the dog, of course.) That’s why when things get weird at home and at school, her only option is to learn the truth about her heritage. That truth: she’s Oberon’s daughter. Yup, the Oberon. And now, with the help of Robbie—who’s also known as Puck—she enters the faery world to save someone she loves.

Her journey through the Nevernever (part of the faery world) is full of great imagery and description. I feel as if I’m there with her, seeing what she’s seeing and experiencing this magical world. It’s a unique story when the added mystery of the Iron Fey come into play. I like the ideas behind it and the way it all develops. Plus, the story is full of great characters. I’m not a huge fan of Meghan but since she’s the main character, I am forced to like her just a little—I just like her sidekicks a little more. Grimalkin is hilarious and I really liked that darn cat. I also liked Puck, as he provided great commentary. I laughed a lot during this book.

The best part of the book? Ash. I mean, he’s a prince so he automatically wins. He’s dark and has a snarky sense of humor. He’s smoldering and swoon-worthy. I’m in. I’m totally in. Even if this book sucked (which it did not) I would still read it just for him. That’s how much I grew to love him. Luckily, it was so fabulous that I got to enjoy the whole story and the characters and the plot twists.

Ash was the ice cream on the proverbial cake.

And my, my, my what good cake it was.

Author Focus Week: Julie Kagawa

 

Julie Kagawa is one hilarious and talented author. Her series, The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, Winter's Passage (a short story) is about to have a sister book. The Iron Queen hits shelves on Tuesday and in honor of that, it's Julie Kagawa Week!

And I'm excited.

This is another series that my book bully told me to read and I have thanked her relentlessly. (If not, thanks again!) I love this series. It's fun, intriguing, full of swoon-worthy boys and a beautiful world. I never liked books about faeries until I read this one. So, it has a special place in my heart. Check out this video below for more information about the series.



On another note, there's also an epic blog tour happening. You can check out those details here. 

Every day this week I will post my reviews of all three of the books and at the end of the week, you can win! It's easy. Read the reviews (and possible other surprises!) and then on Friday, you can get a chance to win by filling out the form on Friday. But, as always, there are a few ways you start gaining extra entries NOW into the giveaway. All of these are optional but they are here if you'd like to gain them!

How to get Extra Entries: 
(each item is +1 entry unless indicated. Keep track of what you do--there will be a tally on Friday when you enter the giveaway.)

• Follow this blog
• Follow me on twitter
• Follow Julie on twitter
• Tweet the reviews, the interview, the giveaway. (You can get +1 entry each day from this, starting today. You MUST include @daniellebunner and #JulieWeek in the tweet.) 
• Leave a comment each day
• Write a blog post (add link in comments below) (+3)

The prize on Friday is your choice of The Iron Fey series--which includes the e-book of Winter's Passage. The contest is open anywhere The Book Depository delivers.