Customer Reviews

The Iron Knight (Harlequin Teen)

5 star:		(74)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I had put the rest of the books on the 'keep and read again' shelf but after finishing this it's ruined the whole series for me and they are going to the second hand book store. I wasn't particularly keen on the end of The iron Queen but it would have been better then this!!!! Maybe if she'd just done a novella instead. The whole story just felt drawn out and Ash's point of you did not add to the series as he is just too cold and withdrawn. (spoiler alert) bringing back the ex girlfriend for me was a disaster. Anyway I can't say that I won't read whatever this author brings out next as up to this book I really enjoyed this series so I won't let one book put me off.

Where do I begin? I know, let me start with the dedication in the front of the book. It's dedicated to Team Ash fans...and from there, I thought I would hate the book (Yes, I'm Team Puck. Deal with it ). But I knew this was Ash's story so I didn't go into it with high hopes, if you will. HOWEVER, there was so much Puck in this story that it made even Puck fans giddy with joy. Now that that is out of the way, let me talk about the story. Ash is on a quest to find a way to be with Meghan in the Iron Kingdom and we already know as being a Unseelie Prince, iron is his weakness. But he made a promise to Meghan in The Iron Queen that he would find a way so they could be together and Ash definitely goes after what he wants, he doesn't stop until he has it. Even as a Puck fan, I'm rooting for him because, let's face it, if he were to fail Puck could very well get the girl but who would want a relationship out of a situation like that???

I think what excited me most about this book was who he had along with him for this extremely dangerous and practically impossible mission. Robin "Puck" Goodfellow was there, of course, but we also had Grimalkin and Wolf join the gang. The two of them together was just as amusing as Puck and Ash together. *highlight to view spoiler* Not to mention finding out Ariella is actually alive and accompaines them on this mission, as a Seer. *spoiler* They came across many obsticules together and it was thrilling to see them all work together to survive each one they came across.

I couldn't bring myself to give a perfect rating because following both The Iron Queen and Summer's Crossing is nearly impossible to do. The Iron Queen was, by far, my favorite of the series and well, Summer's Crossing is right up there with it, as my favorite novella, for obvioius reasons, I'm sure you'd know. (Pst...if you haven't bought that audiobook, I'd advise you do it NOW! Joshua Hurley's voice is absolutely PERFECT for Puck...) Julie did a great job concluding this series as well as leaving it open for a future continuation...if desired. If you've read this series, you better pick up this book. If you haven't read this series, do not pick up this book until you've read everything else. If you love fantasy novels, especially about fairies, you'll want to pick up this series.

I was ecstatic to receive this ARC from NetGalley. I finished this book over a week ago, but I haven't wanted to write the review, because that means the series is truly over and I'm sad to see it end. This is going to be one of those tough reviews to write, because I hate dissecting books I love.

Moving into the Iron Knight was almost jarring because this is Prince Ash's story. The contrast between Ash's voice and Puck's from Summer's Crossing is monumental. Whereas Puck is suffering, Ash is an emotional train wreck held together only by the strength of his determination. Also giving this book a different feel to it than the previous three is the fact that Meghan is pretty much absent. It surprised me, after it took me so long to warm up to her in the first place, that I actually kind of missed her. Meghan softens Ash and brings out a side of him that is ...almost warm --well, warm for a Winter Prince, anyway. But, as with the novella, once again, I delighted in getting to know the real Ash, not just the Ash we see through Meghan's eyes. However without Meghan there to strike a delicate balance between Ash and Puck, things are strained and precarious from the beginning.

After finally finding Grimalkin, the cait sith leads them to The Seer, the only one who can help Prince Ash with his quest to find a way to exist in the Iron Realm --and once The Seer is found the entire story is turned on it's ear. Truth be told, I didn't trust The Seer, as the fairy obviously has an agenda. If things were tense before, they are near impossible now. I read in fits and spells, partly because of the ever mounting tension, and partly because it was so good I was trying to savor and not miss a detail --or be interrupted. The journey was not what I expected, nor were the challenges. I had no idea where the story was headed and it was full of delicious twists and turns.

Only slightly disappointing is that, especially after reading Summer's Crossing, I want more of Puck's story now that the series has come to an end. I want to know what new adventures life has in store for him. And while I was glad she ended the book with a certain character, I felt a little odd over the situation. I won't spoil anything, but suffice it to say that it detracted from the story the tiniest of bits for me.

Considering Julie Kagawa originally wanted The Iron Fey to be a trilogy, leaving things with Meghan growing up and accepting responsibilities, I think she does a magnificent job of continuing the story. I would have been okay with ending with The Iron Queen, minus the epilogue, but I'm ever so grateful to her editor for convincing her to continue. This is so much better and brilliantly executed to boot. Not many people could have pulled off the constant anticipation without it becoming boring or frustrating. Though some readers may have trouble adjusting to Ash's voice and the lack of Meghan, I think it's brilliant. The gamble paid off.

As I come to the end of The Iron Fey, I find myself wanting to jump back to the beginning and start the series over again to gain new perspective. I love the that Julie Kagawa made me fall in love with this series slowly but surely. It's something I will read and re-read. The Iron Knight is due out October 25 from Harlequin Teen and it's worth the wait.

[...]

Past actions and oaths come back to haunt Ash, former prince of the Winter Court. He swore to Meghan that he would find a way to be with her in the Iron Kingdom, and now he must. The Oath has started to fray his very being, and the longer it goes unfulfilled the more it takes away from him. His older oath to kill Puck, his one time friend, is also eating at him. It causes his darker Unseelie nature to rise until it threatens to overwhelm him.

I can't possibly express how perfect an ending this was to the Kagawa's Iron Fey series. It feels like the entire series has been wrapped up with a bow and handed to me. The Iron Knight was not a tidy ending to the storyline by any means, but it was absolutely perfect. We learn more about Ash as a person, his struggles and fears that he's always hidden behind his Winter Prince mask. The rules he's broken, the friends he's lost, and the choices he's made (rash and otherwise) have eaten at him in a way that his Oaths did not. While I have always liked Ash, he became a much more three dimensional character in The Iron Knight. He's not always been a good guy, or even a half-way decent guy, but he has always done what he needed to survive and protect the few people he cared for. What was especially nice was to see how Meghan had changed him. Ash had been chained down by his past and she slowly showed him how to live again. We still have the strong and stoic former prince of Winter, but he's so much more in this book.

In general I thought that The Iron Knight started out a bit slow, but stick with it because once the journey to the End of The World starts the book really picks up the pace. The supporting characters were excellent and Puck was so much more than a trickster in this one. In fact, our understanding of several characters is challenged or changed. Kagawa continues to mix humor and pop culture into her stories which helps to lighten the tone when we need it. The Iron Knight was much more introspective than previous books but it suited the story and was very satisfying for me as a reader.

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It is hard to say goodbye to the book series I love most, but say goodbye I must. Having finished the final installment to Julie Kagawa's The Iron Fey series just moments ago, I need to start writing my review before I start reading it again ......and again. Yes I am a happy reader. The Iron Knight is worth the wait.

The book starts with Ash (the prince of the Unseelie court) and Puck (the Seelie court jester) looking for Grimalkin, the annoyingly know-it-all cait sith (in human terms: a cat). But going through the Wyldwood is never easy. After battling many monsters, they finally find Grim, only to be joined later on by the eternal enemy of the cat, the Big Bad Wolf (whom we met in WINTER'S PASSAGE.... And Little Red Riding Hood). Ash's quest is to get a soul and become human, as the soulless immortal fey that he is can not survive in the Iron Realm, which is now the home of his beloved Meghan Chase, the Iron Queen. But to do so, he has to pass extremely torturous tests, the 1st of which is to face the Seer. I actually shrieked in surprise when the fey was revealed. The Seer is the key to the quest. Yet the question is, will Ash be able to let the Seer go?

Herein lies the stupefying twist. Of all the past characters in the book, this was the most unexpected. For fear of spoiling the gem that is the Iron Knight, I can not say anymore about the plot.

Just know this: from beginning to end, The Iron Knight is filled with thrilling adventures, unwavering friendship, surprising loyalty and uncompromising love from the most unexpected of characters. It pulls you in, makes you sympathize with each and every Fey, including the one who may just destroy ash's resolve to finish the quest. Perhaps my only bone to pick with the book is that it didn't have enough Meghan and Ash moments. But then again, this is Ash's version, plus the ending more than made up for the iron queen's absence.

Beautifully written by Julie Kagawa, this book is a Must read. Of course you have to start from the very beginning with The Iron King, followed by Winter's Passage, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen and Summer's Crossing respectively. But I promise you, all the hours you spend reading the series will be worth it.

If you haven't read The Iron Queen yet don't even read the blurb...seriously, just don't read it! I'm going to try not to spoil anything with this review, but I might not be able to refrain from spoiling bits for the earlier books...I'll try though.

I think the biggest change between The Iron Queen and The Iron Knight is quite obvious...this one is NOT in Meghan's point of view, instead, it's in Ash's. I know lots of people were worried about Ash losing his mystery and all that, but honestly, I was never worried...Ash is even a mystery to himself ...seriously. haha I loved getting to read an entire book written in his POV. It only made me love Ash more. I loved getting to know his thoughts, and getting to see things from his side of the story. It was incredibly interesting and I think Ash managed to maintain his mystery...although I feel like I know his feelings for Meghan a lot better, which just made it even more awesome. Ash has always been able to make me swoon...honestly, I'll stop reading a sigh, no joke...so getting a whole book from his POV was a dream come true. Plus, I'm pretty glad that the story didn't actually end up being finished with The Iron Queen...as much as I loved that book, I think I would've been a bit upset if it ended there. :P

If you've read the other three books, you already know the characters, so you already know who you love and maybe some who you didn't love...but I'll mention them anyway. Ash, Puck, and Grimalkin, of course, are in The Iron Knight aplenty! The Big Bad Wolf and some other characters also pop up. The Wolf and Grim are hilarious together...seriously it's like Puck and Ash's banter, but they're animals...plus cat and dog jokes, that good stuff. I just mentioned Puck and Ash's banter...and I loved it in this one, I also loved getting to be inside Ash's head when he'd think about his past with Puck...or just think about Puck in general. It was interesting to get to see their relationship from the inside rather than just in passing through Meghan. Overall, the characters were fantastic in this one...as always, Julie always writes fantastic characters. :D

If you haven't started this series yet, then I'm just going to say right now that you should definitely go out and start it. If you're unsure, borrow the first book, The Iron King, from the library, and once you're hooked you can get your hands on the other books. :P

I'd recommend this one to fans of the series...although I'm sure by now most of you have read it already. :P And if you haven't started The Iron Fey series yet, then I recommend it to anyone who loves stories about the fey, stories with awesome heroines with some fabulous leading men, and anyone who's a fan of fabulous one-liners and banter....also, if you're a sucker for a forbidden (or even maybe impossible) romance you'll love this series. :)

**I received an egalley from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

**This review was also published on my blog, Burning.x.Impossibly.x.Bright, and on several of my other social media accounts.

This book was amazing even beeper than its counter part where puck is the the narrator, Ash was my favorite character so tis story was without a doubt my fave, the writing is still the same amazing flow from all of the series, and his story concludes the series perfectly and with style, there will be twists and trunks that you won't see coming, some you will but I grunted there is one that you won't,

Great book honest!

I really enjoyed getting inside Ash's head, and it made me fall more not less like I was a little afraid of.

The banter between Ash and Puck is amazing and keeps this moving when it could be a bit slow. Add Grimalkin to the mix, and you get a book that I couldn't put down.

There are a few unexpected characters to drop in but by the end I fully appreciated them and they made an impression on me.

I recommend this series highly!

**Originally published on Examiner.com**

As of late, this reader has become discouraged with YA novels. Either the characters are too one-dimensional, the writing is terrible, or the story itself leaves something to be desired.

Fortunately that is not the case for Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series, and even more so for The Iron Knight, the final book in the series. Unlike the previous three novels (The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, and The Iron Queen respectively), The Iron Knight is Ash's story. Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, must embark on a journey to the End-Of-The-Earth to earn his soul--a feat that will render him impervious to iron and reunite him with his love, Meghan, now queen of the Iron Realm. Accompanying him on this harrowing journey is Ash's sworn nemesis, Puck, and Grimalkin: the faery cat that always seems to hold the answers. As expected, this quest is far more difficult, both mentally and physically, than either of the boys had ever imagined--Ash slowly realizes what having a soul really means, and the things he must sacrifice to earn one. Adding into the mix of already quirky characters, Kagawa reintroduces familiar characters into the story including a surprising appearance by a certain character that will leave readers devouring page after page until the very end.

Kagawa's writing is in top form here. The story, as with her previous novels, is unique and hauntingly beautiful. Kagawa provides the perfect blend of description and action to paint the surreal, and sometimes frightening, world of Nevernever. Yet, the true winners of Kagawa's epic novel are the characters. Every character, whether they are major or minor, has a distinct voice. Kagawa breathes such life into every character she creates that the reader can picture them perfectly in their head. They can hear Puck's sarcastic comments; they can feel Ash's icy stare; they can picture Grimalkin sauntering off in boredom. Breathing life into this many characters is not an easy feat, but Kagawa handles each voice wonderfully leaving the reader unable to forget any one character.

As a fan of novels in a series, this reader is always a bit apprehensive when a series finale is released. Either the ending is too tragic, or the novel ends where the character gets everything they want, does not sacrifice anything, and leaves the reading shaking their head. Kagawa does not disappoint in The Iron Knight. The story ends with a sense of finality and peace, which forces the reader to reflect on how the journey started and how the characters have grown so much in the end. Readers will laugh; they will certainly cry, and they will put down The Iron Knight with a tear in their eye and a smile on their face.

This was a satisfying ending to a enjoyable (though, admittedly, less-than-favorite) series. I quite enjoyed The Iron King, but found myself skimming Iron Daughter/Queen. I liked the way that Kagawa brought the series to a close; there were many poignant moments and several parts during Ash's trials that I though were very well thought out. Loved the surprise twist of/after Ash's final trial, though I did see it coming...it was well-done. I would've liked to see a bit more of Meghan's presence because I began to lose sense of what Ash was working towards. Overall, my favorite of the series; I'm fond of happy endings and I liked how Kagawa tidied up those few loose ends (Ash's attachment to the past being one) that could've dampened a happy ending.