by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: Oct 25, 2011
Source: ARC sent by publicist
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Summary from goodreads.com:
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.
My Review:
This book was so much different than what I thought it would be, and I mean that in a good way. This was my first book in the Iron Fey series (not that I advise reading book 4 first, haha) and I was very surprised at the depth of the characters and story, as well as the detail of the adventure and setting. This is not your typical fluffy YA paranormal romance. While I admit to feeling bewildered sometimes at the beginning since I hadn't read the other books, I felt like the author did a great job of recapping the events from the first books. So while, I never felt lost, I still think I could have gotten so much more out of the book if I had read the other books first.
I can see how fans are so passionate about this series and have chosen teams, either Team Ash or Team Puck. This is a book that will stay with you, you'll still be thinking about it long after you read it.
I liked the fairy tale references sprinkled though out the book. It was a lot of fun for a fairy tale fanatic like me.
I think it's so interesting that one of the characters makes a reference to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, because I was reminded of the Indiana Jones movies the entire time I was reading this book. It's the same type of adventure with trial after trial that must be overcome, and it makes for a very exciting story.
Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 4/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5 (Excelllent!)
Writing: 5/5
Bottom Line:I highly recommend this book, it's so much more than a typical paranormal teen romance.
As part of "The Iron Knight" Blog Tour, I'm happy to announce that I have excerpt for readers of my blog!
“Would you believe the cat owes him money?” Puck’s voice
came from behind my shoulder, making me wince. The witch
scowled at him.
“I did not ask you, Robin Goodfellow,” she snapped, jabbing
a clawlike finger at him. “And you had best watch your
tongue, lest you find yourself neck-deep in a pot of boiling
snake venom. Right now your friend’s civility is the only
thing keeping me from skinning you alive, and you will be
silent on my land or you will leave. My question was for the
prince.”
“I am a prince no longer,” I said softly, interrupting her
rant. “My service to the Winter Queen is done, and Mab has
cast me from her circle. I am dead to her.”
Don't miss tomorrow's stop on the blog tour: