Book Review: The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa

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

The fourth book in the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa comes out with a bang.  Twitter was all abuzz when the news went out that The Iron Knight was available for advanced review.  I'm surprised the server at Netgalley didn't go down.  Yes, I was as excited as everyone else and let me tell you, it was NOT much ado about nothing.  The Iron Knight may just be the best book of the series.

As the title suggests, it centers on Ash, the Winter prince going on a quest to earn his soul so he can join Meghan in her Iron court.  Puck goes along for comic relief, as well as Grimalkin for his umm... cattyness.  The characters are as rich as ever.  I felt like they were sitting with me as I read.  I missed Meghan as she wasn't in this book very much, but at least her aura was, as everything Ash did was for her.

The novel is expertly written with lots of action, adventure, drama, and just enough humor to keep your blood pressure in check.  It's a wonderful world that Julie Kagawa has built and I hope she lets us visit there again and again!

I received this book from the publisher, Harlequin, through Netgalley.  Thank you for allowing me to read such a great book!

I give this book 5 Bookworms.

Reading Level:  Young Adult

Paperback:  304 pages

Publisher:  Harlequin; Original Edition (October 25, 2011)

ISBN-10:  0373210361

ISBN-13:  978-0373210367

Book Review: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

 

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

I'd been seeing this book recommended everywhere.  I read the synopsis and I was hooked, I had to read it.  It was a great book!  The only negative thing I could say about it is that it was written and marketed as a young adult book, but I worry that the subject matter is a little too violent for the younger of the young adults.  Teenagers forced to kill each other for other's amusement isn't the greatest storyline for children to read.

I loved everything else about this book.  It's one of those page-turners that won't let you put it down until you've read it all.  Katniss has had to take on the responsibility of taking care of her mother and little sister since her father was killed in the mines.  She's 16, but already an adult.  Living such a harsh life has forced her to bottle up her emotions, so she finds being partnered with Peeta especially difficult. She slowly learns to open up and evolve through the trials in the story.

It's a great story that leaves you wanting more.  And there is more, 2 more books in the series.  Look for those reviews here soon!

  I give this book 5 Bookworms!

 

Paperback:  384 pages

Publisher:  Scholastic Press; Reprint edition (July 3, 2010)

ISBN-10:  0439023521

ISBN-13:  978-0439023528