quippe | Entries tagged with julie kagawa

The Blurb On The Back:

My name – my True Name – is Ashallayn’darkmyr Tallyn.

I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court.

And I am dead to her.

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The concluding book in Julie Kagawa’s IRON FEY quartet differs from the earlier books in that it’s told from Ash’s point of view and whether that works for you depends on whether you already liked Ash as a character. Because I was never that taken with him, I never really engaged with the book as much as I should have done and because this builds on the central romance between Ash and Meghan, the ending is a foregone conclusion. That said, the final quarter of the book gives a strong insight into Ash’s character. All in all, although I’m not a romance fan I do enjoy Kagawa’s world building and will definitely be checking out her next book.

THE IRON KNIGHT was released in the UK on 6th January 2012. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the ARC of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

In less than twenty-four hours I’ll be seventeen.

Although, technically, I won’t actually be turning seventeen. I’ve been in the Nevernever too long. When you’re in Faery, you don’t age. So while a year has passed in the real world, age-wise I’m probably only a few days older than when I went in.

In real life, I’ve changed so much I don’t even recognise.

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 ore of conflict so powerful, I’m not sure anyone can survive it.

THIS TIME.

THERE WILL BE NO TURNING BACK.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The third in Julie Kagawa’s IRON FEY series is another brilliantly descriptive, vividly imagined affair and I continue to love her Iron Faeries. However, as with THE IRON KING and THE IRON DAUGHTER, the romance storyline does nothing for me and although Meghan develops more in this book and becomes a stronger character, I remain perplexed as to what Puck and Ash see in her and she still relies on the boys to tell her what to do and how to think. I’ll read the final book in the quartet to see how Kagawa brings the overall story to a close, but you really will get more out of this if you’re already a fan of Ash and Meghan.

The Blurb On The Back:

I’ve been in the palace of the Winter fey for a while now. How long exactly? I don’t know. If If I ever get out of here, I might find a hundred years have passed and all my family and friends are long dead.

I try not to think about that, but sometimes I can’t help but wonder.

My name is Meghan Chase.

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fitted 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 the prince who betrayed her, 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.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Having enjoyed THE IRON KING, I was really looking forward to reading this sequel. However while I love Kagawa’s imagery (and the descriptions of the Iron Court and the Iron Faeries are wonderful), I’m not a big romance fan and love triangles in particular leave me cold. The romance/love triangle in this book is no exception and my big issue with it is that I never understood why Puck and Ash would be fighting over Meghan who is completely useless. That said, I will continue reading the series because I love the visuals so much.

The Blurb On The Back:

My name is Meghan Chase.

In less than twenty-four hours I’ll be sixteen. Countless stories and songs have been written about this wonderful age, when a girl finds true love and the stars shine for her ...

I DON’T THINK IT WILL BE THAT WAY FOR ME.

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 fitted in at school ... or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar and her little brother is taken, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change.

She could never have guessed the truth. Meghan is the daughter of a faery king and a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will have to choose between a normal life and her magical destiny – and between her best friend and a darkly dangerous prince.

It’s time for Meghan to enter the faery world ...

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

What makes this YA take on the Seelie/Unseelie courts stand out from the rest is the introduction of a new court of iron – the depiction of which is both visual and visceral and had enough original elements to hold my interest and ensure I will read the next in the trilogy. Otherwise there’s much here that’s familiar, including the mandatory love triangle element featuring a dark and brooding male hottie with a tragic past. It’s not the best book I’ve read in this field, but it’s entertaining and breezily told.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the free copy of this book.