Author: Julie Kagawa (Page 4 of 5)

I learned that love can transcend race and time, and that it can be beautiful and perfect and worth fighting for but also fragile and heartbreaking, and sometimes sacrifice is necessary. That sometimes it’s you against the world, and there are no easy answers. That you have to know when to hold on…and when to let go.

God. Damn. It. Damn you, Julie Kagawa! What. Was. THAT?! That is not one, but two, TWO series where she has literally (I DO MEAN LITERALLY) killed me with the endings at the pique of the series. People. I am telling you now-I love peril and I love action and I LOVE the climax of a story but rarely am I a blubbering, incoherent mess of emotion during these aforementioned scenes. In The Iron Queen I laughed, I swooned, I cried, and I literally fucking fell apart as the ending unraveled. I didn’t know what I was going to say about this book because it is just so hard to express how epic you believe it is in terms that others can interpret and apply to their own thoughts and beliefs, because once they get in their head that I think something is epic, they think surely something awesome happens that will blow them away…but everyone is different in their levels of astonishment and awe and I have learned that many times before-but I can’t deny what I thought this book was: Epic.

Ash pulled back slightly, his silver eyes bright as he stared at me, his cool breath washing over my heated face.
“You are beautiful, you know that, right?” he murmured, all seriousness, one hand gently framing my cheek. “I know I don’t say…things like that…as often as I should. I wanted to let you know.”

Book three. Oooooh book three how will I explain you spoiler free for my friends who are considering reading this series? Something happened in book two that lead to undesirable circumstances for Prince Ash and completely ideal circumstances for Meghan…to an extent. So, we start book two with Ash and Meghan…in a precarious state they never imagined possible. After the events leading to this, the Iron Kingdom, the false Iron King, and all of his minions are after Meghan so they can bring her back to their land where her power can be used to fuel the false king…and make him the strongest of all of Nevernever-which would mean the end of the summer and winter courts (Prince Ash, Grim, and Puck included) and everyone that calls Faery home.

“One more thing,” Ash said in his dangerous, soft voice as we turned away, and Glitch shot him a wary look. “If you do not return with her,” Ash continued, staring him down, “if she comes to any harm while she is with you, I will turn the entire camp into a bloodbath. That is my promise, lieutenant.”

Meghan has become a complete badass. She was good for most of the book and even most of the last book, but in this book, we see a fierce, strong-willed, and impressive girl who has done a complete turn around since book one. She had to make some tough decisions and she didn’t always know what to do, but in the end, she kicks ass, and there was no way she couldn’t have earned respect from everyone who reads of her battle against the false Iron King to save all of Nevernever. After all…the fate of the whole Fey world sits on her shoulders.

“You tell the false king he doesn’t have to send anyone to get me,” I said in the firmest voice I could manage. “I’m coming for him. I’m coming for him, and when I find him, I’m going to kill him.”

And Ash. Oh Ash. I need my review gush session for the amaaaazing Prince Ash lol. But what is so funny about Mr. Ash is that….all he does is brood and tell Puck off-AND I CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF HIM! Whyyyy is this guy under my skin so deep? What is it about him that makes me squee and fangirl and obsess over him so? I don’t know what makes him so special to me, but he is. His sole purpose has become to protect Meghan, to love her, to save her from those who mean her harm-his sole existence is this human girl who came out of nowhere and turned his dark world upside down, bringing him out of a deep depression and the darkness that has plagued him for years and drawing him back into the light. He is loyal, protective and now wears his heart on his sleeve…and I love him. (If I hadn’t mentioned that before ;))

His lips touched my hair, very lightly. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he murmured. “You are my heart, my life, my entire existence.”

I don’t think I’m going to say much more…my last three or four reviews (if you include the novella) have been more than forthcoming on information and, frankly, at this point, I’ve probably said too much. All I can say and express is how shocked, happy, and surprised I am that this series has became a favorite of mine-I think this just goes to show that it doesn’t matter how out of your comfort zone a book or series is, it’s how the author writes it. It’s how that author appeals to you and draws you in and most importantly-how they execute it. An epic novel with an epic conclusion that I will not soon forget, I am anxious for book four and how Kagawa will wrap this all up. I am a jumbled ball of nerves…but it’s the best feeling in the world.

He stopped and looked down, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “And I’m afraid. I’m afraid I’ll fail you like I did Ariella, that the crimes of my past will ruin any chance we have at a future. That you’ll realize who I really am, what I really am, and when I turn around you’ll be gone.”

Ugh, and AGAIN I have ran out of room to put my special quotes I had highlighted for this review and have to stop….but here are two quotes that I HAD TO SHARE…but can’t. They are spoilered-look at them at your own risk.

View Spoiler » “My name is Ashallyn’darkmyr Tallyn, third son of the Unseelie Court…Let it be known–from this day forth, I vow to protect Meghan Chase, daughter of the Summer King, with my sword, my honor, and my life. Her desires are mine. Her wishes are mine. Should even the world stand against her, my blade will be at her side. And should it fail to protect her, let my own existence be forfeit. This I swear, on my honor, my True Name, and my life. From this day on…” His voice went even softer, but I still heard it as though he whispered it into my ear. “I am yours.” « Hide Spoiler
annnnndddd the one that tore my heart out as I relentlessly sobbed-

Gaaaaaah! And that concludes a little of why I was a mess. lol.

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
The Iron King #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea Anna	Winter's Passage #1.5 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	The Iron Daughter #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea Anna
The Iron Queen #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Summer's Crossing #3.5	The Iron Knight #4 Reviews: Chelsea
Iron's Prophecy #4.5 Reviews: Chelsea	The Lost Prince: Call of the Forgotten #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	The Iron Traitor:Call of the Forgotten #2
The Iron Warrior:Call of the Forgotten #3

The voices agreed, laughing at me, mocking my quest. I didn’t deserve a soul; I didn’t deserve happiness, or peace. Why should I get my happy ending, when I’d left a swath of horror and destruction behind me wherever I went?

Hmm. I’m going to marry Prince Ash some day…and then I will be his queen. >.< Can I just be honest? Even after finishing this three nights ago, even after finishing another book last night by another author…when I logged on here to write this review, clicking on this book to express how I felt about the conclusion ^ to this series, I still got the butterflies and that feeling of giddiness that plagued me from the middle of book one on. Even after all THAT (three days and the start of a new series), I’m still hung up and in love with this series and the dedication that both Ash and Meghan had for one another. I’m going to have a massive book hangover for a while and it won’t be gotten rid of easily.

I’d destroyed everything I touched, even those I loved. I would end up destroying them, too.

This review is not going to be good for those of you who are planning on reading this series-I truly don’t believe it’s possible to write about Ash’s book without spoiling book three. It’s impossible. Especially my quotes-I chose the least spoilery ones, but for some, I just can’t pass up an awesome quote-sorry. So my warning is this: I will do as little spoiling of past books as I can, but be warned that while I’m going to do my best, it doesn’t mean there won’t be spoilers. In fact, there will be-but I will keep them to a minimum.

How am I going to protect her like this? How can I protect anyone like this?

Ash is on a journey to View Spoiler » find a way to live in the Iron Realm with Meghan-the girl he has vowed his life and love to for as long as he shall live-she is the iron queen and therefore lives where Ash cannot without dying, so he will do everything in his power to make sure they can be together….or he will die trying. « Hide Spoiler After the heartbreaking and epic ending to book three, I had no clue what to expect with book four. I mean, how can an author top that? And the answer, as hard as it may be, is that you can’t. But I loved this installment-I loved every installment (aside from first 55% or so of book one (for the fifth time)) with all my heart, and this one was no exception.

“I’m not fearless,” I told her. “There are a lot of things that scare me.” Failure. My own savage, Unseelie nature. Being unable to save those I had sworn to protect. Having my heart ripped from me once more. “I’m not fearless,” I said again. “Not by a long shot.”

The hardest thing about this book was how dark it was. I literally felt as if my world was a symphony of dull grays and blacks and whites and even after I’d put the story down, I’d be in a hazy cloud of morose thoughts and tragic instances…it was even harder to imagine that this is what Ash feels every day, how negatively he thinks of himself. But more than that, how he realizes it’s true and not just a pity party-this guy has seen and done it ALL. He lives every day in a perfect shell of indifference and callous extremities, not able to show his inner turmoil or real feelings to the Winter Court….until he met Meghan. He can feel again and he wants to give everything to her, so that’s where the silver lining was in this book-there was light in the darkness and a reason for all the trials and incessant, painful memories and tortuous thoughts. There were even tests of faith and if I’m being candid, I kinda fell even harder when these scenarios happened. He is flawed. There is a world of darkness inside of him and it threatens to boil over any second but one thing that doesn’t happen…he doesn’t give up. And I love him all the more.

That wouldn’t happen again. The loss of my glamour wouldn’t deter me. I was still a knight, her knight. And I’d return to the girl I’d sworn to protect.

This book was more than a desperate attempt to View Spoiler » be with Meghan. « Hide Spoiler For Ash, it was a journey of self-worth, a journey of finally atoning his past sins and becoming a man worthy of a soul, worthy of the girl he loves…and ultimately becoming a man who can look at himself in the mirror and stand what he sees looking back at him, someone who can finally move on with his life and be happy. And I enjoyed his journey every step of the way.

I had once thought my armor invincible, that nothing could touch me…Until Meghan Chase had entered my life and turned it upside down. Reckless, loyal, possessing the unyielding stubbornness of a granite cliff, she’d smashed through all the barriers I’d erected to keep her out, refusing to give up on me, until I finally had to admit defeat. It was official.
I was in love. With a human.

For this final book, there were even a few characters that were *cough* reincarnated or *cough* brought back, and they added angst that while I had to grit my teeth at certain points, I thoroughly enjoyed what their presence brought to the table. For how else would Ash’s loyalty and love be truly tested? Did I mention how loyal he is? Hmmm…pretty sure I have. 😉 I loved the re-addition of a certain animal/character as well-his/it’s presence brought laughs and tension and it was both a comic relief and life saver that they made a big debut again. I loved Grimalkin as always and I came to respect Puck-a little. He has honestly driven me insane throughout the series but its been up and down for me with him and I’m glad it ended on a high note. He is loyal, caring, and funny, and I am glad that he and Ash had one last chance to get their shit out on the table-I can’t say it wasn’t hard, but it was well worth the wait.

“Are you sure about this, ice-boy?” he asked. “I know you think you can handle anything, but this is some serious stuff you’re going to face. Crazy Ash just doesn’t have the same ring as Don’t-bother-me-or-I’ll-kill-you Ash.”

I can’t believe I’m saying this…but this is the end. No more tremulous journies for Ash, Meghan, and Puck. This concluding paragraph actually kind of pains me to write-it has been a good week and a half of nothing but these characters and it hurts more than I can imagine to finish this series out. Melodramatics aside, I feel a tad empty. And that’s the mark of a good novel/series. It etches itself into your brain cells and keeps your thoughts and emotions tangled up in a crazy web of constant turmoil…and you just want more more more. So….did I hear something about a final novella? Anyone?

(switch to Meghan POV)

“You’re here,” I murmured, reaching out to touch him, hardly believing this was real. “You came back.” Ash’s breath hitched, and he put his hand over mine.
“I came home.”

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
The Iron King #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea Anna	Winter's Passage #1.5 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	The Iron Daughter #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea Anna
The Iron Queen #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Summer's Crossing #3.5	The Iron Knight #4 Reviews: Chelsea
Iron's Prophecy #4.5 Reviews: Chelsea	The Lost Prince: Call of the Forgotten #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	The Iron Traitor:Call of the Forgotten #2
The Iron Warrior:Call of the Forgotten #3

“Well,” Puck said cheerfully, forcing a rather pained smile, “it’s just like old times, isn’t it? You, me, ice-boy, the future of the Nevernever hanging in the balance…we just have to wait for Furball to show up and then it’ll be perfect.”
“He is already here, Goodfellow,” came a familiar voice behind us, sounding bored and offended all at once. “Where he has been for much of the conversation, waiting for you to see past the end of your nose.”
“Yep.” Puck sighed as we all turned to face Grimalkin. “Just like old times.”

An absolutely perfect and unforgettable ending to the Iron Fey series. There isn’t much to say that hasn’t already been said-I’ve gushed about Prince Ash so much that I don’t think my friends could stand to hear his name one more time without gagging…..but what can I say? He is absolute perfection, the top of the top and the best of the best of book boyfriends…and he is absolute perfection.

“I am yours to command, my queen,” he whispered, making my heart clench in complete, helpless love. “I will obey, even if you order me to cut out my own heart. Even if you order me to the hell that is the Winter Court Elysium.”

This novella didn’t teach me anything new about the fey world and it most certainly did not open any new doors or add any more problems that our favorite little trio would need to solve…but what it DID do was open up the door to the new spin-off series about Meghan’s little brother and, gasp, her son. It gave us one last little adventure about all our of our favorite characters and let us see how adorable their real relationship is: no more angst, no more forbidden love. Just the two of them living their hard-earned lives together and enjoying being in each other’s presence-with no more drama.

It reminded me of our first dance together, my first Elysium, when I’d seen the cold, dangerous son of Queen Mab up close for the first time and was completely lost. Call it fate, destiny or just blatant hardheadedness on both our parts, from that moment on, there was no turning back.

Buuuuuuutttt Kagawa doesn’t ever exit quietly. Though Meghan and Ash are within each other’s arms, where they want to be, a certain prophecy will change their lives forever. I won’t spoil what it is, though I think I saw the prophecy at least three times on other reviews and it might be on the synopsis, but it involves Meghan’s pregnancy….the pregnancy that she isn’t even aware of. This is great news right? Or is it the ultimate demise of all of the Nevernever?

Sighing, he lowered his head, his lips brushing my ear. “I’ve never been able to stop you, my queen,” he murmured, “but I do want you to know that I might be a little overprotective tonight.These are your people, so that makes them mine as well, but my first and only duty is to you. Always.”

I’m sad to see these characters go: I think Ash has started to become one of my all time favorite characters. He is fierce, he is protective, he is loyal, he is without a doubt one of my top book boyfriends now. And as I said before, I am beyond sad that these people are moving on while I sit and crave for more of their banter and adoration-but I feel like this was the perfect send-off for me. It was the perfect end to Ash and Meghan’s tremulous journey and it was an amazing look at what their life has become. And now, it’s time to pass the torch. It’s time to let Ethan, her younger brother, take the reigns and help his sister out-it’s his turn to save the world, and it’s his turn to find love and become apart of the Fey world again…whether he wants to or not.

“How are you doing this?” I continued, frowning at him. “And if you say ‘I am a cat,’ I swear I will throw you off this balcony.”

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
The Iron King #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea Anna	Winter's Passage #1.5 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	The Iron Daughter #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea Anna
The Iron Queen #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Summer's Crossing #3.5	The Iron Knight #4 Reviews: Chelsea
Iron's Prophecy #4.5 Reviews: Chelsea	The Lost Prince: Call of the Forgotten #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	The Iron Traitor:Call of the Forgotten #2
The Iron Warrior:Call of the Forgotten #3