The Iron Knight (The Iron Fey #4)by Julie Kagawa
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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 » 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 » 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 #) |
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 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 |
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