Book Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Knight

Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: The Iron Fey #4
Pages: 386
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Date of Publication: 25th October 2011
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis from Goodreads: 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 Thoughts:
I am a huge fan of The Iron Fey series - it has to be one of my favourite series EVER. Originally it was going to just be a trilogy, ending with The Iron Queen. I was happy with the ending of The Iron Queen, and I didn't feel like there needed to be another book, so I was a little nervous about reading The Iron Knight. However, I had no need for this nervousness because The Iron Knight was AWESOME.

I went into reading this book without knowing anything about it. I didn't read the synopsis, I just went straight into reading it once I got it. I didn't know what to expect, and I had NO idea that it was told from Ash's point of view... I just assumed it would be from Meghan's like all the other books in the series...

I don't like Ash all that much. I never have. So I was a little apprehensive about reading once I realised that he would be telling the story. Forgive me, but Ash is just so cold! I know he's a Winter prince and all, but he just is so cold and bitter and heartless, I just don't see what Meghan sees in him... But, now having had a little peek inside his head, I quite like him. I don't think I could ever really like him, but having that little insight into his head has made me realise that perhaps he's not so bad. I'll still always be Team Puck though ;)

DO NOT READ THIS PARAGRAPH IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE IRON QUEEN AND DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED. SKIP ON TO NEXT PARAGRAPH.

The plot was strong and kept me reading the whole way through. At the end of The Iron Queen, Meghan had become Queen of the Iron Kingdom and the Iron Fey, and had banished Ash from the land because, with him being a Winter fey who was allergic to iron, he would have quickly perished in the Iron kingdom. However, because Ash's love for Meghan is SO strong, in The Iron Knight he makes his way to the End of the World to try and gain a soul and become mortal.

SPOILERS FINISH HERE!

As always, Julie's writing is amazing. Her storytelling skills are awesome, and I could completely imagine all the weird and wonderful monsters and Fey that live in the NeverNever and the wyldwood, and all the settings and landscapes that she describes so amazingly are so easy to imagine and get lost in. Even if you don't like YA paranormal, I recommend that you read these books, if only for the incredible settings and descriptions.

Overall, The Iron Knight is a wonderful ending to one of, in my opinion, one of the best series for young adults out there. I'm sad to see it end, and to leave the world or Ash and Meghan, and Puck and Grimalkin behind, but I look forward to anything else Julie writes, including the untitled spin off series that she's writing! I would recommend this series to EVERYBODY, whether young or old, male or female, because I truly believe that everyone will enjoy them. So if you haven't read them, or even heard of them, where have you been? Go and buy them, now! :D

*I want to say a huge thank you to Harlequin Teen and netGalley for giving me access to this e-galley in exchange for an honest review. In no way has this affected my opinion of the book.


My Rating:

I give it 5 Feet!

Challenges:
2011 eBook Challenge #13
2011 Paranormal YA Reading Challenge #45
2011 100+ Reading Challenge #62