Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Knight (Harlequin Teen)-Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: October 25, 2011
Source: Netgalley
Author website


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.
(Goodreads)

This series has been an absolute joy to read. I'm sad to see it end with The Iron Knight, but I think this novel was a beautiful end the series.

That said, this was probably my least favorite book in the series, and it took me the longest to read. I actually stopped reading it for about three weeks because the first half kind of dragged. Once I got into part two, I finished it within about a day. Ash has never been my favorite character, and this is probably why I didn't enjoy it as much. He does grow exponentially as a character in this book, and by the end I actually grew to like him quite a bit.

I wish The Iron Fey was a series like that of my youth, like Sweet Valley High or The Babysitters Club, where a new book came out every month or so. The universe is so beautifully developed, and I wish every intriguing background character had a chance to shine in their own fully-formed story.

Bravo to Julie Kagawa for creating a unique, stand-out fantasy series in a genre that's quite overrun. :tips hat: