The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Queen (The Iron Fey #3)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Genre:  Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher:  Mira Ink (21st October 2011)
Blurb:

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

Although, technically, I don’t actually be turning seventeen. I’ve been in the Nevernver 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 to much I don’t even recognise myself.

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

THIS TIME, THERE WILL BE NO TURNING BACK.

Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

The Iron Queen is the third book in Julie Kagawa’s The Iron Fey series. The ending of The Iron Duaghter was pretty dramatic, and this book takes off pretty much where that one left-off.

This is, without doubt, my favourite book in The Iron Fey series so far. Once I started reading it did not take me long at all to devour this book. I had to know what happened next.

Since discovering her heritage and having her baby brother stolen, life has not been an easy ride for Meghan. The events of this book are no different. Yet Meghan struggles on; she’s a heroine that just keeps on going (kinda like the Energizer Bunny) despite all the knocks, so I really admire her. She doesn’t let anything, or anyone, stop her from reaching her goals.

Ash and Puck are brilliant. I don’t really understand the Ash v Puck stuff that has appeared on some blogs, I like both characters though I have a soft spot from Robin (he’s my favourite character in A Midsummer Night’s Dream). Despite being fairys (as in of the fey) and therefore immortal and soulless (and therefore unchangeable) they’ve come along way from when we first meet them in The Iron King. It’s nice to see their progression (and Meghan’s too).

I really like how Kagawa writes the fey in the series. I especially like the malevolence of the Kings and Queens. There is a definite sense of otherness to them, which is brilliantly reflected back through Meghan. Even Ash and Puck at times seem other.

Plot-wise, this book is very similar to the previous books in the series but it is executed well – there was definitely one big surprise for me that I did not see coming at all. It was great to see Meghan’s growth through the book. The ending was awesome, and something of a cliffhanger – I will be getting my hands on Iron Knight, hopefully soon.

The Iron Fey is a great series to read and, although The Iron Daughter is a bit of a blip (for me), it is a series that anyone interested in the Fair Folk should give a try.