The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Genre: fantasy
Series and Book #: Iron Fey Series #3
Pages: 358
Summary:

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 that 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.

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I make a point of never saying goodbye, princess. Makes it sound like you're never coming back.

-Puck from The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa, page 333

Holy Mother Martha. This was intense. The drama, the adventure, the romance, and the climax created a breathtaking novel. I loved how the true colors of characters came out in this novel and I saw more of the characters. Meghan's character truly became fully exposed as she was forced to make terrible, gut wrenching decisions. Especially risking her own life to save a world she didn't care about two books ago. Her story is very real and I love how much she's changed throughout the books.

Kagawa threw everything into this book! She described the war, the Iron Realm, and the faeries surrounding Meghan with so much spice the characters and settings were like a pop-up book--so real you could see and touch them.

Overall, this was an emotional roller coaster! I finished it last night at midnight and couldn't fall asleep because of all the feelings that I was experiencing. It was crazy! I love you, but I can't have you. I almost died but instead the land saved me. Oh dear goodness I am seriously revving myself up for The Iron Knight!

The Cover: I love Meghan's intense look. It really captures the emotion that is always evident in the book. I think the pink draws the reader away from the seriousness, though

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Genre: fantasy
Series and Book #: The Iron Fey #2
Pages: 384
Summary:

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan’s own fey powers have been cut off. She’s stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can’t help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

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FYI, MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!

The next novel in Kagawa's Iron Fey series was just as phenomenal as The Iron King!

Meghan was even stronger now that she'd been through Faery once, and Ash had severed their love. I loved her unfailing spirit even when the courts turned against her and failed to believe her stories of the Iron Fey. The passion behind the words created whatever emotion Kagawa wanted the reader to feel while reading the chapters. This made the story vivid and lovely.

Ugh. So, I'm definitely Team Ash, and when Meghan decides that she's going to kiss Puck and lead him on, my hands were almost ripping out my hair. And then, I felt pitiful of Puck, who was now hurt and shocked by Meghan's blunt refusal once Ash came back. My actions while reading book: stupidstupidstupid and whywhywhy.

Overall, another excellent novel in a unique Faerie setting. Kagawa's writing is expressive and her storyline is unique. Kagawa's characters are written like real people, making them feel like real people. The dramatic ending was excellent!!! Ahh, love love love romance!

The Cover: Soft and light, but icy bright! I think they resemble Meghan's time in Tir Na Nog nicely

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Genre: fantasy
Series and Book #: The Iron Fey Series #1
Pages: 363
Summary:

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

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I thought that Kagawa would take this into a typical Faerie myth setting, giving us the usual Summer and Winter characters (I guess I was thinking along the lines of Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely Series, except less dark and with iron faeries). I loved that Kagawa used the characters from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream: Puck, Oberon, and Titania! This added a unique spin to Kagawa's story.

Kagawa's incorporation of the Iron Fey was extremely clever. I don't think many people would have even thought of an idea like that. Kagawa's writing is also very flavorful. She uses so many different vocabulary words to describe Faery. She created this magical, vibrant place with grace and beauty. It captivated me from the beginning.

Meghan's transition into Faery and her and Ash's love was very well written. Meghan didn't suddenly wake up ion Faery and be like "Yes, this is who I'm destined to be, princess of Summer". No. She completely rejected it at first and then slowly accepted and loved the world her father and friends lived in. Her relationship with Ash wasn't love-at-first-sight, either. Though it was forbidden (I don't really care for forbidden romances) Kagawa didn't make that extremely apparent and she gave readers (like me) enough so that I got a romance fix without the frustrations of forbidden stuff.

Overall, this was an exciting, imaginative read into Faerie that was exceptionally unique. Kagawa's loose ends at the end added a nice bit of mystery for the next novels, but doesn't create a gnawing need for them right now. An adventurous thrill ride without the agony of forbidden romance while also being a forbidden romance! Hallelujah!

The Cover: Dark, metallic, with twining script and a model that looks like Meghan. One of my favorites

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Genre: science fiction, dystopian
Series and Book #: Delirium Trilogy #2
Pages: 384
Summary:

I’m pushing aside the memory of the nightmare, pushing aside thoughts of Alex, pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,

push,

push,

push,

like Raven taught me to do.

The old life is dead. But the old Lena is dead too.

I buried her. I left her beyond a fence, behind a wall of smoke and flame.

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Meh. This wasn't my favorite. First, I was confused by the then and now idea for the chapters. I thought she was going to do the same thing that she did for Delirium. Definitely added spice to the novel! I also thought Lena's romance with Julian was expected. THE END WAS SUCH A CLIFFHANGER THOUGH! Gosh, some authors really know how to rile up their readers!

The changed Lena was good. I thought she was stronger than she was in Delirium, which was excellent for the story. The complexity not only of Lena's pretending to be cured but also her loyalty to Raven's camp was blended nicely, and the way that the story intertwined gracefully at the end. I wish that Oliver would have added more about Lena's "cured" life before she trapped Julian and her together.

Overall, I think Delirium was much better. I wasn't pulled into Pandemonium. Oliver's focus on Lena wasn't what I would have liked, either. I wanted a larger glimpse into where society stood and the others around Lena more than who she was after *SPOILER ALERT!* Alex's untimely death. I liked how the roles were somewhat reversed between Lena and Julian. Now it was Lena coaxing Julian into uncured life rather than Alex coaxing Lena. A nice subtle twist ;)

The Cover: I like how Lena is peeking out from wild flowers and wild plants, giving a bow to the Wilds. I would have liked to see what they would've done if they'd continued with the cutout words

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Genre: science fiction, dystopian
Series and Book #: Delirium Trilogy #1
Pages: 441
Summary:

Ninety-five days, and then I’ll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It’s hard to be patient. It’s hard not to be afraid while I’m still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn’t touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don’t.

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 HAH! I've finally gotten around to blogging around again! [Insert affectionate hugging of computer] I honestly didn't mean to be gone for as long as I was. So, if all ills are forgiven, on to the book!

Lauren Oliver enchanted me in Before I Fall. She has a lyrical way of writing that pulls you into the story and keeps you hooked within the words. I loved the concept behind her second trilogy. A word without love? Ach! How inhuman!

Oliver took this in a completely different direction than I thought she would. It was much darker than I expected, but then again, no love = dark. Her little additions, like the twisted common phrases of today and the lack of dreams for the cureds, made the story come alive. She did an excellent job of showing how society has love infused in pretty much everything.

I never connected well with Lena. She had a bleak outlook on life, and no hope that anything good would happen to her. Her and Alex's relationship moved rather quickly as well. They met, Alex reveals that he wasn't cured, and then they become romantically involved. Hana was brilliant and added a bright speck of light in Lena's otherwise dim world.

Overall, I think the concept of a loveless world was what I liked about this book most. Oliver's writing was lovely as usual but her characters didn't do anything for me. I wish there would have been more growth for Lena and Alex's relationship. The end was somewhat expected as well. Oliver's telling of Lena's world was great, though. Hana's discovery of the "rebels" beneath the government's noses is ingenious and I can't wait for where it'll take Lena in Pandemonium.

The Cover: Gorgeous! I love the bright blue and the cutout of Lena's face. Her drowsy expression was exactly what i expected for the word "delirium"