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    The Iron Queen
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    The Iron Queen
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    The Iron Queen
    Ebook405 pages6 hours

    The Iron Queen

    By Julie Kagawa

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    The New York Times Bestseller

    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.

    Don't miss the first book in Julie Kagawa's highly anticipated new series, TALON, AVAILABLE OCTOBER 28, 2014

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarlequin
    Release dateFeb 1, 2011
    ISBN9781426884474
    Unavailable
    The Iron Queen
    Author

    Julie Kagawa

    Born in Sacramento, CA, Julie Kagawa moved to Hawaii at the age of nine. There she learned many things; how to bodyboard, that teachers scream when you put centipedes in their desks, and that writing stories in math class is a great way to kill time. Her teachers were glad to see her graduate. Julie now lives is Louisville, KY with her husband and furkids. She is the international and NYT bestselling author of The Iron Fey series. Visit her at juliekagawa.com.

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    Reviews for The Iron Queen

    4.5/5

    155 ratings80 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Beautiful Beautiful book!! Wonderfully written, one of the best series I have encountered in a long time. A wonderful adventure filled with magic, love, and loss, what more could you ask for in an adventure series!!!! Thank You Julie Kagawa, I can`t wait to start the next one!!
    • 4/5
      I bought this book when it first came up and added it to the pile of millions of books I had to read. Last week I started back and work and decided a great way to start the day would be delving into the Iron Queen. I started reading it but just couldn't get into the novel. I thought maybe I had outdone my quota on all things faerie and maybe this book was not as great as the others. I decided to put it to one side and figured, that was that.

      Imagine my surprise when on Thursday, I decided to try again with the Iron Queen and fell into the storyline with so much ease and enjoyment. I feel about this series as I do about the Cassandra Clare Mortal Instruments series - I love it. The characters are enjoyable, believable and the plot never leaves you thinking, is it over yet? In fact, it's probably the opposite. I finished The Iron Queen with much disappointment Friday morning. Not with the disappointment that the novel did not live up to my expectations, but with the impending realisation that I would actually have to wait for the Iron Knight.

      Another stellar novel written by Julie Kagawa and I can't wait to see what she does next after this series eventually ends.
    • 5/5
      (Kind of, sort of spoilers--but not really....)

      Wow, this series just keeps getting better! I have to say, given the titles of books 2 and 3, I had a pretty good idea where Meghan was going to end up eventually, but it was really fun reading how she got there. Stressful, and pretty darn intense in parts, but fun. I probably should have put off reading this one a few months longer...October 25 (when book 4 comes out) seems a looooong way away...but it already felt too long since I finished 2 and Meghan and Ash were left in exile, so I caved. I really hope Julie Kagawa is going where I think she's going with Ash's book...please? Pretty please? A real, honest-to-goodness happy ending eventually, yes?

      Definitely don't pick this book up until you've read books 1 and 2 (The Iron King and The Iron Daughter) in the series. Once you do, however, The Iron Queen will not disappoint! (Except, as I mentioned, having to wait for book 4. Though the enovella Summer's Crossing will keep you amused for, oh, an hour or so of that time. A little more if you read it more slooooooowly.)
    • 5/5
      Julie Kagawa really pulled at my heart strings in The Iron Queen. There were moments when I thought that I should just stop reading because I didn't want to know what bad thing was going to happen to them next. Of course what would be the point of the book then.

      Being that the ground work of the story had already been laid, we really saw the characters develop in this book. Ash and Meghan's relationship really had the chance to take off since they are no longer denying themselves and I loved every second of it. Puck of course is always the comic relief and kind of mellows out the more serious aspects. He also of course has his own issues with the relationship between Meghan and Ash. Grim makes his usual appearance so he can mock their sometimes idiot moments. I found myself relating to the cat and thinking, really it took you this long to figure that out. Some characters we had only known briefly in previous books, stepped up to fill a more supporting role to the main cast.

      Although the journey itself was important, I felt this book was more about the characters themselves. I, of course, can not get enough of the realm of Faery and there is plenty of it since they don't pop into the mortal realm as much. The end was heart wrenching but I felt that it was the way it had to be. A perfect 3rd book for this series.
    • 3/5
      I've made it known from previous reviews on this series that I'm not as crazy about it as the masses. I've enjoyed the previous books in the Iron Fey series, but neither one has grabbed me in the same sense it seems to have grabbed everyone else.

      Unfortunately, 'The Iron Queen' let me down more so than the other two... It holds some great moments-- some of the best in the series, but I felt as though I was pushing myself through 90% of the novel... What went wrong with this novel? I put blame on two things, mainly the predictable nature of the series in general and the romance suffering from what TV folks call 'Moonlighting syndrome'.

      Starting with the latter, I feel like the romance progressed far too quickly in the second installment and in 'The Iron Queen', honestly, any tension the love triangle had is gone. The intrigue of who she really likes or if she'll ever really like Puck might be hinted at, but is never believable. (On a side note, 'Moonlighting Syndrome' comes from an old 80's tv show called Moonlighting that was driven by the characters love/hate relationship. Once the characters fell in love for good, the show's unique quality and sense of intrigue was gone and it was quickly cancelled.) I don't want to go into this more just yet due to the fact that the book isn't released yet, but those looking for the love triangle to get a bit more even, don't expect it to happen.

      The other downfall? The fact that I could have predicted most of the plot elements in 'The Iron Queen'. Nothing is wrong with a little predictability, but it was just too much for me when it came to this novel. As readers, a key ingredient to getting sucked into a novel is the sense of adventure that the characters bring to the story and already knowing what they'll do didn't help me get dragged into the story at all. I felt like I was really pushing through it. It was unlike my reading experiences with the first two books.

      Earlier in my review, I mentioned that we see the best and the worst of the series in this novel... Well, onto the best, I really loved the last 30 pages. They were everything I wanted in the novel. The intrigue was there, as well as some fantastic character development. If only the entire novel had read like that! After days of thinking, why am I reading this and should I really continue this, the last 30 pages sold me on adding Kagawa's next book in this series to my 'to read' list. Again, I won't go into spoiler territory, so I'm going to keep specifics close at the moment, but this ending blew me a way.

      I'm sure I'll be in the minority on this novel. Most will probably love it to no end, which I totally understand. (Hey, I love 'Fallen', but that has some pretty diverse reviews!) It shall be interesting to see the reception this novel gets when it comes out... I'll be keeping my eye out! 'The Iron Queen' gets 3 out of 5 stars from me
    • 5/5

      The Iron Fey are on the move, taking over more and more of the Faery territory Nevernever. The Summer and Winter Courts seem to be hopeless against this threat, and it is up to teen Meghan Chase, the half-human half-fairy daughter of the King of Summer to save Nevernever. Having already killed the Iron King, she must now venture back into the Iron Fey’s territory in search of the false King. She travels into the Iron Fey territory with her beau, Ash, a Winter Prince, Puck Goodfellow and a talking cat named Grimalkin.
      The Iron Queen is the third in Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey series, after The Iron King and The Iron Daughter. I was fortunate enough to receive an advance reader’s copy. Although I haven’t read the first two, I really enjoyed this story. Kagawa gives you enough information to draw you into the story without trying to overwhelm you with details of what has already transpired. I haven’t any idea how the Iron Fey came to be—but I don’t need that information to enjoy this tale.
      I will certainly be getting my hands on the first two books in the series now that I have read this one! I definitely want to know more about how Meghan came to learn of her faery heritage. And I look forward to the next book in the series, The Iron Knight.
      Fans of Holly Black’s Tithe series or the books of Melissa Marr will certainly enjoy this tale of urban faery, although it is not quite as dark as I remember those books to be.
    • 1/5
      I finally made it through the third book in the Iron Fey series. For a while there it felt as though I would never make it! Since I had a copy of the ARC, I felt it my duty to read it. That said, here's the review.

      The elements of book one that were worthwhile and made me hope for the rest of the series either ceased existing or became incredibly irritating through repetition. A perfect example of the former are the pack rats, who I found delightful in The Iron King. They show up only once in the subsequent books (in this book actually), but they get no lines and are mindlessly doing evil. No mention is made of their fate. Of the latter, Grimalkin is an excellent example. I loved him in the first book, because he's so cat-like and judgmental. Now I hate when he shows up. For one thing, there's the fact that every time he appears/disappears the surrounding characters say the same damn thing. Plus, he never does anything without washing his paw/tail or twitching his tail. He's a cat. I get it!

      I also liked that Meghan tried when scary times happened. She sometimes had to be saved, but she also helped others when she could, either with wits or magic. In this book, she trains and gets stronger physically and magically. Despite this, she still relies on Puck and Ash to keep her safe. When she does try to act on her own, Ash returns to his "cold, unreachable Ice Prince" self. Her continued/forced reliance on others to save her despite being one of the most powerful characters is incredibly aggravating!

      Another major issue I had with this series was that I shipped Meghan with the wrong guy. I knew it was coming from book one, but I can't help it. I don't like Ash. He's lame and overly controlling (see above). Puck isn't perfect by any means, but he is way more like a real person with a personality than Mr. Grumpy I-want-to-be-a-warrior-with-Darcy/Edward-moping-abilities. (Plus, Puck turns into a crow, which reminds me of Nawat in Trickster's Choice! ) Ash says things like "You are my heart, my life, my entire existence." Seriously? Is this a kind of love I should be envious of and aspire to? Ick. Cheesy to the nth degree.

      Writers borrow from other writers. It happens and it's not plagiarism to be inspired, which is why people can write sequels to other people's books. Kagawa is trying to create her own unique fantasy world though, which is why I'm bothered by a character that talks (and sort of acts like) Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. The Gremlin named Razor speaks thusly after Grim (the cat) captures him: "Evil, evil, sneaky kitty! Bite your head off in your sleep, I will! Hang you by your toes and set you one fire! Burn, burn!" Replace 'sneaky kitty' with 'tricksy hobbitses' and you will definitely see what I mean.

      On the plus side, there's another book in the series. If there's a midnight release party, I will be there with bells on! Ahem. In all seriousness, if you're interested in this series, do yourself a favor and quit after book one.
    • 5/5
      Fantastic! The best of the series yet and the end of Megan's narration of the story.
    • 4/5
      Megan Chase is caught up with the fey wars between Iron fey and the older fey, again. She's trying to deal with Ash and embrace her abilities, finding herself torn between Iron Magic and Summer Magic, and trying to use either hurts. She's also trying to deal with protecting herself while at the same time she's rescued her father from being a grand piano. All this time Puck is around and trying to influence things.It's an interesting story, there were times when it didn't flow and I'm still left with a lot of questions about what is going on with the world and how the Iron Fey interact with a place that hates iron. I also love the idea that because of modern beliefs and use Iron has engendered magic and magical creatures.I'm looking forward to the next book, curious to know what's going to happen. Meghan has made some hard choices and the repercussions could be very interesting.
    • 3/5
      Totally fell out of love with this series after this book. It was so boring! Ash is dull, I don't know what Meghan sees in him. She's pretty dull, though, too. I just don't really care what happens to any of them anymore. The best thing in this series is the banter between Ash and Puck, but even that is, well, dull!
    • 5/5
      this book was awesome i am in love with everything about it it captures your emotions and take you on a roller coaster ride. every book in this series is very good.
    • 4/5
      I started reading the Iron Fae series last month. I have enjoyed every bit of the books, this one included. I had my doubts starting the series, but I am LOVING books about Fae! There's adventure, action, love, understanding....all found in the book. I have found myself smiling and laughing through out the book. I look forward to more of Ms. Kagawa's books!
    • 5/5
      I don't know why I waited so long to read this book, because it was definitely my favorite out of all of them. Meghan, Puck, Ash, and Grim are back at it again, but this time they have to go into the Iron Realm. The Journey is basically impossible, but Meghan knows she has to do it anyways, so she charges on. I can't tell you how much I love Grim. He is the best part of the books for me, even though he disappears a lot. Ash and Meghan's relationship develops much more in this book, which I was happy to see, but Meghan also knows she has a mission, and she doesn't let her relationship get in the way of saving the Nevernever.This book is very action packed. And I love that is never ends the way I expect it to. The ending was so surprising and heart breaking. The ending was what really made me love this book.
    • 5/5
      Meghan, Ash & Puck are once again fighting the Iron Fey, with Meghan having some Iron Fey powers that she obtained from Machina she is having difficulties utilizing any of her powers as her summer Fey powers and her Iron Fey powers fight against each other. The romance grows between Ash and Meghan with quite the commitment involved however can that committment last until the end?? Meghan also finds her human father and works at a goal of getting her memory back. Grimlakin the Cat plays a wonderful roll in these books as well.. I love his typical "Cattitude" he brings so much to the book as well.
    • 5/5
      I love Julie Kagawa for letting us witness the character growth in Meghan. At the beginning Meghan does show a little sign on weakness from all the physical and emotional obstacles she's had to endure during the last two novels. But by the end of this book, Meghan faces all of her new burdens with her newly found maturity even if it means giving up everything she loves. Without giving away any spoilers, the ending of Iron Queen broke my heart and I really felt sympathy for Meghan. With this sort of emotional response, it really shows how great of a writer Julie Kagawa is.
    • 5/5
      Synopsis: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.Review:By far, the best of the series yet.Meghan is stronger, more developed and now ready to make the important life or death choices. The bittersweet moments with Ash took my breath away, and I loved that Puck was ready to be the best friend that he always was.The war is coming and Meghan must join with the Summer and Winter Courts to fight the false Iron King. And she does it in style.The twists and turns in this book will leave you exasperated, the pages of the book will not turn quick enough, and the emotions high and low will need you wanting a tissue.No higher praise can go to Kagawa for this wonderful inspirational story that ends with such a climax that will leave you begging for Iron Knight immediately!
    • 5/5
      Whenever I really enjoy a book it's difficult for me to review it because I keep trying to shape my thoughts into something coherent and all my brain throws back at me is "It was Awesome!". Which is exactly what's been going on all day today. Julie Kagawa took the series to a new level with this book and fulfilled all kinds of promises in the process. The character development, the story arc, the very unexpected but logical and satisfying resolution of the love triangle that kept bugging me in the last book and the epic ending I did not see coming all hit the right notes and when I turned the last page the only thing I didn't like was that the book was over. You know how they say that when you're dreaming up a story don't be afraid to dream big? Ms. Kagawa isn't afraid, not even a little bit. I enjoyed seeing the characters' growth in this book. Meghan's transformation from a teenage girl into an adult who understands what's important is complete and she is now strong enough to do what needs to be done, no matter how painful it is. Ash and Puck are not just boys with a centuries-old feud, they are finally acting their age, showing that they can do more than draw swords at the drop of a hat, that they can take a step back and do what's best for the girl they both love. Speaking of love, I can't resist telling you that this book has an amazing scene that is my absolute favorite of all the romantic scenes so far. I can gripe about love triangles and immortal beings falling for a teenager all I want but when there's a scene like that all my gripes melt away and all I can do is sit there soaking up every word, rereading the paragraphs and grinning like a real hopeless romantic in the face of true love. You want a hint now, don't you? Well, the title of the next book is a huge spoiler as far as this particular scene is concerned. Of course it's not all about mushy stuff (what kind of Iron Fey book would it be if it were, right?), there are excellent action sequences and great standoffs that keep you hoping things don't turn nasty. Pair that with terrific dialogue throughout and you've got yourself a thrilling adventure with plenty of chuckles along the way. Fortunately for the series the more mature characters, themes and relationships didn't change the writing. It's just as light and effortless as it's always been, making this book an extremely easy and fun read and proving that it is possible to talk about serious things without being stiff and drowning in big words. A lot of the conflicts that were established and developed in the first two books came to a resolution in this volume and while the story came to an end on one level there's still more to come before it can really be over. I look forward to finding out what kind of deal Ash made with Leanansidhe, how he will be able to overcome the challenges Meghan's new role in the Nevernever brought and how he'll get along with Puck now that they actually have a chance at friendship again. The faerie adventures continue and I could not be more pleased about it.
    • 5/5
      What a book! Julie Kagawa has done it again! I actually finished reading The Iron Queen a couple of days ago and decided to take my time writing my review. I want to scream at the top of lungs at how good this series is. This was an phenomenal addition to her Iron Fey series. The Iron Queen is so full of action and different type of emotions that I was a mess reading it. And I mean that in a very good way. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. It was nice to finally see Ash and Meg’s relationship grow and see how strong the two of them became. Together they really were ONE. Their chemistry felt so real and I couldn’t help but feel jealousy towards Meg LOL. Ash is just perfect in every way. Throughout the first two books you find out that Meg is always worried about everyone else but herself. She has such a huge heart and in The Iron Queen her character does not change. I actually bought the first two books in the series for my cousin to read because I just had to share this series with someone else. Someone who can scream with me at how GREAT/AMAZING/ AWESOME and FABULOUS this series is! This has to be my favorite out of the series so far. When I finished reading The Iron Queen I was very upset at the ending. To my understanding, The Iron Queen was supposed to be the final book in the series. So I was a little confused with the ending, but then I find out that there is actually going to be another book in the series from Ash’s point of view. Which totally made sense and now I LOVE the ending LOL. The next book will be called The Iron Knight and I cannot wait to read it. Every book that Julie Kagawa writes for this series just gets better and better. I can only imagine what’s to come! Seriously, how many times can I tell you how much I LOVE a book? LOL Well I love it! And I think everyone should add this series to their TBR pile. FIVE STARS!
    • 5/5
      Oh, “The Iron Queen”, how you toy with my emotions. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book in which I went from laughing, to wanting to scream to wanting to cry so quickly.The story picks up shortly after where “The Iron Daughter” ends, with Meghan and Ash being banished from the Nevernever. It’s nearing Meghan’s seventeenth birthday, which is only twenty-four hours away, making it a year since she first went into Faery in search of her younger brother, Ethan. While in the Nevernever, she managed to defeat the Iron King, but now there’s a new ‘king’, the false Iron King, and he wants her. Meghan may have been exiled from the world of the fae, but that doesn’t mean her troubles haven’t followed her back home.Left with no other choice, Oberon offers to lift Meghan’s exile (along with Puck’s), if she’s willing to take on the False Iron King. After negotiating with Mab to have Ash’s exile lifted as well, the three of them, along with Grim, set off on a journey that’ll change everything.Meghan, who is already a rather strong female mc, grows so much through out “The Iron Queen”. The character development between “The Iron King” and “The Iron Queen” is just amazing. The same can be said for Ash and Puck as well. I was really happy to see the person Meghan ended up becoming by the end of the story, mainly because I never would’ve expected that outcome after reading the first book.I say this every time, but if you’ve been wondering whether to start the Iron Fey series, I urge you to do so. Immediately.
    • 4/5
      **(contains spoilers for Iron King & Iron Daughter--Books 1 & 2 in the series)**Meghan Chase thought she was done with the fey; she'd returned her brother safely home, banished the changeling, killed the Iron King. Oh, and been banished from Nevernever along with Ash and Puck. Now, gone from her home for almost a year, she's spending some time with the exiled Queen again when she gets an interesting--and dangerous--proposal. A proposal that could lead to her death or to Puck and Ash being welcomed home once again.Is Meghan willing to venture back through possibly even more danger than before so that Puck and Ash will be welcome back in faery lands?First of all, I absolutely recommend reading the first two books (Iron King & Iron Daughter) before reading Iron Queen, the books really build on each other.I love the world Julie Kagawaa has created with the Iron Fey and how she stays consistent from book to book but also adds to her mythology. What other book would talk about faery history involving a Eurpopean country then, within a few pages, mention a spork? Hmmm? I'm guessing no other book.Parts of this book didn't keep me as consistently enthralled as the previous two, but I still absolutely loved it. The characters were true to themselves and we learned more about them, and their relationships deepened. New charaacters were introduced and became an enjoyable part of the story--I hope some of them show up again...maybe?And, and, and the only thing that really, really, really bothered me from the earlier books got righted in this book so there could have been a major breakdown in its awesomeness (there was not) and I still would have loved it just because of that! (And no, I'm not saying what it was!)
    • 4/5
      I thought about going back and rereading King and Daughter to review on the blog as well, but decided against it. Mostly because I thought The Iron King was just okay, and The Iron Daughter almost made me give up on the series. The second book saw Meghan just whining nonstop about this and that, and actually took me many months to finish because at one point I just stopped. So when The Iron Queen came out, I waited to see what reviews were saying, and a lot of people were saying this one was the best one yet. And I agree.Meghan felt so different from what I remember of her in The Iron Daughter. She's grown up so much, accepts responsibility and commitment with grace. Even does a few things I used to not think her capable of. She really surprised me, and that's one of the things I loved about The Iron Queen. Ash was as awesome as ever, but it did feel a bit weird to see him acting all lovey-dovey after the previous novels. It grew on me though, since I've been Team Ash from the very beginning.I loved the story itself too. The first half dragged just a bit, but once things got rolling with the Iron Kingdom again, it was one thing after the next, constant moving. And I love how it worked out, even with Ash. At the time of writing this, I've already started The Iron Knight and I'm loving how the story is unfolding from where Queen left off.The only problem I had with The Iron Queen is one I've had with all the books. And that is Puck saying "princess" every single time he says anything to Meghan. Or "ice-boy" or "prince" whenever he says something to Ash. If it was every once in a while, like 2 or 3 times out of 10 it wouldn't bug me at all. But it is every single time. I've honestly taken to just ignoring the word when I read Puck's dialogue.Overall I'm glad I stuck with this series, because even with Puck annoying me most of the time, this book has really jumpstarted The Iron Fey for me. I can't wait to delve further into Ash's story in The Iron Knight.
    • 5/5
      Julie Kagawa manages to surprise me every time with her awesome plots and this book is no exception! I didn’t think things could get any better after reading The Iron Daughter but OMGods am I wrong! The author always manages to exceed my expectations!The Iron Queen starts off with Meghan and Ash’s exile from NeverNever to the mortal world. Meghan and Ash’s romance blossoms more and more. The action was brilliant, it never left me bored. This book has a little bit of everything – romance, action, jealousy, adventure, friendship and fantasy.In this book you get to discover the characters more. You will find that in this book the characters open up to each other more – especially Ash, he isn’t the same Prince we knew back in The Iron King, less cold. Then there’s Meghan of course, she has changed so much; she has become a selfless, confident and brave character that I have really come to admire. Puck never fails to impress me with his witty and sarcastic comments and Grimalkin? Well, he is always going to be my favourite cat.One of my favourite parts of the book was finding out Ash’s real name! I’m not going to ruin it for you; I’ll just leave you with the suspense of wanting to know his full name. It’s pretty cool! The end of this book will leave you gasping and speechless, in a good way; fans of the Iron Fey will not be disappointed.I can not believe the series is nearly over! Part of me wishes that this series won’t end and part of me wishes for a happy ending. I’m just going to have to read The Iron Knight to find out AND it’s from Ash’s point of view!Rating: 5 out of 5
    • 5/5
      So I love this series, right? It's been very good so far. But this book? THIS BOOK?! I have found the font from which all awesome springs forth. Count the number of times I use awesome in this post, and multiply it by cake and you have the sum total of the awesome that is this book.The war between the Iron Fey and the Summer and Winter courts has just begun, and already the old fey are falling, helpless against this new breed of faery that has the ability to harness the power of iron. Iron is the one thing the old fey fear most; the one thing they are helpless against. Now the false Iron King and his army are sweeping a path of destruction across the Nevernever, killing the land and all faery life in its path. The powers of both courts, Summer and Winter, even when combined, are no match against this new enemy. Time is quickly running out and in desperation Oberon calls Meghan out of her exile in the human world. As a half faery princess, Meghan possess the glamour of the Summer court. But as the one who slayed the true Iron King, she also holds all the power of the Iron fey. She is the only one who can enter the Iron realm unscathed, and the only one who can save the Nevernever." A swollen crimson moon hovered over the camp that night, rust-red and ominous, bathing everything in an eerie, bloody tint. Snow flecks drifted from a nearly clear sky, rusty flakes dancing on the wind, like the moon itself was tainted and corroding away."Meghan is unstoppable in this book! She is so determined and in charge. I loved it. She has never been cowardly- how could she be with all she's been through, but in this book, she really comes into her own. Things learn to both fear, and respect Meghan Chase and it's awesome to watch her work.Thus far, we've spent very little time in the Iron realm, most of the stories taking place in the human world or in the Summer and Winter courts. This book is so much darker than the previous two because the place our heroes are in borders on nightmarish. As technology and man's dependence on it have increased, the Iron Fey have grown. Their world is one of twisted metal, acid, mutation and the discarded cast-off gadgets of the human world. It's wonderfully creepy, and yet so very sad. This place is awful, but a type of Fey do live there and to them it is home. I absolutely loved Kagawa's worlds. She truly captures everything that is both beautiful and grotesque about the faery world, always reminding us that these beautiful, mythical creatures that we like to pretend lurk just beyond our perception- really just want to eat us.This book, the third in the series, is by far the best, and by far one of the best adventures I've been on this year. I can't wait to see what the boys get into in The Iron Knight and I would be willing to make a binding bargain with the fey in order to get my hands on it NOW.I haven't been Team Ash. Far from it. The whole "I will kill you, but wait I love you, but I'll still kill you, but stay away from me, come here, I will kill you but wait I love you" thing really made my ass twitch in the beginning. He had way too many red flags. But.....The Iron Queen, which we have already established, holds the bulk of the world's allotment of awesome, changed me. Ash is such a strong character in this book, so devoted to Meghan and all Daniel Day Lewis "STAY ALIVE! No matter what happens! I will find you!" that it's unbelievably hot (and it's ok for me to lust after the boy since he's countless centuries old). I can now proudly wave my giant foam finger with the rest of you: TEAM ASH.
    • 4/5
      Phew. So, another Iron Fey book. Let me say, that I seriously cried in the last few chapters. Only a little, but still. So heartwrenching. I did like it better than the first two books, I really felt the character development and the drama. However, for me it just didn't cross the line to a five star novel.Basically, Meghan has to fight yet another Iron King, and let it be said that, to me, it was painstakingly obvious who that new Iron King way. But whatever. Meghan behaved quite dense at times, especially around Ash so I just kept thinking: Come on, not all 17-year-olds are that stupid!But I think I fell in love with Ash a little. He's pretty dreamy, willing to sacrifice everything for Meghan. I feel like it's okay for him, since he's many hundreds of years old so the sentiment is not as cheesy as if it came from, say, Meghan. (cough)Oberon and Mab are starting to get on my nerves, but maybe with the outcome of The Iron Queen they'll start behaving a little better in "The Iron Knight", which I will start in a few hours.But my favorite character in the entire series (if you don't count Ash) is defintiely Grimalkin. He reminds me a little of that cat in Alice in Wonderland, but I really like him and his sarcastic comments. The ending of The Iron Queen was possibly a little ... too much. I would have accepted it as the end of the series, but since there is still one book left, it probably would have been better to make it a little less perfect/"thick".
    • 5/5
      This was definitely a book that I could hardly put down. The lights went out because of Hurricane Irene--we got power back quickly, but the internet and cable were out for a few days, so I spent that time reading. :) I blew through Iron Daughter and Iron Queen in less than two days. I could barely put them down. Kagawa seriously out-did herself on Iron Queen. So far, this is my favorite book of the series. I have Iron Knight as an eARC on my Kindle and I absolutely cannot wait to get to it. In this book, Ash really becomes someone that I couldn’t get enough of and was so happy to see a less “icy” side of him. Meghan’s character goes through a huge development before the end of the book, there are so many twists and villains that there was never a dull moment in the plot. The author did a fantastic job with the vivid imagery of the different landscapes of the the Winter, Summer, and Iron Kingdoms--making you wish that you didn’t have to go back to the mortal realm. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that is in need of an incredible story with some supernatural beings that, I personally, think are underused in YA literature. The characters, settings, and plot will keep you stuck in this series, begging for more when you reach the end of each book. Kudos to Julie Kagawa for creating a fantastic series!
    • 4/5
      Sometimes when I start a book, I am completely revved up for the awesome that I know will be inside. But at the same time, I am sad when all of this awesome will culminate in the end of one of my favorite series. Those were my feelings when I cracked open The Iron Queen.Meghan Chase is such a fantastic character. The Meghan we spend time with in The Iron Queen is the same, strong and dynamic character that we came to love in The Iron King, but with an expanded depth and worldliness that a character of her age normally doesn’t possess. Meghan takes on the tremendous responsibility of trying to aid both the Summer and Winter Courts in their battle against the Iron Fey. In helping to save both Courts and the world of Faery as a whole, Meghan has to sacrifice even more of herself for the greater good. And she does so, quite willingly, no matter what the cost to her.While Meghan is the star that shines the brightest in these books, all of the other characters are fantastic. My favorites are Ash and Puck, of course. They are both so fabulous in their own rights. This trilogy wouldn’t be the same without the supporting characters and the wit, knowledge, and personalities.The plot of this novel was exciting and captivating and and poignant too. The situation with the Iron Fey and how they are affecting the world of Faery makes for an amazing plot. How saving Faery affects each individual character is beautiful and engaging. I couldn’t put this book down. I wanted to swallow the novel whole, despite also not wanting it to end too quickly.There are many more things I could say about this novel, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. I will say that I cannot recommend this book and the whole Iron Fey series enough. You will absolutely love this series. If you have read the other two books in this series, The Iron Queen is a beautiful and fitting ending to this amazing series.Many, many kudos to Julie Kagawa. I cannot wait to read the next thing she writes!
    • 5/5
      This is a review of the third book in The Iron Fey series. If you have not read The Iron King and The Iron Daughter then this review will be quite spoiler-filled.She’s defeated the Iron King, she’s returned the Scepter to the Winter Court; exiled, Meghan is finally on her way home for some deserved rest. Or so she thinks.The action starts right away; Iron Fey are waiting at Meghan’s home, the False King is hunting her and Meghan realises that the only way she and her family would ever be safe would mean stopping the False King once and for all. The story revisits familiar places and and we see a lot of familiar faces, from Grimalkin, the cait sith to Leanansidhe, the Exile Queen. One of the many great things about this novel is the continued character development. There was more time to explore each of the main characters and some of the supporting characters. Ash’s warmth seeped through his icy mask. Puck’s goofiness couldn’t hide his cunning and Meghan stepped up to her birthright, her spunkiness morphing into a steady and brave leader. Grimalkin remained the same sardonic character as always, showing a dash of affection for his companions. I liked the pacing of the story; while action-packed it isn’t overwhelming. There was enough mystery and romance splashed in the dangerous journey to keep me intrigued and entertained. I’ve always loved the series for its faery tale, so I was happy that Julie was able to explore Meghan and Ash’s relationship without making it the center of the story.I figured out part of the ending, still, I thought Julie was able to put together a brilliant conclusion. I’m definitely looking forward to its continuation.
    • 4/5
      The story of Meghan Chase and her entanglements in the world of Faery continues in the third story of the Iron Fey series. She and her beloved, Ash, have been exiled from Nevernever for refusing to renounce their love for each other - a love that is against the rules of Faery since they come from opposing courts. However, their happily ever after as exiles in the mortal world ends moments after it began. The Iron Fey are after Meghan and threatening to destroy the Winter and Summer courts. It's up to Meghan, Ash, Puck, Grim and a few new allies to win the battle against the Iron Fey.In this book, Meghan really comes into her own and becomes the strong female character that the whole series has been building up to. Her insecurities fall away and she becomes more confident in herself - her time in Faery has caused her to mature beyond her human years and become a leader in the battle against the Iron Fey.The romance continues, the rivalry between Puck and Ash continues, and the excitement continues. What also continues is the overuse of "Ice-boy" when Puck refers to Ash and all of the smirks and forehead bumps. The story itself is good enough, however, for me to get past those small annoyances and still enjoy it.
    • 5/5
      This is the third book in the Iron Fey series and I loved it! It's my favourite book out of the series so far. I literally did not put this down. It followed me throughout the house while I tried to avoid bumping into things or falling over. It was addicting, action packed and just plain WONDERFUL.
    • 5/5
      A year since her first step into the fey world, on the verge of her seventeenth birthday, and Meghan is returning home to her Mom, Step Father, and brother with Ash her love. She's been gone nearly a year now and she's nervous. Being in the 'real' world now Meghan realizes the things she needs to do and worries about Ash fitting in. But before entering her home she is snagged in a thin wire net by three small Iron fey. The False Iron King still wants her. And here Meghan realizes she can't go home just yet as the False Iron King will not stop coming for her or her loved ones. As Meghan goes through she learns there is more inside her than she knew. And will have to make some very important choices.This is the third book of the Iron Fey trilogy, but not the last. This book has Meghan completing the tasks she wants to tend to and we get answers to many questions and thoughts we were left with: Meghan's memory she gave up, her father, her love. Meghan decides she needs to learn to control both her fey powers, and does this in the only safe spot for exiled fey and from the Iron Fey, Leanansidhe's. Which she has questions for anyway. The question of Meghan's memories she gave up, she goes to get back. In doing so we learn more of the forbidden love between fey and humans.In learning about the difference between the fey and human, or immortal and mortal, Meghan starts to worry about her and Ash. Her being mortal and him immortal, and what happens when an immortal finally passes from the world. By the end of this book we learn more of Ash and his history. And why he is so determined to protect Meghan, to the death.Meghan is pulled back into the fey world by Oberon and Mab for they knew she went against the Iron King once before, and lived. The fey world must be fairly bad off to be calling on Meghan the half-breed no one seemed to care for before. Now Meghan finds she is a vital piece in the war at play for all angles. All fear and all want her. Summer, Iron, Exile, Mortals... Which will she pick?For me this was the best book in the trilogy. All has lead up to this ultimate life changing battle. Meghan as a character has grown immensely for me as a character and a young woman. She has learned how to be responsible and think beyond herself. Even Meghan has to make some heartbreaking decisions along the way as well. Wonderfully played out here from Meghan's personal feelings for friends and loved ones all the way to the fey courtly persona.In the end we are left with the opening for Ash's story to come in Iron Knight. I'm longingly looking forward to the book and reading the short story that comes before it.