Supernatural Smackdown > Round 4, Day 3 Ash vs. Adrian Mitchell

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Fighting for the PJV - Ash of the Iron Fey Series

Ash vs. Adrian Mitchell

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Remember to check out Dark Faerie Tale's Site and choose wisely...tweet out your choice #SuperSmack

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Who is Ash?


For today's Smackdown, I'm including my review of THE IRON KNIGHT, the fourth book in the series that is from Ash's POV.

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Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: The Iron Fey Series (Book 4)
Paranormal: Faeries
Pre-Order for October 25, 2011:  Amazon.com
Stalk the Author: Web | Twitter | Blog
Review copy provided by netgalley.com

PJV QUICKIE POV:
Slow to start...but the end knocked my socks off.And here I sit pondering THE IRON KNIGHT by Julie Kagawa. What can I say? Can I gush {insert gush here} ? Can I rant {insert semi-ranting lunacy here} ? Or should I just lay it out? Lay it out. Decided. For starters this is a great series. If you are not familiar with Julie Kagawa and her faeries STOP NOW and go and read them. They have some small problems, but this is a wonderful series and highly recommended to lovers of young adult and paranormal. THE IRON KNIGHT is the fourth in the series, written as sort of a compendium to the trilogy that features Meghan Chase. THE IRON KNIGHT is from Prince Ash's perspective and is very different from the original trilogy which had its own draw. I loved it. I thought it was well written and Kagawa wrapped it up in the perfect package. I have to say, she has clawed her way up to the top of my list as one of the best young adult authors on this planet. Read the series. Fall in love with Prince Ash…it'll only sting for a few seconds.

REVIEW:
Ash is on a journey. To survive the Iron Lands and keep ahold of his love, Meghan Chase, the Queen, he must become mortal. The fae, at least the normal fae cannot survive in the modern landscape of the Iron Lands. Yet, Meghan cannot leave, she is their Queen, without her the land will plunge into chaos and a leader might arise that will put all of Faerie in jeopardy. Ash must sacrifice his immortality and gain a soul or give up Meghan entirely.

There is talk of a gauntlet of sorts, at the end of the world. No one has ever returned - yet rumors say that this is where you can gain a soul. Determined Ash sets out for the End of the World, to his constant aggravation Puck decides to join him. Along with Grim and a few unexpected companions the group must make their way across lands that are wild and dangerous, to cross a river of dreams and enter a world that hasn't been seen by many who lived to tell the tale. All for love. All for his soul. There is no guarantee that he will survive, there isn't even a guarantee that Meghan will wait for him, but Ash knows it is the right thing to do.

I'll state from the get-go that this is a book that takes a little bit of effort to get into. Ash is on a journey, so much like the great and epic journeys of fantasy literature they do a lot of traveling from place to place, battle to battle. This is not for a lot of people - especially those that are used to a little bit of romance mixed into the plot. The first three novels had journeys but they also had the underlying tension between Meghan, Ash and Puck. Meghan is not on this journey. It is a tough beginning which I've heard a few people mention had them putting aside the book after the first fifty to give it time to steep (myself included). CARRY ON, push forward and do not let it faze you, because once this novel gets rolling there is no stopping it.

Throughout the pages I kept thinking, "how will she {Kagawa} do it?" "how can this possibly end well?". I had my doubts, I really did and one of those Kagawa even delved into. It was my doubt from the beginning when I knew he wanted his mortality. Would an immortal creature be happy as a mortal? It would be like a human suddenly losing their hearing or more subtly their taste or feeling. I feared for the ending of this book and was held in an anxiety induced prison until the final pages…but it was a perfect execution. Kagawa didn't hold anything back as per her usual style and what she put forth in THE IRON KNIGHT was better than I expected.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Not to be read out of order, this book needs the prior books to make sense. Recommended for fans of this series and if you are a paranormal romance, young adult fan I would highly recommend reading book one.

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Series Junkee & Giveaway - The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED as of  Feb. 7tht 11:59 CST

If you've followed my blog for a bit, you might know I have an obsession with  Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey Series. Just a tiny one...so I'm excited to feature this series today and offer a giveaway. Today, I proudly stand up and admit that I AM PARAJUNKEE AND I AM A SERIES JUNKEE...

Why am I a junkee for series books, well because authors like Julie Kagawa?

Here is a condensed version of the reviews I wrote for each book.

The Iron King: This is the best YA faerie novel that I have read, hands down. Gripping - check. Tough - check. Scary - check. Emotional - check. Creative - check. The list goes on...Ms. Kagawa you've written yourself quite a fairy tale. Read More.

The Iron Daughter: As impressed as I was with The Iron King, I was dually impressed with book two of Julie Kagawa's Iron Series. Full of adventure, detailed world building, sly wit and charming romance, The Iron Daughter lives up to it's predecessor. I think I went through all the range of emotions on this one... happy, outrage, fear, sadness... my husband probably thought I was bipolar during this particular reading adventure. Read More.

The Iron Queen: There is a reason that a multitude of bloggers are naming Julie Kagawa as a BIR (Best I've Read) Author. Her Iron Fey Series is so good it had me sobbing uncontrollably, an emotional train wreck and my child and husband looking at me like I was a lunatic. That good. I love strong emotional reactions in my books, makes me feel alive and a part of the novel. In every book that I have read in this series I was affected in some way - this latest, The Iron Queen was the strongest yet. You've outdone yourself Ms. Kagawa and I lay at your feet in supplication and in desperate need to read The Iron Knight. Read More.

The winds of war gather in acclaimed author Julie Kagawa's newest novel.

Meghan Chase thought they’d left Faery behind forever, but pressing matters cause the three exiles to be summoned to war.

A new alliance is made, along with a few contracts, of course, and Meghan, half Summer faery princess, half human, is pressed to choose Fey over her mortal beginnings. Will she abandon her human heart for an iron will that will help her survive? For as Meghan Chase can confirm—in real life, unlike books, faery tales don’t necessarily have happy endings.

 "I thought it was over...The impossible choices, the sacrifices of those I loved. But a storm is approaching and they will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Back into a conflict so powerful...I'm not sure anyone can survive it." - Meghan Chase in The Iron Queen

Now, it is your chance to read the Iron Queen. Win a copy of the IRON QUEEN & a cool Iron Fey tee, here on the PJV. Just check the details below to see if you qualify and how to get extra entries.










Contest Deets:
One (1) winner will receive a copy of The Iron Queen and an Iron Fey t-shirt!
Deadline Feb. 7tht 11:59 CST

Requirements:
Following is not required but is appreciated!
US/CAN - NO PO BOXES
Comment to win. Answer the question: Team Ash or Team Puck?

Extra Entries {LEAVE AN EXTRA COMMENT FOR EACH!}
1. Tweet {up to every 24 hours}: Win The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa & Cool Iron Queen Tee from @parajunkee --> http://is.gd/FXk0K5  PLZ RT
2. Spread the word in any way, Post, Facebook..etc. {each way gets you an extra entry}
3. Just Do It, each gets an extra entry: Twitter | Goodread | GFC | Facebook  | Email Subscription
4. Like THE IRON FEY on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheIronFey
5. Follow Julie Kagawa on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jkagawa

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: The Iron Fey Series (Book 3)
Paranormal: Faeries
Pre-Order for Jan 25, 2011:  Amazon.com | BookDepository.com
Stalk the Author: Web | Twitter | Blog

PJVs QUICKIE POV:
There is a reason that a multitude of bloggers are naming Julie Kagawa as a BIR (Best I've Read) Author. Her Iron Fey Series is so good it had me sobbing uncontrollably, an emotional train wreck and my child and husband looking at me like I was a lunatic. That good. I love strong emotional reactions in my books, makes me feel alive and a part of the novel. In every book that I have read in this series I was affected in some way - this latest, The Iron Queen was the strongest yet. You've outdone yourself Ms. Kagawa and I lay at your feet in supplication and in desperate need to read The Iron Knight.

REVIEW:
After each adventure in the Nevernever, Meghan Chase thinks that it is her last.  There is no returning back to the Nevernever this time, or so she thinks. Her and the Ice Prince, Ash have been banished from the land of the Fey. Their declared love, forbidden.  They must live out the rest of their days in the mortal world, the trods of the fey world ever closed to them. That is until Mab, Winter Queen, and Oberon, Summer King, decide that Meghan might be more of an asset then they first thought...especially when the False King, ruler of the Iron Realm is pushing closer and closer to their realm and they face complete annihilation.

Now, to eradicate her banishment and save her family, Meghan must embark on an assassination mission...because she is the only one that just might be able to kill the False King.

Ripe with emotional intensity, stunning battle scenes, heart-breaking love moments and vividly described epic lands THE IRON QUEEN is proof that YA series can get better as they progress. I'm in hook, line and sinker - completely wrapped up in the lives of Meghan, Ash and Puck and I don't see anything wrong with it. I must have more!

***POSSIBLE SPOILER****

I only see a tiny thing wrong with this series and that is all wrapped up with the titles. I believe the titles might give a bit too much away, because of the title Iron Queen I pretty much expected the outcome...and the next title is The Iron Knight - so I now have assumptions for the next book. Just saying. The titles are catchy, but through the whole novel I assumed Meghan would be ruling at some point. Not that it happened quite that way, there were tons of unexpected happenings and OMG moments, but....

RECOMMENDATIONS:
Read this from the beginning, no skipping! Fans of the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Mar and the books by Maggie Stiefvater should really enjoy. This is for a more mature teen audience, there is violence and Ash and Meghan are an established couple so there are sexual themes.