ARC Review: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa + Giveaway!

Woman, what have you done to me?

I was literally grabbing the edge of my seat at the last few pages of the book and I completely fell off it after turning the page over and realizing it was the last one. A scream followed soon after.

Title: The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2) by Julie Kagawa
Release Date: April 30th 2013 (US) / May 3rd 2013 (UK)
Published by: Harlequin Teen/ MIRA Ink
Source: Publisher (Thanks Lisa & Elise for giveaway copy!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

I should not be surprised of the unexpected twists and turns a Julie Kagawa book presents, but it still gets to me, every single time. In this action packed sequel, Allison is on a race against time to save her sire, Kanin. Trapped in the hands of a psychotic vampire named Sarren who will do anything to inflict the same pain he has felt when Kanin betrayed their race, Allison is on a desperate search to find him, but she won't be able to do it without enlisting the help of an unexpected ally. As they track Sarren, Allison comes face to face with something much worse than the Red Lung virus, and it's infecting everyone, including vampires. Now Allison had the seemingly impossible task of finding Kanin, and stopping the virus before it kills everyone.

I've said this before and I will say this again: Allison Sekimoto might be small, petite to some, but she's never to be underestimated. She's got a heart bigger than anyone, and she's not afraid to do anything in order to protect the ones she loved. Her struggle to not become the monster she fears will drive away the people she had learned to care about is the main conflict for her in this book, and my admiration for her just grows. I agree with what Jackal and Kanin says: it takes a certain strength to become a creature of the night, and Allison got through it. There's a lot going on inside her head as she was wondering if embracing who she has become was the right thing to do, and what does becoming a vampire has in store for her in the future. What about her and Zeke?

Am I crazy, or am I just reading too much into Kanin and Allison's relationship? I never, not once, did I feel, that his actions were fatherly towards her. Not once. Granted he might be her sire, but I felt there were moments where they were just connected in a way Zeke and Allison will never be, and it's not just the call of blood. There was one particular moment where I still wonder if it was punishment and cruelty that Kanin wants to show or was it something leaning towards something more. This part of my review just confirms how I secretly will not object if Kanin and Allison will ever have that 'something'.

Trust Julie Kagawa to mess with my mind as I struggle to make sense of Jackal's true character. Even after the end of this novel I am uncertain if he's one who hides under the facade of evil but has something inside of him that might make him a little good, or if it's the reverse. Some of his intentions were good, and according to Kanin he's lost, but can someone who lost his way be redeemed? Jackal is a fun vampire to read, and though I hated him in Immortal Rules, he's showed sides to him in The Eternity Cure that can't be overlooked. Also, Jackal took over the limelight and stole it away from Zeke. Although Zeke's character tends to fade in the background a little bit because of his kind nature, he's shown flashes of strength and leadership that gives his character room for potential growth. I just hope he's able to withstand whatever the story throws his way especially with the trials he went through in this book.

The plot is nothing short of brilliant! I've always had high praises for Julie Kagawa for being such an imaginative writer and The Eternity Cure just takes me into a world unlike anything I've read of before. If you think Immortal Rules was a high octane read, The Eternity Cure was filled to the brim with action scenes one after another. Be prepared to plunge in to the fast paced story from page one because it doesn't stop until the end. And the best part is? You'll want more even after you're finished reading. It's a dark, bloody world and Julie Kagawa did a great job building it and creating characters who can kick butt and still manage to be complicated and deep at the same time. If you think the story ends when the race to find Kanin comes to a close, you have a new type of plague, Bleeders, deranged vampires and the potential threat of all life on earth ending to keep you going. An explosive story with rapid pace, highly volatile characters and unexpected plot twists, Julie Kagawa had the recipe for an amazing follow up down a tee in The Eternity Cure. I cannot get enough of this series!

Now when can I please have the next book?

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

As a reader, I know how hard it is for a story to sustain its "life" especially when it comes to sequels as it is often a hit or a miss, but not Julie Kagawa. She's just a brilliantly awesome and a highly talented writer, and she's also my favorite. Will 5,000 butterflies do as a rating? :)

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:

I love it! And then I just realized, are those the capillaries in the lungs? I thought they were tree roots.

GIVEAWAY ALERT!
WIN AN ARC OF THE ETERNITY CURE BY JULIE KAGAWA!



Because I want you all to read this stunning book, I am giving away this ARC to one lucky person!

Rules:

Open internationally
Must be at least 13 to enter
Ends 5/20
No cheating! I will check the entries and I WILL DISQUALIFY you if I find you cheating.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review: The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa

Welcome, Julie, to the world of vampires!

Title: The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa
Pages: 504
Release Date: April 24th 2012
Published by: Harlequin Teen (US) / MIRA Ink (UK)
Source: Publisher & Publicist (Thanks Becky and Karen!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

Dear readers, throw away all of your expectations out of the window. This series is NOTHING like The Iron Fey. No glittery, sparkling, wonderful looking faeries, and there are no happily ever afters. What you get is a world darker than anything you have read before, where you do just about anything to survive, and you kill if you do not want to be killed. Survival just took on a different meaning in the first book in Julie Kagawa's new series.

After completely capturing readers' love and affection with The Iron Fey, now Julie will take over the vampire world with the first book in her Blood of Eden series. Dark, sinister, and mysteriously captivating, The Immortal Rules brings back the scare to the vampires. You will not only be mesmerized, you will fear them at the same time.

Allison Sekemoto is one resilient girl. She's this dynamic person in such a small body and yet she has this fierce determination to live on, as a vampire or as a human, it doesn't matter. Allie struggled coming to terms with being a vampire after being a human for so long. She's unlike other vampires. She knew she just became part of a harsh, unforgiving world, but she's determined to prove that she's not like them. She might not have a beating heart anymore, but she cares for people. She's just so different, she makes one feel that these predators are capable of doing something good, not just to kill. And did I mention that she kicks butt? Allie packs a lot of power in her small frame, and if her sword wielding self and her general fierceness won't interest readers, I don't know what will.

And what's more fantastic than having a strong female protagonist? A myriad of great supporting characters and a couple of interesting male leads! I've developed a curious fascination for Kanin and the secrets he keeps. He opened Allie's eyes to the harsh truths about the vampire world, and he's this mysterious enigma who played a big part in creating the virus that destroyed life as we knew it. As Allie's creator, he comes off as a father figure, but is it too much to hope for something else? I felt goosebumps when they first met inside the tunnels. That scene where you can only focus on the feelings of dread and imminent death and yet be utterly fascinated with a character. Julie Kagawa had the ability to make a reader focus on a single moment in the book with utter fascination and horror over and over. Where Kanin is dark, Zeke is bright, like a beacon of hope. Maybe he's too naive, too nice, but in a world where despair is everywhere and fear fill the in people's hearts every time, his optimism and that hope for something better is what makes him such an attractive character.

Once again, I give kudos to an author who can create such a rich and intriguing world and Julie's ability to do just that leaves me in awe. Life inside the wall is different, where humans are slaves, and the vampires the masters. The predators and the prey co-existing alongside each other. And then there's the rabids, upping the ante for terrifying scenes as if the presence of the vampires weren't enough already. It's a dark broken world, but it's one that is highly believable and even if you don't have a highly imaginative mind, you will get to experience Allie's world, and feel a multitude of emotions, pleasant or not, through the power of Julie's writing.

Filled with non-stop action and twists and turns enough to make you crave for more, The Immortal Rules brings back the scare to the vampires. With a highly addictive storyline and dynamic characters, The Immortal Rules is a great start to a new series we can all look forward to, different and like a breath of fresh air, only heavier and scarier. If you think Julie Kagawa has successfully caught tons of readers across the world with The Iron fey series and made us fall in love with the Fairy genre, then I am so pleased to tell you, dear readers, that she has kicked butt in the vampire genre. If you feel really skeptical with all the vampire books currently out there, give yourself a chance and read this book because I tell you, it will make you love the Vampire genre all over again. It's dark, it's gritty, it's bloody and Julie wrote a fine novel about Vampires in The Immortal Rules.

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Julie just keeps on getting better and better with her writing and now we have another great book to admire!

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:

Captures the mood of the book perfectly.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Q&A with Julie Kagawa + The Immortal Rules Giveaway!

HAH! Yes, you've read it right. I have a Q&A from the superbly fabulous Julie Kagawa, who is the author of the equally awesome Iron Fey series. And I also have a giveaway!

Since The Iron Fey series has now come to a close, Julie has started another series that sounds just as interesting but much, much different than The Iron Fey so if you want to know more about this new book, read on below!

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa
April 24th 2012 by Harlequin Teen

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

The Immortal Rules will be published by Harlequin Teen. You can pre-order a copy now through the links below:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Harlequin

Indiebound

A Q&A with

New York Times Best Selling Author Julie Kagawa

After writing the Iron Fey series for so many years, how difficult was it to immerse yourself in a futuristic world filled with vampires, rabids and an enslaved human race?

It was...very different. I think the hardest thing for me was the fact that this story does take place in the real world -- a futuristic, vampire-infested world, but the real world nonetheless. Things had to make sense, for example: how far can a large group walk in a single day if there were no roads, they were going through thick woods, and there were children in the group? I had to have logical reasons for everything; I couldn't just make something work "because of faery magic," lol.


Just like Meghan Chase in the Iron Fey series, the main character in The Immortal Rules, Allison Sekemoto, is a “take charge and kick butt” kind of girl. Is this intentional? What woman – real or fictional, alive or deceased – do you look up to or admire?

Yes, Allison comes from a very different world than Meghan Chase. Meghan's upbringing was pretty normal; Allison grew up among vampires and monsters, where every day was a fight to live, so she couldn't afford to be weak. While Meghan had to learn to "take charge and kick butt," Allison's first impulse is stab first, talk later.

As for female role models, the first that comes to mind--when it comes to kicking vampire butt, anyway -- is Buffy Summers. Thank you, Joss Whedon, for making me love feisty, snarky, heroines who can dust all sorts of nasties but who also look good in a cheerleading outfit. ;)

You mention in your acknowledgements in The Immortal Rules that at the beginning of your writing career you promised yourself you wouldn’t write a vampire book. What changed your mind?

Well, there were already so many really good books about our favorite bloodsuckers, so many stories and ideas, I thought I didn't have anything new to add to the masses. I was actually toying with a post-apocalyptic YA novel when my agent mentioned I might want to try writing a vampire series. I wasn't intrigued with the idea at first, but then I thought about combining vampires with the post-apocalyptic novel and then rest sort of fell into place.

Allison claims she hates vampires and believes they are monsters yet when faced with a choice of die or become one, she becomes a vampire. Would you have made that same decision?

Me personally? No. I'm like Zeke in the belief that there is something better waiting for me beyond this life, and I just have to do my best until it’s time for me to go. Besides, I love pizza and Mountain Dew too much to give it up.

Who do you think the most complex character is in The Immortal Rules?

Probably Kanin, Allie's sire. He's a vampire who has made his peace about being a monster, yet chooses to live by his own set of moral rules. He warns Allison about getting too close to humans, yet he does not kill unless he absolutely has to. He is tormented about something in his past that he refuses to share with anyone. He is certainly the most mysterious of all the characters, if not the most complex.

How many books will be in the Blood of Eden series? When will the next book be coming out?

At the moment, there are three books planned, with the second coming out sometime next spring, after the release of the new Iron Fey series this fall.

Before you starting writing full time you were a professional dog trainer. Do the professions share any similarities?

Lol, well you have to think on your feet a lot. And some of the small dogs could be compared to tiny snapping goblins, but writing requires less dodging skills, though perhaps the same amount of creativity and problem solving.

When starting a new series, like Blood of Eden, do you have the entire series mapped out in detail or do you let the story develop book by book?

I have a high point that I write toward in each story; I know this and this has to happen, but getting from point A to point B usually develops as I go along.

And for the speed round:
What book have you read and re-read, and read yet again?

Any of the Harry Potter books.

Favorite song to play when writing a fight scene?

My "favorites" change daily. Right now its "Awake and Alive" by Skillet.

Worst job?

Working a kiosk in the mall during Christmas. It sold glass figurines, and the maneuvering space around the hundreds of very breakable merchandise was quite small. I was like a bull in a china shop.

Best vacation spot?

Walt Disney World

Sweets or salty?

Sweet.

One thing most people don’t know about you – and would never guess!

I used to play the flute when I was a kid. I was really good at it too, but my instructor stopped teaching to have a family, and I never went back to it.

-----

GIVEAWAY TIME!

WIN A FINISHED COPY OF THE IMMORTAL RULES BY JULIE KAGAWA!

I did mention you can win a copy of The Immortal Rules, right? A shiny, FINISHED COPY? I don't know about you guys but I'll fight tooth and nail for this! Check out the form below on how you can join!

Rules:
US/Canada Only (sorry International peeps, publisher's request!) *
Prize will be sent AFTER the book's publication date, April 24th.

* For international readers, if you have someone in the US/Canada who can receive the book for you, then you can enter!


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Interview with Julie Kagawa + The Immortal Rules sneak peek + a (sort of) Giveaway!

Hi everyone!

So you've seen my review of The Iron Knight... *points to post before this* It took me a while to actually read the book because I wasn't really prepared for the series to end. Just goes to show how much I love the series that I can't quite accept that it has ended already :)

Anyway! I had a chance to ask Julie a few questions about The Iron Fey series and if you're interested, check out her answers below:

Can you pick one sentence (from any of the books in the Iron Fey series) that can describe it as a whole?

"This should be very interesting." ~Grimalkin, The Iron King.


(Okay, so that was a cheater line, but just one sentence is hard, lol.)


How did it feel writing The Iron Knight, knowing that it's the end of Meghan and Ash's story?


It was a little sad and a little scary, too. Last books come with such high expectations, and you know not everyone is going to be satisfied with it. Plus, switching to Ash's POV was a pretty big gamble; what if people hated the real Ash? But I'm very pleased with the way everything turned out for Ash and Meghan. I can leave with a sense of peace knowing their story ended exactly as it should.


Would you rather be: An Iron Fey, part of the Summer Court, or the Winter Court?


I wish I could say I was Winter, because I like snow and ice and despise the heat, but I couldn't live without my video games, so I'll have to say Iron.



Have you ever considered killing / writing off any of the major characters (Ash, Puck, Meghan, Grim) from the story?


Oh, goodness, I shudder to think of the consequences! I think the fans would kill me, lol. But I will say this, if the story demanded it, if there was no other way, then yes. But killing a main character is a very serious, solemn business and one that I do not take lightly. If, someday, I do decide to sacrifice the main character, it was because it was the only logical way the story could end.


Was there any part of it (the series as a whole or just one book) you'd want to rewrite if you had a chance?


There are a few scenes and chapters I know I could write differently now, but a writer is constantly changing and growing, and there comes a point where you just have to say you wrote the best book you could at that time and not look back.


Please tell us something about your new book, Immortal Rules! (Can we get a teaser quote from the book?)


The Immortal Rules is a post-apocalyptic vampire series, set in a world where a plague has decimated most of humanity and vampires have risen up to take control. The protagonist is a girl named Allison who suddenly finds herself turned into a vampire, and must struggle with what that means, while at the same time protecting a group of humans in their search for the vampire-free city of Eden.


And here is a small teaser:


My vampire creator told me this:

"Sometime in your life, Allison Sekemoto, you will kill a human being. Accidentally, or as a conscious, deliberate act, it is unavoidable. The question is not if you kill them, but when. Do you understand?"

I didn't then. Not really.

I do now.

-----

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa
April 24th 2012 by Harlequin Teen

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

AND FOR THE GIVEAWAY!

You might want to check me out on Twitter (@amaterasureads) because I will be having a flash giveaway of my ARC of The Iron Knight tomorrow (sometime around 8 pm, Philippine Time). If you haven't read it yet (WHY!?) here's your chance to read the conclusion of Ash and Meghan's story!

Review: The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa

All good things must come to an end.

I am sure book lovers all over the world understands this, but I didn't really want for this series to end. Ever. But this is the final book, and right now I am a total mess after leafing through the last page. I felt like a chapter of my life has ended as well.

Title: The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa
Pages: 352
Release Date: October 2011 (US) / January 2012 (UK)
Published by: Harlequin Teen / Mira Ink
Source: Publisher (thanks Lucy and Tashya!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

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.

Ash just had to have the final say in this epic story, and I am not complaining. I don't think I need to explain the plot anymore. If you think The Iron Queen is such an emotional book, then prepare to have your heart trampled on while reading The Iron Knight.

The formidable Winter Prince got broken in more ways than one in this book. To be whole again, he had to be broken down piece by piece. Ash had to feel and know what it's like to be a human, to be aware of his sins, to feel the hurt he has caused, to grow a conscience, to feel what it's like to wither away when the ones he loves remains the same, to have everything he wants in his hands just to be taken away because he will eventually die if he chose to become human. All of this to be with Meghan once again and to keep his promise and be by her side.

It hurts to see the cold, unfeeling, once mighty Winter Prince go through the countless trials and struggles he had to face. We always read of male leads in books saying that they are prepared to give up everything just to be with the one they love, but it's only with Ash that made me feel like he was really making a genuine sacrifice with the oath he has made. Because he had his doubts about it, second thoughts, worries, fears. There were times when he was swayed, when he wanted to give up. The physical battles were nothing compared to the emotional conflicts Ash had to endure. And for the first time in the whole series, I am in awe of seeing how Ash's character finally unraveled. He's finally more than just the eternal brooding, stunning Winter Prince. I think I loved Ash a little bit more because of that. Will you trade immortality and power for love? Some say it's madness, but not with Ash. I am sad to see the cold facade of the Prince melt away, but I think I appreciated him more because he can finally be free to feel and be with the ones he loves. If there's anyone else in the book that deserves a happy ending, it's definitely Ash. It didn't make him less the person readers fell in love with, getting a soul just made him a person we'd love even more.

I couldn't even think of Puck properly but what certainly made me enamored with this series more is how the characters have evolved so much. Sure, Puck will always be the joker but we finally see some sense in Robin Goodfellow's character. The sarcastic jibes, the unnecessary quips and generally his talkative self is still there, but Puck finally understood and ultimately made the decision to let go. If it weren't for him, the entire series would be extremely boring. Thanks Robin Goodfellow for the laughs.

I thought we have seen all there is that the story has to offer, but there were certainly more surprises and twists in store for the readers, one final burst of shock, surprise, delight and a great wave of breath taking moments because The Iron Knight gives us all one final great adventure, and I have to say I loved every moment I've spent reading of it. Characters we don't expect to appear like the Big Bad Wolf and Ash and Puck's long lost love, Ariella, made this book a totally different experience than the rest of the Iron Fey series. And what made it more satisfying? We get to read it all through the point of view of the most intriguing character in the series, Ash. I've always wondered what goes on in the mind of the Unseelie Prince and I wasn't disappointed at all. Experiencing the world of Nevernever through his eyes was one of a kind.

I was an emotional mess when it was time to end the adventure. I cried a little during powerful moments and believe me when I say there were plenty. Things always seem a little grim for Ash. I was left breathless by the sweet yet fleeting moments of romance. But the one constant thing I did? I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading. I just couldn't bring myself to stop flipping through the pages and even though I dread reaching the end, I knew I had to find out how it all came to a close.

There's no doubt about it, The Iron Knight is a stunning conclusion of an excellent story. Julie Kagawa is an amazing writer and she just had to write something brilliant and beautiful to end Meghan and Ash's story. The world of the fey is something I would want to visit over and over again. Thanks Julie, for crafting such a gem of a book and a series. I feel like I'm saying goodbye to friends I have known for a long time when I finished reading this.

The one thing I am sure to say to readers who are looking for a great book: Read the Iron Fey series. You will never be disappointed, I promise!

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

All the butterflies in the world couldn't possibly be used to measure just how great this book is!

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:

My most favorite Prince!

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

I only need to write one word to describe this book.

Brilliant.

Absolutely brilliant.

To my faithful readers, I present you the first book in 2011 that has made me cry so hard, Julie Kagawa's masterpiece, The Iron Queen.

Title: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
Pages: 382
Release Date: January 25th 2011
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Source: Mira Ink (thanks Lucy!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

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.

Just when you thought The Iron Fey series couldn't get any better, Julie Kagawa presents us with a book that has all the things we want to see happen and more. We want action? There's TONS in this book. Romance? Hell, yes! LOTS! More conflicts between the Fey? You bet! Julie has outdone herself in this book.

Meghan's journey is coming full circle in this latest installment of The Iron Fey series. It's time for the half-fey Summer Princess to face her destiny. Summer and Winter has decided to work together to save their home, and upon realizing that she has the power of both the Summer and the Iron fey, Meghan knows she's the key to winning the war against the Iron Fey, and to stop the destruction of the Nevernever. But choices had to be made, and Meghan knew she had to make them before time runs out.

I might have said this a few times before, but one of the things I love in this series is that the characters just grow. Never stagnant, but as their stories go on, so do they. Ash, from an unfeeling Unseelie Prince, slowly melts and becomes a hero we all love. Meghan, was far from the shy sixteen year old girl we first met in The Iron King. Even Puck, the ever playful Robin Goodfellow, has his moments of seriousness when it comes to Meghan.

In every turn of the story the action never stops. And I think, we get to see a softer side of both Oberon and Mab, with both their children playing important roles in winning the war against the Iron Fey.

It's heart breaking to read Meghan and Ash' love story unfold, and knowing just how much odds were against them. It's what made me emotional. Some things were out of their control, Meghan's destiny, being the Summer Princess, Ash being the Winter Prince, and well, Nevernever itself. But through it all, Meghan just... bloomed. Standing up on her own, fighting alongside the people she cares about and accepting the fact that she can never be the sixteen year old human she was, she overcame a lot.

It just made me feel a tad more sad that Meghan can't have both of the things she wants. Embracing her destiny would mean giving up that boy that has been with her through thick and thin. And from the start, turning her back on who she really is wasn't really an option. But I should have expected the Unseelie Prince wouldn't give up that easily. As much as I'd hope for Nevernever's safety, and the Summer and Winter feys winning the war, I'm still holding on to that tiny sliver of hope that Ash and Meghan were meant for each other after all.

The characters in the book felt like family. I cannot get enough of them. So in a sense its hard to part with them because I thought the story would end in this book. Thank goodness for The Iron Knight!The wait will be agonizing, but I know it will be worth it. Now we all get to see everything from Ash's point of view, which I am very curious to know.

My rating

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Summer's Crossing (The Iron Fey #3.5) by Julie Kagawa

Oh Robin Goodfellow, you are one charming, sneaky fellow.

I admit that while I am an ardent supporter of Team Ash, Puck has just scored all the good points in this novel.

Title: Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa
Pages: 57
Release Date: June 1st 2011
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Source: publisher (its free!!!)
Get it for free HERE

Summary (from Goodreads):

A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence—and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts.

Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help—into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice—betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist.

I think the fans who have read this e-novella just went crazy. The Iron Knight's release is still ways away, and with such a tantalizing teaser e-novella such as this one, it's hard counting the days until the release of the next book.

In this short but certainly sweet and teasing story, Ash has to fulfill the favor he made with Leanansidhe, and in order to do so, he had to ask for help from the most unlikely of friends, or maybe you can say enemy both in courts and for Meghan, no other than Robin Goodfellow, and pull off a prank right into the heart of the Summer Court.

It was nice getting into Puck's head once in a while. Readers get to take a peek on what is going on through that playful mind of the most famous trickster in the Summer Court as the whole story is written in Puck's point of view. Readers who think that Puck is not getting enough "screen time" in the first three books of The Iron Fey series are in for a treat in this e-novella.

Puck has certainly gained more depth, and readers get to understand more of Robin Goodfellow in Summer's Crossing. We get to know more of his feelings for Meghan, his friendship with Ash. Readers get to know what he feels, what he thinks, the truth, for once, without having him hide it all in a facade of happiness and pretense. He might be a prankster but deep down he's still a boy, with feelings and thoughts about a lot of things. Truthfully, hearing Puck's side of things makes me wonder what could have been if Meghan chose Puck instead of Ash.

If anything, Puck's choices in this book just made me feel proud of him. That despite him being such a prankster, he is loyal and whatever has been said & done between him and Ash, they are still friends. He finally realized that Meghan can never be his, and the temptation of the offer Oberon gave just made him realize what he should do.

Ash is being his usual icy prince self, but the Unseelie Prince will steal a few more hearts with his somber, quiet personality as this book also introduce us to the start of his quest to get Meghan back, and believe me, nothing can stop the Ice Prince from doing it. Not even Puck.

Harlequin Teen does it again! Summer's Crossing just had the right amount of action and thrill, peppered with light-hearted funny jabs from Puck which will leave the readers laughing, gasping and asking for more. Highly entertaining and intensely funny, Summer's Crossing  paves a great way to The Iron Knight! So Harlequin Teen, if you are reading this review, please know that I will do anything to get my hands on an early copy of The Iron Knight!

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Hilariously funny but this book just made me love Puck!

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
Raise your hands if you wish that there really was a boy in the cover of this novella like The Iron Knight!

ARC Review: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

I only need to write one word to describe this book.

Brilliant.

Absolutely brilliant.

To my faithful readers, I present you the first book in 2011 that has made me cry so hard, Julie Kagawa's masterpiece, The Iron Queen.

Title: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
Pages: 382
Release Date: January 25th 2011
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Source: Publisher, Harlequin Teen!
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

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.

Just when you thought The Iron Fey series couldn't get any better, Julie Kagawa presents us with a book that has all the things we want to see happen and more. We want action? There's TONS in this book. Romance? Hell, yes! LOTS! More conflicts between the Fey? You bet! Julie has outdone herself in this book.

Meghan's journey is coming full circle in this latest installment of The Iron Fey series. It's time for the half-fey Summer Princess to face her destiny. Summer and Winter has decided to work together to save their home, and upon realizing that she has the power of both the Summer and the Iron fey, Meghan knows she's the key to winning the war against the Iron Fey, and to stop the destruction of the Nevernever. But choices had to be made, and Meghan knew she had to make them before time runs out.

I might have said this a few times before, but one of the things I love in this series is that the characters just grow. Never stagnant, but as their stories go on, so do they. Ash, from an unfeeling Unseelie Prince, slowly melts and becomes a hero we all love. Meghan, was far from the shy sixteen year old girl we first met in The Iron King. Even Puck, the ever playful Robin Goodfellow, has his moments of seriousness when it comes to Meghan.

In every turn of the story the action never stops. And I think, we get to see a softer side of both Oberon and Mab, with both their children playing important roles in winning the war against the Iron Fey.

It's heart breaking to read Meghan and Ash' love story unfold, and knowing just how much odds were against them. It's what made me emotional. Some things were out of their control, Meghan's destiny, being the Summer Princess, Ash being the Winter Prince, and well, Nevernever itself. But through it all, Meghan just... bloomed. Standing up on her own, fighting alongside the people she cares about and accepting the fact that she can never be the sixteen year old human she was, she overcame a lot.

It just made me feel a tad more sad that Meghan can't have both of the things she wants. Embracing her destiny would mean giving up that boy that has been with her through thick and thin. And from the start, turning her back on who she really is wasn't really an option. But I should have expected the Unseelie Prince wouldn't give up that easily. As much as I'd hope for Nevernever's safety, and the Summer and Winter feys winning the war, I'm still holding on to that tiny sliver of hope that Ash and Meghan were meant for each other after all.

The characters in the book felt like family. I cannot get enough of them. So in a sense its hard to part with them because I thought the story would end in this book. Thank goodness for The Iron Knight!The wait will be agonizing, but I know it will be worth it. Now we all get to see everything from Ash's point of view, which I am very curious to know.

My rating

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:

Review: The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey #2) by Julie Kagawa

Oftentimes I tend to shy away from books in a series. I guess one of the biggest challenges to write a series is to keep up the pace, the excitement, and all the emotions that comes along with writing the first book. The rest has to at least sustain a certain level of feeling because it is a part of the series. You wouldn't want your readers to give up halfway through when, let's say, you have 4 books all in all, right?

But whatever I said (sorry its long) doesn't apply to The Iron Fey series. Believe me, it doesn't. While The Iron King is action-packed and thrilling, The Iron Daughter surpassed that and more. See, I wasn't even into the first 100 pages and I was already gripping the edge of my seat while reading! That's how amazing this book is.

Title: The Iron Daughter
Author: Julie Kagawa
Pages: 359
Release Date: August 1, 2010
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Source: Borrowed
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository | Harlequin

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.

Readers are once again plunged in Meghan's world as she faces another predicament: how to get out of the Unseelie Court. Her contract with Ash has been fulfilled, and now the Faery Summer Princess is stuck in the land of endless snow and cold. Matters get worse when even Ash treats Meghan like dirt. Amidst all of this, the Iron Fey are lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right time to attack. And attack they did, and all at once the courts are again at war, with the Iron Fey waiting in the dark to destroy all of the faeries and destroy Nevernever once and for all.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting the pace to pick up so fast. A lot of things happened in the first few pages that I couldn't help but catch my breath and return to my corner and ask myself "What the hell just happened?".

Julie Kagawa cranked up the gears and raised all the excitement and action levels a few notches higher. I struggled to follow all that was happening, but it was a joy to read something that picks up so fast!

As if pushing the pace up a few notches is not enough, Julie Kagawa provided a barrage of unexpected twists and turns in the story that'll leave us readers gasping every few turns of the pages and keep us wanting to know more. I am not joking when I say this, but there were a lot of them that I didn't know what to expect or where the story is heading!

Puck returns, and the love-triangle has come full-circle! I'm very glad that in this book, Puck was given enough chance to redeem himself and hopefully steal a few hearts over to Team Puck to cheer for him and Meghan. This time, his intentions for Meghan have been made clear. Do not fret though, Ash fans! Ash is such a strong character that you wouldn't help but ask where he is even if a lot of the scenes are Puck-heavy.

In the Iron King, even though we all knew that Meghan and Ash coming from two different courts is an integral part of the story, it wasn't as pronounced as it is in the Iron Daughter. The weight of both the Winter Prince and the Summer Princess' decisions and its consequences in both courts are more obvious, and the "star-crossed" element has been brought out in this book. It's one of the sad parts, where there were moments that you couldn't help but feel that Summer and Winter are never supposed to be together. I felt the helplessness of both Ash and Meghan whenever the subject is brought out. very cliche, but you wouldn't be able to help yourself but sympathize with both characters.

Once again, the strength of Meghan's character allowed her to pull through this time. She had her heart broken, stomped over, despaired over her loss and believed that all will be well, that she can do a lot not just for her family, but for those of the Fey, of Nevernever, of the unfamiliar land that has gradually become her home.

It's not a downer for me, but I was expecting the "Iron King" to make another appearance and not just those who come from the Iron Kingdom. Granted that "technology" being the enemy of the Fey is portrayed nicely in this book, I maintain my stand in saying that technology being bad in the world of Fey isn't supposed to come across as "bad" for the readers, just as technology can be bad for us humans if we abuse it in any way.

I will not spoil you any further, especially those who haven't read The Iron Daughter yet, but again, Julie Kagawa has masterfully dropped hints of what is to come in the Iron Queen (and what being the "Iron Queen" means).

I have never been more satisfied with a book's ending in quite a while now, and even though I know that there is still a third book in this series, Julie Kagawa was able to wrap up some major plot points in the Iron Daughter. I'm saying this mainly because I am Team Ash. :)

Overall, the Iron Daughter is an unpredictable, fast-paced, action-packed thrill of a read that will keep readers breathless to the very end! Kudos again, Julie for a job amazingly done!

My rating

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:

I think I am starting to like the swirls and the butterflies. :)

Review: Winter's Passage (Iron Fey #1.5) by Julie Kagawa

Title: Winter's Passage (Iron Fey #1.5)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Pages: 59
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Source: Free download (Enter the Faery World)
Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Summary:

Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl...until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck--Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon--who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.

Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter--a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat....

Winter's Passage is a short novella picking up from where The Iron King left off. If the aim of this short story is to satiate the hunger of the Iron Fey series fans as they wait for the next installment of the series, then it does the trick really really well!

Readers are brought back to the realm of the faeries, as Meghan travels with Ash to the Unseelie Court, fulfilling her promise to the Winter Prince in exchange for rescuing her younger brother, Ethan.

I was in for a treat as the world of the fey expanded more with this short novella. We're going to see more of the Winter Court, and a short adventure of the Summer Princess and the Winter Prince. I can't seem to get enough of Ash and Meghan! And Grimalkin comes back, alongside Ash and Meghan for another interesting adventure. Don't you just love Grim? I do!

Like The Iron King, Winter's Passage is filled with action and little bursts of romance as Ash and Meghan made their journey to the Unseelie Court, this time, with the deadliest hunter the Fey world ever had, hot on their tracks, one who's older and more powerful that Ash himself, The Big Bad Wolf.

I'm pretty sure there arenhints and clues in this novella about what we can expect in The Iron Daughter / The Iron Queen? There was something symbolic about Meghan's dream of The Iron King. Also, we get to know The Winter Prince, Ash, more. Ash might have been born an Ice Prince, but he is unlike his older brothers, torn between his duty and his love for Meghan.

This is an exciting prelude to the Iron Daughter. Winter's Passage is a fun read that would make you wish you have The Iron Daughter next to you so you can pick it up and start reading right away!

My rating

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:

I think the cover gives us the biggest clue as to what this ancient creature is that is stalking Ash and Meghan. I love the colors used, its almost like I can feel the coldness with the fog and the icy feeling it gives off.

Review: The Iron King (Iron Fey #1) by Julie Kagawa

"Wow" was the first word I said right after I closed the book.

You know how you wish all the books you read would just make you want to sit in a corner and read until the world fades away? That's what I felt while I was reading this. Whenever I encounter intense moments, I want to go to a place where I can just take it all in and read on. I was like that when I was reading the Hunger Games. I'm like that NOW.

Title: The Iron King (Iron Fey #1)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Pages: 363
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Source: Borrowed
Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

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.

To say that I'm skeptical when I read this book is an understatement. I have tried reading books with faeries before, but I always end up not finishing it, or even if I do finish it, I don't enjoy the reading experience unlike when I read other books. Despite the attractiveness in which faeries are portrayed, they always lack something that interests me.

Julie Kagawa brought back my faith in faerie stories, and did a lot more with this book. The Iron King plunges you head on into the magical world of faeries, where readers are given front row seats to experience one teenage girl's adventure into a world she never knew existed.

Mixing elements from Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream and Alice in Wonderland, Julie Kagawa created a world so fascinating, readers will find themselves pulled instantly into the world of the faeries, and the Nevernever, or Faeryland as Puck would call it, home to The Seelie Court ruled by Oberon and Titania, and the Unseelie court, ruled by Queen Mab. It's a magical world that exists as long as they exist in people's imaginations. Kudos to Julie Kagawa, I have found yet another author who's great in world building!

I truly appreciate books with characters that are equally interesting as the leads. I absolutely love Grimalkin! Grim, who is reminiscent of the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, is an intriguing character. Grim is the most interesting supporting character I've read in a while.

There won't be any shortage of action, and suspense in this book. Meghan's journey to find her brother leads her into a thrilling adventure in a land unfamiliar to her, a land who is as much part of her as the human world. Through her journey from the Summer Court, to the frozen lands of the Winter Court and the wasteland of the Iron King, Meghan grew from being a scared girl who refuses to believe that she is indeed part-fey, into a heroine strong enough to brave the world of the fey.

Strong heroines would need trusted friends, right? Puck is just that. Although I wish that he was given more of a fighting chance with Meghan in terms of romance, I'm sure we'll see more of it in The Iron Daughter. Puck is a fun, lovable character, your typical male best friend who can make you laugh in times when you feel like the world is against you, like this:

"Ladies and Felines," he stated grandly, grasping the doorknob, "Welcome to Tir Na Nog. Land of endless winter and shitloads of snow."

Though I knew that Ash and Meghan would eventually develop feelings for each other through the course of the book, I didn't saw it coming until that one moment when it happened. There's just something in Ash that makes me want to swoon, especially when he spews lines like this:

"You made me feel alive again,"

A boy who portrays a cold-hearted prince to the whole world, an Ice Prince, falling for the Summer Princess? Interesting. I like it how he seems vulnerable at times in the story, not like the typical hero who tries so hard to make the heroine think that he can save the world alone.

Also, I have to admit that I never get tired of love triangles. The Iron King seems to have the same formula when it comes to love triangles, and though its not yet as pronounced in this book, I would very much like to see if Julie Kagawa would be able to put a certain twist to this love triangle of Puck, Meghan and Ash. I always tend to give chance to the other party, like in The Iron King, I do think that the best friend would always have an unfair advantage over the other guy. Puck would always know Meghan better than Ash. And Ash would have to exert more effort to know Meghan more. We'll see what happens, but as of the moment, I am Team Ash!

An interesting point in the story, is the portrayal of "technology" as the enemy. I'm not sure why some readers/bloggers find this a bit off-putting, but I take this concept as something fresh and unique, if not good. For once, the enemy is not "someone", but "something". When you think about it in the perspective of faeries, who exists solely because of people's imaginations, it's a killer, and that's something new. Aren't we all looking for a book that isn't made to be the usual YA novel? I'm sure this will be explained more in the next books, and I can't wait to find out how it will be tackled.

The Iron King is an AMAZING start to a series. No wonder people are addicted to The Iron Fey books! I too, am hooked!

My rating

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:

I love how the swirls are embossed! Although I have to say that certain parts of Meghan's face should have been "cleaned" more, since the swirls are taking up parts of her face. Overall, I like the cover!

Teaser Tuesdays (16)

Hello lovely ladies (and guys?), its a cozy Tuesday! Well at least it is for me, I'm totally dedicating this day for relaxation. It's a holiday! And I can read all day, which is what I'm doing right now. What are you guys reading?

Our Teaser for today comes from a very awesome book that I enjoy reading so much. Excuse me while I wipe my drool away while I scream "Team Ash!".

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Stop thinking," Ash muttered, pulling me into a spin that ended with me on his chest.

"The audience doesn't matter. The steps don't matter. Just close your eyes and listen to the music."

~ p. 170, "The Iron King" by Julie Kagawa

Needless to say, this is one of my favorite scenes. Ash is is just mesmerizing~ but I do love Puck as well, so... let me marinate on this one first. Haha. And yep, in case it isn't obvious yet I'm having a The Iron Fey series book marathon all week, I hope to finish all three books!

I'm sure you all have lovely teasers this week. Care to share them? ^^