The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa (ARC)

The Iron Knight
Julie Kagawa
Pub: October 26, 2011

Synopsis: 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.

I never thought I'd say this about any character in any book, but I am sooo...

This is the first I've reviewed of the series, and I have to admit that The Iron Queen is actually my favorite and the best of the four. But...I love finally getting the story from Ice-Boy's point of view. A human lost in Faery, Meghan's fish out of water POV was fun to follow, but I often wondered went on behind the ever cold glares of the Winter Prince.

Note: Spoilers ahead if you haven't read the first three books!

In The Iron Queen, Meghan released Ash from the duty of being her sworn knight, ultimately untethering their bond and sparing his life. And before she transfered the power of the Iron King into the land itself, she ordered Ash to leave the Iron Realm and to never come back, knowing he would otherwise, even though the iron would kill him in a heartbeat now that his protective charm was spent. Who knew once Meghan gave the power to the Iron Realm itself that the land would turn around and return the favor, healing her injuries and making her the official Iron Queen. But what's done is done. Meghan now an Iron faery, and Ash a Winter faery, the two realms would not be allowed to marry...not that Ash could survive in Meghan's kingdom anyway. Having sworn that he would do whatever it takes to be by her side to love and protect her, Ash journeys beyond the end of the faery world in search of a soul.

Along with Puck, the Cat Sith, and two more unexpected allies, five members of the faery world travel beyond the end of the world and through the gauntlet so Ash can go through the trials to earn a soul. Becoming human is the only way in which Ash can stand beside Meghan, but does he really know what it means to have a soul? Subjected to physical weakness, lack of magic, a conscience and mortality, Ash is forced to endure everything that is beautiful - and deadly - about being human. When he realizes he'll never be able to physically protect Meghan again, will he really go through with accepting a soul, or remain the ever strong Winter Prince to protect her from afar...even if it means being apart forever?

Friendships will be tested. Actions will have consequences. Lives will be lost. And the deathly duel hanging over the heads of Ash and Puck will finally come to an end.

What can I say about The Iron Knight? Well, most likely you've already beaten me to this novel. I can only say I'm sorry it took me this long to read the last two books. What I really enjoyed about following Ash was getting a glimpse of the decades he spent as the Winter Prince. Temporarily given a soul, he's forced to endure all the cruel, souless things that he did to others through the course of his life...and boy did he do some nasty things. It's like he stood before the pearly gates and was forced to account for every bad thing he ever did. Besides an overwhelmingly guilty conscience plaguing his soul, his lack of magic and strength make him realize just how weak he'll be if he earns a soul and accepts. He'll never be able to protect Meghan, who will undoubtably be under constant attack by members of the other realms. So what's an Ice-Boy to do? Meghan proved to be an exceptionally strong-willed human forced to survive in a magically-influenced land that constantly tried to kill her off. Could Ash atone for his sins and prove himself worthy as well? Guess you'll have to read to find out for yourself! Yeah...I'm cruel that way. But I promise, you'll be rewarded with an ending you won't see coming.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.