I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
The Iron Queen
by
Julie Kagawa
urban fantasy in a paperback edition that was published by Harlequin Teen on January 25, 2011 and has 384 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Knight, The Immortal Rules, The Lost Prince, Eternity Cure, The Iron Traitor
Third in the Iron Fey urban fantasy series for young adult readers.
My Take
I’m kinda bummed we didn’t get to see how Ash and Meghan would cope with the real world, but disappointment fades quickly when they plunge back into the strife of the Nevernever.
I did wonder why Kagawa felt the need to explain writing music, and eventually we found out. I did appreciate Ash’s teaching Meghan how to fight, and she does acquit herself rather well.
Lame. Meghan realizes she has Machina’s power and the dreams are telling her she needs to learn to use it. Naturally, Meghan avoids learning anything like the plague. God forbid Kagawa should have to give up her big reveal and avoid this particular cliché.
Hmm, interesting discovery of Meghan’s control of the gremlins. Too bad it took her so long to figure out it could be useful.
Interesting bit of backstory on Machina and Ferrum.
Oh, please. Puck seriously believes that a simple banner will be enough to denote the difference between the allied Irons and the enemy Irons??
Then there’s Meghan poking and denigrating Ash.
On the whole, I enjoyed this story even though a bit of cliché is creeping in as well as some dumb choices on Meghan’s part. I certainly have enjoyed Kagawa’s creation of the Iron Fey with the uncompromising issues its existence causes for the rest of the fey.
The Story
Banished from the Nevernever, it doesn’t take long before Meghan and Ash’s presence is demanded back by Oberon and Mab. It didn’t take these two tyrants long to realize they were telling the truth.
It’s sharp right turn from thinking of college and jobs to having to penetrate the Iron Realm by stealth again, and the gang’s all here to help her again.
The Characters
Meghan Chase is half-fae and half-human; her father is Oberon the Summer King. Ethan is the little brother for whom she plunged into the Nevernever a year ago to rescue in The Iron King, 1. Luke is her stepfather and Ethan’s dad. Paul is the father she lost when she was six years old. Beau is the old farm dog, a German shepherd, Luke took to the pound.
Ashallyn’darkmyr “Ash” Tallyn is a former prince of the Unseelie Court, the last son of the Winter Queen, Mab. Deylin is a Winter knight who stands guard over Meghan.
Puck is Robin Goodfellow and a former friend of Ash’s. When Meghan learns of the deception he practiced on her, well, he quickly becomes a former friend of hers. Grimalkin is a cait sith — think of the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland.
Glitch, Machina’s First Lieutenant, is the leader of the Iron fey who are rebelling against the false king. Diode is Glitch’s lieutenant.
Machina is the dead Iron King; Ferrum is the king whom Machina deposed. Meghan killed him in The Iron Daughter, 2, and a false Iron King has risen up in his place. False because it is Meghan who has Machina’s power. Rowan is Ash’s brother and a traitor to Winter as he betrayed the Unseelie Court to the Iron King. The Clockmaker is a friend of Ironhorse and can be found in Mag Tuiredh, a Formorian city. Razor is a gremlin who is brave enough to visit Meghan. Spikerail and Coaleater are Ironhorse’s progeny, of a sort.
One-Eyed Jack is a redcap leader with a warning for Meghan. The oracle at the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum requires a Token if Meghan truly wants to remember the father she remembers.
The Cover and Title
The cover is shades of pink with the blonde head of Meghan Chase peeking through the pinkening branches and surrounded by pinks-and-white scrollwork.
The title is all about Meghan, The Iron Queen.
