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| By Julie Kagawa herself |
If I haven't made it as ridiculously obvious as I thought, I'll say this: I'm a HUGE fan of the Iron Fey series. Like an ecstatic fan meeting her favorite celebrity crossed with a girl with butterflies as her crush walks passed is a good representation of how I'm feeling on this fine day.
I have the first two books in the series on my bookshelf, and am dying to have the third. I'm also super unhappy about having to wait for the Iron Knight since it's releasing in 2012, I believe. It's Ash's story for crying out loud, shouldn't I be upset?!
Anyway, I don't want to stomp on the Queen is Here Parade, so I'm going to get on to the fun stuff...
For those of you who haven't read the series (you need to find a way to do so, and I'll lend you a hand with that later) I have some helpful stuff for you to look at:
You can read my reviews of The Iron King {here} and The Iron Daughter {here} which (obviously) got five smiley ratings.
And/or you can also read the summaries for both:
Iron King: "Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…Warning: The following summary isn't very spoiler-free.
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."
Iron Daughter: "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.Now, if you're NOT interested yet, you can go on to read my review of the Iron Queen below and maybe just maybe you'll change your mind.
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."
BUT, if you ARE interested (or you're a fan of the Iron Fey series like me) I've got some exciting news that you may not be aware of:
There's an Iron Queen blog tour going on!
First thing's first, here are the stops:
Giveaway: Ipod Nano filled with songs from the Summer Court's playlist
2) January 25, 2011: *pause* Julie Kagawa celebrates Iron Queen release {here}!
3) January 26, 2011: Gail @ A Ticket to Anywhere
Giveaway: A Julie Kagawa original drawing (I WOULD KILL FOR ONE!)
4) January 28, 2011: MundieMoms
Giveaway: Surprise prize pack
5) January 31, 2011: Kristi @ The Story Siren
Giveaway: Ipod Nano filled with songs from the Winter Court's playlist
6) February 2, 2011: Galleysmith
Giveaway: ANOTHER Julie Kagawa original drawing
7) February 4, 2011: Nicole @ Word for Teens
Giveaway: Surprise prize pack
8) February 7, 2011: Bookalicio.us
Giveaway: Ipod Nano filled with songs from the Iron Court's playlist
9) February 9, 2011: The Bookish Type
Giveaway: A one-of-a-kind drawing by the author
10) February 11, 2011 (FINAL STOP): Erica @ The Book Cellar
Giveaway: A special surprise from an icy guest (*cries from joy* Can't wait!)
You can see the entire blog post {here} where Meghan and Grimalkin (*squeals*) have done an introductory post for the blog tour. Check it out!
For die-hard fans like me, guess what? I'm going to share mini teasers for the next five days starting tomorrow coming directly from the pages of the Iron Queen themselves. Nothing long, I'm afraid. But still I thought I'd get you either a) really pumped to get your hands on a copy or b) have you hate me for teasing since you don't have a copy yet and haven't read it. Plus, I figured readers/bloggers unaware of this series can get just as excited or get intrigued enough to want to buy a copy!
Onto the extra, extra fun part!
From Julie Kagawa:
1) Q.If you could wish for three things for yourself what would they be? And why those particular three things?
A. 1. I wish I could be a Kung Fu/Kali master. (Working on it, but it'll take years and years, I'm afraid, lol.)
2. I wish I could travel the world. Maybe someday.
3. I wish I had a soda. Oh, look, I do! Now maybe the other wishes will be granted as well. ^__^
2) Q. What is your biggest wish for the Iron Queen, or the Iron Fey series in general?
A. My biggest wish is for Iron Queen to be loved by everyone who reads it. (Okay, a movie and bestseller-dom would be awesome too, but let's not go crazy here.)
To Julie: Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer a couple of questions for me! I love your Iron Fey series and will support it even after it finishes. Again, happy book day and congrats on your success!
Reeevieww time!
Author: Julie Kagawa (Blog)
Release Date: 1/25/11 (Paperback)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Age Group: Young Adult (14+)
Pages: 384
Interest: Favorite paranormal series as of '10!
Source: NetGalley & Harlequin Teen (Thank you!)
Go Buy It: Amazon★Barnes&Noble
Overall Feelings: Beautiful and phenomenal! Best in the series thus far!Synopsis- "My name is Meghan Chase.Quick Thinking: This phenomenal, epic third installment in the Iron Fey series ropes in fans old and new, captivating its readers with a massive, catastrophic war with the Summer and Winter courts fighting side by side against a malevolent foe: the false, new Iron King and his army; a hilarious array of characters which readers have grown to adore over the course of this book series; clever and witty dialogue; and a flourishing true love that fights to hold true and stay strong. Ride off into the Nevernever with Grimalkin the cait sith acting as your guide as you follow this latest addition of Meghan's monumental journey, reading as she makes another valiant attempt to save a mystical other world she's now finds herself apart of.
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."
Suggestion: If you like being transported into another world (particularly a faery inhabited one), laughing your butt off, and falling head over heels along with the heroine, as well as a captivating plot/story that never ceases to get better as you read on, pick up the Iron Queen. Actually, scratch that, make that you MUST snatch a copies of the entire series. Do yourself the favor.
My Thoughts In-Depth: *Warning: May not be spoiler-free.* on it, everything you adore about it? That's how I'm feeling right now, but I'm going to give it a shot anyway...
This novel has the perfect blend of an engrossing plot and exciting, entertaining characters that The Reader does not want to stop reading about! Julie Kagawa didn't have to end The Iron Daughter with a cliffhanger for me to be immersed in anticipation and nerves, to delight in this next part of the story. I was instantly hooked as I rode with Meghan and Ash back to Meghan's home in Louisiana to visit her human family, and was already enraptured by the time a swarm of nasty iron fey attempted to seize her. I knew, knew that this latest installment was going to be mind-boggling...
With this colossal war rising up in the Nevernever between the two seasonal courts and the iron court, the Iron Queen's rating on the angst-y scale soared. Then there's the mystery of who the false Iron King is, which I will say I did not figure out until certain obvious clues started popping up. That's when my suspicion piqued, but I'm sad to say I didn't pick up on it faster. And that's probably one of my most favorite things about Julie's novels: everything kind of comes full circle. If she's mentioned characters, beings, objects, or whatever in the earlier novels, their significance is explained in this third addition into the series. It was all braided together so beautifully. Loved it!
I delighted in the inclusion of these new characters! Glitch was my favorite among them. But one of the best parts for me was learning more about the iron fey, their court, the wonders of their side of the world. The Iron Queen got extra cool points for Julie's iron fey creations. Discovering all these different electronic-like, iron faery was just downright awesome! It added an innovative air to the story. And this is sort of a tad off-topic, but for those who have read the Iron Queen, aren't those cute little iron gremlin things just adorable? I find them super cute!
Anyway, let's talk romance, my favorite aspect of this installment in the series. The development of the love story sparking between Ash and Meghan blew me away, dazzled me ! When they loved, I felt the warm glow of their love radiating off the pages. When they hurt, I got emotional and wanted to burst into tears. That's how emotionally invested I was in this story, their story! Seeing Ash so obviously in love with Meghan made me truly fall in love with the book ten times more than I already had! He didn't hold back with her; he shifted right before my eyes. I relished every moment, cherished the real Ash finally unveiled to us readers!
And gosh, the ending. I was...actually content with the ending. Which shocked me more than the ending itself. Just as I knew this book was going to be exceptional, I know that everything will work out for Meghan and Ash. They love each other too much to let go, and I'm comforted by that fact. My insecurities in their love diminished simultaneously when Meghan's did...
The Iron Queen will definitely make you want to go back and read it all again, more so than the previous books. There's so much more in this one, that I can seriously see myself take time out of the day to reread this book and still come out with a beatific smile on my face! When a novel makes The Reader feel so sensational inside... It's a beautiful series, one I think everyone, and I mean everyone, should get into! So, please do us all a favor and get your hands on a copy of each book in the series. I promise, you won't regret it.
Best Friend Foreva: Grimalkin, definitely.
He's so wise and comical without trying. He's certainly the kind of friend I'd like to have around.
Wish-He-Was-Mine: Ash, no contest.
I want a love like Meghan and Ash's. I envy those do have that kind of love, and a guy like Ash.
Frenemy: Let me think a minute. Who did I want to punch in the face this time around? Leanansidhe keeps flashing into my head. While I love her flair for the dramatic, but I would've had red seeping into the edges of my vision had she done to me what she'd done to Meghan.
Bonus Factor: 1) The war finally coming to a close in an absolutely perfect way. 2) The fact that *super spoilerish* Meghan does NOT choose Puck. 3) When Ash and Meghan finally make love. *beatific smile*
Favorite Quotes/Scenes: Only sharing one considering I'm going to be giving some teasers all this week.
"'I've already lost one girl to him,' Ash murmured, tangling his fingers in my hair. Though his voice was light, an old pain flickered across his face and vanished. 'I won't lose another.' His forehead bumped softly against mine, his brilliant silver gaze searing into me. 'I plan to keep you, from everyone, for as long as I'm alive. That includes Puck, the false king, and anyone else who would take you away.' One corner of his mouth quirked, as I struggled to catch my breath under his powerful scrutiny. 'I guess I should've warned you that I have a slight possessive streak.'Be sure to participate in the blog tour!
'I didn't notice,' I whispered...'It's all right--I'm not give you up, either.'
His eyes turned very soft, and he lowered his head, brushing his lips to mine" (59).
And thanks for reading!
3 comments:
Like you, I am in LOVE with this series! This book was pure epicness, and Grimalkin would totally be my best friend pick too! =)
I soooo need to start reading this series.
Video games has quickly overtaken the world. People everywhere find it enjoyable, relaxing, competitive and even educational! There is something for everyone in the world of video games. This article has some ideas on how to get more out of your video games experience.
Turn off chatting capabilities on games for kids that are young. You should not expose your young kids to these types of communications. If the game won't let you disable chat, don't buy it. If you can't figure it out, search online for more information or talk to the people in the store.
In today's online game world you can oftentimes find lots of stuff available on the Internet. You will be able to download games for your game wii, PC or mobile device. While convenient, it's also somewhat risky. Don't buy on a whim; make sure you evaluate your budget first. Before you spend your hard-earned money on a new game, do some research on it first.
One question modern gamers must ask themselves is whether they want to be a computer gamer or a ps3 gamer. Most games, these days, are available for either format so you need to find out which one is best for the type of games you want to play. Also, some games, such as flight simulators and real-time strategy games, are better suited to a specific type of hardware, so if you like a specific genre, plan your hardware purchases accordingly.
Be cautious of online gaming. Sometimes you must pay a monthly fee for access. If your kids want to join a site that many of their friends are using, make sure that you take a look at it first. Evaluate the advantages of the games you find against the monthly fees that are charged.
If you are frustrated, give the game a break for awhile. Often, you will not be at the top of your game, as you may want to choose another time to try to beat it. Don't sit there and get angry or frustrated when you should be having fun instead.
Nintendo's Wii computer game system is good for people who want to get in shape and increase physical activity levels. The Wii works with your own body movements and has an array of games that incorporate fitness.
You can sell your old video games with the use of online ads. EBay is a tool that you can use to get your games on the market, but don't use it first. Sometimes there can be issues with shipping when selling from eBay, but if you understand what you are doing, it is a great way to sell your games. Try Craigslist, or use the marketplace app on Facebook.
You should make sure you seek nourishment when playing your computer games. Computer Games can get someone away from reality, even to the point where they are forgetting to take care of their basic needs. When you are playing video games, remember to drink a lot of water because dehydration can make you ill.
You can get good deals by purchasing used video games. It is a good idea to buy a disc cleaner if you buy a lot of used games, though. You never understand what sort of shape your game will be in when you do this. If your discs are really dirty a good cleaning kit will help to restore them. It is a good idea to look at several cleaning disc options. There are many kits like this on the market.
Figure out how to operate the safety and parental controls of any gaming system that comes into your home. You can likely make adjustments that keep kids from viewing mature content. Some allow each gaming profile to be customized separately, allowing adults to enjoy games not meant for younger audiences.
There are games in which you can shoot, solve puzzles, drive, fly, fight, etc, so keep reading to find out more! Online Games allow us to take on a persona that we couldn't have in the real world so they're fun to play. Keep gaming!
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