The Iron Queen (Iron Fey, #3)

by Julie Kagawa

From the limitless imagination of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julie Kagawa, return to the world of The Iron Fey.

In less than twenty-four hours I'll be seventeen.

Although, technically, I won't actually be turning seventeen. I've been in the Nevernever too long. When you're in Faery, you don't age. So while a year has passed in the real world, agewise I'm probably only a few days older than when I went in.

In real life, I've changed so much I don't even recognize myself.

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.

Don't miss the first book in Julie Kagawa's highly anticipated new series, SHADOW OF THE FOX, AVAILABLE OCTOBER 2, 2018

"Julie Kagawa is one killer storyteller."
--MTV's Hollywood Crush blog

"The Iron King has the...enchantment, imagination and adventure of... Alice in Wonderland, Narnia and The Lord of the Rings, but with lots more romance."
--Justine magazine

"A full five-stars to Julie Kagawa's The Iron Daughter. If you love action, romance and watching how characters mature through heart-wrenching trials, you will love this story as much as I do."
--Mundie Moms blog

• ISBN10: 0373210183
• ISBN13: 9780373210183
• Publish Date: 25 January 2011 (first published 1 January 2011)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Mills & Boon
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[sstaley]

I just finished the audiobook. The adventure was great. but I didn't like how things ended up between Megan and Ash. I'll keep "reading" the series but was bothered a bit at the ending.

[Angie]

I knew something big would have to happen in The Iron Queen to get Meghan and Ash back to the Nevernever. Well, that big something is war. The Iron Fey are moving into Summer and Winter territory and destroying everything. The false king also wants Meghan because of reasons. Of course, she's the only one who can survive in a world made of iron, so she's the best bet at stopping the invasion. This means that the two powerful rulers must admit to their mistake or perish.

The Iron Queen was pretty great! I do think I liked it better than The Iron Daughter, since Meghan isn't pining away for Ash so much. They are together so that probably has something to do with it. I'm still not completely on board for this romance, but whatever. What I did love was that Ash isn't trying to make Meghan sit on the sidelines and protect her. War is coming and he knows she needs to fight, or at least be able to defend herself. He knows his weakness lies in not being to fully protect her when the world is made from iron, but he does what he can; train her with a sword! She's still totally hopeless with her glamour, although I figured out her issue early on.

My favorite part of The Iron Queen was getting to know more about the Iron Realm and meeting more of the fey! I do miss my dear Ironhorse, but Razor is such a cutie! There were a couple of things that felt way too convenient though. I suppose without them everyone would have failed, died, and there'd be no more story. But it did feel too easy, even if it was interesting seeing these things. If that makes any sense at all.

The end of The Iron Queen was a bit sad. I mean, there's war and destruction, and other things, so yeah. I am proud that Meghan is putting her responsibilities first rather than running away and frolicking through fields of love and rainbows. The epilogue was also quite interesting. I have an idea of what The Iron Knight is going to be about, but I have no clue how he's going to do it!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Vicki]

4.5 stars

[chemicalscream]

H

[bookishzelda]

Julie Kagawa really pulled at my heart strings in The Iron Queen. There were moments when I thought that I should just stop reading because I didn't want to know what bad thing was going to happen to them next. Of course what would be the point of the book then.

Being that the ground work of the story had already been laid, we really saw the characters develop in this book. Ash and Meghan's relationship really had the chance to take off since they are no longer denying themselves and I loved every second of it. Puck of course is always the comic relief and kind of mellows out the more serious aspects. He also of course has his own issues with the relationship between Meghan and Ash. Grim makes his usual appearance so he can mock their sometimes idiot moments. I found myself relating to the cat and thinking, really it took you this long to figure that out. Some characters we had only known briefly in previous books, stepped up to fill a more supporting role to the main cast.

Although the journey itself was important, I felt this book was more about the characters themselves. I, of course, can not get enough of the realm of Faery and there is plenty of it since they don't pop into the mortal realm as much. The end was heart wrenching but I felt that it was the way it had to be. A perfect 3rd book for this series.

[ladygrey]

I suppose at some point when you're reading the third book in a series you know what you expect. You know the writer's style, the way they unfold plots and develop characters so it feels like there is less to review.

At least that's how it was with this book, with two exceptions. 1 - Meghan is really dense at one point. Like [b:Eclipse|428263|Eclipse (Twilight, #3)|Stephenie Meyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1361038355l/428263._SY75_.jpg|2675454] dense. It's just annoying when you can see something so clearly that the characters miss.
2 - There isn't as much angst in this one. There's a lot of fun romance and some sweet moments. And a good story can't be all angst all the time. So this isn't a criticism so much as a commentary.

It's still a fun, exciting book with characters I obviously enjoy enough to follow through this many books and into the next one.

[Artemis]

I actually like this series. Its quick and enjoyable and the characters arn't half bad. I mean the whole love triangle aspect is over done but thankfully its not the main focal point.

[Cocktails and Books]

Just when Meghan thought she was done with the fey, having been expelled from Nevernever for failing to renounce her love for Ash, the youngest Winter court prince, she's dragged back in.

While hoping to reconnect with her family in Louisiana, Meghan and Ash run into Iron fey mercenaries sent by the False Iron King to drag her back. Not wanting to harm her human family, she and Ash seek shelter from the Exile Queen, hoping to buy themselves some time while they come up with a strategy. Unfortunately, they don't get build a solid strategy as she's beckoned by her father, Oberon the Summer king to come back to nevernever to help them fight the Iron Fey.

Determined to overthrow the False King, Meghan agrees to help the Summer and Winter courts, but only if they give full pardons to Ash and Puck. Meghan knows neither of them could live very long in the iron lands and wants to make sure they have someplace safe to go. But being Ash and Puck, they vow to go with Meghan.

I think this was my favorite of the series. Meghan's not quite so wimpy and wondering "why her". She's maturing and starting thinking of what her choices mean to everyone, if they aren't the choices the others would make.

Can't wait to read the Iron Knight, because I have a feeling Ash is going to do something spectacular!

[Amanda]

Actual rating: 3.5

Original review: http://onabookbender.com/2011/10/19/review-the-iron-queen-by-julie-kagawa/

Before I really get into this review, I have a couple of observations about my ratings: 1. I’ve been feeling like I’ve been inflating my grades (not on purpose, of course, just unintentionally) so I have been trying to be more honest in my ratings, 2. I’ve been noticing that if I start a book and don’t finish it the same day, I generally like it less, as if the act of putting it down and starting again the next day gives me time to get critical about it. I am not really sure what I can do about this phenomenon though. And I did read The Iron Queen over the course of a couple days, so keep that in mind with my review.

Okay, so now that the love triangle drama is pretty much over (thank goodness), I enjoyed The Iron Queen much more than I would have if the triangle had continued. There were a few instances where Meghan got on my nerves with her reactions (overreaction, much?), and in these moments I struggled a bit, because I really just wanted to roll my eyes and smack her upside the head for her idiocy.

In some ways, I thought that the conclusion of the story was predictable — the entire series thus far has been leading to that point, and I’d wondered about it multiple times (and duh, the titles kind of make it obvious). But predictable or not, The Iron Queen was an enjoyable read that gave us some more answers (finally?), and wrapped up a big part of the series plot. But there are still some questions that remain, which mean I must get my hands on The Iron Knight. And the sooner the better.

[Linda]

This book was heartachingly beautiful! Meghan really found her way in this one, and all the main characters grew and showed a lot more maturity, and less selfishness, even the fey-boys :D
I loved how Meghan stood by her word, and even went so far as to be ready to sacrifice herself for fairy, and for all her friends.
Very well written, with some tender moments, awesome fight-scenes and overall a lot of excitement.