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sashapasha's review against another edition
5.0
How do you review a book that has torn your heart out of chest? A book that has made you sob so hard your nose starts bleeding? A book that has caused you to feel emotions you haven't felt before? A book that has left you screaming?
This book destroys me.
I first read it several years ago, and since that night of inconsolable, heart-wrenching sobbing, I have reread it a few times. While it has never impacted me as greatly as it did that first time (seriously, I was crying so hard I was worried my parents would wake up and come running), it always manages to reduce me to a bawling wreck. I am in love with this book. I am in love with Meghan and Ash, Grimalkin and Puck, the Nevernever and all of its inhabitants. What can I say? The feelings I have about this book cannot be put into words. Julie Kagawa is a genius and somewhat evil and I want to go live in her brain because it is a beautiful, if cruel, place.(Yes, I know how creepy that sounds.)
I confess, this book is the reason I discovered Goodreads. This book may even be the reason I got past my middle school phase in which I believed the world of good books began and ended with Tamora Pierce. And to this day, it remains one of my absolute favorites, set on a pedestal that can't be touched. To this day, I have never again had another reading experience quite like this one. Sure, I have found good books, even great books, that make me squeal and cry and just in general act like a complete idiot. But this book will always hold a special place in my heart, for as long as I remain who I am.
As I write this now, I feel an overwhelming sense of nostalgia and sadness. Many years have passed since I read this first and my life has moved on, like Meghan's at the end of this book. But, like her, I feel like I've left a piece of me behind, with these characters, with Ash.
And I realize this review is more of a love letter than a rational, insightful, and cogent presentation of opinion. But I refuse to spoil Iron Queen with descriptions and details. You'll have to read it for yourself. Make sure you start at the beginning of the series, though, otherwise nothing will make sense.
p.s. The sequel to this book, the Iron Knight, is dead to me. I refuse to acknowledge it exists, because nothing can top this book and I don't like the direction the characters take in that installment. In my mind, I imagine them all as I left them here. Some stories are better left untold, no?
p.p.s. The right soundtrack is very important to the reading experience. Some songs I listened to:
• Your Secret Is Safe - City Of Bones score by Atli Orvarsson. (And assorted other songs from the movie, the whole score is great and fits parts of the book really well.)
• Isengard Unleashed - LOTR: The Two Towers soundtrack by Howard Shore.
• Ender's War - Ender's Game soundtrack by Steve Jablonsky.
• Mako - Pacific Rim soundtrack by Ramin Djawadi.
• Adagio movement, Piano Concerto No.2 - Rachmaninov (recommended pianist: Lang Lang)
• The Eagles - Lord of the Rings soundtrack Full Edition by Howard Shore.
• A Far Green Country - Lord of the Rings soundtrack Full Edition by Howard Shore.
• Return to Paradise - Indecent Proposal soundtrack by John Barry.
• One Last Shot - Pirates of the Caribbean, Klaus Badelt.
• Hymn to the Sea - Titanic soundtrack by James Horner.
• The Rest Of My Life - The Amazing Spider-Man 2 soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and Co.
• Join Me - X-Men: Days of Future Past soundtrack by John Ottman
..and
• assort songs from Batman Begins, The Last Samurai, and other epic movies. Lots of Hans Zimmer.
There are too many for a complete list, so I'll leave it there.
Note: If I'd had the heart, I would have tried to make this a funny review, with gifs of people sobbing, etc.... But I'm just too sad to make this humorous. Maybe in a few years, when my heart stops feeling like it's been torn to shreds.
Another Note: I know that this series isn't perfect. I realize that Meghan is annoying in earlier books, and that she falls too fast, and there are flaws. Yes, I get that. But if you can manage to overlook them and stick it out, it is SO worth it. This book is worth it.
Review written 7/20/14, first read in 2011 (or earlier?).
-------------------
Update: 10/2/15
In the act of reading this series, the author is perpetrating the classic scenario of slowly boiling a frog, except instead of boiling a frog, she's sinking her hand into your chest and curling it around your heart. By the time you notice what she's done, it is way too late to do anything but watch as she rips your heart out and tears it to pieces, screaming her triumph.
In other news, I'm clearly no longer hung up on this book.
This book destroys me.
I first read it several years ago, and since that night of inconsolable, heart-wrenching sobbing, I have reread it a few times. While it has never impacted me as greatly as it did that first time (seriously, I was crying so hard I was worried my parents would wake up and come running), it always manages to reduce me to a bawling wreck. I am in love with this book. I am in love with Meghan and Ash, Grimalkin and Puck, the Nevernever and all of its inhabitants. What can I say? The feelings I have about this book cannot be put into words. Julie Kagawa is a genius and somewhat evil and I want to go live in her brain because it is a beautiful, if cruel, place.(Yes, I know how creepy that sounds.)
I confess, this book is the reason I discovered Goodreads. This book may even be the reason I got past my middle school phase in which I believed the world of good books began and ended with Tamora Pierce. And to this day, it remains one of my absolute favorites, set on a pedestal that can't be touched. To this day, I have never again had another reading experience quite like this one. Sure, I have found good books, even great books, that make me squeal and cry and just in general act like a complete idiot. But this book will always hold a special place in my heart, for as long as I remain who I am.
As I write this now, I feel an overwhelming sense of nostalgia and sadness. Many years have passed since I read this first and my life has moved on, like Meghan's at the end of this book. But, like her, I feel like I've left a piece of me behind, with these characters, with Ash.
And I realize this review is more of a love letter than a rational, insightful, and cogent presentation of opinion. But I refuse to spoil Iron Queen with descriptions and details. You'll have to read it for yourself. Make sure you start at the beginning of the series, though, otherwise nothing will make sense.
p.s. The sequel to this book, the Iron Knight, is dead to me. I refuse to acknowledge it exists, because nothing can top this book and I don't like the direction the characters take in that installment. In my mind, I imagine them all as I left them here. Some stories are better left untold, no?
p.p.s. The right soundtrack is very important to the reading experience. Some songs I listened to:
• Your Secret Is Safe - City Of Bones score by Atli Orvarsson. (And assorted other songs from the movie, the whole score is great and fits parts of the book really well.)
• Isengard Unleashed - LOTR: The Two Towers soundtrack by Howard Shore.
• Ender's War - Ender's Game soundtrack by Steve Jablonsky.
• Mako - Pacific Rim soundtrack by Ramin Djawadi.
• Adagio movement, Piano Concerto No.2 - Rachmaninov (recommended pianist: Lang Lang)
• The Eagles - Lord of the Rings soundtrack Full Edition by Howard Shore.
• A Far Green Country - Lord of the Rings soundtrack Full Edition by Howard Shore.
• Return to Paradise - Indecent Proposal soundtrack by John Barry.
• One Last Shot - Pirates of the Caribbean, Klaus Badelt.
• Hymn to the Sea - Titanic soundtrack by James Horner.
• The Rest Of My Life - The Amazing Spider-Man 2 soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and Co.
• Join Me - X-Men: Days of Future Past soundtrack by John Ottman
..and
• assort songs from Batman Begins, The Last Samurai, and other epic movies. Lots of Hans Zimmer.
There are too many for a complete list, so I'll leave it there.
Note: If I'd had the heart, I would have tried to make this a funny review, with gifs of people sobbing, etc.... But I'm just too sad to make this humorous. Maybe in a few years, when my heart stops feeling like it's been torn to shreds.
Another Note: I know that this series isn't perfect. I realize that Meghan is annoying in earlier books, and that she falls too fast, and there are flaws. Yes, I get that. But if you can manage to overlook them and stick it out, it is SO worth it. This book is worth it.
Review written 7/20/14, first read in 2011 (or earlier?).
-------------------
Update: 10/2/15
In the act of reading this series, the author is perpetrating the classic scenario of slowly boiling a frog, except instead of boiling a frog, she's sinking her hand into your chest and curling it around your heart. By the time you notice what she's done, it is way too late to do anything but watch as she rips your heart out and tears it to pieces, screaming her triumph.
In other news, I'm clearly no longer hung up on this book.
breezy610's review against another edition
5.0
Great Novel. I didn't really except the ending where she embracing the power. i can't wait for Iron Knight.
mandib33's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't think it was possible for Julie Kagawa to top The Iron King then I got my copy of The Iron Daughter. Needless to say I have worried/anticipated the day I got to read The Iron Queen. Rarely can an author keep a series going with out the story line becomeing expected or boring. Fortunately for me & everyone else who has chosen to read The Iron Fey series Julie Kagawa exceeds expectations. I'm literally counting down days for The Iron Knight release. This plot is so refreshing & keeps you yearning for more. Megan & Ash are soulmates who have overcome so much yet just when you think they've got a chance decisions & destiny comes in play yet again. How far will you go for your true love. And can you live with the choice you know you had to make??
ari_nicoleee's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my goodness where do I begin…this is by far the best book in the series….I was hooked from beginning to end. Megan’s character growth in this book was astounding, there was an amazing balance of romance and adventure, Ash and Megan’s loyalty to each other is something I truly admire…I still have tears in my eyes as I’m writing this review…I truly cannot wait to pick up the 4th installment tomorrow…Julie your writing is *chefs kiss*
veraann's review against another edition
3.0
The characters were better in this one. Liked it more than book 2. Not much more I can say that I haven't already said about the series so far. I like the series, excellent for YA fans.
beaktastic's review against another edition
4.0
The third book of the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. I enjoyed this book, although not as much as I enjoyed the first book. My actual rating would be 3.5 stars.
Meghan Chase is the half-human daughter of the King of the Summer Court of Faeries, Oberon. She is friends with Puck and in love with the Prince of the Winter Court, Ash. In fact, Ash and Meghan's love is forbidden and for that they have been banished from the Nevernever. But the false Iron King is still gathering power and the Iron Realm is slowly destroying the Nevernever, and Meghan is their only hope to stop its spread.
The story is very similar to the previous books. Meghan, Ash and Puck embark on a quest that takes them into the Iron Realm, where Grimalkin appears every time they need help or some witty remarks. It's very similar to the previous stories, only this time Meghan does a little more fighting and stuff although she is still quite damsel-in-distress-y, although she has grown out of her more serious teenage mopey-ness from the previous book.
There were some nice new additions to the cast as well, like Razor (who was just so cute!) and Glitch I quite liked by the end as well. I wish we could have seen more of some characters from previous books as well, particularly Tiaothin who has completely disappeared from the narrative and I thought it would have been nice to see her again.
I have to say as well that I quite liked the ending. It wasn't a stereotypical cliche everyone ends up happy ending and I liked that it wasn't. But it also sets up nicely for book 4 (which is apparently from Ash's perspective and I'm not sure how I feel about that) and another trilogy.
Yeah, I don't really have much else to say about this!
Overall, I liked the book and thought it was quite a nice ending to this first trilogy in the Iron Fey series, although it was a little bit of a repeat of previous books.
Meghan Chase is the half-human daughter of the King of the Summer Court of Faeries, Oberon. She is friends with Puck and in love with the Prince of the Winter Court, Ash. In fact, Ash and Meghan's love is forbidden and for that they have been banished from the Nevernever. But the false Iron King is still gathering power and the Iron Realm is slowly destroying the Nevernever, and Meghan is their only hope to stop its spread.
The story is very similar to the previous books. Meghan, Ash and Puck embark on a quest that takes them into the Iron Realm, where Grimalkin appears every time they need help or some witty remarks. It's very similar to the previous stories, only this time Meghan does a little more fighting and stuff although she is still quite damsel-in-distress-y, although she has grown out of her more serious teenage mopey-ness from the previous book.
There were some nice new additions to the cast as well, like Razor (who was just so cute!) and Glitch I quite liked by the end as well. I wish we could have seen more of some characters from previous books as well, particularly Tiaothin who has completely disappeared from the narrative and I thought it would have been nice to see her again.
I have to say as well that I quite liked the ending. It wasn't a stereotypical cliche everyone ends up happy ending and I liked that it wasn't. But it also sets up nicely for book 4 (which is apparently from Ash's perspective and I'm not sure how I feel about that) and another trilogy.
Yeah, I don't really have much else to say about this!
Overall, I liked the book and thought it was quite a nice ending to this first trilogy in the Iron Fey series, although it was a little bit of a repeat of previous books.
karelidz's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This one felt like "the middle book" in a trilogy. It was mostly preparation for a big battle and at some point it felt like it just wouldnt begin.
The end felt like a nice ending to a trilogy but then of course it has to give way to the next book.
The end felt like a nice ending to a trilogy but then of course it has to give way to the next book.
kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
Third in the Iron Fey urban fantasy series for young adults.
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 Iron King. 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 Iron Daughter 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
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.
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 Iron King. 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 Iron Daughter 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
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.
yasamanvf's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0