The Iron Queen (The Iron Fey #3) by Julie Kagawa
Published: January 25th 2011 by Harlequin Teen
Review:
Myth: 3/5
After Meghan and Ash were banished from the nevernever for daring to love someone from the opposing court, they have to figure out what to do with themselves. Meghan quickly realizes that she can’t just go back home and slip into her old life. Ash, while also not knowing what to do with himself, seems less concerned as his plan is simply to follow Meghan in whatever she wants to do. But since the fake Iron King is still after her, Meghan doesn’t get much time to think that through before she’s racing to find a place where she can safely plan a next move.
Meghan also has a bit of a side quest in trying to free her human father. First she has to remember him, then she has to find a place where he can safely recuperate from years of Fey magic. I didn’t think that he added much to the story outside of showing Meghan’s character in prioritizing her family and loved ones whenever she has the chance.
This book gave us a training montage where Meghan finally starts to learn how to defend herself, both with a sword and trying to learn her magic. The complexity comes with the multiple magics at war inside her. Not even Puck seems to be able to help her figure out how to work through that, but at least it gets us Puck back in the story.
The major quest of this book is ultimately to fight the fake Iron King as he’s been waging war against Summer and Winter and they can barely hold him in place. Only Meghan stands a chance to be able to go into his territory and kill him. She continues to prove her determination and strength in accepting this challenge. The fate of the world resting on her shoulders, as her failure would be the end of the nevernever.
Magic: 3/5
Meghan still has a lot to learn about the Fey. This is clear in her dealings with Ash. She doesn’t quite understand fey traditions. Though this is of course what gives her the “other” that she needs to be both Summer and Iron. This is the book where she figures out what it means to be both.
Overall: 3/5
Overall Meghan has solid growth in this book. She went as far as possible from normal teenage to fey Queen. I didn’t feel like all her relationships, especially with Ash, kept up.
Other books in the series:
