Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.
Unless he can earn a soul.
To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.
Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.
With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.
To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.
And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice. (Goodreads summary)
<sniffle sob>… I love this book. I know. Me? Love a faery book? I confess, it’s true.
Though The Iron Knight was meant to bring further closure to the stories of Ash, Meghan and Puck and was definitely more close-ended than The Iron Daughter’s originally intended conclusion, I couldn’t help but feel almost more melancholy at the end of this one. Maybe that’s because of the way certain events that unfold in this story – the possible future that looms before them – or possibly it’s merely because Ash, Meghan’s and Puck’s adventures are more-or-less over and I’m mourning the fact that they will go on “living” without me.
Excessively maudlin ← Me.
So why did I love this book so much? Simply put, Ash. I love getting Ash’s fey perspective on his past, his relationships, his regrets, his fears, and his commitment to Meghan. He’s a rather introspective guy and The Iron Knight is extremely brutal for Ash as he comes to certain realizations about who he is, was and wants to become, as well as and the damaging consequences of actions long since past. This book doesn’t pull any punches emotionally. It was raw and at times ugly, but ultimately, it made the book all the more beautiful. I love the growth that occurs in Ash throughout the series and how his love for Meghan, and hers for him, alters him irrevocably.
Though the romance through the entire series has been of an epic scale – and I just love the love story to pieces – the relationship between Puck and Ash has been just as compelling to read about, and at times more so. I love these two boys, and I love that they chose to put up with each other, each the other’s arch-rival, for better or for worse, in order to pursue Ash’s quest. I love that Puck doesn’t give up on Ash, and that Ash deep down misses his best friend… making me sigh multiple times and hope beyond hope that these two stubborn faeries would just kiss and make up… or the manly, bromanctic equivalent of whatever that would be. The emotional rollercoaster these two went on made me alternately happy and tearful… and sometimes both at the same time.
Overall, a gorgeous, gorgeous bittersweet conclusion. Julie Kagawa, thank you. You broke my heart to pieces time and again, but always made sure to mend it after a fashion. You enchanted me with your tales of monsters, quests and many deeds of derring-do. You gave me new friends and beautifully re-imagined old ones. And above all, you achieved what I didn’t consider possible and made me fall hopelessly in love with Faery.
Author: Julie Kagawa
Title: The Iron Knight
Series: The Iron Fey (Book #4)
Published: October 26th 2011 by Harlequin TEEN
Format: Paperback, 394 pages
Website: www.juliekagawa.com
Source: Purchased
My rating: 
Happy Reading!
I too fell in love with Faery thanks to Julie Kagawa! I actually dislike fey books as a rule. So why in the world did I choose to read these? Well because I got The Iron Knight through NetGalley. So, I said to myself ‘Give it a try. You might like it?’ Then I got myself the first three books… ended up reading them in less than a week!…And, oh boy, did I end up in LOVE with this series. I still don’t like faeries that much, but I love Kagawa faeries. The Iron Knight was just perfect. Seriously, I’ve never read a more perfect ending-book to a series ♥
lol… yeah, that was pretty much my experience. Once I finished the first book, I couldn’t rest until I knew the whole story. Faeries usually don’t do it for me. They’re so duplicitous, tricksy, set on entrapping others, and you wonder about the genuineness of their emotions — could you ever have a real relationship between a faery and a human? Anyway, that’s why I don’t usually like faeries. And Julie’s faeries were still all those things, but I think it was mostly Meghan’s very human take on things, the way she attempted to beat them at their own game, and the loyalty and glimpses of humanity in both Puck, Ash and even Grim, that made me connect with these faeries more.
There was hope for them 😉
Anyway, rambling. Thanks so much for stopping by Amy!
I love the entire series! It’s refreshing to read The Iron Knight in Ash’s POV. And the whole series wouldn’t be fun without Puck. <3 Oh! And you should read Iron's Prophecy!
Yeah, I’m not sure which POV I love more, Ash or Meghan, but I REALLY enjoyed getting Ash’s perspective… A LOT. And Puck. I think Puck needs his own full-length novel. Loved Summer’s Crossing and he definitely needs his own story to narrate
And I did pick up Iron’s Prophecy yesterday, but haven’t had a chance to read it yet. 😛
Thanks so much for dropping by Michelle!
I really, really need to get this series. Everybody tells me out of anybody I would love these books.
Thanks for the review.
I put off reading these books for the longest time too. I don’t really like books about faeries… that has changed as of late with several series that handles faeries really well. Now that the Iron Fey are all out, you totally should give these a whirl. The first two aren’t my favorites ever, but they definitely sucked me in and didn’t let me go. Then once I got to The Iron Queen and then The Iron Knight, I was like, “OMIGOSH. I LOVE THESE BOOKS!”
Totally worth a go.
This has been such a bitter/sweet series and I can’t wait to see
it from Ash’s POV.
[sigh]… teeheehee.
Bittersweet is the perfect word to describe this series, and you must read Iron Knight ASAP 😉
LOVE Julie Kagawa! She’s an awesome author – her characters and her world, they’re just perfect. Ash is an awesome romantic character:)
[le sigh]… it’s true, and he is. 😉
Spreading Ash love around! I love his character! Me as much as you like this book mostly because Ash’s perspective. I totally agree with you. I love this series!
He is a really, really good book boy. And yes, I’ve got to admit that I’m so glad that Julie created a spin-off series in this world, because I’m not quite ready to leave it yet.