Take a photo of a barcode or cover
nicolepeck 's review for:
The Iron Knight
by Julie Kagawa
This was kinda hard for me to get into at first, since I was so used to reading the series from Meghan's point of view, but then by the end of the book, when it goes back to Meghan's voice for the last few pages, I'd had gotten used to Ash's voice and actually liked him by then.
I wasn't really a "fan" of Ash (not against him, just not on his "team" or whatever, give me Puck any day), I didn't like him much in the first 3 books - too cold, too snooty, too regal, something. Same thing that bothered me in Twilight, couldn't get the romance between the main characters. Anyway, his character is so much more developed in this book so we really get to see who he is.
We learn a lot about his past, before he met Meghan, a long time in the past actually and he was not a good guy then. He was a lot like his brother Rowan, who had a huge influence on the worst scene of the book. It made me extremely uncomfortable and just hopeful that teens reading the book would take it for what (I believe) it was meant -- what not to do and how awful such actions are, as well as how hurtful.
I also enjoyed more of the interaction between Puck and Ash and how their friendship developed over the years and how it was healed in this book. So glad the author resolved that and so many other issues in the book. I hate loose ends when a series ends. She left things open to possibility with the characters, but she didn't leave any questions of what about this? or what about that? on things she had talked about throughout the series.
Ash's previous relationship with Ariella is explored in huge depth and plays a big role in this book. Also, the Big Bad Wolf from the eBook between books 1 and 2 makes another appearance. Loved the interaction between the Wolf and Grimalkin the cait sith. I love banter like that (which is also part of why I prefer Puck).
This book is quite dark in some parts, but the gauntlet they had to go through wasn't as severe as I would expect a gauntlet to be. I enjoyed what the author did with that, though. The final trial I picked up on quickly, as I'm sure the reader is meant to, as well as the end result when Ash earns his soul. I was saddened by the sacrifice but loved how that was also dealt with at the very end of the book. I actually really liked that the book ended with that rather than the sappy reunion between Ash and Meghan.
As in her previous books, the author's writing is so vivid and descriptive and I can see everything in the book that she portrays - characters, scenery, action, everything.
I like the little "Survival Guide to the Nevernever" at the back and the sneak peak of the first book of her next series. Sounds interesting! However, I will wait until all the books are out before starting it, so it'll be a while until I read this author's work again.
Content: Some violence, not overly descriptive or gory. Most of it has to do with Ash's trials in the last part of the book, but the River of Dreams and some of the creatures and places they encounter on that journey are. Nothing I would steer teens away from. There is also sex, not descriptive, but a brief mention and you know it occurs. What really bothered me about that in this book, though, was that it was the boy using it to manipulate a girl and, again, hopefully the message comes through to teens reading it that that is not OK. I don't remember language in this one.
Again, a fabulous book (and series) so well-written, but, in my opinion, not for young teens, definitely older ones (those going on 20+!! ha ha)
I wasn't really a "fan" of Ash (not against him, just not on his "team" or whatever, give me Puck any day), I didn't like him much in the first 3 books - too cold, too snooty, too regal, something. Same thing that bothered me in Twilight, couldn't get the romance between the main characters. Anyway, his character is so much more developed in this book so we really get to see who he is.
We learn a lot about his past, before he met Meghan, a long time in the past actually and he was not a good guy then. He was a lot like his brother Rowan, who had a huge influence on the worst scene of the book. It made me extremely uncomfortable and just hopeful that teens reading the book would take it for what (I believe) it was meant -- what not to do and how awful such actions are, as well as how hurtful.
I also enjoyed more of the interaction between Puck and Ash and how their friendship developed over the years and how it was healed in this book. So glad the author resolved that and so many other issues in the book. I hate loose ends when a series ends. She left things open to possibility with the characters, but she didn't leave any questions of what about this? or what about that? on things she had talked about throughout the series.
Ash's previous relationship with Ariella is explored in huge depth and plays a big role in this book. Also, the Big Bad Wolf from the eBook between books 1 and 2 makes another appearance. Loved the interaction between the Wolf and Grimalkin the cait sith. I love banter like that (which is also part of why I prefer Puck).
This book is quite dark in some parts, but the gauntlet they had to go through wasn't as severe as I would expect a gauntlet to be. I enjoyed what the author did with that, though. The final trial I picked up on quickly, as I'm sure the reader is meant to, as well as the end result when Ash earns his soul. I was saddened by the sacrifice but loved how that was also dealt with at the very end of the book. I actually really liked that the book ended with that rather than the sappy reunion between Ash and Meghan.
As in her previous books, the author's writing is so vivid and descriptive and I can see everything in the book that she portrays - characters, scenery, action, everything.
I like the little "Survival Guide to the Nevernever" at the back and the sneak peak of the first book of her next series. Sounds interesting! However, I will wait until all the books are out before starting it, so it'll be a while until I read this author's work again.
Content: Some violence, not overly descriptive or gory. Most of it has to do with Ash's trials in the last part of the book, but the River of Dreams and some of the creatures and places they encounter on that journey are. Nothing I would steer teens away from. There is also sex, not descriptive, but a brief mention and you know it occurs. What really bothered me about that in this book, though, was that it was the boy using it to manipulate a girl and, again, hopefully the message comes through to teens reading it that that is not OK. I don't remember language in this one.
Again, a fabulous book (and series) so well-written, but, in my opinion, not for young teens, definitely older ones (those going on 20+!! ha ha)