[Review] The Iron Traitor

Unbekanntes Deutsches Cover

English Cover

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‚The Iron Traitor‘ by Julie Kagawa

The Call of the Forgotten # 2
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Synopsis:
After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as „normal“ as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he’s forbidden to see her again.
But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, „normal“ simply isn’t to be. For Ethan’s nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan’s and Keirran’s fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan’s next choice may decide the fate of them all. (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
It was a long Odyssey and I thought it would never end – it felt like I’ve needed an eternity to finish the book and this usually never happen with books from Kagawa. But with part here the important spark has been absent for me, and I‘ve to try hard to read on and find my motivation.

The story begins after the events of the first book and almost immediately we come back again to the Nevernever, but before they still have to find a way to hold Annywl longer in this world, before she disappears forever. For this we hurry at first to New Orleans to find Keirran, who has disappeared. Then everybody hurries together back to a guru to make them an amulet, only to hurry further to the summer court and so on and on – you see what I want to say with that. It was an endless loop and during the whole plot they only have hurried from a place to the next to find weird creatures, which they had to fight or kill. Hence, this was the next negative point, which I must criticize, because for me there were too much and too long fight scenes in the book, so that I after some time they didn’t entertain me any longer.

But therefore I really love the other descriptions, the surroundings and the whole world-building, which Kagawa has created here and like always I really like her characters. First of all I’m a fan of Kenzie with her headstrong, self-confident character – for me she’s a female figure, from whom you only want to read more about and liked throughout the book. But also Ethan is in my heart, although sometimes he could be a little softer, but he’s the tough guy in the books – so what should we do? 😉 Kerrain on the other hand hasn’t convinced me till now and his changing in the second book, didn’t make it better.

In any case for me it was a highlight that we briefly have bumped into Ash! Even if this reunion was only for a short duration – nevertheless, I have been glad to meet the dark prince or king again.

Even if the general plot course was a little tougher to read in the second book, and long-winded – but the end could again persuade me and leave me behind in amazement. Although this end-scene was already indicated from the beginning, I didn’t think that it happened like this. Hence, we really got a nasty cliffhanger, which let us wait magnetized for the third and also last part of this series.

Englisches Cover:
I like the cover very much and you can also recognize Keirran on it perfectly, with his hair and eyes. Even if he doesn’t count to my favorites – the cover looks amazing!

All in all:
I’m so sorry to say that, but for me the book was the worst book, which I’ve read from Kagawa up till now. Now I know, that sounds dreadful – but if you consider how much Kagawa’s books usually always inspire me, it is clear that a 3-point-book is simply the worst one of them, what is in general still a good-average-book.

Rating:
3 of 5 points – (I liked it)
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Quotes: (© Kagawa)

 Ethan: ‚I won’t lie. Annwyl was beautiful. Bbig green eyes, shining brown hair, her body soft and graceful beneath her dress. I was a guy, after all, and I wasn’t blind. But seeing her didn’t make my stomach twist with nerves or the corners of my mouth want to turn up in a smile like they did with Kenzie.‘

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„Humans.“ Grimalkin’s furry head poked out of the grass, tail twiching in annoyance. „Are you coming? Or are you going to stand there and talk until the guardians return and crush your bones to powder? And as the expense of repeating myself – do not touch any of the apples as we are making our way through the orchard. Do not even look at them. Please attempt to have some semblance of self-control, as small as ist might be.“ ^^. 

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Succession:
# 1: Julie Kagawa – The Lost Prince »»
# 2: Julie Kagawa – The Iron Traitor »»
# 3: Julie Kagawa – Untitled
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(© goodreads.com)

About the author – Julie Kagawa:
She was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel. (Source: goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »»

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Vielen Dank für die Bereitstellung des Rezensionsexemplares an:

© netgalley

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[Review] The Lost Prince

German Cover

English Cover

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‚The Lost Prince‚
by Julie Kagawa

The Call of the Forgotten # 1.

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First Sentence:
„‚My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.“

Last Sentence:
„And for the first time, I wasn’t afraid.“.

Synopsis:
Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.
That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’s dare to fall for.
Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.
(Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
I was back again in the Nevernever and I have enjoyed my visit! Particularly, because it was already a certain time ago that I’ve read the ‘Iron Fey’ series and I’ve missed the world and some characters in it so much.

I’m aware that I’m prejudiced and that I can’t rate the books of Kagawa any more objectively because I am simply just so a big fan of her and her world full of fairies. Other readers might like this book not so much than I did, because I also see the weak spots in the story and within the characters, but nevertheless, I was totally enthused – I think it’s always like that when you’re in love, as well as I’m with her stories. And also her writing style is as usual always just indescribable magnificent, with wonderful and dreamlike descriptions of the scenery – picturesquely like a famous painting.

This book now is about the younger brother of Meghan, Ethan Chase, who isn’t so small at all and nice, like we have got to know him in the ‘Iron Fey’ series, but he has become stubborn, recalcitrant and tall– also built very well and attractively. (You only have to look at the incredible cover! ^^)

Ethan is able to see the fairies since he was born, but he dissimulate this secret because the fairy only gets him in trouble, in big trouble, what leads to the fact that Ethan is reserved and therefore also lives a more or less lonesome, dreary life. The only ones, who know about his ability, are Meghan – who left to life with the fairies – and his mother, who doesn’t speak of these things, because she fears them. So he is totally on his own. Hence it’s understandable that he is quite a sourpuss, at least at the beginning. Of course this changes after his acquaintance with Kenzie, where we are already by the female main character.

I have really liked both, Ethan and Kenzie, and I could get involved with them very well and fast. They were also a great couple and they showed a nice see-saw. And I also must confess that Ethan reminds me a little of Ash, with his often rotten mood and his constant humming. But in return Kenzie is completely different than Meghan! She is a disobedient, headstrong, cheeky and strong personality and has whined not once, although she also has to deal with some hard things. I also think now for me she is one of my newest favorite characters and I find them both great, really great and I’m already looking forward to read more about them in the next part. To be honest – I can’t wait and I’m dying here while waiting for the second book.

But unfortunately I couldn’t completely feel with in the same way like I did with the first series (with Meghan and Ash) what is probably due to the fact, that Ethan is telling the story from his POV and therefore it’s clear that there are mentioned less feelings and emotions, which rules in him (but otherwise it also would be a little unsexy ^^). Often I also felt that he brooded constantly and too often over the same problem, although it was already discussed and I fear that this will also go on in the next part.
But nevertheless I’m really looking forward to the second part, because I want to read more about them and I also want to know how it goes on with the other characters. Particularly with Keeiran and Annwyln.

However, I think it’s a little pity that though Ash, Meghan or Puck showed up, they only were present for a very short time and hadn’t an important role in it. For me that would be okay, if it was just Meghan and Ash, but that also Puck and Grimalkin were very absent, has surprised me. I’ve really hoped for Puck that he gets a nice part again and gets this time also his happy-end, but unfortunately no. And instead of Grimalkin,  these Razor got the steadier role beside the main characters and though it was also funny when he has chirped the first time ‚bad Kitty’, it become dull after the third time.

Also the plot wasn’t so very surprising  in the story, because I’ve foreseen parts of it, which were also confirmed later on, for example the thing with the queen or with Kenzie. There Kagawa has probably already pointed to it too early, as well as the thing with the mysterious ‚Forgotten‘ was no surprise for me. But I think that I see that rather fast in such a way, because I’ve already read all the other books from her. For somebody who doesn’t know ‚The Iron Fey‘ series, the book offers more new things and surprise. However then the joy of seeing all the other characters from the first series again, is missing, which I really liked . So everything has his own advantages.
But I think, one can also read this book without having read ‚The Iron Fey‘ series before. Everything is explained and one can follow the story also without foreknowledge.

Cover:
This is an amazing cover which shows Ethan matchless at it. It’s really brilliant and there you only want to start reading the book immediately, right? 😉

All in all:
Not as good as ‘The Iron Fey’ series, because in my opinion there were many similar things in it, but nevertheless still a highlight and Kagawa writes for me the best and most fantastic fairy stories.

Rating:
4 of 5 points – (Great, Great, Great) (

Quotes:

 Kenzie: „No need to be nasty,“ she said, seeming unconcerned with my aggressiveness. „I’m not asking for a date, tough guy, just your name.“

Grimalkin: „Well, well,“ answered a cool, amused voice from somewhere above us. „And here you are again. Ethan Chase, your family does have a knack for getting into trouble.“

Ethan: ‚The cat trotted briskly ahead, neither slowing down or glancing back to see if we were still there, and we had to scramble to keep up. I wondered if Meghan hat this same problem when she first came to the Nevernever.‘

Puck to Ethan: „Sit down. Geez, kid, do I look like a nurse? Why are you always bleeding whenever I see you? You’re worse than ice-boy.“..

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A huge Thanks for the eBooks to:

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Succession:

# 1: Julie Kagawa – The Lost Prince »»
# 2: Julie Kagawa – The Iron Traitor »»
# 3: Julie Kagawa – Untitled

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© goodreads.com

About the author – Julie Kagawa:
She was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel. (Source: goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »»

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Review: The Iron Knight (engl.)

(© goodreads)

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‚The Iron Knight‚
by Julie Kagawa

Iron Fey # 4

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Synopsis:
Ash and Puck are on their search for the cat sidhe Grimalkin to ask him for a favor, to help them, so that Ash cans earn a soul and become mortal. After their successful search they continue their way to a special seer, who knows the way to the end of the world and can tell them the secret, how a fairy can gain a soul. But when they arrive their Ash has to ask himself if you really want this? If he really wants to stay with Meghan and wants to become a mortal who will die in the end? And if he says ‘yes’, is he doing it because of his own freewill or because of his oath? …

First Sentence:
“Oy, ice-boy! You sure you know where you’re going?”. I  ignored  Robin  Goodfellow  as  we  wove  through  the  gray  murk  of  the  wyldwood,  pushing  farther  into  the  soggy  swamp  known  as  the  Bone Marsh.

My thoughts about the book:
Like in the other books before Kagawa did here a nice and great job as well and her writing is still just admirable. She has a great feeling for writing wonderful descriptions of the surroundings, with all their miracles and colors and extraordinary creatures. Furthermore she came up again with many great and spectacular twists and plot and in my opinion her creativity knows no bounds.
About the plot I’ve to say that it is just ‘top’ and there are just a few points, which I didn’t like so much. On one hand the beginning tracked a little and was not such as thrilling as in the other books. At first they searched for Grimalkin, afterwards they searched for the seer and then they searched for the end of the world. Of course Kagawa didn’t let them just walk around and have a little talk- there were fights, wild creatures, new characters and thrilling moments as well… but not like in the usual style and so it wasn’t so exciting and fresh like in the books before. But on the other hand I really liked it that it was written from Ash’s POV and we got the chance to look behind his façade, and what we saw was just indescribable und beautiful – brave and strong with stamina and in spite of everything he’s still capable of loving completely and with no hesitates. *sigh* If Ash would be a real man und not an imaginary one, then there would be no hold of me and I would try everything to go to this fairyland to get him. 🙂
But enough of Ash – we already know what we have with him. Let us talk about the other characters, for example Puck, whom I really like as well and who is still a great and funny character and can always put a smile on your face. And therefore I really hope that Kagawa is continuing to write another book in which Puck find his true love, and I wouldn’t care if there also other characters in it, but want I would want is a happy ending for Puck – he just deserves one 🙂 In this book I also liked Grimalkin’s quotes again; they were funny and sniffy, like a real cat behaves. I just missed Meghan in it – something that was obvious because she could be with them, but I would have appreciate it, if there would have been more dream frequencies, in which Ash and Meghan could be together. Or I would have liked some reviews of shared moments of Ash and Meghan from the past, to read them from Ash’s POV.

And now – I just have to write some spoilers now – so please stop reading now if you haven’t read the book yet. !! SPOILER ALERT !!

For my taste the ending was there too fast, after the long way and their hard trails, which Ash and his companion had to survive. I would have liked to read more about what happened after their happy meeting in the iron court – did they really get her baby boy? Did they marry as well? What about Puck? Or about the other courts – will there be a war or not? And is Ash now still an immortal fey or not? And what about Meghan’s family in the mortal world – will she see them again or not?
All this questions unanswered questions leave a bitter taste in my mouth after I finished this book (also because I was said it’s really over now). Furthermore the solution Kagawa wrote with Ariella and how everything happened was great and I really thought of this idea in the second and third book. Ariella hast do show up, because Ash would have never been really happy or couldn’t really love Meghan with his pure and full heart, because he was still blaming himself for her death and was still mourning her. And so they got their ending and he could finish it – though some parts of her are still with him and so he can go on now with a new love. So great plot and great idea and great ending – just perfect! 🙂
But I also have to admit that from the time she showed up till the time Ash chose Meghan for his future, I had a really hard time to read the book. All this chapters I felt like I had heartache and lost a love… it felt like he was betraying Meghan because he was so confused and couldn’t decided what he want – and it got even worse when he told himself, he has to be with Meghan because of his oath – I really felt like crying because this was befouling Meghan’s and Ash’s moments together… So I really was glad how it turned out in the end. Kagawa did a great job playing with my feelings – it was a steady ‘up and down’ of the feelings. But now with a great ending, which leaves me with a sad heart because it’s over, but also with a smile on my face because it was just a beautiful and unique journey.

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Julie Kagawa wrote a short story especially for Valentines Day 2012 and if you want to read about the date of Meghan & Ash, then
follow the »» LINK!!
 ♥ I really love it, but take care, it also contains spoilers!  ♥

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English Cover:
Like the other covers, this one is great as well and now Ash’s face is gazing at us (though I’ve imagined him more distinctive) and his Cover has also these great lines and ornaments, which I also love on the other books. *nice*

All in all:
For all fans of this series an absolute highlight and a ‘must-read’! For all who haven’t read this series yet – start with the first book right now – you won’t regret it!

Rating:
3,5 of 5 points..

Quotes:

Grimalkin:  „Additionaly, you can paint a neon sign over our heads that says, ‘Easy meal, fol ow the flashing lights.“

Ash:  „I am still yours, my queen, if you’ll  have me.”

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Succession:

# 1: Julie Kagawa – The Iron King
# 1,5: Julie Kagawa – Winter’s Passage
# 2: Julie Kagawa – The Iron Daughter
# 3: Julie Kagawa – The Iron Queen
# 3,5: Julie Kagawa – Summer’s Crossing
# 4: Julie Kagawa – The Iron Knight

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Review: The Iron Knight

(© goodreads)

(© goodreads)

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‚Frühlingsnacht‚ by Julie Kagawa

(The Iron Knight)

Plötzlich Fee Reihe # 4/
Iron Fey Serie # 4..

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First Sentence:
„‚Oy, ice-boy! You sure you know where you’re going?‘.
I  ignored  Robin  Goodfellow  as  we  wove  through  the  gray  murk  of  the  wyldwood,  pushing  farther  into  the  soggy  swamp  known  as  the  Bone Marsh.“

Last Sentence:
„Then, with a flick of its tail, it bounded into the undergrowth, a streak of gray fur in the sun, and the light swallowed it completely.“.

Inhaltsangabe:
Ash und Puck befinden sich auf der Suche nach Grimalkin um ihn um einen Gefallen zu bitten, ihnen zu helfen, damit Ash eine Seele bekommt und zum Mensch werden kann. Nach erfolgreicher Suche führt sie ihr Weg zu dritt weiter zu einer Seherin, die den Weg zum Ende der Welt kennt und sie auch in das Geheimnis einweihen kann, wie eine Fee zum Menschen wird. Doch dort angekommen stellt sich die Frage, ob Ash das noch immer möchte? Ob er auch wirklich bis zum Ende bei Meghan und im Iron Realm bleiben will? Und wenn ja -möchte er es aus eigenen Willen oder nur weil er ein Schwur abgegeben hat und dazu gezwungen wird?…

Meine Gedanken zum Buch:
Wie immer hat der Schreibstil von Julie Kagawa voll und ganz überzeugt und sie konnte durch ihre wunderschöne Beschreibung der Umgebung, mit all ihren Wundern und Farben und außergewöhnlichen Kreaturen punkten. Außerdem hat sie sich wieder einiges Spektakuläres einfallen lassen und ihre Kreativität kennt meines Erachtens keine Grenzen. Von der Handlung her finde ich, dass der ‚Iron Knight‘ einfach nur top ist und es gibt nur wenige Punkte die mich daran stören. Zu einem war der Anfang leider etwas zäher als gewohnt zu lesen, da es immer das gleiche war… Zuerst suchen sie Grimalkin, danach suchen sie die Seherin und danach suchen sie das Ende der Welt.
Natürlich hat es Kagawa nicht nur dabei belassen, sondern auch Kämpfe, wilde Kreaturen und neue Charaktere erschaffen und es durchwegs spannend gehalten. Aber trotzdem war es nicht so aufregend und frisch wie die ersten 3 Bücher in diesere Serie.
Trotzdem hat es mir sehr gut gefallen und besonders toll fand ich es, dass es dieses Mal aus der Sicht von Ash geschrieben wurde (unsere Frauenherzen schlagen schneller^^ ) und wir endlich auch hinter seine Fassade blicken durften und was wir dort sahen, war einfach unbeschreiblich schön – mutig und stark mit einem eisernen Willen und trotz allem noch fähig vollends zu lieben *schmacht*.
Also wäre Ash eine echter Mann und nicht nur ein erfundener Charakter, dann gebe es für mich kein Halten mehr und ich würde alle Hebel in Bewegung setzten um auch ins Feenland Nimmernie zu gelangen! 🙂

Aber genug von Ash – wir alle wissen was wir an ihm haben. Zu den anderen Charakteren kann ich sagen, dass mir hier auch Puck wieder außerordentlich positiv ins Auge gestochen ist und ich hoffe, dass Kagawa vielleicht noch weiter schreibt mit ihm. Von mir aus auch mit anderen Hauptcharakteren, aber dass dort Puck wieder vorkommt und dort sein Happy End bekommt. Er ist so eine Frohnatur, der aber auch wenn es darauf ankommt ein guter und ernsthafter Freund sein kann, und einem immer zur Seite steht. Ich finde schon alleine deshalb hat auch er seine ‚Happily Ever After – Romanze‘ verdient.
Grimalkin und die anderen waren auch wie in den Vorgängern klasse, besonders Grimalkins spitzen Kommentare. Schade fand ich es, dass doch sehr wenig von Meghan dabei war. Sicher, sie konnte körperlich nicht anwesend sein, weil die ‚ganze Truppe‘ ja wo anders unterwegs war. Aber ich hätte mir mehr Traumphasen oder Rückblicke auf gemeinsame Momente erhofft, um sie auch aus Ash seiner Sicht zu lesen.

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Okay, ich muss jetzt leider spoilern. Also bitte nicht weiter lesen, wenn ihr das Buch noch nicht gelesen habt. Danke! SPOILER WARNUNG!!!

Das Ende war dann leider nach meinem Geschmack etwas zu schnell da, nach der ganzen Strapaze, die Ash und die anderen aufgenommen haben um dorthin zu gelangen. Ich hätte mir danach doch mehr Zweisamkeit mit Ash und Meghan gewünscht und vielleicht auch einen kleinen Ausblick auf ihre gemeinsame Zukunft mit ihrem Sohn oder was mit den anderen Höfen passiert? Ob sie ihre Eltern wieder sieht? Was mit ihrem Bruder passiert? Oder wie es mit Puck weiter geht?
Alles Fragen die unbeantwortet im Raum stehen blieben und einen kleinen, bitteren Nachgeschmack zurück ließen, wenn man das Buch ausgelesen zur Seite legte.
Außerdem war die Lösung, die Kagawa mit Ariella geliefert hat, genau das was ich mir in den vorigen Teilen schon immer gedacht habe. Ich war immer besorgt darüber, dass es die Beziehung belasten bzw. nach der Zeit verändern muss, wenn jemand so sehr an einer Toten hängt und die Vergangenheit nicht ruhen lassen kann. Daher finde ich den Ausgang perfekt, wie es sich zwischen Ash und Ariella zugetragen hat und dass sie nun doch ein gemeinsames Ende bekommen haben, in dem sie sich im Guten verabschieden konnten und ohne schlechtes Gefühl. Nein – sogar noch besser, weil er einen Teil von ihr in sich mitträgt – aber, dass er sich trotzdem vorher klipp und klar für Meghan entschieden hat => das hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Obgleich ich die ganze Zeit, als Ariella aufgetaucht ist und bis zu dem Zeitpunkt, bis er sich für Meghan entschieden hat, immer mitgelitten habe.
Ich hatte die ganze Zeit das Gefühl, als hätte ich Liebeskummer und fühlte zu sehr mit. Kagawa hat großartig mit meinen Gefühlen jongliert! Und präsentierte uns ein stetes ‚up and down‘ mit einem schönen Ende, das mich ein wenig mit traurigem Herzen (da es nun vorbei ist) aber trotzdem lächelnd zurück lässt.

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Ebenfalls Spoiler- Gefahr,  aber falls ihr das Buch schon gelesen habt, könnt ihr hier den folgenden Link klicken und ihr kommt zu einer kleinen Valentinsgeschichte von Meghan & Ash!! Enjoy it! 😀 *love it*  ♥
»» Folge dem LINK!!

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Englisches Cover:
Auch bei diesem Cover wurden wir nicht enttäuscht, denn es strahlt uns Ash entgegen (obwohl ich ihn mir ja ein wenig markanter vorgestellt habe) und es hat die gleichen feinen Linien und Verzierungen, die ich auch auf den anderen Büchern klasse finde.

All in all:
Für alle Fans dieser Serie ein absolutes Highlight und ein ‚Lese-Muss‘! Für alle anderen: beginnt mit dem ersten Teil und liest dieser Serie – ihr werdet es nicht bereuen!

Rating:
4 of 5 points..

Quotes:

Ash: „My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl.“

Grimalkin:  „Additional y, you can paint a neon sign over our heads that says, ‘Easy meal, fol ow the flashing lights.“

Ash:  „I am still yours, my queen, if you’ll  have me.”

Meghan: “’You’re here,‘ I murmured, reaching out to touch him, hardly believing this was real. ‚You came back.‘ Ash’s breath hitched, and he put his hand over mine: ‚I came home.’”
(I love this part!! And I cried like a little baby :p )

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Serienreihenfolge:

# 1: Julie Kagawa – Sommernacht (Iron King) »
# 1,5: Julie Kagawa – Winter’s Passage »
# 2: Julie Kagawa – Winternacht (Iron Daughter) »
# 3: Julie Kagawa – Herbstnacht (Iron Queen) »
# 3,5: Julie Kagawa – Summer’s Crossing »
# 4: Julie Kagawa – Frühlingsnacht (The Iron Knight) »

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Review: Iron Queen

(© goodreads)

(© goodreads)

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‚The Iron Queen‚
by Julie Kagawa

Iron Fey # 3  I.

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Synopsis:
Meghan and Ash are on their way to Meghan’s family, after they were banned from the Never never because of their love for each other. But there they get attacked by some iron feys, because the false Iron King wants to kidnap Meghan and then to kill her. Therefore Meghan has to realize that she can’t have a ‘normal’ life before she hasn’t got rid of the false Iron King and killed him – again. Ash stay’s the whole time at her side and shortly after they all, to say Meghan, Ash, Puck and Grimalkin find themselves in a hidden house of Leandsidhe, where they plan their next moves. But then one day the summer and the winter courts come to them to ask Meghan to kill the false Iron King for them, and in exchange the exile will be lifted and they will be free to go back to the fairyland…

First Sentence:
Eleven years ago, on my sixth birthday, my father disappeared.

My thoughts about the book:
This book has more than fulfilled my expectation and I don’t know where to begin my review… there were so many beautiful moments, which I will re-read again in the future, but there were also sad and desperate ones, which made my heart ache and which made me cry till I was sitting on my couch sobbing and the tears just flowed over my cheeks *it was great*.
The story began when Meghan and Ash were together, and this time they were totally alone, in the mortal world and there they wandered around to accomplish one by one some ‘tasks’ to draw near their goal to end the false Iron King’s life. To be hones Meghan didn’t want to have to do something with all this fairy stuff anymore and we all were hoping for some break or some special time for Meghan and Ash, where they could enjoy being together. Should be too much to ask for after Meghan killed the first Iron King, then fighted for Ash and their love and saved her little brother and thousand of feys by the way. But I guess it would become boring if there wouldn’t happen something interesting and if Meghan and Ash wouldn’t go back to Never never to fight there against many more dangers and threats. NO! So they went back and fighted like crazy and it all made it more thrilling and exciting and for me the whole book was an emotional rollercoaster and at some points I even got a little heart attack. What I want to say with this is, that even though there were some moments they were going slower, that the book all in all was more rapid and thrilling than any other book of this series so far. The fights were more blood lusting and also the input from Meghan were definitely higher, so that she fought with her own sword and didn’t stand on the side like it the other books and were thinking “Oh, what should I do?” – So I really liked that change. And also her whining, about everything that concerns Ash, was less annoying and often than in the books before. (If you ask me, it was no wonder- because of all Ash did for her and what he all said to her *so sweet*) und now she also finally knows where to put her feelings for Puck and that they should just be friends *surprise*. I really like Puck and he can make you smile and lift your spirit, but he’s just not the right one for a romance, because he’s too hyped and flippancy. And let us be straight, but who doesn’t really want hard muscles, a great six-pack, sexy messy hairs and a hard shell, which we have to break up to get to the sweet and delicious soft heart – like it is with Ash. Kagawa has made a great job with him and it was great how she build his character: at first an arrogant and unreachable Prince of the unseelie court who appears that he doesn’t care of anything but of himself. And then from book to book this wall breaks and shows us his history and his feelings – and we loved it (or I did). And Kagawa did it so well, that he doesn’t become too soft or sensitive, no, he is still a fighter and an ice-cold killer – he is still or beloved ‘ice-boy’! 🙂
All in all I’m really happy how everything turns out in the end, even though I cried like a baby at the end. But I guess it just has to be this way or otherwise we wouldn’t get a next and the ultimate last book (Iron Knight #4). And so I’m sure everything will be fine and that Kagawa will make a great and breathe taking final we all will love.

English Cover:
Like all the other covers in this series, this one is great as well and just beautiful and adorable and with great details. Also the German cover which is also great, especially the leaves on the eyelashes are great.

All in all:
This book has ALL what a book can have – love, jealousy, drama, heartaches, humor, strong characters and funny dialogs and passionate love scenes (though there could have been more and they could have been more intense *lol*). Please read it!!

Rating:
4,5 of 5 points

Quotes:
Meghan: “We could die tomorrow,“ I whispered back. „I want to be with you tonight. I don’t want to have any regrets, when it comes to us. So, yes, I’m sure. I love you, Ash.”

Ash: „If I’d thought I would regret it,“ he said calmly, „I never would have made that oath. I knew what becoming a knight would mean. And if you asked me again, the answer would still be the same.“ He sighed, framing my face with his hands. „My life… everything I am… belongs to you.“..
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Succession:

# 1: Julie Kagawa – The Iron King
# 1,5: Julie Kagawa – Winter’s Passage
# 2: Julie Kagawa – The Iron Daughter
# 3: Julie Kagawa – The Iron Queen
# 3,5: Julie Kagawa – Summer’s Crossing
# 4 : Julie Kagawa – The Iron Knight

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Review: Iron King

(© goodreads)

(© goodreads)

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‚The Iron King‚
by Julie Kagawa

Iron Fey # 1  I.

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Synopsis:
At her 16th Birthday the whole world changes for Meghan Chase – not because she finally got her long looking forward driving license, but because her little half-brother Ethan was kidnapped. Together with her best friend, who turn out to be the famous Puck from the never-never land, they starts their dangerous journey to the fairy land. There Meg has to face not only mean trolls and other mean fairies but also have to deal with a annoying Sidhe cat, called Grimalkin, and all above this she encounters a bitter true – that she is the daughter of the big and mighty king Oberon of the summer court…

My thoughts about the book:
From the beginning I was drawn to this book and I was really surprised, that I liked it so much. Not because nobody mentioned it to be, but the contrary – everybody recommended it and often I’m disappointed with books everyone loves. But this book lives up to his promise and so I surprisingly really liked it, though it’s totally a High Fantasy and Young Adult book, and I thought it would be superficial, but it wasn’t. At the beginning there were only a few inconsistencies with the main character Meghan, but throughout the story they all volatilized and till the end of the book she showed bravery and strength and she never gave up no matter what she had to face during her stay in the fairy land. I also really like Puck because of his funny jokes and dialogs and that he is always seeing the bright and positive side of the live and that he never gave up anything. And he is more concerned and intelligent than that he shows which I like even more. About prince Ash – at first I didn’t could understand all the other in the forum who adored him and I though he’s just a pretty ‘jackass’ who does everything for his own benefit. But throughout the story he conquered not only Meghan’s, but also my heart and now I have to say I’m also totally falling for him. 🙂 And a character I also didn’t like in the beginning, but of who I’m a fan now is the cat Sidhe Grimalkin. He’s funny and I think deep in his heart his one of the good ones and is not just thinking of his own profit. He is reminding me of the gargoyle Xemerxius from the book Ruby Red (Liebe geht durch alle Zeiten –Trilogy) and that one I adore. So I hope the cat come back in the next book and will play a bigger role in it. What about Mab – I don’t know what to think about her because she was just shortly mentioned but I’m sure she’ll have a big role in the coming book ‘The Iron Daughter’. And the end of the book was okay, though not very good and not bad, it just stopped and it kind of left a bitter taste in the mouth.
What I really really loved in this book was the great building of the landscape in this other world in the fairy land. Kagawa did a wonderful job full of fantasy and dreams and made you forget all your worries – I totally felt ‘lost in space/ world’ and enjoyed almost everything in the book.

English Cover:
This cover is really a true feast for the eyes and I couldn’t stop stare at it or to run my finger of the book cover. The picture kind of arises from a fantastic and unique fairy world and let you from the first time on dream in another world and time. I have to say that I like both covers – the English and the German one, both are special.

All in all:
A book that I was obsessed with from the first page one and seduce everyone to dream about fairies and other fantastic things, and let you forget all your problems for a moment… Definitely a book recommendation – a must read!

Rating:
4 of 5 points..
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Succession:

# 1: Julie Kagawa – The Iron King
# 1,5: Julie Kagawa – Winter’s Passage
# 2: Julie Kagawa – The Iron Daughter
# 3: Julie Kagawa – The Iron Queen
# 3,5: Julie Kagawa – Summer’s Crossing

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