Book Review: The Iron Legends - Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Legends (The Iron Fey #1.5, #3.5, #4.5)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Release Date: August 28th 2012

Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Gifted by my lovely sister <3

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Summer, Winter, Iron.
Together at last.

Dangerous faeries. Heartbreaking romance. Thrilling action and limitless adventure. The world of the fey has never been so powerful. This collection includes three novellas set in the world of The Iron Fey plus the expanded Guide to the Nevernever and exclusive information about Julie Kagawa's unforgettable world of Faery.

WINTER'S PASSAGE

Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl... until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck - Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon - who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.

Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter - a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat...

I reckon I should have read this before I read the second book, and I can't remember why I didn't. Anyway, this novella picks up shortly after The Iron King, when Ash and Meghan's relationship was still new, the restraints of their origins still strong, and that's why Ash's hot-one-second-then-cold-the-next attitude irritated me all over again. His struggle was easy to see, though, and it's not like I can hate the Winter prince for long.

It was inevitable that she keep her promise, but I still admired Meghan's determination in following through with the deal she made with Ash to save her little brother. She never once tried to escape - although it would have been futile - and I think that's really one of her strengths: her honor. 

For a novella, this one had a lot of suspense as the two tried to run from an unknown pursuer, and as always, Julie Kagawa knows how to surprise. Winter's Passage also offered a nice look into the faery world that deepened what I already knew about it. Overall, this is my least favorite of the three novellas in this series, but that doesn't mean it disappointed in any way.

MY FAVORITE PART was Meghan visiting Puck </3

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SUMMER'S CROSSING

A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence - and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts.

Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help - into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice - betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist.

You have no idea how much I giggled when I realized this was written in Puck's POV. We finally get a glimpse into just what goes on inside our beloved prankster's head, and what's even more entertaining was the fact that he was alone with Ash. (I do love their banters.)

"One brilliant Goodfellow prank, coming right up."

With Ash enlisting Puck's help in fulfilling a deal he made, I expected the crazy, funny shenanigans that would ensue, but definitely not how crazy and funny it would be. I remember reading this in bed during the Easter weekend and laughing my head off at nine in the morning. This novella was a reminder how amusingly fierce Puck could be, and I sure wouldn't want him as an enemy.

I am solid in Team Ash, but Puck quietly pining for Meghan still made my heart ache. Even when the chance came up, I never once thought that he'd be tempted to betray Ash so he could have her for himself, because that's just not how Robin Goodfellow works. And as was to be expected, this is my favorite of the three novellas!

MY FAVORITE PART was, uh, "Sir Torin" flirting with Titania =))

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IRON'S PROPHECY

Meghan Chase is finally getting used to being the Iron Queen, ruler of the Iron Fey. Her life may be strange, but with former Winter prince Ash by her side at last, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

But when they travel to the Summer and Winter courts’ gathering for Elysium, the oracle from Meghan’s past returns with a dire prophecy: “What you carry will either unite the courts, or it will destroy them.” Now Meghan faces a devastating choice that may determine the future of all fey - and her and Ash’s unborn child…

This novella made me believe that Julie Kagawa does not understand the meaning of "happily ever after". Just couldn't leave Ash and Meghan at peace, eh? Jesus. (Lol just kidding. Kind of ;D)

Here in Iron's Prophecy, we see Meghan living her new life as the Iron Queen. She has Ash by her side, and for the meantime the three other faery rulers - Oberon, Titania, and Mab - are leaving her alone... until the Oracle enters the scene with a dire warning that puts everyone to unrest.

The prophecy itself was a tad bit vague, so I'm really curious as to how Meghan and Ash's son could bring about the end of the courts and how Meghan's brother Ethan ties in with all of that, but I will try to put off reading the Call of the Forgotten books because I hate waiting. Let's see how long I can avoid them.

MY FAVORITE PART was the old gang teaming up for another, albeit short, adventure!

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