Waiting on Wednesday {16}

Jill @ Breaking the Spine hosts this weekly meme where we can share a book that we are so excited for and are anxiously awaiting their upcoming release!

This week my WoW pick is...

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa

To be released: April 24, 2012

There's no official cover for this one yet, but I think Harlequin Teen did a fantastic job with this creepy placeholder, don't you? If this is a sample of what's to come, then this is VERY promising, in my opinion :)

Okay, so this past summer I ended up reading through the entire Iron Fey series on my Kindle in the span of about a week. And I completely, absolutely fell in love with them and Julie Kagawa's writing! And seeing as I loved them so much, I finally collected all of the books in paperback for my collection on my book shelf as well :)

AND THEN I hear that Julie has a new series coming out: a post-apocolyptic vampire series.

Um, I'm not sure about you, but this sounds pretty awesome to me. I remember seeing a really terrible movie of this a while ago (and I can't remember the title of it for the life of me), and I wanted to love it because the story was so cool but the execution was just awful.

Now, with this book? I'm not really worried. I've read Julie's other book, and I know she can write well. So I'm confident that she can take this exciting, thriller-esque storyline and make it into one extraordinary series. This is easily one of my most highly anticipated books of 2012!

Goodreads Synopsis:
In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

Will you be reading Julie Kagawa's new series when it comes out? What book are you waiting on today? Feel free to leave a link to your WoW post in the comments so I can stop by :)

The Iron Knight

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
Release Date: October 25, 2011
Harlequin Teen
ISBN13: 9780373210367

5/5 Stars!

Goodreads Synopsis:
My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn.

I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her.
My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

You want to know what The Iron Knight is like? It's like Kagawa ripped my heart out of my chest, put it on a platter and called it The Iron Knight.

 This is a captivating finale, and one that is sure to satisfy fans of The Iron Fey series.

 My favourite part about this was that it was told from Ash's point of view; which is rather frightening, to say the least. While reading The Iron Knight, you realize that his character has only been hinted at in the previous books and it isn't until now that we really begin to understand who Ash is and just how much he's changed. His deepest, darkest secrets are finally shared and explored with the discovery of just whispers of his past that you never really wanted to know.
 But it's addictive and beautiful, and entirely appropriate for this long-awaited ending.


 And I can't remember the last time I was so frustrated with a book. Can you remember the last time a book took you on such an emotional ride? The reader is spared no experience of Ash's turmoil as he ventures on the adventure of his (centuries long) lifetime.

 I honestly don't even know what I can say that will give this book the review it deserves. I can't explore it enough, I can't tell you how much I loved it enough.

Another thing I loved is how Kagawa showed that actions do have consequences. You can't run from your past no matter how hard you try; but it is up to you to make a choice regarding what you will do with that past and what you will do to impact your future. And it applies to her readers, just as much as it applies to the humans and faeries in her literary world.
I'm not even sure I should tell you what I hated most about this book, because it just doesn't seem fair. But I've never been a fan of Ariella, because I'm just not a fan of ghosts of the past haunting people and I have constantly wished throughout this series that she would just stop being brought up. And particularly in The Iron Knight, I really wanted to just shove her off the pedastal that Ash has placed her on. She doesn't get my vote of sympathy, but at the same time it is understandable in a book about Ash that this issue needed to be dealt with. And while I did not love how Kagawa dealt with this specific issue, I acknowledge that it had to be done.

 But really. The depth of Ash's character shines through and ultimately illuminates this book so well. There are so many twists and surprises within him, and each one is totally understandable.

And the best part is, I finished the book feeling completely satisfied. Nothing felt like it was left open, in my opinion, and as sad as it is that this is over, it was definitely worth the ride.

Special thanks to Harlequin Teen for providing me an advance copy of Iron Knight from Net Galley! No other compensation was received.

The link below is my affiliate link to take you to TBD page for $7.29 for a paperback copy - hardcover available as well, but this is the cheapest option :)

Winter's Passage & Summer's Crossing

There are two Iron Fey novellas available as e-books which fit nicely in the series as books 1.5 and 3.5. They don't take long to read, and if you picked them up when they were first available they were free on Kindle (but Winter's Passage is now $2.39 but Summer's Crossing is still free)! Because they're so short, I'm including them both in this review post.

Winter's Passage (The Iron Fey #1.5) by Julie Kagawa
Released: May 20, 2010
Harlequin Teen
ISBN13: 9781426858321

3/5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
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 didn't realize that Winter's Passage existed until I went to pick up Summer's Crossing.... only to realize I had missed one. And I had meant to read them all in order, sigh. So I picked it up and read through it quickly anyways.

Since I've been reading through the series so quickly, I had a hard time remember which events occurred in which books. But Winter's Passage seemed to have a few flaws in my opinion. There were just a couple things that happened that didn't make any sense.

First of all, how come Meghan was able to use summer glamour here without getting sick? At this point, she's killed Machina and absorbed the iron glamour... right? Am I just missing something? This part just didn't seem to flow with the rest of the series. But I could be completely wrong on this one.

I also didn't see why Ash kissing her would save her from freezing to death. I'm sure it would surprise her- but still, she was passing out from the cold. I just couldn't see how that really made much sense.

I did like being able to read about how Ash and Meghan came to the Unseelie Court and what happened in between books 1 and 2. It felt like a little bit of insider info, which would be enjoyable to those who are fans of the series.

Summer's Crossing (The Iron Fey #3.5) by Julie Kagawa
Released: June 1, 2011
Harlequin Teen
ISBN13: 9781459206403

4/5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
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. I haven't started reading The Iron Knight yet (I start that tonight- yay!) so I can't speak to how well Summer's Crossing fits in between books 3 and 4.

What I can say though, is that Summer's Crossing is a fantastic novella told from Puck's POV; and I'm sure you can imagine how much fun that is to read! I really liked how Kagawa revealed a bit more about Puck's feelings and the inner struggle he seems to be facing at this point in time in regards to the relationship between Ash and Meghan. It really added more depth to his character, being able to see that it isn't always fun and games with him.

It was also neat to see the relationship between Ash and Puck a bit more. I think we get a better sense of how they used to be friends, since most of the other books have been focused on them trying to fight each other constantly. But you can see that there is an underlying trust between them, that isn't found between many Fey at all.

The Iron Queen

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
Released:
Harlequin Teen
ISBN13: 9780373210183

4.5 Stars/5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
My name is Meghan Chase.
I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.
This time, there will be no turning back.

The Iron Queen is thoroughly enchanting in every way; Kagawa seems to be able to find every possible heartwrenching method of drawing you even further into her magical fae world.

Remember how I mentioned in my earlier reviews of The Iron King and The Iron Daughter that Meghan kind of bothered me? Yeah, not anymore. Meghan matures beautifully from a girl into a strong young woman. But the progress is natural, and completely justified after everything she's gone through in the previous novels.

And Ash is even more swoonworthy than he ever was before. He's still Ash, and doesn't lose any part of himself that made him so attractive in the beginning, but there's a slight warmth and lightheartedness that wasn't there before. The relationship between Meghan and Ash is still complicated, but plausibly so. Summer and Winter together? It's obviously not going to be easy, and was never expected to be simple.

My biggest pet peeve was that Meghan was so honest about leading Puck on... but continued to do so up until a point. Just... give the poor guy a break already.

I was utterly entrhalled with The Iron Fey world and can I just say how much I adored the faery traditions? Particularly the one between a knight and his lady... sigh. It sounds lovely and truly romantic.

The theme of relationships is evident throughout the series, but particularly at this point in the series. Family, friendship and love are all valued very highly by Kagawa's characters and it's beautiful to see how these various relationships play out as Meghan navigates the Nevernever world. Something I really appreciated was how grave the idea of sex was treated. It comes up as an issue between Ash and Meghan as the sexual tension is building, but it's something they both treat reverently and don't barge into quickly. It really pleased me to see it treated that way, as something of a commitment between two people in a YA book.

The last thing that broke my heart as I was reading it was the revelation of Meghan's father. The thought of losing one's memories is something that completely terrifies me, and I know this was one part that really tugged at my heart strings.

I'm just really glad I waited to read this series until I had a copy of The Iron Knight on hand, because I really don't think I could handle waiting for more after the ending.

The Iron Daughter

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Released: August 1, 2010
Harlequin Teen
ISBN13: 9780373210138

4/5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Reading the Iron Daughter was like riding an emotional rollercoaster in a fascinating, dark faerie world created by Kagawa.
I was happy to see that quite a few of the aspects that bothered me about The Iron King began to grow on me in The Iron Daughter; most important of those was Meghan herself.

I have to admit though, that the complexity of Meghan and Ash's relationship is probably as frustrating for the reader as it is for Meghan. Probably because we're forced to listen to her angsty, lovesickness moping around without really doing anything useful or interesting. But at the same time, you can see positive changes begin to take root in her.

Something else I really appreciate is how honest everyone is about Meghan's flaws; particularly where Ash is concerned. Even he points out to her again and again exactly whawt her flaws are, and she's never set up on a pedastal as the perfect girl or perfect character. And the determination and fierce attitude after her heart is broken is admirable, and I'm glad ot see that she does show some sort of strength in the midst of that (even though it seemed to take a while for to get to that point).

I also really enjoyed the bantering and bickering between Puck and Ash- you can easily see that they used to be such good friends at one point in time. They're equally delectable characters, and Meghan's relationship with each of them amounts to one of the best love triangles I've ever seen. It never feels overly drawn out or overplayed to me, and parts of it seem natural (although there is one issue I take with it feeling somewhat forced on Meghan's part in regards to her possible interest in Puck).

Most importantly though, I like how they always maintain perspective of what's really vital and needs to be done, rather than sulking around and fighting like teenagers (even though the Unseelie Court reminded me of highschool). The plot manages to stay central at all times, and the character development continues to be strong proving it to be an enjoyable sequel building up to an even greater interest in the fates of these mesmerizing faeries.

The Iron King

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Released: February 1, 2010
HarlequinTEEN
ISBN13: 9780373210084

4/5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Wow, so how come it took me so long to start reading this series?!

The Iron King is an enticing introduction to the world of The Iron Fey. Kagawa's execution is brilliant as she lures both Meghan and her readers in to a frightening, curious world of fae and other fantasy creatures. Nothing is as it seems, and your perception of faeries comes completely undone to become something new and delightfully different. Although Kagawa sticks close to the more traditional idea of faeries than our contemporary idea of Tinker Bell (thankfully)!

The beginning of The Iron King is delightfully creepy, and works well as a set up to the rest of the novel. I really enjoyed reading about Meghan and Puck's friendship; I just really liked Puck as a character, right down to his one liners that were so bad they were funny. He's such a quirky, multi-faceted character! But before you even ask, right now I'm Team Ash simply because I didn't get a romantic vibe from the relationship between Meghan and Puck. Yet. But I haven't finished the series yet, either!

Ash is wonderful in his own way, he's like the antithesis to Puck. And that's probably what makes them both so interesting, is how different they are yet I still love how very real they feel. Everyone in The Iron King is flawed as a character, and that makes them come alive. Now that being said, I actually didn't like Meghan that much. I really disliked her at the beginning because she came across as such a whiny brat complaining about not having one pair of nice jeans. I think she does begin a more mature development as the story progresses though, and hopefully that continues throughout the other books.

One of my favourite things about The Iron King is how illusionary everything felt, as if it was a mirage almost. You can't be too sure of anything, particularly the characters Meghan encounters. There really isn't a clear cut "bad guy" and nothing's entirely black and white. Seriously, talk about depth in a YA novel.

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the technology bit yet. It seemed a bit silly as it played out in the first book, but I'm optimistic about it as a theme for the series as a whole. It's definitely a unique and interesting idea.

Smile - it's Wednesday!

see this lovely picture? It was made by Lindsay at The Violet Hour. Thank you for sharing it!)

Jill @  Breaking the Spine hosts weekly "Waiting on Wednesday" for books that haven't been released yet but we are anxious for!

This week, I'm anxiously awaiting the release of Everneath (Everneath #1) by Brodi Ashton. I really, really love reading Greek myths retold, or antying with mytholigical elements and this cover is just SO beautiful! One of my favourites that I've seen this year.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

MizB @ Should Be Reading hosts WWW Wednesdays... it's super easy to play along and join in!
Just answer these three questions:

What are you currently reading?

Right now, I'm in the middle of the Iron King by Julie Kagawa. I LOVE it, and yes, it has taken me this long to get into the series!

What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished reading Ripple by Mandy Hubbard (review will be up today, promise!!) and before that I finally got around to reading Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (which was sent to me as a gift). So glad I read that one!

What do you think I'll read next?

Well... right now the plan is to read my ARC of Legend by Marie Lu next, and then continue with the Iron Fey series. But my plans always seem to change, haha!

That's it for me this week, but please comment and send me the link to your Wednesday post! I promise to read it (I love seeing what others are sharing!) and try to comment on something :)