Review

Normally the heroine seeks a happily ever after, but this time it’s the hero.

The Iron Knight picks up where The Iron Queen ended. Ash Tallyn, last son of the Unseelie Fey court, is on a mission to discover a way to become human. Only as a human can he survive in the iron realm and reunite with his beloved Meghan, the Queen of the Iron Fey.  Familiar characters join him on the journey, but Ash quickly discovers that becoming human is no walk in the park. The real question is whether the transformation is worth the sacrifice, and is this really what a centuries old fey wants?

Fairies! Chock full of fairies, that’s what the Iron Fey series from Kagawa is all about. This is my first foray into the series, and unfortunately I came in at the end. Not to worry as this book can easily stand on its own. The story, though told from a first person perspective, is amazing. Kagawa has an extremely creative mind and does a phenomenal job of bringing readers into the fey world. You easily get lost in the adventure, and I found myself wishing I could travel along with Ash’s little entourage on his journey to become human.

For faithful readers, this book will surely excite, as you finally get a chance to get inside Ash’s head. For a prince who was once cruel and wicked, Ash has definitely been transformed by love. The inner turmoil and personal growth challenges that Ash faces in the story are very poignant and relatable. Readers also get a little more of Ash’s history, and for someone who has been around for thousands of years there is plenty of it. Those wondering about specific scenarios will just have to read the book. If you’re wondering whether Ash and Meghan will have a HEA, I can’t say. I will say that even though the pair are separated from each other, there is at least a few moments of connection. Like in this one scene:

For a moment, I just watched her, tossing crumbs into the water, smiling as the ducks swarmed over them. I knew this wasn’t real; the real Meghan was back in the Iron Realm as the powerful Iron Queen.

She must have heard me, or sensed my presence, for she turned and her blue eyes widened. “Ash?” she whispered, and the smile that crept over her face warmed me like the sun.

“What are you doing here?”

I couldn’t help but smile back. “I don’t know,” I told her, taking the hand she offered and letting her pull me close. “I think…this is a dream.”

Of course Ash gets some familiar companions on his journey including Puck, ever the trickster and still dueling away with Ash over their century old issues. Along with the grumpy, quick to run Grimalkin who is happy to assist as long as he’s not asked to put his own fur at risk. Honestly, I found myself charmed by the once Prince of the Winter Unseelie Court, and truly wished for him to have success in finding a way to reunite with Meghan.

Overall, this is delightful story that will have you buying the other books just to see the full transformation of Ash’s love for the Iron Queen. For those who have read the other books, this story completes the Iron Fey series spectacularly. 

Reviewed by Landra