Series Showcase: Iron Knight Giveaway!

To celebrate my Iron King Series Showcase, I am giving away one paperback copy of Iron Knight. This giveaway is only available for those in the UK, but for my international followers, there will be chances to win other goodies very soon!

I've read lots of amazing series books recently, and I wanted to share some of my favourites with my followers. But I also want to get to know my followers better. So to win a copy of Iron Knight, all you have to do is be a follower of this blog, and leave a comment telling me something about yourself.

For example, mine would read: Hi! I'm Pamela, and after seven seasons, I am still totally unable to chose between Sam and Dean Winchester.

Easy!

There are extra ways to win bonus points, but these aren't mandatory. You can tweet about the giveaway (+1), post about it on Facebook (+1), blog about it (+5), etc. I really appreciate my followers spreading the word, and love, and working together to get to know each other better!

If you do decide to spread the word, just tell me in your comment along with links to it and a way for me to contact you if you have won.

Also, even if you aren't eligible to win, please still feel free to comment and let us know something about yourself, or spread the word! It would be much appreciated.

Closing date for entries is 5th March and the winner will be notified on 9th March.

Many thanks, good luck and much love!

Pxx

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Series Showcase Part Four: Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Mira Ink (6 Jan 2012)
• Language English
• ISBN-10: 1848450605
• ISBN-13: 978-1848450608
• He gave up everything. All for a girl... and all for nothing. To emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought. Then Meghan Chase a half human, half fey smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive. With the company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and infuriating talking cat Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end a quest to find a way to honour his solemn vow to stand by Meghan s side.

I'm back with Part Four in the Iron King Series Showcase. Here we have a review of Iron Knight, which was, absolutely, completely, my favourite book in the series. And as a little something extra, I have an Iron Knight shaped surprise to come on Monday! Stay tuned...

In the last instalment of the Iron Fey series, Iron Knight is told by Ash. He swore to find a way to be with Megan, to earn his soul to become mortal so he can survive the Iron realm. But the trials he face will not be easy; the hardest he has ever known. But he is bound by his oath to try – to find a way to return to the Queen he loves. With old and new faces to see him on his journey, Ash must ask himself whether or not mortality is something he wants.

Puck is once again assisting Ash, this time to help Megan. Though he himself loves her, Puck knows if anything should happen to Ash it would destroy her. Ash and Puck seek out a familiar cait sith to help them find what they are looking for and to start them on the perilous journey.

Iron Knight is a gritty and raw book with characters plucked straight out of your own nightmares. Ash’s voice is self deprecating yet determined, his love for Megan like a break in the clouds. His banter with Puck eases the tension before it racks back up again.

I held my breath for much of this book, torn between wanting to rush through it to find out what happens next, and wanting to prolong it so it could last forever. Terrified to read another sentence in case it ended badly.

Julie Kagawa created a world, and characters, that I fell completely in love with. After the final page was turned, I hugged the book to my chest, happy and sad all at once. Devastated that it was over. But hey, that’s what re-reading is for.

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Series Showcase Part Three: Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mira Ink (21 Oct 2011)
• Language English
• ISBN-10: 0778304795
• ISBN-13: 978-0778304791
• In less than twenty four hours, I'll be seventeen. Although, technically, I won't actually be turning seventeen. I've been in the Nevernever too long. When you're in Faery, you don't age. So while a year has passed in the real world, agewise I'm probably only a few days older than when I went in. In real life, I've changed so much I don't even recognize myself. 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.

Back with Part Three of the Iron King Series Showcase with a review of Iron Queen. You know the drill by now - I want to know what YOU thought!

Megan Chase thought her trials were over. She thought her time with the fey was done with; all her duties repaid. Now it was time to return home and be happy…be with her prince. Banished and exiled, Ash and Megan can finally be together. But Faery isn’t quite ready to let Megan leave yet.

Only Megan can penetrate the Iron realm and destroy the false king. Summer and Winter have joined forces to defeat the Iron fey but they are quickly losing ground. If Megan does not help, the Nevernever will soon be lost…and all of fey with it.

Megan soon finds herself in the midst of danger once again, her ever present guardians at her side. Puck and Ash, the rivals who are once again at each other’s throats over a girl. The amazing cait sith who guides them into the heart of danger and now…gremlins. And I seriously loved the gremlins.

Iron Queen had the most action of all the Iron Fey books and I literally found myself on the edge of my seat for the most of it. The tension reached dizzying heights, as did the romance. With Ash swearing his devotion to Megan, nothing can part him from her side.

Julie Kagawa leaves you with one heck of an ending that will have you tripping over your own feet to get the next book. 

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Series Showcase Part Two: Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: MIRA Books (15 April 2011)
• Language English
• ISBN-10: 0778304469
• ISBN-13: 978-0778304463
• 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.

February is Iron King Series Showcase Month! I will be reviewing each book in the series, and ask my beautiful followers to tell me what they thought of the series - what you liked, what you didn't like, are you Team Grimalkin? Tell us! 

Abandoned by the prince she thought loved her, Megan is slowly freezing in the Winter court. She stuck by her oath to Ash and agreed to go with him back to Tir Na Nog in payment for his help on the journey to find her brother.

Megan is hated within the Winter Court. Accused of lying about the impending threat of the Iron fey and the daughter of Winter’s enemy, she has every reason to fear the Unseelie fey.

When the Sceptre of the Seasons is stolen from the Winter Court, Summer is quickly blamed, and war soon to follow. Only Megan knows the truth, that it was Iron behind the theft, with traitors inside the court aiding the Iron fey. Megan knows she must retrieve the Sceptre before both courts destroy each other when instead they should be allying.

Iron Daughter didn’t feel like a sequel. It stood just as strong as the first book in the series, and in a way, supports the first. We get more background development and character growth, making it even more easy to fall for Ash and Puck. Megan herself is a stronger character, though she herself would never admit it.

We see plenty of action in Iron Daughter, impossible situations and deadly missions. Megan is more than adequately equipped with help on her travels, with unlikely protectors and feline guides cropping up.

This is one of the best YA fantasy series out there. It is expertly written with extremely loveable characters and a storyline to keep you on the edge of your seat. And the kissing…oh, Lord, the kissing...

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Series Showcase Part One: Iron King by Julie Kagawa

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mira Books (21 Jan 2011)
• Language English
• ISBN-10: 0778304345
• ISBN-13: 978-0778304340

My name is Meghan Chase. In less than twenty-four hours I'll be sixteen. Countless stories, songs and poems have been written about this wonderful age, when a girl finds true love and the stars shine for her and the handsome prince carries her off into the sunset. I don't think it will be that way for me. 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 fairy 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.

To kick start February's Series Showcase, I have a review of Iron King by Julie Kagawa. For everyone who has read it, please comment and let me know what you thought of it. What you liked, what you hated, were you Team Ash or Team Puck? I want to know! I also have a special surprise at the end of the Showcase, so stay tuned...

Megan Chase is an ordinary girl. In twenty four hours, she will be sixteen. And just for once, she would like something to happen in her life. Living with her mother, step-father and half brother, Ethan, Megan often feels ignored and taken for granted. The only bright spot in her life is best friend, Robbie Goodfell.

Megan thinks her luck is about to change when she is finally on her life-long crushes radar. Too bad her luck backfires and she becomes the target of a cruel and awful prank. Things go from bad to worse in Megan’s life when she discovers Ethan has been taken…and only she can get him back.

Robbie reveals to her that he is not what he seems and neither is she. She is part fey, and Ethan has been taken into Faery. She can get him back, if she’s brave enough to make the journey.

When Megan arrives in the Nevernever, she discovers more about herself than she ever could have believed. She is not the daughter of the mortal who disappeared when she was six like she thought. She is the daughter of Oberon, the Summer King which makes her an easy target for many enemies.

Megan attracts the attention of Ash, the Winter Prince. Winter and Summer have always been foes, but Ash may be the one person who can help her get Ethan back.

           

Megan was a strong character to lead us through the story with a likeable voice and personality. Her struggles in the beginning of the book is something most teenagers can identify with. Being in first person, you really get inside her head, feel what she feels. And trust me, I felt every bit as mortified.

The introduction of Ash was beautifully done. A dark prince who says he may yet kill her, or at the very least betray her, Ash is the ultimate bad boy. His rivalry with Puck increases the reader’s curiosity, making them want to know every moment of their past.

Julie Kagawa has created a beautiful knew story world, combining old legends and modern dreaming with an incredible cast of characters to keep the story going. The romance was tender and bittersweet, the humour dark and twisted. I loved every second of this book. 

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Series Showcase!

Recently it feels as though all the books I'm reading are series books. Some I have been a fan of from the beginning, but a lot are ones I'm only now getting around to.  It feels amazing to devour the whole series in a matter of days! No more waiting years for the end book to come...no more agonising wait for answers. 

To celebrate these amazing series, over the next few months I am going to showcase one series per month. Starting with..

Among the reviews there will also be a few giveaways over the coming months and I hope to get lots of follower involvement. Polls and chats about your favourite series and series characters. 

I will still be featuring my regular reviews also, so tune in for those and the series fun!

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Book Review: Fallen In Love by Lauren Kate

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Childrens (2 Feb 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0857531646
• ISBN-13: 978-0857531643

Unexpected. Unrequited. Forbidden. Eternal. Everyone has their own love story.

And in a twist of fate, four extraordinary love stories combine over the course of a romantic Valentine's Day in Medieval England. Miles and Shelby find love where they least expect it. Roland learns a painful lesson about finding-and losing love. Arianne pays the price for a love so fierce it burns. And for the first -and last- time, Daniel and Luce will spend a night together like none other.

Lauren Kate's FALLEN IN LOVE is filled with love stories . . . the ones everyone has been waiting for.

True love never says goodbye . . .

 What better way to fill the time between books in a series you love, than a lovely valentine’s novella?

Fallen In Love had the same feel as the other books in the Fallen series, but shorter and with something beautiful – a new insight into the angels.

We get snippets of Roland’s lost love, his struggle with balancing who he is and someone he thinks will never accept him...and wonders if it is even fair to ask her to try. Arriane gets her own chapter and Cam gets a small look in also (thank goodness - I am majorly Team Cam!)…but the most touching was Miles and Shelby and their portion of the book.

The nephilim work together with the angels to try and give Luce and Daniel something the never get – a Valentine’s day together and no drama with it.

There isn’t a lot to be said about Fallen In Love…it’s short and to the point and oh so perfectly written. Fallen fans will adore it and make the wait for Rapture that bit more easier. Or harder. Depends how you look at it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the review copy.  

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