Winter's Passage/ Summer's Crossing - Julie Kagawa (Iron Fey Series Sides stories Ash/Meghan - Puck/Ash)

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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....

This story is just a side story that comes before "The Iron Daughter". It's not necessary to read it to understand the following book, but it does fill in a few gaps in the story that are mentioned at the beginning. The story covers the journey from the mortal realm to the Winter Realm as Ash is taking Meghan back to fulfill his oath, and Meghan keeping her promise. To be honestly this story wasn't something that I just had to read. Ash is torn between emotion and duty, and Meghan tormented by thoughts of what's to come. It's a short and somewhat fun read, but it didn't engage me as the main stories did. I probably wouldn't re-read it, but it's ok if you're craving something to fill in the space between,but I wouldn't recommend it like I have the main series.

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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.

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.

So again this is another side story to the Iron Fey series after the "The Iron Queen". This time it was Puck's story more than it was Ash's. I will admit this was a better read than "Winter's Crossing". There was actually quite a twist to that I suspected but never saw coming. Puck must deal with the feelings he knows he has,but has never truly talked about (this is the issues I have with first person books. Everything is from one perspective, and you don't gain insight into to other characters as you would from a third person perspective.). He is given an option and forced to choose a side. But all the time the pranks of all pranks is being pulled, and I giggled a few times. It's an enjoyable read, and leads us right into Ash's story "The Iron Knight" to fulfill his promise to Meghan at the end of "The Iron Queen".

The Iron Queen - Julie Kagawa (Iron Fey Series Book 3)

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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.

So if you are looking at dates you wouldn't be wrong, I believe I started this series on Tuesday, and it is now Friday and I'm done. I traded several nights sleep to follow Meghan's journey ( and Ash too. Who doesn't love a bad boy,or in this case faery, with a heart of pure gold?) I wasn't disappointed. I can't say to much other than the fight is coming in this one and the climax really doesn't disappoint.The tensions rise, the battle is coming, and choices are to be made, love is found, hearts are broken and connections are rekindled.

You know how in some books you read and there's a paragraph that is a pinnacle of the whole story and you left with "that's it? That's what I was waiting for?" NOT this book. I was in tears, frustrated and cheering for the characters all at the same time. Meghan's self realization and sacrifice in this book really made me think How much more can this poor girl give? How much more can she lose? Usually I get angry when books end the way I don't want them too, and start thinking in terms of fanfiction. I would have to say not with the ending of this book, I was left with hope.

The next book Iron Knight (Ash's story) comes out in October 25th, 2011. I will be pre ordering it. It is Ash's story and should be the last book. *Fingers crossed for maybe a Puck story? and the happy ending I'm rooting for* Read this series you'll love it

The Iron Daughter - Julie Kagawa (Iron Fey Series Book 2)

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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.

Again I finished this book in about 2 days, sleep deprived. This time Meghan has to fulfill the promise/contract she made with her love Ash. She returns with him to the Tri na nog or the Winter Kingdom, which he is the prince of. She hadn't realized that even with the warnings he gave her, she would still be unprepared for the politics of court, as well as the mask that her prince is forced to hide behind. With both the Summer and Winter courts in denial about the reality of the Iron Fey, in comes another plot against them. This time the Meghan has choices to make, realizations of things around her, and must pick up arms for the ones that seem to care less about her. All the while she tries to distance herself from a certain prince, comes to a realizations about a certain best friend, has someone unwanted entering her dreams and finds out more about her long, lost father, the series just gets better.

*Personal Note: Ok so I have been thinking about why I like this series so much. It breaks a ton of rules I have about reading books. 1) it's about Fairies and 2) it's in FIRST person. The reason I came to after reading chapter 13 in the Iron Queen is that it touches the dreamer in me. There is a love story there that is so strong, along with adventure, I found myself rooting for them out loud more than once. The group grows in maturity but the love story at the heart of it is always present and touches the dreamer in me. I love it.

In the book Oberon (King of the Summer Fey) may seem both cold and distant to his daughter, but I really think it's a power play. There are several times in the book that he tries to "save" his daughter but is thwarted by the very contract she made. He does love her but to show it is a weakness. Make sure to keep that in mind when reading about him.

The Iron King - Julie Kagawa (Iron Fey Series Book 1)

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.

After I ordered this book on my Kindle, it actually took me only a day an a half to finish. I love the "differentness" about it. It reminds me of many stories of technology versus nature. This story encompasses that. The fairies themselves rely on people remembering their names though stories, legends and basically are created by dreams and nightmares. This is where the Seelie and Unseelie courts come from. Taking this thought process and running with it would be the concept of technology today, as everything starts with dreams, and that's all I'll say. I usually HATE faery stories, but I loved this one. So much I ordered the second book as soon as I was done with the first. Read it, you won't be sorry. ^ ^