The Iron Legends by Julie Kagawa
(Cover picture courtesy of Goodreads.)
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 Guide to the Iron Fey with exclusive information about Julie Kagawa’s unforgettable world of Faery.
Winter’s Passage
Never make a promise to a faery. They always come to collect. Now Meghan Chase must fulfill her promise to Prince Ash of the Winter Court and embark upon a dangerous journey into the heart of enemy territory—while being pursued by a relentless new foe and guarding her own foolish heart.
Summer’s Crossing
What can turn enemies into reluctant allies? A call from the Exile Queen, Leanansidhe, ties legendary prankster Puck to his archenemy, Prince Ash, on a journey that may end in betrayal and will set them both on an irreversible path.
Iron’s Prophecy
Before she ever knew what might become, Iron Queen Meghan Chase was warned by the oracle that her firstborn child would bring nothing but grief. And even as Meghan and Ash celebrate their long-awaited union, the prophecy stirs….
Being the Luddite that I am, I still do not own an e-reader and frankly don’t plan on getting one. Reading on a screen strains my eyes and paperbacks are much more portable (or at least, more convenient to move without worrying about the battery draining). This is why I’m so glad that Julie Kagawa’s formerly e-book only novellas are now available in print—I never would have been able to read them otherwise.
For fans of The Iron Fey, the three novellas and the Guide to the Iron Fey will be great additions to the series. If you haven’t read all of the books in the series, then you should not read The Iron Legends because there are some massive spoilers. Besides that, you won’t be able to appreciate all of the interwoven plot lines nearly as much. Much like how Cassandra Clare has joined her Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series, Julie Kagawa has joined her Iron Fey series with her brand new series, Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten. And, as someone who obtained an ARC of The Lost Prince, let me say that you had better read the novella Iron’s Prophecy before you read it. It explains a lot of the secondary characters’ behavior towards Ethan.
Although the Guide to the Iron Fey promises to have exclusive information, there really isn’t all that much that’s new. Julie Kagawa expands a bit on the Nevernever, but there’s nothing really all that special that makes the guide a must-read. Well, unless you’re a fan of Grimalkin because the Cait Sith has his own ‘comments’ on his biography and much of the information about the world of faeries. However, what follows the guide is an excerpt from The Lost Prince and it definitely makes the wait for October 23 more difficult. Even though I obtained an ARC from NetGalley and my review won’t appear until later this month, here’s a hint: it was so good I intend to buy a print copy when it comes out.
To wrap things up: if you love the Iron Fey, you’ll love this anthology, but you should read all four books in the series before you read The Iron Legends.
I give this book 4/5 stars.