The Iron Fey #1.5: Winter's Passage

Short and to the point. I present before you all, an interim scene between The Iron King and The Iron Daughter, Winter's Passage.

Here is the summary of the scene:

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.... An eBook exclusive story from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.

Meghan by the end of 'The Iron King' has defeated King Machina and had got her brother back. But she must now honor the end of the deal she had made with the gorgeous winter Prince, Ash.

This scene serves as the account of their journey to the Unseelie Court. And its not a bed of roses. Meghan wants a slight detour from this final departure of sorts - she wants to visit Puck. But this detour does not get unnoticed by an ancient hunter. A hunter who neither belongs to the Seelie or the Unseelie Court. How would Meghan and Ash evade being deleted by his ferocious being?

Winter's Passage is the goods. Every page spews of the anticipation that something is about to happen. Every turn of event speaks of coming horrors. A short scene but Julie Kagawa has out done herself. You'll be surprised - Winter's Passage is really good.

The Iron Fey #1.5: Winter's Passage

The Iron Fey #1: The Iron King

This one has been pilling up for sometime and good enough that it delivers everything it says it would. Lets hear it for Julie Kagawa's The Iron Fey #1 The Iron King.

Here is the summary of the book:

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.

As the vampires and dystopia, the fae seem to be in vogue in the YA book scene. Although I love all things magical but the iron king would be the first book I have read that is of the YA genre. Literary I have come as far as the Shakespeare's 'Midsummer Night's Dream' to the fae lore.

It starts of like this - its Meghan's 16th birthday and definitely nothing can go wrong in her mundane day-to-day life as she like every other highschooler hustles with school with her best friend - well protective best friend Robbie Goodfell to be exact. So its her birthday and like every other day of her life her birthday is nothing different. Even her best friend who is the only one who remembers the day can't repair the dullness of it all. But maybe something is going on and why is she seeing such strange things these days? Well when her younger brother Ethan is kidnapped and replaced by a changeling - a creed of faerie known to be violent - Meghan wants answers. Robbie Goodfell is the one to take charge and he explains the deal about the fae world and that he is King Oberon, the lord of the Seelie (Summer) Court and that Meghan is co-incidentally the only living off-spring of the King of the Summer court - well half-blood.

So with Puck leading the way Meghan enters the Nevernever to only get her brother back. But to her surprise Nevernever is definitely not as the fairytales proclaim them to be. Its tricky, its dangerous and definitely not a place to go joyriding. Aside from being cautious Meghan must be aware of what she says and what she does - for if not careful then by the time she finds her brother she'd be under heavy burden of debts - well nevernever does work on debts doesn't it? Enter Ash, the youngest prince of the Unseelie (Winter) Court. Gorgeous and handsome. Hails from a land frozen in show as the heart is. While his character is enough to give someone a whiplash but Meghan seems to be drawn in to him. And Grimalkin, the mysterious talking cat who is as sharp-witted and cat like as ever.

With the help of Puck, the winter prince and the cat Meghan must navigate the customs and traditions of this unknown land and find her brother before it is too late.

First of all i'd like to say The Iron King delivers the goods. Not only is the Fae lore present in its elements as the beliefs have it without changing the details at all. Second Grimalkin - well i'm not well versed with what the books say about him but he strongly reminded me of the Cheshire cat....yes a strong resemblance to Alice in Wonderland and not to forget Midsummer Night's Dream and Peter Pan too. The plot is intriguing enough. And a lot of twists and turns that will make you sit on the edge of your seats throughout and mystical enough to fill in the quota of like minded Fantasy lovers.

Well a tale this magical tale is never enough without a romantic ark. So yes we have the burgeoning relationship between Ash and Meghan is sweet and beautiful and heart warming. Add to it a jealous best friend Puck and you get a triangle. If you ask me well i'm Team Ash from the first instance. He is tall, he is dark, he is icy and with those silver eyes what is not to like? His feud with Puck was a nice twist in the story. Puck according to me is more of a loyal best friend instead of a love interest. 

As far as the characters go - Ms. Kagawa had nailed them to the spot. Each portrayed a different characteristic and a provided a level of complexity to the plot. Our heroine, Meghan Chase is also fun to follow. She is strong, tentative and emotional, genuine enough. Puck as I already stated a goofball and Ash a forlorn gorgeous prince. Ms. Kagawa has indeed captured every curve and aspect needed to maintain such a humble rhythm on the plot.

The Iron King is a great promising start, with great characters, intriguing plot lines and devious tendencies. Oh hopefully i'll get to start THE IRON DAUGHTER soon.

The Iron Fey #1: The Iron King

Silas

Dogs are a man's best friend. A though astutely established by Robert J. Duperrein his book, Silas.

Here is the summary of the book:

Robert J. Duperre, author of The Fall and Dead of Winter, now presents Silas, a contemporary fantasy novel. Ken Lowery is a man at odds with his life. He hates his job, is disappointed in his marriage, and feels resigned to leading a mundane existence. That all changes when his wife brings home a rambunctious Black Labrador puppy named Silas, who forges a remarkable connection with Ken and begins to heal his inner turmoil. When some neighborhood children start to go missing, he takes it upon himself to protect those around him and is thrust into a surreal world where monsters roam. Not everything is what it seems to be, he soon discovers, including his new best friend.

As I just stated Dogs are a man's best friend, so its the case here. As titled SILAS, is actually the name of the Labrador and who definitely plays a pivotal role with the plot.

The book begins with Ken Lowery who is well at odds with his life and well bidding his last days on a hospital bed. Ken knows he doesn't have long to live but he also desires closure. Closure with what had happened to him in the past. Him and his faithful companion, Silas. Who had walked with him through his toughest times and even had gone to hell and had come back with him.

Try not to get confused by all this though - SILAS may revolve around the dog of the same name but yes the story also part paranormal and part post apocalyptic and dystopic. How?....Well read on....

SILAS, the book can be divided into two parts. The first part deals with the ups and downs of Ken's life on present day Earth. And the second part deals with his adventures in what would be a futuristic alternative reality to Earth, a place suffering from apocalyptic scenario where horrid creatures rule the land.

SILAS is a very moving book. While I admit its a little long but it serves its purpose nonetheless. Not only does it enforce the fact that our pets - well gi-faht (read the book you'll know what i'm talking about here)(well primarily dogs) not only being cute but also form a close bond with their masters but it also makes us wonder - 'What if there is really an alternate reality?' - I definitely don't have an answer to that but yes what I do know is Time is one element that is like a vast to ocean - much is still left to be explored.

It goes to the credit of the author that he had me captivated until the very end. Every pain and every moment of joy clearly resonates with us. Not only the beginning with the end also speaks volumes. Well for one Ken Lowery it was - life is too short to be a jerk for the whole while. But at the heart its a tale of growing up, and learning what is important in life and to value it.

Great job Mr. Duperre!

Silas

Keeping Grace Alive

I love a good thriller but it is a good senile thriller that I prefer much better than the all around actions. So here I present my views of Keeping Grace Alive by Annie Lee.

Here is the summary of the book:

Rudy Talbot, head of one of America's largest organized crime rings, hires his main hit man, Jessie Conners, to kill his step-daughter Grace. Jessie Conners is a seasoned hitman who has never missed a hit before. That is, until he met "Gracie" five years ago and fell in love with her. Gracie is a rebellious socialite in her mid-twenties. Refusing to marry the current Senator's son, Phillip Proctor, Gracie stands in the way of Rudy Talbot and his political dreams. Rudy knows both Jessie and Phillip have feelings for Gracie. Attempting to play the two men off of each other, Rudy's plan backfires when Jessie stages an abduction to whisk Gracie to safety. But Conner's had no idea that falling in love with Gracie would lead to the seemingly impossible task of keeping Gracie alive as her own medical conditions and step-father threaten her every move. Hiding her in his Pocono Mountain cabin, it soon becomes apparent that the only person who can keep Gracie alive is herself. And the only thing that guarantees her safety, going back and facing her past, will most likely get her killed. Jessie Conners goes against everything he knows in a struggle to save the love of his life. Suspense, mystery, and romance await readers of Keeping Grace Alive.

While thriller is maybe a form of fiction that well explains the idea of adrenalin rush but it is adrenalin rush in more way than the action aspect of a thriller novel.

The story picks up with Jessie Conners is a seasoned hitman who has never missed a hit before of Rudy Talbot, one of the most ruthless head of one of America's largest organized crime rings. He hires Jessie to remove his pesky rebellious step-daughter Grace "Gracie" Talbot out of his forever. For refusing to marry the current senator's son she stands in his way of his political gains. Jessie on the other hand has his own agenda at hand. At the previous three attempts Jessie had purposely botched them. Why? Simple he loves her....he fell for her five years prior at a chanced meeting.

But Rudy may be onto something this time. He even has something of his own planned out. Jessie is down to the last straw. This may be the last chance to save Gracie. And yes Rudy's plan to play off Jessie and the senator's son knowing both to have feeling her backfires when Jessie stages an abduction and takes off with Gracie to safety. What follow is a turn of events...well you can say roller coaster ride of emotions and circumstances that lead to the conclusion that only Jessie can keep her safe....and well step-up to the ultimatum if he wants that safety to be prolonged.

Keeping Grace Alive is the first of the Pocono Mountains series and it is well written. While a lot of things at first may seem impractical and fictitious but when you come to think about it you'd say...'well there are exceptions to the rule....come on imagine a huge, 6 foot plus black guy who cries at Hallmark commercials...kinda sounds ridiculous but there are exceptions. So it works for me.

If the relationship between Jessie and Grace be mentioned. Well I'd say they make a unique pair. A lot of the readers might connect them to Shakespeare's starcrossed couple Romeo and Juliet but I won't compare them to that - well melodrama (Well Jessie and Gracie do get a happy ending while Shakespeare's pair get not a kind happy ending but peace I suppose). Every interaction between them is endearing and sweet and up to a certain extent sensual. Jessie maybe this big bad hit man but he falls deeply in love with this fragile woman and completely submits himself to her. He's also not ashamed to tell her that he loves her from the moment he saw her, and gives her a chance to see if she feels the same.

Also as I had already mentioned before and i'll say it again - it is well written. The biggest complement an author expects is that his/her readers are able to connect to her writing and enjoy the tale. So, in context i'd like to congratulate Miss Annie Lee for a job well done.

Keeping Grace Alive