Review Detail

In this fourth book in the Iron Fey series, Julie Kagawa proves again why this is a series you must not dare miss. Love is a very powerful thing, even for feys.

Ash, the former prince of Winter Court, is now on a journey to fulfill her promise to Meghan to find a way to be by her side. For that to happen, he must gain a soul. But gaining a soul would mean that he will become human, something that has never happened in Faery. He will brace the impossible and the unknown, holding on to his promise and love for the Iron Queen.

This is for me a very emotional book, far more than The Iron Queen (though I bawled with that one). Ash's journey to gain his soul is not easy. Think of it like Prince Ash stripped and bared (not physically y'all) in preparation to be reborn. I cried for Ash and have renewed appreciation for him.

More than his strength, he is challenged in every possible way, including his love for Meghan. To think that love has been tested without even reaching the challenge proper. Don't want to give out spoiler here but his heart will be pulled in every direction.

He is accompanied by his arch nemesis, Puck, whose wit and their banter shows their deep camaraderie. But their fragile friendship will have finally reach its turning point. Will their decades of friendship be enough to outweigh their decades of hatred and regret?

We will also see Puck open up here than we'd ever seen him before. The story will give us an insight in how well he and Ash knows each other and the friendship they have. He might be a prankster, but behind it is Robin Goodfellow who have loved, lost, but is loyal until the end.

Ash will have to accept the darkness within him if he truly wants to keep the love he has found. He will need to come into terms with the grief of his past to move on. And finally, can he accept the sacrifices he will have to make to be mortal? Will his love be enough? Or will he give in to the call of Winter?