Originally posted on Just Geeking by.

Content warnings:
Some scenes that show online toxicity, trolling and misogyny, although these are done from an outside looking in perspective and are more to show the effect of the increase of negativity. There is one scene where some boys get into a fight and a girl is stuck in the middle, vulnerable which may make some people feel a little uncomfortable.

There are scenes of betrayal, death and violence, especially against loved ones.

At the end of The Iron Raven we found out that Touchstone, the capital of the Forgotten had vanished and Prince Keirran, Meghan and Ash’s son and King of the Forgotten, along with it. Those were quite literally the final words of the book. There are mere seconds that pass between the events of book one and book two, that and a change of narrator. Unlike book one, The Iron Sword is from Ash’s perspective, suggesting that this series is going to be a mixture of perspectives. After reading this one, I think what Kagawa is doing is taking each character through a mini-trial in each book. In this one we learn the nature of Evenfall and once you’ve read it for yourselves you’ll understand what I mean. While it would have been nice to have more Puck, this is an event that affects every one of the Iron Fey heroes and as the tag line says it’s five legends against an unstoppable evil to save their world. Each of them are going to have to dive deep and overcome things they’ve long buried or tried to hide before they’re ready to stop Evenfall. It also makes much more sense to have swapped to Ash or Meghan for this book as the majority of it is about finding Keirran and what happened to Tombstone. While Puck cares about the Prince, he’s not as heavily invested as either of his parents.

While we’ve had a book from Ash’s perspective before (The Iron Knight), The Iron Sword is from a much older and wiser Ash. He’s a husband, a parent, a ruler alongside Meghan. While love and loyalty still drive him, we get a very different perspective in this book, a much more mature one. He’s still dealing with the same old demons though, and while time has given him perspective and a bit more patience, he has to face them just as Puck did in The Iron Raven.

When we learn the nature of Evenfall and the ancient power that is rising it makes much more sense why Kagawa is putting her characters through these personal challenges. I wonder who will be next; Meghan, Kierran or possibly the new character Nyx? The first Iron Fey series was four books long, the second was a trilogy, so it’s possible we could get one or two more books. I think it would make more sense to have one from Nyx if there’s only one more book.

I liked the way Kagawa involved events of modern society and technology, recreating what drew me to The Iron Fey series many years ago. Unlike other Fey series, The Iron Fey series merges the modern and the magic, instead of shying away from all things modern. Kagawa does so again in The Iron Sword, this time engaging the topic of online toxicity and trolling, an issue that has grown to be a huge issue in the Western world over the last decade. By doing so there’s the underlying suggestion that we look at what influences us as we all have the capability to be toxic, as seen in several scenes when fights break out among minor characters. While there’s something magical afoot in The Iron Sword, it’s confirmed that the negativity already existed. It’s just being taken advantage of, and manipulated and therefore, it has become elevated beyond normal levels.

As more of the storyline is revealed links to previous books appear, with some wonderful appearances from other characters. There’s also a fantastic look back at the past which shows us what two characters used to look like in their prime, and I know I’ll never be looking at someone the same way again. Everything has led to this event, to Evenfall, and I’m sure there will be even more nods to previous books before the series is finished. One thing is for sure, the Nevernever will never be the same again…


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“The end has begun. Evenfall is coming. Faery and every living creature that exists under the sun are doomed.”

While it’s not strictly necessary to be familiar with the Iron Fey series which includes the four books of The Iron Fey (The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen and The Iron Knight) and The Iron Fey: Call of Forgotten trilogy (The Lost Prince, The Iron Traitor and The Iron Warrior), plus various novellas, you do need to have read the first book of this spin-off series, The Iron Raven, to enjoy this direct sequel.

The Iron Sword begins where The Iron Raven ended, though this time the story is told from Ash’s point of view, as Ash, the unseelie Winter Prince with a soul, and his wife, Megan, the human Iron Queen, learn that their son, Kierran, King of the Forgotten, is missing after his realm in the Between was corrupted by a shadow monster. Joined by Puck, assassin Nyx, and Grimalkin, the party sets off in search of Kierran while trying to learn more about Evenfall, and the shadow monsters invading Faery. Their journey takes them into the mortal world where Kierran is protecting the survivors of his kingdom, and it’s here, with some help from Megan’s half brother, and his wife, Kenzie, that they will find the answers they all seek.

With Ash taking centre stage as the narrator of The Iron Sword, Megan and Puck are essentially sidelined. Ash is not a terribly complicated character, and I felt his narrative reflected this. His internal monologues were quite repetitive, declarations to protect his family at any cost, and a debate, influenced by the negative emotions stirred by the various shadow monsters, about the consequences of unleashing, or failing to unleash, his full unseelie nature.

Fortunately there’s plenty of fast paced action in The Iron Sword because Ash is a dynamic fighter, A few smaller skirmishes eventually lead to an impressive multi-staged battle that the group seem on the verge of losing until some surprising allies step in. Kagawa is skilled at conjuring these scenes so that it’s easy to visualise the chaos of swords and magic as the hero’s and monsters clash.

I don’t want to spoil the particulars of what Evenfall is, but I do think it works well within Kagawa’s established lore. I also liked the connections she drew between the real world and fae elements.

Unsurprisingly the book ends on a cliffhanger, with the whole of faery, and the mortal world, in danger of shattering. I expect it will be Megan who will tell the final instalment of the trilogy, and I’m looking forward to it. The nightmare of Evenfall is upon us. ( )