Iâd expected to die that day. I was ready. Being ordered by my True Name to walk away, leaving Meghan to die alone in the Iron Kingdom, nearly shattered me a second time. If it wasnât for my oath to be with her again, I mightâve done something suicidal, like challenge Oberon to a battle before the entire Summer Court. But now that Iâve made my promise, there is no turning back. Abandoning my vow will unravel me, bit by bit, until there is nothing left. Even if I wasnât determined to find a way to survive in the Iron Realm, Iâd have no choice but to continue.
I will be with her again, or I will die. There arenât any other options.
Praise for Julie Kagawa and The Iron Fey
âMeghan is a likable heroine and her quest is fraught with danger
and adventure ⦠Expect it to be popular with teens who liked Melissa Marrâs Wicked Lovely.â âSchool Library Journal on The Iron King
âThe Iron King surpasses the greater majority of dark fantasies, leaving a lot for readers to look forward to ⦠The romance is well done and adds to the mood of fantasy.â âteenreads.com
âThe Iron King has it all, a lot of action and a little romance.ââMonsterLibrarian.com âA full five stars to Julie Kagawaâs The Iron Daughter. If you love action, romance and watching how characters mature through heart-wrenching trials, you will love this story.â âMundie Moms blog
âI picked it up and just could not put it down.ââThe Story Siren on The Iron Daughter âThis third installment in the series is just as compelling and complex as its predecessors, and wholly satisfying.â âRealms of Fantasy on The Iron Queen
âThe characters of the series are really what have driven this book
from fantasy to fantastical.â ânyjournalofbooks.com on The Iron Queen
Also available from JULIE KAGAWA and HQ
The Iron Fey series in reading sequence:
The Iron KingWinterâs Passage (ebook) The Iron DaughterThe Iron QueenSummerâs Crossing (ebook) The Iron Knight
The
Iron Knight
Julie Kagawa
Team Ash, this one is for you.
Ah, the Acknowledgments page. Once more, we come to the end of a novel, and once more, I have many, many people to thank. My parents, for without them, I wouldnât be the stubborn, idealistic daydreamer I am today. My agent, Laurie McLean, who is always there to field questions and calm authorly panic attacks, sometimes well after business hours. My wonderful editors, Natashya Wilson and Adam Wilson, and the talented, amazing staff at HQ. This year especially has been a wild and crazy ride, and I could not have been in better company.
To all the awesome bloggers of the YA world, and the fans of Team Ash, this book is especially for you. It is partially because of you that a certain Unseelie prince got his own story, that his journey ended as it did. Thank you.
And, of course, my deepest gratitude goes to my first editor, sounding board, proofreader, problem solver and amazing husband, Nick. You are my knight in shining armor.
CHAPTER ONE
THE HOUSE OF THE BONE WITCH
âOy, ice-boy! You sure you know where youâre going?â
I ignored Robin Goodfellow as we wove through the gray murk of the wyldwood, pushing farther into the soggy swamp known as the Bone Marsh. Mud sucked at my footsteps, and water dripped from twisted green trees so covered in moss they appeared sheathed in slime. Mist coiled around the exposed roots or pooled in sunken areas, hiding what lay beneath, and every so often there was a splash in the still waters farther out, reminding us that we were not alone. As its name suggested, bones were scattered throughout the marsh, jutting out of the mud, half-hidden in tangles of weeds or shimmering beneath the surface of the water, bleached and white. This was a dangerous part of the wyldwood, more so than mostânot because of the catoblepas and the jabberwocks and other monsters that called the dark swamp their home, but because of the resident who lived somewhere deep within the marsh. The one we were going to see.
Something flew past my head from behind, barely missing me, and spattered against a trunk a few feet away. Stopping beneath the tree, I turned and glared at my companion, silently daring him to do that again.
âOh, hey, it lives!â Robin Goodfellow threw up his muddy hands in mock celebration. âI was afraid it had become a zombie or something.â He crossed his arms and smirked at me, mud streaking his red hair and speckling his pointed face. âDid you hear me, ice-boy? Iâve been yelling at you for some time now.â
âYes,â I said, repressing a sigh. âI heard you. I think the jabberwocks on the other side of the swamp heard you.â
âOh, good! Maybe if we fight a couple youâll start paying attention to me!â Puck matched my glare before gesturing around at the swamp. âThis is crazy,â he exclaimed. âHow do we even know heâs here? The Bone Marsh isnât exactly on my list of favorite vacation getaways, prince. You sure your contact knew what he was talking about? If this turns out to be another false lead I might turn that phouka into a pair of gloves.â