OK, so I got up at 5 am this morning to watch Julie Kagawa host her Livestream video....live. I was one of the many excited fans to be able to witness this and also take part in the crazy chat that went on throughout the video. Basically, the video was about Julie Kagawa's background, how she came to write the Iron Fey Series and other things about her books. But the thing that got my attention (even though everything else was extremely riviting) was the information about the Iron Knight. Now for those unlucky people who were not able to view this live video, I'm pretty sure that Harlequin Teen will post a replay of the video soon and Julie Kagawa will also post it on her blog. But hey, let me tell you, it was....AWESOME. Seriously. I was sweating all the way through because I was so nervous. That is dedication right there.
She talked about the Iron Knight and showed the cover (both front and back) and finally revealed the synopsis of the Iron Knight. Do you want to see it? OK, here it is. Enjoy :)
Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.
Unless he can earn a soul.
To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.
Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.
With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.
To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.
And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Awesome, I know. I was squealing (quietly) when I heard this. But that wasn't the most exciting announcement Mrs Kagawa had in store for us. She also read an excerpt from the Iron Knight and then later posted it on her blog! So you guys can check it out there but I will also post it on my blog. So...here it is. The first excerpt of The Iron Knight.
My name, my full, True name, is Ashallayn’darkmyr Tallyn, and I am the last son of the Unseelie Court.
There were three of us at one time, all princes of Winter, myself and my brothers, Sage and Rowan. I never knew my sire, never cared to know him, nor did my siblings ever speak of him. I wasn’t even positive we shared the same sire, but it didn’t matter. In the Unseelie Court, Mab was the sole ruler, the one and only queen. Handsome fey and even wayward mortals she might take to her bed, but Mab shared her throne with no one.
We were never close, my brothers and I. As princes of Winter, we grew up in a world of violence and dark politics. Our queen only encouraged this, favoring the son who earned her good graces while punishing the others. We used each other, played vicious games against one another, but we were all loyal to our court and our queen. Or so I’d thought.
There is a reason the Winter Court freezes out their emotions, why feelings are considered a weakness and a folly among the Unseelie fey. Emotion corrupts the senses, makes them weak, makes them disloyal to kith and court. Jealousy was a dark, dangerous passion that ate at my brother Rowan until he did the unthinkable and turned on his court, betraying us to our enemies. Sage, my eldest sibling, fell to Rowan’s treachery, and he was only the first. In a bid for power, Rowan sided with our greatest enemies, the Iron fey, helping their king nearly destroy the Nevernever. I killed Rowan in the end, avenging Sage and the rest of my kin, but retribution cannot bring either of them back. It’s only me, now. I am the last, the only remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court.
And I’m already dead to her.
Rowan was not the only one to succumb to emotion and passion. My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl. A girl named Meghan Chase, the half-human daughter of our ancient rival, the Summer King. Fate brought us together, and despite everything I did to shield my emotions, despite the laws of our people and the war with the Iron Fey and the threat of eternal banishment from my home, I still found myself falling for her. Our paths were woven together, our fates intertwined, and before the last battle I swore I would follow her to the end of the world, to protect her from all threats, including my own kin, and to die for her if called to do so. I became her knight, and would have gladly served this girl, this mortal who had captured my heart, until the last breath left my body.
But Fate is a cruel mistress, and in the end, our paths were forced apart, as I feared they would. Meghan became the Iron Queen, as was her destiny, and took the throne in the kingdom of the Iron fey. A place I could not follow, not as I am—a faery creature whose essence weakens and burns at the touch of iron. Meghan herself exiled me from the lands of the Iron fey, knowing that staying would kill me, knowing I would try anyway. But before I left, I swore an oath that I would find a way to return, that someday we would be together, and nothing would separate us again. Mab tried to convince me to return to the Winter Court—I was her only prince now, and it was my duty to come home—but I bluntly stated that I was no longer part of the Unseelie Court, that my service to her and Winter was at an end.
There is nothing more terrible than a spurned faery queen, particularly if that was the second time you’d defied her. I escaped the Winter Court with my life intact, but just barely, and I won’t be returning any time soon. Regardless, I feel little regret at turning my back on my queen, my kith, and my home. That part of my life is done. My loyalty, and my heart, belongs to another queen now.
I promised I’d find a way for us to be together. I intend to keep that promise. Even if it means trekking through a sprawling, deadly marsh in search of a rumor. Even if it means putting up with my fiercest and most annoying rival, Robin Goodfellow who—despite all his attempts to hide it—is in love with my queen as well. I don’t know why I haven’t killed him yet. Maybe because Puck is Meghan’s closest friend, and she would mourn him terribly if he were gone (though I can’t understand why). Or, maybe, deep down, I’m tired of being alone.
In any case, it matters little. With every ruin we search, every dragon we slay or every rumor we unearth, I’m one step closer to my goal. Even if it takes a hundred years, I will be with her in the end. Another piece of the puzzle lurks somewhere in this dreary swampland. The only difficulty lies in finding it.
*faints* And I'm the one that's posting this! But still it is so exciting! I love, love, LOVE Ash! And here's some proof.
That little black writting all over the pencil case? Yep, thats Ash's name. I am a true fan.
Here is the version with the flash on.
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And here is the version without the flash. :) I feel proud of myself. It took me a whole month to do all that.
*sighs* I do not regret my efforts. They have been well spent. But anyway, back onto Julie Kagawa news. She is releasing the Iron Knight in October so be on the lookout for it then. Oh yea, Teaser Tuesday will be commencing in August. Yaaaay!
Also, Julie Kagawa is releasing a new series in the spring of 2012. It's called The Immortal Rules and the first book is called The Blood of Eden. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world and instead of faeries...Mrs Kagawa has moved onto vampires. Tee hee. But do not fear fellow Iron Fey Fans, she is also releasing another Iron Fey trilogy that is set several years after the events of the first Iron Fey Series and stars an older Ethan Chase, Meghan's brother. *squeals* Isn't that awesome? I seriously can't wait. I don't know when the first book is comming out or what it's called but I'm sure it's gonna be as awesome as the first series. Mrs Kagawa has outdone herself, yet again.
You can check on Julie Kagawa's blog for the link to her livestream replay for all those who didn't get to see it. *sighs* I think my work here is done for the day. I'll post later.
Cya!
