Author Spotlight: JULIE KAGAWA

About Julie Kagawa:

Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn�t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel.

When not swimming for her life, Julie immersed herself in books, often to the chagrin of her schoolteachers, who would find she hid novels behind her Math textbooks during class. Her love of reading led her to pen some very dark and gruesome stories, complete with colored illustrations, to shock her hapless teachers. The gory tales faded with time, but the passion for writing remained, long after she graduated and was supposed to get a real job.

To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dogtrainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time.

Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian Shepherd who is too smart for his own good, and the latest addition, a hyper-active Papillon puppy.

Julie's latest release:

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
Book 1 of the Blood Of Eden series
Genre: urban fantasy

About The Immortal Rules:

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

Source: Info in the About The Immortal Rules was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10215349-the-immortal-rules on 09/04/2012.

Series of books written by Julie:
Blood of Eden series
The Iron Fey series
The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten series

Author Link(s):
Julie Kagawa

Book Link(s):
www.theironfey.com
GoodReads

Publisher Link(s):
Mira Ink
Mira at Facebook

THE IMMORTAL RULES Book trailer

Wishlist:

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
Book 1 of the Blood Of Eden series

About The Immortal Rules:

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

Source: Info in the About The Immortal Rules was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10215349-the-immortal-rules on 30/03/2012.

Guest Post: JULIE KAGAWA

Originally, The Iron Fey series was going to be a trilogy, ending with The Iron Queen. Meghan's story had come to a close the way I envisioned it; she had to grow up and learned to take responsibility, even at great cost and sacrifice. She had made the journey from an ordinary, somewhat timid girl into a powerful faery queen who put the needs of her kingdom above her own desires. Her tale was done.

Ash's story, however, was just beginning.

I never intended to write a book about Ash, in his own point of view, no less. But I realized he has so many secrets and old demons in his past--and his feud with Puck really needed to be resolved, one way or another. I realized I couldn't tell this story in Meghan's point of view. Meghan had already made her sacrifice and her character arc was complete. Now it was Ash's turn to see how far he would go, how much he would sacrifice, to be with her. It was actually kind of scary, giving him his own book. How would readers react now that the walls and the masks were down, seeing the 'real' Ash? But I can say with complete sincerity that the Winter Prince has always been my favourite character, and I tried to write him as honestly as I could.I hope readers will love him as much as I do. So, as it says in the front of the book: "Team Ash, this one is for you."

Author Link(s):
Julie Kagawa

Book Link(s):
www.theironfey.com/
GoodReads

Publisher Link(s):
Mira Ink
Mira at Facebook

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
Book 4 of the Iron Fey series

Genre: urban fantasy

About The Iron Knight:

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.

Source: Info in the About The Iron Knight was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9659607-the-iron-knight on 27/01/2012.

Review: THE IRON DAUGHTER

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Book 2 of the Iron Fey Series

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

About The Iron Daughter:

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.
Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Source: Info in the About The Iron Daughter was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7747064-the-iron-daughter on 24/08/2011.

Review:

The way the writer painted the story to life is quite breathtaking in this second book, The Iron Daughter. The surroundings and new characters was really imaginative. I also like the inner message of the story. The reality of the past fading and modernisation taking over. That's so true.

Meghan Chase was still not my cup off tea in this book but I pushed through, because the story did it for me, it kept me from wanting to find out more and explore Nevernever further.

I have to say I thought I would not enjoy this book as much, but I was wrong. It had everything in it. War (well 2 wars intertwined into 1), deseat, cheat, crimson and so mush more. And the twists.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Can't wait for the third book. Its got this book to contend with.

Books In The Iron Fey Series:


Thank you to Mira Ink for the review copy of The Iron King by Julie Kagawa received!

Review: THE IRON KING

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Book 1 of the Iron Fey Series

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

About The Iron King:

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.

Source: Info in the About The Iron King was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6644117-the-iron-king on 02/07/2011.

Review:

I really enjoyed the writer's style, the way she wrote about the backgrounds of the Nevernever and characters. It was hard putting the book down just to go to bed. The first few chapters was a bit confusing because, I first thought that I am reading an old fairy tale and not a new and fresh story. What I mean by that is, is that the writer used old fairy tales and it did not feel that it was her own and that it started to become a bit predictable for the ending of the book. But the more I read the more the writer started to make it her own and that is when I started to enjoy the story.

There was however one character I did get annoyed with and that was Meghan Chase. I find her weak even though she has incredible powers. This character also cry to much in every chapter and that she does come across as someone that is blind to her surroundings and predicaments. Even into the Iron Daughter Meghan still has not grown up yet and still cry and hide to mush. As a reader I just could not get into Meghan's character.

But apart from Meghan Chase I fell in love with the books and the characters, the story is well written and very addictive.

I am looking forward to The Iron Queen to come.

Books In The Iron Fey Series:


Thank you to Mira Ink for the review copy of The Iron King by Julie Kagawa received!

IN THE MAIL: THE IRON KING

This is what the mailman brought me yesterday! *happy dance*

Thank you to MiraInk for the review copy of The Iron King by Julie Kagawa received.

About The Iron King:

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.

Source: Info in the About The Iron King was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6644117-the-iron-king on 02/07/2011.