Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa

 A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence—and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts.

Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help—into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice—betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist.

An ebook exclusive novella from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.

I love this series! I'm going to buy it for my personal library.
I can't remember how I got this ebook, some promotion for anyone who saw it.  I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a great marketing tool being that it was free. 
This novella is from Puck's point-of-view. He proves to be a loyal friend and great trickster.
Now I'm off, darlings, to read Iron Knight! *squee*

Rating: PG
V: No
S: No
L: a few

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 25% (p.17)

"Chapter Two
For Oberon Is Passing Fell and Wrath
It was twilight when we crossed the barrier from the mortal realm into the wyldwood. Then again, it was always twilight beneath the wyldwood’s huge canopy. Sunlight couldn’t penetrate the thick branches of the trees rising hundreds of yards into the air. Unlike the vivid brightness of Summer and the frigid harshness Winter, the wyldwood was eternally dark, tangled, and dangerous. It was constantly changing, so you never knew what you’d run into next.
I loved it. Even though I was Summer, this felt more like home than anywhere else.
“Here we are,” I said, stepping beneath a pair of cypresses twisted together to form an arch between the trunks. Around us, the murk of the wyldwood closed in, though a few lone will-o-the-wisps bobbed through the leaves, looking for lost travelers. Thick black briars crawled between trunks, creeping along the ground as they strangled the life from all other vegetation. “Arcadia isn’t far. I would’ve used the trod that takes us through the quartz caverns, but I’m afraid a lindworm has taken up residence since the last time I was there.”
Ash looked around, always alert, and raised an eyebrow. “You do realize you’ve brought us right into the middle of hedge wolf territory.”"

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

 My name is Meghan Chase. I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.
This time, there will be no turning back.

WOW.
That said, this is another great book from the Iron Fey series. And yes, I did break my resolution to only read a series if the books were all published. In my defense, I stated a trilogy as a series. So I'm technically off the hook because their is a fourth book.
Another great book with characters becoming stronger and better through trials. Each character has a unique voice and personality. Love, hate, war, finding inner strength, sacrifice, betrayal and magic are woven throughout the story.
I was thrown at revelation of the false king...


Rating: PG 14
V: War
S: Kissing, one scene where you know two people are "together"
L: Some through out each chapter


Page 69 test:
"...all things she could ask for. But before I could say a word, Ash took my elbow and pressed something into my palm.
Curious,I held up my hand. A small gold ring flickered in my palm, surrounded by a gently swirling aura of blue an green. It looked exactly like the one we'd taken from the tomb. I glanced at Ash sharply, and he winked at me.
"Remember when the oracle asked if you had the ring's mate?" he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. "At least one of us was thinking ahead."
"Well, darling?" Leanansidhe called before I could reply. "What are you two whispering about? Does it have anything to do with what you're going to trade for your father?"
I gave Ash a brilliant smile and turned to Leanansidhe again. "Yes," U murmured, and raised the Token so that it gleamed under the lights. Leanansidehe say straight up in her chair. "I can give you this."
The brief, eager flash in the queen's eyes told me we had won. "A Token, darling?" Leanansidhe leaned back again, feigning nonchalance. "That might be sufficient. For now, anyway. I suppose I can trade your father for that."
I was weak with relief, but Ash stepped forward, closing his hand over the ring and my fingers. "That's not enough," he said, and I gaped at him in disbelief. "You know the Iron fey are looking Meghan. We can't just wander around the mortal world without a plan. We need a place that will be secure from the false king's minions."
"Ash, what are you doing?" I hissed under my breath. He gave me a sideways glance and mouthed, "Trust me."
Leanansidhe pursed her lips. "You two are pressing the boundaries of my patience. "She drummed her nails on the armrest and sighed. "Oh, very well, darlings. I have a quaint little hideaway that I can lend you for the time being. It's out in the middle of nowhere and fairly safe--I've got a few of the local trows keeping an eye on it. Will that be good enough for you, dove?"

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

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.



So far, I've enjoyed this series.
The characters grow, show their weaknesses, fall in love, feel rejected, love someone they shouldn't, defy orders and try to do what's right.
Meghan is half human, half faery who has to find her own inner strength to fight the Iron Fey and not rely only on her magic.
Ash is the Romeo.
Puck is the third in the love triangle.
Ms. Kagawa kept me hooked throughout the book. I found myself wishing I was home while I ran errands so I could keep reading. I made up excuses for crawling back into bed with the book.


Rating: PG 13
V:War
L: sprinkled throughout
S: kissing, 


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Page 69 Test:
""Make ready, my subjects!" the queen rasped, raising her arms. "The war with summer starts now!"
Another roar, and the minions of the Unseelie Court scattered, leaving the room with raucous battle cries. Mab spared me one more glance over her shoulder, his lips curling into a snarl before she walked out. Rowan stared at me a moment longer, snickered, and followed his queen from the room. Silence fell, and I was left alone, dying but unable to die.
When you can't breathe, each second feels like an eternity. My entire existence shrank into trying to draw air into my lungs. though my head knew it was impossible, my body couldn't understand. I could feel my heart thudding laboriously against my ribs; I could feel the hideous chill of the ice, searing my skin. My body knew it was still alive and continued its fight to live.
i don't know how long I stood there, hours or only a few minutes, when a shadowy figure slipped into the room. Though I could still see out, the ice made everything cracked and distorted, so I couldn't tell who it was. the shadow hesitated in the doorway, watching me for a long moment, Then, quickly, it glided across the room until it stood next to my prison, laying a pale hand against the ice.
"Meghan," a voice whispered. "It's me."
Even through my air-starved delirium, my heart leaped. Ash's silvery eyes eyed through the wall separating us, as bright an soulful as ever. the torment on his face shocked me as if he were the one trapped and unable to breathe.
"Hang on," he murmured, pressing his forehead to mine through the wall. "I'm getting you out of there." He leaned back, both hands against the ice, and closed his eyes. The air began to vibrate; a tremor shook the walls around me, and tiny cracks spider-webbed through the ice.
With the sound of breaking glass, the prison shattered, shards..."