SPOILER ALERTS:
So, I know I rated it 5 stars, but there were times when reading it when I hated it. Ariella comes back in the picture and Ash wavers in his devotion to Meghan. It made me feel like he only loved whomever he could see at the time. If you love Meghan, Ariella will stay in the past. At the same time, you hear Ariella's story and I DID feel bad for her. She loved Ash, and at times sacrificed her own feelings for the good of all of Faery- like Meghan did. But when it came down to it, Ash analyzed his feelings. Before, he didn't have to choose between Meghan and Ariella because Ariella was gone, and not an option. I feel like everyone SHOULD (not does) make sure that their spouse IS their one true love, and not just the next best thing because your first choice is unavailable.
In Ash's quest to find a soul, he learns what it is to be human. I thought it interesting the things the author decided to focus on- what, according to her IS humanity. I felt myself agreeing with most of it, but it was a topic I've never thought of before. I hope to have more time to contemplate the things brought up in this book.
It also goes through some of the twisted things Ash has done. It was a little sickening to know the nice, sweet things he did for the girls he didn't care about, and I don't remember him doing any of those things for Meghan. But then I saw Ash's remorse as he gained a conscience and regretted what he had done, and remembered he still has time to do nice things for Meghan. And then I also remembered him sending people to watch out for her and her family, and returning her dog to her, and realized he had done nice little things for Meghan.
I really liked that at the end, there were study questions provided. Fablehaven did the same thing and it makes it easy to use this book as a book club read, or just to ponder the book for yourself.
The questions are:
1. Ash begins his journey in The Iron Knight to keep a promise he made to Meghan Chase. How important is it to keep promises when circumstances change? Under what, if any, circumstances would you not keep a promise?
2. Ash and Puck have an intense relationship based on a friendship gone wrong. We might call them frenemies. Ash felt that Puck was responsible for Ariella's death in the past. Do you believe Ash was justified in making his vow to kill Puck? How would you handle having a close friend cause hurt to another friend, whether accidentally or on purpose?
3. In The Iron Knight, we learn of the many terrible things Ash has done in the past, including murder. How did learning the details of Ash's past affect your opinion of him? In real life, who do you believe deserves a second chance?
4. Through Ash's quest to gain a soul, The Iron Knight explores what it means to be human, to have humanity. What are the key qualities of being human? What traits do you value in yourself and your friends and family?
5. In the gauntlet, Ash, Puck, Ariella and Grimalkin face mirror images of themselves that represent their dark sides. Why is it important that they see what they might become? How does it help Ash to succeed in his quest? Why didn't Grimalkin's reflection fight with the others?
6. Ariella chooses to give up her life so that Ash can have a soul. How might that sacrifice affect Ash in the future? In real life, what kinds of sacrifices are worth making, and what might constitute going too far?
7. How does Puck change over the course of the story? Why do you think he chose to come with Ash and support him in his quest to win the woman whom Puck also loves? Who do you believe should be with Meghan and why?
8. One of the premises behind Julie Kagawa's faery world is that faeries exist and become more powerful when humans remember them, tell stories about them and dream of them. What kind of power do dreams and the imagination have on humankind? How are they important in our lives?
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