Friday, May 13, 2011

Theory Thursday: Summer's Crossing and Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa




Theory Thursdays Theory Thursday is a weekly meme created here at YA Sisterhood because oh how we love predicting what's to come in a series. Every Thursday (hopefully) we'll bring you our theories for what might be happening next in various YA series. All we ask is that you fill out the link widget at the bottom to link our blogs together that way we can all see each others theories!


WARNING WARNING!!! SPOILERS GALORE! PROCEED WITH CAUTION!!!!


Summer's Crossing by Juile Kagawa
Release date: June 1, 2011 (yippey!)


Brittany: Alright… here goes. You guys get double the theories today because we’re pulling out our speculations (and our hopes and dreams) for not one book, BUT TWO! Well, technically one of them is a novella, but still! As usual… there will be SPOILERS for all previous books in the series, so READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!


So let’s start with Summer’s Crossing. Here’s the Amazon summary of this summer’s upcoming novella (a companion to the Iron Fey Series 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.


Oh… there are so many places this could go. Well, I think we all saw those favors piling up (for Meghan as well as Ash). I was just waiting for the moment when one of those many favors was going to backfire, and it appears we’ll be seeing that moment in the novella! I’m curious to see who is calling in the favor. The obvious choice is Grimalkin because he seems to be racking them up left and right. But knowing that sneaky cat, he could have traded the favor off to someone else like he did earlier in the series. But we know it has to be something that takes him to the summer court. That doesn’t necessarily mean that’s where the favor-holder is from, but that something he wants is there.


But since the book is about Puck (my favorite loveable prankster), I’m more curious in his role. As much as he plays the clown, I think the death of his former friend (and Ash’s girlfriend) and his part in it has weighed heavily on him. Let’s not forget that though they appear to be friendly, Ash once swore an oath to kill Puck. And a faery’s oath is binding! So whatever this favor is, I think there’s more than just his prankster-nature pushing him to help Ash. If you read my previous review of this series, you know that I waver pretty frequently between Ash and Puck (one of those love the one you’re with kind of situations). And there are many times when I root for Puck to win, but I think his past with Ash is always going to hold him back. As much as he loves Meg, I think his honor will always make him cede to Ash because of the guilt he feels.


Now… I can’t wait any longer… I must move on to The Iron Knight!

Iron Knight by Juile Kagawa
Release date: October 18, 2011

There’s no summary or cover yet of the book, but we know it’s about Ash’s attempts at finding a way to be with Meghan—Queen of the Iron Fey—when iron in deadly to him.


Amy: So obviously with the famous last line that deals with going to find a certain cat, we know that Ash needs to find Grimalkin in order to help him find a way to endure Iron to be with Meghan. Grimalkin was the one that told Mab about the necklace that enables Winter and Summer fey to survive for a time in Iron lands. So, its obvious he needs to find Grimalkin. The simple solution would be to just keep making necklaces, but I don't think that is where Julie is going. Its just too easy, and we've already seen that angle in Iron Queen. Plus, if being true to the title of the previous books,( if Ash is the Iron Knight) he has to truly become the Iron Knight in the purest sense of the title just as Meghan did. So, with the help of Grimalkin and probably Puck the three of them will set out on a quest to find out how to make a Winter Prince also an Iron Knight. What are your theories? So you think he will just figure out how to survive or do you like me, think he will find a way to be both winter and iron in order to rule alongside Meghan. Are we going to see a new Iron King?


Brittany: I, too, think Grimalkin will be one of the first helpers Ash seeks out. And the necklace seems like the obvious choice. However, I can’t help but think that the necklace could only ever be a temporary solution. Also… if all Ash manages to do is tolerate iron, why would the book be called Iron Knight? It seems to me that he’s going to find some way to actually BECOME an Iron fey. How he’ll do this… I’m not exactly sure! We know the implant at the base of the skull is a no go! J
Besides the obvious challenge of Ash becoming and/or tolerating Iron, there are a number of other loose ends that I think will come into play in this book. Obviously, the many favors that Ash, Meg, and Puck have doled out can always come back to haunt them.
We also can’t forget that Meghan doesn’t know her True Name yet! (Amy: eek! Makes me so nervous!!!) Only Oberon does, and that could definitely cause some problems! I already think that there’s going to be plenty of court drama because Summer and Winter are so used to being the only two powers, dividing the seasons and Never-Never equally, and taking their turns with powers. But now suddenly there is a third court—a third court that could be a significant threat. Now that the war is over—it still remains to be seen whether Summer and Winter will accept Iron or try to defeat it. And with Oberon knowing Meg’s True Name, well, he certainly could use that against her. (But surely he won’t, right? She IS his daughter after all!) And if Ash does somehow manage to become Iron Fey, that would certainly go a long way to uniting the three courts—Iron being ruled by a daughter of summer and a son of winter.


Amy: I think that's the crux of it-a daughter of summer and a son of winter ruling the Iron Fey. Right now, there is a possibility of a cease fire between summer and iron because of Meghan being Oberon's daughter. But, that's a no dice for winter. Unless, Ash become a true Iron Knight joining winter and Iron. In that instance all 3 would be equally represented. In order for the survival of all 3 sects of fey, I think it's pertinent that they find a way for Ash to join Meghan in Iron. Then they can all live happily ever after in Never Never and have sweet little summer, winter, iron babies! How's that for the title of book 5!
For something a little different, I'm going to try to articulate an abstract and maybe farfetched theory Britt & I discussed earlier. Basically, we were meshing out exactly how all 3 groups of fey can survive together. We were trying to think of a way it wasn't a " neither can live while the other survives" type scenario. I was trying to broach, imaginations role in technology. Doesn't imagination always lead to technology? Some of the most imaginative people now a days have invented computers, video games, movies, music etc. Don't we get our ideas for movies & video games from old "fairy" tales. All the Disney movies, the great movies based on heroes of the past (Robin Hood, King Arthur, Peter Pan) or even the video game Zelda all stem from old legends or folklore. So ultimately aren't imagination or belief closely tied to technology? With that thought in mind, can't they co-exist without unconsciously destroying each other- if a strong enough truce is in order. We don't know exactly how long the iron fey have existed, but it looks as if for a very long time before they were discovered by summer and winter. Summer and Winter from all appearances didn't start dying off until Iron aggressively moved against them. With that thought in mind, I sincerely hope that this will open a door for peace or Ash and Meghan will never be able to live freely together even if they figure out how to overcome the obstacle of "iron world = death for Ash".


Brittany: Another thing I hope to see (because I’m dark and twisted and tragic) is Meghan’s return home to visit her family. I can just envision this scene in my head where she returns home after a significant time has passed, and her little brother has grown up and can no longer see her under her glamour because he’s lost that childhood imagination and wonder. Will be so sad!


Amy: However, it does say that he is special. He also has a mom & a sister who faeries are attracted to. I think there's a good chance, we could see Ethan in Never Never in the coming books.


Brittany: Let’s not forget Puck and the role he’ll play in this story. This book is very obviously Ash’s story, so unfortunately, I think it’s safe to say that the love triangle has officially become a line. But… I think Puck’s guilt over the death of Ash’s first love is going to play a huge role. I almost see it as a debt he’ll have to repay, and I’m terrified that he’s going to be a hero and get himself killed to make up for his mistakes. (Amy: Don't be a hero, Puck!) Now… I’m all for character deaths (like I said… dark and twisted and tragic), and usually I’m pretty gung-ho about authors willing to jump off that cliff, but Puck just gets to me. He’s so rarely serious that when he is it tears me up inside. Now that I think about it, he sort of reminds me of the Weasley twins in Harry Potter. They’re all fun and games, but when things turn dark they seem even darker juxtaposed against the lightness and humor of their characters.


Amy: Weasley twins!!! Excuse me while I go cry!!! Ok, I'm back with mascara running down my face. I agree 100% with the analogy between Puck and the Weasley boys. Puck is such a jokester, but never once do you doubt his love or faithfulness to Meghan and even Ash. I think he would lay down his life for both of them in the blink of an eye. He has lived a long and eventful life and will forever be remembered, so I can see it as a good possibility that he would freely lay down his life for his friends. The Bible does say there is no greater love than that! I do hope that Julie does not do that, I have yet to read a book that one of the big 3 die, so I'm holding out all hope that this will not be the first! Long live Robin Goodfellow!!!
Well, that's a wrap. It was a little long, but its because we loved these books so much! Such wonderful characters that we can't seem to get enough of! Thanks to Julie Kakagawa for such a wonderful series and a great escape!!!
Can't wait to read your theories!!! Fill out the linky below if you do a Theory Thursday on your blog, and it will automatically link up to our blog for easy access to all the theories!