Review: The Iron Daughter

THE IRON DAUGHTER (Iron Fey #2)
Julie Kagawa
Young Adult
304 Pages
Harlequin Teen
Available August 1, 2010
Received from publisher

Warning: Contains spoilers from The Iron King

THE STORY
Meghan Chase has experienced a lot in the last couple months. She turned sixteen, was promptly thrust into the complicated and terrifying world of the fey, discovered a shocking family history, and topped it all off with an impossible attraction to a prince of the Winter Court.

But the complications are just beginning for Meghan. In keeping with her contract with Prince Ash, Meghan returns to the Nevernever and to the Winter Court where she will be detained for an undisclosed period of time. Here she encounters not only the strange and unfriendly denizens of the Unseelie Court, but she also catches brief glimpses of Ash's two older brothers Rowan and Sage. Ash shakes off the emotional thaw he experienced in The Iron King, and returns to his previous cold and remote state, leaving Meghan truly alone deep in enemy territory.

Turns out that Queen Mab has much more to concern herself with than the presence of Summer's half breed daughter though. Ever quick to jump to conclusions, Mab incites a war with the Summer Court when she discovers the Sceptre of the Seasons has been stolen shortly after Oberon made the transfer, and no one but Meghan saw those responsible.

Now Meghan must race to locate the sceptre before all those she cares about are destroyed in a battle under false pretense. Old friends return to aid her in her quest, new friends come in unexpected forms, and relationships are continually tested as the Iron Fey make their presence known to all and threaten the very fabric of Faery itself.

MY THOUGHTS
This series is unparalleled in it's imagination and creativity. New species of fey are continually introduced, each more fanciful and inspired than the last, and the different landscapes that make up the Nevernever are nothing short of spectacular in their whimsy.

In addition to amping up the world-building ingenuity, Kagawa also gives us a little extra romantic tension in the love triangle established in book one. Puck, ever the fun-loving, mischievous, laugh-inducing prankster makes his feelings known to Meghan. And Ash, the very antithesis of everything Puck embodies, realizes his feelings for Meghan cannot be easily cast aside as he so valiantly tried to do when he returned home. Fans of both Team Puck and Team Ash will be licking their lips in anticipation of Meghan's inevitable romantic decision.

Though the Iron King suffered his demise at Meghan's hand, the Iron Fey have not abandoned their hopes of gaining ground in the Nevernever. New leadership is in place, more cunning and destructive than the last monarchy. Though the Iron King didn't play a huge role in the first novel save for his destruction at the end, the Iron Fey influence is prominent in this second installment, and Kagawa has created a decadently monstrous foe to face off against Meghan, Puck and Ash.

The action is non-stop, causing my fingers permanent disability due to rapid page flipping, the humor is in full swing, and the surprises are in plentiful supply as we learn more about Meghan, more about the Iron Fey and their plans, and more about the romantic entanglements of the three protagonists.

A brilliant sequel to The Iron King, and I am eagerly counting the days till The Iron Queen and the conclusion of this fantastic series.

Rating: 4.5/5

Review: The Iron King

THE IRON KING (Iron Fey #1)
Julie Kagawa
Young Adult
363 pages
Harlequin Teen
Available Now

THE STORY
It's the day before Meghan Chase's long-awaited sixteenth birthday. The day she can finally get a driver's license and escape the backwoods swamp she lives in with her mother, half brother and stepfather. She wants nothing more than the freedom to become part of the real world. A world that embraces cell phones, computers that don't rely on dial-up, and transportation other than a bus.

But Meghan's birthday signifies more than just being a heartbeat closer to that wished-for freedom, it also signifies the beginning of a latent destiny. Flashes of unusual creatures, quick glimpses of inhuman faces on familiar people, and a little brother's insistence of a supernatural being in his closet all make Meghan question her grasp on reality.

It's not until her young brother goes missing that Meghan realizes the home that was once so commonplace actually masks the strange, mythical world of the fey, and she must immerse herself in that which is foreign and unbelievable in order to bring him home. Bizarre creatures and environments flourish as Meghan and best friend Puck navigate through the Seelie and Unseelie Courts, with the reluctant help of fae prince Ash, to find Ethan and perhaps save the Nevernever from a new and sinister foe.

MY THOUGHTS
This is a very interesting read. I will say that I had some trouble with the world building at first, finding the lack of definable boundaries hard to navigate. I know that sounds strange since the majority of the books I read are supernatural or paranormal, thereby existing outside definition by nature, but of late most of those novels have been set in the human world where I understand the parameters. Sure vampires and Weres run amuck and faeries tempt humans with their beauty and charm, but all of those creatures exist for the most part in our world, where they either seek refuge or just wish to live among humans. The mythology is familiar to me, though it can at times deviate from previously established notions of such creatures.

Ms. Kagawa's world has no such recognizable guidelines, and that took some adjustment on my part. Once I delved into her world and adapted to the fact that truly anything can happen in this imaginative place, I came to thoroughly enjoy the story.

Meghan and Puck have a fun and easy-going relationship. He often gets exasperated at her lack of understanding when it comes to anything fey, and she frequently finds herself in debt to a number of creatures for making a deal or just saying "thank you". Puck is fiercely protective of Meghan, and there are hints at a potential romance though Meghan is quickly distracted by the appearance of Ash.

Ash is utterly uninterested in aiding Meghan and would instead prefer to rid himself of her in a more permanent fashion save for the fact that her lineage prevents him from doing so. He is cold and closed off, much befitting a prince of the Winter Court, but every once in a while we get a little glimpse of a thaw that betrays his outward lack of interest. Though he begins to warm to Meghan, it's still very difficult to read his true intentions in regards to her well being. Does he really care for her, or does he intend to carry out his original agenda and deliver her to the Unseelie Court? Such questions make their relationship very interesting indeed.

I truly can't say enough about the creativity of Ms. Kagawa. Unusual creatures pop up at every turn, impossibilities become the norm, and the new race of iron fey redefine all previous faery folklore. And yet through all the artistry, we are anchored by the emotions and relationships between Meghan, Puck and Ash.

A fun and truly entertaining story for anyone looking to escape reality for a little while.

Rating 4/5