Review: The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey #2) by Julie Kagawa

Oftentimes I tend to shy away from books in a series. I guess one of the biggest challenges to write a series is to keep up the pace, the excitement, and all the emotions that comes along with writing the first book. The rest has to at least sustain a certain level of feeling because it is a part of the series. You wouldn't want your readers to give up halfway through when, let's say, you have 4 books all in all, right?

But whatever I said (sorry its long) doesn't apply to The Iron Fey series. Believe me, it doesn't. While The Iron King is action-packed and thrilling, The Iron Daughter surpassed that and more. See, I wasn't even into the first 100 pages and I was already gripping the edge of my seat while reading! That's how amazing this book is.

Title: The Iron Daughter
Author: Julie Kagawa
Pages: 359
Release Date: August 1, 2010
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Source: Borrowed
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository | Harlequin

Summary:

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.

Readers are once again plunged in Meghan's world as she faces another predicament: how to get out of the Unseelie Court. Her contract with Ash has been fulfilled, and now the Faery Summer Princess is stuck in the land of endless snow and cold. Matters get worse when even Ash treats Meghan like dirt. Amidst all of this, the Iron Fey are lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right time to attack. And attack they did, and all at once the courts are again at war, with the Iron Fey waiting in the dark to destroy all of the faeries and destroy Nevernever once and for all.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting the pace to pick up so fast. A lot of things happened in the first few pages that I couldn't help but catch my breath and return to my corner and ask myself "What the hell just happened?".

Julie Kagawa cranked up the gears and raised all the excitement and action levels a few notches higher. I struggled to follow all that was happening, but it was a joy to read something that picks up so fast!

As if pushing the pace up a few notches is not enough, Julie Kagawa provided a barrage of unexpected twists and turns in the story that'll leave us readers gasping every few turns of the pages and keep us wanting to know more. I am not joking when I say this, but there were a lot of them that I didn't know what to expect or where the story is heading!

Puck returns, and the love-triangle has come full-circle! I'm very glad that in this book, Puck was given enough chance to redeem himself and hopefully steal a few hearts over to Team Puck to cheer for him and Meghan. This time, his intentions for Meghan have been made clear. Do not fret though, Ash fans! Ash is such a strong character that you wouldn't help but ask where he is even if a lot of the scenes are Puck-heavy.

In the Iron King, even though we all knew that Meghan and Ash coming from two different courts is an integral part of the story, it wasn't as pronounced as it is in the Iron Daughter. The weight of both the Winter Prince and the Summer Princess' decisions and its consequences in both courts are more obvious, and the "star-crossed" element has been brought out in this book. It's one of the sad parts, where there were moments that you couldn't help but feel that Summer and Winter are never supposed to be together. I felt the helplessness of both Ash and Meghan whenever the subject is brought out. very cliche, but you wouldn't be able to help yourself but sympathize with both characters.

Once again, the strength of Meghan's character allowed her to pull through this time. She had her heart broken, stomped over, despaired over her loss and believed that all will be well, that she can do a lot not just for her family, but for those of the Fey, of Nevernever, of the unfamiliar land that has gradually become her home.

It's not a downer for me, but I was expecting the "Iron King" to make another appearance and not just those who come from the Iron Kingdom. Granted that "technology" being the enemy of the Fey is portrayed nicely in this book, I maintain my stand in saying that technology being bad in the world of Fey isn't supposed to come across as "bad" for the readers, just as technology can be bad for us humans if we abuse it in any way.

I will not spoil you any further, especially those who haven't read The Iron Daughter yet, but again, Julie Kagawa has masterfully dropped hints of what is to come in the Iron Queen (and what being the "Iron Queen" means).

I have never been more satisfied with a book's ending in quite a while now, and even though I know that there is still a third book in this series, Julie Kagawa was able to wrap up some major plot points in the Iron Daughter. I'm saying this mainly because I am Team Ash. :)

Overall, the Iron Daughter is an unpredictable, fast-paced, action-packed thrill of a read that will keep readers breathless to the very end! Kudos again, Julie for a job amazingly done!

My rating

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:

I think I am starting to like the swirls and the butterflies. :)