Double Review: The Iron King + The Iron Daughter

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Date Released: February 01, 2010
Published By: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 368
Age: Young Adult
Series: Iron Fey #1
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Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.
Synopsis via Barnes and Noble

My Thoughts:

In a ‘Fey’ world we have heard of time and time again, Julie Kagawa has been able to pull through and make this world all her own.  The world she created is full of magic, beautiful faeries and those to fear all set within a realm that has been clearly sketched inside your head.

Meghan is Julie’s main character and has held up to the pressure.  Her character is easy to admire and easy to love.  Her strong attitude shows through with all of the obstacles thrown her way.  Don't expect a perfect specimen though, after all she is half human and at times does stumble making her all that much more likable.

Don’t let an awesome main character worry you about over shadowing others in the book.  Each character plays their part and plays it well.  At no time did I have to back track to remember who a certain character was and what their place was.  Each character in the book had their individual personality which weren’t easily confused and true to themselves.

Ash and Puck were two of this stories leading male characters and are able to pull in a following all their own.  Puck, who is said to have a character of a Midsummer Night’s Dream created after him, is a bouncy character whom can make light of any situation and offers superior companionship to Meghan all the while pulling on your heart strings.  Ash, the brooding Winter Prince, keeps your head turning to see what he is doing while waiting to see if you are going to catch his eye.  Did I mention that these two love to point their swords at each other skillfully, yet humorously, fighting?  There is never a dull moment when these two are around.

Exceptionally written, this book the first of three, there is no way to tell what is going to happen next.  You are continually on your toes and absorbing every last detail Julie Kagawa offers you.   Action, humor, longing, and romance is packed into this book making it one you cannot pass up.


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The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Date Released: August 01, 2010
Published By: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 304
Age: Young Adult
Series: Iron Fey #2
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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.
Synopsis via Barnes and Noble

My thoughts:

Julie Kagawa’s ‘Fey’ world full of magic, faeries and creatures to fear brought to us in the Iron King has returned for the Iron Daughter. With no detail spared we get to see areas in which we never knew existed, and neither did Meghan, the leading lady.

Meghan has matured in this second novel, kicking it off holding up her end of the deal she made with Ash, the Winter Prince. Though, if Meghan admits it she would know it isn’t only her bargain that leaves her following him to his court.  Hasn’t she been told time and time again to never make a deal with a Fey and to listen to them very clearly?

Yes, she has, but her selflessness and her love for her family forced her to strike a deal with her sworn enemy. Sworn enemies or not, that doesn’t stop her ongoing draw and attraction to Ash, creating a forbidden romance that they both struggle push away yet acknowledge. It is a painful feeling watching the continuing dance they twirl to that was first introduced in The Iron King.

Despite her feelings for the Winter Prince, Meghan has known loyalties elsewhere, also proving the ongoing consistency and growth in her character. Even though her loyalties are tied up in a tree, Meghan is still vying for the moment her faithful friend Puck bounces back at her side. The hope she puts into that moment isn’t untouched creating the love triangle we saw start to form in The Iron King, the one which left us all taking our sides cheering on our favorite guy.

The inner working of the courts are brought to our attention as Meghan explores the Winter Court on her own, doing her best knowing the consequences of her actions should her feelings for the Winter Prince be known.  Her true feelings and her ability to have faith and look beyond are tested.  Her ability to have faith extended further then it did when we last met her.

Betrayal is something that runs thick in this book, offering the ground work for its plot. We find out whose loyalties reside where and even are given a glimpse into the true fire that fuels the Ash and Puck ongoing feud. That feud is especially important seeing as it offers true insight into who Ash and Puck truly are, and how they both came by their completely opposite personalities, beyond the obvious Summer and Winter war.

New characters, new settings, and new emotions bring new life to this book. Never a dull moment, moving even more fluidly this is predecessor; this book brings its challenges and romance to a new level. Not to mention is maddening cliff hanger ending, this book is a must for all book shelves, next to the Iron King.

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