The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Iron Fey series, book two
reviewed by Saluki
In the second installment of the Iron Fey series, we find Meghan back in the Nevernever after defeating the Iron King rescuing her little brother. Because of the contract she made with Prince Ash, she is a captive of Queen Mab. Meghan is miserable, heartbroken and alone. When a group of Iron fey steal the Scepter of the seasons from the Unseelie Court, she realizes that the battle is far from finished. She escapes, along with Prince Ash to find the scepter. They journey through faery and the human world, desperately seeking the Scepter before it falls into the hand of the new Iron King.
I am totally in love with the world Julie Kagawa has created in this series. This book continues the amazing descriptions of the Nevernever. Her writing continues to pull on all the senses, transporting the reader into the action. I have to say that the author’s world building ability is truly outstanding. I also love that she continues to add to the cast of characters, weaving them seamlessly into the story line. My favorite new character is Lxxx, Queen of the Exiles. Powerful in her own right, she has made a home for herself in the In Between. She’s arrogant, snarky, and domineering, but she provides much needed help to Ash and Meghan when they need it the most.
Meghan shows a lot of growth in this book. She really had to grow up fast in The Iron King, and in this book she shows more awareness for faery politics and seems to give her words and actions more thought. She’s still stubborn, but it is somewhat tempered by the knowledge that her actions can either save or doom the Nevernever. I do think the author has over done her infatuation with Ash just a tad. There are times when her desperation for him is a bit too much. But, all in all, I liked seeing that Meghan was growing and continuing to evolve as a character.
Ash and Puck continue to play a large role in the series. We finally get to find out why they are out to kill each other, and while heartbreaking, it brings more depth to their adversarial relationship. While we don’t see as much of Puck in this book, when we do he makes quite an impact. His declaration of love for Meghan comes at a time when she is vulnerable, which had me screaming at both of them to back off. Yes, I’m Team Ash. There is so much more to him than meets the eye. Yes, he’s sexy, intense and brooding, but he’s also tender and thoughtful. I loved seeing that side of him emerge as the book progressed. One thing I can say about all the characters in this series is they are well rounded – not all good or all bad – which is another thing that I like so much about the books.
There is no lack of action in the book either, which keeps the pace fast from start to finish. Taking back the scepter is no easy task, and their lives are literally in danger the entire book. Meghan’s developing powers prove very helpful, even if the combination of Summer and Iron powers scares and confounds her companions.
I found this book to be completely satisfying. The plot continued to progress, answering questions left over from the first book as well as creating new questions to carry into the next. The characters I love so much from the first book are back and continue to grow, while the author introduces new characters that are wildly engaging. The story stays on point and flows smoothly from one scene to the next. The writing is absolutely fantastic, transporting you into the story and making you feel everything the characters are experiencing. I know I’m gushing, but I loved this book – it”s a must read! I give it a rating of 5 out of 5.
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