The Iron Daughter, Book 2, The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa

Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Pages:  304

(Release Date:  7/27/10)

From the Cover:

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, iron-bound 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 alone 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. 

*****May Contain Spoilers*****

Meghan is having more problems than ever before.  Since making her deal with Prince Ash of the Winter Court and returning to face her fate, she has been abandoned to face the Winter Court alone.  Prince Ash escapes back into his solitary existence, escaping the love that's building, escaping the consequences that forbidden love could bring, exile and disinheritance.  Meghan doesn't know what to think, abandoned and alone, with only the taunts of the Court Ladies and of his evil brother, Prince Rowan to sustain her.  Queen Mab likes to keep her newest acquisition where she can see it, even if it means freezing Meghan in ice.


Ash has used escape to deal with his problems for many years, escaping Meghan and her budding love,  escaping the memories of the past that plague his existence is the only way he knows how to survive.  Something Meghan can't know or understand with her lack of knowledge about the Courts.  As much as Ash needs and wants to let Meghan capture this attention and desires, he knows the consequences, both for himself and her.  Cast away, discarded, forced into the human realm without a home, at least for him.  But, would exile be any worse than the existence he has now?  


Then, the Winter Court is attacked, taking the life of one of the Winter Court Princes, and Queen Mab is driven to rage.  And who does she hope to seek revenge against?  Even if she's wrong and one of her own sons is at the root of the evil plan?  And along with this all, Machina's minions of the Iron Court are seeking Meghan, with the most direst of consequences.  Strange alliances will have to be made if any of the Courts are to survive.


The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa is the second book in the Iron Fey Series.  It picks up nicely where "Winter's Passage" and "The Iron King" left off.  Our heroine, Meghan Chase has been left in the Winter Court as the Court toy to be used and manipulated against her will.  With Ash's disappearance, she's left on her own, friendless.  Even when King Oberon comes to collect his wayward daughter, she cannot break the contract, it would only bring back the war she's been trying to avoid.  But when the Winter Court Prince is murdered, it will be up to Meghan to prove her version of the truth, even if it means wondering around the NeverNever, even if it means depending on the exiles, even if it means relying on those she once considered her darkest enemies, even if it means she'll have to prove one of Queen Mab's own sons is the perpetrator and executioner.  And it may all lead back to the Iron Court.  It seems the NeverNever is in worse shape than any could have imagined.  And the Iron Court is creeping closer and closer to it's own hideous desires, forcing Meghan to make hard decisions and stranger allies.


The Iron Daughter is an excellent addition to the Iron Fey Series.  I have to say the storyline is unique, the telling of the story of the Courts and the NeverNever is spellbinding and captivating.  I read this story in one sitting and started looking for the next in the series, only to find I was going to have a long wait ahead of me.  Ms. Kagawa has created a whole new version of MidSummer's Night, and I'm anxiously waiting to see what's in store for Meghan next.  Will she be able to love one of the Winter Court?  Or will she face forever exile from a life so recently discovered and a family she never knew existed? And what of Queen Titiana, who never wanted Meghan to take her place in the Summer Court?  What will Robbie do, Oberon as warned him time and time again not to disobey his wishes, but can he really abandoned Meghan, are these truly Oberon's wishes?  Only the next in the series will give us the answers we're searching for, and it's going to be fun finding out.


I received this ebook for Harlequin Teen and Net Galley for review.  All opinions expressed are my own.


And now for a sneak peek at book three!


Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Pages: 300

(all three covers)

(Release Date:  February 2011)

 (this is an awesomely beautiful cover, and I can't wait to take a peek at the blurb)

The third book in the Iron Fey Series is The Iron Queen will be released February 2011, Harlequin Teen has an early release of the cover art, though I have no idea as to when the blurb will be released, just thought I'd share the cover art.  I'll be eagerly waiting this addition to the series!  I have to add that I love all cover art for this series, YA is starting to be taken seriously, the cover art is growing more magnetic and attention grabbing.
 
You can visit Julie Kagawa @ http://juliekagawa.blogspot.com/  
                                                 http://www.juliekagawa.com/
                                                 http://enterthefaeryworld.com/ironfey/
                                                 http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=204278617804

I'm leaning toward Team Ash, Puck is sweet and he really cares for Meghan, but there's something about the icy coolness of the Winter Prince....