The Iron Daughter By Julie Kagawa

Series: The Iron Fey #2
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Faeries
Release Date: August 1st 2010
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 3/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 3/5 Stars
Synopsis: 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.

I really want to love this series. I mean everyone loves this series! I just can't though. I tried my hardest and I think I liked it better than the last but I still don't love it. I was really disappointed that this series isn't as good as everyone says for me. Anyway the story follows on from the last where Ash is keeping the bargain and taking Meghan back to the Winter Court. Once there he begins to give her the silent treatment. Meghan's powers have mysteriously gone walkies too so she's well and truly stuck as long as the Winter faerie queen wants her for. That may be a while.

The characters in this book are so temperamental it's difficult to decide whether or not I like them. Meghan is just very annoying, she comes across very spoiled and not very clever. The synopsis totally mislead me with the words 'wits' and 'backbone', I actually thought she may have developed those two things since the last book. I was wrong. Okay maybe I am a bit harsh, she's bearable I suppose. I was hot and cold with Ash. I quite liked him in the first book and he was alright in this one but I know his type. The cold, depressed, you're-better-off-without-me kind of guy. If I had a penny for the amount of characters in books that said the girl would be better without them but still pursued the romance I'd be a millionaire. One character I've always loved is Puck. He is hilarious, sweet and he loves Meghan way more than Ash AND he's upfront about it. Seriously I am team Puck all the way... that is unless Grim has a team. But that would be weird - since he's a cat. A talking cat! No Grim is by far the most awesome character plus he's not in love with Meghan (yay!).

One thing I do love about these books is the world building. The Nevernever is by far one of the most well built story worlds I've ever come across so I can't fault the author on that. The story begins slow for the first 7/8 chapters until Puck and Grim appear, then the party begins! There were several unexpected twists and the book it's self is entertaining and not as creepy as the last one. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy the Faerie genre or want a twist on it.

My Favorite Quote: 
“Wow, icy reception here. And to think I came back from the dead for this."

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

The Iron King By Julie Kagawa

Cover Rating: 4/5 Stars (Love the colors)

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Synopsis: 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.

I put off reading this book for a while because I'm not really one for faeries but after all the glowing reviews I had to see what all of the fuss was about. The first 100 pages of this book really creeped me out, I don't know what it was about it but I really didn't like it, it weirdly reminded me of the exorcist and that is the only horror film that has scared me to death . After I got over the freakishness the book was quite entertaining, slightly slow and at some point it lost the plot all together but I did quite like it. Now for the main character, I'm sure your all expecting a rant. Sorry to disappoint but there wont be one. I heard horrible things about the main character Meghan Chase but to be fair she wasn't that bad. No I didn't like her but I didn't hate her either. Annoying? Yes. Stupid? Yes. Unbearable? No. Now for the guys, I can't say they were my favorite but I did like them. We have Puck the joker and Ash the brooding prince. I don't really know either enough to pick a team just yet but I'm leaning towards Puck at the moment.

The premise of this book was actually quite interesting, I started this book thinking it would probably just be another random Faery book but I was wrong. This book focuses on the characters from A Mid Summers Night Dream. I'm familiar with the story which is why I recognized Pucks name. As well as Puck there was Queen Tatiana and King Oberon  whom you will recognize if you know the story and yes Tatiana is just as catty now as she was then. It was nice to see Shakespeare modernized. As well as Shakespeare Alice in Wonderland was mixed in there too. Guess which character? None other than Kagawa's own version of the Cheshire Cat renamed as Grimalkin. He I loved! I mean a sarcastic cat? Yes please. Someone needed to do it. Writing this review I've actually began to like this book more than I did before but I will stick to my original rating, I would give this book a high 3.5/5 Stars.


My Favorite Quote:
“He shook his head, examining the wound again. “It's not frostbitten,“ he muttered. “It'll blister, but you should be fine. You might only lose a couple fingers.“
I glanced at him sharply, but he was smirking. For a moment, I was speechless. Good God, the Ice Prince was making jokes now; the world must be ending.” 


Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK