Title: The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey #2)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2010

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 359

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Local Library; A to Z Author: K

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.

Warning: Contains spoilers for The Iron King.

I loved this book!  The continuation of Meghan Chase's story was just what I needed.  Anyone who read The Iron King knew that Ash would come to take Meghan back to the Winter Court per their contract.  But from there, the story takes on a whole new dimension.

We meet some new and interesting characters.  Well, okay, not necessarily new, but we didn't get a chance to meet Sage and Rowan in the first book.  They only made an appearance at Elysium.  This time we get to see all three Winter Princes.  Very interesting.  I guess who would betray them all, but I still liked the plot twist.

The action was good: fast-paced, but still leaving room for conversations and quiet moments.  The large battle scene at the end wasn't overly descriptive, but gave enough to imagine it.  (It kind of looks like the battle for the Fields of Pelenor from LOTR.)  It was terrifying.  I was riveted to the edge of my seat seeing Meghan try and get through.

My only issue with the story: the relationship between Meghan and Ash.  In The Iron King, it felt like the Romeo and Juliet doomed romance.  He was the bad boy of the Winter Court.  She was the naive, but beautiful and powerful half-breed Summer Princess.  How would they ever stay together?  Throw in a dead love, Ariella, and another romantic interest, Puck, and we have a quagmire.  After reading the first book, I didn't really want Ash and Meghan to end up together.  I wanted him to continue being a distant asshole and her to wake up and see Puck.  Unfortunately, this book makes the romance story even more complicated.  It irked me.  I hope the third book clears it up.

Can't wait to start the third one.  So thankful the library had all three!

The Iron Fey

• #1 The Iron King
• #1.5 Winter’s Passage
• #2 The Iron Daughter
• #3 The Iron Queen
• #3.5 Summer’s Crossing
• #4 The Iron Knight
• #4.5 Iron’s Prophecy
• #5 The Lost Prince
• #6 The Iron Traitor
• #7 The Iron Warrior