Summary: Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart.
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Summary: 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.
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Review: I read these two books back to back, and it was a while ago, before life got totally crazy. Because of that the books kind of run together in my head, which is not a bad thing. I loved these two books, and I'm really looking forward to the third book, The Iron Queen, which comes out in February.
First I have to say I love the concept of the Iron Fey. Fey who go against everything in the canon of Faery, and they know it. One thing I love about faery stories is that there is a pretty set canon that is followed. There is always Titania and Oberon, Puck is always the jocker of the group and Mahb is always the evil one. It makes it really easy to jump into any book about faery. It also makes me feel like all the books, even when written by different authors are connected. As if Kelley Winslow from Lesley Livingston's Wondrous Strange, Laurel from Aprilynne Pike's Wings and Meghan Chase (from these books), might all bump into eachother someday during their adventures in Avalon, discover they are all related by virtue of Oberon's many dalliances, and become friends somehow. I LOVE that. The canon can also be troublesome, because it makes it hard to really do anything new and unique. How do you stay true to everything that came before, while still breating something new and exciting? I think Kagawa nailed it. the Iron Fey exist in the familiar world, but contribute something so unique that it creates a new story and world. It's hard to do, but I think here it is a complete success.
Another success is the characters. Meghan Chase is fabulous as our heroine who finds out she is 1/2 summer faery princess. She is tough as nails, but still maintains that uncertainty that comes with being a teen, especially one who discovers nothing is what it seems. Robbie aka Puck is great as the best friend. He's there every step of the way for her, and provides some great comedic relief. Ash, as our angry yet oh, so intriguing Winter Prince is also great. I love the fighting between Ash and Robbie and that the backstory for it was so fleshed out and believable (and heartbreaking). You can really understand his actions and the conflict within him.
There was alot of action in these books- which I really loved. Sometimes we get aot of magic and romance, but miss out on how violent fey can be. I think Kagawa found a great balance. The tension between the summer and winter courts was great, and with Meg and Ash in the middle, you could really feel that it could all go too far at any minute. Add in the Iron Fey lurking at the edges, waiting to take advantage and it was a perfect mix of action and restraint.
Overall- great books. I'm dying to get my hands on The Iron Queen. I wnat to know what happens with Meg and Ash, how Puck will fit in, if Meghan's father will be found, if an alliance can be forged between the Winter and Summer courts and if the Iron Fey can be defeated, or at least controlled. So many unanswered questions! I can't wait :)
About Julie Kagawa:
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Ah! I want to read these so bad, but my TBR list is so long, I don't know when I'll get to them. I think I'll push them a little farther up. I'll either luck up and win them from somewhere, check them out at the library, or ask for them for Christmas. So many options! I fell in love with the covers the first time I saw them :)
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