The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey) by Julie Kagawa (2013-10-29)

You know what? Julie Kagawa is an evil genius. If that wasn't evident with the ending in The Iron Queen or even with The Immortal Rules, she definitely drove the point home with The Iron Traitor's ending. I'm a little stunned this time around because I'm left wondering how she'll manage to end this thing in the next book. You'll have to excuse me if this review seems a little scattered, but the last few pages blew my little socks off into next Tuesday.

It's interesting that I'd have such a strong reaction to this installment because for the majority of the novel, I didn't feel it was as strong as Kagawa's previous works. The tone is more subdued, the witty banter is not as frequent and the overall novel just feels, for a lack of a better word, low. In hindsight, I guess that all makes sense because THAT ENDING. But it's also more than that, I realize. I knew this novel carried heavy implications for the characters. The title itself clearly gave that away as did the foreboding mannerisms of the original trio: Ash, Puck and Meghan. However, even going in knowing this, I'm still impressed that Kagawa went there. Brutally.

I realize that this review is not being very helpful, so allow me to backtrack and give you a little something about the book. But it's probably not a good idea to read the rest of this review if you haven't read The Lost Prince.

What I loved:

As usual, Kagawa writes fun, relatable characters. I always know when I pick up one of her books that I'm going to laugh and fall in love with her cast. It's unavoidable and lovely. Ethan just wants a normal life with his girlfriend, Kenzie, the girl who is dying. He'd like nothing more for the fey to leave him and, more importantly, Kenzie alone. But Kenzie wants to live the rest of her life free from restrictions and craves the adventures the Nevernever provides. After trying his hardest to keep her away from Their world, they set out to look for Keirran, who has not returned to the iron realm after their last adventure. As always, there is a prophecy involved that neither Ethan or Keirran is aware of, one that has the potential to bring an end to everything. Ominously awesome, right?

I loved Keirran especially. He's mysterious, broken, tortured and b-b-bad to the bone. Well, not really that last one, but I just wanted an excuse to say that. That is, unfortunately, the impression that he gives everyone, including Ethan, who internally struggles with his feelings of both resentment and family duty. The dynamic between Keirran and Ethan allowed for two deeper messages in the storyline, more so than I remember in Kagawa's other novels.

1. How far do you go to help out a family member? There's no doubt that Ethan has the most to lose and little to gain from helping Keirran. Ethan blames Keirran's existence for the reason why he lost his sister Meghan to the Nevernever. Interestingly, while he remains deeply bitter about the ordeal, he always comes through for Keirran when he needs the help, even against better judgement.

2. How do you let the one you love go? What I didn't expect to find in this spin-off was the underlying message of letting loved ones go. Ethan and Keirran aren't so different. They are both outsiders and in love with girls who are terminally ill. It's a terrible situation to see one character in, let alone two. (In case you missed it, please refer to my second sentence: Julie Kagawa is an evil genius.) The difference between the two guys is their readiness to let their love interests go. I'm not entirely convinced that Ethan is ready, but there are certain lines he has made clear he won't cross, even if that means prolonging Kenzie's life. The same can't be said for Keirran, who would destroy the world if that meant he could spend just an hour more with Annwyl.

There's no doubt in my mind that the next book will make me cry a river, but I'm left wondering: At whose loss? How can any of this possibly end well? At least with The Iron Fey series, you had an idea of how things could conclude, though, of course, Kagawa didn't go that route. But with The Call of the Forgotten, I'm mystified and worried because THAT ENDING. There's only one thing left I can do: Hold out until the next book and hope my heart can take whatever Kagawa decides to dish.

*ARC was received from YABC and the HarlequinTeen. Thank you! No monies or gifts were exchanged for this review. I am genuinely a Kagawa fangirl!

More reviews and other fantastical things at Cuddlebuggery Book Blog.

There should be a warning label on some books ‘SERIOUS CLIFF HANGER’ this, if you haven’t guessed is one of those books.

I have enjoyed all of the Iron Fey books and The Iron Traitor is no exception to that. Julie Kagawa is doing a great job of showing us two ways to deal with what is ultimately the same problem. Both Ethan and Keirran are in love with girls who are most likely doomed to die soon. How they deal with the situation is completely different. While Ethan is about support and living every moment with Kenzie to its fullest Keirran is bound and determined to make any deal and pay any price to save the Summer Girl he is in love with.

I hated Ethan for most of the last book he was broody and a little whiney. But I liked him so much more in the Iron Traitor. He has really stepped it up and with Kenzies help has accepted that the Fey will always be a part of his world. He has a few very flawed moments but all and all he was a much more likable individual in this story.

Keirran on the other hand I wanted to smack most of the time. He made rash decisions, did stupid things and had moments of great selfishness and cruelty. He exhibited the worst traits of Meghan and Ash with the only redeeming quality being that everything he was trying to do was for the girl he loved.

There were great betrayals and based on the title you would think I would have expected some of them but a few caught me off guard. All of the characters transformed and became more three dimensional in this story, but it is a darker tale that seems to have little hope at the end of the tunnel for some of the characters.

Puck was able to add a little humor and after reading all of the Iron Fey series I really hoped that perhaps Keirran would have asked his father for help. If anyone would have known a way to possibly save Keirran and Annwyl it seems that Ash and Maghan would have been the go to people to ask for help.

There is heaps of drama and things look really bad for all those involved. I can’t wait to see how this story plays out in the end as for everyone. As is it seems like there will not be a lot of Happily Ever Afters to go around and the prophecy that everyone has tried so hard to save Ethan from might have found him anyway.

Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Fresh back from their last adventure in the Nevernever, with no intention of going back any time soon, he settles in to be a normal boy, doing normal things, like taking his girlfriend on a date. But that just doesn't seem to be in the cards. Keirran is missing and Annwyl is fading fast and before we know it Ethan is on his way back into adventure, whether he likes it or not.

I enjoyed this almost as much as I enjoyed the first one. Though many people still find Ethan too sullen and grumpy to like because he's personality was different in the original, but I still have no problem with him. I'd like to believe that I could understand the temperament change after dealing with the loss of Meghan, but I'll never know since I started off here. I find it so easy to sympathize with him after all he's been through. It's hard to imagine him being as open and easy going as Kenzie is because of all the loss he has suffered and the constant torment of the fair folk. I found it a bit refreshing to watch him find with himself over his jerkish tendencies to push people away. I read way too many overbearing male characters in YA, it was fun to be behind his eyes for once and also to have one who obviously truly agonizes over the fact that he acts like a jerk. Not one who has a great excuse for it, but never really shows remorse.

Then there is Kenzie, who is just as stubborn and bubbly as before. She is also just as sick as before, causing a great deal of concern for Ethan and me. I swear, if she freaking dies, I'm going to be so angry. I'm aware that Ethan making any sort of fairy deal goes against everything he believes in, but if that is what it takes, he better freaking do it. Kenzie cannot die, period. Without her, Ethan will go back to being an jerk fulltime with no one to rein in the inner jerk. We cannot have that. Her determination to live her remaining days as she chooses, regardless of anyone else's opinion, including her friends, family, and doctors is admirable. She knows she doesn't have long left on this Earth and refuses to spend what time she has left being locked in her room. Watching her brave everyone's rage, not to mentions the dangers of the Nevernever, was awe-inspiring. I hope if I'm ever called on, I can be half as brave as her.

Puck makes another glorious appearance here. Seriously, this guy is so amusing, there just aren't words. He's ability to swoop in and save the day, but always with a smile and a sarcastic comment, regardless of the amount of danger they are all in kept me snorting the entire time. I want to go back and read all the original Iron Fey novels strictly to get more of him. Seriously, he's the best character ever. I think he may be my favorite YA male ever. The fact that he is based on a Shakespeare character doesnt' even tarnish my love for him and that alone should speak volumes. Grimalkin is also a character I enjoy. He reminds me so much of the Coraline cat.

Kierran, however, is now a character I'm now on the fence about. I really liked him in the first book, and enjoyed his determination to save Annwyl against all odds was very endearing. Devotion to your true love even though you know if you succeed in your quest, you still won't be together should have had me swooning immediately. Initially it did, but the further we get into the novel, the less I liked him and by the end....well the only thing I can say is WHAT THE HECK KIERRAN? SERIOUSLY?

The biggest reason this gets 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the ending. This cliffhanger rivals Tellulah Darling's My Date From Hell. Julie, how can you do this to me? How can you do this to all your fans? You lull us into a false sense of security by wrapping things up nicely at the end of The Lost Prince, saving the shudder inducing ending for book two. Can I just advise all authors that if you plan on using the horrid cliffhanger ploy, at least have the decency to do it in the first book, because if you end the first one with a solid ending, we readers are overjoyed, but once we get to the end of two and get hit the whatever whammy you have in store for us, it's that much worse because we weren't expecting it at all. I feel like I've been punched in the face. That ending was just so terrible and there is absolutely no information up for the next one. It has no cover art, no description, not even a darn title.

If you enjoyed the first of this series, you'll definitely love this. It's filled with action, adventure, romance, and just enough snarky comments from our dear Puck to keep anyone entertained. Kagawa has this magical quality to her writing that you cannot stop yourself from becoming addicted to the story. You just have to keep going because you must know what happens next. Add to that the fact she named one of her chapters "The Apple Orchard Of Doom" and really what else do you want?

****Thank you to Harlequin Teen for providing me with an eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review****

I’m so confused. I usually love faery novels! They’re exciting and fun even though they’re all pretty much the same. But with this series, I just…can’t. I can’t do it. Everything about it, especially the characters are so stiff and forced. Kagawa’s vampire series is much better than this one.

Don’t you just hate it when starting a second book in a series, it just jumps right into a summary of the last book instead of weaving it in a different, appropriate times? Because The Iron Traitor just jumps right into a huge pile of information. On top of that, it seems that Kagawa isn’t done reminding us that Ethan Chase is not a ‘normal’ teenager who does ‘normal’ things and that his life will forever suck ass. I get it, Ethan. Your life sucks and you’re not normal. Stop reminding me or else I might have to kill you.

Moving on, most of the characters, especially (you guessed it) Ethan still feel boring and uncreative. The whole bad boy who isn’t actually who also hates faeries but will help them act is getting boring now. And Kenzie is just… she’s so annoying and stupid and just…

The things that I actually liked about this book are a quite limited to just about the action scenes. They’re beautifully done with great description and tons of suspense that I actually read the pages rather than skimmed them. Keirran’s devotion and love towards Annwyl is admirable at best but it’s a bit sloppy and unrealistic at some times. Believe it or not, the only character who didn’t annoy me at all isn’t even a Kagawa original but a facsimile of Shakespeare and that’s Puck A.K.A Robin Goodfellow because he’s just so funny. It doesn’t matter the story, he is the centre of attention and entertaining to read about.

Overall, this series is a let-down. I was expecting more, especially from this and although I liked it more than the first because of the nicely done ending, I didn’t like it by much. To readers who want to venture into the world of faery maybe reading this one first would be better than reading it after so many since there are a few twists and surprises. I’m hoping that the last one is better than this one but I highly doubt it will be.

Hallelujah. How about a trifecta? 1. An Amazing sequel 2. She actually reminded me the highlight from the first book so I am not stumbling around lost for 1/3 of the book until I remember 3. Holy wow. Characters, romance and action. So a triple trifecta? Anyways, I just wanted to use that word because its awesome just like this book.
I loved being in Ethan's head, and he was the same awesome hero that I remembered from the first book, except he is breaking down some of his walls and letting in Kenzie. Who, by the way, is still fiesty and a girl that I love to read about.
Julie Kagawa has this way with words, she is a remarkable storyteller, and she makes me delve into her world, her characters until I am flipping pages way past my bedtime and can't keep my eyes open, but I still want to read just a little more, than even more.
And of course, I just love being reminded of Ash, so I mean, if he is in it, or even mentioned, then that is something else big going in its favor for me. Because I love me some Ethan, but yum... Ash. Yeah... Um. Moving on.
But really, speaking of old characters, we get a peek at quite a few of them, and it is always fun when they pop in. You know you are in trouble, and need help, and so it comes. But I love the interconnectedness of it all.
Kierran reminds me so much of Ash, but he has his own personality quirks and Kagawa crafts him to mirror the best and strongest traits of both of his parents without it feeling like a book series on repeat. We get Ethan's unique perspective and their blossoming friendship, trust and family bonds.
The politics and actions both in this book and other books are really coming to a head, and the suspense and tension in the air is palpable in dealing with the courts. There is the delicious rivalry, but also driving need for the Fae to continue to exist, which I sense will require even more inter-court cooperation.
The ending really picks up on the action and I couldn't look away from the dangerous situations they got themselves into for the people they love. We also see a lot of emotional struggling, figuring how far is too far to go to save the person you love, or to help your friends and family. We see a lot of darkness, but it is hard because it is all from a really good place in their hearts with their motives.
And holy cliffhanger. Yeah. Be prepared. It sucks, and will continue to do so until book 3 is in our hands.

Bottom Line: Romance, action, suspense and sacrifice!

Oh, I'm going to have trouble writing this review of mine. I wanted to love this book, but I did not. I'm going to rate it a three star, though sometimes it felt like less than that for me. But, if I had read this book a year ago it probably would have been a five star for me. Most likely. But, I read it now. And I'm sorry I didn't love it.

It's been a year since I read the first book, The Lost Prince. I remember loving it, and I gave it five stars. But oh, since then I have gotten very picky with how I need the writing to be. I cannot enjoy something if I don't like the writing. And I did not enjoy the writing in this book at all. Not one bit. Which makes me sad.

Thing is, I have read a lot of books by Julie. And while it has been a year since I read the Iron Fey books by her, it's been just six months since I read The Eternity Cure. I don't remember any of her books being written like this one was. And I enjoyed her other books so much, and loved the writing. So it upsets be a bit that I couldn't enjoy the writing in The Iron Traitor. But that's just the way it is, I suppose. I can't love everything, all the time.

But even though I did not like the writing in this book, I did enjoy the story. For the most part. It is exciting and I loved being back in the Fey world that Julie has created. It's pretty amazing to read about. I just had issues with the way Ethan thought. And some clichés. They annoyed me a tiny bit, but I didn't really mind them that much, because I did enjoy most of this book. I liked the characters, though I might have liked Keirran the most, and he isn't even the main character. But he was pretty awesome.

We get to know more about Ethan, and I'm sorry, I just didn't feel much for him. Didn't connect that well with him. And I don't know why. Probably my fault. Sigh. It makes me sad, but I am still glad that I read this book, because I do adore Julie. Anyway. I won't say too much about the plot in this book. Though I will talk a little bit about it. And a little bit about the characters. And all the betrayal and heartbreak. Though I felt some things were a bit cliché, I still enjoyed reading about them. Mostly, I think :)

We get to read more of Ethan and Kenzie. First a bit of school time, though that doesn't last for long. We learn more about Kenzie's family; like her father. I didn't like him. Though I felt a little bit like he wasn't done well enough. Wish he had cared more. We see more of Ethan's parents too, and I liked them a little bit better. We see some of the old characters from the Iron Fey series. A little bit of Grimalkin; whom I still adore. A bit of Puck too. Still don't like him much :D Though I loved Razor.

There are some other characters in this book too, and I mostly liked them. I think I liked Annwyl. She was interesting to read about. I did feel sorry for her. An interesting character was the Thin Man. I enjoyed reading about him. We also see a bunch of other faeries. And we see more of the Forgotten. Though not as much as I had hoped. I did enjoy reading about them a lot. Though I should have read the short story before reading this book.. regretting that a bit, but I still understood mostly everything.

Anyway. Don't really have much else to say about this book. There are some interesting scenes that I enjoyed reading about, though I couldn't ever start liking Ethan's thinking method. It kind of drove me nuts. Didn't manage to forget about it for a moment. Sad face. But I did manage to enjoy the plot, because it is interesting. Truly. Though some things were a bit creepy. Some things sad. There is a lot of sad things in this book. I enjoyed them. Anyway. I do suggest reading this book if you read the first one.

The ending in this book is cruel. Very cruel. Though that is getting usual with Julie :D I love it. Though it was heartbreaking. And I'm worried. Though I doubt it can be that bad; new book coming and all. <3 But yeah. I am worried. Though I am also very excited for the third book, and I do hope I will enjoy it more than this one. It's just, it upsets me that I could not enjoy this. I wanted to, so much. Hmm. Might be because I missed Ash? Maybe. He and Meghan was not in this book much at all. Sad face. Still :)

Okay. Yes, I did not like this book. Though I am giving it a three star. Though probably a two point five star. I wish I could have loved it more, like I did the other books by Julie. But I just didn't. Anyway. Just also wanted to mention that I adore Julie, and I think she's an amazing person and author. And I will still be reading all the upcoming books by her, even though I was disappointed with The Iron Traitor. I still cannot wait for the last book, book three. I am very excited to read the end of the trilogy :)

I wanted to thank Mira Ink for the print ARC of this gorgeous book. <3 I love the cover; it's so pretty. Also thank you to Harlequin Teen for the auto-approval on Netgalley, though I ended up reading my print ARC :) I am happy that I got to read this book early. And I am still getting my pre-orders. <3

HOLY CLIFFHANGER, people! This. Book. Is. Amazing! And, now, after that epic cliffhanger of an ending, I think I might die if I don't get my hands on book 3 ASAP. LOVED THIS BOOK!

Let's start with Ethan.
He was amazing in this book. He was always a strong character, but he gets even stronger in this book in that he opens his mind and understands more. By that I mean, his view was very black and white before. Fae = bad. No ands, ifs, or buts. In this book, the lines start to blur for him and he comes to a better understanding about all the shades of gray in between. And, that's not mentioning how sweet he was to Kenzie. He may be a tough guy, but he definitely has a soft side and it was totally adorable. But, after that ending, I don't know what's going to happen to him. I think I might have died a little on the inside after what happened to him at the end. Just thinking about it now makes me want to cry and throw something across the room at the same time. To those who have yet to read the book, I'll say this about a million times in this review, but BEWARE THE ENDING.

I liked Kenzie even more in this book. She's a wonderful character. Even though she's the one who's dying, I think she'll be the one to outlive them all with the way things are going. Like Julie's other heroines, this girl is tough and she takes on everything that the fae world throws at her. She was brilliant.

We get to know Annwyl a lot more in this book, especially given her situation. You know, the threat of her fading from existence since she was banished for the Nevernever. I think the only word to describe her would be: sweet. She was such a genuinely sweet and nice character that is was impossible not to like her. And her situation broke my heart. Here's hoping that she manages to get a happy ending despite the odds.

Keirran.
I honestly don't know what to say about his character after everything that happened. He effed up big time. But before I go into a rant about how much I both love and hate him, I'll try to keep myself toned down.
Can I say that this boy is just like his father? Seriously, sometimes the way he acted was just so exactly like Ash that it was startling. Difference is that Ash knew when to stop. Keirran, unfortunately, didn't.
Ugh, I'm not even sure what to say about him. On one hand, I think he's amazing. His devotion to Annwyl was so heartwarming and adorable. And he was the very definition of bad ass.
On the other hand, I want to literally shake some sense into him. Or whack him upside the head.
Keirran, what were you thinking?! How could you do that!?
To what do I refer to? Several things, which is why I'm so at a loss of what to think. To say he screwed up is one thing, but he's well on his way to starting a war that could destroy both worlds. Ooh, I don't want to give anything away, but there's just so much I want to rant about! Let's put it this way. I've never had a character's actions rile me up so much. To the point that I was on the verge of throwing something across the room. And, even that's an understatement.

Again, we have cameos of our old favorites: Grim, Puck, Meghan, Ash. It's always great to see them again, just being so awesome.

The plot was fast paced. I was hooked, riveted, completely on the edge of my seat. Julie had a gift for getting me utterly absorbed in the world of her books and drawing me completely into the story. There are so many twists in this book that it would put a roller coaster to shame.

The ending. Oh my goodness, the ending. I don't think I've ever seen a cliffhanger so epic. But, come on Julie! Must you torture me?!?! There aren't even words to describe how I felt at that ending. I got to the last page, reread it literally 3 times to make sure I wasn't hallucinating, then refused to believe that was really the end, frantically tried to turn the page in my Kindle, and when that didn't work, finally accepted the truth and developed anxiety for the next book. That was a cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. I NEED to get the next book ASAP because I might just die of anxiety. Again, BEWARE THE ENDING!

The Iron Traitor was so completely EPIC, there aren't even words to describe how awesome it was. The twists and turns, the romance, the surprises, THE ENDING. It was all brilliant. Lovers of the Iron Fey series, you will love this book. It definitely doesn't disappoint the high expectation we had. For anyone else, I can't imagine why you haven't started this series yet, but you definitely need to get on that because it is earth shatteringly magnificent.

*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I am SO happy with The Iron Traitor. This spinoff series has really stepped up its game. The first book I was only slightly disappointed with, but it was still good, because hello, it's Julie Kagawa! And besides, it's hard to measure up to the epic badass-ness that is the original Iron Fey series (If you haven't read it, GO READ IT). But The Iron Traitor ended up being better than I expected! Ethan was alright in the first book, but in this sequel, he's certainly wormed his way into my heart. He's become so endearing, with his snarky wit, his need to be the heroic savior, and just his basic teenage boy-ness that I want more of him! I'm now very much invested in this spinoff series and am dying for more books in the series!

Ethan has grown throughout the series. At first, he completely hates the Fey, because they've done nothing but cause trouble to him. But now, after becoming more involved in their world, and meeting other Fey, he can't exactly hate all Fey. Because like it or not, he's related to them. His older sister is the queen of the Iron Court, and he has a nephew (who is the same age as Ethan-freaky, right) who he's become friends with. Keirran is a huge part of Ethan's transformation. Both their fates are entwined, and not necessarily for the better. It was all very worrisome, to be honest, and I kept feeling like something terrible was going to happen. And oh my god, it did. It was like, BAM, it comes out of nowhere, and I'm just reeling, shocked. If you're going to read The Iron Traitor (which you should!) be ready for some serious plot twists.

Keirran is a difficult character to like. Throughout the entire book, he's searching for a way to save the faery girl he loves from Fading-or basically, dying. And while he's searching, he embraces the darkness more and more. It was really hard to see him as Meghan and Ash's son, you know? It was just... weird. Like, oh my gosh, MEGHAN and ASH have a SON, and he's turning slightly BAD?!? He's got a good heart underneath, but desperate times call for desperate measures... and I got very frustrated with him. Because he's the main reason why Ethan and Kenzie and everyone are getting into so much trouble and are risking their lives over it. And I just didn't like that. I wanted to give Keirran a big shake so he'd come back to his senses, but I guess that wouldn't make for a good plot, would it.

Oh my gosh. The BEST BEST BEST part of the book was... wait for it... PUCK!!!! YES! PUCK. IS. BACK! You have NO IDEA how much I love this Summer faery. I adore him. Him and his antics and his comic relief. I'd missed this trickster so much. And Ash too. I'm not sure I should say this because I'll sound crazy, but basically, every time Ash appeared in the book, I would start fangirling like crazy. Seriously, I love him. I'd just be squealing with joy for every ten second appearance he'd make. I'd just missed him so much! *sighs* Ash is the. best. I missed these two enough that I basically reread the entire Iron Fey series while I was reading The Iron Traitor. I'm such a crazy huge fan of the series.

And of course, a certain cait sith is there to help all their sorry asses traipse through the Nevernever so they can fight epic battles against the Fey ;)

ARGH! That ending! I want to know what happens in the next book so bad! Julie Kagawa, I hate love you so much for making me so agonized over the end!

Originally posted here: [...]

Read on October 20, 2013

Book Info
Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: October 29th 2013 by Harlequin Teen
original title The Iron Traitor
ISBN 0373210914 (ISBN13: 9780373210916)
edition language English
URL
series The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2, The Iron Fey #6
characters Razor, Ethan Chase, Kierran, Kenzie
Source:Netgalley EARC

Book Buy Links

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BOOK SYNOPSIS

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as normal as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for; his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, normal simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

My Thoughts

My first thoughts upon finishing were "No, it can't end this way!" "You can't leave us hanging like this wondering about the outcome for Ethan, Keirran and the rest!"

Ethan Chase has spent so many years trying to block himself off from "feeling" or "growing close" to others that he has become pretty much an outcast amongst his peers, has a bad rep with authority figures at school and yet he still has not managed to distance himself far enough from the world of the fey. When he gets back from his unwanted trip to the Nevernever he finds himself more deeply involved despite his best intentions as he commits to not only helping his nephew Keirran try to save the Summer maiden Anwyl from her slow decline but finds himself having fallen in love with Kenzie too.

This time around we really get a good taste of just why mortals and faeries should not get involved in each others affairs as Ethan slowly but surely breaks every vow he had made to himself to stay away from the beings that had taken away his innocence in childhood, that had caused his sister Meghan to abandon her mortal family in favor of her new life with Prince Ash and ultimately may be the cause of Ethan's death.

Darkest journey yet in this world and series, some of the familiar characters we have grown fond of make an appearance along with Ethan/Kenzie/Keirran/Anwyl and Razor, the action is superbly orchestrated, the dramatic suspense and the emotional angst keep you enthralled so all in all once again Julie Kagawa wields her magic and gives fans a story that we just cannot get enough of.

My only complaint is that dratted cliffhanger ending!

[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]

NOTE: I received this book from Mira INK in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I want to say that I love this cover even though Keirran looks very scary (and not at all 17). But it fits his moods and change of heart/soul pretty well.

To be honest, I was left with the impression that I like Ethan's story more than Meghan's. But when I think of the burning passion that Meghan and Ash shared.... and all the incredible quests they went on together.... goodness, Ethan's got nothing on it. So I guess I can say that The Iron Traitor, if looking at it separately, is quite an impressive piece of read. But if compared to the rest of the Iron Fey books... it's a bit weak.

For example, Ethan only ever questions things in his head, without really voicing his concerns, or thinking of the consequences of his actions. None of the information that is given to him is ever considered important enough to remember and act on. Like that prophecy that he was told of...why not learn more? Or the vision the Oracle shared with him... why not heed it's warning somehow? Being a smart guy and not figuring things out... well let me say that I was quite a bit disappointed in him.

Then there's Keirran. Goodness, did I want to smack him in the head with a brick! Why oh why did he have to try all things dark and forbidden to save Annwyl before trying the light and easy path first? Why is the obvious way always the disregarded one? A little bit of thought on his side would've saved at least a couple of lives. But no. Prince Dark and Brooding is determined to do things his own way, fight his own battles, even though the price for the outcome he wants is always way too high to pay.

Gosh and Kenzie? I have not seen more stubborn girl in my life. Even though she's struggling with leukemia, which by the way is taking it's toll on her, she decides that she had to follow Ethan into the Nevernever and bring even more trouble their way. Because truly, the only thing Ethan ever worries about is whether she's safe, which takes a lot of his concentration no matter what he's in the middle of doing. I understand her view - not wanting to go down without a fight; wanting to see things beyond the normal; yada yada. But honestly, if her safety and health is all that Ethan worries about, then he's bound to get deep in trouble. So, I guess, I think she doesn't care that much about him, and that's just sad.

Well, the characters aside, this book was packed with lots of action scenes that got me reeling. I was really taken deep into it, enjoying every bit of the countless adventures that Julie crafted for us readers

4.5 star review

At a Glance:
The Iron Traitor takes us once again back to the NeverNever. We continue to follow along Ethan journey with Kenzie alongside him. Kierran is missing and Ethan must stop at nothing to find him before it too late.

Cover:
I absolutely love each and every cover that has been created in the Iron Fey series PERIOD. I alive the font that is used with the whimsical touch, I love that we always have a face on the cover to picture while we read (and not a bad face to stare at at all), I love the the blue toned used in The Iron Traitor, seems very fitting. The use of the woods in the background is a great touch. Its just so vivid and detailed orientated. Perfect!

Romance:
Romance has never been an issue with this series or its predecessor. What I love about Julie's writing when it comes to the romance is the detail of every touch or look or just a simple gesture. You don't have to sex to have a great romance. Julie excelled once again in The Iron Traitor when it came down to knocking the socks of you feet romance.

Heroine:
Kenzie hands down. Even though she is a fragile flower she continues to guide and support Ethan. I have become a fan and I love her stubbornness and determination, Ethan would be a fool not to start getting heavier feeling for her.

Hero:
Ethan takes the hero title. Not because he used brute force but because he finally started to show a softer side that showed he wasn't always angry at the world. Funny, sexy Ethan i definitely very hero-like.

Somethings I Loved:
Ok something I loved in this installment was the great mixture of characters. We didn't just read about Ethan and Kenzie, nope Julie gave us a little bit here and there of everyone we have grown to love from the past and also the newbies too. Yes the story surrounds Ethan but it wasn't just about Ethan.

Something I Disliked:
NOTHING! I have yet to come across anything in Julie's writing I have not liked. I sound like a broken record every time I review her books because I never have anything negative to share (which is awesome IMHO).

Cliffhanger:
All hail to Julie Kagawa for becoming the new Queen of cliffhangers. WOW! Last time I wanted to chuck my book after finishing it was a long time ago. I have read some crazy good cliffhangers but Kagawa took the lead.

Would I Recommend It:
Yes I would just like every single other book that Julie has written. I do recommend to read in order so you do follow along without any glitches. - Yara

Note - This review will contain spoilers from The Lost Prince, the first book in the series.

The title of this book, The Iron Traitor, is attention-grabbing, isn't it? We've got the word, "traitor," and we've got Keirran staring out at us, so...should we assume that he's the traitor?

Before I even began reading The Iron Traitor, I imagined where the plot could go. At the end of The Lost Prince, Keirran delcares that he'll do anything to stop Annwyl from fading away into nothing. Given faeries' fondness for striking dangerous bargains, it was easy to believe that Keirran would do something to betray one or more of his family members in order to save Annwyl. Assuming I was right, how exactly would it happen?

I'm not sure how I feel about a title that (potentially) gives away a major plot point. It's fun, in a way, because you have that same feeling that you do while watching a horror movie, when you KNOW something terrible is waiting just around the corner. That extended scare, and the anticipation that leads to up to it, is usually more satisfying than the sudden, cheap thrill of something scary bursting out onto the screen with no warning. At the same time, when you think you have knowledge of something shocking that's about to occur, it can detract a bit from what would otherwise be a majorly jaw-dropping moment. And folks, we get that jaw-dropper here, spoilery-title or not. If you've read Kagawa's The Eternity Cure, you know that she's not afraid to leave readers with a major cliff-hanger.

Everything that you could want from an Iron Fey book, especially the beautiful imagery, is here. But I don't feel like the story progressed a great deal beyond The Lost Prince. Ethan isn't quite so mopey, which is refreshing, and his relationship with Kenzie continues to be sweet.

And now the wait for the next begins, to see what happens after that shocking ending.

Note - I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

(Thank you to Harlequin Teen for providing me with an Advance Release Copy of Iron Traitor in exchange for an honest review.)

The Iron Fey series is the one that really propelled me into the field of YA literature. Prior to that, I really only read YA lit if it made the news and was generating a lot of buzz. It was the series that made me seek out these wonderful books before the buzz and made me obsessed with these types of books. Some fans of YA lit call upon J.K. Rowling as the one who opened their imaginations, or Stephenie Meyer. Julie Kagawa is that author for me.

This is a series I feel that every young adult literature fanatic should read. Within YA lit, there are so many genres and sub-genres, and there within YA fantasy and supernatural so many different breeds of mythological and magical creatures. There are books in my mind that are the best examples of vampires, werewolves, demons, Nephilim, witches, you name it. Fairies themselves do not overpopulate the world YA literature. It's an old and storied mythology with deep roots, a challenge that not many authors take on, and the few who haven't always done it well.

The Iron Fey series was my first foray into the world of the fey and in my opinion, there is no better example of fairies in young adult literature. I've searched and searched for another series that portrayed fairies as well. The Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr is as close as I've come. But no one creates the magic quite like Julie Kagawa does. Her Faery is the magical land I most wish I could reside in. It's the fantasy world I most love to settle back into with each and every book. And when she closes out Call of the Forgotten (the companion series to the original Iron Fey), I will be horribly sad to say goodbye to a place that has captivated me for years now and characters who feel like friends. I will be more sad than I was

I was extremely grateful to get a copy of Iron Traitor before its release from the wonderful people at Harlequin Teen. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to review it until now because just after I requested it, I was diagnosed with leukemia and though I did read it almost right away, I was having a hard time stringing any coherent thoughts together that would've resembled a well-worded review at that point in time. But I was also so grateful that it arrived when it did. In the midst of truly scary things, I was able to, if temporarily, lose myself in the pages of Iron Traitor and a literary world in which I feel at home and in which I am still inspired.

I loved Iron Traitor. It stayed very true to its base of fans. It did make me feel a little old, seeing Ash and Meagan as parents. And when I agree with their parental choices and think. Especially when I said out loud once, "KEIRRAN. LISTEN TO YOUR SEXY FATHER." Disconcerting. But in a great way. I love seeing them as "grown ups" and the evolution of their characters.

My next point and anecdote is going to seem to be taking us slightly off course, but trust me when I tell you I have a point.

I am not really a cat person. It's not that I don't like cats. I love kittens. (But who doesn't love kittens?) I even really like some cats that belong to my friends and stuff. Not all cats like me. But most cats intimidate me on some level. And this is coming from someone who has had dogs her whole life and currently owns two 75 pound Golden Retrievers and whose parents own one. Three large, strong dogs, all in one very small house do not intimidate me, but yes, cats by their very nature, intimidate the hell out of me.

My aversion to cats comes from the fact that when I was two years old, I was obsessed with Lady and the Tramp. We rented the VHS tape (so dating myself there) over and over and over and over again. I actually wore out the video store's copy and they had to get another. But then one night, I had this nightmare about the Siamese Cats from the movie and we had to take the video out of our apartment and my mom had to hold me in her arms and take me downstairs, outside, and to the car, so I could watch my dad lock it in the trunk. And for the next dozen years or so, I remained terrified of most cats and the Siamese Cats. At night, my parents actually had to get a spray bottle and they filled it with water and they would spray it around my windows and doors, because cats are afraid of water and they convinced me that that would keep the bad Siamese Cat dreams away. (This is what sleep deprived parents are able to convince a terrified and sleep deprived child of in their most desperate hour.)

I still can't watch Lady and the Tramp. My parents can't even turn it on in the house. Thinking about it makes me consider reaching for the bottle of Xanax.

I am no longer afraid of all cats. I've met some very nice cats. And I am an animal lover who donates money to humane societies and even cat rescues. I've never wished ill-will on any cats, I was just afraid of them. They still intimidate me sometimes, but I'm mostly okay with them.

The point to this? There is one fictional cat I truly love and wish was real.

One of the things I anticipate most in each of the Iron Fey books is the appearance of everyone's favorite fairy cat, with the attitude you hate to love and love to hate: Grimalkin. This was my reaction on my Goodreads/Twitter/Facebook when he showed up:

In fact, I've decided that some day I probably will adopt a little boy kitty and name him Grimalkin. YOU HAVE MOVED CAT SHAPED MOUNTAINS, JULIE KAGAWA. Seriously, major achievement. Cat yourself -- I mean pat yourself on the back.

Not only is Grim seriously just an awesome cat, he's a seriously impressive creature when you take into consideration his other animal counterparts in other books. I mean, I loved Hedwig, but I love Grim more.

In The Lost Prince, one teeny, tiny fault I found with it was that I didn't love Ethan's narration the way I loved Meghan's. I felt it was a little choppy. But in Iron Traitor, I really loved how much growth I saw in him and I really enjoyed his voice.

In general, I felt like Iron Traitor was an extremely successful book, especially when you consider the fact that the second book in any series can seem a little rough. And when it's the second book in a trilogy, it can seem like it's kind of just like a connecting flight that fills in some details and gets you from point A to point B, but doesn't necessarily add anything to the plot. Iron Traitor was so much more than than and was very substantial.

I feel like Iron Traitor showed so much character growth and adding so much excitement. I also loved the fact that it really started to build on the prophecy we learned of throughout the first Iron Fey series. I do love that this series has been a true companion that hasn't left questions from the first series behind. Iron Traitor left me both extremely excited for the next book ... yet a little melancholy, because it will be the last. But it was ultimately a satisfying book that captivated me in the same ways that its impressive predecessors did.

(This review is also featured on my blog, [...].)

Summary:
This is the second book in Ethan's story. Ethan is trying over and over to block out the Fey, but that will basically never happen, especially since he sees them everywhere. In spite of being forbidden to see Kenzie anymore, he can't help himself and does. Then he finds out that his cousin Kierran is basically selling himself to save the love of his life. With a prophecy that states Kierran will be the death of Ethan, we travel back into Nevernever so that everything can be worked out. of course, nothing is ever as it seems when it comes to the Fey and all of Ethan's family.

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed the first stories about Kagawa's fey, but I'm not a huge fan of Ethan's story. Ethan is a bit of a brat in the first book and in the second he is fairly foolish. I don't like most of his choices. Then Kierran is reckless and that gets to be a little annoying. I really wanted to like this book, but I'm not a fan of the male leads. Ethan's sister, Meghan, is a much better protagonist. There is also a cliffhanger at the end of this story that is a bit of a let down. Regardless, I will be reading the next book just because I've put so much into the series and I want to know how it will end.

Given who his parents are (for that matter given who his uncle is), the question is not will the Iron Prince Keirran do something desperately stupid and dangerous in order to try and save the one he loves, the question is just how desperately stupid and dangerous will it be? Making things worse is that unlike his mother in a similar situation, Keirran has chosen to try and work this out largely all by himself,...

at which he turns out to be somewhat poor, which results in Ethan Chase being dragged back into the Faery business he barely escaped alive from last book. Chasing after his recklessly desperate nephew, accompanied by the girl he loves and the girl Keirran loves, can Ethan stave off the prophecy of doom? Or merely fulfill it? An annoying cliffhanger ending will leave readers in doubt, but I'm betting on the famous Chase knack for bending fate and cheating death.

Here are the preceding tales in reading order:

The Iron King
Winter's Passage
The Iron Daughter
The Iron Queen
Summer's Crossing
The Iron Knight
Iron's Prophecy
The Lost Prince

First off, this book is gorgeous. The silver effects in the front and back covers are fantastic and I love the rough page edges. I took it out of the package (thank you once again the store Vine) and just looked at it for a minute. Really well done. I'm waffling on whether this is a 3 or a 4 rating. I found the romantic relationships really uninteresting and predictable but the rest of the relationships were more nuanced and sometimes surprising, particularly between Ethan and Keirran. If Kenzie called Ethan "tough guy" one more time.... I also appreciate these are kids and big picture thinking isn't really their strong suit but I really wanted to slap them upside the head more than a few times. When I take the pieces of the book individually I kind of shrug with a "meh" attitude but somehow I couldn't put the book down and with that cliffhanger ending (which I know will be explained and isn't what it seems) I'm itching for the next one already. This is light, easy reading that I just can't help but enjoy.

Guuuuuys. This book was wicked good. The prophecy is revealing itself and DARK TIMES are afoot. Keirran is walking a fine line as his desire to save Annwyl pushes him to do darker and darker things. I think I'd apply the words recklessly terrifying to him. He's on the edge and it's scary.

Ethan is... well, I like that he's beginning to realize that no matter how much he might want to pretend otherwise, his life is tangled up with faeries and the Nevernever. It has been since he was first kidnapped and taken there as a child. The only difference is that now he has the means to defend himself.

So much happens here. SO MUCH. Kenzie is put in jeopardy time and time again and yet she chooses to stand proudly beside Ethan every time. Her illness is part blessing and part curse. She's fragile and easily damaged and yet knowing that she has a finite time left makes her willing to take chances that she wouldn't otherwise take. Or maybe she would. She has this core of strength in her that makes her rather fearless.

I loved seeing some old familiar faces and I'm smitten with the reasoning behind WHY all this is happening. I love when things come full circle. It makes me happy.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

The Iron Traitor was full of adventure, romance and misdirection. The plot was flawless, in my opinion. The story picks up right where The Lost Prince left off. All the time Ethan and Kenzie spent traipsing through the NeverNever lasted a week in human time. Needless to say, Ethan has a new enemy...Kenzie's father! He is super intimidating and wants Ethan to have nothing to do with Kenzie. This, of course, isn't going to happen. Soon, Ethan and Kenzie are right back in the NeverNever with Kierran, Ethan's nephew. They are on a quest to save Kierran's love, Annywl, from fading into nothingness. Annwyl was a servant in the Summer Court that was banished by Queen Titania and is in desperate need of help. As much as Ethan hates it, he can't refuse and that is when the trouble begins...

Julie Kagawa has totally hit her stride in The Iron Traitor. I would have to say the best in all of The Iron Fey books as of yet. It is an exquisitely crafted novel and I absolutely adored it! Plus, Razor was back in full force. I just love that little gremlin!

5 stars to The Iron Traitor!

I received ARC copy from Netgalley.

Julie Kagawa has the ability to create a magical world that will completely captivate your imagination. The Iron Traitor is a cross between Romeo and Juliet and Alice in Wonderland. This book will take you on an emotional roller coaster that will have your heart ripped out, bleeding on the floor when you are finished. It is well worth the ride!
I knew after reading The Lost Prince I wanted to read more about Ethan and Kerrian. I wanted to see the new adventures they would get into. I also wanted to see how Ethan would save Kenzie and Kerrian would save Annwyl. Both Ethan and Kerrian are trying to protect the girls they love, but they handle it differently. Kerrian is willing to sell his soul to save Annwyl from fading. Ethan, on the other hand, knows sometimes the price is too high and that you just have to let go in the end. No one is safe from the choices that are made.
I would definitely recommend this book! I can't believe I have to wait until May 2014 to read what happens next!

~This review originally appeared on Read, Play, Review.~

I have a small pile of actual paper books to read, and this was the first on the list. The latest in the Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten series by Julie Kagawa, I received this as a birthday present so I was excited to get started.

The Iron Fey is a Young Adult Fantasy series about faerie kingdoms and creatures and magic, and Call of the Forgotten is the spin-off series featuring Ethan Chase, a human boy unlucky enough to be born with the Sight.

These books will not be winning any awards for quality writing, deeply engaging plots or uniquely original characters, but it is consistently decent all the way through and I will of course look forward to reading the next installment.

Review

Whenever I go into a book about the Fair Folk, I expect a few things. Magical abilities, creatures and characters with unique features, and a sense of mischievous fun. It is unfortunate that this book sadly lacks these three things through most of the story.

A lot of time is spent in the real world here and I feel like this is a definite case of "middle book syndrome" where the story needed a bridge to get from plot point A to plot point B. This grounding in the real world sadly means most of the magic and magical creatures end up happening in the last quarter of the book!

Puck does make an appearance which is nice, though again not until the setting shifts to Faerie. Sadly one of my personal favourite characters, Leanansidhe, Queen of the Exiles is missing, though she is name dropped countless times.

The story is narrated entirely by Ethan Chase, and as such we get a lot of his internal dialogue regarding his new relationship and his family situation both at home and with his Fey Queen sister. Honestly I find him a bit dry, which would usually be watered down with great magical encounters but not here.

I gave this three stars and it really is a solid three star book. Not horrible, but disappointing for me when I went into it expecting a lot more. If you're a fan of the series definitely keep reading them, world building is generally good and has something there for fans of the genre.

Ethan Chase once again finds himself up to his neck in the machinations of the Fey when he is forced to go back into Nevernever to help find his nephew, Keirran, the Iron prince. Keirran is determined to help all the Forgotten fey from fading, especially his love, Annwyl. Keirran's determination has placed him on a dark and dangerous path that threatens both the fey and human worlds. As Ethan struggles to save his nephew and himself, the next choice made will decide his fate.

The Iron Fey: Call Of The Forgotten is a spin off of Kagawa's best selling Iron Feyseries. I recommend reading the Iron Fey series first or at least the novella, Iron's Prophecy, before starting this series. It offers hints at why Meghan Chase (Queen of the Iron Fey) went to incredible lengths to keep Ethan and Keirran from ever meeting each other.

The Iron Traitor picks up right where The Lost Prince left off. Ethan and his girlfriend Kenzie have survived and made it back from Nevernever alive, though Ethan has now been forbidden to see Kenzie again. Ethan just wants to be left alone but Annwyl comes to Ethan, begging him to help her find Keirran who has once again disappeared. Ethan travels to Nevernever, along with Kenzie and Annwyl, and finds Keirran just in time to stop him from making a horrible mistake. Ethan offers a substitute solution, only to discover that his choice has opened the door to an outcome that may destroy them all.

I enjoyed the The Iron Traitor in that I liked submerging myself back into Kagawa's fantasy world but I find it still seems a bit repetitive, in that our protagonists are forced to suffer and sacrifice for their loved ones and friends, and will ultimately have to choose their sides in what seems to be a never ending battle. This series is more emotion based. Ethan struggles with his hatred of all things fey and his jealousy over what he deems is his sister's betrayal. She left him to be with the fey and he has never forgiven her or the fey for that. He holds them responsible for all the misery in his life.

Sacrifice is a strong theme the storyline is based on and while I don't see much growth character wise I do see an interesting coming of age trope that circles both Ethan and Keirran. Ethan starts out hating the fey and in the beginning would have had no issues with destroying them all. They have ruined his life and he wouldn't shed a tear if they were to all disappear from the world. Keirran, on the other hand, wants to save his world and showed a strong compassion for all fey, including those who are considered disposable. We watch in this installment as Ethan and Keirran seem to flip sides.

Ethan's opinions change somewhat concerning the fey, no longer wishing death to all. He begins to understand the delicate balance that is necessary for all their survival. He also begins to understand that his sister did not abandon him out of spite or lack of love. She had to follow her own destiny as he is being forced to follow his.

Keirran, on the other hand, becomes more focused on only saving the fey he wants and shows a remarkable lack of compassion for anyone else who isn't necessary to his plan. Keirran is becoming more selfish and reckless. His mission to save the love of his life leads him to make decisions that make no sense. He mourns that he and Annwyl can't be together because he is iron and she is summer yet he is constantly reminded his parents went through the same thing, so it is possible for them to be together. He uses his powers to get what he wants, disregarding the consequences until he is faced with the results of his actions. Ethan shows the most growth in that he begins to acknowledge and deal with the real reasons behind his hatred of the fey.

Character wise, I'm still not team Kenzie. Kenzie is annoying and frankly useless beyond her use in drawing Ethan out of his shell of self imposed isolation and showing him the stronghold love can have on someone. She helps a little physically but we really only see her throw herself into the fray along with Ethan only to once again succumb to her mysterious illness. She is a stress point for Ethan. She wants adventure and to live her life on her own terms, which is understandable, but she doesn't seem to realize that her being there only places Ethan in more danger as his attention becomes divided between keeping her safe and staying sharp enough to survive Nevernever.

Annwyl is more interesting this time around and enjoys a deeper emotional role. We learn more of her past and get hints towards her future. I adored seeing Puck, Grimalkin, and Razor again. And, of course, Ash and Meghan. We don't see much of them, but then, their story has been told. I did miss seeing Leanansidhe, though. The Queen of the Exiles continues to be one of my favorite characters with her dark morbid humor. I hope she comes back soon as she plays an important role in the lives of those fey who are lost and forgotten.

What I miss most in this series is the strong undercurrent of love that the original series carried. Platonic and romance wise, I don't get a strong sense of chemistry between the characters in here. We are told why they make the choices they do but I'm never convinced of the truth behind them. It's a predestined path Kagawa has them following and it feels contrived at times. This may be because we have all been here before. Nothing offered is truly new or astounding and it was done much better in the original series.

The world building is almost nonexistent in this installment. Kagawa spends a majority of the book examining personal ideologies, expanding our knowledge of the Forgotten, and setting the stage for the finale. Multiple subplots are introduced as our protagonists begin to choose the paths that lead them towards their fate. We are introduced to a few new characters who play small but important parts in the Forgotten storyline but we aren't shown really anything new in terms of fey. Kagawa brings in the other courts, assuring us that nothing is what it seems and all actions have consequences. The main conflict is a tense entity that builds from page one. Action packed from beginning to end, we are left with a cliffhanger that stuns us with the stark betrayal that has occurred.

While once again I'm not blown away by this spin off, the similarities to the main series are just too strong to be ignored, I continue to find myself intrigued by the emotional battles Ethan faces and with the 180 ending that changes the entire story. I know I will be reading book three, title and release date to be announced, if just to see how Kagawa can make this work.

Rating: C

Love Love Love!!!!! Julie has done it again! Love, danger, adventure, and so much. It has everything a perfect YA book needs and more.

Ethan has come back from the nevernver, but not without something going on in the real world. When they return, a week has passed by and the cops have been looking for them. Reports have been filled and now things are going to be just a little more tougher. Day one and the cops are on Ethan about Todd and how he was the last person to talk to him. Then it went to taking Kenzi to NY. After that day all Ethan wants is to go home and face what is to come. Well Megan showed up at home and at Kenzi's place and explained about what what happened, keeping out the more dangerous parts though. When he arrives home Ethan is surprised that he is off the hook. Well, his mum just doesn't want to deal with the whole fey thing, since they do like to cause trouble.

So Kenzie and Ethan go on a little cute date. When they are leaving a group of their friends gasped at the sight of them two. The girls couldn't believe it and of course the jocks just want to attack Ethan. So everyone should just get over it. Kenzie and Ethan are dating and that is that. So after that is settled, they head to Ethan's place. Ethan's mum is funny, since she can't believe Ethan had a date with a real person.

When they head to his room, Ethan finds that one of the charms from his room is missing. He finds a fey waiting for him in his room. It's okay though, it's one of the good fey. Its Annwyl and she needs their help. She is also looking for Kierran and believes he may be in great danger. He went to look around the world for a way to stop Annwyl from fading away. So they will have to help, Kierran is family after all. Plus Kenzie wants to help and Ethan can't exactly stop her. So they work out a plan to head over to New Orleans to a market where they think Kierran might be.

When the arrive a few days later, they head over to the market and is able to find someone who can show them where the prince went. Right after they head to Mr. Dust to find Kierran, who is about to make a major deal. But with Ethan around, he was able to get Kierran to change his mind, and then nearly escape the place.

Now Kenzie, Ethan, Annwyl, Razor, and Keirran head over to the guro's place in hopes he can help. If it goes well, Annwyl, would be safe and then Keirran can go and face his parent, who aren't mad like he thinks. Sure they are mad hes been gone for so long, but they aren't going to lock him in his room forever type of mad. But hey, can you blame Megan and Ash? They are awesome people you know.

Anyway do you think that guro has found a way to help them, and they can all be together and live happy? Or will something obviously mess up or go wrong making things more complicated. Well obviously the last one, but hey, this is probably the best Iron Fey book out there! I give it 5 stars.

[...]

I know, I know. Some of you are probably thinking, faeries? Aren't they tiny, glittery creatures concocted for the imaginations of three-year old girls bedecked in tutus and crowns? Call me a kid, but I've been enchanted by Julie Kagawa's "The Iron Fey" series ever since I read the first book. I think a little piece of me died when I read the final book in the original series, only to be revived when "The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten" series was announced! "The Iron Traitor" is the second book in this sequel series, and was released just last month. And let me tell you, the fey in the books are not your typical frilly faeries.

"Normal" is not possible when it comes to the life of Ethan Chase. Being the younger brother of one of the most powerful fey in the Nevernever wasn't meant to be easy, and, after an unexpected journey to the land of fey, "normal" is out of the question. But when he learns that his nephew Kierran is missing and seeking any means possible to save the summer faery he loves, Ethan finds himself sucked back into magical mischief and fey politics. Now, however, the stakes are even higher. Not only does he have to protect his stubborn girlfriend Kenzie, but Ethan also has to stop Kierran before he does something unthinkable, something that will give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten, and fracture the human and faery worlds forever.

The characters in "The Iron Fey" series have always, without fail, made me fall in love with them. I remember becoming so invested in the adventures of Meghan, Ash and Puck that I devoured even the in-between novellas in the series--I just needed more! Luckily for me, they make reappearances in "The Iron Traitor", and it really is like meeting old friends after a long time. Puck is as mischievous as ever, and it was thrilling to see Ash show up again (though this may or may not be because I ended up having a creepy fictional crush on the guy). And, of course, you have Grimalkin, the Cheshire Cat-like character, ripe with sarcasm and wry "better than thou". I think I squealed a little when he showed up in the novel! The way Ms. Kagawa ties in the original and sequel series together is both generous and exciting, and builds on the world she'd created previously in ways that continue to astonish you at every turn.

The main characters of this series, however, are Ethan, Kenzie and Kierran. Being in the perspective of a male protagonist is always interesting to me, especially when it comes to YA novels. I love reading about Ethan's emotions and thoughts throughout the novel, especially as he comes to terms with his feelings for Kenzie and letting some of that 'tough guy shield' go as he exposes himself to more vulnerability. The ways in which Ethan's character develops as the story progresses allow for greater reader investment in the novel, not to mention establish a connection between the main character and the reader. I do have to say, however, that I don't quite feel as invested in his character as I did in the original series, though this may not have anything to do with his portrayal! Kenzie, though admittedly a little annoying at times, is still a strong, determined character who is a perfect match for Ethan, helping him crumbles the walls he'd erected for self-defense. The most intriguing character in "The Iron Traitor", however, is Kierran, since the entire novel centers around his actions as he tries to save Annwyl. I loved their tragic romance, and to see him change as he struggles to save the faery he loves was extremely interesting to read about.

As always, Ms. Kagawa does an incredible job in expanding the world of the novel. She takes us to New Orleans, full of mystic and voodoo and all that jazz (pun intended), creepy, abandoned houses, and, of course, Nevernever. It's always intriguing to enter the land of the fey, what with all the court politics, exotic and entrancing creatures, and wickedly beautiful landscapes. And what's all the more intriguing is that Ms. Kagawa evokes this entire, expansive world through words alone! The writing itself is never purple, nor is it simplistic, with just the right balance of descriptions and action to set the novel at a quick and engaging pace. The storyline never really dropped, and always remained exciting until that one heckuva cliffhanger!

Overall, "The Iron Traitor" is an incredibly delectable addition to "The Iron Fey" series, with a wonderful cast of characters you can't forget, a deceptively enchanting world, and an engaging, fast-paced plot. I highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a good adventure--or to indulge in their childhood obsession with faeries!

Rating: 4/5

Being warned, by Julie, about the ending and to not hate her really made me not want to read this book. I made her no promises but alas, while the cliffhanger is pretty killer I'm not really bothered by it. Weird, I know. But I'm also not sure how I felt about this book, as a whole. It's weird; I love the world she created, as Iron Fey is one of my all time favorite series; the characters she created are even better than the world, even the newer characters from this series but still, something was missing from this book. The thing that stinks is I can't seem to put my finger on exactly what was missing, which is the problem.

The thing I love most about this series and nothing will ever change my opinion about this is the appearances from the old characters, Grimalkin, Ash, Meghan and most importantly, Robin Goodfellow. The second I see Ravens, I squeal. It's just a reaction this series has done to me. I don't mean in real life - I'm not driving along and squeal every time a Raven flies in the sky, that's silly; just in the book because you know whose coming. MY MAN! But back on subject, I love the appearances of these characters, as slim as they might be, they're who we fell in love with and for some, who we still love over every other fictional character we've ever come across. Yes, Puck is that guy for me - out of the hundreds of books I've read and the hundreds of fictional guys who made me swoon, he's still my number one. So I fan-girl every time he's there.

In the first book, The Lost Prince, I really like Ethan and I especially loved his growing relationship with Mackenzie St. James. I loved their relationship even more in this book. It's real, strong and everything a relationship should be. That being said, it's not them who really captured my attention this book; Keirran took that crown there. He loves Annwyl so fiercely, it's almost a completely different side of him. He is willing to risk just about anything to keep her from fading, even if that means giving up her knowing she's at least alive and happy. That's a pretty tough thing to do, let someone you love go. He meddles in dark magic and while it may save her, temporarily, it's also killing him and taking everything away from him that makes him Keirran. It's turning him darker, which is a scary thing to see especially with a talk of a prophecy going around.

Ethan was a bit more tame this book, which I definitely liked seeing. We can thank Kenzie for that; she's truly showed him how to love and also letting him know he shouldn't be letting Them rule his life. He's really starting to grow up and Kenzie reminds me so much of Meghan; it's kind of scary, really.

This whole book felt seflish to me. The whole concept of the book was for Keirran saving Annwyl, which I understand; you don't want to lose the one you love but some of the choices that were made weren't worth the risk. And what made it worse was that he dragged Ethan and Kenzie (whom is the most selfless person ever) into his issues. I understand, they're friends (even family, for Ethan) but some things you can't change or aren't meant to be changed. I understand it's hard knowing you'll lose something as great as love but unfortunately, it's the way it is sometimes. Everything that happened in this book comes back to Annwyl . . . everything. That bothers me.

I didn't feel connected to this story and the above paragraph is probably why. I enjoyed Keirran a lot more, give or take a few things (if you've read it, I'm sure you'll know what I'm talking about) but I really liked him a lot in this book. I actually think I like him more than Ethan even with everything. I know, what am I thinking? I'm not sure, really.

Even though this book was a bit of a disappointment for me and everything, I still recommend it. It wasn't bad, just missing it's usual spark and it's more of the Iron Fey world; how can you say no to that? Plus, the characters are great and the original characters appearances are great. Plus, seeing Ash as a father was pretty fantastic, even coming from a Puck girl.

Reviewed by Jessica @ Step Into Fiction

"Trouble? Me?" Puck gave him a wide-eyed, innocent look as we started after the cat. "I'm hurt, Furball. It's like you don't trust me or something"

Do you ever have one of those authors that you auto-click the to-read button on Goodreads whenever you see they have a new book coming up without any idea of what it’s about or that you didn’t even bother reading the summary provided? Julie Kagawa is one of those authors for me.

Having so much love for The Iron Fey series, the spin-off series, Call of the Forgotten, was something I looked forward to. After a very interesting first book, The Lost Prince, I expected The Iron Traitor to pick up the pace. Thankfully it did – although it did not end well…

While the introductions of our heroes in The Lost Prince made me a little weary, not to mention the sense of déjà vu that I felt over meeting them, but Ethan, Kenzie and Kierran did make a better show of themselves here in the second book. I said in my review of The Lost Prince that Ethan was too angst-y, Kenzie was annoying, and I hated that I didn’t get enough of Kierran then. Now at least, Ethan and Kenzie are kind of growing on me, Ethan in particular. I loved the scene where he was a bit embarrassed about telling his mom that he had a date, such normalcy in his life was a rare treat that it looked so cute!

As for Kierran, well I got my wish. I definitely got a lot more of him here… and I cannot imagine a more appropriate moment for the saying “Be careful what you wish for, it might just come true” slap me in face. Wow… I cannot believe he just did that! I was really getting agitated over the damn prophecy. I mean, hello? – it was up for speculations since The Iron King, and that was like years ago (2010, I think). It was so about time it finally took place. Not that I want bad things to happen or something, but the wait was just really disconcerting. I’m not the most patient person when it comes to mysteries, in case you didn’t notice.

I expected the prophecy to come about one way or the other at some point in the series but I did not expect it to be like that! Such a cold-hearted, confusing and nerve wrecking scene! While Ash went from the dark winter prince to a redeeming hero – a faery with a soul, Kierran falls into a pit of darkness… all for love. Is Kierran beyond redemption? I sure hope not!

I’ve been elaborate on voicing out the Filipino terms used in the first book during my review and while it doesn’t change my opinion over how I feel about the story, the errors still caught me off guard. I still cringe over seeing the word “guro” used as a proper noun, and the slip-up on using the Filipino word for amulet. It was written as “ating-ating” which was supposed to be “anting-anting” – probably a “you say tomato, I say tomahto” moment here for some. Maybe it would have been better off using “agimat” instead to lessen the mispronunciation/misspelling. At least they got “Tuhon” right.

The Iron Traitor has shown a lot more action scenes than its predecessor which I for one, love so much in JKagawa’s books. And the significant appearances of our protagonists from the Iron Fey series was something I truly savored! Seeing Grim being, well… Grim, Puck bringing up trouble as he always does, and Ash being the ever awesome hero appearing just in the nick of time to save the day [even just standing there looking dark and hot I’d be all good with that too] – my heart just melted! In spite of the tragedies that came with this story, I am so eager to see the next book.

Seriously though, Kierran’s going to redeem himself, right? Right? Answer me, dammit!

Oh Em freaking Gee. <-- This is me, blown away.

So, Ethan is thrust right back in the middle of where he didn't want to be when Annwyl and Meghan come to him at different times to tell him that Kierran, the Iron Prince and Ethan's nephew, is missing. Ethan and Kenzie set off on a trip through the mortal world, the Nevernever and the Between in order to find Kierran and then to help him, sometimes reluctantly and with great consequence, on his mission to save the person he loves. Unfortunately, the price for this help may be higher than Ethan was willing to pay.

The Iron Traitor was a mind-blowing, heart-stopping trip to crazy town, and I loved every single minute. Ethan has come a long way since the beginning of The Iron Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1). In it, his anger and disappointment at his sister was infecting every facet of his life. He turned his back on his Sight. He shunned all attempts others made at trying to be friends. He really wasn't a very likable guy.

In The Iron Traitor, Ethan is shedding his nasty exterior - albeit, slowly - and coming to terms with who he is and who his family is. A lot of that has to do with Kenzie's influence. She's the girl who didn't take any of his crap, and he fell in love with her because of it. She pushes him beyond what he thought he was capable of. Kenzie is the bomb.

And then there's Kierran. Kierran, Kierran, Kierran. I think he smiled 0.75 times in the entire book. There's several reasons for this - the woman he loves is dying, he's slightly estranged from his parents, and he essentially made a deal with the devil. He had good reasons for making very bad decisions. But, my heart hurt so much for this kid for the entire book.

As in The Iron Prince, we catch glimpses of our very favorite friends from The Iron Fey. We see Meghan, Ash, Puck and Grim, but all the appearances are sadly too short. Puck hangs around the longest while helping Ethan, Kierran and Kenzie out on the final leg of their mission. Sadly, Ash is the one we see the least of. But, when he does show up, you totally take notice.

I love Ethan and Kenzie together. They have a unique relationship. Ethan's always pretending to be uber tough and Kenzie tries to make it seem as if everything happening to her just rolls off her back. Both of them are crazy which is why they're so perfect together. Their moments of sweetness and vulnerability gave me a much needed break from the extreme angst.

Can I just say a word about the ending? The cliffhanger is totally off. The. Hook. I know why Julie Kagawa did it. It really was the perfect ending. That doesn't mean it made me feel happy. Waiting for the resolution is going to be painful. In a wonderfully, bookish way.

The Iron Traitor is everything I love in an epic book. It has love and death, big battles, creatures of all shapes and sizes, old friends and new enemies. How can you say no to all that?

I've been avidly following the Iron Fey series since the very beginning. While a a whole I preferred the first series over this one, overall Mr. Kagawa never disappoints with a vivid world and dynamic characters. Ethan, Kenzie, and Kierran all have their unique voices, and while I was not a huge fan of Ethan in the first book, I was pleasantly surprised that I liked him more in this books. And of course I'm dying of curiosity as to what the prophesy about Kierran really means. Can't wait for the next book!

Ethan goes back in the Never Never to help Keirrian find a cure to save Annwyln from fading. Of course Kenzie has to follow. Ethan gets a

glimpse into the future which is him being killed or dying with his nephew Keirran standing above him. Now he knows Keirran has powers and

loves Annwyln enough to die for her but will Ethan make a bond with Keirran and go aganist all he stands for considering the fey becasuse of

family and friends? I jumped right into this book after reading The Lost Prince these are that good.

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa is the second in the Call of the Forgotten spin-off series in the Iron Fey world. I decided to test the theory that you can start Call of the Forgotten without reading the first four Iron Fey books, so I’ve only read The Lost Prince prior to Iron Traitor. There are some mild spoilers for The Lost Prince in the description for Iron Traitor, so feel free to check out my review of The Lost Prince if you want to be safe ;-). I must admit that Ethan is not my favorite narrator in the world of books, so Iron Traitor didn’t go all that well for me. It felt like major second book syndrome unfortunately, since there is potential awesomeness for the series in the future, but Iron Traitor didn’t accomplish that potential in my opinion.
Note: I received an eARC of The Iron Traitor through Netgalley for an honest review. Some things may be different in the final version.

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa (Call of the Forgotten #2)
Published by Harlequin Teen on October 29th, 2013
Genres: Contemporary Fantasy, YA
Length: 304 pages
How I got my copy: NetGalley
IndieBound - Book Depository - Goodreads
Purchases made support this blog
In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.
Strengths:
We get to journey to more parts of the Nevernever in Iron Traitor and I quite enjoyed seeing more of the faery realms. It’s always fun imagining that goblin markets are hiding just out of site in whatever major city you are visiting ;-).
I’m such a fan of new and interesting critters, and Iron Traitor definitely delivers on that front. We get to meet more Forgotten and more fey of all persuasions.
The writing of Iron Traitor continues to be light and fast, making for an easy read when you just want to have fun!
Weaknesses:
Especially at the beginning of Iron Traitor there are a lot of info dumps to tell the reader everything that happened in the Iron Fey series (it seemed, probably not absolutely everything) and a summary of The Lost Prince. I understand giving reminders for important characters from previous books, but Ethan was explaining everything and reminded me of annoying boys I know….
Speaking of annoying boys! Ethan had some fairly sexist thoughts in Iron Traitor that really grated on me. He kept obsessing about protecting “the girls” and keeping “the girl” away from danger. The combination of the two female characters being inherently weak due to illness and the way Ethan kept lumping them together just did not work for me.
Ethan and the gang were strangely touchy about some things that really didn’t seem like a big deal to me and then didn’t see a problem with other things that were obviously really bad ideas. Priorities people!
I understand that teenagers sometimes fall in puppy love quickly, but it still annoys me when characters declare their undying love after a week of knowing each other. They didn’t even know each other before they started dating! One week is not long enough no matter the circumstances.
The Iron Traitor mostly felt like a set-up for the next book in the series. Nothing much happens until the end when a whole lot of bad things happen that clearly can’t be resolved before the end of the book. Then there is a huge cliffhanger that is only kind of a cliffhanger (you know what I mean if you’ve read the book, I mean what do you really think is going to happen??) but is clearly declaring the plot of the next book.
Summary:
The Iron Traitor has basically cemented my decision that Call of the Forgotten is not the series for me, though I know a lot of people have been enjoying it. If you don’t mind Ethan as a narrator and enjoy a mostly romance-driven plot, you’ll probably enjoy Iron Traitor just fine. I can see potential for the rest of the series because something interesting definitely has to happen at the beginning of the next book, but it was too little, too late for me.

[...]

I received the book free from net galley in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, if you don't like cliffhangers you're going to hate the ending of this book. Aside from that Kagawa has been able to transport us back to the magical world that Ethan is "unfortunately" able to see. The book follows pretty much straight from the ending of The Lost Prince and shows the reactions of the people around Ethan and Kenzie about them disappearing without letting anyone know. They both try and settle back into normal life, however it seems that the Nevernever has other plans for these two humans and quite quickly into the book more fey drama ensues. Both Kierran and Annwyl are featured in this book, with less of a mention of Meghan and Ash to those who enjoyed the first series. Without giving too much away, Kierran goes missing very early on in the books and a concerned Meghan comes to talk to Ethan about where he may be. This sparks an adventure that will have dire consequences to the lives of everyone involved as well as to the land of fey and the courts.

Kagawa has been able to continue her outstanding work with this new addition to the series and the plot flows as seamlessly and effortlessly as it has done in previous novels. Ethan seems more relatable in this book than the last and i'm growing less fond of Kierran as time goes by (but i'll always have a soft spot for him) and the supporting characters all play there roles well as well as additional information being revealed. You potentially find out why Meghan and the rest of the Fey were so keen to keep Ethan and Kierran apart, (it's never confirmed if what is revealed is indeed why they were so cautious) and it's very surprising. Parts of this novel are potentially more 'dark' than the previous however nothing too alarming and it is still ok for younger readers. Though maybe not too young. If you enjoyed The Lost Prince or any of Kagawa's previous works. Or if you enjoy reading stories about faeries, i would HIGHLY recommend checking out this book!

Oh.my.freaking.god. Someone needs to stop Julie Kagawa before she writes more masterpieces. Seriously. She kind of destroyed my heart with this one. As usual, we meet a bunch of characters from the Nevernever, some old familiar turn up, and the writing is, once again, top-notch. Julie Kagawa is an amazing author, and she drives that point home once again, with this novel. Words cannot describe how awesome this is. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Julie Kagawa started out with the Iron Fey, and I thought she was done with book 3, The Iron Queen. But she has managed to extend the series by exploring the lives of some of the other characters, and this one brings in Ethan Chase, the younger brother of the Iron Queen, now nearly an adult and having some run-ins of his own with the world of Fey. This is a terrific extension to the original trilogy, and leaves room (of course) for even more tales of the NeverNever.

Romantic love is looking decidedly less romantic when the fey are involved. Ethan Chase (human) and his part fey nephew Keirran are in parallel dilemmas where the girl they each love is dying. On Ethan's side, Kenzie is desperate to experience life, when everyone else is trying to keep her safe so she can die...safely. No wonder she's annoyed. However, the focus of the story is on Keirran's attempts to save Annwyl, who is Fading. Someone really needed to put both boys into a Business 101 class because neither of them seem capable of negotiating. An in the Nevernever, negotiation is a survival tool. Desperation drives both of them to do some pretty terrible things, and much as they would like to rationalize it away as a necessity of circumstance, the horrors they inflict are really personal choice. The situation is only made horrible by their refusal to let go and accept loss. The unwillingness to make personal sacrifices means that much else is sacrificed and this will have far reaching consequences. This was an interesting book because I did not like the choices that Ethan was making, though I understood them. I could also see how the best of intentions could become twisted - we are often dragged into compromising positions by those we care about. This is a dark, interesting story that speaks to the uglier side of human/fae nature. The book is a complete story in and of itself but, still, the next book better come out soon.

I was disappointed in this novel. It seemed to follow the same old format as each previous book in the series that came before it without any new territory covered. The story returns to Ethan Chase. Ethan has to return to fairy and reluctantly bring along his girlfriend. They fight bad guys. The end. I know. Boring

Iron Queen Meghan Chase's younger brother Ethan wanted nothing to do with his sibling's Iron Realm Nevernever after spending a traumatic time as an abducted four year old in that abomination (see The Iron King). In the normal realm, Ethan hid his true nature behind an angry tough guy loner façade until he met Mackenzie St. James at his new school. That encounter eventually led to his return accompanied by her to the last place he wanted to visit (see The Lost Prince).

After a week in Faeryland, he is back in normal land, hopefully with Kenzie as her boyfriend. The cops question him re shell shocked Todd and Kenzie whose parents order her not to see Ethan again after he explains that he drove her to New York for a week. Meanwhile Ethan's same age as him nephew Keirran, who he met for the first time on his recent visit to his sister, vanished. The family fears the teenager plans to raise the deadly Forgotten. Feeling a sense of responsibility that he knows sucks Ethan must stop his relative before he devastates two realms.

The second entertaining Iron Fey Call of the Forgotten urban fantasy (see The Lost Prince) continues to focus on Ethan who no longer is an angry teen since he has friends and family to care what happens to them especially Kenzie. Though it behooves the audience to read the previous book to better understand the protagonist (and for that matter Meghan's saga - see The Iron King, The Iron Queen and The Iron Daughter), fans will enjoy this entry as Ethan learns the importance of family.

Harriet Klausner