The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Warning. Heavy spoilers ahead. If you haven’t read the book yet, you better get yourself a bucket and scoop some much safer reviews out there.  So onto my review…                                                                                                                    

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Goodreads

Series: The Iron Fey #2 
Published August 1st 2010 by Harlequin Teen

The second installation of the Iron Fey series did not, I repeat, did not disappoint. Whilst in the Iron King, the environment in the Summer Court was focused on; here in thee Iron Daughter, the chilling and deadly splendor of the Winter Court was spread upon the senses of the reader. In regards to the setting, its inhabitants were also merciless and cold. Now imagine yourself in Meghan’s situation, abandoned right smack in the middle of a place where you are at your weakest with what, an annoying phouka as your sort-of companion. Hardly comforting at all. A Summer Fey in the Winter Court is looking more like a fish out of the water.

The plot of the Iron Daughter is centered in betrayal and sacrifice. According to Miss Julie Kagawa in an interview (if I remembered correctly), the Iron Daughter is Meghan’s transition from a whiny and stubborn human to a half-fey that grew a backbone of iron, so to speak. This is the book where the heroine learned of letting go (For me, clinging and begging desperately is sooo not letting go…but oh, well) And even if it pains me when Ash and Puck went like this,

I couldn’t help but swoon over their bloodied and fresh-from-fighting selves (Wow. That sounded so psychotic). Fangirl in me is acting up again. And of course Ironhorse, oh Ironhorse how would I go on? was introduced and believe me when I say that no one (except Ashy-poo *flees*) had struck me painfully in the chest with his loyalty and chivalry. It pains me that a character like him is killed even if his death was avenged. Did I mention anythin’ about Sage yet? *sighs*  

The melancholic heartbreak is a hazy cloud surrounding this book but it didn’t stopped Puck from literally flying through the events smoothly. Am I the only one who thought this line---

 Puck shoved the plate off the bed and leaned back, pulling me down
with him, his lips suddenly at my neck, tracing a line of fire down my skin.      

--is hot? *fans self* Ash and Ariella’s relationship was highlighted a little too. One of my favorite scenes was when Meghan pulled the coma thingy and Ash SOBBED, you heard  read that right. SOBBED. Heart-wrenching. All the main characters were given a certain level of maturity that serves as a strong base for the events that’ll happen in the next book. And yeah, FORBIDDEN LOVE LEADS TO ELOPING *smirks*

If you love the Iron King then you will love the Iron Daughter. It will grip you in its wintry and captivating arms but a friendly advice; let it pull you again to a twisted and darker part of the Nevernever where the Unseelie resides. Welcome to the Winter Court.