Tuesday, November 26, 2013

The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2) by Julie Kagawa

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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.


There’s a lot, A LOT of angst in this follow-up to The Iron Prince. Ethan and Kenzie survived their “adventures in New York”, at least that's how they're explaining their disappearance to everyone and are still embroiled in all the aftermath.  Ethan is accused of being a kidnapper, Kenzieis in the hospital, her ex is picking fights with him and Ethan’s parents are being more protective.  He continues to remain on high alert and worries about Kenzie since he hasn’t heard from her since they got back. Things are already looking less than stellar when his sister Meghan, The Iron Queen, shows up at their house. It’s an uncomfortable reunion made more so by her request of Ethan to remain mum about Keirran’s existence. Oh and speaking of Keirran, he’s gone missing and no one has a clue as to where he may be. That explains Meghan’s arrival. She’s hoping that may be Ethan has an idea or would be willing to help locate him. What to do? Help family or stay away from the very things that have destroyed his family?

Caught in that dilemma of self-preservation vs. loyalty and family, he is honestly left with no choice.  He, Kenzie (of course she wouldn’t let him go on his own) and Annwyl, the exiled Summer fey and Keirran’s love, travel to New Orleans to find him in one of the goblin markets.  They have concluded that Keirran is on the hunt for a cure for Annwyl’s deteriorating state – her very existence is in jeopardy.

I'm not exaggerating when I say there is a lot of anger this go round. Ethan has had enough of the mess that has been wreaked upon him and anyone he cares about. He’s angry at Meghan, at Ash, at the entire fey world and most of all angry at Keirran, believing that he is the reason why Meghan no longer acknowledges her human family. It's a valid but awful admission. Then there’s the question of trust. The fey are difficult creatures by nature and to trust and save one of them goes against his gut instincts. He's all the more confused when he receives a prophetic look into his future.

As with all her other books, Kagawa continues to infuse rich details that transport you back into the magical world. Familiar faces return to make the quest more fun and more grueling depending on what your perspective is. All in all, The Iron Traitor is another win for Kagawa featuring another rock solid cliffhanger of an ending that will make you want to shake your fist at her.

~ Bel



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