E-ARC Review: The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

E-ARC Review: The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 PM in 4-star, E-ARC, fantasy, Julie Kagawa, review, YA,

Author: Julie Kagawa

Release date: October 29th 2013

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Series: The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten # 2

Age Group: Young Adult

Genre: Fantasy

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository 

Add to your library: Goodreads

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. (via Goodreads)

I received an e-copy of this from Harlequin TEEN through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I knew it. The ending was definitely not a surprise. So I wasn't really disappointed that it was sort of a cliffhanger. Yes, just sort of.

Since this series is seen through Ethan's POV, I cannot for the love of Faeries understand Kierran's will to save Annwyl. Fine, I get it. But the things he did in this book were really reckless and out of control. Reminds you of someone? Yes, Kierran really is the son of Ash. He'd also do anything just to make sure his special someone is safe. But since I wasn't reading through Kierran's POV, he annoys the hell out of me. How can he just do those things without asking first his parents? Knowing Ash and Meghan, I'm pretty sure they'll help him to no end. He did things even if he knew it'll endanger the people around him especially his friends and family. But yes, I cannot fully understand him since I don't know his thoughts. I just wish he'd see more light in the next book. I swear, there were times when I was also scared of him. He really had the vibe at some point!

I really pity Ethan here. He never really wanted to be involved with the Feys. You know what, I now appreciate The Lost Prince more. I felt that I was reading a romance novel with that one but really, that's all there is to Ethan's life. He was supposed to have a normal life with his girlfriend, Kenzie. But that all changed. And now, he's in trouble more than he ever thought of.

I have to say that I'm so impressed with Guro. I'm a Filipino myself and I really can tell you that old people have a lot of beliefs. What I know isn't even half of what they believe in. So I'm not weirded out with what Guro was doing. 

I gotta say that it really wasn't Kierran's fault that a war is about to happen. Come to think of it, the danger started with Ash's journey on The Iron Fey series. The Oracle had already warned Ash and Meghan but they didn't bother. They were willing to take the risk. Kierran's love life was only an add-on so as to fire up that prophecy. Everything just happened and some things followed then. 

As usual, Kagawa's writing was superb. Really, I don't think I should even tell you how wonderful her writing is. I'm pretty sure you guys can attest to that. 

The Iron Traitor is a great follow-up to The Lost Prince. More adventures happened, more danger in tow and more love is in the air. But seriously, you'll enjoy this more than the first book. The story has spiced up in all levels!

About the Author

Julie Kagawa, the New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Fey and Blood of Eden series was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel.

When not swimming for her life, Julie immersed herself in books, often to the chagrin of her schoolteachers, who would find she hid novels behind her Math textbooks during class. Her love of reading led her to pen some very dark and gruesome stories, complete with colored illustrations, to shock her hapless teachers. The gory tales faded with time, but the passion for writing remained, long after she graduated and was supposed to get a real job.

To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dogtrainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full time.

Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian Shepherd who is too smart for his own good, and the latest addition, a hyper-active Papillon.

 Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

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Review: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Review: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 PM in 4-star, fantasy, Julie Kagawa, review, YA,

Author: Julie Kagawa

Release date: October 23rd 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Series: The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten # 1

Age Group: Young Adult

Genre: Fantasy

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository 

Add to your library: Goodreads

Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.  (via Goodreads)

I bought my copy of The Lost Prince last year. It's been in my room since then yet I don't know why I haven't picked it up! I saw The Iron Traitor on NetGalley, requested it then got approved. So yes, I need some pushing to read this book. I'm so glad I did! I missed Julie Kagawa's magnificent writing. And of course, I missed the Nevernever!

As always, it was so easy to get lost in Kagawa's writing. I was never bored. I was reading faster than usual. I badly wanted to know what's happening to the half-breeds. Since this is the first in the installment, I didn't expect too much secrets to be revealed. Just like with The Iron King, the story was just building up to the main problem of the series. Characters were introduced. The gist of the problem was given. Adventures were present, of course. 

It wasn't hard to like Ethan. He really was like Meghan in many ways. Stubborn. Brave. Strong. And. Charming. I cannot even imagine how he was able to live like that. Seeing Them. It must be both a curse and a blessing. I wouldn't even blame him if he kept on being the snotty kid. It was the safest way he can think of so as not to hurt the people around him. But of course, he was attracted to Kenzie. That girl was just so adorable. Seriously. I don't know if I want to slap her for her decisions but I totally understood her. Though somehow, I felt like their romance was a bit rushed. Yes, I swooned a little. Yet I felt as if they were rushed to fall for each other.

The only thing that was such a downer for me here was that romance too. As much as I enjoyed the magical elements here, I felt as if I was reading a romantic novel somehow. No, seriously. Even in the end. With Kenzie's revelation, I actually felt like I was reading a contemporary novel! Still, I loved it just the same. Just saying, anyway.

I was so happy to read about the characters from The Iron Fey Series. I loved them! Especially Puck. It was a great thing he and the other characters were present here. Their humor is always on the run! They never fail to make me smile.

I'm hoping for more magic and adventure on The Iron Traitor! I know for sure what will sort of happen with what the prophecy had said.

About the Author

Julie Kagawa, the New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Fey and Blood of Eden series was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel.

When not swimming for her life, Julie immersed herself in books, often to the chagrin of her schoolteachers, who would find she hid novels behind her Math textbooks during class. Her love of reading led her to pen some very dark and gruesome stories, complete with colored illustrations, to shock her hapless teachers. The gory tales faded with time, but the passion for writing remained, long after she graduated and was supposed to get a real job.

To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dogtrainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full time.

Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian Shepherd who is too smart for his own good, and the latest addition, a hyper-active Papillon.

 Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

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