by Julie Kagawa
Read: September 12, 2013
Published: October 29, 2013 by Harlequin Teen **UPCOMING**
Source: NetGalley - THANK YOU!
Category: Paranormal, Fae, YA
Series: Call of the Forgotten book 2 (After The Iron Fey book 4)
Find: Goodreads | Amazon
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.
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Stepping back into Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey world is like a warm hug...with knives. Okay that didn't sound right, but what I mean is that after 6 books and several novellas in this world, it is wonderfully familiar, though still as dangerous as it was the first time Meghan discovered it. One of my favorite parts of a companion series is getting to see our previous beloved characters again, and thankfully Kagawa likes to indulge us. One of the most fun parts about Ethan's series is waiting for the moment that Meghan, Puck, Ash, Grimalkin and other loved (or feared) characters will show their faces. It makes me shivery with joy.
However, as the Call of the Forgotten books have continued, I've also gotten quite attached to Ethan, Keirran and Kenzie. I also like how this series was set up as a reaction to the choices that Ash made in The Iron Knight, especially Ash's venture into the Deep Wilde when he apparently released Forgotten Fey back into the world. Every action to save something or someone has its own consequences, and we definitely see that to abundance in The Iron Traitor.
However, as the Call of the Forgotten books have continued, I've also gotten quite attached to Ethan, Keirran and Kenzie. I also like how this series was set up as a reaction to the choices that Ash made in The Iron Knight, especially Ash's venture into the Deep Wilde when he apparently released Forgotten Fey back into the world. Every action to save something or someone has its own consequences, and we definitely see that to abundance in The Iron Traitor.
Although I enjoyed The Lost Prince, it was a hard transition for me after four books with Meghan and Ash in the the Iron Fey series. However, I'm fully invested in Ethan's story after reading The Iron Traitor. This book starts a little slowly, and I had to readjust to Kenzie calling Ethan "tough guy" constantly and Ethan telling us that everyone thinks he's a "thug," when it was hard for me to imagine it. However, as I got into this book, and Kerrain and co. came back, I was more and more hooked. Kierran is still my favorite new character, and his part in this book is particularly complicated. But I also like that Ethan remains grounded in the human world and must face the consequences of his previous disappearance and parents who are worried about him. Not to mention a sick girlfriend whose family doesn't trust him.
Even though I'm enjoying Ethan and Kenzie's romance and think she's great for him, I like that the tension in the Call of the Forgotten series is centered around Ethan and Keirran's relationship. However, Kenzie/Ethan and Annwyl/Keirran's romances play into that tension, especially what each is willing to do to save the one he loves. Kenzie is sick with cancer, but determined to live life to the fullest anyway. Annwyl has started fading since she was banished from the Nevernever by Titania and attacked by the Forgotten in the last book.
Kierran is a mess and the catalyst for the chaos that happens in The Iron Traitor. He is desperate to save his Summer Fey love Annwyl and will literally do anything to make that happen. I admire his dedication, but he goes overboard in some pretty insane ways that have massive consequences. I think what's tough for me about Keirran's mission is that his relationship with Annwyl was already established when the series began, and we only view it from Ethan's outside perspective, so I don't feel as connected to Keirran's extreme dedication to her. However I do appreciate that we get more time with Annwyl in this book, as Ethan gets dragged once again into his nephew's schemes. I don't want to see her fade either. I'm also very curious to find out what she has to say when she discovers what went down at the end of this book!!!
Kierran is a mess and the catalyst for the chaos that happens in The Iron Traitor. He is desperate to save his Summer Fey love Annwyl and will literally do anything to make that happen. I admire his dedication, but he goes overboard in some pretty insane ways that have massive consequences. I think what's tough for me about Keirran's mission is that his relationship with Annwyl was already established when the series began, and we only view it from Ethan's outside perspective, so I don't feel as connected to Keirran's extreme dedication to her. However I do appreciate that we get more time with Annwyl in this book, as Ethan gets dragged once again into his nephew's schemes. I don't want to see her fade either. I'm also very curious to find out what she has to say when she discovers what went down at the end of this book!!!
The Iron Traitor ends on a major cliffhanger. Seriously one of the worst ever. Kagawa KILLED me with what happened. But she did her job well, and I'm desperate for the final book in the series now!
Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: HIGH
Heh--a warm hug with knives. TRUE though! This companion series is highly enjoyable and I love that Ethan, Keirran and Kenzie are so different than the characters in the first series. I need to read this ASAP!
ReplyDelete"Stepping back into Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey world is like a warm hug...with knives."
ReplyDeleteYes. That's such an apt description Lauren! LOVE IT! I agree the first book in this series took some adjustment because I was so attached to Meghan and Ash, but I did enjoy Ethan and I loved Keirran, so I'm glad to know you got hooked on this sequel. I love the Kierran/Ethan relationship and I can't wait to see how that progresses along with the individual romances. I will say I'm super concerned about the cliffhanger though! Yikes. Maybe I should wait until book 3 is out.... Fabulous review my friend!
Wow, you whipped this review out fast! I'll be back to check it out after I finish reading!
ReplyDeleteI loved Kagawa's Blood of Eden series, but have utterly failed when it's come to her Iron Fey series, I actually read up to book two, but didn't actually feel compelled into reading anymore :( But I'm so glad that you've been enjoying this spin off series. Kagawa killed me with the ending to The Eternity Cure, so I can only imagine how she left you hanging with this book. Also it's great when you pick up a book wanting to get back with characters you adored, but then end up forming strong connections with new characters too! Thanks again for another beautiful review Lauren! :)
ReplyDeleteOkay, that first line totally cracked me up. I have never read any of the Iron Fey books but you make me want to try them!!
ReplyDeleteJen @ YA Romantics
I've been debating starting this spin-off series. I loved The Iron Fey series up until The Iron Knight. I just thought The Iron Queen was a sufficient ending and hated that she had to happy it up with a fourth book. I definitely won't be starting this series until the next book is out, though, and I can avoid that cliffie. I'll stick with her vampire series for now, but I love your excitement for this one. :)
ReplyDeleteI recently reviewed this one too :D :D.
ReplyDelete"One of the most fun parts about Ethan's series is waiting for the moment that Meghan, Puck, Ash, Grimalkin and other loved (or feared) characters will show their faces." <-- Yes. I can honestly say that even if I'm not going to continue with the spin-off series, I will give JK props for how she brings back in the favored characters from the original series. Plus... Puck, Grim. They're such great characters and add such wonderful humor that you don't always get in YA. Buuut, also I feel like seeing these characters reminds me that I like them better than the spin-off characters too o.O.
"However, as the Call of the Forgotten books have continued, I've also gotten quite attached to Ethan, Keirran and Kenzie. I also like how this series was set up as a reaction to the choices that Ash made in The Iron Knight, especially Ash's venture into the Deep Wilde when he apparently released Forgotten Fey back into the world. " <-- Yes. It's nice when a series plays back on itself and shows consequences for each major action... and I'm fond of Kenzie of the main MCs too.
Why is Kierran your favorite character?
" I like that the tension in the Call of the Forgotten series is centered around Ethan and Keirran's relationship." True. But it honestly feels like the romance gets more attention, even if the E/K relationship has more consequences to it. Or at least it did to me. Seemed more PNR-y than the previous books o.O. (This series, that is.)
"so I don't feel as connected to Keirran's extreme dedication to her." True. I wanted more of those stories of how the two wooed each other.
Lol. The cliffhanger. It honestly didn't feel that bad to me since I'd read the Iron Prophecy and knew that was coming... and probably also because I'm just not as invested in the series anymore. But I wish you luck in waiting for the next book ;). If you're also a fan of her other series, they generally put a small excerpt at the end of those ARCs & books... could assuage the pain?
Hmmm... maybe I should finish the first series and then read this one. I feel like I'm missing out. :/
ReplyDelete