The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey, #2) by Julie Kagawa - Review

Synopsis via goodreads:
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, iron-bound 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 alone 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.

Is it even possible to love a second book with in a series more than the first? Is it possible to fall in love with the fairy world and never want to leave it?

Before the last two days, I would have 100% said NO to these two questions, we all know that a 2nd book can never live up to the first – it's usually a "stepping stone" to get to the 3rd installment, nothing like the first, usually much more tame, a bit more easy going, however giving you more information you will eventually need.

And, if you read my blog at all, you know that I am NOT a fairy person at all...with it's worlds and courts, fey and history – I often time's don't get the lore, or the story...it becomes a jumbled mess in my mind.

However, today – sitting here writing this review, I can 100% tell you I was lying to myself – Not only did I fall in love with the wonderful world that Julie Kagawa created, but I feel even MORE in love with it after I finished The Iron Daughter, book 2 of The Iron Fey Series. Though Julie Kagawa, does offer much more in the way of "information" with in The Iron Daughter, she also steps off those "steps" and skips past the boundaries, and offers us MUCH, MUCH more!

Book 2 offers us a darker look at the fey than book one did, if that's even possible, holding more action, more heart wrenching situations, and more of the ever present, ever beautiful trio of 3 introduced in book one. Meghan, Puck and Ash are all still here – still ready for action!

Puck the ever present man whose willing to do just about anything to make Meghan smile. He's fearlessly protective, full of honor, and always willing to get into a little mischief especially if it involves our fateful princess.

Ash with his dark, almost “scary” side, he's darker with in the pages of The Iron Daughter, but with that intensity also comes great devotion, and overwhelming love. He's passionate, in so many ways, deep in his desires and real in his convictions.

And finally Meghan, while in the first book The Iron King, Meghan is timid, shy and willing to “go with the flow.” Which, honestly got on my NERVES...with in The Iron Daughter, she grows so much, away from that timid and shy girl she once was, into a shining beautiful ray of light. She, though strong in The Iron King, grows even more in her strength, her passions as well as her love. She's faced with unimaginable choices, with in The Iron Daughter, choices that no matter which she makes, will likely cause someone pain, hurt or worse death. Yet, because of her growth, she struggles but puts her own feelings aside in order to make the hard choices. Which, I so admired!

The Iron Daughter, was a better read for me than The Iron King, and it's tough to put my finger onto why; Maybe it has to do with Meghan herself? Maybe Julie Kagawa has grown even more in her story telling abilities? Maybe it's because the intensity of this book is ramped up to a defining degree, to where I had to pull myself away from reading it at times because I was so worried and often times out of breath!

In the end, I think it has everything to do with ALL of these reason's, I could tell Julie Kagawa, while still offering the same beautiful attention to detail, had a better grasp of her talents, she weaved a story in such a way, offering HUGE up's and downs, darkness and light, power and darkness, I had a hard time putting it the book down for more than a few minutes, and then only did to catch a much needed breath!

Her characters so real, I felt I could reach out and touch them, and Meghan making much better choices this time, and growing into herself, was beautiful to watch, if not hard to see!

Bottom Line – If you like Fairies or not, I recommend the Iron Fey Series to you, it's got a beautiful crafted story, and the ending's always leave you WANTING for more, but being in that “ok” place to wait...I am DIEING to see what The Iron Queen has in store for us – However, I don't feel like Julie Kagawa left us teetering on in a precarious log waiting, either. She ended the story just right, in a beautifully, yet really satisfying place, after Meghan has made a choice – which she now much live with forever! I give The Iron Daughter a 5 mushrooms, and can NOT wait for The Iron Queen to come out, the adventures that Julie has in store are bound to be amazing!

Buy, Borrow or Steal? Buy, I will be rereading this one, that's for sure!

The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey, #2)
By: Julia Kagawa
368 Pages
Published: August 1, 2010
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Received, via Net Galley for my honest review.