The Iron Daughter #2

              JULIE KAGAWA: THE IRON DAUGHTER #2

• Title: The Iron Daughter #2                  Author: Julie Kagawa
• Publishing House: Harlequin Teen         Release date: August 2010
• Pages: 359                                          Price: 7.28

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.

   After hearing so many good reviews on this book, I began reading it. I was not disappointed in the least. The first book was useful to map out the plot and introduce us to the main characters, the second one gets directly to the heart of the matter. Meghan, King Oberon's daughter, is made prisoner by the evil and dangerous Winter Queen Mab. The half Summer princess doesn't really understand what is happening to her and is feeling betrayed by the one she is in love with. In spite of everything, she learns quickly how to survive in an hostile environment. 

This story is full of events and action. Even though the beginning might be a tad slow, from about fifty pages on, action picks up and never leaves until the very end. Some characters we met in the Iron King reappear to our dismay as we thought they had been taken care of. On the contrary, they are the key to the final outcome.

This second book also allows us to grasp what is at stake in this world, this Nevernever. The protagonists are less shallow. Meghan, for example, is frequently taking a new look at things. Life is not a bed of roses as betrayal, violence and so on, are to be found and dealt with. Feys live amongst other strange creatures, which are far from nice and harmless.

The relationship between our two main protagonists, Meghan and Ash, is more than frowned upon but takes its course nonetheless. It is really touching to witness how far these two would go in order to keep the other one safe and sound.

Besides them, other characters should not be left out: Puck and Ironhorse. I must admit that Puck is my favourite. Mischievous and carefree, he brings a touch of humour to this dark place. He could be considered the good friend always ready for a good trick as well as one kind of left out as far as romantic feelings are concerned. I was moved by Ironhorse, he changes so much.

To sum it up, this book is one of my favourite thanks to its action-packed and emotion-filled story, its unique faery-like universe and its characters. This story is so different from what I am used to reading. I recommend it to everyone, it is really worth it!