Review: The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa
Publisher- Harlequin Teen
Released- Oct 29th 2013
Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N/ Chapters

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.

My Thoughts:

Now that Ethan is back in the real world, all he wants is to be normal. Take his girlfriend, Kenzie to a movie or dinner and figure out how to be a real boyfriend without being harassed by the punks at school or worry about some fey looking to cause trouble. But normal doesn't last very long when your sister is the Iron Queen and your life is fated with your nephew, the Iron Prince. 

Annwyl is a Summer fey who was banished and lived with the Queen of Exile, Leanansidhe, in the Between. 
But Annwyl is Fading and Keirran is out there searching for a cure to save his beloved. But at what cost? Annwyl will do anything to find him, she scared that he will bargain for her life and she wants to see him one last time before she's lost forever, which is why she has come to ask for Ethan's help.
Ethan, Kenzie and Annwyl have to travel to New Orleans to the Goblin markets in hopes to find Keirran, but that is just the beginning of their journey to find a way to save Annwly before the Fade takes her.

You know, it's starting to get a little harder to write a review for these books. I'm always in such awe of Kagawa's writing skills that I find myself sounding like a broken record on repeat. I wish I could find new words to express my love for this fantastical world and amazing characters. The Iron Traitor is the second installment in the Call of the Forgotten series. It's thrilling, riveting and it will make you stand up and beg for more.

I absolutely heart Kagawa. Seriously, her books are like venturing to a land filled with wonder and excitement. There is danger at ever corner. We never know if we'll meet a character who's friend or foe and the unpredictability of it all always keeps me on my toes and ready for anything. That's what I love about these book the most. Anything and everything can happen. I've learned a long time ago to always expect the unexpected in these books and I love that it still applies. Wondrous adventure, long journeys across the courts, bargains and deals for your need and fighting dangerous and animated creatures, all in the name of love. Yup, I'm in Kagawa's world once again and I never want to leave. There is never a dull moment in Nevernever and I simply adore the way this book consumes my ever thought while reading. There just isn't another experience like it.
The story line may seem quite simply. Annwly is Fading, losing herself to the Forgotten, the evil that is spreading across Nevernever and the Between and Keirran will do what ever it takes to find a cure and save her life. But not everything is not as simply as that in this universe, and now  Ethan and Kenzie have been tangled up in the Fey world once again, but this time Ethan and Keirran's destiny has been tied a little tighter. The Oracles Prophecy has come for them at last but their destiny is still unknown.

I've said this before, but I'm gonna say it again. I absolutely love and adore all of these characters, even the evil dudes. I doesn't matter if their human or Fey or creature. They are all exquisitely developed and brilliantly portrayed. 
~Poor Ethan. He really wants to be this normal kid but he'll never be able to shake the Fey world, no matter who he pushes away. He has a lot of  unresolved issues that are bottled up in that head of his. He's been through so much since he was a little kid, and yet through it all, he's still willing to walk into danger and be ready to fight so Keirran can find a cure to save the love of his life. He may want to be normal, but I think he's doing a badass job of being who he truly is.
~Kenzie is a great match for Ethan. I love that she's the voice of reason and she doesn't put up with what Ethan thinks is the right thing to do. I love that she's not afraid to really live and that she doesn't let anyone dictate her life. She's may not be well, but she's strong and brave and proves it time and time again that she's stubborn and fearless and she'll do whatever it takes to see this through.  
~Keirran is an intense and passionate character. There is no obstacle, creature or land to far that he wouldn't venture to save his love. All he wants to do is keep Annwyl alive. He knows that they have a forbidden love, but he's willing to let her go if he knows that she's happy and safe. Like father, like son, the only difference is, Keirran is still young, rash and is only thinking of his desires and doesn't understand the consequences of his decisions and how it will affect Nevernever. I'm all for the power of true love, but I think that Keirran may have went a little to far and beyond. Yes, it's romantic and beautiful in many ways, but to sacrifice so much, hurt other so deeply felt extreme, insane and desperate, especially at the end, which completely shocked and rattled me.
~I'm so glad that Kagawa didn't forget to add our other beloved characters. Ash, Meghan, Puck and Grimalkin. It just wouldn't be the same without them. Oh and I can't forget about Razor, he's still as adorable and funny as ever.

All in all, The Iron Traitor is yet another magical and fantastical installment in the Call of the Forgotten trilogy. The writing is unstoppable and all-consuming. This world is fearless and unflinching with heart and soul characters that will go to the ultimate depths for the ones they love. Addicting, heart stopping and a pure joy to experience. This is the stuff that makes escape possible and I can't wait to get my hands on the final installment in this wicked and wonderful world. Extraordinary!

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