The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1) by Julie Kagawa
Publishers: Harlequin Teen
Published Date: October 23rd 2012
From: NET GALLEY
My rating: 4 out of 5
Synopsis:
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's 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 myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.
My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.
Review:
It's no secret that I'm a massive Julie Kagawa fan. I've read the Iron Fey series numerous times and still love it every time. The Immortal Rules was a curve ball as I'm not a massive vampire fan, but Julie has the wonderful ability to create and weave such epic stories around the best and well thought storylines that even I was spellbound when I reached the end.
I started The Lost Prince with trepidation though. Which way would Kagawa go? Would there be enough Meghan and Ash? Sure, at the end of the Iron Fey books there are plenty of strings to draw into a new story and create enough drama to fill out another series. And it was no surprise that she chose Ethan, the little brother who started the mesmerising journey for Meghan Chase in the beginning.
The Lost Prince is full of the same gorgeous writing that Kagawa is famed for and transports us back and forth between the NeverNever and the human world. We meet up with past characters and some surprising new ones. For anyone who has read The Iron Knight, we meet up officially this time with Keirran - Meghan and Ash's son - plus cameos with Meghan, Ash, Puck, Leanansidhe and a few others.
But Ethan is the star of this book. Not only is he brimming with attitude and hatred for anything Fey, he is now grownup, and a Kali expert. The Filipino martial art is one of the only things that have managed to keep his anger grounded. And, everything starts going wrong when he starts a new school. Within the first few hours of keeping his head down and trying not to get drawn into a fight that will surely get him kicked out of another school, he reluctantly saves a boy from the school bullies. Except the boy is not just any boy. He's glamoured up to hide his fey features from humans, and Ethan, being one with the Sight, can see exactly what he is. From here on in, every barrier that Ethan has been trying to erect to keep the fey out suddenly start falling. Plus, he's being hassled by a very annoying Kenzie (who turns out to be one of my favourite characters). She persists in a request to interview him for the school paper and eventually he agrees. Kenzie turns out to be his saving grace and voice of reason. At a Kali demonstration events take a peculiar turn when the ghostly corporeal fey attack Ethan and Kenzie. Not only is something is very wrong with the human world but all the exiled and half fey are going missing. And there's only one person Ethan can turn to.
Ethan and Kenzie venture into NeverNever to meet up with his sister, the Iron Queen. A sister who he believes abandoned him long ago. Their reunion is not pleasant. Nor is his first encounter with Ash, who he blames primarily for taking Meghan away. The only person who seems willing to help him is Keirran and soon they head back to the human world to uncover the mystery of the missing fey.
Nearing the end of The Lost Prince I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I'm not a great lover of male protagonists, so wasn't expecting to get pulled in as much as I was. But Julie has created another platform and a new direction for all of us to treasure. Ethan is a great character to follow and this first book doesn't pull any punches as far as angst and emotions are concerned. Now I'm eagerly anticipating the next instalment. :)
It's no secret that I'm a massive Julie Kagawa fan. I've read the Iron Fey series numerous times and still love it every time. The Immortal Rules was a curve ball as I'm not a massive vampire fan, but Julie has the wonderful ability to create and weave such epic stories around the best and well thought storylines that even I was spellbound when I reached the end.
I started The Lost Prince with trepidation though. Which way would Kagawa go? Would there be enough Meghan and Ash? Sure, at the end of the Iron Fey books there are plenty of strings to draw into a new story and create enough drama to fill out another series. And it was no surprise that she chose Ethan, the little brother who started the mesmerising journey for Meghan Chase in the beginning.
The Lost Prince is full of the same gorgeous writing that Kagawa is famed for and transports us back and forth between the NeverNever and the human world. We meet up with past characters and some surprising new ones. For anyone who has read The Iron Knight, we meet up officially this time with Keirran - Meghan and Ash's son - plus cameos with Meghan, Ash, Puck, Leanansidhe and a few others.
But Ethan is the star of this book. Not only is he brimming with attitude and hatred for anything Fey, he is now grownup, and a Kali expert. The Filipino martial art is one of the only things that have managed to keep his anger grounded. And, everything starts going wrong when he starts a new school. Within the first few hours of keeping his head down and trying not to get drawn into a fight that will surely get him kicked out of another school, he reluctantly saves a boy from the school bullies. Except the boy is not just any boy. He's glamoured up to hide his fey features from humans, and Ethan, being one with the Sight, can see exactly what he is. From here on in, every barrier that Ethan has been trying to erect to keep the fey out suddenly start falling. Plus, he's being hassled by a very annoying Kenzie (who turns out to be one of my favourite characters). She persists in a request to interview him for the school paper and eventually he agrees. Kenzie turns out to be his saving grace and voice of reason. At a Kali demonstration events take a peculiar turn when the ghostly corporeal fey attack Ethan and Kenzie. Not only is something is very wrong with the human world but all the exiled and half fey are going missing. And there's only one person Ethan can turn to.
Ethan and Kenzie venture into NeverNever to meet up with his sister, the Iron Queen. A sister who he believes abandoned him long ago. Their reunion is not pleasant. Nor is his first encounter with Ash, who he blames primarily for taking Meghan away. The only person who seems willing to help him is Keirran and soon they head back to the human world to uncover the mystery of the missing fey.
Nearing the end of The Lost Prince I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I'm not a great lover of male protagonists, so wasn't expecting to get pulled in as much as I was. But Julie has created another platform and a new direction for all of us to treasure. Ethan is a great character to follow and this first book doesn't pull any punches as far as angst and emotions are concerned. Now I'm eagerly anticipating the next instalment. :)
OH MY I SERIOUSLY NEED TO BEGIN READING IT LIKE NOW....i just got it on netgalley....GOD I NEED TO PUT OFF WHAT I'M READING AT THE MOMENT AND PURSUE THIS PIECE OF AMAZING LITERATURE......
ReplyDeletegreat review
Le' Grande Codex