Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

Storyline

After his unexpected journey into the land of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to his normal life with his girlfriend Kenzie. But when your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, �normal' simply isn't an option. Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing and 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. Now, as Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice will decide the fate of them all.

My Musings
The latest in the Iron Fey series I was really looking forward to the ongoing ventures of Ethan Chase as was surprisingly seduced by The Lost Prince. I am very grateful that Kagawa has found a new road to take this series on which enables her to incorporate the old characters while introducing us to new ones. I also was looking forward to reading more about Kierran the son of Ash and Meghan as they were such strong and inspiring characters which leapt off the page.

My feelings are a little mixed because I was really expecting to love Kierran but Kagawa is too clever for that. Ethan continues to fight with the fallout of  his unusual upbringing including having a fairy queen sister. This book centrals on him trying to find Keirran and stop him from doing something stupid to say his summer fairy love Annwyl who is fading fast. This is were I had to take a breath to keep liking Kierran as to be honest Kagawa does make him monumentally selfish and blinkered. He is prepared to sacrifice vast parts of the fairy world and other things which I won't spoil to have her.

For me the sacrifice was too great and Kagawa has made Kierran a very dark and isolated character. His father Ash in the previous books was a dark and a hardened soldier but there was an endearing quality to him and the contrast banter with Puck and grimalden made him more human. I felt I wanted to go backwards from Kierran but thinking about it wish so many books this is quite clever as not all the characters can be likable can they? It definitely is keeping the iron fey fans on their toes especially by the end!! So yes I did really enjoy the book and it has left a lot of story lines to be tied up including Ethan's lovely girlfriend who has cancer and Anwyll who is fading fast. Will they be saved, what will be the fate of Kierran and Ethan. We will have to wait and see