"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." ~goodreads
You can never be too sure how a second book is going to turn out. I feel often times it is really difficult to top a first book in the series but Julie Kagawa delivers with The Iron Daughter. This book is equal to if not better than the first book.
Be warned there might be spoilers
I really liked how this book started out, with Meghan already captive in the Winter kingdom. She reflects on Ash and her journey to there and that Mab pretty much tossed her in a room to deal with her later. She also already has an established frenemie. At first Meghan seems a little bit on the sappy love sick side but I think it makes sense. When the going gets tough she snaps out of it and I like the fact that she has a hard time being mad at Ash even though she wants to.
I felt the journey in this book was more heart wrenching then the previous. I found myself loving characters I previously hated and getting annoyed with ones I previously loved. Not Ash of course he can do no wrong. :o) Some of the dynamics between the characters change and you kind of pause and think hmm.
Of course what's a good book series without a love triangle? It was in the first book but I think it really takes form in the second book. I like that Meghan however isn't just bouncing from guy to guy. She is very truthful about her feelings and doesn't skirt around her own faults in the situation.
The world of Faery that Julie Kagawa has created is addicting. I find myself get a little jolt of excitement when they are going to take a new trod or experience a new area. It's easy to create vivid images in my mind from the detail she puts in to each part of faery.
Charles! I knew it from her second encounter with him. I hope we get a little bit more on that in the third book.