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The Iron Traitor

(The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2)

Julie Kagawa (Goodreads Author)

4.11 · Rating details · 13,661 ratings · 1,568 reviews

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 ...more

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ebook, 304 pages

Published October 29th 2013 by Harlequin Teen (first published September 4th 2013)

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Aug 10, 2012 Ava marked it as to-read · review of another edition

I'm telling you, Keirran is bad news. ...more

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May 09, 2017 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, young-adult, fantasy-all

I mean, that ending..... are you serious right now?

Well, lets move away from that for a minute and let me crack on with it.

First: This cover is freaking amazing! I'm totally freaking in love with it. ❤ That is Keirran on the front and he's making it look even better - BUT - I want to kick him from one end of Nevernever to the other end!

Let me add an excerpt that you might not want to read because of **spoilers** from the other books.

My name is Ethan Chase.
Just shy of a week ago, I was dr
...more

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May 13, 2013 Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: b-word-heroine, siblings, ya, romance, tstl-male, quest, fairies, magic, beta-male, jericho-fucking-barrons

I know that not all children turn out to be like their parents, but man, that Keirran is something else. It's the equivalent of Bill and Hillary Clinton having Justin Bieber as a son.

Judge me how you will, but not since Harry Potter #5 have my feelings been so heightened by the events of a book. I want to punch someone (Keirran). I want to yell at him. I want to pick him up and shake some goddamn sense into him. I want to hold Annwyl's hand and stay with her into that sad goodnight. I want to sh I know that not all children turn out to be like their parents, but man, that Keirran is something else. It's the equivalent of Bill and Hillary Clinton having Justin Bieber as a son.

Judge me how you will, but not since Harry Potter #5 have my feelings been so heightened by the events of a book. I want to punch someone (Keirran). I want to yell at him. I want to pick him up and shake some goddamn sense into him. I want to hold Annwyl's hand and stay with her into that sad goodnight. I want to shake some sense into Kenzie. I want to pull Ethan in for a hug and never let him go. I am so angry. I am so upset. I just finished reading this book not 15 minutes ago, and truly, my feels are all over the place.

I have always loved Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series, but I don't think ever been so emotionally invested in a book within this series as much as I have been with this one. I really liked the Iron Fey. I enjoyed previous book in the Call of the Forgotten series. I can say with absolutely certainty that I love this book and I consider it one of the best YA novels I've read all year. Love, sacrifice, adventure, old friends, new enemies; you've got it all within the pages in this book. Yes, the end has me shrieking in horror. It is a cliffhanger of the heartwrenching sort. I will take that cliffhanger, I will take all the horror and upset and anger it has wreaked in my emotions, and I will say to Ms. Kagawa, "Please, miss, may I have some more?" It is a good sort of pain.

Summary: Ethan and Kenzie are back home, and in a shit ton of trouble with their respective parents. Kenzie winds up in the hospital because of her cancer, Ethan's in a ton of trouble with his parents. Suddenly, Ethan gets a special visit from his sister---it turns out that Keirran, Meghan's son and Ethan's nephew, has gone missing. Soon after, Ethan gets more visits from the fae, some unwanted, some welcome, but altogether unexpected. Before he knows it, Ethan is pulled unwillingly into yet another adventure, because like it or not, Keirran is family, and he's going to do what he can to find him.

Keirran is a man on a mission. Annwyl, his love, is Fading, and he will do anything to stop it. It's the fae version of death. She is slowly physically disappearing, and her memories are fading away as well. It is all she can do to keep hanging on in order to say goodbye to Keirran before it's too late. However, Keirran is desperate, and what he is willing to wager for Annwyl's life will endanger more than they can ever imagine.

The setting & plot: The story is fast-paced, action-packed, but never at the cost of characterization. There are slow moments, tender moments, introspection, but not for a single moment did this book lose my attention. It has been a long time since a book has captured my attention so thoroughly from beginning to end. The setting is beautiful, well-described. It takes us to the Goblin Market in New Orleans, to the Between, to the Nevernever, to Summer, to Tir na Nog and the frigidly beautiful land of Winter. Deceptively beautiful, that is, because nothing is ever guileless in the land of the Fae.

Bees and butterflies floated everywhere among the flowers, sparkling like living jewels, and I could feel the sun’s warmth beating down on us. Everything looked peaceful, but I knew what a horrible lie that was in Faery. If everything appeared this tranquil, there was probably something stupidly dangerous lurking nearby.

The creatures and the setting is typical Kagawa, which is to say, evocative, beautiful, brilliant. For me, a book has to have a combination of a compelling plot and complex characters, and this book has everything I could ever want.

The Characters: I loved how Ethan and Keirran's situations turn out to ever-so-subtly parallel one another. Both Ethan and Keirran's loves are dying---Kenzie growing weaker by the day from cancer, Annwyl Fading out of existence. The difference is in their characters, and how they each individually react to their situation.

I was not overly fond of Ethan in the last book. I mean, I liked him in the way one would tolerate a headstrong, annoying sibling who grew up into a sullen, angry young man who pushed everyone away, but Ethan's character took a change for the better in this sequel. Ethan is so much more mature this time around, and I loved him for it. Ethan is trying so hard to break out of his shell. He wants to be a good son who doesn't worry his parents, he wants to be a good boyfriend to Kenzie. He is so loyal, and it hurts me to see his loyalty put to the test, and so severely abused by his nephew, Keirran. Unlike Keirran, who is willing to throw away everything in the name of love, Ethan is more levelheaded. Even when it comes to his beloved Kenzie and her own fight against the cancer that might be killing her.

I wish I could, I thought, closing my eyes. I wish there was some way, some bargain or deal or contract, to make you well again, but I know the rules. Nothing is free. Magic and power always come with a price. And maybe that’s selfish and paranoid, but I’m not willing to pay that price, or have you pay that price. Not yet. Not when there’s still a chance you could be okay without it.

Ethan knows loss, and he is willing to put up with loss, because Ethan knows some prices are higher than he is willing to pay. Damn it, Ethan. You are this close to being my 4th book boyfriend, and this feels so wrong, considering I've watched you grow up from a scared little 5-year old boy. I don't want to be a pedophile ;_;

I have a love/hate relationship with Keirran. Let's get one thing straight, I love his character while hating him. It is one thing to despise a character for his actions while still being able to appreciate his complexity, his impulses, his motivations, and I understand and sympathize with Keirran, even if I cannot overlook his contemptible behavior in the name of love. Keirran is in a lot of pain. He is his father's son, through and through, and I kind of went "awwww" at the little father-son moment of bonding within the book. Keirran is haunted.

...as the hooded figure spun, his cloak swirling around him. My stomach lurched as our gazes met. Cold ice-blue eyes stabbed at me from beneath the hood, and bright silver hair fell around his face, the only spots of color to be seen. Beneath the cloak, he was dressed in black: black shirt, pants, boots, even gloves. I remembered the smiling, easygoing faery from just a week ago. The hard-eyed creature dressed all in black, staring at me in this den of shadow and fear, seemed like a stranger.

He is driven almost insane by desperation in his quest to save Annwyl. So many times within this book, I found myself wanting to scream with frustration at Keirran and his foolhardiness. Ethan was right. Keirran will pay "any price" for Annwyl's life, and really, it's just too much. The boy cannot see beyond himself and his wishes.

Annwyl herself is so much stronger than Keirran. I adored her. She is deceptively soft, gentle, lovely as a gentry of a Summer court Fae should be. However, underneath Annwyl's fragile, ethereal appearance lies a backbone of pure steel. Annwyl knows what Kierran is willing to pay for her life, and she knows better. She does not want to be the cause of such sacrifice, and she would much prefer to Fade away in peace. She stands up to Keirran, despite Keirran's inability to actually fucking LISTEN to what she wants.

“I am standing right here, Keirran,” Annwyl said, sounding angrier than I’d ever heard before. Her green eyes flashed as she stared the prince down. “And I did not ask you to save me if it meant bargaining at the goblin market, making deals that could get you killed and running away from the Prince Consort of Mag Tuiredh. You did not ask me what I felt about this plan—you just disappeared without telling anyone.”

Old friends make an appearance in this novel. We meet Grimalkin, Robin Goodfellow, etc. again, but they do not play a major role in the book, and I completely agree with that. This is not their book. This is not their story. As much as I love them, Grim, Puck, etc. are part of Meghan and Ash's crowd. This is Ethan and Keirran's book. This is a new generation. Grim and Puck help things along, but they are not major characters, nor do I expect them to be. Their presence in the book was delightful, unexpected, and just right.

...two golden eyes blinked into existence, regarding us lazily.
We leaped to our feet, and Grimalkin yawned, raising a hind foot to scratch an ear. “Hello again, humans,” the cat purred, as Razor screeched a loud “Bad kitty!” that made Keirran wince. “Still getting into trouble, I see.”

You will never hear me say this again, but Ash is a total DILF.

Jesus Christ. Yeah, I know he's with Meghan. And I love them together. But I can't help myself...when he made his cameo in the story, I shrieked like the most undignified fangirl ever. It was hilarious to see Keirran literally running away and hiding from his father's wrath. Given the father or the son, Ash always wins.

A silhouette was striding down the center of the road, heading for the alley we’d just vacated. Lean, tall, a long black coat rippling behind him, he was instantly recognizable. Even from this distance, I could see the glow of his sword, blue-black and deadly, and the glint of a cold silver eye.

I'm so desperate for the next book, you cannot even imagine. ...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Chester Carstairs rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-releases

Damn, Julie Kagawa has done it yet again! Oh, when will I ever stop putting myself through this author's miserable world? That freaking ending. I mean, what. the. hell.

Our beloved Kenzie and Ethan are back in the human world. For a short while, at least. Then Meghan showed up claiming Keirran is missing, a certain Thin Man is following Ethan, and the most worrisome of all... a Fading Annwyl.

This has been another crazy ride. We were taken into the Between, back to the wyldwood and even get to rev ...more

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Aug 10, 2012 Saniya rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

So apparently I wrote this long lost reaction as soon I finished reading the book. And oh boy did I laugh at myself for being so emotional. So enjoy reading a emotional wreak's reaction, my fellow readers.

WHAT IN THE NAME OF FUCKERY FUCK WAS THAT?
I want to bitch slap Keirran so hard that he will feel the antagonizing pain deep in his coal black soul.
And then I want to bitch slap Titania so hard that she will forever be banished like that flunkee should have been centuries ago.
And then I want t ...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Librobaby rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

AFTER READING THE BOOK:

"how entangled my life would soon become with his,and how he would be the catalyst..for the end of everything"

When I read that line I knew without a doubt that Kierran would do something stupid.

Although, I was terrified of reading this book,I'm actually surprised that I liked Ethan and Kenzie here. I still don't get why Ethan hates Ash. I mean seriously who in their right mind would hate Ash

Ohhh..and I was screaming my head off whenever ASH, Meghan and Puck was being ...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Rowing marked it as to-read · review of another edition

2013????

Like the the next year???

I have to wait for Ethan till September 2013?

...more

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Sep 19, 2017 Dorreh rated it really liked it

Ohhhh that's why it's called the iron traitor 😅 ...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Steph Sinclair rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: harlequin, forbidden-love, male-pov, original-and-creative, omg-that-ending, 2013-release, fey, all-the-wrong-choices, yabc, cool-author

You know what? Julie Kagawa is an evil genius. If that wasn't evident with the ending in The Iron Queen or even with The Immortal Rules, she definitely drove the point home with The Iron Traitor's ending. I'm a little stunned this time around because I'm left wondering how she'll manage to end this thing in the next book. You'll have to excuse me if this review seems a little scattered, but the last few pages blew my little socks off into next Tuesday.

It's interesting that I'd have such a strong ...more

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Sep 25, 2016 Maggie ☘ rated it really liked it

Shelves: intriguing-world-building, underrated-gems, magic, great-reads-2016, amazing-reads, fae, charismatic-characters, interesting-villains-antiheroes

*4,5/5 stars*

Firstly, Ash is still the best. Sigh.

“A silhouette was striding down the center of the road, heading for the alley we’d just vacated. Lean, tall, a long black coat rippling behind him, he was instantly recognizable. Even from this distance, I could see the glow of his sword, blue-black and deadly, and the glint of a cold silver eye.”

Now, I'm not going to bore you with my fangirling of this perfect male specimen, and onto the actual review ➵

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Kristalia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: be-my-heroine-please, favorites, contains-annoying-characters, 4-to-5-stars, favorite-couple, they-are-so-cute-its-unbearable, age-mature-young-adult, made-me-smile-or-laugh, reviewed, be-my-heroes-please

Final rating: 4.5/5 stars

His dark gaze met mine. “You can’t save everyone,” he said in a gentle voice. “Sometimes, you have to make the decision to let them go.”

*Lights self on fire because of the cliffhanger* - the next book may not be able to put me out of fire (wait, does that even make any sense or anything?). The thing is, i freaking loved this book - enough to originally want to rate it 5 stars... so why didn't i? There are several reasons and most of them include some particu ...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Michele (Reading Lark/CanadianTwiMom) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fav-author, favourite-epic, epic-love, read-more-than-once, signed, own-it, audiobook, reading-lark, softcover, fey-faeries

My review can also be found at Reading Lark: http://readinglark.blogspot.ca/2013/0...

I never thought I'd ever...EVER...want to throw a Julie Kagawa book against the wall...The Eternity Cure came so close...but this...THIS...nearly left my fingers. Not because I hated it but because I loved the story SO much and yet, in the last two pages of the book, Julie proceeded to tear my heart out and eat it for dinner. Yes...the dreaded cliffhanger that Julie dreamed up in this one was a doozie.

So...the q ...more

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Aug 30, 2019 Roobie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, 2019-challenge, magic, series-i-love, fantasy, part-of-series

⭐️3.5 stars⭐️

Puck dropped to the monster's snout, right in front of its glowing eyes, grinning cheekily.
"Hey, ugly, lookee here! I'm doing the Macarena on your nose." ...more

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Feb 19, 2017 Sanya rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017

Keirran, you bad prince! I hope Ash would freeze you near death. Not cetrain death because you are Meghan and Ash's son and I adore them. Plus, you'd suffer more if you stayed alive and watch your kind treat you as a traitor. ...more

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Oct 31, 2013 Ferdy rated it it was ok

Shelves: boring-crap-hero, emo-hero, fairies, fantasy, kind-of-entertaining, young-adult, cliffhanger, blah-romance, hero-boring, powers

Spoilers

I enjoyed this more than the first book, which I found absolutely rubbish. Not that this was great but it did manage to be somewhat entertaining in places. So yea, that was something at least.

-What's what: Ethan and Kenzie are back from their silly adventure in the Nevernever, but Keirran (Meghan's son/Ethan's nephew/half fae/douche) is missing. His faery girlfriend (Annwyl) is desperate to find him, she asks Ethan and Kenzie for help, they agree. Time is running out for Annwyl though, s ...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Soumi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-copy, favorite, books-i-reviewed, fairies, young-adult, owned-arcs

I have finished the book around a month or two ago when I got my dirty paws on the silvery ARC. And since then, considering how my mind tends to deceive me into remembering every little thing, I still am overwhelmed by the emotion The Iron Traitor left in its aftermath.

In a very rare occasion I end up liking all the characters in a book, and it was one case where I felt connected with each of the four MCs. I felt their ego, their sentiment, their anger and desperation, love and hatred. I wanted ...more

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Feb 09, 2020 Mizuki added it

DNF-ed for now, story and characters don't hold my interest at all.

PS: due to the current corona virus BS, libraries are all closed, but thankfully I returned this book before the close-down so it wouldn't take up space in my house. ...more

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Mar 31, 2016 Sinead rated it really liked it

Shelves: cute, fantasy, un-put-down-able, funny, sad, heartbreakingly-romantic, swoon-worthy-love, fantasy-romance, romance, romantic

This was a good book. Let me put that out there. It was really enjoyable, the cast of characters was great to read, and the story was exciting. Julie Kagawa is a great author, and the faery world is something unbelievably imaginative… I just don’t feel as attached to the world as I do her Blood of Eden series.

In the first book, I loved Ethan’s narrative and how different it was to Meghan’s. He was the grouchy teenager who just wanted the fey to leave him alone. But after his unwanted adventure w This was a good book. Let me put that out there. It was really enjoyable, the cast of characters was great to read, and the story was exciting. Julie Kagawa is a great author, and the faery world is something unbelievably imaginative… I just don’t feel as attached to the world as I do her Blood of Eden series.

In the first book, I loved Ethan’s narrative and how different it was to Meghan’s. He was the grouchy teenager who just wanted the fey to leave him alone. But after his unwanted adventure with Keirran and Kenzie, he’s become more accepting in his role in the fey world, even though he would rather not be involved in their world at all. He isn’t as grouchy and angry in this book as he was in the first one, but his narrative was still really great. And I loved his growing relationship with Kenzie. Despite only knowing each other for about a week, their relationship was real and so strong. Ethan just wants to protect Kenzie from the dangers of the fey, and Kenzie’s stubborn and fearless attitude keeps rebutting him. They were definitely my favourite part.

However, it was really Keirran who caught my attention in this book. We found out that he and Annywl shared a deep and powerful love in The Lost Prince, despite it being forbidden. But with Annwyl fading due to being exiled, Kierran is willing to risk just about anything to keep her around, and he broke my heart and angered me at the same time. The hardest thing is to let someone you love go, and Kierran just isn’t able to do that. He ends up making some very questionable decisions and meddles in dark magic, which really made me worry about his character and what would happen to him.

The concept of this book was Ethan and Kenzie helping Kierran’s quest to save Annwyl. But Kierran’s actions and choices here really made me lose faith in his character. I loved him in The Lost Prince; he was funny and entertaining and as much of a warrior as his father. And even though he still retained those traits here, I felt disappointed in the lengths he went in this book, even going as far as to threaten Ethan and Kenzie’s lives, despite how willing they were to stick with Kierran until the end. Kenzie, especially, wouldn’t let him do anything alone. Towards the end even Ethan begins to doubt his trust in his nephew – but will stick with him to stay by Kenzie’s side.

Despite the disappointment of Kierran’s character, I still enjoyed this book. Kagawa’s faery world is something amazing, and so imaginative. I just love it. And we get supporting/cameo roles of Ash, Puck and Grimalkin as well, which is always great to see. I’d love to see Puck and Grim more often, but I understand this isn’t their story; their adventure has ended. And seeing Ash as a father was pretty great, I won’t lie. Now to see Meghan be a mom!

ALSO: THAT ENDING. ...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Rebecca rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, out-in-2013

As I've said many times before, Julie Kagawa is one of my all time favorite authors. I will gladly read anything she decides to write, and I'm really excited for the new series she has coming out soon. In the meantime, reading the Call of the Forgotten series so far has been completely enthralling. Admittedly, I was slightly less enthused about The Lost Prince as I was with all her other books, but that was mostly because I was getting used to the new characters and didn't really like Ethan much As I've said many times before, Julie Kagawa is one of my all time favorite authors. I will gladly read anything she decides to write, and I'm really excited for the new series she has coming out soon. In the meantime, reading the Call of the Forgotten series so far has been completely enthralling. Admittedly, I was slightly less enthused about The Lost Prince as I was with all her other books, but that was mostly because I was getting used to the new characters and didn't really like Ethan much. I found him too broody and just an iffy protagonist.

Thankfully I didn't run into those problems too much throughout The Iron Traitor. Obviously I still miss the old stars of the Iron Fey books - Meghan, Ash and Puck - but I can't complain too much because all three do make appearances here and there and getting to see them again is like getting an unexpected treat every time. I enjoyed Ethan's point of view a lot more this time around. I'm not really sure why, he didn't seem to change that much, but I guess I mostly just liked his determination to help his friends and family. I felt sorry for him because I know how much he's just like to be normal and have nothing to do with anything Faery related. He was also kind of funny at times (though of course Puck will always be the king of humor in this world).

There were times when I appreciated the relationship Ethan and Kenzie had, but for some reason I just don't feel as strongly about her as a person as I'd like to. Hopefully that changes in the third installment. Although Ethan is narrating, the story largely focuses on Kierran and his insane quest to keep his Summer fey girlfriend, Anwyl, from Fading away. I have very mixed feelings about him at the moment. I wasn't surprised at first that he was going to such drastic measures to keep his love safe and alive (since, you know, Ash went on a pretty difficult quest as well, for Meghan). But time after time, things went wrong for him and only went downhill each time they tried something. By the end of the book, I couldn't believe how much trouble he had caused. From hurting himself physically to possibly starting a war, Kierran did it all.

Also, it was pretty obvious from the title and cover that he was going to end up doing something horrible at some point. Even though I was expecting it, it still came as a slap in the face. This particular things happens at the very end, making a giant mega cliffhanger that left me enraged and a little confused. Somehow I will manage to wait a year for the next book, but I have no idea how. As far as pacing goes, I don't have any complaints. A lot was happening all the time, and of course the writing was lovely. The main thing I loved about this book was how much emotion I felt while reading it - it caused me to yell at the characters, get insanely nervous and very, very happy. A lot of it is tied to my love of the previous series, but The Call of the Forgotten can definitely hold its own. The Lost Prince felt more like a set up to what was really going to unfold, and this one was the sucker punch to the gut.

Spoilers begin here

The reason I was confused about the end is I'm not positive if Ethan is really dead. I mean, having a sword run you completely through the stomach pretty much says to me that he is, but . . . I have a hard time believing it. Maybe he'll be saved somehow? Honestly, I think Ethan should have been more wary of the prophecy once he discovered what it was. Sure, Kierran was his friend and his nephew, but if I looked into the future and saw someone standing over my dead body with blood all over them, I'd at least wonder if they would betray me at some point. Still, it was extremely abrupt. It was like they were getting along fine for most of the book and then two pages before the end, Kierran just stabs him because of some prophecy the Forgotten Lady told him to save himself and Anwyl. What the heck?! I have a feeling all hell is going to break loose later on.

5 stars

...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Marthita rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, fantasy, magic, romance, amazing-freaking-cover, netgalley, sexy-beast-of-a-boy, love-lust-for-the-bad-boy, kick-ass-heroines, male-protagonist

- 5 Stars -

These were my reactions when I finished reading "The Iron Traitor"

Reaction #1: Utter disbelief

description

Because I just couldn't wrap my mind around what I just read in those final pages... I never thought that would happen!

Reaction #2: Murderous rage

description

Because Julie couldn't do that! She just COULDN'T! I know it was something that was bound to happen, but come on, finishing a book with that kind of cliffhanger can cause serious brain/emotional damage to a person (And I HATE Keirran, with all my he ...more

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Nov 03, 2013 Robin (Bridge Four) rated it really liked it

Recommended to Robin by: Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies

Shelves: 4-5-stars, fantastic-fantasy, ya

There should be a warning label on some books ‘SERIOUS CLIFF HANGER’ this, if you haven’t guessed is one of those books.

I have enjoyed all of the Iron Fey books and The Iron Traitor is no exception to that. Julie Kagawa is doing a great job of showing us two ways to deal with what is ultimately the same problem. Both Ethan and Keirran are in love with girls who are most likely doomed to die soon. How they deal with the situation is completely different. While Ethan is about support and living ev There should be a warning label on some books ‘SERIOUS CLIFF HANGER’ this, if you haven’t guessed is one of those books.

I have enjoyed all of the Iron Fey books and The Iron Traitor is no exception to that. Julie Kagawa is doing a great job of showing us two ways to deal with what is ultimately the same problem. Both Ethan and Keirran are in love with girls who are most likely doomed to die soon. How they deal with the situation is completely different. While Ethan is about support and living every moment with Kenzie to its fullest Keirran is bound and determined to make any deal and pay any price to save the Summer Girl he is in love with.

I hated Ethan for most of the last book he was broody and a little whiney. But I liked him so much more in the Iron Traitor. He has really stepped it up and with Kenzies help has accepted that the Fey will always be a part of his world. He has a few very flawed moments but all and all he was a much more likable individual in this story.

Keirran on the other hand I wanted to smack most of the time. He made rash decisions, did stupid things and had moments of great selfishness and cruelty. He exhibited the worst traits of Meghan and Ash with the only redeeming quality being that everything he was trying to do was for the girl he loved.

There were great betrayals and based on the title you would think I would have expected some of them but a few caught me off guard. All of the characters transformed and became more three dimensional in this story, but it is a darker tale that seems to have little hope at the end of the tunnel for some of the characters.

Puck was able to add a little humor and after reading all of the Iron Fey series I really hoped that perhaps Keirran would have asked his father for help. If anyone would have known a way to possibly save Keirran and Annwyl it seems that Ash and Maghan would have been the go to people to ask for help.

There is heaps of drama and things look really bad for all those involved. I can’t wait to see how this story plays out in the end as for everyone. As is it seems like there will not be a lot of Happily Ever Afters to go around and the prophecy that everyone has tried so hard to save Ethan from might have found him anyway.
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Oct 23, 2012 Annabelle marked it as wishlist · review of another edition

What if I freaking want this, like, now?

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Oct 07, 2013 Rose rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, arc-or-galley, favorites, urban-fantasy, netgalley, young-adult, fantasy

Initial reaction: Dude, that ending. That cliffhanger (but a darned good one). I think this series is shaping up to be a new favorite for me, and I loved this book, but I just have to say two things in the aftermath of reading this book:One: Keirran's an idiot. Two: Poor Ethan.

Full review:

I'm loving the "Call of the Forgotten" series so far - Julie Kagawa has such an eye for building the realm of the Fey as well as presenting characters that are intriguing to follow in the conflicts presented Initial reaction: Dude, that ending. That cliffhanger (but a darned good one). I think this series is shaping up to be a new favorite for me, and I loved this book, but I just have to say two things in the aftermath of reading this book:One: Keirran's an idiot. Two: Poor Ethan.

Full review:

I'm loving the "Call of the Forgotten" series so far - Julie Kagawa has such an eye for building the realm of the Fey as well as presenting characters that are intriguing to follow in the conflicts presented in the world. "The Iron Traitor" is a strong follow-up to "The Lost Prince" - providing a compelling narrative that carried me all the way through to the end, and lending into a follow-up that's sure to have much momentum to carry forward as the series continues.

This book picks up a little bit after the events of "The Lost Prince", and I have to say that Ethan's prejudices against the fey are much less than they were in the previous novel, though he still has his respective insecurities. Following up, authorities and peers alike question where Ethan disappeared to for a time with Kenzie (such is the lament of one who isn't born with fey blood, as Ethan notes - you can disappear, but people will wonder where you are). Ethan isn't just worried about Kenzie in what transpires shortly after they return, but he also comes across alarming news about Keirran, who has disappeared from the Fey realm. Worried that Keirran may act in desperation over a lover who's existence is being erased, Ethan decides to go back into the world of the Fey to find him. Though Ethan has more ties to events than he even knows, and it may prove disastrous for him.

From reading this book, I'll admit I'm enjoying following Ethan's character quite a bit. He's a flawed character, but I'll admit it's easy to care about what he thinks and see how he feels within all the events and revelations that are handed down to him. I followed his perspective well. While there are focuses on the romantic elements between him and Kenzie (and even Keirran and his beloved), the story's more action oriented and focused on the clashes between the ever-present tensions of the realms of the Fey and the real world. I appreciated even seeing more of the familiar faces from the last series - including Puck and Grim, who have more focused roles in this story than perhaps the former. (Megan and Ash make brief appearances, and both are very significant to the route of the plot events.)

I will admit that I had an idea of where the story would go after a time when the foreshadowing measures started playing into Ethan's role and clashes with Keirran, but I still didn't expect the ending to hit as much as it did. Keirran's motivations are clear-cut, I understood his flaws as well - even in the realm of his desperation and darkness, but it didn't keep me from raging (at him) when the ending of this novel came. It's a great cliffhanger, though I'll admit it makes me curious to see where Kagawa will take it, for what also transpires with Ethan especially.

It's a novel that I would highly recommend, and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book. Great points of humor, action, adventure, romance, and palpable stakes.

Overall score: 4.5/5 stars

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Harlequin Teen.
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Oct 26, 2012 Sandra rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, library-book, 2013-read-pile, young-adult-paranormal

They changed the title from The Traitor Son to The Iron Traitor...

Interesting....

Update #1: 3/2/13

Ugh, something I been meaning to say about this book's old title. It said The Traitor Son, and everyone jumped to the conclusion that it was Keirran, myself included when I finished The Lost Prince... Maybe the title didn't mean Keirran since the first one wasn't about him, maybe Ethan gets marked as a traitor... to his family and/or humans and now with the title change, The Iron Kingdom...

Somethin ...more

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Aug 31, 2015 Dark Sith Lordette Jennymort ♔ rated it really liked it

Shelves: love, ya, part-of-a-series, siblings, own, 2016-read

What the f**k was that!!?!?!?!?!?!?

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Sep 13, 2013 Nikita rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-series, read-in-2020, loved, read-in-2015

Revised Review:
The Iron Traitor is gripping, intense and shocking. After his journey into the land of the fey, Ethan just wants to get back to normal. However, normal for Ethan is difficult for a former loner with a bad reputation trying to see his girlfriend Kenzie who he is forbidden to see. When Ethan’s nephew Keirran goes missing and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable and dangerous to save his own love, Ethan, Kenzie and Annwyl go in search of him before its too late. Secrets Revised Review:
The Iron Traitor is gripping, intense and shocking. After his journey into the land of the fey, Ethan just wants to get back to normal. However, normal for Ethan is difficult for a former loner with a bad reputation trying to see his girlfriend Kenzie who he is forbidden to see. When Ethan’s nephew Keirran goes missing and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable and dangerous to save his own love, Ethan, Kenzie and Annwyl go in search of him before its too late. Secrets are revealed, choices are made and sides are chosen as darkness approaches and the fate of both worlds hangs in the balance. The Iron Traitor is filled with action, adventure, tension, romance, shock, and the most jaw dropping cliffhanger I have ever read.

Ethan and Kenzie have returned home, faced the consequences after being missing and try to return to a normal life. However, that is impossible when the fey are involved and Ethan is forbidden to see Kenzie by her father. When Ethan learns that Keirran has disappeared, he fears that Keirran has returned to the Forgotten Queen and is joined by Kenzie and Annwyl to find him before he does anything stupid. However, Ethan is followed and threatened by a faerie known as the Thin Man, who wants to fix a mistake that was made in the past that allowed the Forgotten Queen to exist as well as to stop a prophecy from coming true. During Ethan’s search for Keirran, he discovers secrets that were kept from him and the prophecy that connects him and Keirran that could change the fate of the Nevernever.

Upon finding Keirran, they learn that he is on a mission of his own to find a way to stop Annwyl’s fading and is willing to do whatever it takes, no matter the cost. With a temporary solution that has dangerous side effects, their only hope is to remove Annwyl’s banishment leaving Ethan and group to travel back into the Nevernever. There they face impossible tasks and Keirran’s behavior worsens with every passing second putting everyone at risk. When the Queen of the Forgotten summons Keirran again, Ethan follows only for both to discover something so shocking that it puts both worlds in the balance.

Ethan and Kenzie remain great characters. I love them and the romance between them. The situation with Annwyl made me sad. Kierran was infuriating. While his intentions were good, his actions have created more harm than good and put everything and everyone at risk. The ending alone made me want to slap him. The Thin Man from the Iron Knight returns and he remains creepy as ever.

Other characters from the past return as well such as our favorite trio for a short time and its great to see them again, to see how they are after the events of their story. Some characters don’t change while others have grown.

Overall, The Iron Traitor was amazing. This book was really good and I still liked it but I was frustrated with some scenes and with a few characters, mostly with Kierran. The characters are still great, the plot deepens, and some of my questions finally get answered. We finally learn how the Forgotten came back into existence and it is linked to what happened in The Iron Knight. The ending left me screaming WTF! I need the next book now.

Old Review:
The Iron Traitor is gripping, intense, and shocking. The book is really good and I still liked it but I was frustrated with some scenes and with a few characters, mostly with one. We learn of how the Forgotten came back into existence is explained and it is linked to what happened in The Iron Knight. Secrets are revealed, choices are made and sides are chosen as darkness approaches and the fate of both worlds hangs in the balance. The ending left me screaming WTF!

Ethan and Kenzie return home and face the consequences of being missing for a week as well as try to be normal. However, that’s impossible when the fey are involved. When Kierran goes missing and Annwyl is fading, Ethan, Kenzie and Annwyl go in search for him. During their journey, Ethan meets the Thin Man and his desire to undo a mistake and the Oracle to where Ethan learns of the prophecy that he and Kierran play major roles in. It is the same prophecy that Meghan saw from Iron’s Prophecy. Eventually they do find Kierran and learn that he is on a mission of his own; finding a way to keep Annwyl from fading. Kierran is willing to go to great lengths for her, even using dark magic that risks corrupting his soul to do so.

Ethan and Kenzie are still great characters. I love them and the romance between them. The situation with Annwyl made me sad. Kierran is infuriating. While his intends are good, his actions have created more harm and puts everything and everyone in danger.

Overall, it was really good. The characters are still great, the plot deepens and some of my questions I had from the first book get answered. The only issue I have was Kierran who at most times was just infuriating. The ending was one of the most jaw dropping cliffhangers I have ever read, leaving me utterly shocked. I cannot wait to start reading the next book.

My reaction to the ending of the book:
description

...more

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May 31, 2020 Armina Salemi rated it liked it

Oh my God. OH MY FUCKING GOD!
it’s so close to four, so close!
OH MY GOD!

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Jun 20, 2015 Kathy (My Nook Books and More) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2015, coyer-summer-2015

The Iron Traitor is the second book of The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten series and I loved it!!

This is the continuation of The Iron Prince so you must read that book to understand the story. Because of this my review is spoiler free.

What did I like about The Iron Traitor?

I loved everything about this book!

The Characters

Ethan Chase has become my favorite YA guy! He's still the tough guy that wants to keep everyone at a distance but he is slowly opening up to people. He knows he should stay awa The Iron Traitor is the second book of The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten series and I loved it!!

This is the continuation of The Iron Prince so you must read that book to understand the story. Because of this my review is spoiler free.

What did I like about The Iron Traitor?

I loved everything about this book!

The Characters

Ethan Chase has become my favorite YA guy! He's still the tough guy that wants to keep everyone at a distance but he is slowly opening up to people. He knows he should stay away from the NeverNever since the Fey have brought him nothing but trouble. But he follows his heart and does anything he can to help the ones he cares about. He is a true hero! Keeping Ethan in check is Mackenzie who continues to be brave despite her own problems. She and Ethan make a great team and couple. Lastly there is Keran who is willing to do anything for love. He makes some disappointing choices but I'm hoping he redeems himself in the next book.

The Story

The Iron Traitor picks up where the last book left off and jumps back into the action and story. Julie Kagawa created an exciting fantasy that was vivid and I was drawn in from the beginning. The story has the right balance of action, young love and conflict to keep the reader entertained and intrigued. There are surprising twists and the cliffhanger ending has me wanting more! The Iron Traitor was released in 2013 but I am so glad I read this now. I would have hated to wait so long for the 3rd book, which releases in October 2015.

This is only my second book to read from Julie Kagawa and I absolutely love her writing. She has created a fantasy world with the right amount of details to clearly imagine it without being confused. The story flows smoothly and the characters are so well developed you will love the heroes and hate the villains. And the action scenes are so exciting you won’t be able to put the book down. I highly recommend this series to fans of adventure and fantasy.

This book meets the COYER Summer Scavenger Hunt #53, a book with just half a face on the cover.
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Nov 14, 2013 Caru rated it it was amazing

Rating:★★★★★ CAN I GIVE IT 10 STARS??Well, I would if I could!

Review Can Also Be Found:

http://myaddictionbooks.blogspot.com

My Opinion Of This Book:Oh gosh I loved it!!!!!!!

Woah.This.Book.

Liked:
-Ethan
-Kenzie
-The Writing
-The Ending
-The Plot
-Just the WHOLE flippin' book (well besides Keirran)

Disliked:
-Keirran (You don't know how much I hate him!!!)

The Characters

Ethan Chase is amazing, adorable, and hilarious . He's a great MC.He's freaking incredible!!

Kenzie is great, she's stubborn (in a good way) ...more

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Aug 08, 2015 Cami rated it really liked it

Shelves: badass-cover, bae, pnr, fae, male-pov, fantasy, ebooks, reviews, new-years-resolution-challenge, read-2016

It took me about 5 minutes after finishing to realize why it's called The Iron Traitor. (view spoiler) ...more

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Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
YA Buddy Readers'...: The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2) by Julie Kagawa - Restarting November 20th 2016	46	67	Dec 31, 2016 06:28PM
Has anyone heard when/if the next book will be released?	9	39	Jul 04, 2015 02:01PM
Tell me your thoughts on the end of this book!!!	11	62	Jan 20, 2015 12:58AM
Do you miss Ash, Puck, and Meghan as much as I do?	36	134	Dec 08, 2014 09:20PM
you will HATE Kierran after reading this book	31	191	Aug 24, 2014 08:37AM
Iron Fey Lovers!: The Iron Traitor. Your opinion!!!	1	8	Apr 28, 2014 09:22PM

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About Julie Kagawa

Julie Kagawa

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Quotes from The Iron Traitor

“What? I never make things worse," Puck replied, stepping forward to deal with another eddy swooshing in from the side. "I make things more interesting.” — 40 likes

“Bad kitty!" Razor buzzed again from Keirran's shoulder. His huge ears flapped as he bounced up and down. "Evil, bad kitty! Shave off fur! Throw kitty off mountain! Burn, burn!” — 18 likes

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