[Review] The Iron Traitor

Unbekanntes Deutsches Cover

English Cover

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‚The Iron Traitor‘ by Julie Kagawa

The Call of the Forgotten # 2
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Synopsis:
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. (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
It was a long Odyssey and I thought it would never end – it felt like I’ve needed an eternity to finish the book and this usually never happen with books from Kagawa. But with part here the important spark has been absent for me, and I‘ve to try hard to read on and find my motivation.

The story begins after the events of the first book and almost immediately we come back again to the Nevernever, but before they still have to find a way to hold Annywl longer in this world, before she disappears forever. For this we hurry at first to New Orleans to find Keirran, who has disappeared. Then everybody hurries together back to a guru to make them an amulet, only to hurry further to the summer court and so on and on – you see what I want to say with that. It was an endless loop and during the whole plot they only have hurried from a place to the next to find weird creatures, which they had to fight or kill. Hence, this was the next negative point, which I must criticize, because for me there were too much and too long fight scenes in the book, so that I after some time they didn’t entertain me any longer.

But therefore I really love the other descriptions, the surroundings and the whole world-building, which Kagawa has created here and like always I really like her characters. First of all I’m a fan of Kenzie with her headstrong, self-confident character – for me she’s a female figure, from whom you only want to read more about and liked throughout the book. But also Ethan is in my heart, although sometimes he could be a little softer, but he’s the tough guy in the books – so what should we do? 😉 Kerrain on the other hand hasn’t convinced me till now and his changing in the second book, didn’t make it better.

In any case for me it was a highlight that we briefly have bumped into Ash! Even if this reunion was only for a short duration – nevertheless, I have been glad to meet the dark prince or king again.

Even if the general plot course was a little tougher to read in the second book, and long-winded – but the end could again persuade me and leave me behind in amazement. Although this end-scene was already indicated from the beginning, I didn’t think that it happened like this. Hence, we really got a nasty cliffhanger, which let us wait magnetized for the third and also last part of this series.

Englisches Cover:
I like the cover very much and you can also recognize Keirran on it perfectly, with his hair and eyes. Even if he doesn’t count to my favorites – the cover looks amazing!

All in all:
I’m so sorry to say that, but for me the book was the worst book, which I’ve read from Kagawa up till now. Now I know, that sounds dreadful – but if you consider how much Kagawa’s books usually always inspire me, it is clear that a 3-point-book is simply the worst one of them, what is in general still a good-average-book.

Rating:
3 of 5 points – (I liked it)
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Quotes: (© Kagawa)

 Ethan: ‚I won’t lie. Annwyl was beautiful. Bbig green eyes, shining brown hair, her body soft and graceful beneath her dress. I was a guy, after all, and I wasn’t blind. But seeing her didn’t make my stomach twist with nerves or the corners of my mouth want to turn up in a smile like they did with Kenzie.‘

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„Humans.“ Grimalkin’s furry head poked out of the grass, tail twiching in annoyance. „Are you coming? Or are you going to stand there and talk until the guardians return and crush your bones to powder? And as the expense of repeating myself – do not touch any of the apples as we are making our way through the orchard. Do not even look at them. Please attempt to have some semblance of self-control, as small as ist might be.“ ^^. 

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Succession:
# 1: Julie Kagawa – The Lost Prince »»
# 2: Julie Kagawa – The Iron Traitor »»
# 3: Julie Kagawa – Untitled
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(© goodreads.com)

About the author – Julie Kagawa:
She was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel. (Source: goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »»

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Vielen Dank für die Bereitstellung des Rezensionsexemplares an:

© netgalley

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Review: Rules of Attraction

English Cover

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‚Rules of Attraction‚
by
Simone Elkeles

Perfect Chemistry # 2

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.Synopsis:
When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.  (Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
Surprisingly I’ve liked the book really very much again, although Elkeles presents again very penetratingly the clichéd stereotypes and it also was very much alike as the first book in this series. For example with all the drugs and the same problems, with which Carlos has to battle and on which he puts the blame for the fact, that he can’t live a ’normal‘ life like other teenagers.

But, nevertheless, there are a few good differences, so that the reading never becomes boring and again it was that I read constantly very fast, just to get to know what happens next. The reason for that is primarily that the story is full of likeable characters, and secondly because of the nice liquid and also great and easy writing style of Elkeles.

However, I must confess that although I’ve take the characters to my heart, I liked in this book Carlos less, than in comparison to the first book his brother Alex. Though this is a little pity, I already know that this would happen before I even started the book, because I was just so crazy for Alex in the first book.

For me Carlos seemed too enforced and it was to prominent how he appeared as a ‘bad-boy’, and for that, he couldn’t put me on his side for a longer time. His brother Alex is just my darling and I like his character and hence I’m also extremely glad, that in the second book I could also read a little about him and Brittany. *very great* 🙂

In return I liked the female main character – here she is called Kiara – a lot more than Brittany in the first book. Kiara is really great, though, brainy and has a great rotted to the soil-attitude, although she also has to fight with a few things in her life and clear them for herself. At some times she appears a little bit too perfect, so that I’ve had a hard time to imagine such a girl also in real life, but she is sweet and so I can overlook that. 🙂

Moreover the other characters are also very likeable and I find Kiara’s family just extremely great with their tolerant attitude and their candid treatment of sexuality or drugs. In general I’m of the opinion that such an education for children can only be good and welcome that parents speak openly with them and to clarify that they understand and know, that they can come to their parents with every problem.

Finally just two short points which I would like to state. At first the book was entertaining, but couldn’t keep up with the great first part. Also I hadn’t had to laugh at any parts like in the first book, but there were still a few nice scenes, which made me smile but not more and I like humor and I like it in books.

Secondly the end was similar but not as spectacular as in the first part, and also not with so much feelings and heartache. Here I would have wished for a little more action and a longer preparatory phase. It all happened very fast in the end and therefore I got the feeling that the author just wanted to finish the book.

Cover:
Actually I like it very much and it also fits greatly to the story of the book. The English cover is a little colorless and hence I prefer the German cover with the pink written letters.

All in all:
A nice YA book with pleasant, though partial trivial entertainment, which is perfectly suitable as a summer reading and kidnaps the readers again in their youth and in the first ‘falling-in-love‘.

Rating:
3,5 of 5 points

Quotes:

Carlos: „You’re dangerous.“
Kiara: „Why?“
Carlos: „Because you make me believe in the impossible.“
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Carlos: „This is a team of gay dudes, isn’t it?“
Tuck: „What gave it away? The pink shirts, or half our team drooling over you?“

Carlos: „I’m in deep shit Alex, ‚cause I think I’d like nothin‘ better than to wake up with her every mornin‘.“

Succession:

# 1: Simone Elkeles – Perfect Chemistry  »»
# 2: Simone Elkeles – Rules of Attraction »»
# 3: Simone Elkeles – Chain Reaction
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Simone Elkeles

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About the author – Simone Elkeles:

Simone Elkeles is the NY Times & USA Today bestselling author of over seven teen romance novels. She has won various awards and recognition for her books, including the coveted RITA award from the Romance Writers of America for her book Perfect Chemistry and being named Author of the Year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English. She was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago.
(Source:  http://www.simoneelkeles.net)

Visit her Website »»

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