ARC Review: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

The Lost Prince (Iron Fey)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publication: Harlequin Teen; Original edition (October 23, 2012)

Description: 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'd 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 myth 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 Thoughts: Julie Kagawa has done it again. She has swept me into the world of the fey. This time Ethan Chase is my tour guide. Ethan hates the fey. Ever since he was kidnapped to lure his sister Meghan into the Nevernever, Ethan has been wary of the fae. And they seem to delight in tormenting him.

As the story begins, Ethan is starting at a new school. He has quite a reputation following him. He was expelled from his last school supposedly for setting fire to the library. Only he could see the redcap motley that set the fire to force him out of the room. Now he just wants to remain inconspicuous and finish out his junior year.

Almost the first person he meets turns out to be a half-breed named Todd. He rescues him from the bullying of one of the star football players and finds himself in the principal's office. So much for inconspicuous!  Then he meets a cute and popular girl named Kenzie who is a reporter for the school newspaper and who is determined to interview him no matter how rude he is to her. 

Ethan doesn't want to get close to anyone for fear of making them a target of the fey's mischief. But neither Todd nor Kenzie are easily discouraged. When Todd gets in trouble with some fey that Ethan doesn't recognize and then when he disappears, Ethan has to do something. 

Ethan and Kenzie find themselves in the Nevernever as they try to find a way to rescue Todd and let the Summer, Winter, and Iron courts know about this new type of faerie who is kidnapping half-breeds and killing all the exiled fey. Along the way we meet a lot of characters from the earlier series including Grimalkin, Meghan, Ash, Puck and the Leanansidhe. It is interesting to see them through Ethan's very hostile eyes.

This story was both an exciting adventure and a lovely romance as Kenzie finds her way to Ethan's very guarded heart. Fans of the Iron Fey will not want to miss this latest episode.

Favorite Quote:

"That means the fey will hound you relentlessly, wanting to bargain, or make a deal, or just make your life hell. You've seen it. You know what they're capable of."

"Yes," Kenzie agreed, and suddenly took my hand sending a shiver up my arm. "But I've also spoken to a talking cat, fought a dragon, and watched the Iron Kingdom light up at night. I've seen a fairy queen, climbed the towers of a huge castle, flown on a giant metal insect, and made a deal with a legend. How many people can say that? Can you blame me for not wanting to let it go?"

"And if it gets you killed?"

She shrugged and looked away. "No one lives forever."

I had no answer for that. There was no answer for that.

I received this eARC from Harlequin TEEN via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. You can buy your copy here.