Book Review: THE LOST PRINCE by Julie Kagawa

Book:  The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten)

Author:  Julie Kagawa

Publisher:  Harlequin TEEN

Category:  YA Paranormal Romance

Due Out:  October 30, 2012

Book 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’s 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 myths 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 name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday

Back cover of The Lost Prince

Those who loved and followed the story of Meghan Chase through The Iron Fey series will be happy to know that Ethan, the one whose kidnapping in the book THE IRON KING triggered the whole series, is back.  And this is HIS story.

Ethan has never been normal, or at least not since he was taken from his home at a young age and brought into the land of the fey, the Nevernever.  He was rescued by his half sister and taken back home, but only by sacrificing herself.  In the end she became the Iron Queen and has had to live and rule in her own kingdom.  Ethan hasn’t seen her in 12 years.

Feeling abandoned by his sister and still haunted constantly by the mischievous fey, Ethan has chosen to close himself off to the world, having no friends, no social life.  His only “fun” is his sport, Kali, a Filipino martial art using sticks taught by his sole friend and mentor Guro (teacher) Javier.

Author Julie Kagawa

Expelled from several schools, he has to start over at a new one where he meets Kenzie, who writes for the school newspaper and has zeroed in on Ethan as her latest subject.  On the same first school day, Ethan unwillingly helps out a half breed (half fey, half human) named Todd who was being manhandled in school.  Todd forces himself into Ethan’s life and home, fearing that his life is in danger.

 Soon after, Todd disappears and Ethan goes off to find him.  Kenzie accidentally gets involved and both end up in the Nevernever where finally, after many years, Ethan faces his sister again.  They later learn that half breeds and exiles are disappearing all over the world, and another fey, The Forgotten, have re-emerged.  Ethan needs to save Todd and leave the kingdom, with the help of a boy he never knew existed, a boy whose connection to him may mean the future or the end of one.

Though I would love to tell you more, I can’t for I do not want to ruin the many surprises Julie Kagawa has for her readers.  All I can say is that those who are looking for their favorite characters in The Iron Fey will not be disappointed.  An all star cast this book has.

coming out soon!

As a whole, THE LOST PRINCE is a stand alone book.  If you haven’t read the Iron Fey series1, you can start with this (though I still say begin with THE IRON KING, purely for the amazing story and romance). 

Ethan is a strong character, much like his sister.  I like Kenzie too although she didn’t hold my interest the way Meghan did.  Same with Annwyl (one of the exiles).  But Keirran, oh that boy, I can already see him breaking everyone’s hearts.  He is frustrating as he is interesting. 

It is no secret that I am a huge Julie Kagawa fan from her very first book and The Lost Prince is another proof of why this is.  Suspending disbelief and entering a make believe world is so easy with Kagawa.  She makes you want to live in her books.

Another plus factor for me, a very personal one, is her choice of Ethan’s sport.  KALI is a proudly Filipino sport.  Kali, otherwise called Arnis or Eskrima is a traditional Filipino martial art where one uses rattan sticks.  Bruce Lee was known to have practiced this art himself.  I tried this years ago and I must say going home black and blue, especially on the arms, is not uncommon nor unwelcome.   I was never any good at it but I still wish to be. It is a sport that I hope will spread further worldwide.

You may visit the Author's site at:

http://www.juliekagawa.com/

http://juliekagawa.blogspot.com/