Review: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

"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." -barnesandnoble.com

Ethan Chase would love nothing more that to be left in peace.  But apparently that is too much for someone that was kidnapped and held in the Iron realm of Never Never and lived to tell about it.  Because of the fey Ethan has been forced to learn to defend himself through the art of Kali, avoid all contact with any people especially after what happened to the one friend he'd ever had, and has been labeled a delinquent by pretty much any adult after being kicked out of several schools simply because the fey won't leave him alone.  You'd think that the younger brother of the Iron King would have some authority but no.  When this new form of fey emerges attacking half faeries and summer/winter faeries alike Ethan has no choice but to go to Meghan as a last resort and drag Kenzie, little miss can't leave him alone, into the Never Never with him.  The Lost Prince an excellent novel with action, love, hatred, and plain ole teenage angst that we all seem to love so much.  

This book is a 5/5 because it was fabulously written.  There was now awkwardness about writing this spin off for Julie.  I love that she capture new characters while still maintaining the old ones.  One might be skeptical of there being a new type of fey but it all just worked together and made for an exciting story.  I also love that the title has a double meaning, I think, correct me if I'm reading too much into this, that you don't realize until a good chunk of the way into the book. 

First off, I have been dying for this book to come out ever since I read the Iron Fey series back in the spring. I had wondered what would happen to sweet Ethan the four year old that Meghan left behind even though he equally need her protection too being born with the sight and all.  That sweet little kid is gone and has been replaced with a strong, brave, angry, almost man.  I like that Ethan tries to be so selfless.  Something that isn't so common in the world but seems to come up again and again in books.  Maybe some of us can learn something from these novels.  He has ultimately learned to take care of himself and do his best to have as few people to worry about as possible.  

Kenzie, I found annoying at first but she grew on me.  She is tough as nails, brave, and has a passion for life despite all that has been thrown at her.  She is the saying "when life throws you lemons make lemonade".  She wants the most she can get out of life and is good for Ethan, who could really use someone to talk to about the weirdness that is his life.  

The whole time I was reading this I was like where is Puck!!!! And just when I thought he wasn't going to show up there was the raven.  Puck, as always, I a complete delight and brings humor to otherwise not so funny situations.   And of course Grim, Meghan, Ash, and Glitch all make an appearance as well and while I love those characters, this isn't there story anymore and I'm happy to find that Ethan's story is told clearly and distinctly.  It is his own which sometimes gets mixed up when authors try to do spin offs.  

*Spoiler Alert*If you've read the Iron Knight, you know that there was a possibility in Meghan and Ash having a son and you know that time in Nevernever is drastically different from the real world.  So when Keirran appears in the books I was more than pleased to meet his acquaintance.  Puck makes multiple references to himself and Ash about Ethan and Keirran but as of now I don't see it.   

Julie Kagawa is a resident of Louisville, Ky (got to support the locals!!).  She is a kungfu enthusiast and writer of not only The Iron Fey series but Iron's Prophecy, The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, and Blood of Eden series.

Sadly we all have to wait until September 2013 to read the next installment, The Traitor Son.  Hmm wonder what that ones going to be about.