Racism

Racism, in the form of prejudice, runs through the novel, sometimes blatantly, sometimes in a subtle way. Meghan has difficulty in finding her place in Faery, due to the fact that she is a half-breed, half mortal and half Summer fey. Some fey hurl the term "half-breed" at her, meaning it as an insult. Other half-breeds are taken in by Leanansidhe in the Between, because they find it hard to exist in either the mortal realm or in Faery. Many in the Iron Kingdom harbor evil intent toward the Summer and Winter Courts, but the intelligent and freethinking Ironhorse is forced to bear constant insults because of his heritage. In the world of Faery, everyone is defined by their place in society, not by their individual thoughts or actions.

Nature vs. Technology

Nature vs. technology is an important theme in The Iron Daughter. The Summer and Winter Courts...