Scan barcode
kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
The Chronology of the Series
Technically, Iron Duke is the first full-length story in this new steampunk fantasy series, Iron Seas, set in old England; chronologically, it's second as there is a prequel, Burning Up: Here There be Monsters.
The Story
Resigned to her heritage, Mina Wentworth turns her passion to her job as a detective inspector on the Metropolitan Police force. When her evening at a ball celebrating the Victory, which freed all of England from the Horde, is interrupted by murder, Mina gratefully escapes only to find this murder is a potential political trap. One involving the savior of England, Rhys Trahaearn, the Iron Duke himself.
For his part, Rhys finds himself unaccountably attracted to Mina and goes to great lengths to pursue her even as they both race to track down the identity of the dead man and the trail it leads them down. A trail of piracy and treason.
Part of the treason is fueled by terror of the possibility of some power-mad fool returning some day and taking control of the country via the radio frequencies used by the Horde to control the buggers.
Those Englishmen wealthy enough who could afford to flee the invasion for America, now referred to as "bounders", and who have now returned to England fear those who were left behind who were infected by the Horde's nanoagents, referred to as "buggers" for the bugs that infest their bodies.
The Characters
What a cast of characters. Mina, the result of a sexual Frenzy set up by the Horde, is well beloved by her entire family despite the clear evidence of her heritage. Her father, the Earl of Rockingham, helps put food on the table and fulfills his sense of noblesse oblige by practicing medicine on the high and the low while her mother makes use of her talents to create intriguing automatons the sale of which primarily goes to paying off the debt they owe the Blacksmith who created her mother's replacement eyes. Then there are Mina's brothers, Harry, who has gone north to restore order to the family's country estates which have not been visited for 200 years since the Horde invasion, and Andrew who has taken a commission in the King's navy aboard Marco's Terror, the Iron Duke's old ship.
Newberry is a red-headed giant of a police officer assigned as an aide (and protector) to Mina. Although a bounder, he greatly respects Lady Mina.
Rhys Trahaearn is the Iron Duke, more formally known as the Duke of Anglesey, a title granted him when he blew up the huge tower that had controlled the entire nanoagent-infected population. Mmm, does make you think of Wellington doesn't it? Brook has incorporated that bit of Wellington's legend—the iron shutters he used to protect his property—as well as the better hidden endowments to name her duke.
Lord Scarsdale is a former shipmate of the duke's and is renowned for his innate ability to navigate anything while the Lady Yasmeen Corsair is a bit of a renegade captaining her own airship. Just don't make Scarsdale ascend any higher than he can jump!
My Take
This was excellent! Difficult to follow in a number of places, Brook still managed to infest this tale with fear, tension, and enough intrigue to fuel it ten times over. I hope she doesn't take too long to come out with book 3!
The Cover
I love the cover—all those gears in gleaming bronze with more gleaming bronze wrapped in an incredibly detailed jacket inset inside a metal ring. So very appropriate…and what a treat this is!
Technically, Iron Duke is the first full-length story in this new steampunk fantasy series, Iron Seas, set in old England; chronologically, it's second as there is a prequel, Burning Up: Here There be Monsters.
The Story
Resigned to her heritage, Mina Wentworth turns her passion to her job as a detective inspector on the Metropolitan Police force. When her evening at a ball celebrating the Victory, which freed all of England from the Horde, is interrupted by murder, Mina gratefully escapes only to find this murder is a potential political trap. One involving the savior of England, Rhys Trahaearn, the Iron Duke himself.
For his part, Rhys finds himself unaccountably attracted to Mina and goes to great lengths to pursue her even as they both race to track down the identity of the dead man and the trail it leads them down. A trail of piracy and treason.
Part of the treason is fueled by terror of the possibility of some power-mad fool returning some day and taking control of the country via the radio frequencies used by the Horde to control the buggers.
Those Englishmen wealthy enough who could afford to flee the invasion for America, now referred to as "bounders", and who have now returned to England fear those who were left behind who were infected by the Horde's nanoagents, referred to as "buggers" for the bugs that infest their bodies.
The Characters
What a cast of characters. Mina, the result of a sexual Frenzy set up by the Horde, is well beloved by her entire family despite the clear evidence of her heritage. Her father, the Earl of Rockingham, helps put food on the table and fulfills his sense of noblesse oblige by practicing medicine on the high and the low while her mother makes use of her talents to create intriguing automatons the sale of which primarily goes to paying off the debt they owe the Blacksmith who created her mother's replacement eyes. Then there are Mina's brothers, Harry, who has gone north to restore order to the family's country estates which have not been visited for 200 years since the Horde invasion, and Andrew who has taken a commission in the King's navy aboard Marco's Terror, the Iron Duke's old ship.
Newberry is a red-headed giant of a police officer assigned as an aide (and protector) to Mina. Although a bounder, he greatly respects Lady Mina.
Rhys Trahaearn is the Iron Duke, more formally known as the Duke of Anglesey, a title granted him when he blew up the huge tower that had controlled the entire nanoagent-infected population. Mmm, does make you think of Wellington doesn't it? Brook has incorporated that bit of Wellington's legend—the iron shutters he used to protect his property—as well as the better hidden endowments to name her duke.
Lord Scarsdale is a former shipmate of the duke's and is renowned for his innate ability to navigate anything while the Lady Yasmeen Corsair is a bit of a renegade captaining her own airship. Just don't make Scarsdale ascend any higher than he can jump!
My Take
This was excellent! Difficult to follow in a number of places, Brook still managed to infest this tale with fear, tension, and enough intrigue to fuel it ten times over. I hope she doesn't take too long to come out with book 3!
The Cover
I love the cover—all those gears in gleaming bronze with more gleaming bronze wrapped in an incredibly detailed jacket inset inside a metal ring. So very appropriate…and what a treat this is!
karrama's review against another edition
3.0
Local Portland Author who knows something about mechanics, this book also has an undeniable romance flavor in more than it's cover. He annoys her, she fascinates him in spite of himself. We get both points of view. The second one isn't as much fun, but this one is a good fast read if you have time and a book jacket ;)
yodamom's review against another edition
4.0
Rhys aka The Iron Duke, is one swashbuckling sexy hot alpha pirate. He hits all the right spots, literally. He meets a challenge with the Inspector Mina, who as an Alpha herself, has a stubborn streak wider than his and fears pleasure. They are tied together while investigating a murder and possibly saving England for thousands of deaths. It is a horrible hate driven machine, fueled by years of bigotry. The Blacksmith's machinations are amazing.
A wonderful tale filled with adventure, intrigue and love
A wonderful tale filled with adventure, intrigue and love
clairedrinkstea's review against another edition
5.0
I'm still finding my steampunk feet and trying different interpretations on the genre. Meljean Brook certainly gives a good spin in the genre. Her history is very well rounded and expansive. I checked out her website prior to starting so had a good idea of the historical background and terms but these can easily be picked up throughout the book.
The steampunk elements were not overt but a constant part if the world and I felt at no point it was jarringly strange to have spider rickshaws it steal sea monsters which should be credited to Ms Brooks fleshed out world.
I liked both the central characters and am intrigued by the supporting cast that should any if their stories be told I want to read them. I'm especially a fan of Scarsdale but as his story would not be mainstream I can not see it being done wherein he would be lead.
As my first delving into Ms Brooks writing I shall be certainly picking up more of the Iron Seas series and look into get other books.
I really did enjoy this book and would recommend anybody who also likes Gail Carriger to pick it up.
The steampunk elements were not overt but a constant part if the world and I felt at no point it was jarringly strange to have spider rickshaws it steal sea monsters which should be credited to Ms Brooks fleshed out world.
I liked both the central characters and am intrigued by the supporting cast that should any if their stories be told I want to read them. I'm especially a fan of Scarsdale but as his story would not be mainstream I can not see it being done wherein he would be lead.
As my first delving into Ms Brooks writing I shall be certainly picking up more of the Iron Seas series and look into get other books.
I really did enjoy this book and would recommend anybody who also likes Gail Carriger to pick it up.
hebberelle's review against another edition
2.0
Stunning world building, but this would have been a way better book with different characters in it. The duke was pretty much a rapist with archaic notions of what a woman should be.
amartz's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the worldbuilding, but was less interested in the romance aspects
backsong's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
magikspells's review against another edition
3.0
This book took me a long time to get through, at least longer than it normally would because it's not particularly long. I loved the story building, it was really unique. I just had a hard time with it at some points. There was a good amount of action and adventure, it's a great steampunk book. I just felt like it was sort of missing something. And I think now in retrospect I realize that it was explanations. There were so many complex things going on, I had a hard time trying to make sense of it. And I still don't understand a lot of the backstory, but I think that's partly my fault for starting to lose interest in the last hour or so of the book.
Whatever, I think this book too itself too seriously sometimes. I might read the next one, we shall see.
Whatever, I think this book too itself too seriously sometimes. I might read the next one, we shall see.